What's It Like to Work with a Designer Online?
If you’ve been hanging around Mix & Match Design Co. for any length of time, you’ll know that much of what I do is work with clients to design their homes! I started this business back in 2015 with the idea of offering interior design services almost exclusively online, which was almost unheard of at the time. I got a lot of puzzled looks when I told people what I did for a living and had to do a lot of explaining, but being an early mover was worth it! Taking this service online has made my dream of making interior design services approachable and transparent happen, and I love being able to serve my clients in this way.
Now, the concept of working with someone virtually has become much more commonplace, but it can still be a little of a mystery on how the process works exactly.
What I thought I’d do today is walk you through what a typical interior design project looks like when you work with me. Hiring an interior designer can be a big decision - it’s an investment of both your time and money - so it’s important to go into it eyes wide open. It’s such a privilege to have the opportunity to help you create a home you love and I don’t take it lightly when you put your trust in me to bring your ideas to life.
Grab your cup of coffee - this one’s a long one, but I think it’ll be really helpful if you’re considering working with a designer virtually!
Let’s start with the basic question - what is e-design exactly?
E-design is a form of interior design where you, the client, work with the designer online. The designer typically uses digital tools and tech to craft the perfect design for your home. The internet is quite an amazing place - it offers incredible resources to make this kind of service possible! I use several different tools in my process (I’ll explain more about that in a bit) to help you visualize and carry out your project, which makes collaborating and communicating easy throughout the process.
The way that e-design differs from traditional, in-person interior design is that my clients have a more active role in the process since I’m not physically present in their home. The most notable parts are in the ordering process, receiving of furniture and decor, and the install. They’ll also need to order samples of things like fabrics, paint colors, and other materials to make sure they like them in person before making the final call on those pieces.
My goal is to provide everything you need to carry out the design, but ultimately, it’s up to you to bring it to that final, beautiful state!
How does the process work?
Here’s an overview of the process in graphic form:
After you reach out about your project, you’ll fill out a detailed questionnaire about your project, send photos of your home, and share inspiration images of your design style. I’ll put together a design proposal for your project based on the scope. If you decide to move forward, I’ll convert that proposal into an invoice, which you can pay online and we’ll get started with the design phase! At that time, I’ll also ask you to draw up a floor plan so that I can create the to-scale space plan with the pieces I source for the room.
The design phase
Every full room design includes a design board that shows you a lifelike setup of the room using the exact pieces I’ve sourced for it, a to-scale space plan, a shopping list with detailed ordering detailed ordering instructions, and tips for the install.
To start, I’ll put together an initial design board and space plan that you’ll be able to view in my dedicated client portal online and you’ll have a chance to share your feedback. We’ll tweak the design as needed and once it’s finalized, I’ll upload the shopping list with links to each piece. You’ll have an opportunity to review it and make any final changes, and once that’s complete, we’re finished with the design process!
Then I’ll hand it off to you to get started with ordering your furniture and decor. You’re always welcome to order at your own pace, but it’s good to get a jump on ordering right away if you can since things can go out of stock quickly!
Here are a couple of examples of design boards:
You can find more at the bottom of my portfolio page too!
How much does the e-design service cost?
I like to be as transparent as possible in my pricing for projects, so I generally charge a flat fee for my full room service. The starting rate is $625 for a basic single room design and increases based on the scope of the project.
How do you know if Mix & Match Design Co. is a good fit for you and your project?
As I mentioned earlier, hiring a designer can be a big decision! It’s important to know if you click personality-wise and style-wise with me or any other designer you’re considering.
The best way to figure out if we’re a good fit is to take a look at my Instagram account, look through my portfolio, and read through some blog posts. If you find you naturally gravitate toward what you see and want to have a similar style in your home, you’re off to a good start! Reading through my captions and posts, and watching my Stories will give you a peek into my personality as well.
Finding a good match is a key to kicking off a great project that you’ll be excited about taking from start to finish!
I’m also happy to schedule an intro call to chat about your project - sometimes that’s a helpful way for us to get to know one another and see if there’s a good fit.
Want to see a project come to life?
Here’s a walkthrough of a dining room design from empty room to finished space!
Before:
Design board:
Space plan (including the adjacent kitchen):
Space plan for an e-design project.
What's it like to work with a designer online? Read through this post to find out! Working with Mix & Match Design Co. is easy, accessible, and convenient for all of your interior design projects.
After!
The “after” of a modern traditional dining room project.
What's it like to work with a designer online? Read through this post to find out! Working with Mix & Match Design Co. is easy, accessible, and convenient for all of your interior design projects.