Full-service interior design is our most comprehensive and robust service at Sparrow. It involves getting to deeply know and understand our clients and their spaces over months; our design team carefully and thoughtfully developing designs that reflect our clients and their spaces at their absolute best; and our project managers ensuring the execution of our designs and plans through construction. We recommend and support clients in hiring other professionals such as contractors and architects, and we work directly with those professionals on behalf of the project and our clients. Full-service design leaves our clients with a complete space and for this reason is referred to as “turn-key design.” Read more about Full-Service Design and Styling on our Services page.

As our most robust and comprehensive offering, full-service design takes months (sometimes years) and significant time, energy and creativity by our design and management team throughout the entire project from well before construction to the completion, and sometimes beyond with furniture installation and styling. The project budget minimums that must be met for us to provide full-service design are $250,000 for construction and/or $25,000 per room for furniture/accessories. Clients can expect to invest 18-25% of their budget in this service. While this might sound like a lot, full service design saves many hundreds of hours and significant stress for our clients, brings together a highly competent team dedicated to your project, supports a smoother construction process, and results in a decidedly next-level design outcome that cannot be achieved without an experienced designer. Most of our clients will never have to remodel or redecorate again so the future time and money saved is also considerable.

When it comes to a healthy project budget to hire a Sparrow designer, most of the remodels we design cost an average of $350/SF. While there is a range depending on the room types, scope and finishes, this can give you a good idea for budgeting. For projects that fall below our minimums, or when a client has the time and energy to manage the project and just wants support with style, we suggest one of our Consultative Styling Packages.

The short answer is, no. In order to provide full-service design, we require that the project is lead by a licensed, bonded and experienced general contractor. For the investment, full-service design yields concepts with sophisticated and often complex remodel components best executed by high caliber building pros who are responsible for making sure the design is achieved. With the varying skillsets of DIYers, it is difficult to know how and what to design to match skillsets. We can count on good general contractors to employ and oversee subcontractors, and to hold them responsible for the work quality on your behalf. In addition to quality, DIY project timelines are largely determined by the availability of DIYers, which makes it almost impossible for Sparrow to manage the project timeline. Finally, the cost of full-service design generally doesn't fit in DIY project budgets.

However, for DIYers looking for style guidance, we recommend our Consultative Styling Packages, which offer advice, style inspiration, furniture layouts and mood boards with a relatively quick turnaround. These clients can take what’s provided and run with it how and when they wish!

Sparrow does not provide contractor services directly, but we work in partnership with them. Once we have an agreement in place for remodel design, and if our client is in one of our primary service areas, we will recommend a general contractor we feel fits the budget, scope and timeline; and that contractor will be hired and paid directly by the client. During design, we run concepts and layouts by our contractor partners to be sure we are in alignment and often we work together to troubleshoot and see what's possible. Once construction kicks off, as design managers and advocates we visit our sites regularly and work with contractors to maintain the vision and ensure integrity of the design. We do not, however, manage contractor time (when they show up, days of the week, sub-contractor schedules, etc), nor their expenses or payments—which should be communicated by the contractor and handled directly—nor are we legally or financially liable for their work (they are liable, through their licenses and bonding). Sparrow does not manage subcontractors without the oversight of a general contractor, aside from very small projects that are included in full-service styling (i.e. light fixture install, minimal interior painting, wallpapering, etc.) Because general contractors are responsible for executing our designs and ensuring client satisfaction, we prefer to work with contractors we know but we are also open to working with whomever has your confidence! Similar to our work with general contractors, Sparrow loves collaborating with architects and landscape architects on projects that require complex or structural or mechanical changes, building additions or other major renovation planning, or any major changes to the exterior, facade or landscaping for the home. For these projects, we will recommend an architect to work under our vision but, like a contractor, hired directly by you. For projects with large scopes and budgets of $1M+ and require more extensive structural remodel to the interior of the home, Sparrow may directly retain the services and cover architect fees for interior work. We will discuss this with you before hiring. When landscaping, home addition or exterior work are part of a project Sparrow is hired to design and oversee, these scopes should be considered part of the overall budget and Sparrow will assess our design fee against that budget as we provide project management and design oversight to ensure continuity from interior to exterior. Engineering fees, even when an engineer is collaborating with an architect, are always paid for by the client.

We strongly recommend clients hire their designer as one of the very first steps, even before hiring a contractor whenever possible. Sparrow is your design advocate and the one who creates and holds the vision for your new space from the start (we provide the plans and finishes for contractors to include in their work plans and budgets), and it’s important for us to be involved right away. If you hire your contractor and only then realize you want a designer, as long as it's early enough and/or client and contractor knows that Sparrow's role is to shape the vision and have leadership in layouts and materials, we can generally provide full-service design. Sometimes this can mean reworking an existing design. If you hire Sparrow for a Styling Package, you’re welcomed to hire your contractor whenever you wish, as Sparrow will provide style guidelines, suggestions and consultation only.

