A full-service design firm will handle the design, procurement, and installation of all the furnishings for your home project. This is the best way to efficiently and beautifully pull your home together.

We are seasoned and work efficiently: We have experience in the interior design industry since 2003. Our rates reflect this, and therefore we are not going to be the most budget-friendly designer in town. Along with all our experience, however, you are hiring a team that has been doing this so long that we are efficient with our time and with the selection process. We have been told by clients that they are often surprised by how quickly we are able to accomplish things, and because of this we know we are a better overall value than many of our competitors.

Reselections are complimentary: It is common for items to become discontinued and/or to go out of stock without any notice from vendors. We do not want you to be inconvenienced by this any more than necessary, but unfortunately it is part of the project management process. Since you as our client do not have any control over this (we really don't either) we offer the design time to make reselections that are necessary for these reasons complimentary.

We offer you a team of people to manage your project: Many designers are lone wolves who may be creative but are not the best businesspeople and therefore do not understand how to run a business or manage a design project. They are often overworked and unorganized since they are trying to manage everything on their own. Robin Bond came from a business background prior to working in the interior design industry. As a result, our firm has detailed business systems to ensure your project goes as smoothly as possible. Their rates may be lower than ours, but I am sure that you have heard the saying, "you get what you pay for." We are experienced at managing whole house projects in the most cost-efficient manner. We pride ourselves on being as technical as we are creative, as it takes both for great interior design. This, combined with our focus to create custom designs unique to you, makes us the obvious choice for your design project.

We use a project management program exclusive to the interior design industry called Studio Designer: This system incorporates an image of each furnishing you are purchasing as well as a detailed description of each. Our design team will send you regular updates (typically bi-weekly) to keep you advised of what has shipped, what has been received, and what is ready for delivery.

Our overall philosophy is one of sustainability. It is our belief that if a home is designed well the first time, then the furnishings should be able to be tweaked a little at a time to keep up with trends and keep your home feeling fresh and current. If you purchase quality items, the first time then every 15-20 years those pieces can be recovered and changed into a totally updated look.

Robin approaches most projects with a high/low design philosophy guided by you. She always suggests selecting the most quality upholstered goods that your budget will allow, along with any case goods (such as dressers or TV cabinets) that will get the most wear and tear. When it comes to furnishings for guest rooms, smaller accent tables, or kids' rooms which tend to change more frequently, there is opportunity to save on the budget since these items will not see as much use.

You get what you pay for when it comes to furnishings, and if you invest in quality pieces initially then overall you will end up spending less than if you purchase what we call "throw away furniture" that only lasts a few years. Robin has a Green Accredited Professional designation from the Sustainable Furnishings Council, and so she is all about keeping or refurbishing quality furnishings you have that are in good condition, sentimental pieces, or anything else that it is possible to incorporate rather than throw out. At times there will be pieces that just will not work with a design, and in those cases, she recommends consigning and/or donating to allow the pieces to have a longer life.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding working with a designer. On top of that, most designers tend to work a little differently from one another, and so that only adds to the confusion. One thing all designers have in common, though, is we all work within the principles and elements of design. There are six principles we use when creating a space: proportion, scale, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and style. There are also seven elements of design: line, form, color, texture, pattern, light, and space. When all these things work together, the result is a harmonious space that feels like a beautiful place in which to live your life. If these elements are not working properly, the space will feel chaotic, out of balance, loud, or simply just uncomfortable. Have you ever felt this way when entering a space?

So much more goes into professionally designing a home than what might be expected. Most people would not dream of trying to landscape their yard or design the architecture of their house on their own, yet many people set out to design the interior of their homes without understanding the principles or elements listed above. Some people have a natural ability to do this, but statistics indicate that only 10% of the population can even visualize a space. An even smaller percentage than that can professionally design an interior. It is no wonder that most people we meet for the first time are frustrated and say that they have spent thousands of dollars on purchases that just don't work.

