FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here at Woods Design House, we are committed to providing our clients with exceptional customer service. We have laid out a list of questions that are commonly asked by our clients. However, if there is something that we have missed please feel free to reach out to us at hello@woodsdesignhouse.com. We would be more than happy to address any of your needs and help you find clarity.
1. What services do you offer?
Woods Design House is a full-service interior design studio offering thoughtful design support for renovations, new construction, furnishings, and finishing details. Our services are tailored to help clients create homes that feel beautiful, functional, and deeply personal.
Our design services may include:
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Space planning, floor plans, and cabinetry layout design
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2D and 3D renderings, including black-and-white and colorized visuals
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Finish selections for remodels, renovations, and new construction
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Paint color, tile, lighting, plumbing, hardware, flooring, countertop, and material selections
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Furniture, decor, styling, and hybrid-decor selections
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E-design furniture and decor services, especially for clients outside the greater Houston area
Whether you are planning a full renovation, building a new home, refreshing a room, or simply need help pulling the details together, our goal is to create a cohesive design plan that reflects your home, your lifestyle, and the way you want to live.
2. I know what interior design service I need, but I don't know what to do next. Where do I start?
Please click here to fill out our “Let’s Get Started” questionnaire. Once received, we will review your project details and be in touch to schedule an introductory call. If the project seems like a good fit, we will then discuss the next step, which may include an Initial On-Site Project Vision Consultation.
3. Some designers offer a free initial consultation. Do you?
We offer a complimentary introductory call, typically around 15 minutes, to learn more about your project, answer general questions, and determine whether the project may be a good fit for both sides. This call may run longer at our discretion depending on the project and conversation.
Our Initial On-Site Project Vision Consultations are paid appointments. Because these consultations typically involve two to four members of our team, depending on the size and complexity of the project, they represent a meaningful investment of professional time.
For many projects, the on-site consultation fee typically falls between $450 and $650. Smaller consultations may be less, while larger or more complex projects may be $1,000+.
The consultation fee is separate from the design fee, though in select situations we may choose to apply a portion of the consultation fee toward the design fee depending on the final scope and time required.
This approach allows us to begin with clarity, dedicate the appropriate professional time to each project, and ensure that our recommendations are thoughtful rather than rushed.
4. What happens at the Initial On-Site Project Vision Consultation?
If your project is a good fit after the initial inquiry and introductory phone call, the next step is typically an Initial On-Site Project Vision Consultation.
During the consultation, our team will walk through your home to better understand your goals, priorities, lifestyle needs, design preferences, budget, timeline, and potential scope of work. We will discuss what is working, what is not working, and what you hope to improve so we can determine the best next steps.
This consultation is primarily a discovery and planning appointment. While we may discuss general direction, priorities, challenges, or opportunities, it is not intended to be a full design session with detailed concepts, selections, layouts, or sourcing. Those details are developed during the design process after we have gathered the necessary information.
Because we may need to take photos, review details, and measure key areas, we ask that the home be picked up and reasonably clean before our visit. The home does not need to be perfect, but clear access to the spaces being discussed helps us use the consultation time well.
After the consultation, we evaluate the scope and determine whether a design proposal is the appropriate next step.
5. I'm about to make a significant investment in design. How can I know I will love it?
That is an important question, and it is one we take seriously. A thoughtful design process should never feel like a guessing game.
Before we begin developing the design, we take time to understand your home, lifestyle, priorities, preferences, inspiration, and investment range. Through conversations, visual inspiration, selections, samples, drawings, and detailed presentations, we help you see the direction clearly before major decisions are made.
Refinements are a normal and expected part of the design process. A fabric, fixture, finish, furnishing, or detail may need to be adjusted as the design comes together, and our process allows room for thoughtful refinement.
The best results happen when clients allow the process to reach completion and communicate openly along the way. Challenges are more likely to occur when the design direction changes significantly midway through the process, such as introducing a new style, new inspiration, or a different overall vision after the design has already been developed. When that happens, we may need to revisit prior decisions or begin portions of the design work again.
Design is collaborative, but it is also guided. We listen carefully, bring professional recommendations, and refine the details so the finished space feels beautiful, personal, functional, and aligned with your goals.
While no designer can guarantee that every selection will be exactly what a client imagined at the beginning, our process is built to create clarity, confidence, and trust along the way. The goal is to create a home that feels considered, livable, and deeply connected to the way you want to live.
6. I don't know what my design style is. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Many clients know how they want their home to feel long before they know how to describe their style.
We do not expect you to arrive with a perfect design label or a fully defined vision. During the Initial On-Site Design Consultation and design process, we ask thoughtful questions, review inspiration, listen carefully to your preferences, and look for patterns in what you are drawn to. From there, we translate your ideas into a cohesive design direction that feels personal, polished, and suited to the way you live.
