The Design Process

My e-Design + Stylist process follows 7 simple steps:

Initial Consultation
Follow-up Email & Invoices
Mood Board
Concept Board & Additional Boards
Design Presentation
You’re All Set!!
Post-Design: Shopping, Styling & Photographing

1. Initial Consultation

We have a complimentary 30 minute meeting in your home, during which time you tell me which space/s you’d like to tackle. This introductory meeting is an important step - it allows us both to get a feel for each other, and for me to begin to understand your requirements, your taste & your desired style direction. In this meeting we develop a rough game-plan based on the number of spaces that you have, and your most urgent priorities. I will ask your budget (separate from my design fee). I will work with any budget reasonable for the space in question, and your desired vision of the room.

2. Follow-up Email/s & Invoices
After our initial meeting, I will send you:

a follow-up email with proposal, confirming which rooms will be designed, and the cost thereof

On signed acceptance of the proposal, I will send you:

a client questionnaire, to be completed by yourselves. This helps me to gather further information as to your design style preference, budget & lifestyle, and how you envision your space. If necessary, we meet in your home again (one hour maximum), to review and further discuss your vision and requirements
invoices for every room/space that you’ve requested

Then, in order to begin working on your design, I will require the following from you:

1. receipt of paid deposit (50% from invoice)

2. a sketch/floorplan indicating the following:

* dimensions (width & height) for walls, doorways, along with ceiling height

* any important architectural elements (e.g. fireplaces, cornicing, ceiling roses, and odd little room quirks)

* markings for existing electrical outlets, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, etc.

3. photos of the room, from all corners (preferably wide-angled)

4. photos and measurements of any existing furniture, fixtures or accessories you'd like to incorporate

5. inspiration photos. If you have a Pinterest inspiration board, please do share that with me

Note: Should you not wish to do the measuring up & photographing of spaces & furniture yourself, I do offer this service at an additional fee.

I will commence working on your design at the earliest available date, once all the above documents, information and (non-refundable) deposit have been received. Please submit the deposit as soon as possible to secure your design slot - consultations alone do not guarantee a design slot. A Design is only considered to be booked if both the signed proposal and the deposit have been received, at which point the start date of your project's design will be confirmed.

3. Concept Board
Once all of the required information is received, and the start date of your project's design has been confirmed, I will begin designing one option, based on our initial meeting/s, the completed questionnaire, and the inspiration images that you've shared.

Within three (3) weeks, I will put together and present to you an illustration-style Concept Board. This board will capture the intended general atmosphere, colours, style & aesthetic direction of your project - it is intended to communicate the design aesthetic, so it will not include exact furniture, fabrics, finishes, or accessories. The Concept board is usually presented in-person, and once presented, we discuss in greater detail, exploring what you do and don’t like.

4. Room Board (& additional boards)
Once we are in agreement as to the design aesthetic, I will start designing the full Room board. This board is a presentation of the actual design, with key elements highlighted. This board contains the specifics of the project, and it will include, where relevant: sourced & selected furniture, soft furnishings, art, plants, accessories, lighting, window treatments, paint colour recommendations, materials & finishes, etc. (FF&E specifications)

Dependent on the agreed-upon scope of work, the Concept board &/or Room Board may be accompanied by: development sketches; a Materials & Finishes board (physical or digital); an Indicative Lighting Plan; elevation drawings. Concept & Room Boards are digital, and illustration-style, and you will receive a hard-copy of the Concept Board during the Concept Presentation.

The Concept board additionally includes a true-to-scale 2D technical Furniture Space Plan of your room's layout, with sourced items marked out for ease of placement. Traffic flow & /or zoning may be shown, if deemed necessary to illustrate.

This part of the design process takes approximately three (3) weeks. Please do be aware that occasionally, the development of the various Boards could happen a little sooner than expected, and it could also happen that it takes a week or two longer than anticipated - design is a fluid & creative process. Open-plan, multi-zone living spaces are, for example, more complex than the design of a single room. You will always receive clear communication in this regard.

5. Design Presentation

Once the design is complete and the Concept board is finalised, I present to you the proposed design. This is usually done in-person.

On presentation of the Concept board, we discuss in greater detail, exploring what you do and don’t like. Should it be the case that you desire changes to the Concept board after presentation, two revisions are included within the e-Design + Stylist package. These revisions are essentially tweaks to the original Concept design. Each revision is expected to require maximum two (2) weeks. Any amendments additional to the two included revisions are charged for at my applicable hourly rate.

Complete aesthetic re-designs (i.e. designs in a totally different direction) are considered to be a new &/or additional scope of work, and will be separately costed.

The Concept board is usually presented via an in-home design presentation. Any included revisions are presented digitally. Once all of the adjustments have been made, I present to you the final design. Following this, the balance of payment due for the package is required.

On receipt of final payment, your complete Design Package will be released to you, via email. This Design Package will include: the Concept, Room & any other applicable Boards; the Indicative Lighting Plan; the technical furniture space plan; your product recommendations (provided via a shoppable FF&E specification sheet); elevations etc.

6. You’re All Set!!

Your design is complete. Follow the provided images, guides, &/or shopping lists to purchase your items and set up your space at your own pace, in your own time and as your budget allows. If you have any questions about how to arrange furniture & décor etc., I am available for you to text, call, or email.

7. Post-Design:

* Client-accompanying shopping trip

* Purchasing of room-styling accessories

* Styling Session + portfolio photography
The above three items are included in your package and are scheduled as and when required

The Styling service (to style & align the actual space with the proposed design) is generally valid for two (2) months, post receipt of the final design package. However, I do understand that the purchase of big-ticket items often entails a long delivery period (12+ weeks), and similarly, contractors (painters, tilers, flooring suppliers etc.) frequently have long waiting times for their services. That being said, the maximum applicable period to make use of my Styling service is six (6) months from receipt of your final Design Package.