Interior design should be luxurious from beginning to end. From that first phone call where we chat and get to know each other, all the way down to the final goodbyes after the project is finished, the client is at the center of the experience. We want the overwhelm of unknowns to disappear, the stress of redesigning a home to be minimized, and the feeling of stepping into a personalized haven maximized. With every project, we want a strong start, but we also want a super strong end. Which is why we have a tried-and-true, client-focused Install Day process. Today, we’d like to pull back the curtain a little bit and get everyone (whether you’re signed on with us or haven’t yet) excited for their Install Day by eliminating the mystery and telling you what to expect.
Who’s ready?? 🙋🏾♀️
A Few Ground Rules
Install Day is the most exciting day of the project! We hold ourselves to a very high standard of excellence and want the whole project to go as seamlessly as possible. So we tend to live by a few ground rules when it comes to Install Day.
- The client cannot be home. Nothing is more stressful than seeing your house in pieces or watching someone carry a heavy sofa through a tight hallway. That’s why we request that every client find something else fun to do while we install the design. Plus, it helps create amazing WOW Reveal moments that we just love, love, love!!
- We aim for a one-day install. Though projects may take more time, it is our goal to get your project completely installed in just one day! That’s a lot of hustling, and you will always be kept in the loop regarding extensions or extra time needed.
- We typically do a professional photo shoot. This is optional, but we love to show off our work and make you feel extra special, so keep this in mind as we start finishing up the project.
- Installs take place within 3-6 months of the initial meeting. Your time is valuable, so we try to keep to a tight schedule. To give you an idea of how long your project will take from start to finish, we recommend keeping us on your schedule for 3-6 months. You will always know if more time is needed, which typically happens with larger, more complicated renovations.
Prepping for Install Day
Luckily, when it comes to prepping for Install Day, there is very little you need to do besides plan where to go in order to leave the house empty for us. Two weeks before the scheduled date, we will be in touch to confirm and work out the best way for us to safely access your home day-of. We’re also preparing styling sheets, confirming dates and times with vendors, double checking all items have been received, laundering textiles, ordering plants and accessories, and so much more. It’s a busy time, but all of it is on our end, so don’t sweat it!
What to Expect on Install Day
It’s here, it’s here! Install Day is finally there, you’ve found something fun to do to get you out of the house, and we’ve popped over to Home Goods to gather up the “seasonings” or finishing touches (a.k.a. accessories) for the final styling stage, and we’ve created a checklist to make sure we have all the design elements packed and ready for the big day. From there, the Install Day might look a little like this:
- The car gets loaded up the night before so in the morning we are ready to roll
- Occasionally we will have an assembly team grab and load larger items from our warehouse and meet us at the site
- All hands are on deck unloading, unpacking and setting up all aspects of the design
- We hang art, arrange flowers, set up furniture, clean and hang mirrors, steam window treatments, unroll rugs, install lights, find creative ways to hide cords, do a little vacuuming, fluff pillows, and set out a bottle of wine.
- When we’re down to an hour remaining, we text the client with a time to return for the big reveal
- During the reveal, we try to create a sensory experience, having our clients:
Touch
The “feeling” of the sofa or throws for softness and texture.
Taste
The gift of wine, beverage, chocolates that we gift them.
Hear
The sound of music in the background or a crackling fire.
Smell
The gifted candle or fresh flowers we present to them.
See
Take in all the new touches and finishes of their newly designed space
Our process ends with an optional professional photoshoot with images we share as a gift and we create a curated video of our journey together as well as a thank you note.
Lastly, we ask for your feedback. We want to hear your thoughts as we are always looking for ways to enhance the client experience.
And there you have it! We’ll be in touch a little after Install Day since you’ll have the option to purchase some of the extra décor, and we’ll definitely want to hear from you about how things are going – after all, you’ll officially be a part of the YDP family!
Not a YDP client yet? There’s no time like the present!
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Your design partner,
