So, you've decided to go ahead embark on an interior design project in your home--congratulations, cutie! I'm going to assume you've seen the light and know that the interior design experts on the Kathy Kuo Home Design Team are the perfect pros to help you realize the home of your dreams. But, that begs the question: How long will it all take? What sort of luxury interior design timeline should you plan for?
In all honestly--there's not just one exact formula for calculating how long a given luxury interior design project will take from start to finish. But fear not--the KKH design team is here and we are happy to share some general rules of the design road that you can rely on when counting down the days until you can blissfuly lounge about in your brand-sparkling-newly-designed space. Read on for some insider tips from me and my expert design team!
The measurement piece is essential here, so be sure to ask questions if there's anything you're unsure on. For local clients (within a 2-hour drive of NYC), we offer an option, at an extra cost, to do an in-person consult in your space. However, especially out of an abundance of caution surrounding COVID-19, it's not a "must" in terms of measurement taking. Typically, our designers will guide you step-by-step in how to best take all the necessary measurements and to ensure their accuracy. I know it seems like a lot of tedious numbers work here, but have I mentioned that we are old pros? I swear, the process is a snap, and you'll be onto the *fun* part of the interior design project in no time!
In all honestly--there's not just one exact formula for calculating how long a given luxury interior design project will take from start to finish. But fear not--the KKH design team is here and we are happy to share some general rules of the design road that you can rely on when counting down the days until you can blissfuly lounge about in your brand-sparkling-newly-designed space. Read on for some insider tips from me and my expert design team!
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Step 1: The Kickoff Call & Site Visit
The first step is super-easy, and inspiring design is just a phone call away! For your kickoff call, plan for 20 minutes on average (though could be 10 minutes - 1 hour depending on size of project) to discuss the scope of the project, size of the space, budget, aesthetics and colors, any non-negotiables (other than budget), and what to expect from the given package. You'll also get an overview of the designer who will be working on your project. Next, you'll be introduced to your designer (who, I promise, you are sure to be obsessed with because all of our designers are truly lovely people) for an in-depth consultation on your needs and preferences. You'll want to share measurements, photos of the space, inspiration images, and questionnaires with them in order to kick start everything. It's like a first date where you're really vibing and sharing everything about your life's story...except, it's an interior design project!The measurement piece is essential here, so be sure to ask questions if there's anything you're unsure on. For local clients (within a 2-hour drive of NYC), we offer an option, at an extra cost, to do an in-person consult in your space. However, especially out of an abundance of caution surrounding COVID-19, it's not a "must" in terms of measurement taking. Typically, our designers will guide you step-by-step in how to best take all the necessary measurements and to ensure their accuracy. I know it seems like a lot of tedious numbers work here, but have I mentioned that we are old pros? I swear, the process is a snap, and you'll be onto the *fun* part of the interior design project in no time!
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Step 2: The Design Process
There is absolutely no such thing as project too big or too small for the creative hive mind at KKH! We do everything from new-build homes that are 10 bedrooms to tiny studio apartments. But no matter the size, our approach is the same--high-touch service, an unrivaled taste level...and actually tons of fun as you work your way through your luxury interior design timeline! You can consider the official first day of the design process to be the day our design team receives the dimensions of your space. In other words, once you sent those measurements along, go ahead and pop that champagne! After that, expect 7 business days to turn around the first design, and 3-4 business days for each revision (two revisions is typical for any given project). The goal is to have the design process wrapped up, for one room, within 30 days. Of course, this can vary depending on number of revisions and number of samples requested for custom items. As a designer and business-owner, I really take pride in our process, because we really do have such a buttoned up approach. The fact that we can turn around first designs and potentially enter order procurement within a 2-week time period--depending on client approval--sets us apart in the industry. Best of all? We do this without rushing the creative process at all. As more and more people get comfortable with the e-design approach--I get it, it's still a relatively new phenomenon--they see how seamless it is and why our team is so insanely good at it.
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Step 3: Order Placement, Delivery & Consolidation
Okay, so you've worked through the first few weeks of your design project and you're now ready to move on to the fun part--placing orders for all your fresh, new furniture! But before you put your 12-year-old sectional out on the curb, be sure that you understand what to expect from the procurement, delivery, and consolidation process. You should plan to give yourself 2-4 weeks to receive individual pieces, depending on what the piece is--for the entire order process, 3-4 months is a safe bet. First, you’ll get smaller items--like lamps and pillows, which we call parcel items--through UPS within about 2 weeks. On the flip side of that, if any large pieces are custom those are going to be what takes the longest-- you may want to expect to wait anywhere from 2-6 months. I highly recommend white glove shipping and delivery to all of our interior design clients--it's just a much less stressful process as your navigate the luxury interior design timeline process! If things travel with white glove, they do tend to take longer, but it’s well worth it because you won’t be receiving damaged goods and all the debris will be removed after the install. Finally, if I leave you with one iron-clad piece of advice to make sure that you love your interior design experience and results: I highly recommend that you opt for consolidation when coordinating your furniture deliveries. Though it costs a little bit more and may add a few weeks to the process, it eliminates so much stress (seriously, waiting for one-at-a-time deliveries is like waiting for the cable guy...over, and over, and over again). Consolidation is a service that allows all pieces to be shipped to a climate-controlled warehouse for storage and inspection before delivery to your home with in-home placement and debris removal--you'll want to provide the Project Management team 2-4 weeks to plan for this large delivery. Honestly, this is what gives your home a true makeover moment...and who couldn't use a few more makeover moments in their lives these days?!
Important Note: Customization
Custom furniture and rugs are a wonderful way to make your space extra-special--not only will custom pieces reflect your style perfectly, but they will also fit the space much more seamlessly. That said, it is undeniable that custom picks are going to extend your timeline.
As a rule, you should be adding six months for custom items. It may be a 12-16 week timeline for made to measure upholstery, while a smaller fabric change can take just 4 weeks, but those are best-case scenarios. Recognize also that the custom timeline depends on how custom you’re getting--how many batches of fabric samples do you want to see before you make a decision? How long do you need to sit with the options and weigh the pros and cons? The bottom line is: Plan in advance knowing it’s an investment piece and it's going to take time to do well...but you’ll be essentially guaranteed to love the results and end up with a piece that's of the utmost quality!
