Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite topic: money! I know pricing conversations can feel awkward. But here’s the thing: I believe in talking about money early and often. Understanding what you’re paying for makes the entire design process so much better for both of us. So, let’s break it down together.

How I Price My Services

I structure my pricing differently for each phase because, well, each phase is different! Here’s how it breaks down:

Phase 1 – Discovery & Foundations: A complimentary discovery call, followed by a $500 consultation fee that covers a 2-hour creative work session and sets the foundation for the Phase 2 proposal.

Phase 2 – Design Development: A flat design fee starting at $5,000. This covers all the creative work and coordination—the concept, space planning, selections, presentations, contractor juggling, and revisions. This is where your project comes to life.

Phase 3 – Preparation & Procurement: No additional design fees here. Contrast Interior Design purchases materials, furniture, and accessories, and the markup covers the time for pricing, purchasing, and coordinating all your orders.

Phase 4 – Execution & Completion: Hourly project management at $150/hour for construction oversight, site visits, installations, and punch list management.

Let me explain why Contrast Interior Design prices this way—and why it works better for you and for us!

My Pricing Philosophy: Why I Don’t Charge Hourly (For Most Things)

You might wonder why I don’t bill hourly for the design phase like some designers do. Here’s my honest answer: I never want you to hesitate before reaching out to me.

When clients are watching the clock, they start rationing their questions. They second-guess whether something is “worth” an email. They skip the extra review meeting because they don’t want another invoice. And that’s exactly the opposite of how great design happens.

Great design is collaborative. It requires open communication, trust, and the freedom to explore ideas without worrying about the meter running. A flat design fee means we can have as many conversations, reviews, and refinements as we need to get it right—without you calculating the cost of each interaction in your head.

Plus, let’s be real: payment fatigue happens. Getting constant invoices throughout a project is exhausting. My fee structure is designed so you know exactly what you’re paying for design upfront, with only monthly project management invoicing during construction. No surprises, no invoice avalanche.

Phase 2 Pricing – My Design Fee Minimum

Have you ever asked a designer “can you just tell me what color to paint my room?” I would be willing to bet the answer was “that depends.” And I get how that’s incredibly annoying! But the truth is that it does depend! If you just want me to spout off my favorite wall finish of the moment I can do that very easily—it doesn’t mean that it would be right for your space. What color is your trim? What type of furniture do you have? What kind of lighting does the room get? What colors make you happy? There’s a long list of questions I need answered before I can give you my paint recommendation. Now multiply that by the approximately 500 decisions that need to be made for a single room home renovation (no, I am not exaggerating on that number!), and you can see where some expertise and organization can be helpful.

Good design isn’t about throwing together pretty things—it’s about telling your story. It’s about giving your project the attention it deserves so that at the end of the day it quietly functions as beautifully as it looks. Every decision in Phase 2 creates a domino effect. I make sure your project gets what it needs—space to think through how you empty the dishwasher, make your morning coffee, and whether polished or honed countertops work better for your life and how all those details come together.

This kind of thoughtful work takes time. Time to listen, time to problem-solve, time to refine. That’s why my minimum design fee of $5,000 reflects what it takes to thoughtfully develop one room, and scales up for larger or more complex projects like kitchens, bathrooms, multi-room renovations, whole home renovations, and new builds. Whether you’re doing a single space or your entire home, you get the same thorough, detail-oriented process—because that’s what I believe good design is, and what my clients deserve.

Phase 4 Pricing – Hourly Project Management

Here’s where my pricing shifts a bit. Phase 4 is billed at $150/hour and covers weekly site visits during construction, key construction and trade check-in dates, furniture delivery and installation coordination, final styling, and punch list management.

Why hourly for this phase? Because construction timelines can vary wildly. Your project might meet only a few hiccups in the road, or you might hit unexpected issues that require extra site visits and problem solving. And here’s the thing—no matter how well we plan, unexpected things will come up during construction. Having your design team on hand to address these alongside your contractor, while advocating for both you and the design vision, is invaluable. Hourly billing means you only pay for the time your project actually needs.

I typically estimate a minimum of 1 hour per week for the duration of construction. On a 12-week construction project, you’d be looking at a minimum of 12 hours of project management, or approximately $1,800. You’re invoiced monthly during this phase so you can see exactly where your investment is going.

So What Does All This Get You?

When you hire Contrast Interior Design, you’re not just paying for furniture selections and paint colors (though those are fun too). You’re investing in strategic space planning that makes your home actually work for your life. A cohesive design vision that ties everything together. Detailed coordination with contractors and trades. Project management that keeps everything on track. And unlimited “hey, what do you think about this?” conversations during the design phase.

My fee structure is designed to give you clarity, eliminate surprise costs during the creative process, and let us work together freely. Because the best design happens when we’re both focused on creating something beautiful—not counting billable minutes.

Ready to Get Started?

If this feels like the right fit for you, let’s connect! Our discovery call is just a conversation—we’ll talk about your project, I’ll answer all your questions, and we’ll see if we’re a great fit. No pressure, no sales pitch, just a good conversation about what you’re dreaming up for your home.

Ready to stop scrolling Pinterest and start actually doing this? Fill out an inquiry form here and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours to set up your discovery call!