FAQ

Our comprehensive, consultancy-centered approach takes your project from concept to completion in five main phases:

1. Design Discovery & Project Documentation
2. Conceptual Design
3. Procurement and Design Implementation
4. Ultimate Load In, Styling & Photography
5. Big Reveal & Close-Out

Throughout the project, we provide weekly status reports and maintain open communication with our clients.

While timelines can vary depending on the project’s complexity, here’s a general overview:

• Design Discovery: Begins within 2 weeks of project kick-off, includes up to 5 90-minute meetings
• Project Intake: Comprehensive measurements and documentation of the space
• Conceptual Design: Takes about 2 months, culminating in a Design Concept Presentation
• Procurement and Design Implementation: Typically starts about 3 months after project kick-off, duration varies based on project complexity and product lead times
• Load In and Styling: Can take from one day for a single room to several days for a whole house
• Big Reveal: Shortly after the load in and final styling

Our full-service approach manages projects from initial concept through to completion, designing your home down to the final detail. It consists of two major phases:

1. Conceptual Design (approximately 8-12 weeks):
• Assessing and documenting the current space, taking measurements and photos
• Designing the ideal floor plan
• Creating inspiration boards
• Sourcing key element textile and finish samples
• Determining key element selections
• Reviewing the project scope with “trade services” if needed
• Refining the estimated Project Investment

2. Procurement and Implementation (varies based on scope of work):
• Sourcing and receiving project elements
• Scheduling and managing necessary trade services
• Overseeing construction and installation
• Coordinating deliveries and installations
• Providing turnkey furniture installation and styling
• Conducting the Big Reveal and resolving any deficiencies

This comprehensive approach allows us to take care of all the major and minute design details that turn a house into a home.

We use a two-part fee structure for our full-service interior design projects:

1. Design Investment: A flat fee based on the detailed, room-by-room Scope of Work established in our Letter Agreement.

2. Project Investment and a Procurement Management Fee: The Project Investment is the retail cost of goods and trade services necessary for the project’s scope of work. The Procurement Management Fee is a percentage of the Project Investment that covers our time and expertise during the sourcing and implementation of your project.

We use a secure 3rd party banking system for invoicing and payments. Our typical payment schedule is:

1. 50% of the Design Investment due upon signing the Letter Agreement to secure you project start date
2. Balance of the Design Investment due after Project Intake (about 4 weeks later)
3. 80% of the Procurement Management Fee and Project Investment due upon approval of the Design Concept Presentation (about 2-3 months after signing the Letter Agreement)
4. Final balance due two weeks prior to project completion

The 80% upfront payment for sourcing serves several purposes:

• It allows for efficient project management and timely completion
• It allows us to place orders immediately, expediting the process
• It ensures commitment to custom-ordered items
• It simplifies the paperwork and billing process

Our Letter Agreement indicates an estimated Project Investment. The Project Investment is developed carefully based on our experience and prior projects.

Although it is estimated, at the beginning of the project, the estimated Project Investment serves as the benchmark or target budget for the project ensuring that we are on the same page in terms of the investment required for the agreed upon scope of work.

Our project investment estimate is based on our experience and confidence in our ability to source and install beautiful interiors on time and on budget. You don’t need to fear overruns or unexpected costs within the agreed-upon scope of work. If changes to the scope are desired after the estimated project investment is set, we discuss these openly and provide clear information about any cost implications. The estimated Project Investment, and the corresponding Procurement Management Fee, are adjusted for actuals for the final invoice. This approach ensures that your project reflects the actual cost of the goods and services used for your project, plus our management fee, and it allows us to offer a selection options. Actual project investment is typically within +/- 5% of the estimated Project Investment.

For those desiring absolute investment certainty, we offer an option to lock-in the Project Investment in the Letter Agreement.

Initial client estimates often underestimate interior design project budgets for the following reasons:

• Underestimating total costs by not considering delivery, installation, or removal of existing pieces
• Neglecting to plan for “invisible” costs like site preparation, restoration, or waste disposal
• Failing to include a contingency fund
• Not factoring in the full cost to get the entire project across the finish line
• Thinking of the design project in terms of DIY costs

Similarly, the temptation of continuous small upgrades over the project life erode many DIY budgets before the project reaches completion and so often, we’ve seen evidence of an exuberant overfocus on one area of the home (such as a kitchen) or one design element (like cabinets) while other key spaces are neglected.

