Getting Started

New clients often ask what to expect when working together. Some have never worked with a designer before, or some have and didn't love their experience. At Emily Finch Design Studio we format our business differently from most firms, and like to give as much information as possible up front so the client can be informed and we can both make sure it's a great fit! As a start, here are the fundamentals of how we work:

EXPERIENCE

Emily has completed a wide range of projects for over 150 different clients. She strongly believes that design should be personal; our job is to help create a home that is perfectly suited to the individuals who live there. As such, we don't work within the limits of only one signature style, but instead strive to tastefully and intelligently interpret our clients' styles. 

 

DESIGN PROCESS

Step one of every project is a consultation to discuss the needs of the client and answer initial questions. In this meeting, we establish the goals of the project and identify our timeline and priorities, outlining a clear and customized path forward. Emily then works with the clients to identify their personal style, produces suggested layouts and construction specs, and develops a complete design concept for each space. Our team facilitates implementation and final details, working hand-in-hand with the contractor, tradespeople, and vendors to ensure a smooth and successful transformation.

ROI

Emily has a background in real estate and is always thinking about return on investment, since our homes are often one of our largest assets. She advises our clients where it's wise to save, and where we'd be better off investing for the right solution. This helps us strike a balance between the emotional and practical aspects of interior design.

 

BUSINESS FORMat

Our business is formatted a little differently from most designers - instead of charging a 20-30% markup on top of retail, we share trade discounts with our clients, helping their budget go further. This puts us on the same team with the same goal. Instead of our business being sales-driven, Emily can truly act as the expert consultant our clients are looking for, with their best interest at heart.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

We are a full-service design firm. Product purchases are made by us on our client’s behalf, allowing us to manage every detail from payment to installation. We meet with construction trades regularly to talk through details and troubleshoot the inevitable curve ball. We pride ourselves on making design easy and fun for our clients, by taking all the dirty work off their plates. Every project is unique, but our systematic approach ensures each one runs smoothly from start to finish. 

Please fill out the project inquiry form on our contact page to tell us about your project and set up your initial consult. We look forward to getting to know you and your home!

Follow Along @EMILYFINCHDESIGN

View fullsize 📍On Site: Russian Hill Our talented team is busy transforming the top floor of this historic Greek Revival home into a spectacular primary suite. We have Calacatta Verde going down on the bathroom floor, several beautiful new skylights, spacious va
View fullsize Serene primary suite in one of our recent Orinda projects 🫧 This bedroom belongs to two very busy parents, and we wanted to create a peaceful retreat where they could relax & unwind. I consider a great primary suite to be the design equivalent
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View fullsize Thank you @homesandgardensofficial for including us in your recent bathrooms feature! Creating spaces that feel warm and inviting is a core part of our design philosophy, so this was an especially meaningful piece to be featured in. This is the pri
View fullsize Still looking for the perfect gift for someone special? Our giftable Design Sessions are back this year for both virtual and in-person consultations. Available as an emailed gift certificate, or a beautifully wrapped package for local Bay Area deli
View fullsize We photographed this project back in April and we can’t show most of it for a few more months because something really exciting is in the works (!!) but I get to share a couple little sneak peeks and this one had to be first. This is actually t
View fullsize A chair that once was my great grandmother’s and occupied various corners of my childhood home now lives in a little nook in our bathroom. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about bringing her here until I did, and then I realized i
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View fullsize So rewarding to see this beautiful custom ottoman come to life! She’s wrapped in two one-of-a-kind vintage Peruvian frazadas which we hand-selected for not only color and size, but also to create the perfect interplay of pattern between top and
View fullsize Scribe announced their spring release members’ events this week and I’ve never added to cart and checked out so fast in my life. Some of you do that for fashion - I do it for wine, and interiors. (Ok, and occasionally fashion.) Can’