Services
+ What services do you offer?
We specialize in full-service interior design. Full-service means we design, order, and install the entire room turnkey. That includes all the furniture, flooring finishes, lighting, window treatments, and all the accessories. We do not currently offer eDesign or Virtual services. See more info here.
+ Do you offer finishing touches or work with pieces we already own?
We are happy to finish off smaller projects as long as it is in addition to our full room design and meets our minimum expenditure requirement of $50K to be purchased through NSI.
Why Us?
+ Why should I hire an interior designer?
Do you desire a beautiful home but don’t have the time, energy or know-how to achieve one? An Interior Designer not only makes a room look beautiful, they help their clients by providing direction from beginning to end, saving them time, money and headaches.
They take into account the function of the space or spaces, traffic flow, ease of use, proper lighting, finishes, safety and other considerations unique to the space. They help with setting priorities within their client’s budget and have access to trade only resources, often saving the client money.
And an Interior Designer does the legwork for you – visiting showrooms, specifying furniture and fixtures, creating mood boards for you to choose from, deals with procurement, etc., leaving you with the extra time to focus on other things!
+ When should I hire an interior designer?
We suggest you hire an interior designer before or around the time of hiring an architect, builder or general contractor. Knowledgeable designers are able to enhance the project and ensure that you receive the end result mirrors your dreams.
We’re here to guide you and be your advocate through the entire process.
+ How do I know if you’re the right designer for me?
We’ll start out with a no-obligation, 15-20 min Discovery Call to learn more about your project so that we can identify which one of our services is the best fit for you.
Budget / Costs
+ How much does it cost to fully furnish a room by NSI?
It all comes down to the scale and size of the room. An average size living room in our portfolio can cost between $35K - $65k. This includes furniture, décor, chandelier, lamps, custom throw pillows, rug, custom art, and custom drapery. NSI design fees not included. Additionally, Master bedrooms $30-$40, secondary bedrooms $12-$15K. Please note that pricing is average and subject to change.
Determining your budget is a key component, so be prepared to talk about an overall budget. If you need help setting a budget, we are happy to guide you through the process of establishing one.
+ How much does a Consultation cost?
$500 for up to 2 hours (prices are subject to change without prior notice). After our Discovery Call, we will schedule a time to come to your home for up to two hours of time to review the project in person and give you tangible design advice.
+ How much can I expect to pay in Design Fees?
Because each project is unique, we need time to discuss your vision for the project and the scope of work, after which we will be happy to prepare a Fee Proposal for you.
Design Fees start at 10,000 and go up depending on the scope of work.
+ What additional costs can I expect to pay?
We do our best to give you a full cost outlook of each item, but additional costs should be expected such as storage, shipping, white glove delivery and art installers.
We estimate these costs when presenting the furnishings budget to give you a full understanding of what your budget should look like. Generally, you can expect these additional costs to be 10-15% of your total budget.
+ Is there a minimum to work with NSI
Yes. Our design fees is estimated up front like a flat rate fee, based on experience and our expertise in the field. Our fees start at $10K and we require a minimum furnishings investment to be purchased through NSI of $50K.
Process
+ What is the design process?
In a nutshell, upon initial contact we will gather as much information as possible about your needs and desires for the space. We then come out to see the space in person, listen to your ideas and vision, discuss the design process and provide you with solid ideas and a direction for your project.
We will email you a Fee Proposal within 3-5 business days following the consultation, outlining the scope of work, the estimated number of hours to complete your project, the minimum estimated design fee, and the advance on our design fee required to get started.
Once the advance on our design fee has been paid, that signals the start of the project, and we begin to assemble trades to acquire quotes, and work on the comprehensive design plan. Every detail is accounted for - drawings, furnishings, finishes, fabrics, and the budget breakdown for final approval.
One revision is included. We require 80% of the total budget and signing of the Furnishings Proposal to move forward with the purchasing and project management phase.
You can read more about the process here
+ What should I do to prepare for the consultation?
Feel free to start a Pinterest board or Save favorite designs on your instagram or Houzz account to discuss at the consultation. Photos are a great way to visually communicate your likes and style ideas.
Sharing dislikes is also helpful as we wish to source efficiently by recommending items that will resonate with our clients.
+ How long does it normally take if I choose to do a full-service design?
Due to COVID and supply chain shortages, it is upwards of 26-30 weeks after ordering until we come out on install day with all our trades and have the big reveal!
Due to supply chain shortages, we are happy to discuss a multiple install, so that we can install items that arrive sooner, as long as at least one room can be installed together so that you get the NSI wow factor!
If you are on a tight timeline, we suggest that you interview other designers as we want to make sure you have a good fit. If timing is not an issue, we will do everything in our power to complete your home as quickly as possible. It typically takes 10 weeks after signing on with NSI to see the design and another 26 weeks before the super exciting reveal day comes to pass.
We definitely strive to install as soon as possible. I want your home to be complete as soon as possible so we can discuss your timeline and source based on this at the consultation. See Our Process to get a better idea.
Other Questions
+ I’m interested in renovating in addition to furniture. Does Nikole Starr Interiors oversee the construction part of the design?
We are happy to design your renovation and create drawings, elevations and renderings to present to you. We have strong relationships with many local contractors and we will recommend a qualified professional that we enjoy working with.
We are also open to working with your contractor if you have one. We do require having a short meeting with your contractor prior to construction, so that we can ensure everyone is on the same page and set your project up for success.
+ Do we order furniture or do you take care of this for me?
This is where we make your life easy and take the stress of ordering away from you. We purchase all items and we work towards an install date.This is currently a 24 plus week timeframe for any custom upholstery items.
We track all orders, store them in our warehouse and prepare everything for install.
+ What if I need help with multiple rooms and already own some of the furniture? Do you work with what I already have?
If the pieces are correctly scaled and fit within the design aesthetic we are wanting to achieve as a team, then yes of course! If the pieces are not right for the space, we will try to find another place to use it in your home and recommend an item that would be better suited for your design.
Our full service design does have a minimum investment of 50K in addition to design fees. We always strive to be flexible and work with existing pieces but we prefer to start with a blank slate!