Our firm goes through a detailed questionnaire with all potential new clients and will also request that you provide us with inspiration images of spaces you like. By being thorough in these two areas, we can typically pinpoint exactly what products will be needed to create a space you will love. Keep in mind, though, that not everything in a single space should be fabulous. Some items are meant to be functional and/or are designed to allow the eyes to rest so that the focal items in a space appear to pop out and look more special. If everything is special, then nothing is special.

Fortunately, since we do our homework ahead of time, this is a rare occurrence with our firm. We find that our clients are happy with 95%-98% of the items suggested by our designer. If for some reason this does happen, your design fee will include some complimentary re-selection time, based on the size of your project that will typically be more than enough time to allow for the time is takes to make re-selections. Should you request more reselections than what is included complimentary, the firm’s standard hourly design rate will apply. We will continue to collaborate with you for as long as it takes to ensure that you are 100% satisfied with your selections before ordering any product.

Our firm consists of a team of talented interior designers. We consider this to be a plus for our clients. Many inventive minds are better than one. Robin is the firm’s lead designer and therefore all projects are reviewed by her prior to presentation. Whether your project is managed directly by Robin or by one of her talented designers, you are in good hands.

A formal digital presentation, including space plans, and visual product boards for each space will be reviewed with you. Available fabric samples or other materials will be reviewed with you at the time of the presentation.

Yes. We charge in 5-minute increments with a 5-minute minimum for any phone call, text, or email consultation. If it is a quick question that warrants a quick response that is one or two sentences by email or a minute or two by phone, then we will typically not charge for this. Many times, however, we collaborate with out-of-town clients or clients who work and so much of their projects will need to be overseen by phone and/or email. It takes up just as much of our time to manage this type of consultation by phone or email as it does in person. It may even take us longer to compile an email response than to quickly discuss something on the phone.

Because we work so efficiently with our product vendors, we can design the typical room in 10 to 15 hours. If the room is large and/or there are a lot of accessories needed for an oversized bookcase, the project could take longer. Our firm provides a design agreement prior to starting any project that is intended to give you a good idea of what your design fees will be.

Design fee + the cost of products + logistics fees: Our firm determines a design fee, based on the scope of your project. Fees are calculated for partial home projects based on an hourly rate of $175. Whole home project fees are determined on a square foot basis.

We are not the most budget-friendly designer in town, but we are one of the best. Our overall project costs to fall in the middle based on industry standards. Since we have been in business since 2003, we are very experienced and have been told by clients that they are often surprised by how efficient we are with our time. This, coupled with the fact that we can produce quicker turnaround times for projects by working with our products in lieu of spending hours upon hours retail shopping, make our firm an excellent value for our clients.

You have picked the perfect city in which to purchase an investment property for short-term rentals. There are unique events in Austin every weekend. Investors can charge significant rent during Austin City Limits and South by Southwest alone. Add in Formula One and the many other events going on here on a regular basis and you can count on this sort of property bringing in a nice rental income that is much better than leasing out the property to a monthly tenant.

The only kicker with a short-term rental is that you want for your property to be appealing to be able to demand top rents and stay leased. Our firm can furnish these properties in a manner that creates a small oasis for renters looking for a luxurious feeling property that is not a hotel. We are experienced in creating this type of environment and even have more value priced furnishings to allow investors to turn a quicker profit when investing in these types of properties. We don't recommend furnishing these places with throw away furniture since the items will see a little more wear and tear than an owner-occupied residence, however we also understand that as an investor, you are not looking for the same quality as our clients who occupy their homes.

We are also experienced in managing all the furnishings that need to furnish a property and so we can get your property furnished and, on the market, as quickly as possible. In cases where you have purchased a property that needs renovation prior to furnishing, we can recommend trade partners to start working on this aspect of your investment and at the same time can work on getting furnishings ordered so that they will be available to furnish the property shortly after the renovation.

We recommend that you hire a good architect, builder, and interior designer for any renovation and/or new custom home project. We all have different strengths and by hiring a good team you will get the best results for your dream home. Interior designers are the most informed about what current trends are when it comes to finishes, and are typically the best with color palettes, textures, and materials. Your designer will make sure that all these products are working harmoniously with the beautiful architecture your architect creates and the quality structure your builder puts together. Interior designers also think about space planning as early as the architectural design phase. By working side by side with your architect we can ensure that the finished space will allow for the furnishings and window treatments you are envisioning, and will allow for proper placement of floor plugs, lamp plugs, wall space, etc.

