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Luxury Residential Interior Design

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who composes your team?
    In my years in business, most Clients have come to me without having previously interviewed or hired a contractor. For this reason, I support each Client throughout their design / construction journey. This can be an Architect, Contractor, Kitchen Designer, Electrician, Painter, Flooring, Wallpaper Installer, etc., each serves a different purpose to meet all of your project needs. All Professionals will be vetted, have the proper licensure or certification, have worked with me on a number of projects before, or offer high-quality finish based upon recommendations. Based on the design, I'll make recommendations as to who we'll need and will assist you to interview them, to be sure the personalities align. All team members will hold a separate contract with the Client.
  • What qualification do you have?
    Here's a quick synopsis of my educational background. I attended Elmwood School (I.B. Fine Arts), the University of Ottawa (Mass Communications & Business Administration), Algonquin College (Interior Design & Decorating). I’ve continued my education throughout the years to hone my skills, adding a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt to the operations side of my business, plus I have studied Ergonomics, Commercial Interiors and Space planning. So along with keeping up with the latest trends, I ensure that I’m providing my clients with the best quality services.
  • Do your skills differ from an In-store Decorator?
    Short answer, Yes very much! Typically the in-store decorators are sales people with minimal training in design and/or decorating aspects. In addition, they’ll only offer you product selections from their featured lines, whereas, I've been tested and certified with extensive training on the important aspects of decorating such as color theory, design concepts, drawings and rendering and so forth. I've also established relationships with many vendors and work hard to source the right items for your project. If you opt to hire an in-store decorator, please be sure to ask for their qualifications to determine if they're the right match for you.
  • What makes you different from other Designers?
    Being involved in the Design Industry from Residential, to Contract Commercial Furnishings and Ergonomics, from Entry Level to Executive Leadership Roles and from small to large scale Design projects has allowed me to experience the pains and frustrations that come from these undertakings. More importantly, this experience has allowed me to not only understand what a client experiences, but to be a sounding board and safe place for a client to express those frustrations and for them to get an expert's opinion on what to expect during the process. We've been in your shoes and we've got your back.
  • What areas do you service?
    Generally I work in Ottawa, Ontario Canada, specializing in Kanata and the Westend. With that said, we offer Virtual Design for out-of-town Clients.
  • I've never worked with an Interior Designer. How does it work?
    I'm so glad you asked! Below is a step by step sample of what my process looks like. 1. An initial Call (15 approx. minute) phone conversation to discuss scope of work. An On-Line Design Questionnaire is completed. 2. A consultation is scheduled to view the space, review design questionnaire and the scope of work 3. You'll receive a Welcome Guide complete with proposals and information to help in the decision making process 4. The Design agreement is signed and payment is submitted, once the scope is accepted 5. Once payment has cleared... THEN WE BEGIN! I'll be in touch about the particulars of your project and the next steps!
  • What forms of payments do you accept?
    For all services, we accept: 1. Certified Cheques 2. Major credit cards - completed through Stripe 3. Bank e-transfer (for smaller $$ purchases) A cheque may result in delayed services due to processing time. All services are performed once payment has been cleared.
  • How much does it cost to work with a Designer?
    This varies by Designer. Some charge hourly while others are flat fees. Some have hidden fees while others do not. We pride ourselves in transparent pricing so you'll see fees listed on the Project Package pages of the website, as well as contained within our contracts. These fees are the projected number of hours to complete the project based on scope of work. Therefore this number is likely to vary with clients who have larger homes. In this case, a custom quote would be provided.
  • Do you offer payment plans?
    We do not offer Traditional Financing. Occasionally, Pre-Payment Plans may be pre-arranged on large Full Service Projects clients. Your proposal will list payment options if applicable.
  • What is your cancellation policy?
    Cancellation of services can be made within 24 hours from signed proposal. Please see your signed agreement for further details.
  • Which service is best for me? Traditional Full Service or Virtual Design?
    A brief description is listed below to help you assess which one best suits your needs: Interior Design: Services local clients only Requires Anthony Interiors access on location Encompasses a large variety of design services Ex. flooring, tiling, lighting and plumbing fixtures, paint colors, etc. Suited for new construction, updates, renovation or additions Clients who need assistance assembling and choosing the design Virtual eDesign: Services both local and long distance clients Can be done from the comfort your own home Services are comprised of a package or purchased individually Ex. floor plan only, furniture layout only, etc. Suited for room by room updates Clients who feel confident doing work upfront and implementing the design themselves All other Design Packages: Please book a Complimentary Phone Consult (15-20 minutes) to discuss your needs.
  • Where do you get your furniture and decor from?
    We source products from a wide variety of places including "To The Trade" only resources, wholesale companies, local stores and catalog retailers as well. Factors such as quality, durability, location of items, client's lifestyles, etc. will be taken into consideration when sourcing products.
  • How do obtain an estimate for services?
    To obtain an estimate for any service, you may book directly to schedule an Initial Design Consultation Call. This is required prior to booking any Interior Design Consult.
  • Do I need a Consultation?
    Yes! Conducting a consultation allows both the designer and the client to decide whether entering a contract together is the best option. It's important to make sure that the designer understands the client's wants and their preferred design style to maximize a successful relationship. A wide range of topics is covered during the consultation including general information about the project, scope of work to be complete, timeline requirements, client's style, client's likes and dislikes, changes to be made and other pertinent information.
