Interior Design FAQs

You want a comfortable, beautifully furnished and decorated home that truly works for how you live. But where do you start, how long will it take, and how do you pull it altogether?

IHI offers two Design Services options to get you there.

Full-Service Interior Design Design to DONE support for a home that is beautiful, comfortable, organized, and unmistakably yours.

This service may be a good fit if:

• You want to avoid the remodel horror stories you've heard and have your project managed smoothly and completed properly.

• You’ve been living with old furniture in a new home, and it just isn’t working.

• You want your rooms to feel intentional, comfortable, and fully finished.

• You’re busy and do not have time to shop, plan, order, coordinate, and manage every detail.

• You want a professional eye to help narrow the options, eliminate second-guessing, and help make decisions with confidence.

• You care about quality pieces that will last for your family, and function for how you actually live.

• You'd rather have the project handled from design to done, for a finished space you love, without the stress of managing it all alone.

Interior Decorating Consultation A one-time home visit to answer your questions and provide our best advice.

This service may be a good fit if:

• You're relatively new in your space a need help with how to best arrange the furniture you already have, or where to start to make things feel like home

• You simply want to bounce your ideas off of a professional

• You just need some guidance and then you'll be able to pull the room together on your own

• You don’t want or need the Full-Service Interior Design service and support

• You want to give a fabulous housewarming gift!

IHI is based in Chesterfield County, Virginia and serves the surrounding area. You can primarily find us in Chesterfield, Midlothian, and Moseley neighborhoods but we help homeowners all over the Richmond, VA area.

Contact Us to see if we serve your neighborhood.

You don't have to figure out every detail or manage a complex home project alone. With Full-Service Interior Design you get:

• A customized Design Plan built around your home, your goals, and your style

• Help narrowing the options so decisions are easier, without spending weekends driving from showroom to showroom

• 3D Renderings and Space Plans so you can confidently visualize the finished result before any work begins

• Access to a trusted network of manufacturers, contractors, installers, and skilled artisans

• Product sourcing, ordering, and delivery coordination, without having to track countless orders, delivery updates, and vendor emails yourself

• Installation coordination and oversight to help ensure every detail comes together as planned

• A finished home that's beautiful, comfortable, organized, and ready to enjoy

• A trusted partner to guide you from Design to DONE

Our DESIGN to DONE Process is just two steps to a beautiful, comfortable, organized space that's unmistakably yours:

Step 1: Design Phase

Before any work begins, we’ll have your space completely mapped out, with a thoughtful design you love & feel confident in, from space planning & selections to contractor preparation.

(See "What happens during the Design Phase?" FAQ to learn more)

Step 2: Implementation Phase

Once your design plan is complete, we bring it to life. Inspired Home Interiors coordinates the details & manages the moving parts so you can enjoy watching your home come together without carrying the stress of managing it yourself.

(See "What happens during the Implementation Phase?" FAQ to learn more)

The Design Phase is where we create a complete plan for your project before any work begins.

Every Full-Service Interior Design project starts by getting to know you, your home, and the way you live. Together, we'll clarify the vision, uncover your style, make the decisions, and develop the right Design Plan for your home. From space planning and selections to contractor preparation, every decision is made with the goal of creating a home that's beautiful, comfortable, organized, and designed around you.

During this phase, Inspired Home Interiors will:

• Meet with you in your home to understand how you live and what matters most.

• Help you define your style and make confident design decisions.

• Create a customized Design Plan based on your home, your goals, and your budget.

• Select furnishings, finishes, lighting, flooring, paint colors, window treatments, accessories, and all other design details.

• Create 3D Renderings and detailed Space Plans so you can visualize the finished result.

• Bring in and coordinate contractor estimates and guide conversations throughout the planning process.

The goal is to have a complete Design Plan you love and feel confident in, before moving into the Implementation phase.

The Implementation Phase is where we bring your Design Plan to life.

Inspired Home Interiors guides installation and manages the moving parts so you can enjoy watching your home come together without carrying the stress of managing it yourself. We coordinate the details that turn your vision into a finished home.

During this phase, Inspired Home Interiors will:

• Procure the furnishings, materials, and products for your project.

• Coordinate with contractors, vendors, installers, and artisans.

• Oversee the construction of custom pieces.

• Track orders and coordinate deliveries.

• Help resolve construction issues or damaged items along the way.

• Keep you informed with regular project updates.

• Coordinate installation so every detail is completed as planned.

• Bring everything together for the final reveal and celebration.

The goal is to fully install a customized space that's beautifully pulled-together, comfortable for your family, organized for your day to day functionality, and truly feels like you.

This depends on the scope of your project and what types of items are included in your Design Plan.

• The Design Phase is typically 6 - 12 weeks.

• The time for items to be delivered, or for custom items to be constructed, will vary from supplier to supplier.

• The time for installation will depend on what work is being done. If we're only adding furniture and art this may be just 1 day. If we're adding electrical, painting, installing built-ins, bringing in new furniture, and hanging draperies it may be a few weeks to complete.

We kindly request 24 hours’ notice, or you may still be billed for the missed appointment.

Yes! We manage the complexity of project coordination to keep your project moving and reduce the stress involved in a home project.

In the Design Phase, IHI will bring in our trusted, local professionals to help plan and estimate the work needed as a part of your Design Plan: general contractors, painters, electricians, handymen, window treatment installers, wallpaper hangers, and more.

(If you already have a favorite contractor in mind, we are happy to coordinate with them too.)

