OUR PROCESS
Peak Design House works in collaboration with you to clearly identify what is going to light you up when you walk through your front door. We highly value listening and our multi-staged approval process ensures that you are connected with the design development in each stage of the process.
By starting with a broad stroke approach to the design, we are able to analyze how you want the layout of spaces to feel before we dig deeper into the details. This means that you are able to work with us to approve and refine each phase of the design.
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All projects start by taking the time to sit down and connect with you before we dig into the design. With a clear outline of budget and your desires, we create a visual concept package to guide the selection process.
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Exploring finishes and materials is one of the most fun aspects of the process because it’s where the design really starts to come to life. We carefully select multiple options and present them to you, in person. The selection process often involves a few rounds as we refine to find the perfect combination of materials.
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3D modeling then allows us to explore the design interactively. We use the model to explore relationships between spaces and play with colours and textures. This is an incredibly valuable tool for visualization to see how all of the elements are going to tie together.
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Some of our FAQS
Our design fee will typically have a combination of a fixed fee and hourly estimates. Our fees are based off of the scope of work and are not based off of your budget. In your proposal, we will provide you with an estimate of our hours, which will be billed at an hourly rate. Any additional hours required above the estimated hours will be requested in writing. Site visits and meetings will be calculated separately and billed hourly.
1. HOW DO YOU CHARGE?
- Review of space requirements and design concept creation.
- 3D models are included to analyze spaces and details. Area's to be modeled will be outlined in your proposal.
- Complete construction packages, including full. drawings, specifications and cut sheets.
- Finishes package including plans, material selection and specifications.
- Lighting and plumbing fixtures specifications.
- Furniture layouts and selections.
- Millwork drawings and specifications.
- Interior staging and styling.
- Design and construction administration including assistance with ordering furniture.
- Project management from start to finish.
- Review of space requirements and design concept creation.
- 3D models are included to analyze spaces and details. Area's to be modeled will be outlined in your proposal.
- Complete construction packages, including full drawings, specifications and cut sheets.
- Lighting and plumbing fixtures specifications.
- Finishes package including plans, material selection and specifications.
- Furniture layouts and selections.
- Millwork drawings and specifications.
- Interior staging and styling.
- Design and construction administration including assistance with ordering furniture.
- Project support from start to finish.
The design fee is for concepts, space planning and solutions to problems. It includes kitchen and bathroom designs, finish selections and furnishing proposals. While each project will have different requirements, we will make sure you have everything you need to visualize and implement your design. Typically, you will be provided with finish samples, floor plan layouts, a mood board and product purchasing information.
Services can include:
2. what does the design fee cover?
The estimate of design hours you will receive in your proposal is based off of our experience with similar projects. That being said, each project is different and we all know that unforeseen issues often arise in construction. We offer you transparency in our design process and won’t surprise you with any extra hours at the end of your project. Should we feel like your project is requiring extra hours, these will be requested in writing and billed hourly. Please note that you will play a large role in keeping the project on track.
3. WHAT ARE YOUR FEES FOR EXTRA HOURS?
It depends on the scope of your project and the level of finishes you wish to use. If you have a specific budget in mind, we are happy to get really creative to help you maximize your design to meet your budget.
4. WHAT WILL MY PROJECT COST?
In addition to the design fee, we offer options when it comes to purchasing product and furnishings. Should you choose to have us coordinate the ordering, purchasing & delivery of furnishings, we will work with our trusted suppliers to secure a discount and pass along that discount to you, with a commission on product sold.
When a product is ordered through us, there is a lot of time involved in the coordination, review, purchasing and ensuring the whole process runs smoothly until your items are delivered. The mark-up or commission covers this and ensures your peace of mind. All mark-up fees will be clearly outlined in your proposal.
6. HOW DO MARK-UPS & DISCOUNTS WORK?
- Collect clippings from magazines and photos of items and decors that appeal to you.
- Create a Pinterest Board of ideas. Think about colors, styles and effects you like.
- Know your objective and lifestyle needs.
- Know what you want to accomplish, what the room or house should do for you when finished.
