If there is anything you’re curious about that is not covered below, don’t hesitate to email us at hello@grayoakstudio.com

 

Do I need an interior designer?

We think we can be helpful to literally everyone…but we may be biased. Here are some categories of clients that we work with frequently:

  • You are super busy and just don’t have the time it takes to create the beautiful space you want

  • You endlessly buy and return rugs/curtains/coffee tables/etc., none have been “just right”

  • You just moved or completed an addition and you’re overwhelmed by the amount of furniture you need to fill the new space

  • You are about to build a new home or take on a major renovation and you want your budget to go far, your design to feel elevated and your space to work perfectly for how your family will use it

  • You know what you love, but you don’t know how to pull it together in a cohesive, interesting way that feels unique, polished and complete

Can I afford an interior designer?

Yes! Here’s the thing, you’ve already set aside money to furnish a room or tackle a remodel. We are pros at maximizing that budget. We know the pieces that are important to spend the greatest portion of your budget and we know where to spend less without losing impact. We also know where to shop - thoughtful decisions on the right vendor for your sofa versus the right vendor for your window treatments are important.

No. The truth is that it’s as difficult (if not more difficult) to design a room around existing furniture as it is to design with a blank canvas. It limits the sizes, colors, textures (etc.) of the pieces we add, which can make sourcing more time consuming. While this additional time spent sourcing is offset by needing to source less pieces, it is generally a wash. However, your budget for materials WILL be less! You need less, so you’ll spend less on the furniture itself.

Will it lower my design fee if I already own some big pieces of furniture?

How much does the full service design package cost?

We charge a flat fee that is determined on a project to project basis, and won’t know the exact cost of your project until we see it in person. We’re not trying to be elusive, there are just a lot of factors we need to consider: square footage, how much furniture do you need, will there be subcontractors involved (i.e. carpenters, electricians, etc.), do you want/need custom pieces, proximity to our office, etc. Each project is unique and we need to understand the particulars of yours before we are able to accurately quote our design fee.

How long will it take?

From the day we order your furniture to install day is generally 3-4 months. BUT…notice the capital letters…there are a couple other considerations. First, there’s a whole bunch of To Dos before we order your furniture and the speed of these To Dos largely depends on you. The quicker you move, the quicker we move. Quick contract execution, quick email responses and quick creative decisions all lead to an overall shorter process. Second, the lead time on furniture can take as long as 6 months depending on backordering and customization. Third, we’re often booked! Especially during early fall (September/October) and Spring (April/May). And, as of late, there have been major, industrywide material shortages and shipment delays due to the pandemic.

Keeping all this in mind - if you want a project accomplished by Christmas, we recommend you call us in June (if not sooner). Seriously.

The projects in your portfolio include a lot of accessories. Do your clients keep these items or are they just for staging?

Accessorizing and styling are part of our full service packages only. Accessories include everything from gallery walls to indoor trees. Every basket, throw pillow, candle, coffee table book, piece of art (you get the idea) are included in the styling portion of the project and our clients keep it all! The decor in a room is a big part of the magic that transforms a space from a beautiful house to a beloved home. We are incredibly specific in the pieces we choose for each project - connecting it to the overall palette and design story of the room, and connecting it to the family who lives there. Styling is our super power and we pride ourselves on incorporating beautiful pieces that are truly meaningful to our client.

Will you work with my budget?

We do our best to work with budgets of all shapes and sizes. But, whether your budget can accomplish your design goals is an entirely different story.

Let’s back up a bit. First, if you have a budget, that’s great (we love that). It makes it easy for us to set expectations of what you will be able to accomplish from the get go. But, if you don’t have a budget and you’re not sure how to create one, we can help with that too. Take a look around your home and consider the furnishings in any given room. Think about how much each individual piece would cost to replace. For example, think of the last piece of furniture you purchased - was your sofa $3,000? If so, it would be unrealistic to expect your entire living room to cost only $10,000 to refurnish. There’s the $3,000 sofa…and armchairs, side tables, a coffee table, a console, a rug, lighting, plants, artwork, frames, pillows and decor to consider (and that doesn’t even touch paint, wallpaper, millwork and labor…the painters, electrician and carpenter). Do you want a built-in? Adding a second sofa or a sectional? You can see how it adds up.

Keep in mind, we’ve just discussed the materials for your project. Our design fee is separate.

We say all this up front not to scare you away - quite the opposite, we want you to enter this relationship and project with an honest understanding of what is to come. The beautiful projects you’ll find in our portfolio are the result of our full service design package where we create every detail in a space, from the large scale furniture to the decor. The budget for each of these projects varied, but they all resulted from relationships where the client understood that the size of his/her budget was directly connected to how many bullet points on their wish list we were able to accomplish. Giving us a clear budget at the onset of your project will guide all design decisions that follow, so taking time to think through what this genuine number will be is tremendously important.

What makes a project successful?

Really glad you asked.

First, and probably most important: your trust. Giving us your trust is hands down the best way to the finish line. Remember that you hired us for a reason and let us work our magic!

Second, thoroughly communicate your want and needs. We’re really good listeners. And, we take notes. So, tell us as much as you can about colors you love (and hate!), where you shop for furniture, what your favorite HGTV show is, how you currently use the space, how you want to use the space, what you love about the space, what really irks you about the space, who will be using the space (hosting holidays? 3 huge dogs?). Share your Pinterest and Houzz inspirational photos. Share some magazine pics you’ve torn out and saved. The more we know, the more easily we can create a design that you will love both aesthetically and functionally. And continue this communication throughout the process. We want to talk through your ideas and your concerns and your hesitations.

Finally, be ready. Be ready to squirrel away time in your schedule to meet, email and chat because we’ll do all three. Be ready to make decisions. We’ll streamline the choices and make it easy. And, be ready to feel amazing every time you walk into the room we design. It’s going to be a gorgeous transformation and you’re going to want to bring us back to design another room. So, be ready for the next project!!!