Frequently Asked Questions

 
Do you charge for your first meeting?

No, the first meeting at my office is complimentary and is an opportunity for both parties to meet and evaluate the scope of the work, review the Designer’s portfolio, and discuss compensation.

 
How do you charge for your services?

We have hourly fees for design and design related work, drafting and administration of your project and a mark-up on the wholesale price for any products exclusive to the design trade.

 
Why do you have an hourly fee and a mark-up on the product?

The design fee is charged for design concepts, solutions to design challenges, and advice on any purchases.

Administration fees are charged for time spent coordinating your project during planning and construction. During the procurement-of-products-phase we charge an administration fee for the order process, coordination, and logistics of warehousing and deliveries. We take care of any unforeseen obstacles and make sure that your project runs smoothly.

Mark-up covers the years it takes us designers to learn about the products we choose to work with in order to ensure they are of the quality our clients want and expect. Mark-up covers the years it takes to develop the relationship to selected showrooms and crafts people, so that we can offer those products and services to our clients.

I also spend time on mandatory continuous education classes, visit showrooms regularly and see representatives of the fabrics, furnishings, and lighting industries to stay up to date on the latest products and trends.

 
Do I have to use a Designer’s services for everything, or just as needed?

Every designer works differently. With MBI you can choose what fits your needs,
wishes and budget best.

You can either use my design services for the entire project, if these suites you best, or select one of the unique Design Packages I have developed, or have me create a custom package for your project.

It is a trend of our time that more people want to live in a beautiful and personalized home. I really wanted to make Interior Design more accessible to a bigger group of homeowners.

 
Do you work with any particular style(s)?

I work with many different styles, but because I grew up in Germany my signature is definitely European influenced. It means I emphasize on efficient space and storage planning and provide uncluttered elegant surfaces and clean lines.

Mixing antiques with contemporary design or vice versa is another signature element of my work.