Questions
Frequently Asked
Why The Design Source?
What interior design style does The Design Source specialize in?
Each project is unique and we don’t have a particular style that we stick to. We focus on the needs and wishes of our clients and create spaces that reflect their style.
Why would I hire a designer like The Design Source instead of going somewhere like Restoration Hardware or Ethan Allen who offers design services?
We work in all aspects of Interior Design, remodelling, paint, furniture, lighting, decorations. We are not limited to specific brands, we have over 150 accounts that we can order from to create you a beautiful look.
Why should I hire an interior designer?
An Interior Designer not only makes a room look beautiful, they help their clients by providing direction from beginning to end, saving them time, money and headaches.
They take into account the function of the space or spaces, traffic flow, ease of use, proper lighting, finishes, safety and other considerations unique to the space. They help with setting priorities within their client’s budget and have access to trade only resources, often saving the client money.
And an Interior Designer does the legwork for you – visiting showrooms, specifying furniture and fixtures, creating mood boards for you to choose from, deals with procurement, etc., leaving you with the extra time to focus on other things!
We serve greater Houston area, and will go further to Brenham, College Station, Galveston for an additional trip charge.
Cost and Budget
How much does a consultation cost?
$195 per hour (usually takes 2 hours). After our Discovery Call, we will schedule a time to come to your home for up to two hours of time to review the project in person and give you tangible design advice.
Remodeling and New Construction selection consultations are by the hour at $195 (includes making selections, client meetings, meetings with the contractor, long phone calls/text conversations); Drawings and administrative work are also by the hour at $105-155 per hour.
What should I do to prepare for the consultation?
Start collecting pictures of what you like. It can be for an overall feel, one sofa, color scheme, etc. And think about what you don’t like also.
You can start a Pinterest Board, Houzz ideabook, or on instagram. Photos are a great way to visualize what you like, don’t like, and style you want to create.
What additional costs can I expect to pay?
We do our best to give you a full cost outlook of each item, but additional costs should be expected such as storage, shipping, white glove delivery and art installers.
We estimate these costs when presenting the furnishings budget to give you a full understanding of what your budget should look like. Generally, you can expect these additional costs to be 10-15% of your total budget.
What is the average cost to furnish a room?
This can vary widely depending on the amount of detail, the square footage, and other factors.
We don't necessarily have a minimum, but we find that best results happen when we design a room start to finish. You need a complete look rather than a piece here and there, it really allows us to show what we can do and give more of a "wow" factor. Realistically an entire room will start around 30k. This includes furniture, décor, chandelier, lamps, custom throw pillows, rug, custom art, and custom drapery.
Designer fees are a separate budget as well as furnishings. The Design Source will be happy to give you guidance in determining an estimated investment based off your priorities.
What if I can't afford to design my entire home at once?
We understand that people have budgets and may only be able to do one room at a time. It is an expense. We work room by room all the time with our clients.
By working with us it can save you time finding the right piece to go in your home, and it will fit the style, size, and scale of the room.
And we love to give our clients choices and it is okay to say you don’t like them and want to go a different route, then we can give you more options.
Timeline & etc.
How long does it normally take to complete a project?
Most interior design projects will take anywhere from 3–6 months depending on the size.
It typically takes us about a week and a half to design and about 10-20 weeks to install. Custom furniture is often built-to-order, items can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to arrive (sometimes more).
For remodeling and new construction the timeline can vary depending on the size of the project and the contractor/builder.
We definitely strive to install as soon as possible. We want your home to be complete as soon as possible so we can discuss your timeline and source based on this at the consultation.
Do we order furniture or do you take care of this for me?
This is where we make your life easy and take the stress of ordering away from you. We purchase all items and we work towards an install date.This is usually a 8-12 week timeframe.We track all orders, store them in our warehouse and prepare everything for install.
What if I need help with multiple rooms and already own some of the furniture? Do you work with what I already have?
We can definitely work with your pieces of furniture. We will give you our honest design opinion; scale and balance of a room is very important for design. Most of the time if it doesn’t quite go with one room in the house, we can probably use it in another area.
Our goal is to create a space that fits you and your lifestyle that is pleasing to you and create an amazing overall look.
What is the process? How do I get started?
We're excited to work with you. Our 1st step is to make sure we are a good fit for your project by scheduling a discovery call. You can find our step-by-step process for a quick overview from start to finish.
What areas do you serve?