When people reach out, they’re often at very different stages.
Some are just getting started. Others feel they already know exactly what they want. And some have already purchased furniture and are looking for help pulling it all together.
I work with homeowners in Ottawa and surrounding areas, and I thought it would be helpful to explain how I approach full-service interior decorating—and when it’s the right fit.
How projects typically begin
Every project starts with a conversation.
We talk about your space, how you live, and what’s working and what isn’t. From there, I develop a design plan that considers the room as a whole—layout, scale, materials, and how everything relates.
This isn’t a step-by-step shopping process. It’s a comprehensive plan, created before anything is purchased.
What full-service design actually means
I provide full-service interior decorating.
That means I handle the design, sourcing, ordering, coordination, and installation. My role is to guide the process from beginning to end so the final result feels cohesive and complete.
My work is not about helping you choose items one by one—it’s about creating a considered space from the ground up.
A note on timing and implementation
Not every project is installed all at once.
Sometimes, the full design is created upfront and implemented over time.
For example, one recent condo project was designed as a complete space from the beginning. The clients are now furnishing it room by room over several months, following a clear plan.
This allows for flexibility without losing the overall vision.
When this approach works best
This process tends to work well for clients who:
- want a cohesive, finished result
- don’t have the time or desire to manage the details
- are open to guidance and want a clear plan
When it may not be the right fit
There are also situations where my approach isn’t the best match.
If you already know exactly what you want and are simply looking for someone to help source or place orders, there may not be a meaningful role for design.
Similarly, if most key pieces have already been purchased, the opportunity to shape the overall space becomes limited. I don’t step in just to “pull things together” after the fact.
That doesn’t make these projects wrong—it just means they require a different type of service.
The goal
My role is to create spaces that feel calm, considered, and complete.
That comes from making the right decisions at the right time—not rushing to fill a room, and not working backwards once most of the choices have already been made.
FAQ
Do I need to know what I want before hiring an interior decorator?
No. The design process works best when decisions are made as part of a complete plan, rather than one item at a time.
Can I hire you just to help choose furniture?
Furniture decisions rarely exist in isolation. Once you begin selecting key pieces, it often affects layout, scale, lighting, window treatments, and how the room functions overall. My work looks at how everything comes together, rather than making isolated selections.
Do I have to complete everything at once, or can it be done in phases?
For an individual room, the design is created as a complete plan, based on an overall budget for that space.
If we’re working across multiple rooms or an entire home, the full design can be developed upfront and then implemented in stages. This allows the space to come together over time, while still following a clear, cohesive plan.
If this approach resonates with you, you can get in touch here to start the conversation.
