All About E-Design.
The key to great design is capturing the spirit of the client AND the essence of the space.
Since launching Designs By Damienne; naturally I’ve had to describe the different services that I offer to potential clients. In doing so, I’ve come to realize that although most people understand what an Interior Designer does; there is some confusion when I explain my e-design service; specifically surrounding the fact that it is a completely online/virtual service.
That’s where this blog post comes in. I’m going to briefly explain what E-Design is and exactly why you never knew you needed it.
First things first: What is E-Design?
Simply put: E-Design is an Interior Design service where all interactions and delivery of services is completely online. Most complete e-design packages at minimum will include:
A 2D representation of the design solution of the space; usually a design or mood board.
A floor plan indicating spacing and placement of existing or selected furnishings.
A product list of selected finishes, furnishing, lighting, accessories, etc.
The client then takes these items and assembles the space themselves, per the designer’s instructions. A full-service interior design service will also provide the above items in some capacity, but it’s taken a step further because the Interior Designer will oversee the purchase, delivery and installation of all finishes, furnishing, lighting, accessories, etc. The main difference between the two services is that with e-design the client assumes some of the roles traditionally completed by the Interior Designer like measuring the space, ordering products, and coordinating the install of the space.
Now, here’s why E-design could be the solution that you never realized that you needed.
When a space is well designed it immediately impacts the mood of the occupant. Despite that many of us are living in homes that are “just ok”; they get the job done. The reasons for that can vary but for many the process of curating a design that is both beautiful and supports the function of the room is both overwhelming and stressful. Securing the services of a traditional Interior Designer can be costly and may not be in your budget (the average fee for an Interior Designer ranges from $2000 - $5000 per space and that’s not including the price of furnishings).
Ok so now that you’ve determined that a full-service Interior Designer is not in your budget; what are your alternatives? Most likely you’re either going to opt to do it yourself or get comfortable with your “just ok” space. If you choose to do it yourself; there are a bunch of shows on TV that make it look as easy as 1, 2,3 but the reality is rarely that simple.
The DIY approach can usually be broken down into these steps:
Identify what the overall mood/function of the space will be and making sure the items you select are all contributing to that mood/function.
Scour the internet for the perfect furniture pieces that both meet your need and your budget.
Determine the best layout for the furniture pieces; making sure that they both fit the space and its intended function.
Scour the internet (Again?!) or local décor stores for accessories, artwork, pillows, drapery, and accents that complement the overall aesthetic of the space.
Once you’ve found everything now it’s time to order and coordinate the delivery of all furnishings, accessories, accents, etc.
Assemble and install.
For some people, this process sounds like fun and they can’t wait to get started; for others it sounds like pure TORTURE and they’d rather be doing anything else.
Here’s where an E-design service comes in. With E-design you get the knowledge and expertise of an Interior Designer who takes over the most tedious parts of the design process (Steps 1-4) leaving you to complete only the fun (mostly) parts of transforming your space from “just ok” to Fabulous! The best part is that this service is offered at a fraction of what a full-service Interior Designer would cost, which of course, leaves room in your budget for what’s really important.
At Designs By Damienne all our E-design packages are priced by the room on a sliding scale based on the square footage of the spaces being designed (Larger rooms usually require more consideration concerning layout in addition to more furniture, accessory, and accent selections). Regardless of the size of the space the quality of service and attention to detail remains constant. We start each project with a 90 min consultation via video call where we discuss with our clients what their expectations are for the space, what their ideal design style is (if you’re unsure we can help you figure it out) and we get to know who the client is so that we can make sure that they see themselves in the final design solution. From there, the client sends us measurements of the space (noting windows, doors, and other significant architectural feature) along with pictures and/or videos and we take over from there. In about 30 days (depending on size of project/ # of spaces) we schedule a final design presentation via video call and present the final design solution to the client.
Every final package includes:
Design Board showing how furniture, accessories and accents will work together in the space.
Furniture Plan marking the exact placement of all furniture. [Elevations are included as needed to show placement of any wall mounted fixtures].
Product List with clickable links for ALL items sourced for the space.
Detailed written instructions telling the client exactly where to place everything so that when it’s time for the final install there’s no confusion.
If you’re starting from scratch or refreshing an existing space and don’t have the budget for a full-service Interior Designer or the heart for DIY, then perhaps you should give our E-design packages a look.
Over the next two weeks I’ll be providing a brief overview of our other services: Space Planning and 3D Renderings so stay tuned!