Your style does not need to fit neatly into one category. Our role is to help uncover it, refine it, and bring it together beautifully.
7. How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen, bathroom, or other room?
Every renovation is unique, and the final investment depends on the size of the space, existing conditions, construction scope, selections, craftsmanship, and level of customization. A refined renovation often includes more than the visible finishes — it may involve cabinetry, appliances, plumbing, lighting, flooring, countertops, paint, millwork, furnishings, and detailed coordination.
As a general planning guide, many projects fall within the following ranges:
*These ranges are broad estimates, not fixed pricing. Final investment depends on the home, the scope of work, existing conditions, quality of selections, labor required, installation needs, and the level of design support desired.
Renovation investment may include materials, fixtures, cabinetry, appliances, furnishings, contractor labor, skilled trades, installation, freight, and other project-related costs. Design fees are separate and reflect the professional time required for consultation, planning, selections, sourcing, design documentation, coordination, and project support.
Because construction costs have changed significantly in recent years, we believe clear expectations are an important part of a better design experience. Our role is to help clients understand the investment required, make thoughtful decisions, and create a finished space that is beautiful, functional, and built with care.
8. What is the difference between a refresh and a remodel?
A refresh typically focuses on cosmetic updates while keeping the existing layout and major elements mostly unchanged. This may include paint, countertops, hardware, lighting, backsplash, decor, furnishings, or select fixture changes.
A remodel or full renovation is more comprehensive. It may include changes to cabinetry, appliances, flooring, plumbing, electrical, countertops, lighting, paint, labor, installation, and overall project coordination.
For example, a kitchen refresh may sometimes be completed below $50,000, depending on the scope and selections.
A professionally executed kitchen remodel, however, is difficult to complete under $50,000 unless the scope is very limited, the homeowner is completing part of the work themselves, or major components such as cabinetry, appliances, flooring, plumbing, or electrical are not being replaced.
Understanding the difference helps set realistic expectations and allows us to recommend the right level of design support for your project.
9. Do I need to have a contractor before starting the design process?
Not necessarily. You do not need to have a contractor selected before reaching out to Woods Design House. We are happy to work with your preferred contractor, or we can provide referrals to trusted contractors and trades when appropriate for the project.
For renovation projects, we often recommend involving a contractor early for a preliminary walk-through. This can help establish a general construction budget before design work begins, allowing us to make more informed recommendations around scope, selections, and investment.
Woods Design House remains involved during implementation to help preserve the design intent, answer design-related questions, and support key decisions. However, we do not act as the general contractor or supervise construction work. Contractor pricing, scheduling, workmanship, and project management remain the responsibility of the contractor.
10. How much does a refresh cost?
A refresh may be as simple as new paint, lighting, decor, furnishings, or styling, or it may include more involved finish updates such as countertops, backsplash, hardware, mirrors, faucets, or select fixture changes.
Refresh investment varies depending on the room, the quality of selections, the amount of labor required, and how much of the space is being updated. As a general guide:
*These ranges are intended as a starting point only. Final investment depends on the size of the space, quality of selections, labor required, installation needs, number of selections, and level of design support desired.
Project investment may include materials, furnishings, fixtures, contractor labor, installation, styling items, and related project costs. Design fees are separate and reflect the professional time required for consultation, selections, sourcing, design direction, planning, and support.
11. What is your service area?
Our primary service area is Kingwood and the greater Northeast Houston area, but we have worked with clients beyond our immediate area, including projects an hour away and, in select cases, out of state.
Whether we are able to take on a project outside our primary service area depends on the scope, timeline, level of support needed, and whether we believe we can serve the client with the same care and attention we bring to our local projects.
For clients outside our local area, we may be able to provide e-design, partial design services, or remote design support where it makes sense. Depending on the project, additional travel, coordination, local trade support, receiving, installation assistance, or outsourced services may be needed.
If a project requires more on-site attention than we can reasonably provide due to distance, we may recommend a different approach or decline the project. Our goal is always to be honest about what the project requires and whether we are the right fit.
12. I know I need to fully renovate my kitchen or bathroom. Where do I begin?
13. I like my kitchen or bathroom layout, but want to update the tile, countertops, and fixtures. Where do I begin?
14. I am building a new home and need help with the design. What service do I need?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Not only do we offer fantastic + function design, but we also will walk alongside you throughout the entire construction process, regardless of what type of project you have. Please click the buttons below to learn more about what you can expect from us after the Design Phase is complete, fill out our design questionnaire, and schedule your FREE 15 minute Discovery Call with Lead Designer + Owner, Emily Woods. We can't wait to meet you and hear more about your project!
