What is Virtual/E-Design and Why Should You Hire A Virtual Interior Designer??

Why Should You Hire A Virtual Interior Designer??

What is Virtual/E-Design & Why You Should Hire US

First off, you should hire us because we are awesome, fun to work with, and generally all around amazing. Maybe not so humble…but we can’t be everything.

Now to the info you’re looking for.

We enjoy Full Service Design because we love being physically in the space and being a part of the project from conception to installation.  We like to be in control of all the details and we love getting to know our clients super well over a time period of a year or more during long projects. 

However, we realize that not everyone can afford Full Service Design. Just because someone can’t afford Full Service Design doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate great design so we decided to start doing E-design in order to help make a well-designed home more accessible.

An E-design Board for a kitchen project. See Below For progress shot of kitchen

An in progress shot of a virtual design project we are working on

E-design is NOT for you if you: do not have time to measure room, take pictures, or order items that are specified

If you can read numbers on a tape measure and write legibly, and can order and install furniture and art, then keep reading about the benefits. 

Benefits of E-Design/Virtual Design

1. Timing:   Generally E-design can be done quicker than Full Service traditional design, so if you’re in a rush and have the time to implement, this can be a great option.  There still may be a wait to receive furniture, but the whole process is generally faster.  

2. Budget Friendly:   E-design is done quicker so it’s cheaper for you.   You generally are responsible for measuring and taking pictures and sending it to us.  You have the option of when to purchase items in design plan, so you can make it fit your budget.

3. More flexible scheduling:  All meetings are online so you don’t even have to put on pants, which is always a win in our book.

4. Expert Sourcing:  If you’ve ever tried to design & furnish a room, you know it can take you HOURS to find that perfect light fixture or chair.   We are sourcing items all day long, so can usually find cooler things much quicker because we’ve got a whole list of vendors to choose from. 

5. See the final product before you buy any furniture:  Instead of spending a ton of money on multiple different items purchased over time and then realizing it doesn’t fit the space, you can see everything together in a 3D rendering and KNOW it works, and then purchase on your own time schedule.  We integrate furniture you already own into projects and make the whole space cohesive.

6. Floorplans and Layouts:  No longer will you buy a couch and get into your living room and realize it is TOO BIG for the space.  No longer do you need to spend all day re-arranging furniture to see what looks best. We have already done that work for you. We give you 2D floorplans with all items labeled so you know exactly where to put each item. 

DownSides Of E-design

1. It can be a lot of work logistics wise taking care of product ordering and communicating with contractors and sub trades. (which is a reason people hire us for Full Service: because it can be a second full time job).

2. Design & Products are somewhat limited. All products are retail items which mean no custom items or super specialized design elements that would take collaboration with other trades. So if you’re looking for an exceptionally unique space a la Architectural Digest, this option isn’t for you.

Design board for an E-design Bathroom (scroll below for real life pic)

How much does Virtual Interior Design cost? 

We charge approximately $1,749 to complete an E-design for one room.  (Full Service Design can be 2-3x that cost).  

Powder rooms and entry ways are priced on a case by case basis and are generally cheaper.  Kitchens or other complicated rooms are also on a case by case basis if they include any cabinetry layouts. 

What is included in the $1,749?

• 2D Floorplan of room with furniture placement

• 3D Renderings of spaces

• Design Concept Board (aka mood board) which includes all products and items needed to fully implement design

• All products loaded into our project management software with links to purchase products

• Paint color suggestions

• Window covering options

Real Life pic of Project in Progress

How Does E-Design WOrk?

• You can click here to take our questionnaire

• After taking our questionnaire, you will be able to book a free discovery call with us. During the call we will talk about your project and help you figure out if E-design will work for you.

• If so, we send you a fee proposal

• After design fee is paid, design work starts:

  • design concept, drawings, sourcing product, (A minimum of 14-21 days for design time is required prior to presentation of design concept).

• Presentation via Email/Phone/Zoom, depending on client preference.