There are so many finish selections that go into building or remodeling that it can often be overwhelming. Our firm will help you select everything from paint colors, tile, counter tops, and exterior rock down to things like what type of cabinet hardware will work best. We have been told by many of our clients that they thought they were going to be totally stressed out by the process, but instead they found it to be enjoyable and much quicker than anticipated.

Our firm also provides construction documents such as a construction finish schedule, 2D kitchen cabinet and bath renderings to assure tile, lighting and plumbing fixtures are installed properly.

We do not compete with builders at all and therefore do not sell any construction related products (items attached to the structure) such as tile, flooring, counter tops, or plumbing fixtures. We may sell items like light fixtures, wallpaper, and cabinet hardware as part of our interior design projects.

Most interior design firms sell products because it is the most efficient way to plan, design and implement a room. This allows your designer to have access to quality products that are often not available on the retail market.

If you think of a room comprised of many parts, it will make more sense. Your designer will make sure that all the principles and elements of design are considered when putting together a space plan for you. Many of our manufacturers allow us to customize sizes, finishes and fabrics to pull together the look of a room with ease.

Our clients save hours of design time by hiring a firm that operates in this manner. Retail shopping can be very time consuming, and typically takes our designer’s longer to design your space. This is not to say that your designer will never recommend vintage or one-off pieces from a retail establishment; we just prefer to procure most furnishings through vendors we are familiar working with to have the most control over the outcome of the project and to know that the vendors we are dealing with will replace damaged items in a timely fashion to avoid unnecessary delays with your project.

The general overall answer is no. Our pricing structure is simply different than that of a retail furnishing store, and in the end, you will get a better value purchasing through a designer. It is akin to comparing apples to oranges. If you compare apples to apples, product from a design firm is typically less in price than retail stores because we do not have the high overhead costs of doing business that retail establishments have such as retail rent, inventory, and a floor sales staff or warehouse staff. As a result of these factors, we can offer more favorable pricing on product. There are a lot of “second run products” online that are sold for a lower price point. We sell only first run products and therefore may be higher for this reason. A more detailed explanation is broken out as follows:

Accent furniture, art, accessories, lighting, and rugs: The prices we charge for these products are typically less than retail stores, and on most of these items we are also competitive with internet pricing. Even though at times our cost may be slightly higher than you would find on the internet, you get much more for your money purchasing these items through our firm, including inspection for damage, handling of damage claims, prompt replacement of damaged items, and the disposal of boxes, pallets and other packing material associated with receiving these items. Let's not forget all the time and headache you will save by not having to deal with these things yourself. Our relationships with the vendors we are used to working with assures prompt, no questions asked replacement items, which you are unlikely to get them ordering on your own over the internet.

Case goods: A design firm also tends to be in line with internet pricing for case goods (chests, tables, and other wood pieces), however most of these goods are shipped in pieces and require assembly. We take the burden off your plate by having our receiver assemble these things for you, either in their warehouse or on-site at your delivery appointment.

Upholstered Goods: One of the best things about purchasing product through your designer is the quality and customization of upholstered pieces that you just can't get on the retail market. Upholstered pieces take the most wear and tear and so we highly recommend budgeting as much as possible for these pieces since these are the items on which you will be sitting and spending time with your family. There is no comparison to the quality you get through a designer versus off a retail floor. We work with high quality American made upholstered goods, and most are one-off custom pieces that are made with hardwood frames, quality joint construction such as doweled and glued or mortise and tenon, quality cushion options, and superior fabrics. Most of what you will find on the retail market is made overseas with particle board or fiber board frames, stapled joints, and inferior cushions. Even luxury furniture stores will often purchase items in bulk with duplicate fabrics that can be mass produced. Items made in this manner just don't compare to custom made upholstered goods, where more care and attention to detail is taken during manufacturing. Plus, you'll never have to worry about walking into your neighbor's house to find they have the exact same sofa. Trust me, we hear this happens a lot.

