Frequently asked questions

1. How is Holos House different from other interior design or design-build firms?

Holos House is unique in it’s approach as it blends the model of a traditional interior design firm with that of a larger design-build firm and extends beyond the scope of either as we offer services that walk with clients beyond construction through the life of their home. We are first and foremost a design firm, but with an in-house contractor who has the expertise, teams, and resources to execute the design of your construction project and a system in place to provide the necessary ongoing home maintenance. Generally these are two or three separate entities that a client would contract with, but this model provides the benefit of a streamlined relationship, collaboration, longevity and deep knowledge of the home and the people who live there.

2. Does your design firm still work with other builders?

Absolutely! In fact, we do often. We are a boutique firm and have chosen to take on a limited number of design-build projects to provide the best service possible. When our construction calendar is full or a project is beyond our scope, we have a handful of other trusted contractors that we recommend and can work closely with to complete your design project. Our design team provides ongoing support and project management as we collaborate with other professionals and work as an advocate for you. If you already have a builder in mind and are in need of design services only, just reach out. We’d love to meet them!

3. How do you charge for your services?

Each of our three service types (Design | Build | Preserve) involve separate fee agreements. Our design and construction services are each customized flat fee project pricing based on a detailed scope of work unique to your project. The home concierge service is a customized monthly membership fee with optional add-on services. For more detailed information on our process check out how we work or schedule a complimentary discovery call.

4. Who is involved in a full-service design + construction project?

It is definitely a team effort, but most of your interaction will be with Rachel (our Principle Designer) and Daniel (our Lead Contractor). Rachel develops the design plan, CAD documents, renderings, selections, and the thousands of design details involved in every project. Depending on the scope and scale of the project, additional designers, procurement assistants, or drafters may be brought in to assist. We require the involvement of architects or engineers on large scale exterior renovations/ additions or when significant structural changes are being made. Daniel leads our sub-contractors, construction teams, and the maintenance membership program. We work with amazing carpenters, technicians, drapery workrooms, furniture makers, artists, vendors, and many more in order to bring an entire design concept to life.

5. Where do I start with a project and how long does the process take?

We always start with a complimentary discovery call. It gives us a chance to hear about your project, share in more detail about our services/ how we work, and answer any questions you have. If it looks like we may be a good fit, the next step is to book a paid consultation that allows us to come on site, conduct more extensive interviews, assess needs, and gather all of the information necessary to develop an extensive Scope of Work and proposal for the design project. After a proposal has been accepted and we are under contract with a deposit paid, clients are entered into our project calendar, go through client onboarding and the design development timeline is created. We are often booking months out so it is important to start the process as early as you can!

6. How do I budget for a large interior design + construction project?

We know it’s tricky to nail down, especially as costs have changed so drastically in recent years, but we believe it’s important to set realistic budgets to determine the best for your home. While project costs vary significantly depending on the project scale, complexity, and selections involved, we will help walk through the process of estimating your investment based on our experience with interior design and building costs. Typical budgets range from $150K to $1M+, including design fees, construction costs, and furnishings. Many clients may know how much they’d like to spend, but need help understanding what that amount can realistically achieve. We strive to educate and do what we can to work within each client’s investment range. One of the reasons we charge a flat design fee with very specific deliverables is to better budget total project costs from the beginning. While it is impossible to receive an exact cost of construction from a contractor without a detailed design plan already developed, the early estimation process is generally much more accurate with the collaboration of a design + build team like Holos House.

7. What if I don’t need full-service design?

You do not have to be going through a full renovation to benefit from our design services. We also offer specialty services like full furnishing and decor plans, finish selections, custom furniture + draperies, plan reviews, and more. We walk through the same process of building a specific scope of work for your needs with an associated design fee. We can even develop full custom design plans for you to execute on your own. Or if you are simply needing a little support and some expert guidance, ask about our one-off insight sessions and by the hour consulting.

8. Do you travel outside of the DFW area?

We will travel and do remote work for interior design only clients, but would partner with a builder on the ground in the project location for construction. We require an initial site visit and to be on site for a final install but, depending on the project, many of our milestone meetings and site visits may be done virtually. We love working on vacation homes, short term rentals, or other destination projects!

9. Do you take on smaller construction or handyman jobs?

We generally only offer handyman and other small contracting services to our home concierge members and established design clients, but feel free to reach out to us. We can help determine if we are a good fit for you or do our best to connect you with someone who is.

10. How does the home maintenance service work?

Our home concierge service is designed to protect your investment and simplify your life by covering your annual preventative maintenance and being there to take care of the unexpected issues that inevitably arise. It is a monthly membership with a base price that covers a complete home care plan, specific annual system check-ups + maintenance, and a single point of contact for all of your other maintenance and repairs. There is a long list of additional add-on services that can be included in any custom membership. Our design + construction clients receive a complimentary assessment, but the service is open to anyone looking to simplify their lives. Learn more about the membership here or book a discovery call today.