Starting an interior design project is exciting, but we know it can also come with a lot of questions. Where do we start? What should we prioritize? What will work best for the way we actually live? And how do we turn all of the ideas we’ve been saving into a home that feels cohesive, functional, and uniquely ours?
At Lindsey Putzier Design Studio, we believe great design starts long before we select furniture, fabrics, paint colors, or finishes. It starts with getting to know you.
Our consultation process is designed to give us a complete understanding of your home, your lifestyle, your priorities, and your vision so we can create a thoughtful plan for moving forward. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with an interior designer, here’s what you can expect when starting a project with our team.
Step One: A Quick Discovery Call
Before we step inside your home, we start with a conversation.
Our Discovery Call is an opportunity for us to learn a little about who you are, what has you considering an interior designer, and what you’re hoping to accomplish. We’ll talk broadly about your home, the spaces you’d like to address, your goals for the project, and what you’re looking for from a designer.
It’s also an opportunity for you to get to know us. Working with an interior designer is a collaborative and personal process, so we want to make sure the partnership feels like the right fit from the beginning.
From there, we’ll schedule your in-home Initial Design Consultation.
Step Two: Your Two-Hour In-Home Consultation
This is where we really get to know you and your home.
During our approximately two-hour initial consultation, we’ll walk through the spaces together and have an in-depth conversation about how you currently live in your home and how you would like to live in it.
We ask a lot of questions, and there’s a reason for that.
Which rooms do you spend the most time in? What works well right now? What frustrates you? Do you entertain often? Are there pieces you already own that you love and want to incorporate? What is most important to you when it comes to the finished space? Where are you willing to invest, and where would you rather save?
We’ll also discuss your budget openly so we can begin establishing realistic expectations and determine how to use that investment in the most impactful way.
These conversations allow us to look beyond simply making a room beautiful. We want to understand what the space needs to do for you.
A beautifully designed living room doesn’t mean much if it doesn’t accommodate the way your family gathers. A gorgeous kitchen still needs to function for the person cooking in it every day. Your home should support your routines, reflect your personality, and make everyday life feel better.
That understanding begins during the consultation.
Taking a Closer Look at Your Home
While we’re there, we’re also gathering the practical information we need to understand the project.
We’ll start taking measurements, assess the rooms, look at existing architectural details, discuss potential challenges and opportunities, and begin identifying what may need to change.
Sometimes clients come into a consultation knowing exactly which rooms they want to tackle. Other times, they simply know their home isn’t working for them anymore.
Both are completely okay.
Part of our job as your interior designer is helping you determine what actually needs to be done AND what doesn’t.
Defining the Scope of Your Interior Design Project
By the end of the consultation, we have a much clearer picture of the project as a whole.
We can begin defining the scope: which spaces we’re addressing, what level of work may be involved, what your priorities are, and what services will be needed to bring everything together.
This step is especially important because every project is different. One client may need furnishings, lighting, window treatments, and styling for several rooms, while another may be preparing for a larger renovation involving new layouts, cabinetry, finishes, and construction.
Rather than forcing every client into the same process, we use what we learn during your consultation to determine the approach that makes the most sense for your home, your lifestyle, and your goals.
Why We Spend So Much Time Getting to Know You
Interior design is personal.
We’re not interested in creating a home that simply looks like a Lindsey Putzier Design Studio project. We want it to look and feel like you.
That means understanding the details that might not show up on a Pinterest board: where you drink your coffee every morning, where the kids drop their backpacks, which chair everyone gravitates toward, how often you host family for dinner, which heirloom you would never part with, or why one room never seems to get used.
Those details influence our design decisions just as much as color palettes and furniture styles.
Our role is to take everything we learn about you—your tastes, routines, priorities, needs, and investment—and translate it into a home that feels intentional from room to room.
You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out Before Calling a Designer
One of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that you need to know exactly what you want before reaching out.
You don’t.
You can have an entire inspiration folder ready to go, or you can simply tell us, “I know this isn’t working, but I don’t know how to fix it.”
Both are great starting points.
The consultation is where we begin sorting through the possibilities together. We’ll help identify priorities, establish direction, and turn what may feel like an overwhelming list of ideas and decisions into a clear path forward.
That’s part of the value of working with an experienced interior designer: you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
Ready to Start Your Interior Design Project?
Whether you’re furnishing a room, updating several spaces, planning a renovation, or creating a home that finally feels more like you, it all starts with a conversation.
At Lindsey Putzier Design Studio, our interior design consultation process gives us the opportunity to understand not just how you want your home to look, but how you want it to feel and function every day.
Because the best homes aren’t simply beautiful.
They’re designed around the people who live in them.
If you’re considering an interior design project in Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, or beyond, we’d love to learn more about your home, your ideas, and what you’re hoping to create.
Ready to take the first step? Set up a Discovery Call with Lindsey!