Our project investment estimates are comprehensive. Your project will be completed. Your work and everyone we bring into your home is an expert at what they provide and insure. Our work has a 2-year warranty. We have the discipline and knowledge to sidestep unnecessary upgrades, and we are going to approach your project relative to the entirety of your home.

For more information on creating an interior design project budget, see our Interior Design Investment article.

So often we are called in after the fact to fix mistakes that were made. We have been called in to remedy uncomfortable sofas, dead spaces after a kitchen remodel, random weird rooms with no purpose, gigantic furniture arrangements, over-the-top kitchens and no budget for family room seating, and costly remodels that make it impossible to determine a workable furniture floorplan. We have remedied all these scenarios and more; however, it’s more affordable to address these issues from the beginning. Consulting with us early can:

• Help identify a design solution that scales back or even eliminates the need for a remodel
• Help refine your budget based on our industry knowledge
• Anticipate potential pitfalls and prevent costly design changes later
• Provide guidance on where to splurge and where to save
• Help you balance your budget across all areas of your home

Even if you’re not ready for a full-scale design project, an hourly design consultation can provide valuable insights for your budgeting process.

We believe in maintaining clear and consistent communication. Project status reports are emailed weekly (typically, Friday at 8 AM ET)—these reports summarize accomplishments, order statuses, and key upcoming project timeline events.

Clients have access to our team for any questions between scheduled meetings. Our objective is to proactively keep you informed throughout the process with written project status information at your fingertips.

The project scope of work is developed room-by-room and incorporated into the Letter Agreement along with the estimated Project Investment. Changes must be mutually agreed upon, documented, and associated fees paid. We work hard to get the scope right upfront to minimize changes. Our goal is to maintain clear communication, manage expectations, and keep the project moving forward smoothly.

To streamline the process and maintain quality control. We handle all procurement of goods and trade services for the project. Our team contracts directly with and pays trusted trade service partners and vendors. Clients do not make alternate purchase arrangements or pay project vendors directly.

Yes, we stand behind our work. We offer a 2-year warranty on products and workmanship. This covers defects in materials and installation. It does not extend to normal wear and tear or misuse.

In addition to our 2-year warranty on products and workmanship, we retain all design information for your project. This means if you want to reupholster a sofa, design another space, add a custom tablecloth, or enhance your window treatments in the future, we have a solid foundation to work from. It’s not like starting from scratch, allowing for seamless future updates or expansions to your original and subsequent designs.

There’s no need for you to interview trade service providers. We manage the entire design and implementation process. Our greatest resource is our team of vendors, makers, craftspeople, artisans, installers, and tradesmen. We oversee the process from conceiving the design to project managing the renovation, down to placing the last pillow. This ensures that our design is executed with the utmost quality and efficiency.

All purchasing and implementation for the scope of work goes through us. This allows us to:
• Ensure adherence to our quality and implementation standards, and to the design vision
• Manage the timeline, Project Investment, and completion of the scope of work established in the Letter Agreement
• Offer carefully chosen, high-quality options that avoid a “vanilla” design
• Provide a mix of elements that results in a layered, thoughtful, and detailed design

Our true value is in putting together this mix, which is why we curate selection options to maintain the integrity of the design and the quality of the workmanship and design elements.

Our initial virtual 30-minute consultation is complimentary. During this initial consultation, we will discuss your interior design project, your prior experience working with an interior designer, your desired timeline and anticipated project investment.

The Home Review is an invitation to the first step in our interior design process. This flat-fee service starts at $1,200. During a Home Review, we will walk through your entire property, discussing your thoughts regarding the space. We will talk with you about what works, and what does not, your desired functions, and who uses the spaces. With you, we will review and discuss three images of rooms you like and three that you do not like, gathered in advance. The Home Review concludes with a 30-minute virtual discussion of your written Home Review report. The Home Review includes expert design recommendations for each space in your home and design inspiration images. The goal of the Home Review is to help you discover the design potential of your home.

Following the Home Review, the design process begins with comprehensive Design Discovery. Our Design Discovery involves a series of in-depth discussions (typically about five 90-minute in person meetings) to thoroughly understand your tastes, preferences, and lifestyle, before the Design Concept Presentation. These meetings are fun and will involve hands-on opportunities to take a close look at different key design elements for your project. For instance, one common in-depth discussion centers on project textiles where we roll up our sleeves and dig into textile samples curated specifically for your project. These in-depth meetings are how we get a sense of your aesthetic, which we then translate into the Design Concept presentation.

