Studio / FAQ
Questions

Before you book

Answers to the questions we hear most. If yours is not here, call the studio during opening hours.

01Is the September layout really free?
Yes. New clients who book a consultation between September 1 and 30, 2026 receive a measured, to-scale layout of one room (up to 400 sq ft) or one outdoor area (up to 1,500 sq ft), with two options and one revision, at no charge and with no obligation. Full terms on the Free Layout page.
02What happens at the first consultation?
About ninety minutes at your home: we walk the space, listen to how you use it, measure and photograph. Within three days you get a written scope with a fixed fee for each stage. The visit is free within 25 miles of Downers Grove.
03How are fees set?
Fixed fee per stage, quoted in writing before we start. Starting prices are on the Services page. Scope changes are quoted before we do them; there are no hourly surprises except optional site support, which is $145 per hour or a monthly retainer.
04Do you work with our own contractor?
Yes. Our drawings are made for any licensed contractor to price and build from. We can also introduce builders, landscapers and millworkers we have worked with for years.
05Do you buy furniture and materials for us?
We specify and source; you buy, so you keep the warranties and any trade discounts we pass through. For clients who want it, we manage the purchasing for a flat 10% of the goods.
06How long does a project take?
Single rooms: about six weeks from measure to drawings. Whole-home or full exterior concepts: eight to ten. Dates go into the written scope.
07Where do you work?
Downers Grove and the western suburbs: Naperville, Lisle, Westmont, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard and nearby. Farther projects are welcome with a travel fee.
08Can you do just renderings, or just a planting plan?
Yes. Every service on the Services page can be bought on its own.
09Do you handle permits?
Our construction drawings are prepared for village permit submission. Your contractor typically files; we answer plan-review questions.
10What if we want changes after a stage is delivered?
Each stage includes one revision round. Further revisions are quoted at a fixed price before we make them.
11Do you design small commercial spaces?
Yes: cafes, salons, offices and retail up to about 3,000 sq ft, on the same fixed-fee basis.
12How do I book?
Use the contact form or call {PHONE}. Sam, our studio coordinator, will schedule the consultation.
September only

Still wondering?

Call the studio or send a message. And book in September for a free first layout.