The pieces are all in place, the space is just right—but you haven’t crossed the finish line yet. What’s the best way to wrap up a project once you’ve completed the installation? We asked six industry pros—Bradley Odom, Tatiana Seikaly, Davina Ogilvie, Grey Joyner, Gianpiero Gaglione and Christopher Peacock—to share what steps need to be taken before a project is done.
Try It On
“As we are wrapping up a project, we always do a run through [of the space] with both the client and the contractor present to ensure that everything is completed and polished, both through the eyes of our team and the client. After this, the [final] install brings the space to life. While major pieces of upholstery, lighting and art have typically been selected and approved, we bring in another layer of accessories to show the client how they can beautifully live in a styled space. We let them live in it for 24 to 48 hours so they can pick what [accessories] work for their lifestyle.” —Bradley Odom, Bradley Odom Interiors, Atlanta
Build It Up
“The completion of a project is always very exciting, but [at that point I find] that there are usually new thoughts or items that my clients want to include. A home should feel lived in and have an accumulation of objects—art and furniture that have meaning. I try to achieve this look if we are decorating a home from scratch, but sometimes there are touches that need to be added [over time] so the home doesn’t feel brand new. This can take time, depending on budget or whether the clients are avid art collectors. So for me, it’s important to maintain a close relationship after installation.” —Tatiana Seikaly, Studio Seikaly, Miami
Pay It Forward
“We definitely take a long-term approach to our client relationships. After installs, we keep in touch and ask how things went. On a recent install in a Manhattan apartment, the project was still going through some construction, so we covered all the [window] treatments [that we’d installed] with shrink-wrap. When the client moved in and the window treatments were unwrapped, the drapery needed more steaming and training, which we did for several hours without extra charge. The touch points after install that keep a designer and client happy are so important. So while an extra trip could be a reason for an additional charge, we understand how important it is to stay on budget. It’s a small thing we can do to build trust and goodwill. I think this is in large part how we’ve developed repeat business—sometimes, it’s those personal, high-touch details that make a big difference.” —Davina Ogilvie, Wovn Home, New York
Boomerang
“After install, I check back in with my clients within a week or so to make sure that they are settling in well and to ask if there’s any more they need help with. I also like to pull together a personalized gift for them and their new home. Many times, during our post-install conversation, we end up discussing the next project or phase that perhaps they had initially held off on. I make sure that either way, my clients know that they can reach out to me anytime, and that they are my clients for life, even if we are not currently working on something together. I will always make myself available, even after the project is wrapped up.” —Grey Joyner, Grey Joyner Interiors, Wilson, North Carolina
Work In Progress
“Wrapping up a project and creating a ‘care and maintenance’ manual for the space was, from my experience at other interior design studios, an incredibly useful tool in closing a project and drawing a line [to indicate] that you’ve ended work and finished the project. I’m not currently very good at this, but I’m working on it. Often with clients, a project is never really finished. Especially with residential design, you can always adjust, adapt and entirely change your mind, so it’s important to be disciplined and clear with clients that these changes are additional and charged separately. Creating a manual of this nature provides my clients with crucial information on how to properly clean and maintain their space. In the unlikely event that something is damaged or needs to be repaired or replaced, then the information is there for the client to contact the supplier directly rather than through me.” —Gianpiero Gaglione, GG Interior Design, Los Angeles
Long-Term Outlook
“Our business relies on a large percentage of repeat clients, so from the start we guarantee a warranty on our work and typically continue to provide service to our clients for many years. This is a vital part of our design services, and [it tells the client] the relationship is there for as long as they want us around.” —Christopher Peacock, Christopher Peacock, New York
Homepage image: In this dining room rendering, Tatiana Seikaly places art-inspired furnishings in a contemporary space. | Courtesy of Studio Seikaly