In the Implementation Phase, IHI will serve as the main point of contact with all contractors, to ensure every detail comes together as planned. We'll guide construction and manage the moving parts, including providing Installation Management Services.

(All agreements for contractor work will be directly between you and the contractor.)

Installation Management Services include the following major milestones throughout the Implementation phase of your project:

• Coordinating contractors to complete their portion of the work

• Receiving and inspecting white-glove item deliveries

• Correcting any item issues:

  • Coordinating and overseeing repairs/replacements of damaged items

  • Re-selecting items if needed (ex. an item may be unexpectedly unavailable and a new item may need to be specified)

• Directing contractor kick-off meetings/demo day, lighting/electrical walk-thru and installation, tile layout planning, and wall-mounted item installations

• Providing direction, troubleshooting, and problem-solving assistance during construction

• Reviewing contractors' completed work and creating/monitoring “punch list” (list of outstanding work to be completed or corrected)
  

IHI provides you with a project-specific hours estimate for this work. Clients are billed hourly for this time, including travel time.

Home projects are likely to run into a hiccup or two. We may open up a wall and not be able to do what was planned. We may have a delivery delay and need to decide to wait on the item or to select a replacement.

IHI is here to guide you through these types of issues. We'll find a beautiful solution, in line with your Design Plan, and will keep your project moving forward.

The fee for Full-Service Interior Design is dependent on the particulars for your space. After we’ve met a few times to nail down the scope of your project, IHI will provide a customized proposal to include a flat fee for Design & Implementation, and an hourly fee for Installation Management Services.

Click here for fee starting points and Design Services details.

Just like purchasing items in a store or online, advance payment is required for all interior design services and products. Accepted payment options include check, bank transfer, credit card, or PayPal.

Your furnishings budget will vary depending on a number of factors including the size of the room, how much you want to add/change versus keep, and your style. If you have large rooms, a maximalist design style, or select mostly custom pieces, prices will be on the higher end. Our budget guidelines below give realistic price ranges for furnishing beautiful, long-lasting, completed spaces.

Wherever you land, IHI will work within your budget. We can help determine the pieces to invest in and the areas where it makes sense to conserve.

Our budgeting tips:

1. Keep in mind that for a space to really feel finished, it will include all the big items and window treatments, pillows, plants, art, and accessories.

2. Research your favorite styles and note the prices of items.

3. Set your dream goal for what you’d like to do in the space. Then consider what feels like a comfortable price for each item and add it up. Whittle it down as needed.

4. Be aware of any renovation and installation labor costs that may need to be added.

5. Plan a little extra for the unexpected surprises along the way.

Download your Free Budgeting Workbook to help determine your total investment amount for your project (the furnishings, the contractors, and the interior decorator).

First, we'll talk through what's important to you to keep in your space or pull in from another room. You may already have some pieces that work perfectly!

For sourcing new items, IHI has access to furnishings and accessories that aren't available in retail stores and only sell direct to folks in the interiors biz. This exclusive access allows IHI to provide high quality items at fantastic prices!

We also love to specify items from small businesses and artists around the world. You're likely to see the perfect painting or handmade accessory coming into your space from an artisan we found in your backyard or across the globe!

Additionally, IHI has relationships with a variety of retail stores, so if there's an item you've fallen in love with, we can get it at competitive retail (or better) prices!

Our Design to DONE process includes an inspiration-gathering phase, during which we'll review any and all ideas and items you'd like to incorporate into your space. Once this period is over, it's time to get down to the business of design and decision-making.

Since IHI has been hired to design a complete vision for your space, we ask that clients do not select or purchase items on their own. This is because the selection may not be a fit for the cohesive vision, design, space, or budget, and would lead to additional fees due to the added time it would take to incorporate the new item into the overall Design Plan.

All purchases will go through IHI and/or your contractor.

Yes, this is one of the benefits of Full-Service Interior Design! IHI ensures you have a hassle-free experience that saves you time, money, and effort. (If you purchase items from other sources, managing the installation process can be time-consuming, stressful, and end up costing you more.)

From purchasing to installation, IHI manages everything. We'll take care of the project details:

1. You won't have to drive all over town, call various vendors, or place multiple online orders. Everything is purchased through IHI (and/or your contractor.)

2. You can rest assured that you're getting a good price. IHI offers competitive retail prices, and in many cases, even better pricing.

3. IHI will track everything to ensure it arrives at your home on time and in good condition.

4. If there is an issue with your order, IHI will handle it, so you don't have to spend hours on hold or tracking down a lost shipment.

5. During Installation, IHI will know exactly what was ordered and how it should be installed to align with the Design Plan.

Once ordered, most items cannot be returned or cancelled. However, IHI will partner with suppliers to secure a return or cancellation if possible. Clients may be responsible for supplier restocking fees and/or penalties. Custom orders are non-refundable.

IHI is your one point of contact for everything ordered through us. We'll work with the supplier to get it repaired or replaced as quickly as possible.

For items white-glove delivered into your home, we'll be there to receive and inspect it. For items delivered directly to you (ex. via UPS/FedEx), we ask that they are opened and inspected within 24 hours of receipt and that any damages are reported to IHI immediately.

Yes! Not only is it fun to look back at your home's transformation, IHI may use these photos for our portfolio, website, or other social and print media. (IHI will not disclose any client address or full name.)

The first step is scheduling your complimentary 30-minute Design Discovery Call here.

We'll discuss your home, your goals, and the best next step.