By Pierre Jean-Baptiste, ASID
An interior designer is the person who turns the way you want to live in a space into drawings, selections and instructions, and then makes sure what arrives in your home matches that plan. Mood boards and paint colors are part of it, but they are a small part. On a full-service project, most of my work happens in the measuring, the documenting, the ordering and the coordinating that nobody photographs.
The easiest way to explain the job is to walk through a project the way it actually unfolds in my studio.
It starts in your home, with a tape measure
Every full-service project begins with an initial design meeting at the property. There is a $99 local trip fee, which is credited towards your project if you go ahead. We talk about how you use the rooms, what is not working, who lives in the house, and what you hope to spend on furnishings and on building products like flooring and lighting.
Then my team surveys the space. We take measurements and photographs and note ceiling heights, window placement, existing millwork and electrical locations. On a lower level or a room meant for entertaining, we also look at sightlines, sources of noise, and anything structural that will limit where seating or equipment can go.
That survey matters more than people expect. A plan drawn from real dimensions is what prevents the sofa that will not make it down the stairwell, or the bar stool that bumps the wall. If you are not local, or not ready for a visit, a complimentary 15-minute phone call is a good first conversation.
Then the design takes shape on paper
From the survey, we produce floor plans, elevations and design boards, and I present the design to you. Full-service design is billed hourly, and the project itself is quoted at that first in-person meeting, so you know how we will work before this phase starts. Design typically runs two to four weeks, depending on how many rooms are involved and how much we are changing.
This is where style decisions get made, and it is far better to make them here than in a showroom. The boards show furniture, finishes and lighting together, so you can see whether a palette holds up across a whole floor. When a room is hard to picture, 3D renderings can be added to the design so you can judge scale and proportion before anything is ordered.
A good example is the lower level we called Geometric Entertainment Haven. The finished room has a wet bar with granite counters, fluted wood paneling, polished nickel pendants, custom angled moldings and geometric wallpaper, plus an 85-inch TV, an 8-foot billiards table and a gaming table with a concrete base and stone top. Every one of those elements had to be sized, placed and agreed on before a single piece was purchased. That is design work, even though it looks like decorating once it is done.
Not every engagement is a whole floor. Some clients come to me for a paint consultation, which includes up to two hours at the home and up to two hours of studio work, delivered as a PDF and a printed document. It is a focused way to get a professional eye on color without committing to a larger project.
After approval, the less glamorous work begins
Once you approve the design, my studio purchases your selections. We place the orders, follow lead times, and receive everything at our warehouse before it comes to your house. You are not tracking a dozen vendor emails or arranging freight for a sectional.
If the project involves construction, we prepare Scope of Work plans. The Scope of Work ties your finish selections and instructions to the contractor after design approval, so the tile, fixtures and cabinetry that get installed are the ones you signed off on. I can bring contractors to the project or work with the contractor you already have. What I do not do is act as the general contractor for structural work unless that has been separately scoped.
The Modern Warmth project shows why that paperwork matters. The primary bath alone has a marble floor, large-format porcelain walls, a deep soaking tub with a 43-inch TV and surround sound and brass fixtures, and the powder room adds a smart toilet under a semi-coffered ceiling. The kitchen has semi-custom cabinetry with gold welded wire mesh upper doors, quartz counters with a full-height backsplash, undercabinet LED lighting, a pullout trash, a mixer lift and cutlery dividers. When that many selections meet that many trades, clear instructions are the difference between a smooth install and a long list of corrections.
Delivery day is still design work
Vendors ship on their own schedules, so a typical project has three to six deliveries rather than one. Holding pieces at our warehouse lets us release them in a sensible order instead of leaving you with half a room for weeks.
When furniture arrives, it is white glove delivery and setup. Most furnishings are assembled and placed according to the approved plan, not dropped in the driveway. In a room like the Luxe Libations bar, that means the stools clear the footrail, the pendants hang where the drawings said they would, and the LED strips under the maple shelves light what they are supposed to light.
Who does all of this
I lead creative direction on every project, drawing on a Bachelor’s in Architectural Studies, a BFA in Interior Design and more than two decades of work. Our studio has completed over 500 residential and commercial projects. Melanie M. handles day-to-day operations: logistics, communications, orders, delivery schedules and delivery documentation. Between us, you have one team responsible from the first measurement to the last pillow.
If you are weighing whether you need that level of help, my article on hiring an interior designer covers when it is worth it and when you can do it yourself. If you are curious about fees, read how much an interior designer costs.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full-service interior design project take?
Design typically takes two to four weeks, and larger projects are assessed case by case. Purchasing and delivery follow approval, and most projects arrive in three to six deliveries, so the overall length depends on the scope and on vendor lead times.
Do you work outside Northern Virginia?
We work with homeowners in Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland, and we also take on clients elsewhere in the United States. A phone call is often the best way to start when you are farther away.
Is an interior designer the same as a decorator?
Not quite. A decorator typically focuses on furnishings and accessories. A full-service designer also produces plans and elevations, coordinates the trades through a Scope of Work, and manages purchasing, delivery and setup.
Can you design a single specialty room, like a home theater?
Yes. Home theaters, bars and lower-level lounges are a regular part of our work. Our home theater design page shows how we approach them.