  • How to prepare for a Consultation?
    1. Complete the initial Complementary Phone Call 2. Choose your Design package 3. Make your payment 4. Complete the Client Questionnaire Survey, that the Designer has sent to you 5. Clear your schedule to dedicate time for the booked service discussions and walk through (Traditional 1.5-2 hrs. / Virtual 55 mins) 6. Make sure to have inspiration photos from magazine or other media, list of wants and needs, copy of floor plans 7. Prepare any other questions you may have 8. Make sure all Decision Makers are present for Consultation meeting.
  • What happens after the Design Consultation?
    After the consult, if we choose that your project is a good fit, you will receive your Welcome Guide from Anthony Interiors. In this you'll get information about Anthony Interiors to assist with the decision making process, what to expect working with a Designer, your Proposals, our Contractual Agreement and any other pertinent information. You will then pay Anthony Interiors an upfront Retainer, Sign the Contract Agreement and send it back to us. Once that has been complete, we'll contact you to begin working with you to create the design of your dream.
  • Virtual Design package has Item(s) on my shopping list that unavailable. What do I do?
    Since you are purchasing directly from the buyer, we are unable to monitor their supply. Some stores offer a notification if new stock becomes available, please check their site for additional information. If you are unable to locate a similar item yourself, you may request a re-select as one of your revisions or follow up questions and we'll select a new product for you within 7 business days of project presentation.
  • What if I change my mind on furniture after purchasing?
    You'll have an opportunity throughout the Design Phase to review every product for your space, including color, style, investment and will have ample time to provide feedback and request revisions. This detailed process ensures your satisfaction well before products are ever ordered or installed in your home. Once a purchase is made is impossible to cancel, as all purchases are considered a special order.
  • Do you keep the investment in mind when sourcing?
    Absolutely yes! We discuss investment at the consultation and periodically along the way to ensure your expectations are being met. Each room will feature specific investment parameters, for individual products, as well as the room over all. As part of the revisions, you may request specific reductions or increases.
  • How are the purchases for the project handled?
    All purchases whether it be for furnishings, accessories, window treatments, wall-coverings, etc. are ordered through utilizing trade sources, Anthony Interiors will provide a quote and you as Client will pay us or the source directly. Contractors are hired and payed directly by you the Client.
  • How do you handle returns and cancellations in the design process?
    Luxury Interior Design is curated for each client, with this in mind, returns are not possible. Once an order is signed-off and paid it cannot be cancelled. Should a piece arrive from a manufacturer with damage from the shipping process, or, is produced under a manufacturing error, then the piece will be replaced. If that item is no longer available, then the manufacturer will decide at their discretion on how to proceed. Under no other circumstances will any other cancellations or returns be accepted.
  • How long do projects normally take to be completed?
    This depends on a variety of things from Scope of work to be done, schedule constraints by the Designer, turn around time, delays outside of our control, how quickly decisions are made and so many other things. If you have a time sensitive project, please inform your Design Team at the time of consult to ensure we can meet your needs.
  • What if I decide mid-project to change the scope of work?
    ALL CHANGES to existing plans will incur additional costs. An additional Scope of Work Annex will be incorporated into the existing Contract, then signed-off by the client. This will only happen should time allow and is dependent on the availability of the Designer.
  • My project involves construction. How can you help?
    At this time, new construction and renovations are accepted on a limited basis. Please contact me early on in the process to discuss availability, services and timeline.
  • What is included in Project Management?
    Project Management offers flexibility in how it's used outside of the Full Service scope of work. It is not part of the Full Service Package, it's the design management portion add-on Examples can include: - Purchasing of goods - Reselection on discontinued items - Complete tracking of shipping and handling - Professional receiving and inspection of goods purchased through Anthony Interiors - Coordinating with Contractors and Subcontractors (to be written in agreement) - Troubleshooting with Contractor (if included) - On-site visits to ensure the project is on track - Coordinating delivery and installation - Styling and installation supervision - Weekly client updates to apprise on progress and on-track deadlines
  • Can you help me if I have structural work?
    If your project involves changing structural load bearing walls, or adding square footage, an architect and/or Structural Engineer and/or Architectural Technician will need to be part of your team. They’ll provide the necessary drawings and structural calculations required by your local building code to ensure your safety and welfare, as well as pass building code inspections. I'd be happy to refer you to someone who could assist you with this.
  • How can I use my Designer For a Day?
    These are purchase in blocks of time. Examples of how these can be used: Reviewing contractor's floor plans Shopping for hard finishes Consulting on a room design Second opinion on selected furniture Paint color selection Reporting on construction progress Visiting the kitchen and bath store for design Sourcing furnishings and accessories Customizing a furniture layout and so much more! Must be used within 60 days
  • How can I use my Designer On-Call package?
    This is strictly for phone, email and text help. Example of how this time may be used: Second opinion on selected furniture Paint color selection on the fly Design advice only, no deliverables included.
  • Are there limitations to Designer For a Day or Designer On-Call packages?
    Designer-For-a-Day- Must be used with 60 days Designer on Call - Must be used within 30 days from date of purchase. - package does not include purchasing services.
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