10/06/2026
“I will take a look at the information you sent over and put together a quote this weekend for you. Thank you for always being so organized! It is really appreciated.”
I know folks sometimes think designers wave a magic wand and all of the pretties simply appear. But behind the scenes, there’s a lot to consider, right down to the smallest details.
These containers, for example, were exactly what I was looking for to place on my client’s entry console, with an eye toward how we’ll decorate it for the upcoming holiday season. Beautiful? Yes. Simple? Not quite.
Their narrow bases mean not just any arrangement will work. So before presenting the idea to my client tomorrow, along with several other selections, my floral designer and I reviewed the containers, dimensions, mechanics, and possibilities to make sure what I’m proposing will actually work.
Her message above reminded me how much I value the mutual respect I try to cultivate with the vendors I work with. We honor one another’s time, while being good stewards of our client’s long-term investment. The work I do upfront, before asking for a quote, saves a lot of time by reducing second-guessing or revisiting decisions later. It also means my vendors have the information they need to price things accurately, and my client has a much clearer understanding of what she’ll ultimately see in her home.
Whenever someone begins with, “I just need . . .” I know there may be a little educating to do. Because even the smallest things have a process, too.
It isn’t about minimizing something because it seems small, or simply finding ways to squeeze the budget or the designer’s time. It’s about understanding that the finishing touches are often what bring everything together.
And they can make or break the result. See less
