Quick Answer
Working with a full-service interior designer in Burlington, Ontario starts with a complimentary consultation at Elizabeth Interiors on Fairview Street. From there, your designer develops a concept, presents furniture and finish options, and manages procurement and delivery.
Hiring an interior designer in Burlington, Ontario is one of those decisions that sounds more complicated than it is. Most people put it off, thinking the process will be overwhelming, expensive to start or hard to reverse once it begins. In practice, none of that is true and the first step costs nothing.
This post walks through exactly what working with a full-service interior design studio in Burlington looks like, from the first phone call through to furniture in place. If you have been thinking about it, this is the practical information you need.
What "Full-Service Interior Design" Actually Means
The term gets used loosely, so it is worth being specific. Full-service interior design means your designer handles everything: space planning, furniture selection, finish specifications, ordering, logistics and installation. You are not sourcing furniture on your own, chasing delivery trucks or figuring out where the rug goes. Your designer manages the entire process.
At Elizabeth Interiors, full-service design covers residential rooms, complete homes, home staging for properties being listed, custom window treatments and drapery, custom furniture specifications and commercial projects for hospitality and office spaces. The studio has operated from Fairview Street in Burlington for over 30 years, working with homeowners across Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton and the GTA.
Step 1: The Complimentary Consultation
The first meeting at Elizabeth Interiors is complimentary. There is no charge and no obligation. It is a conversation.
You will sit down with a member of the design team at the Burlington showroom on Fairview Street, or in some cases at your home, and talk through what you are trying to achieve. This might be one room, an entire renovation, a new build you are furnishing from scratch, or a property you are preparing to sell.
What to bring to this first meeting:
- Photos of your space, even rough phone photos are useful
- Any inspiration images you have saved, from Instagram, Pinterest or magazines
- A rough sense of what is and is not working in the space right now
- Your timeline, if you have one
- An honest sense of your budget range
You do not need to arrive with a complete brief or a firm vision. That is what the designer is there to help you develop.
Step 2: The Design Concept
Once you decide to move forward, your designer develops a concept for the space. This covers the overall direction: furniture style, colour palette, materials, layout and the key pieces that will anchor the room.
At Elizabeth Interiors, this process draws on a showroom with pieces from brands including Century Furniture, Bernhardt, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Sunpan and GUS Modern, among others. Elizabeth Interiors is Burlington's only authorized Century Furniture dealer. Having the brands in-house rather than ordering remotely means your designer can show you the actual fabric, finish and scale of a piece before committing.
The concept presentation typically includes a visual mood board, furniture selections with dimensions, fabric and finish samples and a project estimate. You review it, ask questions and give feedback. Nothing is ordered until you approve it.
Step 3: Approvals and Ordering
Once you are happy with the concept, your designer finalises the selections and places orders. For custom pieces, including upholstered furniture made to specific dimensions or fabrics, lead times vary by brand and production schedule. Your designer will be clear about what to expect on timing before anything is ordered.
This is also where custom elements such as drapery and window treatments are specified. If re-upholstery is part of the project, existing pieces are assessed and sent to workrooms at this stage.
Step 4: White-Glove Delivery and Installation
Delivery at Elizabeth Interiors is handled by a white-glove team. This means furniture is brought into your home, assembled and placed in the room. It is not left at the door or in a box in the garage.
Your designer is present or closely coordinating during the installation to make sure everything is placed correctly, that proportions work as planned and that finishing touches such as art placement, accessory arrangement and lighting are addressed. The goal at the end of an installation day is a room that is complete, not a room that still needs work.
For larger projects across multiple rooms or floors, installation is typically phased and coordinated around your schedule.
What Does Interior Design in Burlington Cost?
This is the question most people search for and the one most designers are vague about. Here is what you can expect with a full-service studio.
