InHouse thoroughly analyzes your design needs and preferences to help us define exactly what you want. For instance, prior to developing any design schemes for a new home office, we first look at the room and how it relates to the rest of your home, both physically and aesthetically. We then study the space itself, your equipment, work style, aesthetic preferences, storage and wire management needs. Only then do we proceed with the initial design work for your new home office. Our clients come to expect this attention to detail which is characteristic of our approach to the entire design process from the moment we first talk through installation and delivery of the customized product(s).

STEP-BY-STEP: working with cabinetry/home office design clients

When contacted about our design services, we discuss the nature of your project and your anticipated budget, A free consultation, usually lasting 1-2 hours, may then be scheduled to further discuss your needs. In San Francisco, this meeting will occur at our Noe Valley Studio while at Sea Ranch and nearby communities it will occur in our prospective Clients’ homes.

IN PREPARATION FOR THAT VISIT, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE:
  • Approximate dimensions of the room
  • Any plans and elevations you may have (if the space has recently been constructed or undergone renovation you may have these documents in your possession)
  • Photos/videos of the room and any pictures from magazines or books which have caught your eye.
  • Answers* to the Office Planning Guide on our website
    (*If you have no time to formally answer the questionnaire, it will be helpful to review the questions so we can discuss them at the meeting).
  • Any other information which will help depict the nature of the space to be designed and the direction you want to take

DURING THE MEETING, we will further discuss your needs and expectations to become more familiar with your project. Often, we can show you photos of other design work similar to yours and, in that manner, more realistically discuss project costs. We will also examine your ideas for the space and discuss various broad design solutions. At the end of the session, we will give you a copy of our contract so that when we next meet you are comfortable with how we work. Do not be concerned if you leave the meeting with more questions than answers as we raise numerous design issues throughout our discussion which usually require considerable reflection.

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO PROCEED WITH THE DESIGN PROJECT a home visit is scheduled, the contract is signed and a retainer (usually about 20% of the estimated project budget) received. When we visit a Client’s home we look at the space, how it is configured, how it relates to the rest of the home and take all necessary measurements (including locations of the lights, windows, switches, outlets, heating vents etc). We then discuss various broad design solutions to see how suitable they may be given the Client’s perspective, the budget and the demands of the space.

WE THEN PRODUCE SEVERAL DESIGNS which will be presented and discussed the next time we meet. At that time, issues such as: edge details, wood, other materials, stain, knobs etc. will be decided. Based upon your feedback, we will then produce the final design drawings. We then submit the final design for pricing to “our” fabricators (independent craftspeople we have successfully utilized for the past decade) or, if requested, to the Client’s contractors if such a relationship exists. We usually see a project through from design conception through execution but there are exceptions to this rule. At times, Clients request that we only produce design drawings and forego pricing, project management and installation services. The Scope of our services is up to the Client and will be reflected in our Contract.

ONCE ALL COSTS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED, another meeting is scheduled for the presentation of the final proposal which will cover all applicable costs including sales tax, delivery, installation and any additional InHouse time related to the successful completion of the project. To place the order, your signature is required on each of the final drawings and a check for at least 50% of the total project amount must be provided.

ONCE THE ORDER IS PLACED, we are consistently in touch with the fabricators to ensure an accurate interpretation of our designs. We will also be on hand for the delivery and installation of our product to ensure it meets your expectations as well as our own high design standards.

We encourage Client interaction throughout the entire process. From our initial conversation through delivery and installation of our design work, InHouse is always available to address any questions or issues you may have.

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Custom Designed Home Offices, Entertainment Centers, Media Rooms, Wall Beds, TV Cabinets, Home Libraries, Specialty Environments & Built-in Cabinetry

Serving the residents of the SF Bay Area and the northern Sonoma-southern Mendocino coastal
communities near Sea Ranch, CA.

415 824-9266 (SF Studio)
707 785-1928 (Sea Ranch Studio)
Email us at mark@inhousesf.com