FAQs

How do I begin a project with Fletcher Rhodes?

Simply reach out to our studio here to set up a Discovery Call with one of our designers. During the initial meeting we will discuss your design needs, scope of work and project budget. We will ask you lots of fun questions about your home, your family, your likes and dislikes, hobbies, functional needs and desired outcome of the project. All of this will help lead us down the right path in aligning your project with our services. We can’t wait!

What services do you offer?

Our team of design experts create your space from concept to completion with sophistication, flair, and professionalism. We specialize in whole-home, remodels, and furniture-only projects. With over 10 years of experience working with numerous trades and teams, we collaborate carefully with architects and contractors to ensure your dream becomes your home.

What should I bring to the initial meeting?

Inspiration images that you have collected will help us further uncover your style and direction. It might also be a good idea to have some pictures of styles you do not like, so our designers know what to stay away from during your interior design project.

Does FR have a minimum project size?

We prefer to have a minimum of 20 hours of consulting hours and / or at least three full rooms.  In our experience we have come to realize it’s hard to provide our best designs with smaller partial projects.

How long will the design process take? Is there a way to speed up the process?

The timeline of our design process varies depending on the scope and size of your project. Following your initial consultation, we will provide a proposal outlining the projected scope of work and a rough estimate of the timeline.

Product lead times vary, but generally you can expect furniture to be about 8-12 weeks (for typical orders). Quick-ship items can be procured in 2-6 weeks, but options are very limited—you may find what is available in that time frame looks like what everyone else already has.  (keep in mind some  vendors now are running a bit longer with COVID delays, more like 12- 14 weeks)

Most design projects require a minimum of 3 months and can take as long as 1-2 years depending on the size.

Please keep in mind that projects have a flow, good work takes time.

I have never worked with an interior design firm before, what is the process?

Are you ready for this, we are! It’s a wild ride but please note, each project is unique. Read through our Investment Guide for more of an overview.  We will get to know you more through the Discovery Phase and discuss exactly what you are looking for.

Through a series of meetings, we will take what we’ve learned about you and your style and turn it into a thoughtful design for your home. We will present you with furniture plans and color palettes to ponder, fabrics and materials to touch and see in your space, and images of furniture and lighting we’ve thoughtfully selected specifically for your home. If desired, we will create photo-realistic renderings with our selections so that you can truly visualize your space before making any final decisions.

We generally present an overview of the entire project initially with some specifics, the following meeting we will present 2-5 rooms. 

We will discuss pricing and budget overview along the way and work hard to balance where to invest in special, splurge-worthy pieces with every day, cost-conscious items.

Depending on the scope of your project and the timeliness of your decision-making, this phase can take a couple of weeks (for one or two rooms) to a few months or more (for a full-scale design or remodel). Your feedback is vital during this phase so that we can be sure we are expertly translating your style into the perfectly designed home of your dreams.

Keep in mind the earlier you get our team on board the better! We love to help create the initial vision for the space, and the more time we have to get your project scheduled, the better.

Where do you get your furniture?

Our project products come from a variety of sources. The Design Center in San Francisco for high-end furniture.  We also travel to trade shows throughout the country, High Point North Carolina, Las Angeles to meet with furniture manufacturers and vendors who make products here in the USA and also have incredible import sources.  We also use local stores, showrooms, and retail locations, as well as online and catalog retailers. We love working with local custom upholstery and drapery workrooms as well.

Why is it important to have all of my furniture delivered on the same day? Can’t items be delivered as they are finished? Can they be shipped directly to my home?

We prefer to have all of our items shipped to our receiving warehouse, which is connected to our studio.  We personally unpack and inspect every item, note damage or turn away broken items, and safely store until installation day.  Most of our vendors do not ship directly to residential homes and trust us, you do NOT want to receive.

Unfortunately, items can often get damaged in transit, we handle that on the back end so you don’t have to.   Let us do this part for you, that IS why you hired us anyway.

We deliver and install full rooms together so it’s more efficient and more importantly to give you that revealing “Wow” moment when we’ve pulled everything together perfectly.  Seeing your space as a finished and cohesive design is preferable to seeing pieces arrive piecemeal.

How much will my project cost?

While every project is different, after over a decade in business, we can give you an accurate estimate of what you will need to spend to achieve your desired outcome. We will also work with you to create and stick to a budget based on your project’s scope of work. Some things to consider when creating a budget include how involved in the design process you want to be, how quickly you can make decisions, and if pursuing a remodel, how involved in project management you would like us to be.

What areas do you serve?

We primarily serve California Wine Country, Sonoma, Napa, Healdsburg, St. Helena. But we love working all over the Bay Area and beyond! Happy to travel for good design. :)

Where are you located?

In the Carneros Business Park off 8th Street East in Sonoma, California. Get directions >