Living room with large sectional sofa, potted plants, and a kitchen area with a dining table and white chairs.

The Studio Ness Full-Service Design Process

A clear, thoughtful journey from first ideas to final reveal. _

Every project begins with connection. Our process is designed to keep everything beautifully organized so you always know what is happening, what comes next, and how your vision is taking shape. From discovery through installation, we guide each phase with intention, transparency, and creativity.

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A cozy bedroom corner with a bed covered in white linens and a red knitted blanket, multiple pillows, a blue side table with a glass of water and flowers, a basket with a towel on the floor, and a built-in shelf with a camera and wall-mounted red lamp.
Modern bathroom with a white bathtub, wooden countertop, and double sinks with black countertops. Two tall frosted windows let in light, and a striped rug lies on the wooden floor.

Our Process_

  • Understanding how you live.

    Every great design begins with listening. During discovery, we learn who you are, how you use your home, and what you want your space to support. We explore your lifestyle, inspiration, and investment goals so the foundation is clear and aligned.

    What’s included:
    • Initial consultation
    • Lifestyle and design questionnaire
    • Vision and inspiration review
    • Investment and timeline discussion

    This step creates the blueprint for everything that follows.

  • Clarity before creativity.
    Once we understand your vision, we outline the scope, timeline, and structure of our work together. You’ll receive a detailed proposal, transparent fee schedule, and a design agreement so expectations are clear and shared from day one.

    What’s included:
    • Customized project proposal
    • Defined deliverables and fee structure
    • Project schedule overview
    • Design agreement and retainer

    This phase ensures a confident partnership before design begins.

  • Shaping the vision.
    Here, your ideas start to take form. We craft curated mood boards, palettes, and visual direction that capture the story your home will tell. The focus is feeling, flow, and the emotional tone of the space.

    What’s included:
    • Mood boards and visual concepts
    • Preliminary palette and finishes
    • Key furniture and layout direction
    • Concept presentation and feedback

    Together, we refine the vision before moving into detailed design.

  • Design with depth and purpose.
    In this phase, the vision becomes a fully realized plan. We develop layouts, select materials, and specify furnishings, lighting, and fixtures. Each choice is made with intention and long-term livability in mind. The result is a complete, cohesive design package.

    What’s included:
    • Space planning and elevations
    • Finalized materials and finishes
    • Furniture, lighting, and fixture selections
    • Budget confirmation and revisions

    By the end, your full design story is ready to be brought to life.

  • Managing every moving piece.
    We handle the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a project running smoothly. From purchasing to tracking to coordinating with trades, we ensure every detail arrives as specified and every step stays on course.

    What’s included:
    • Vendor communication and purchasing
    • Order tracking, warehousing, and logistics
    • Construction and trade coordination
    • Regular project updates

    This phase is where we make the process feel effortless for you.

  • Your home, fully realized.
    Installation day is the transformation moment. We oversee furniture placement, art installation, and final styling so your home feels complete, intentional, and deeply personal.

    What’s included:
    • White-glove installation management
    • On-site styling and accessorizing
    • Final reveal
    • Professional photography session 

    This is when everything comes together and your home finally feels like you.

  • A thoughtful finish.
    After installation, we conduct a detailed walkthrough to ensure everything is perfect. You’ll receive documentation, care guidance, and ongoing support options should you need them.

    What’s included:

    • Final walkthrough and punch list

    • Transformation Celebration

    • Care guide and maintenance documentation

    • Client appreciation and follow-up

    • Optional ongoing styling or support

    The end of the project should feel as organized and considered as the beginning.

What does full-service really mean?_

The projects you see on our site include far more than furnishings and finishes. They are shaped through thoughtful planning, seamless coordination, and a level of detail that keeps the process organized from start to finish.

A dining area with a white table, colorful wire chairs, and a floral centerpiece, adjacent to a white sofa with pillows and blankets, near glass doors and windows revealing a garden outside.
A bedroom with a white bed, pillows, a beige nightstand with a marble table lamp, a small plant, and a stack of books. There is a white armchair with a blanket, and a black-and-white artwork on the wall.

For select projects, our full-service scope may also include:

• Architectural and new-build design review
• Custom furniture and millwork design
• Art curation and installation
• Collaboration with contractors, artisans, and specialty trades
• Remote or virtual consulting when geography requires it

These capabilities are woven into the design experience as needed. They are not add-ons. This is how we ensure each project feels cohesive, intentional, and beautifully executed.

Naturally, you’ve got questions._

And we’ve got the answers.

  • Everything begins with a conversation. Once we’ve discussed your goals, we guide you through every step: discovery, concept, design development, procurement, construction coordination, and final installation.
    Our approach is full-service and hands-on. You’ll always know what’s happening and what comes next, but we handle the heavy lifting so you can stay focused on life.

    We design. We manage. You breathe.

