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4 Design Companies Bringing you Affordable yet Elegant Interior Design
by Elliman Editors
March 2018
A home is a gathering place, it is comfort, it is warmth, and as Joseph Campbell wrote, it is the “sacred space where you can find yourself again and again.” This space should be carefully curated, so many can encounter paralysis when met with an overwhelming scope of an interior design project.
There has been a shift over the past few years with the emergence of platforms like Pinterest and Houzz to provide aspiring renovators with convenient methods of design development and wish-listing. The evolution has continued, with a bourgeoning catalog of design services that have taken the wish lists further. The technology landscape now fuses together beautiful furnishings and experienced designer options to bring a home to life. Tailored experiences now connect clients to the best designers, offer quick timelines, and generate designs that are both chic and affordable, with consultative options to meet face to face or create a new room all from the comfort of their couch.
We’ve put together a lineup of the best design services to spruce up your space on a budget with the promise of a seamless shopping and design experience. There’s something for everyone, from the hands-on taskmaster to the adrift dreamer, proving that what’s easy on the wallet can also forge design magic.
Homepolish
Perhaps the most detailed and hands-on design service, Homepolish provides design services with consummate project management that enables clients to be heavily involved in the project scope. This service knows that taste is “a subjective term,” so they strive to bring a world of talented designers with different aesthetics and creative leanings to the table, ensuring the best possible selection. A team including an Account Manager and Purchasing Concierge provide in-depth consultation for those that thrive on face-to-face connections and rates are customizable with options for in-person walk-throughs and video appointments. Users can choose from multiple options for the room rather than one finalized rendering, so design aficionados can select pieces for their home from a curated selection.
Laurel & Wolf
Laurel & Wolf ’s personalized design services team regard themselves as “easy, fun, and affordable,” and customers who can pay a small, flat fee can obtain access to services from the company’s several design partners. Subscribers are presented with concept boards from designers who create customized options derived from the consumer’s personalized settings taken from quizzes, current photos, and more. Users can then make digital modifications to what has been presented, including annotation and commenting and design feedback that culminates in a shopping list and final style board. The list is comprised of affiliate retailers that suit each client’s budget and needs.
In addition to these services, the company has created a partnership with Home Depot, called the Home Depot Referral Service , complete with Live Chat options and concept packages starting at a reasonable $79.
Havenly
Havenly is one of the newest to the game and their chic design, social media status and quick process for hands-on customers has catapulted the brand into the limelight. Similar to its competitors, consumers answer personalized questions and share mood boards or photos of their ideal home or room. When presented with an array of designers, they can choose which one best matches their style. Within days, users are presented with concepts that can be fine-tuned until perfect. While there are only 2 package offerings, users can rely on Havenly’s well-curated product selection across 400 partners for purchase and completion of their dream rooms. Users are also offered a free opportunity to chat with designers before they start the process.
The company has also rolled out a free new registry conceived for special occasions (Wedding, Baby, Housewarming, and Celebration) that pairs users with a professional to pick out the perfect items for their event.
Decorist
Decorist prides itself on knowing the user and their distinctive personality to provide personalized options that ensure the best fit. A style quiz concocts an actual style profile so the user’s aesthetic is clear to the designer (some designers can incorporate items from users’ Pinterest boards). Because of this attention to detail, renderings tend to be incredibly detailed, and there is a standard charge per room. Direct communication with designers about style inclinations and budget help meet a client’s goals, and packages offer direct lines of communication with three levels at “Classic,” “Elite” and “Celebrity” (the latter including famed designers India Hicks and Jeremiah Brent).
Decorist has also initiated a partnership with Bed Bath & Beyond, matching users with a friendly designer to get a visualization of the room clients want to update, with special rates for Bed Bath & Beyond customers. Either through a quiz or by room choice , a Decorist Design Bar enables budding planners to easily choose what type of design help they need.
Visit our listings for a new home and a blank slate of interior design possibilities.