Our Process

Every Olive + Cedar Design project is individually scoped, but our process provides a clear path from the initial inquiry through design, implementation, and completion.

The 60-Minute Virtual Design Consultation is a standalone advisory service and follows a separate booking process.

Discovery

After reviewing your inquiry, Olive + Cedar Design may invite you to a complimentary 15-minute Discovery Call.

This brief conversation allows us to discuss your project, goals, anticipated timeline, investment expectations, and the level of design support needed. From there, we will determine whether your project is a good fit for our services and process.

Design recommendations are not provided during the Discovery Call.

Project Assessment

Qualified projects begin with a paid Project Assessment at $150 per hour, with a one-hour minimum.

The assessment may include walking the home or construction site, reviewing architectural plans, discussing existing conditions, taking measurements, and further defining the scope and level of design involvement needed.

Using the information gathered, Olive + Cedar Design will prepare a customized Scope of Work and professional design fee. Design work begins after the proposal is accepted, the Design Agreement is signed, and the required 50% retainer is paid.

Concept Development

We begin by establishing the overall design direction through inspiration, color, materials, architectural character, and the feeling we want the home to carry.

This phase creates a cohesive visual foundation before individual selections and design details are developed.

Design Development

With the concept established, the design begins to take shape.

Services may include space planning, floor-plan development, cabinetry and millwork design, furniture layouts, lighting and electrical planning, plumbing fixtures, paint palettes, material selections, furnishings, and other details included within your Scope of Work.

Each decision is considered in relationship to the home as a whole, creating an interior that feels connected, layered, functional, and anchored in warmth and texture.

Design Presentation & Refinement

Your design is presented as a complete vision rather than a collection of unrelated selections.

Presentations may include digital design concepts, floor plans, furniture layouts, specifications, and in-person material and sample presentations so key finishes can be viewed together.

Client feedback is incorporated through the revision rounds included in the Scope of Work before selections are finalized.

Documentation & Implementation

Once the design is approved, we prepare the specifications, schedules, product information, approved selections, and other documentation needed to carry the design forward.

For construction and renovation projects, Olive + Cedar Design may collaborate with builders, contractors, craftsmen, and trades to help maintain the approved design direction throughout the project.

For furnishing projects, implementation may include procurement, vendor communication, receiving, delivery coordination, installation, and final placement.

Completion & Final Styling

As the project reaches completion, the final layers come together through the installation and styling of furnishings, artwork, textiles, accessories, and finishing details included within the project scope.

The result is a home that feels comfortable, collected, complete, and ready to be lived in.

The Goal

Our goal is to create a home that is beautiful, functional, and deeply connected to the people who live there—one filled with warmth, character, natural texture, and lasting appeal.

Designed not simply to be looked at, but to be lived in and loved.

Please Note: The steps outlined above represent the overall Olive + Cedar Design process. Not every phase, deliverable, site visit, revision, or level of project coordination is included with every project. Your specific services and deliverables will be defined in your custom Scope of Work, with the professional design fee based on the project’s size, complexity, and required level of support.