Interior design fees in Burlington, Ontario typically work in one of three ways:
- An hourly rate for the designer's time
- A flat project fee agreed upfront based on the scope of work
- A trade mark-up on furniture and materials sourced through the studio, sometimes combined with a reduced hourly rate
At Elizabeth Interiors, your designer will be clear about how fees are structured before you commit to anything. The complimentary consultation is the right place to ask this question directly.
What it is fair to say is that working with a full-service designer who has access to trade-only brands, who manages procurement, delivery and installation, and who has 30 years of completed projects in Burlington and across the GTA, is a different service to buying furniture at a chain retailer. The value is in the expertise, the time you do not spend and the outcome you would not reach on your own.
Residential and Commercial Projects
Elizabeth Interiors works with both residential and commercial clients. Residential projects range from single-room refreshes and bedroom redesigns to full-home furnishing for new builds and luxury renovations. The studio also works with Burlington homeowners preparing properties for sale, providing home staging services that draw on the same showroom inventory and design expertise.
On the commercial side, the studio has worked with hospitality clients, professional offices and mixed-use spaces. If you are outfitting a restaurant, a boardroom or a boutique property in Burlington or the surrounding area, the design process follows the same stages outlined above, with adjustments for commercial procurement timelines and durability requirements.
The trade program at Elizabeth Interiors is also open to interior designers, architects, builders and home stagers who want access to the showroom brands and the studio's sourcing network.
When Is the Right Time to Call?
The honest answer is earlier than you think. The most common regret clients have is waiting until they are already mid-renovation, or mid-move, before bringing a designer in. At that point, decisions have already been made that limit the options.
The best time to book a consultation is:
- Before a renovation starts, so the designer can input on spatial decisions that affect furniture layout
- When you are buying a new build or custom home, before you finalise fixtures and finishes
- When a major life change is prompting a redesign, such as children leaving home, downsizing or relocating to Burlington from elsewhere in the GTA
- When a room or home simply is not working and you cannot work out why
There is no minimum project size for a consultation. The studio works with clients on focused single-room projects as readily as on whole-home commissions.
Ready to See What Your Space Could Look Like?
Book your complimentary consultation at Elizabeth Interiors in Burlington. Visit us at 3225 Fairview Street, Burlington, Ontario or call us to arrange a time.
FAQ - Interior Designer Burlington Ontario
1. How do I find a good interior designer in Burlington, Ontario?
Look for a studio with a physical showroom in Burlington, a portfolio of completed local projects and access to trade brands that are not available in chain retailers. Elizabeth Interiors on Fairview Street has operated in Burlington for over 30 years and carries brands including Century Furniture, Bernhardt, Hickory Chair and Henredon. The first consultation is complimentary.
2. How much does an interior designer cost in Burlington, Ontario?
Interior design fees in Burlington vary depending on scope and fee structure. Full-service studios may charge hourly, by project or through a combination of a design fee and a trade mark-up on furnishings. At Elizabeth Interiors, fee structure is discussed clearly during the complimentary first consultation before any commitment is made.
3. What is included in full-service interior design?
Full-service interior design covers everything from the initial concept through to final installation. This includes space planning, furniture and finish selection, custom fabric and material specifications, procurement, delivery coordination and on-site installation. At Elizabeth Interiors in Burlington, this also includes access to trade-only furniture brands and white-glove delivery.
4. Do Burlington interior designers charge for the first meeting?
At Elizabeth Interiors, the first consultation is complimentary. There is no charge for the initial meeting and no obligation to proceed. It is an opportunity to discuss your project, see the showroom and understand how the design process works before making any decisions.
5. Can I hire an interior designer in Burlington for just one room?
Yes. Elizabeth Interiors works on projects of all scales, from a single living room or bedroom redesign through to complete whole-home commissions. There is no minimum project size for a consultation.
6. Does Elizabeth Interiors offer interior design services in Oakville and the GTA?
Yes. While the Elizabeth Interiors showroom is located in Burlington at 3225 Fairview Street, the design team serves clients across Oakville, Hamilton, Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area. Contact the studio to discuss your project location.