• Follow Up/Revision

  • Revise any parts of design per client, answer any questions prior to project completion

Any Questions?

If you have any questions about how E-design works, comment below or drop us an email and we will get back to you!

How Hiring an Interior Designer can save you money

How Hiring An Interior Designer Can Save You Money

“WHAT?!” you’re saying.  There is no way that hiring one more person is going to save me anything.  I’m already spending 19 million dollars (we all exaggerate a little bit) on this renovation/new build/decoration project.

How is paying someone thousands of dollars going to SAVE me money?

This mudroom walkthrough would’ve never happened with just the contractor and architects plans.

If you have the budget to do the above project- (whatever it may be), then you have the budget to hire a designer. You’ll get the best bang from your buck if you start the process with a designer in the beginning of the project….and not midway through after a bunch of mistakes have been made and now you need someone to fix it. 

A designer can steer you away from costly mistakes:

Did you go out and buy a bunch of appliances for your kitchen renovation because they were on sale without knowing if they would fit?  Oops.  Now you’ve got to return them all (and usually lose money). 

Forget to make sure there was enough of a walkway to get to your toilet?  That’s okay….you can spent the next twenty years on the loo trying to make yourself fit or pay to fix it.  Oops! No one thought to make sure you could open up your oven all the way.   

What’s more functional? Two shower niche’s that can fit full bottles of shampoo or only one?

Now…this isn’t to say that designers never make mistakes.  But designers have experience that you don’t.  (How did they get that experience?  By making mistakes.) 

There are some mistakes that even all the experience in the world can’t fix….patterns, textures, surfaces, colors- this is something that some people don’t learn or can’t learn.  And it would be terrible to pick all these expensive items out for your bathroom renovation and then realize they look horrible together! (this is why it’s important to hire a designer with a good eye AND good taste)

Help you pick and vet contractors/architects: 

A designer can help you with the questions you ask a contractor to make sure they are reliable and know what they’re doing and not ripping you off while they’re doing it.  Businesses practices in this industry can be very opaque (to put it politely) and a designer can raise a red flag if someone is promising too much for too cheap or trying to charge you $300/sqf for laminate countertops.  They can also let you know which contractors might have a history of very bad work…like installing a dryer without venting it to the outside. 

Reuse & Recycle Interior Decor:

Did you think you were going to have to throw away all your furniture? A designer has the eye to see which items can be refinished or reupholstered and still used in your project.  It’s usually cheaper for you, and better for the environment!

This couch was a beat up 100 year old couch that we reupholstered and re-foamed to get a brand new look .

Interior Designers Have Better Prices

Designers usually have a relationship with a vendor and receive better pricing on items.  Depending on their business model, sometimes they will extend some of that discount to their clients.   Our company shares our trade discounts with our clients- we want our clients to get the best bang for their buck, so clients will get a cheaper price than MSRP (which makes them happy), and we also are making money (which makes us happy).

Designers Can Make Your Money Go Further:

Any designer worth his/her salt,  (I’m not exactly sure how much salt is worth, so maybe take that statement with a grain of the above mentioned entity) will be able to tell you when you should splurge and when you can save.  You don’t always need the most expensive item to still have an amazing space.  Sometimes Ikea & Target mixed with a ridiculously expensive rug make a better pair than everything expensive.

This is a Target chair (on left) mixed with an original Adrian Pearsall MCM chair that has been reupholstered.

Maximize Your Investment:

If you’re ever planning on selling your house, a designer can help you figure out the best way to maximize your money to get the best result when you sell.  Boring doesn’t always sell quicker or better. 

Save On Therapy Costs After A Renovation:  

Trust us…if you’re working full time and then coming home and trying to design a house in your spare time, you’re gonna need some therapy at some point because of the stress and mental breakdown.  (we’ve worked full time and designed a house in our after hours, so we know this one).  Therapy is expensive and takes up a lot of time, so it’s easier just to hire someone else from the get go.