faQs

What is your rate structure?

We charge an hourly fee for all design services. For purchases, we charge our designer purchase price plus 25%. Please contact us to discuss your individual project needs.

Can you start right away?

Sometimes! We usually have a short waitlist but will work with you regarding your preferred timeline.

Can you come to my home?

After a quick chat by phone, we schedule an initial interview to get to know you at our office or via Zoom. Together, we review photos of your space and discuss your goals and budget to develop the scope of work, timeline, and design recommendations. We also show you examples of our process and the deliverables you can expect from us. Then, once we are in contract to begin your project, we schedule our first meeting to measure and review at your home.

Can you work on just one part of the home at a time?

We prefer projects with at least a few rooms so that we can develop a full-home vision and reduce costs through efficiency. Designing 3 rooms at once takes less time and costs less than designing 3 rooms one at a time. The plan itself can be implemented overtime. We can add on to your scope of work during your project or at a later date if and when you’d like to do so.

Can I add onto my scope of work?

Yes. We can always help with expanding a project. Keep in mind that designing more areas/items will require more time and design fees.

Where do you shop?

We shop at trade-only vendors, the Seattle Design Center, our favorite vintage dealers, retail providers, and online. We purchase from many different vendors in order to tailor the design to each individual space, meaning that no one project is the same.

How long will it take to design my project?

The hours needed depend on the scope of work and level of detail. Typically, the first design meeting is three weeks after our initial interview. Revisions from that meeting will come another two to three weeks after that. The number of design meetings needed depends on how many rooms, details, and revisions we work on. Although we can sometimes order key pieces of furniture if they’re approved at the first meeting, it’s often closer to a month after the initial meeting before anything is ordered.

The first partial furniture installation is typically 6 months after we begin to order items, though, since 2020 we’ve seen that lead times have pushed this estimate back further.

I have a couple of pieces that I’d like to incorporate into the design. Is that possible?

Definitely! Whenever possible, we like to use existing pieces, especially those with special meaning to you. That said, we will be sure to tell you when existing pieces are holding back the style direction or simply won’t work with the proposed furniture layout. Often, existing pieces can be repurposed in other rooms if needed. Please note that, typically, having existing pieces doesn’t mean design fees are lower as it takes just as much time for us to incorporate those items into a design scheme as it would a new piece.

I know what I want and already have everything. Can you just help me tie it all together?

We do our best work when we’re involved from the start so that our collaborative, cohesive plan and concept can come together. We don’t currently accept one-room “tie it all together” projects, as we find that they require a great deal of time, despite the small scope of work. We’ve found that this isn’t a rewarding experience for either the client or our office.

Can I buy everything on my own?

We recommend that the contractor purchase all construction related items to ensure no questions with warranty and to ensure that the correct items are ordered. We purchase all furniture, decor, and art items after we receive payment from you. You won’t need to purchase anything yourself.

How long will my remodel take?

In Seattle, contractors currently have a six-month+ wait list on average. Once your project begins, it’s best to budget at least three months for small kitchen or small bathroom project. Your contractor can give you a more accurate estimate of cost and timeline once your entire design is complete. If you are hoping to remodel a year from now, it’s time to begin your design process now so that everything and everyone is ready in time.

Can I project manage this myself?

We project manage everything related to furniture and decor. The contractor manages everything related to construction. We’ve learned from past projects in which the client did the project management that the project ended up requiring more designer time, thus costing more than it would to have the design or construction team oversee the project management.

How does shipping and delivery work?

When we assemble a purchase invoice of your approved items, we include the cost of shipping and delivery. This cost reflects shipping the item from the supplier to our warehouse, receiving the item at the loading dock, inspecting of the item, photographing the item, storing the items until delivery, and hiring movers to deliver everything and place it in your home.

example Timeline

- 1 week – Phone inquiry, office meeting, agreement signature, retainer payment

- 2-16 weeks – wait list period

- 1 week – review of goals, potential style and scope of work, measure your space

- 3 weeks – draft measurements into autocad, review client inspiration images, develop concept, draft potential layout options, select preliminary items, create specifications sheets, order finishes samples, create presentation, design meeting with client.

- 1 week – client sends feedback from first presentation to MDID

- 3 weeks – review client feedback, further develop layout and elevations, refine selections, order samples, create specification sheets, create preliminary purchase order, create presentation, design meeting with client

- 3 weeks – 2 years - repeat step above until all drawings and selections are finalized at client design meetings and purchased by MDID.

- 3 -12 months – wait for contractor availability

- 1-16 weeks – purchase items, ship items to local warehouse, replace/repair damaged items, schedule installation once all items have arrived

- 6 months – partial furniture installations typically happen 6 months after we begin the first round of purchases

- 3 - 36 months – remodel or new construction. MDID answers questions as needed and offers alternatives when/if needed with client approval of final decision

What to Expect During Your Project:

- Communication: We will try to discuss design only at your design meetings to avoid confusion. Emails with clients regarding design style details are typically very inefficient and the design fee time can quickly add up. The Project Manager/Designer will be your main contact. The office manager will send invoices. When design meetings have concluded, updates will be sent every 2-3 weeks in reply to the same email thread used for status updates only.

- Efficiency: Our tried and true process along with our less than glamorous spreadsheets and policies allow us to efficiently manage your project behind the scenes. To keep design fee hours down, we aim to limit communication as much as possible to in-person design meetings or one large all encompassing email rather than multiple emails.

- Purchasing: We purchase and track all items once we receive your approval with payment. When items begin to be purchased, you will receive an update on their timeline when the items are due (typically 4-16 weeks from the date we receive your check for approved purchasing). When we reach out to vendors for progress reports prior to due dates, we are either not given an answer or the answer may be unreliable so we avoid checking with vendors on ETA’s unless items are past due in an attempt to reduce design fee hours. Items are delivered to our warehouse, inspected, replaced/repaired if needed and then stored until we schedule your installation. We avoid partial installations.

- Construction Involvement: We will hold on all construction related items while we wait for your contractor to be available. Once the contractor begins, we periodically check in by email or site visit and alert you of your options if something can’t go as planned.

- Customization: While our process is the same, the outcomes are specific to the client. Working with different people and different styles make our job fun and rewarding while leaving you with a space that is truly all your own.