Following the Design Concept presentation, you approve the overall Design Concept (and key elements), and we handle the detailed selection and procurement of individual items. This streamlined process allows you to enjoy watching your space come together without being burdened by numerous small decisions and countless purchase orders.

Using draperies as an example, you’ll approve key elements like fabric and style, while we handle technical details like hardware specifications. Our Design Concept approval process does not burden you with every product decision, even though we are always happy to answer questions regarding the details. We find that most of our clients are more interested in the drapery fabric, function and hardware, than the size of the tenter hook, the depth of the drapery return, or the pin placement. Design is complex, and there are far more pieces, parts and details than meet the eye.

Through our expertise and transparent communication, we create a selection process that’s ideal for clients who want to enjoy the transformation process without getting bogged down in day-to-day details. Many of our clients choose to be away from the property during major installations, just to avoid the disruption. However, your presence on site during installations is not necessary or discouraged.

Our design and selection process is designed to minimize your time investment while
maximizing your input on crucial decisions:
• We handle all logistics, from vendor management to installation
• We provide clear, concise updates that respect your time
• We offer flexible meeting schedules, including evenings and weekends when necessary
• We manage all aspects of the project, allowing you to focus on enjoying the transformation of
your space

Our goal is to make the design and implementation process as smooth and enjoyable as
possible, while still ensuring that your unique vision is realized in the final design.

Unexpected delays and issues are part of any complex project, which is why we manage the entire sourcing and implementation process. We promptly advise clients of any unexpected delays or unforeseen issues, along with our recommended solution or remedy.

Pembrook Interiors specializes in comprehensive, high-end residential projects. While we don’t set a strict minimum budget, our services are best suited for clients seeking a full-scale, luxury transformation of their living spaces. Our projects typically involve:
• Whole-home designs, with or without significant renovations
• Custom-crafted furniture, custom window treatments and bespoke pieces
• Curated art, custom framing, and accessories
• High-functioning textiles, and luxury linens
• Transformative, contemporary lighting
• High-quality, often original or limited-edition items, occasionally integrated with quality antiques

We invest considerable time and expertise in each project, ensuring a result that’s not just beautiful, but truly extraordinary and expertly suited for the occupant’s lifestyle and preferences.

We’re experienced in collaborating with other professionals on larger projects. For more information on when you might need an architect or a designer (or both), please refer to our “Do I Need an Architect or an Interior Designer” article

We offer a wide range of interior design services, including:

Full-service interior design
Additions and renovations consulting
New construction consulting
Project management
Kitchens and bathrooms
Finish selections
Furniture and accessories selection
Space planning
Custom cabinetry
Fabrics and upholstery
Floor coverings and rug design
Wall coverings
Custom window treatments
Lighting design
Corporate offices
Vacation rentals, hospitality and restaurants
Public spaces and lobbies
Sustainable and low-VOC design

Creating a space that’s uniquely yours is at the heart of what we do.

We begin with in-depth conversations and lifestyle analysis to truly understand how you live, work, and entertain. We source exclusive, often one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect your personality. We collaborate with high-end artisans to create custom elements as needed. We incorporate your existing cherished pieces into the new design. We consider every detail, from the grand gestures to the subtle touches, ensuring a cohesive, personalized result.

The end goal is always a space that feels authentically you, elevated to its highest potential.

When selecting an interior designer, consider the following:

1. Design Credentials and Project Management Experience
• Look for proven experience in completing projects on time and on budget
• Check for a structured process for client communications throughout the project
• Know that interior designers function differently in terms of what they do and how they do it. We are a turnkey design firm.

2. Access to a Wide Range of Products
• Choose a designer with diverse supplier connections for a truly bespoke design
• Look for designers who regularly attend trade markets to source the best products

3. Good Listening Skills and Thorough Questioning
• Your designer should spend time understanding your lifestyle and vision
• Look for someone who makes you feel comfortable and understood

4. Documented design and implementation process
• Look for an established communication process
• Detailed project investment numbers and a project timeline

We take client privacy and confidentiality very seriously. We have a comprehensive privacy and confidentiality statement available on our website that outlines our commitment to protecting your information and the details of your project.

We invite you to talk with our clients about their experience. Please reach out to us for a list of references. We’re confident that our past clients can attest to the quality of our work and the positive experience of working with Pembrook Interiors.