Our Experience Interviewing 14 Designers
When we renovated our last home, we worked directly with contractors. The results were great. We’re still proud of how it turned out.
But this time, moving to Oakville, we wanted to try something different. Our clients often ask us: What’s it like working with a designer? And truthfully, we never had a first-hand answer.
So, we set out to find out. We interviewed 14 different GTA-based interior designers/teams. Each had their own style, process, and personality. While we won’t go into individual names, we want to share information on pricing, process, timeline and more.
We are documenting our whole process along the way, so make sure you follow us on Instagram @mister_sauga where we post the latest progress. If you have renovation questions or need recommendations, feel free to message us there.
How Designers Charge
We quickly learned there’s no “one size fits all” pricing model. Again, design isn’t cheap and the range is wide.
For our house in Oakville, detached with a double garage (about 2400 sq ft plus a 1000 sq ft basement), we were quoted anywhere from $10K to $115K in design fees, depending on scope and the experience level of the team.
Here is a breakdown on how design fees are charged:
- Flat fee packages (often broken into phases: concept, drawings, sourcing, project management).
- Hourly rates ranging from $105–$175/hr, depending on seniority and scope.
- Square-foot pricing (typically $5–$35/sq ft, depending on level of detail).
- Percentage of project cost (7–10% was common on larger builds).
* Most mix and match these structures. For example: a flat fee for design, hourly for site meetings, and then a percentage on furnishings and styling.
Keep in mind, 3D rendering is often an additional cost.
- It may run up to $10–15K, though some designers include basic kitchen renderings since it’s the focal point of the house.
- Only one team we spoke with bundled renderings into their package, and that made a huge difference in our ability to make decisions. Knowing this, we’d recommend asking early whether renderings are included.
During the initial call, most designers provide a broad range so you can gauge the budget.
- Some have detailed questionnaires that lead to an estimate within minutes. While helpful, we found a la carte services can be tricky — design needs often evolve once the project is underway.
What the Budgets Look Like
Our full-home reno construction estimate came in at $300K–$500K+, with kitchens alone sometimes landing between $50K–$150K depending on finishes and millwork.
Beyond these, you also need to factor in:
- Engineering costs for structural changes (for example, removing a wall and adding a support beam)
- Permit costs
- Electrical panel upgrades
- HVAC changes
- Kitchen appliances
- and MORE!
It’s also worth asking designers for estimates on construction charges. Many have preferred contractor teams they trust for quality and communication. Some design firms only work with high-end trades, which often means higher $$$$ costs. We also reached out to our own contractors to compare estimates.
For your reference, the highest quote we got was 800K (CRAZY…) and the lowest we got was 280K.
Please note, unless you have a detailed design/construction plan, the price they give is a VERY ROUGH estimate.
Timelines & Project Load
Almost every designer told us to expect 5–9 months from start to finish. Typically:
- Design phase: 1–4 months (floorplans, drawings, finishes, millwork details).
- Construction phase: 4–6 months (plus potential delays with permits, cabinetry, or millwork).
Some boutique designers take only one large project at a time, offering a very personal touch. Larger studios can manage 10–20 projects per year thanks to their teams. It’s really a trade-off between hands-on attention vs. bigger resources.
What Makes a Great Client
One of the most interesting things we asked was: “What makes a great client-designer relationship?” Almost every designer said the same things:
- Trust and communication. Be open to ideas but decisive when it’s time to choose.
- Clear priorities. Surprises usually happen when budgets and expectations aren’t aligned.
- Patience. Great design takes time; rushing only leads to compromises.
It’s a two-way street — designers want to create beautiful, functional homes, but clients have to be partners in the process.
What Clients Often Overlook
A few common “gotchas” kept coming up in our conversations:
- Furnishings and window coverings. These are often afterthoughts, but they add significant cost.
- Permits and codes. Basements and structural changes, HVAC changes, electrical changes, etc.
- Logistics. Ordering, shipping, and storing materials/furniture takes planning. For example, we needed a clear idea of plumbing items and vanities so rough-ins could be created, as well as an appliance list for millwork planning.
- Contingency. Most suggested padding at least 10–15% of the budget for the unexpected.
Our Takeaway
Interviewing 14 designers was eye-opening. It gave us a real appreciation for the value of good design, but also a healthy respect for the time and money it requires.
For us, this renovation is more than just making a beautiful home. It’s about experiencing the design process first-hand, so we can guide our clients better.
If you’ve ever wondered what working with a designer is really like — we’re right there with you, learning as we go.
- We are documenting our whole process along the way, so make sure you follow us on Instagram @mister_sauga where we post the latest progress.
- If you have renovation questions or need recommendations, feel free to message us there.
👉 Next in this series: we’ll share how we narrowed down our choices and what ultimately helped us decide who to work with.