As a boutique design studio with a time-intensive model, we only take on a handful of projects at a time. And with high demand, clients can expect the formal start date on design to be 3-4 months from initial inquiry, with lead times generally getting longer as the year goes on. We also don't start new projects in November or December to account for holiday schedules and to be able to dedicate all available time to existing clients. The good news is that once you take the step to submit an inquiry, we will schedule a call and then, if it’s a good fit, meet with you, see your space and submit a proposal. Once we have a signed contract and deposit, we will schedule your start date, connect with general contractors, and share a new Pinterest board for your project and our design questionnaire to start as you're ready. We consider this the "pre-planning" phase and an important period of marination during which you can carefully consider your goals and financials. For new homeowners in particular, this allows time to get to know their space and learn how they live/want to live in it before making major decisions (we have seen this pay off time and again!) Once we formally begin designing, clients can expect an average of 6 months of design and planning (please allow for more for larger projects) which includes hiring a contractor, evolution of the design, estimation/bid approval, engineering/permitting, as well as product ordering and receipt.

We know this seems like forever when you want to start NOW, but good design takes time, and an investment like you're making is not to be rushed. Click "Hire Us" at the top of the website to fill out our intake form and share your timing, budget, and project details. Someone will be in touch!

Like budgets, project timelines vary greatly. Sparrow’s average design time on a full-service project is 6 months, but we’ve also spend 2 years in design on very large projects. Factors that affect total project timeline from design through completion include the complexity of design, whether clients adjust scope or make changes, engineering required by third parties, permitting timelines, lead times on products, and contractor availability.

Once designs are complete, a contractor will create and set the timeline prior to construction and update it throughout the process as needed. We can expect your contractor will do their best to ensure the timeline is upheld. Sparrow will work with the contractor and provide any updates or adjustments to honor that timeline as much as possible. While there are myriad factors outside our control at every stage, everyone involved: Sparrow, client, architects, vendors and contractors are expected to not cause unreasonable delays. Proactive communication, adaptability and flexibility are key to getting through remodels!

If you are hiring Sparrow for consultation only, these project generally take from 2 weeks to 2 months for us to design. See more on the services pages for each consultation package offering.

With or without a designer, budget and client cost-to-scope expectations can be among the more challenging parts of construction design and planning. When it comes to early estimation, prior to design completion and estimation by a contractor, we rely on our historical average cost/square foot for remodel, which is currently $350. The range we have provided full-service design for is about $300-$500+ depending on room type(s), full project scope and finishes. New build project generally cost more and depend significantly on the square footage, architectural design and detail.

Our role as a design studio is to work closely with our clients to provide design on a largely client-driven scope and within the known context of the home. In order to begin full-service design, we create an operating agreement and assess a fee based on a client’s desired scope and budget, which starts us down the path to seeing what’s possible and covers design and planning time. However, this agreement is not a guarantee of cost or scope.

Once designs are finalized and approved, it takes a contractor and their subs working with those designs, exploring structures and conditions in the home, and developing a construction plan, to create a true budget and timeline. Once we have that, we can make decisions with our clients. If the costs end up exceeding what a client wishes to spend, they can decide to stretch the budget or we can adjust the scope and reduce the costs. We work with both scenarios extensively, and we can make adjustments rather quickly to get the project into construction.

Once a contractor bid is approved and the project moves into construction, everyone is expected to honor the budget knowing that any build or renovation is not without some level of unknown. During construction, you will be kept apprised of all discoveries, and presented with options and solutions along with their estimated costs. On styling-only projects where we are not remodeling, budget is easier to predict and with few surprises.

There is both an art and a science to good interior design and how it unfolds. While we absolutely welcome a client’s ideas and collaboration during the planning and design phase, and we provide several opportunities for that collaboration, we also ask our clients to remember that they have hired a professional design team to complete a vision and we ask for our clients’ trust in the process. Our design concepts are created holistically, and all the components within those concepts work in harmony down to the smallest detail. For this reason, looking too singularly at any one product, or requesting modifications to a product out of the context of the whole concept, can actually cause disruption to that harmony. All that said, the earlier in the design process we have client input and change requests, the better. Once design concepts are finalized, and we move into pre-construction we do ask clients to avoid any major changes. This is especially true during construction, if clients try to make changes directly with their contractor. It’s important for clients to know that contractors are generally not designers and changes made without designer input can yield less than optimal outcomes. When it comes to ordering products, for full-service design Sparrow handles everything from ordering through installation. Any products not purchased by Sparrow are typically purchased by the contractor. As a largely cash-based industry, we ask clients to pay with check or wire transfer; using a credit card is an option but the processing fee is passed along. We are a licensed reseller and therefore purchase products for resale to our clients. We are unable by law to use client credit cards to purchase directly from our vendors; nor can we provide ordering links for our clients to use. For styling packages, clients are welcome to purchase all recommended items on their own directly from retailers.

