Q&A
Great question — it comes up a lot!
Decorators focus mostly on aesthetics: furniture, colors, and accessories. They don’t handle construction, space planning, or building codes.
Registered Interior Designers (like us) are licensed professionals in Georgia who design interior layouts, make sure everything meets building codes, and prepare drawings for permits — especially for commercial and public spaces.
Architects design entire buildings, including the structure, exterior, and site layout. They’re also licensed and often required for new construction or major structural changes.
Both Registered Interior Designers and architects coordinate with engineers — like mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and structural engineers — when the project calls for it. We each play different roles, but we often work together as part of the same team to make sure everything runs smoothly and safely.
We design the inside of your space to make it functional, safe, beautiful, and up to code. That means planning layouts, choosing finishes, handling code requirements, and preparing the drawings you need for permits and construction. We’re involved from the first conversation to the final walkthrough — making sure everything fits your needs and works the way it should.
It depends on the size and complexity of your space. On average:
Design takes a few weeks to a couple of months
Permitting can take 1–2 months (varies by city)
Construction depends on the scope — from a few weeks to several months
We’ll give you a timeline upfront so you’ll always know what to expect.
We’ll always be mindful of your budget, but it’s important to be realistic — design firms can’t make any number work for any scope. What we can do is help you understand what’s possible for your investment.
If your budget and your wish list don’t match, we’ll be upfront about it and offer options to adjust the scope, prioritize certain areas, or phase the work over time. Our goal is to help you get the best results for the funds you have, while still meeting safety, code, and quality standards.
Every project is unique, so there isn’t a standard fee we can quote without first understanding the scope. The total cost is influenced by:
Project size and complexity
Level of design services provided
Regulatory and permitting requirements
Schedule and delivery method
Quality and type of materials selected
Once we review your program, site conditions, and goals, we’ll develop a detailed proposal outlining the scope of work, anticipated timeline, and associated fees. If your budget and desired scope don’t align, we’ll work with you to adjust priorities, phase the project, or explore alternative solutions.
In addition to our design fees, we’ll help you plan for construction costs, permitting fees, and any required consultant services such as structural, MEP, or specialty engineering.
Our design fee covers the services needed to take your project from concept to a set of plans ready for permitting and construction. This typically includes:
Discovery and programming – understanding your needs, goals, and space
Concept and layout development – planning functional, code-compliant layouts
Material and finish recommendations – flooring, wall finishes, lighting, and more
Permit-ready drawings – documentation for permitting and construction
Coordination with contractors and consultants – making sure the design intent is clear
Some services are not automatically included in our base fee but can be added if you need them. This includes 3D renderings, frequent site visits during construction, or specialty consultant fees (like structural or MEP engineers).
We also offer commercial procurement as a separate decorative services contract. This optional service covers sourcing, purchasing, tracking, and coordinating the installation of commercial-grade furniture, artwork, and accessories — ensuring the finished space is both functional and beautifully furnished.
We’ll clearly outline what’s included and what’s optional in your proposal so there are no surprises.
Yes — we handle all of that. We make sure your space meets building codes, safety rules, and accessibility standards. We’ll prepare the drawings for your permits and work directly with local officials to get approvals.
Yes — collaboration is a big part of what we do. We regularly work with general contractors and specialty trades, as well as MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) and structural engineers, to make sure every part of your project comes together smoothly.
If you already have a contractor or engineering team in place, we’ll coordinate with them throughout the process — sharing drawings, answering questions, and reviewing details so the design intent is clear and achievable. If you don’t have a team yet, we can recommend trusted professionals from our network who have proven experience with commercial interiors.
We also help manage communication between all parties. This means fewer surprises, quicker resolutions to issues, and a final result that matches both the approved design and your project goals. In short, we make sure everyone is working from the same playbook.
We design for your brand and your users — not for our personal style. Every space we create is tailored to your goals. Our work is often described as clean, purposeful, and welcoming — with a strong focus on accessibility and usability.
Yes — the best place to view our work is on our website, where we showcase a curated selection of completed projects. These examples represent the types of spaces we design and the quality of work you can expect from us.
We keep our portfolio streamlined so it’s easy to browse and reflects our most relevant and recent work. If you explore the site, you’ll get a good sense of our approach, attention to detail, and the results we deliver.
Yes — we’re happy to work with items that are meaningful to you. That said, for commercial spaces, we highly recommend commercial-grade furniture. It lasts longer, holds up to daily use, and meets important safety and building standards. It’s a smart investment that can save you money in the long run.
Yes. Selecting finishes and materials is an integral part of our commercial interior design process. We evaluate each option not only for its appearance, but also for performance, durability, maintenance requirements, code compliance, and alignment with your project’s budget and brand identity.
Our team will guide you through curated selections for flooring, wall finishes, ceilings, millwork, fixtures, and other interior components. We often provide physical samples or digital palettes so you can see and feel the options before making final decisions. We also coordinate with vendors and manufacturers to ensure that selected materials are available, meet quality standards, and integrate seamlessly with the overall design.
The result is a cohesive, functional interior environment that looks exceptional and performs well over time.
We set a communication plan at the start of every project so everyone stays aligned and informed.
During pre-construction (before any building work starts), we typically meet weekly or biweekly with you and the contractor to review the design, address questions, confirm material selections, and resolve details that affect scheduling or pricing. These meetings make sure that the design, budget, and construction plan are fully coordinated before work begins.
Once construction starts, we often shift to weekly Owner–Designer–Contractor (ODC) meetings. These are on-site or virtual check-ins that bring all decision-makers together to:
Review progress against the schedule
Discuss upcoming milestones and installations
Address any issues or changes quickly
Confirm that the work matches the approved design
In between these formal meetings, we’re available for quick calls or emails to answer questions or handle approvals so the project keeps moving. The goal is to keep communication open and proactive from start to finish — which reduces delays, surprises, and misunderstandings.
Yes, we can provide procurement services as an additional scope of work. For clients who engage us for furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) procurement, we manage the process from specification through installation. This includes:
Finalizing approved selections
Coordinating with manufacturers and vendors for pricing and lead times
Preparing purchase orders and tracking shipments
Scheduling deliveries and coordinating with the contractor for installation
Verifying that items are received in good condition and installed according to the design intent
If you prefer to handle purchasing in-house, we will still provide complete specifications and coordination assistance to ensure that your orders meet project requirements.
This service helps streamline procurement, reduce errors, and maintain quality control — ensuring the finished space matches both the approved design and your operational needs.
In construction, unexpected issues can happen — from material delays to on-site conflicts or discovering hidden conditions in the building. The key is not whether challenges arise, but how quickly and effectively they are resolved.
If you’ve engaged us for Construction Administration services, we act as your advocate throughout the build. This includes:
Attending regular site meetings with you and the contractor
Reviewing work in progress to confirm it aligns with the approved design
Responding promptly to contractor questions (RFIs)
Issuing clarifications or adjustments when necessary
Helping troubleshoot issues before they become delays or added costs
Reviewing contractor pay applications before they are approved for payment — ensuring the work billed matches the work completed and materials delivered
Our oversight helps maintain quality, keeps the project aligned with the approved documents, and ensures your payments to the contractor reflect actual progress. This level of monitoring protects your investment and helps ensure the finished space delivers exactly what we designed together.