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A sixth sense is essential in predicting how much a particular project will cost without knowing what's involved. Having honed her other senses to best serve her clients, Rebecca provides estimates only after she's familiar with the scope of the project, or she will work within your budget.
Before you begin a large project, you and Rebecca can meet over coffee to interview one another...to be sure you "click." After all the parameters have been determined, Rebecca's rate is $120 per hour. When Rebecca is working for you, she might select colors, coordinate flooring, choose tiles, find the right furniture, cabinets or accessories, design window treatments, create sketches, consult with a contractor, locate the perfect door pulls or simply provide consultation as you accomplish the project on your own.
Working with Rebecca also means savings. Think of it as a return on your design charges. In the interiors business, the difference between wholesale and retail is as much as double. From sources that sell directly to the trade, Rebecca's discount is usual 40 to 50%. When Rebecca does the purchasing for your project, you can save as much as 35% on a given item. Beauty you can bank on -- and still buy that bauble you've always wanted.
Here are a few examples:
It usually takes Rebecca about 2 hours to select the right colors for an entire floor of a home or office. If you need a written report, add another hour, and if Rebecca needs to present and explain the color choices - to your spouse or to your Board of Directors, add another hour.
Often, while the paint colors are being discussed, you and Rebecca can also select the finish for the hardwood floors, and the tile colors for the new bathroom.
If you also want to discuss window treatments for a few rooms, and a new sofa, and media storage in the den, expect to add another hour.
For a major remodeling job, it's likely to require 50 hours of Rebecca's time:
- Rebecca will attend every meeting with the contractor
- She will meet with the cabinet maker, the electrician and the painter
- She'll go with you to select appliances, faucets, countertops, cabinet stains, cabinet pulls, flooring, lighting fixtures, sinks and doorknobs
- She'll have custom window treatments made
- She'll purchase new chairs and a breakfast table
During a major remodel, Rebecca becomes an extension of you, making sure every detail is noticed and that your goals for the space are achieved.
Now what about buying furniture and accessories through Rebecca's sources?
Sources who deal only with the trade typically offer designers between 40 and 50% off retail.
So, the chair that retails for $1,000 will cost Rebecca $500. She will mark it up 30% (cost plus) and sell it to you for $650. You’ve saved $350, or 35%.
- A custom window treatment that will cost $800 from JC Penney will cost you $520.
- Ten windows, rather than $8,000, will cost $5,200. (savings $2,800)
- Twenty yards of good upholstery fabric for a sofa easily retails for $90 per yard.
Rather than $1800, you’ll pay $1,170 (savings $630)
- You’ll pay $1,300 for a rug that retails for $2000. Four rugs worth $8,000 will cost you $5,200 (savings: $2,800)
If you are only looking for a single chair, it probably won't be cost effective to engage Rebecca for the three to four hours it will take her to meet with you, scout her sources, find the right sofa and fabric, take you to see it, and handle the ordering and follow up and delivery details.
But, if you’re purchasing a sofa, two chairs, an ottoman, side tables, a rug, a sofa table, and lamps, it is likely that her cost-plus discount will more than cover Rebecca's hourly fee. And you’ll still, even after Rebecca's help, save 10 - 20% off retail for higher quality furnishings than homeowners can typically find themselves.
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