Our answer at Dress Your Home is to bring an interior designer onto a new build while the bidding is happening, which we consider perfect timing. It's also the stage at which the majority of people building with us first get in touch, as their builder works up the price. A designer thinks of things a homeowner doesn't think of.
How we work on a build, and why
We like to be brought in during the bidding because so often our clients' bids are missing things that could have gone in at the start. We also think of important things that a general contractor doesn't add to the bid. Starting off with a second set of eyes saves you time and money.
We get into the talks with the architect and builder early and weigh in on lighting plans and millwork heights. Before any material is chosen, we plan two to four conversations over about two weeks to learn how the family lives, down to how they cook and what sits on the bathroom counter. Our selections go hard finishes first, then soft finishes, with furniture and accessories last, because a sofa picked before the floor is settled can end up not working in the room. Later on, we coordinate the install sequence with the builder and chase vendors when a ship date slips.
Our service list puts new builds under Whole-Home Design, and our Kitchen, Bath & Architectural Selections work covers tile, stone, hardware, lighting, flooring and appliance selection. If your house is out to bid right now, tell us about your home.
What to expect on time and cost
If a friend were building, we'd tell them to be prepared for the house to take 25% longer than the general contractor says it will. We'd also tell that friend the build is going to cost 25% more.
How long the design work takes
How long our design work on a new build takes depends on how large the home is, and it can be anywhere from weeks to months. We work to be as efficient and quick as we can without shortchanging the selections we make for clients.
We often hear how miserable it can be to build a home, and our goal is to make the process a good experience while the work gets done. The whole process, start to finish, is in how a whole-home selection project works.
On site through install
At the install we're there in person to hang art and set up the bookshelves. Veronica is hands-on and stays with each project until it is complete. A couple whose home needed significant updates wrote in their Google review that she brought a clear vision and plan, and that she worked closely with the contractors.
In this photo of our Tesoro Custom Home project, the custom coffee bar pairs wood cabinetry with mirrored tile and looks through to the dining room; our role on that house was whole-home selections.
A home office and backyard in Southlake
For one Southlake family, in their new home, we created a year-by-year memory room that is also a home office, keeping the family's keepsakes in one place, separated by year. That job was in Southlake; see interior design in Southlake. The family then brought us back for the backyard, where we designed their outdoor living space and pool area.
Talk to us during the bidding
Our Colleyville interior design studio is a full-service practice serving a 30-mile radius across DFW. When you're ready, send a few details about your project, including where your builder is in pricing. We answer contact-page inquiries within one business day and set up a time to talk. To see finished rooms first, look through the before-and-after projects in our portfolio.
