What to Expect During the Full-Service Interior Design Process

The role of a full-service interior design studio extends far beyond what most clients expect. While the term describes work spanning from project concept to completion, what actually happens in between isn’t always clear. Below is an inside look at our four-phase process which provides structure to a complex series of design decisions, establishes clear expectations, and coordinates the details needed to bring the vision for your home to life.

Phase I: Discovery

Every Mabel Lane project begins with a complimentary Discovery Call to discuss your goals, outline your project’s scope, and establish an initial budget range for our design services. Before we begin any design work, we will meet for an in-person Site Visit to verify existing conditions and discuss the details of our partnership. This step ensures our collaboration feels like the right fit and lays a strong foundation for the work ahead.

Phase II: Design

After we receive your signed agreement, design development kicks off with our first official meeting where we dive deep into your project goals and priorities to create a complete design plan. From there, our studio handles the heavy lifting, including refining floor plans, designing custom cabinetry, curating material palettes, and sourcing every fixture, furnishing, and textile. For renovations and new builds, we also collaborate closely with your architect or build team to ensure the interior details align with the project’s technical requirements. Throughout this phase, we guide the design process and bring important decisions to you for feedback and approval, allowing you to remain involved without managing the day-to-day-details.

This phase culminates in your final design presentation, where we bring together physical material samples and plan specifications to present the complete vision. This reveal lets you see how every aesthetic choice interacts and allows you to make informed decisions before moving into construction estimates or purchasing.

Phase III: Coordination

This phase begins only after you provide final design approval and lock in material selections, allowing us to shift our focus to executing the design details. For renovations and new builds, we prioritize ordering designer-procured construction materials according to the project’s construction schedule and coordinate with your build team to ensure they arrive when needed. We then provide detailed specification packages to your build team and remain accessible throughout construction, completing site walks to review design execution while your contractor oversees trades and site operations.

At the same time, our studio is managing the procurement of your fixtures and furnishings – issuing orders, tracking lead times, coordinating with vendors, and keeping you informed of developments along the way.

Phase IV: Installation

As construction nears completion, the project moves into its final and most transformative stage. For projects that have furnishings and styling elements, our studio coordinates the white-glove delivery and placement of every item for one final reveal. After installation, we conduct a joint walkthrough with you to review the finished spaces together and document any remaining details that need attention as we prepare to hand over your completed home.

What Full-Service Interior Design Means for You

For renovations and new builds, full-service interior design is most successful when it begins at the earliest stages of planning. Ideally, this means starting before architectural plans are finalized and well before construction begins so your entire design and build team can work together while important decisions are still flexible. For furnishing and styling projects, it is best to bring us on board when you are ready to begin as we may propose minor construction or finish updates to improve your space.

From there, our process is built on balance: your vision guides the design direction while Mabel Lane handles the details so you can enjoy the process without the burden of managing every detail. If our approach feels aligned with what you have in mind for your project, we would love to learn more about your home. You can explore more about our interior design services or submit an inquiry here.