With so many different levels of service now available from highly skilled designers to complementary services offered by retailers (not to mention DIY-ers in this niche), information can be misleading about what you get with each. Read below to see some of the common questions I’m asked and the answers you don’t want to miss.

FAQ #1: How do you capture my design style?

The first step in the design process at Stauffer Design Co. is to nail down your exact design style and budget. If you've called on my help, it's likely because you've seen something in my work that you were attracted to, and that's a good start.

We will work very hard in the first few weeks of your project to figure out exactly what YOU like (we do this through a bit of homework...aka Pinterest). By the time the homework piece is complete, we will have analyzed what you are drawn to in images, your current lifestyle, how your home should reflect your family, and how much you will be investing in the project.

I feel fully confident that I can create one stunning design for you. No need for me to bring you two or three different presentations— I have learned everything I need to know about your project up front in order to bring you the PERFECT design presentation from the start.

FAQ #2: Where do you source products?

I'm a huge believer that interior design is a luxury service. It has been watered down by free services offered by every Pottery Barn, Dick, and Harry, but those free services can't do what I mentioned in the first FAQ. They can't see into your home and life. The right interior design service should do that.

When sourcing products for your project, I keep in mind that you deserve something unique to you, something exclusive, and not something mass produced or readily available by a click of the mouse.

I have worked hard to find vendors that provide pieces (sometimes custom) exclusively to designers with clients like you. They stand behind their products and we have a great working relationship that goes hand in hand with making sure your space comes together the way you had dreamed.

FAQ #3: What does a typical investment look like?

This is a hard one to answer because I don’t do “typical” designs. In fact, my work’s purpose is to be anything but typical. Like finding your design style, the first step in our process at Stauffer Design Co. is also setting you investment. This includes a deep dive into exactly what your dream design should like, and I research to price it accordingly.

In my book, no design is one-size-fits-all, and no matter how much you’d like me to “shoot you a ballpark,” I don’t like playing baseball games with your money. If you need a range BEFORE we start your homework, take a look at Googles Cost vs. Value report for your geographical area. It will show you real time costs for projects in your locale, but use caution— this report shows nothing about which selections were made and how they compare to your own wishlist.

To make the most informed decisions from the start, be sure to download our Investment Guide.

FAQ #4: What is the value in hiring an interior designer?

An interior designer is a key asset in preventing the costly mistakes that result when you attempt to complete a project on your own. Your designer is your ally in keeping your project moving forward and on schedule. A good designer has a keen eye for details and is an expert at creating a design that is cohesive with the rest of your home and fits the style that best represents the home’s inhabitants.

If you have additional questions we didn't answer in this post, reach out to us. We would love to chat and answer those questions!

Cheers,
Jamie