When clients hire Sparrow, they are electing to pay for a premium experience and design. We prioritize thoughtful, artful and high-quality designs and products, and we take on projects with budgets that allow us the ability to design and execute to our standards. Sparrow also has a network of partners and vendors whom we have vetted for quality, style, and service, and we source from that network. As a licensed reseller, we have trade accounts, which can include expedited shipping, dedicated support, free samples, and white glove delivery--benefits we pass along to our clients. It can be surprising to learn that Sparrow does not buy from many well-known retailers, local chains, and discount suppliers (except for select high-quality vintage items). There are many reasons for this, including the quality and warranty. For example, a flooring product from a discount supplier may not be guaranteed by a 3rd party installer--or in some cases even installed by our contractors--so if an issue arises once the flooring is installed, the homeowner is on the hook with little or no support. Additionally, a name brand faucet sold directly from the manufacturer’s showroom, seemingly at a premium, is actually mechanically/structurally better and will last far longer (with a lifetime warranty) than the cheaper version found at a big box retailer. While we design within an agreed-upon scope and budget range, working with Sparrow is not “cheap,” and we are unable to prioritize or guarantee the cheapest prices on products or labor.

Sparrow’s business hours are 9 am to 5 pm Monday-Friday. Designers do not generally meet with clients outside of these hours. Hiring and collaborating with a designer does take dedicated time from clients during the week in the form of phone calls, emails, meetings at your home or our office, and showroom visits especially if they clients want to be heavily involved. Therefore, clients should determine whether they have the availability for the design process and if so, to what degree (we can adapt to involve the clients as little or as much as they wish!) Beyond basic availability, designers schedule and prioritize time for specific projects and tasks throughout the week, such as mood boarding or purchasing, in order to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously. In this way, designers maximize accuracy, efficiency, creativity and the meeting of deadlines. This may also mean that a designer is not available for a specific client request same-day, however clients can always expect a response within 48 business hours. Sparrow maintains a Communications Policy that will be provided with each design agreement and we invite clients to ask specific questions about the policy at that time.

With full-service design, we operate on both a “flat fee” or a “hybrid fee” model, depending on project scope and location. Our flat fee model assigns a single fee to cover everything from design concept to completion of construction. Derived from a percentage of the budget, initially it represents an estimated total fee against an estimated budget and then fixes at the time of scope and budget approval, post design.

In our hybrid model, we assign a flat fee (smaller percentage) for design followed by an hourly fee for remaining work post design, to support pre-construction (permitting and bidding) as well as design management during construction (Construction Administration). In both models, the flat fee is based on the initial scope and budget at the time of agreement signing; and if scope and budget change during design, the fee does as well. An agreement to a percentage allows clients to adjust the scope during design and planning and Sparrow to remain nimble in our planning for our clients without constant changes to the scope and cost in the agreement. A client may end up with a higher fee than estimated if the scope and budget increase, but likewise Sparrow may spend time designing a scope that is ultimately reduced or cut out in the end and therefore not included in the fee.

The fee structure will be discussed and assigned and a deposit taken at agreement signing. Whether as part of a flat fee or hybrid fee model, the flat fee fixes at the time of budget approval pre-construction and does not change. Once we kick off the project, we bill monthly.

Check is the preferred payment method for design fees and products under $50,000, with anything above being made via wire transfer. While we do offer credit card processing to our full-service design clients, fees pass to our clients. Payment for our Styling Packages is due up front, via check (local clients) or credit card for remote clients only. And can also be billed monthly for ongoing work.

Payments to contractors and other professionals are made directly and on their payment schedules.

If a client asks Sparrow to formally hold space in the future for a project, payment is required (deposit for full-service design or full payment for a package) in order to schedule.

This happens more than you may think—clients get excited about what they’re seeing during design and want to expand from the original scope. Sometimes they’re small additions, sometimes they’re so significant that the way a project looks when design is over barely resembles the initial plan. First, we take scope increase requests as a great sign that our clients are happy with how design is going. However, adding to scope most assuredly impacts timeline and budget, sometimes in significant ways, and it’s important for clients to understand that. Even if we can’t estimate the costs associated with those increases until design and contractor’s bid are complete. If you know your budget is tight, or you know there is a number you cannot eclipse, it’s important to let your designer know so she can make the best use of everyone’s time by determining whether a scope increase will work. A client can expect scope changes to be documented in writing as they contribute to additional design time and cost, which will show up later in the amended design fee before the start of construction or procurement. If, however, scope changes are requested much later during construction or when a current project is near completion, OR the new scope is very different and requires a whole new budget and timeline, we may need to create a new agreement, fee structure and start date based on availability. It’s great to know about changes to design or scope as early as possible, but no matter what we take it as a good sign our clients are happy!