  • Studio Ness mostly specializes in full-service residential design, including renovations, new builds, apartment combinations, and complete furnishings. We focus on projects where we can guide the process from early concept through final installation, ensuring a cohesive, considered result.

    We also take on select commercial projects that are aligned with our aesthetic and design philosophy.

    If you're unsure whether your project is a fit, reach out and we’ll talk through it together.

  • As early as possible. Ideally, we’re involved before work begins, and even before you’ve purchased the property. Early collaboration allows us to shape the architecture, flow, and material direction from the start, saving time, stress, and costly changes later.

    The sooner we begin, the sooner your home is beautifully completed and ready for you to enjoy.

  • Absolutely. Many of our clients don’t have a defined style; they simply know how they want their home to feel. We guide you through inspiration, clarity exercises, and curated selections to uncover a vision that feels like you: refined, personal, and grounded.

  • Absolutely, and we value these partnerships.
    We collaborate seamlessly with your existing team or introduce trusted professionals from our network. We speak the same language as architects, builders, and artisans, ensuring every detail aligns with your vision and the design plan.

  • Yes. We’ve spent years cultivating relationships with contractors, fabricators, and craftspeople who share our standards for quality and integrity. We’re happy to make introductions to teams we trust and have worked with successfully in the past, and you always retain the final decision.

  • Our full-service work covers everything from concept to completion, including:

    • Space planning and design development
    • Construction coordination
    • Furniture, lighting, and fixture specification
    • Custom millwork, furniture, and rug design
    • Procurement and installation
    • Art and accessories curation

    We are your exclusive point of contact for every aspect of design: the creative lead, the project manager, and the trusted advocate for your home.

  • You can be as involved as you’d like, and most of our clients prefer a streamlined experience, and don’t have the bandwidth to take on their project on their own. We handle the details, manage the decisions, and keep everything organized. You stay informed, we keep things moving, and together we create a home that feels tailored to you without taking over your life.

  • Yes. Once selections are approved, we manage purchasing, tracking, warehousing, and installation logistics. This ensures quality control and keeps the process smooth. We provide access to trade-only resources and pair those benefits with our procurement management, which covers the time and coordination required to keep everything on track behind the scenes.

  • We understand that design is personal.
    Once a project begins, all selections flow through Studio Ness to maintain cohesion and prevent costly missteps. If you’d like to source specific pieces on your own, we’ll discuss it, review suitability, and guide you on how it fits into the overall design.

  • Timeline varies by the complexity and custom design details specific to your project.
    A single-room project may take a few months; a full-home renovation or new build can take a year or more. Our longest project to date was completed in twenty-four months.

    We outline a detailed, anticipated timeline at the start and keep you updated at every milestone. Good design takes time, but it’s always worth the wait because you’ll be enjoying this for 365/24/7 for as long as you call it home.

  • Yes. While we’re based in New York, we regularly design homes across the country. Our systems are built for remote collaboration, allowing us to deliver the same level of detail, organization, and care no matter where your project is located.

  • For full-service projects, like those featured on our site, we provide a custom quote based on the specifics of your home and design details, paired with your furnishing investment. These numbers vary by scope, size, and level of customization.

    Our projects are always better served by the economies of scale; while we always prefer to tackle the entire home or floor, we do have a three room minimum if we are only working in select areas of your home.

    Once we understand your goals, we’ll help you establish a clear and realistic investment plan that aligns with the quality of the result.

  • Absolutely. Working with Studio Ness simplifies decision-making, prevents costly mistakes, and ensures every dollar is spent intentionally.

    Our clients often tell us they save time, avoid being overwhelmed, and end up with a home that functions better than they ever imagined. Many have carried custom pieces we designed for them from one home to the next, proving that buying well once truly pays off.

    A tailored home supports your life, your energy, and your financial goals.

  • We custom quote each project based on the unique scope of work and complexity of the design. This eliminates surprises and gives our clients clarity and confidence on their interior investment. Based on these details our projects utilize a flat-rate milestone-based custom fee for design services, paired with a procurement and design implementation fee for managing orders and execution.

    We walk you through each detail before work begins so you feel informed, comfortable, and confident. This ensures that we can deliver you our best work because we are focused on the transformation instead of the time.

  • Our approach blends architectural thinking with a deeply personal understanding of how people live. We’re known for our clarity, organization, and ability to turn complex projects into calm, livable spaces.

    With over a decade of experience in interior architecture, space planning, and custom fabrication, we design homes that are as functional as they are beautiful – and built to last.

  • Reach out and say hello. Tell us about your project, your goals, and your timeline.
    From there, we’ll schedule an introductory conversation, outline next steps, and create a tailored path that brings your vision to life.

    Get in touch

Studio Ness NYC Primary Bedroom expand-media

WE HANDLE THE DETAILS. YOU ENJOY THE TRANSFORMATION.

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