+ What Is The Design Process Like?

1. Once accepted, you can start looking and pin some images into a Pinterest board and share them with me. Just pin anything that catches your eyes, rooms, colour, furniture, anything.
   You don't have to put too much thought into it, I'll refine and ask questions to drill into it further. This is useful to get a sense of the general mood and aesthetic you're drawn to. The reason for this is that words/descriptions like Scandinavian, modern, etc mean different things for everyone, so a collection of images will better describe the aesthetic and visual language for the project.

2. We'll schedule a 15-minute discovery call (scroll to bottom of page to book) to discuss your needs, the process, and how I typically work with clients. After the call, we’ll schedule a meet up in person to have further discussion and I'll take up some measurements of the space.

3. After the site visit, I'll send a proposal and contract, which includes the project scope and exact fee for the project. I prefer charging a flat fee to prevent any surprises down the line.

4. I'll start outlining the overall design concept and space planning. If any renovation work is to be done (kitchen remodel, repurposing a room, etc), I'll engage with the appropriate trades to carry out the work (you can also recommend your preferred tradesperson, and I'll engage with them on the design direction). Then, sourcing and list down a few options for each furniture piece, based on the concept we've agreed on and measurements. Here's an example of how it will work (I'll give a few options for each piece of furniture, after I get a sense of your style/inspiration while working within your budget, and you can pick the ones you like or don't).

5. Afterwards, I'll create a mood board mixing and matching from the furnitures you've picked, then we can start making the purchases. Decor pieces will go last once all the big pieces are confirmed/ordered.

6. Most furniture take 2-4 weeks to arrive upon ordering (some can take months, but I'll let you know about that before finalising). We'll then proceed with installing once everything/majority arrives. I'll be filming during the whole install/makeover process, so it'd be great to get access during the day (Whole house/apartment may sometimes take a couple of days, so I'll simply return the access at the end of each day, and repeat). There may be instances where install is spread out to weeks/months (depending on product shipments, and your availability).
   If you work from home, we can easily schedule around that, or I can work on separate rooms if doing install during weekdays.

+ How Much Does It Cost?

For the House To Home series, there are some areas which I have to charge a fee to cover for time, commute, and expertise.

We are able to charge a slightly lower cost as we are able to do everything in-house (marketing, photo & videography), which are typically huge overhead costs for design firms.

The goal of this series is to showcase creative ideas and solutions around the home, making it a more comfortable, beautiful, and functional space, while keeping it accessible for a range of budgets.

Stage 1*
Online Consultation & Onboarding - Free
In-Person Consult + Site Measurements - $95
*Excludes travel charges for interstate or long distance travel (>50km from Sydney CBD).

Stage 2*
Space Planning:
2D floor plan sketch - Free
Design Concept - $85/hr
*Includes 1 iteration. For every subsequent Iteration - $85/hr

Stage 3
Sourcing (Furniture Choices) - $85/hr
Mood Boards - Free

For reference, sourcing a single furniture (i.e. sofa) typically takes 30mins-1.5hrs depending on style and requirements.

Stage 4
Purchasing & Vendor Communications - $85/hr*

*Capped at $700

Stage 5
Custom Install - Trade Dependent
Hardware Install - Trade Dependent
Flat-Pack Install - $95/hr or DIY
Decor & Styling - Free

Generally, you can expect anywhere between $700-$2.5k for a whole apartment project, and $1.2k-3.5k for a whole house project, depending on how much back-and-forth, purchases, and installation. Expect higher cost if planning to carry out renovation works.

+ What Is The Standard Market Rate?

You’d be surprised to learn that it actually cost much more to even hire a junior designer straight out of school.

Below is a standard market rate for a 2 small room project (living, dining, and TV). Broken down into two hourly rates (U$75/hr for friends/family, and junior designer) and (U$182/hr for average price of designers).

Courtesy of Emily Henderson

While the rate above may seem excessive to some, remember that you’re paying for more than their time, knowledge, and expertise. Many designers are typically small-business owners with overhead costs such as office, software subscriptions, accounting, supplies, etc. Freelance/business owners also do not receive paid/sick leave and superannuation so all that has to be accounted for.

+ What Is A Realistic Budget?

There are a lot of variables that affects how much it cost to decorate/furnish a room or a home. Some things to consider: The size of the room, whether you have existing furniture that can be incorporated into the new room, and if you need to get any work done (i.e. window treatments).

Generally, you can expect anywhere between $9-$12k to furnish a 1-bedroom apartment from scratch, excluding appliances and electronics, and using mostly budget or flat pack furnitures.

Of course, the range above no longer apply if you have your eyes on that designer coffee table that cost $2,000 (which is totally okay!).

To give a better illustration, let’s take the following calculations:

Bedroom
Mattress - $900
Bedframe - $900
2x Bedside Table - $400
2x Lamps - $200
Total = $2,400

Living Room
Sofa - $2,500
Coffee Table - $300
Rug - $600
TV Unit - $700
Floor Lamp - $200
Total = $4,300

Dining Area
Dining Table - $800
4x Dining Chairs - $600
Sideboard/Buffet/Console - $400
Total = $1,800

Extras
Curtains - $2,000
Study Desk - $500
Desk Chair - $200
Mirror - $300
Total = $3,000

Just using the above estimate puts us at a total of $11,500 - excluding decor (plants, books, vases, cushions), trade/install, and various delivery fees.

+ How Are Furnitures Delivered?

There's generally two ways, depending on your needs.

1. We work with removalists for a more white glove option, so everything will be delivered to a warehouse, and we schedule a day for installation so you don't have to deal with all the headaches that come with it (receiving goods, unboxing, rubbish disposal, etc). Of course, this comes at an extra cost that'll vary depending on project size and location.
2. A more DIY option, you receive all the goods and unbox them on your own. This is great for those who want to save on cost, or those who already spend a lot of time working from home.

+ Do You Pass On Trade Discounts?

Any trade discounts are shared between you and me. The amount of discounts off the recommended retail price (RRP) varies between products and suppliers, and so do the savings that can be passed on.

+ Who Gets The Final Say On Furniture Pieces?

I’ll work with you to help decide what works best for your space and get a cohesive look, but you’ll always have a final say before purchases are made.

Sometimes, you might have a piece or two that you have your eyes set on, but may not result in the most cohesive look for the space. That’s okay! I’m always more than happy to work around it and find a solution to make your home uniquely yours.

+ How Are The Purchases Made?

Most of the time, I’ll handle all the purchasing for you, once the pieces are approved by you. Invoices will be sent prior to production (for custom-made products), or after stock is secured for regular furnitures.
If there are big sales happening (Black Friday for example), and the trade pricing end up being more than the sale price, you're more than welcome to purchase the pieces on your own.