Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of hiring an interior designer can vary widely depending on the size, scope, and level of support your project requires. At Manifest Design Studio, we offer several thoughtfully structured service packages, creating multiple ways to work with us—from focused consultations and single design needs to kitchens, baths, new construction, and comprehensive design projects.Our design fees are tailored to the level of service involved, so you can choose an approach that aligns with your project, needs, and investment.For detailed information about our packages, what’s included, and current pricing, contact us to request our Design Services & Investment Guide.

Our thoughtfully guided design process takes your project from initial vision to final installation with clarity and expert attention to every detail. We begin by defining the design direction through consultation, space planning, and curated material selections, then refine each element into a cohesive, fully developed design. Detailed drawings and specifications provide a clear roadmap for execution, while furnishings and decorative elements are carefully sourced and procured. The process culminates in a final installation, revealing a beautifully resolved space that feels distinctly yours.

When you purchase furnishings, lighting, art, and accessories through us, you’re not simply purchasing the product—you’re also receiving a professionally managed procurement process and an advocate responsible for seeing each item through from specification to installation.Our procurement services include obtaining and reviewing quotes, placing and tracking orders, confirming specifications and quantities, communicating with vendors, coordinating receiving and delivery, addressing damaged or incorrect items, managing claims and replacements, and resolving the inevitable issues that can arise between the time something is ordered and the time it is installed in your home.Rather than billing you hourly for every email, phone call, tracking update, freight issue, or coordination detail associated with these purchases, the margin built into the furnishings helps compensate us for the time, expertise, and oversight required to manage this process on your behalf.As a design firm, we often have access to designer and trade pricing that isn’t available directly to the public. Our client pricing is structured to remain aligned with an item’s established retail value while allowing us to extend savings to our clients whenever possible.Because every vendor structures its trade program differently, the savings available through our trade relationships can vary from one manufacturer to another.This structure allows us to provide comprehensive procurement and coordination while also sharing the benefit of our trade relationships with you whenever possible.

If your project involves modifications to structural or load-bearing elements of your home or business, a licensed architect and/or structural engineer will be required. We collaborate with trusted local professionals and can help coordinate these partners as part of the larger project team, creating a seamless and cohesive experience from design through execution.

If your project requires a building permit, a licensed general contractor will typically be needed to oversee the work. For projects involving multiple trades—such as electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, or construction—we generally recommend working with a general contractor, even when a permit is not required. A skilled contractor coordinates the various trades and schedules and ensures the work is executed smoothly and as intended.Throughout the process, we work closely with the contractor and project team to help ensure the finished work fulfills the design vision as intended. We also have trusted local contractors with whom we partner and work closely, allowing us to help connect you with the right professionals for your project when needed.

Renovations that are primarily cosmetic and do not involve structural changes may not require a building permit. However, permits are required for additions, structural modifications, exterior alterations such as new or modified windows and doors, and certain electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work.Permit requirements can vary depending on the scope of the project and local building regulations. Your contractor and project team can help identify which permits are necessary and ensure the appropriate requirements are addressed before construction begins.

NCIDQ Certification is the industry's recognized indicator of proficiency in interior design principles and a designer's commitment to the profession. NCIDQ Certificate holders have proven their expertise in understanding and applying current codes established to protect public health, safety, and welfare. Passage of the NCIDQ Examination is required for interior design licensure/registration in every regulated jurisdiction within the United States and Canada, with the exception of California. It is the only examination recognized by these state and provincial regulators and therefore required for the practice of many types of interior design.