Working With Red Door...
We want to foster open communication and transparency - here’s an explanation of how we work.
We don’t have a “look” or an aesthetic that says Red Door. With decades of design experience, we design for clients based on their unique wants and needs. We are versed in methods that follow biophilic design, sustainability, Feng Shui, and energy inspired design. We believe that our homes should be our sanctuary. A place where we welcome friends and family, personalized to our needs and representing who we are.
Our goal is to create a home that is all you - what you love and what makes you happy.
We take the mundane, dated, and non-functional spaces and turn them into timeless, and thriving spaces you don’t want to leave. We all have a dream or a vision for how we want our homes to function but very few can reach that bliss without professional help. Red Door begins the design process by getting to know you and what your true goal is for your home.
Luxury design client services include:
- Detailed Client Intake
- Ongoing Consultations
- Scaled 3D Renderings and Drawings
- Collaboration with architect, builder, and trades
- Sourcing finishes including flooring, tile, countertops, lighting, hardware, plumbing, fixtures, furniture, accessories, window treatments and more.
- Design Vision Board
- Samples to experience, touch, and feel
- Curated selection of all furnishings, fabrics, and accessories
- Procurement, receiving, and inspection of product
- Install and styling of furnishings, window treatments, and accessories.
It takes a village…
Contractors love Red Door, because we make the process clear and precise so they can effectively bid your project. We provide all the details, from working drawings and specification guide to every single finish detail, so they can focus on confidently and efficiently executing and constructing the design.
Finding the right contractor is as important as finding the right designer. Red Door is happy to connect you with a small group of vetted contractors that you can trust. If you already have a favorite contractor, we look forward to collaborating with them, as well as architects, lighting designers, landscapers and more. We love collaboration!
Wholistic Interiors
Red Door doesn’t just stop with the build design, we thrive in procuring the perfect mix of home décor, textiles, furniture, art or anything needed to truly make the space feel like home. The build is important and serves as the bones, the decorating is what makes the space you. Without addressing this aspect of the project with a designer is like getting a haircut but not letting your hairdresser style your hair, it’s just flat.
Our homes impact the way we feel. Let’s curate a home that embodies how you want to feel and live.
Design Fees
Have you worked with a designer before? The most common question we get is "how much does design cost". We've found the following to be true. For remodeling design work, the design industry standard costs about 10% of the overall project budget as billed by the contractor. This percentage works well as a guide to set your cost expectations as we provide full service throughout the project.
Example: $150,000 construction cost - $15,000 design fee, approximately.
Travel time:
Although the majority of our projects are local, we often travel to surrounding areas that require a lot of drive time. For projects over 10 miles from the design studio, drive time will be billed at $60 per hour, in 15-minute increments.
How to Prepare for your First Meeting with Red Door
Initial Meeting
We will begin with an initial call about your project. You can email a request for the initial call to info@reddoorolympia.com.
We will book our first initial meeting where we will have a chance to get to know you and your design needs.
This appointment will last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
In this initial meeting, we will review the goals of working together, your personal design style, a plan of action, and answer initial questions you may have about the design process.
After the initial meeting, you will receive a detailed scope all detailed in a design proposal for you to agree to. This agreement is to make clear what expectations you have of Red Door so that we can deliver the best service possible.
Design Proposal
After our initial meeting and a verbal agreement to proceed to the next step, a Design Proposal will be written to describe the services you are requesting and detail the estimated costs.
We will officially start on the project once we have your final approval.
Purchasing Through Red Door
Purchasing through Red Door is a part of our design process. We require all purchasing to be handled by us.
This ensures the best product, value, experience for you.
You wouldn't go to your mechanic and ask to purchase your own parts, would you?
We’ve built relationships and have an understanding of the quality and performance of the brands that we know and trust. Beyond construction, this is what makes your house a home. Red Door is here to serve you throughout the entire process.
Project Communication - Calls, Emails, Texts -- Oh My!
There are so many ways to communicate today! One of the most important things to make a project run smoothly is clear communication and the ability to track that communication.
Email and phone calls are preferred.
If after hours, please contact us via email.
Use texting only for urgent matters. Texting doesn’t allow for record keeping like email and often leads to confusion and extra time on your project.
Please note that all correspondence, including texting and email, is billed in 15-minute intervals.
Team Red Door
Please note that Red Door is a collaborative design firm. Our team will handle much of the day-to-day, procurement, research, and production part of the job. As owner and principal designer of Red Door, Lara Anderson approves all design choices, and selections, and finalizes all work.
The bottom line is that Red Door Interiors is a full service design firm. Our experience, professionalism, and incredible design skills will create a home that is uniquely you and brings you joy for years to come!
We look forward to working with you.
Warmly,
Lara and Team