Logistics Handling: We send all our clients' products to a white glove receiving and storage facility as a third party to inspect for damages and to assist with handling damage claims. Our firm partners with the receiver to ensure that your products are free of damage and that replacements are ordered promptly when damaged items are received. This all goes on behind the scenes without your involvement. The same climate-controlled facility will also store your merchandise until all your items are received and we are ready to stage and install your finished room design or whole house project. These deliveries may be made in a day or in phases over several days, depending on the size of your project.

The fees associated with logistics include insurance, freight, receiving, warehousing, assembly, storage, and delivery of all products and is charged on a sliding scale between 20% and 35% of the entire project cost. Since most of the product pricing through our firm is likely at least that much less than retail pricing you will typically be at a comparable price point to purchasing the product the traditional retail route while receiving a superior turnkey service and custom design.

If you have made the decision to have your home professionally designed, we suggest that you at least go with mid-range quality furnishings. We do not work with economy furnishings for many reasons. If your home is valued over $750,000, it is time to move into the upper mid-range to higher end products so that they will look appropriate in relation to your home value. For homes valued at $1,000,000 or more, our clients tend to look more for high-end products, and custom or unique pieces that reflect their personalities and are in line with the quality of their home.

When you take out a homeowners' insurance policy, the policy will typically allocate 60% of the home value toward home furnishings. You don't necessarily need to budget that much, but we would highly suggest allotting at least 30% of your home value for furnishings.

Item description It is common for vendors to suddenly discontinue an item or for an item to be put on backorder. In cases where an item is on backorder for a short amount of time and/or if it is the perfect selection, it is usually worth the wait. In cases of a longer backorder and/or a discontinued item, our firm offers complimentary re-selections (, it isn't your fault that the item was discontinued). We are used to working through these situations and always find a latest item that is at least as good as the original, if not better.

The quality of upholstered goods sold through our design firm are superior to 90% of what is on the retail market. Much of the furniture sold in retail stores is made of particle board or fiber board frames and inferior foam products. Our firm has a range of quality upholstered goods from an entry mid-quality line all the way to extremely high-end lines as offerings to our clients. We can customize these goods according to what is important to you, with firm, blend down, down and spring down seating options.

We have a couple of upholstery options in our office, and there are design showrooms in Dallas as well as a small one in Austin with some floor samples. If you have any concern at all about the type of seating you desire, your designer can take you to one of these showrooms to try out several types of products prior to the specification stage. If you are very particular about upholstered goods, please discuss this with your designer prior to the design specification phase of your project.

Since I am purchasing all or most of my items through your firm, will my house look like everyone else's?

Absolutely not. We deal with hundreds of distributors, and we make it a point not to reuse selections in our projects. Just like no two people are exactly alike, we believe that your house should have a style unique to you based on all the information we gather prior to working on your design.

As previously mentioned, our prices for non-custom items are typically competitively priced with the internet. At times we may be a little higher and at other times a little lower. Our intent, however, is not to focus on that or compare our level of service to that of the internet. It is also not our intent to consider our firm a competitor with the internet. Ordering home goods through the internet is fine for do-it-yourselfers who have the time and energy to deal with returning damaged items, disposing of packing material and pallets, and storing items when need be.

We would also like to mention that damages are a common occurrence and disposing of the packing materials that come with these goods are not an easy feat. Most normal trash service will not manage this and so you will need to add fees to take these items to the local dump. If you add in your time and travel expenses to deal with this, our pricing gets even more favorable. You as a retail purchaser with internet companies also do not have the buying power, we have with distributors we deal with on a regular basis where we have local representatives who help our firm to quickly replace damaged items and move on with your project. We have heard nightmare stories from our clients who have tried going this route prior to hiring us who have had to spend weeks and sometimes months dealing with a sofa coming in with a broken frame or a cracked lamp or mirror. When hiring our firm, you can rest assured knowing that while we may be higher than internet pricing in some cases, you will also receive a much higher level of service as well.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer or a person who must get the lowest rock bottom price no matter if it involves time and other fees or if you prefer to shop either in person or on the internet, then you may choose to work with one of our designers A’lacarte. See our A’lacarte services for more detail.

