Good Questions Deserve Straightforward Answers.

Everything Buffalo homeowners ask before working with an interior designer, answered honestly.

Here's what people usually want to know before they reach out. I’m sharing a few honest answers to the bigger questions about hiring a designer in the first place. If you don't see yours, the Home Design Evaluation is a great place to ask it directly.

Working With Me

  • Every project starts with a Home Design Evaluation. It's how I get to know you, your home, and what you're hoping to accomplish, before either of us commits to anything bigger.

  • Not at all. Most clients come to me knowing something isn't working but unsure where to begin. The Home Design Evaluation creates clarity from the very first conversation.

  • It's a 90-minute, designer-led session where I assess your home, clarify your priorities, and map a strategic path forward. You leave with a written summary and a clear next step. It's a real working session, not a sales pitch. The $750 fee is applied in full toward your project if you move forward.

  • You'll receive a written summary of what we found and a proposal outlining scope, fees, and next steps. There's no pressure to move forward, just a clear picture of what it would look like if you do.

  • I take on smaller-scope projects as they fit my schedule. It never hurts to ask.

  • I can help coordinate contractor interviews, but the choice to hire is always yours. What I bring is documentation clear enough that any contractor can bid and build from it accurately.

  • If you move forward with me as your designer, all products are purchased through me. It keeps your project and your budget accountable to one source, start to finish.

  • Design fees for furnishings-only projects typically start around $3,500, with a furnishings investment of $10,000 and up. Renovation and new construction fees typically start around $8,500, with a project investment of $25,000 and up. If your project is well below these ranges, I'll tell you honestly. I'd rather point you in the right direction than waste your time.

Getting Started With Interior Design (Even If You're Not Sure Yet)

  • It varies by project, but most full-service designers in the Buffalo area require a minimum project or furnishings investment, with design fees layered on top. My own minimums and fee structure are outlined above. I believe in being upfront about this from the start.

  • A decorator typically focuses on finishes and furnishings within an existing layout. A designer addresses the layout itself — space planning, function, and flow — in addition to the aesthetic. If your project involves a renovation, new construction, or rethinking how a space works, you need a designer.

  • A designer first, if you want an accurate bid. Your contractor needs to know exactly what you're asking for before they can price it properly, and that's where a designer's documentation does the heavy lifting for everyone involved.

  • If you're feeling overwhelmed by decisions, unsure where to start, or you've tried doing it yourself and it didn't turn out the way you hoped, you're ready. You don't need a fully formed vision. You just need to be done living with what isn't working.

  • Furnishings-only projects typically move faster, often within a few months depending on lead times. Renovation and new construction timelines vary based on scope, and I'll give you a realistic projection during your Home Design Evaluation.

  • In many cases, yes. Part of the Home Design Evaluation is identifying what's worth keeping and building around, versus what's holding the space back.

  • It depends on a few honest questions: do you love your neighborhood, does your home have good underlying bones, and do you want a space that reflects your exact taste rather than someone else's. I can give you my honest read on this during a Home Design Evaluation, not one skewed toward keeping you as a client.