You know what you want your home to look like. You might even have a Pinterest board overflowing with ideas, all waiting for “someday.” But when it’s finally time to start, reality sets in.
Because the renovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in the middle of real life. You still have work meetings, school drop-offs, meals to make, and laundry to fold. You’re trying to manage deadlines, decisions, and dust all at once. It’s no wonder that what started as excitement can quickly begin to feel overwhelming.
That’s where full-service interior design simply makes sense. Instead of carrying the entire project on your shoulders, you’ll get a trusted partner – like us – to handle all the details. You still get to have fun and be creative, without getting weighed down in logistics, timelines and coordinating trades.
In this article, we’ll explore why full-service design makes sense for many families.
The Realities of a Room-By-Room Reno
Initially, tackling one room at a time seems practical. It spreads out the cost and disruption. You can finish the kitchen this year, maybe the bathrooms next.
But what happens when the finished kitchen doesn’t line up with the new flooring in the hall? Or when your new lighting plan clashes with last year’s paint colours? Without a cohesive plan, small decisions can snowball into mismatched finishes, duplicated labour, and costly rework.
Even something as simple as the placement of an electrical outlet can affect the next phase. When those details aren’t coordinated from the start, trades have to return later. You’re going to add time, expense, and frustration.
What seems like a slower, more affordable path often ends up costing more – financially and in terms of your energy.
Why Choose a Full-Service Design Process Instead
Full-service design brings everything together under one clear, coordinated plan. From the initial sketches to the final styling, every detail supports the overall vision.
You get:
- A cohesive vision – Everything – from colours to materials – flows together throughout your whole home, making it feel complete.
- Clear documentation – Detailed drawings and specs so your contractor knows exactly what to build (especially if you have an interior designer who is knowledgeable in construction).
- Budget and timeline control – You make key decisions up front, so there are fewer mid-project changes and hidden surprises.
- Peace of mind – You can focus on your life while we manage timelines, orders, and coordination.
Do Full-Service Design Services Cost More?
In most cases, it doesn’t. Often, it actually results in cost savings.
Let’s consider two scenarios:
Scenario A: You start with a kitchen. Later, you realize you should’ve changed the flooring throughout the main floor for continuity, but now the cabinets are already installed. Redoing it means tearing things apart and paying for extra labour.
Scenario B: You start with a complete plan. You know exactly where the kitchen ends and the hallway begins, which materials connect, and how your budget is allocated across phases. You order materials once, trades come once, and nothing gets redone.
Isn’t Scenario A better? A complete plan means getting it right the first time.
Full Service Design: By Your Side Every Step of the Way
Our full-service design process is structured to take care of everything from start to finish (and even through the messy middle)!
We handle everything from space planning and technical drawings to materials, furnishings, and final styling. With our construction background, we provide your contractor with precisely what they need to bring your vision to life.
Our process begins with concept and planning, where we take time to understand your goals, budget, and how your household actually functions. That means everything, from where backpacks tend to land to how you like to entertain & live in your space.
From there, we move into design development, creating layouts, elevations, and finishes that bring your ideas to life while making daily life easier. Once the vision is clear, we produce detailed construction drawings and specifications so there’s no guesswork on site.
During implementation, we handle ordering, coordinate with trades, and monitor progress to keep everything on track.
Finally, we complete your home with styling, a final walkthrough, and handover, so all that’s left for you to do is settle in and enjoy your new space.
The goal is to have a home you’ll love and a process that you’ll enjoy.
How to Manage a Full Custom Home Renovation
You might be thinking, “That all sounds great…but how am I going to live? How am I supposed to make school lunches in a torn-up kitchen?”
Even the best-planned renovation comes with some chaos, but a little preparation goes a long way.
We start by making sure everyone is on the same page about schedules and routines. For example, if your kitchen’s out of commission, set up a simple prep space with a toaster oven, coffee maker, and mini fridge so life keeps moving. Your contractor has ideas about dust control, daily cleanup, and using a side entrance to keep things contained.
And when you can, take breaks. Step out for an afternoon or plan a short getaway during the messiest phases.
We actually discuss this, and more, in our post, “8 Tips for Living at Home During Your Home Renovation.”
From Concept to Completion: Trust Elle Cherie Design in Calgary
With Elle Cherie Design, you still get to make the decisions that make your home feel like you without getting lost in the noise of a hundred decisions. We take care of the details, coordinate with trades, and make sure every choice connects back to the bigger vision.
When it’s time to design your dream home, a full-service design approach provides the structure, guidance, and support to make the process enjoyable.
Because your renovation should feel exciting, not exhausting. And when it’s done, you’ll have a home that looks beautiful, functions beautifully, and feels exactly right for the life you live in it.