My staff and I discuss all the time that we do not see how any individual person the time or skill would ever have set to furnish a property over 5,000 square feet, or even over 4,000 square feet for that matter. Once you start purchasing properties like this, there are an overwhelming number of decisions that go into furnishing a home such as this. Just the sheer number of items it takes to furnish this sort of home can be daunting. A home like this requires that the furnishings all look great and work well together, have the correct scale and look appropriate in relation to the value of the home. There are other things to consider such as appropriate lighting as well, what types and sizes of rugs and many decisions to make regarding window coverings. Houses like this call for nicer window treatments, often involving motorization and drapery is also typically called for. We are experts at pulling everything together for large houses and can take a lot of stress off our clients and avoid thousands of dollars in mistakes from purchases that do not work.

It is common to not know upfront what you would like to invest in your interior design project. We purchase home furnishings daily and so can also assist you in discovering what you are comfortable with if you are unsure to establish your budget. We will provide you with several different ranges for various product costs based on quality. We will also give you an idea of what quality range you should be in for your neighborhood, home value, etc. The project will then be specified with the intent to complete the project within the budget that has been set.

As a quick rule of thumb, you can set up your budget based on $150 a square foot for luxury furnishings, $75 a square foot for a mix of luxury and good products or $50 a foot for good products.

A 16 X 20 living room, furnished from scratch, will run approximately $30,000 for a mix of luxury and good products. Smaller spaces run less and larger spaces slightly more.

The rule of thumb for custom drapery is $1,000 for a window span of 35" wide x 70" tall for excellent quality mid-price point stationary drapery. This amount will be less for top treatments, and more for fully operable traversing drapery at 2 1/2 times fullness. If you are budgeting drapery for your whole house, you can use this formula and be fairly accurate with the final amount. Custom drapery work is a luxury item, but nothing else transforms a home quite like drapery.

Since the retailer is not a company, we routinely do business with, we cannot make any guarantees as to how they will manage damages or returns. Their standard policies will apply.

Robin does not personally consult or shop retail. Other designers on our team are happy to do so by offering our A’lacarte service. This is a great fit for clients looking for more budget friendly furniture or who just need accessories to finish out their home. This service is a straight hourly service billed weekly at $175 hourly, plus a small trip fee for off-site appointments.

Our firm’s standard model is turnkey, and we feel it is the best value for client’s looking to furnish one room or more with quality furniture.

As outlined in our firm's fee summary agreement, payment for any services is considered due when rendered, and therefore any services invoiced are considered due upon receipt of the invoice. We will collect a deposit on our scope of work for design services that we will apply to service invoices and you will be notified weekly as to how your deposit has been used as well as the remaining credit still available in your account. Once the deposit is depleted, invoices will be sent on a weekly basis. Products will be invoiced according to the type of product and how custom it is. This will be explained in more detail in our fee summary agreement as well.

We handle returns on a case-by-case basis with the ultimate objective of satisfying our clients. Many of the items we specify for our clients' projects are custom-made and can't be resold. For this reason, all sales are considered final on custom-made products. We provide detailed specifications on all custom items and ask that you take your time to review these visual representations of your products and their components to assure that you are completely satisfied with them prior to manufacturing.

Items that are not custom are still special ordered for your project. We are not a retailer and therefore do not have the ability to resell any items, and so we would need to send it back to the manufacturer. Often times, especially with larger art and accessories, the shipping costs are high to return items to the vendor, and there is quite a bit of time involved (scheduling pickups, issuing call tags, etc.). Most vendors will also charge a restocking fee. As such, we must pass on to our clients a 25% restocking fee as well as any fees associated with the return shipping to the vendor. Once these fees have been deducted, the remaining amount will be applied to your account as a credit. We ask that you carefully consider all items specified by your designer for your project prior to approval so that returns can be avoided.

There is a chance that our firm may make a space planning error, and on very rare occasions this has happened. If our firm has made a mistake in a space plan and as a result there is an item that will not fit where we had specified, we will gladly take responsibility for our mistake and give you full credit for any item involved in this sort of situation.