- Establish a time frame in which you would like to work
- Have a budget in mind and be honest about it. Having a ballpark figure is a good start.
To start, it’s important to know how you plan on using the space (though we would be happy to help you figure that out) as well as the time frame you’d like to work with and your budget. It’s also helpful to know your style preferences (think colors, furniture styles and mood) It’s also good to know what furniture you already own that you would like to keep or use in each space and what items you might need that you don’t already have (i.e. if the space is too dark, you might need more light fixtures).
9. WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD I HAVE BEFORE SCHEDULING A CONSULTATION?
Your complete satisfaction with the end result and the process getting there is our priority. Our design process ensures that you are involved in every step of the decision-making, with your approval required before we move onto the next step. If an issue arises, we’ll do everything in our professional capabilities to resolve it to your satisfaction. Please note that some issues are outside of our scope. These include but are not limited to: quality of work by trades people and substitution or alteration of materials by suppliers.
14. What happens if I’m not happy or a problem arises?
We purchase product from a variety of sources; we use local stores, to the trade showrooms and retail locations, as well as online retailers. If you have stores that you prefer to work with, we are happy to work with them. We also work with custom upholstery and millwork shops.
16. WHERE DO YOU BUY YOUR FURNITURE?
Peak Design House currently offers their services in British Columbia, Canada: in the Sea to Sky area (Vancouver -Pemberton)
15. WHAT CITIES DO YOU WORK IN?
We love working with trades and value the work that they do. We offer full construction packages that we can hand off to your contractor or other trades for installation. We will work with your contractor to make sure that the project stays on track, answer any question they may have and visit site to monitor progress. We do not directly hire trades. We can facilitate quotes but the final contract will be between you and the contractor/trade with the contractor/trade being responsible for the quality of their work. While we cannot be responsible for the work of the contractor/trades, we will do our best to monitor the site progress and flag any issues as they come up, so they can be addressed before they become an issue.
17. HOW DO YOU WORK WITH TRADES?
While we have certain design elements that we prefer, we don’t have a style that we stick to. We tailor our style to meet yours and bring your personality into the space. This is why it is so important at the beginning that you take the time to fill out the design questionnaire. Our guiding principles will be quality materials and products and an overall clean aesthetic. The Portfolio page on our website has a sampling of our design work. Feel free to contact us to see more images of other projects.
18. WHAT IS YOUR STYLE?
We are happy to work with you to incorporate your existing, loved pieces into the new design. It’s your space after all. That being said, sometimes some pieces just can’t be used as they too worn out or not keeping with the new style. This is something we can discuss and decide on as we go.
19. CAN MY EXISTING FURNITURE BE USED IN THE NEW DESIGN?
- An interior decorator generally refers to someone who deals with furniture, finishes, surfaces and wall coverings. They may work in a variety of venues from a design showroom to a remodeling retail store.
- An interior designer is a more specialized career field, requiring a certain combined level of education, work experience, and licensing. An interior designer will focus more on the layout and design of a space and deal with issues of safety like accessibility and building codes. They may create spaces for the inside of a commercial office building, design the lighting for a restaurant, or select the furnishings of a home.
20. What is the DIFFERENCE between an interior decorator and an interior designer?
While a good designer can help you at any stage of the design, it is best to begin your work with a designer at the earliest stages of the design. As with almost any process, a good plan in place as early as possible is the best strategy for success.
21. WHEN DO I NEED AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
Whether you need a little help or a lot, having a professional Interior Designer on your team who has the training and experience of countless similar projects as well as the expertise for finding the exact products and trades-people you need to get the best result for your project is priceless. Working with an Interior Designer will help you to move smoothly and efficiently through the project, as well as help you prevent costly mistakes or side steps along the way.
22. WHY DO i NEED AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
While each province is different, in British Columbia, we have the Interior Design Institute of British Columbia (IDIBC), which helps to regulate our industry. Membership is optional but encouraged. To be a full Registered Interior Designer (RID) means that the designer has completed a higher level of education, a minimum of years of full-time employment and passed a qualifying exam. Jessica Lowes is an intern member of IDIBC.
