Whipkey Project: Scope of Work
Wondering where to begin when trying to shift into a new career? This might seem obvious, but ask your friends and family members! I made an off-hand comment about wanting to get into interior design to one of my friends and she immediately told me she and her wife were looking to hire an interior designer. What prompted their search? A common theme among millennial couples: combining all their existing furniture (even the stuff from college!) and giving up hope of any sense of cohesion. I begged for the opportunity, and in so doing, began a new chapter of my life.
Because I know the client (and also where she lives, hah), and because this was my first Big Girl Project, we didn’t sign any kind of contract. We have what is known as a gentlemen’s agreement-- an informal, not-legally-binding social arrangement. Do I recommend this to others making this shift? Not exactly; there is often a fine line between work and personal relationships. In this case, I am confident that neither will suffer.
So, what even is a Scope of Work?
At the very base level, it’s an agreement about what needs to be done in a given project, what the budget is for completion, and any compensation due in exchange for the service. This step I would have done differently if I were to go about starting over. I got fairly loose parameters for colors, vibe (Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday party), and rooms where they needed support. However, we didn’t talk about their budget, or their needs for the spaces, or what furniture they wanted to keep versus replace. I just asked about 12 million questions and got to work.
Step one (which is honestly more like step three):
Put together a mood board. For this project, I used the guidance of the parts of their rooms that would be staying: their countertops, their wood floors, their two paint colors, their appliances, and their hardware. I shared this with the couple, and got their feedback. Some of it was bang on, some of it was almost there, and some was, “is it okay if we change out XYZ?” Yes, my sweet, summer child, we can change out whatever you like! It’s your house! You’re not hurting my feelings by disagreeing with me. To be frank: you have to live there. I do not.
Step two (or perhaps four?):
Start working on the before and after so the client can begin visualizing their completed space/s. I used Adobe Photoshop for this. Huge thanks to Julie Jones® Designs for the amazing masterclass. I learned a ton about perspective and some sneaky tools to get a realistic end-product. This is a paid product, and I do not get anything if you sign up for it, but it’s absolutely worth it if you’re just getting started.
Step three (is it five?):
Get feedback. This project included three rooms plus an entry space, so we worked in two phases. Phase One was the initial draft. I put together all the things I would use to get them a cohesive, adult space that fit their needs, budget, and taste. I did not get this completely right on my first try. Phase Two saw me incorporating their feedback into my designs and updating their optional shopping list to reflect those changes.
Step six (yes, I’m calling it):
Organize all the products you’ve sourced for the project in a digestible way. To do this, I put together a slide deck. I divided the presentation into each area/room to keep things easy. I began with the before picture, transitioned to the after picture, and finished with a list of all the items I sourced (with links for purchase, should they desire) for each space. Once we’ve agreed on the final version, my job is done and my clients are happy!
I could not have asked for a better first client than this couple, and I can’t wait to dive into each space, their thoughts, and my reasonings for each design element.
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If you had to pick one room in your dwelling to get interior design help, which would you choose and why?
