Frequently Asked Questions

Good interior design is an investment that should pay you dividends in function. Does the layout of the space enhance your daily routine - make you more organized, efficient, productive, happy or calm? Is there a flow within and between the spaces?  Is there adequate storage? Does the lighting enhance the space and is it directed to those places where you need it?  Once these and other functional issues are addressed, only then can we work on the aesthetics of the design.

A well designed home should give you pleasure in its beauty. At Olivine Dushenko, we believe every client and space is unique. It is our job to capture the personality and tastes of our clients and translate them into stunning rooms for them to inhabit.  

What we do not do is cookie cutter designs, saturated with the latest trends that will date your spaces within months of being complete. We do not believe in buying "fast furniture": ie. disposable, poor quality pieces that will fall apart in the lifespan of a goldfish. 

Our designs are timeless, sustainable, and should function for you over the long term. 

In interior design, as in architecture, budgets are devised in accordance with the scope and complexity of work, the level of finish materials and furnishings, and the expectations regarding time frame to bring it to fruition.  At Olivine Dushenko we do not define a budgetary minimum to work with clients, but rather, work with clients whose budgets are properly aligned with the scope of work and their expectations of it.  We are always willing to discuss budget expectations in regard to your project before we begin working together. That being said, our typical, all-in, project budgets for full service interior design start at $25,000.

We start the design process with a conversation about your project, your budget, your vision for your space and your expectations. We will ask you some questions to get to know you and your tastes better. Your designer will then make a site visit to view your space, discuss the project in more depth and gather information to draw up a complete scope of work. Within 10 working days, we will meet with you and go over the scope of work in depth and review the budget and contract with you. Once we have agreement on the scope of work and budget and a signed contract, the real work begins. 

Before we start designing, we will ask you to complete some more in depth questionnaires to get a better understanding of who you are, what your style is, what you like and don't like.  We will ask you to provide us with pictures of places that speak to you in one form or another. Then we will schedule a day when your designer and the necessary tradespeople will come to your home and take all the needed measurements to begin the design process.  Depending on the scope of work, the design team will need 2-6 weeks to create design plans for your review. These plans may include space plans / furniture plans; lighting plans; finish selections - including wall, floor, ceiling and window treatments, fixtures, and fabrics; furniture, fixture and lighting selections, sketches of custom furniture designs, project timelines and budget considerations. When the design is complete, we will meet so we can walk you through the design, answer any questions and discuss any revisions you would like to make. To keep projects moving forward, we try to keep the revisions to no more than two and complete sign off of the design plan within 2 weeks. At this time, a deposit of 50% will be required.

The next phase is implementation and depends on the scope of work.  Trades will be scheduled to carry out work as required, orders will be placed and items will be shipped.  Throughout this time, Olivine Dushenko will manage the project and keep you abreast of all project milestones, either through a weekly email or meeting. As we approach completion of work, we will schedule an install day to bring the whole project to fruition. Punch lists will be completed and your space arranged down to the last detail for you to enjoy!

Unlike on HGTV, designing a home that you love takes more than a quick 5 minute conversation with a design team and two weeks to bring to fruition.  Design is a partnership.  While we, the design team, do the heavy lifting, we still need you, the client, to participate. You'll need to tell us about your style and tastes, tell us where your pain points are, how you want your home to function, and what you hope to realize through the design. You'll need to look at samples we present you, contemplate options and make decisions. You will need to make time to meet with the team and discuss your project as it develops. Even if your project does not entail large scale construction, you'll need to allow trades people into you home to do such things as measure for window treatments or install lighting. 

At Olivine Dushenko, we are professionals who will guide you through the process. We will let you know what to expect at each stage, keep you abreast of timelines and decisions and do our best to mitigate any stress that comes with a renovation.  As your design partner, we encourage open and honest communication through out the entire process.