▾ What services do you offer?
Our expertise lies in providing comprehensive residential design services that deliver exceptional and personalized spaces for our clients. Whether it's a full home renovation, kitchen, bath, new construction, or furnishing project, we offer design solutions that cater to your unique needs from concept to completion.
We take pride in handling every aspect of the project, right from sourcing materials and furnishings, creating detailed cabinetry and millwork plans, and collaborating with tradespeople, architects, and builders, to procurement and managing deliveries and installations. Our attention to detail extends to the smallest details such as placing the last flower in a vase on your coffee table.
In addition to full-service design, we also provide Design Only and Consulting services for those who prefer professionally designed spaces that they can purchase and install themselves. These services are customized to meet your specific goals and ensure that you achieve a beautiful result.
▾ What is the difference between Full-Service Design and Design Only or Consulting?
Our specialty is Full-Service Interior Design, a meticulous multi-step process that delivers a stunning custom result. We take care of every detail, from ordering and managing deliveries to liaising with tradespeople, creating construction documentation, and conducting site visits during the installation of your new design. Our team ensures a truly turn-key experience, leaving you free to enjoy your new space without any hassle.
Full-Service Design offers an unparalleled level of detail and customization. We source a mix of trade, vintage, antiques, retail, and custom pieces to create a beautifully curated look. Our goal is to provide a unique and tailored design with complete personalized attention and bespoke details.
We understand that Full-Service Design may not be suitable for every project. Therefore, we also offer Design Only and Consulting services that include a professionally designed space that can be purchased and installed by yourself. However, sourcing will be limited to retail sources, and customization options are very limited. Clients will be required to order and manage all deliveries and work with tradespeople directly to implement their designs.
For smaller projects, we offer consulting services such as our 2-hour consultation or our Design Day service. These services are designed to provide you with the necessary design support for your DIY project.
▾ How would you define your style?
We love working with many styles of design and work with the architecture of your home first and foremost. Our main design philosophy revolves around working with classic and timeless materials used in a thoughtful way to produce beautiful spaces. So whether you want a mid-century design or more traditional, or something in between we would love to work with you!
▾ How do you price your projects?
Each project proposal is custom and tailored to you and your home. After the consultation, we will prepare a comprehensive project scope of work and a detailed proposal for services. We will present the proposal to you to review the scope of work and pricing and answer any questions.
Our fees are based on our hourly rate with an estimated fee based on the time it will take to complete your project. We value transparency with our clients and will provide regular updates so you know where you stand financially. Rest assured that with us, you will receive top-notch service and a personalized experience that is tailored to your unique needs.
▾ Where do you source your furniture and materials?
In any Full-Service Design project, we will source a mix of trade sources, retail, antiques, and custom pieces. Full-Service Design relies less on retail sources ensuring that your space is truly one-of-a-kind.
For Design Only, or Online Design projects we will source from mostly retail sources allowing you to purchase and install yourself. However, if it aligns with your project's vision, we may suggest custom purchases or window treatments from trade sources.
▾ What if I don’t know how much a project will cost and how to set a budget?
There are always ways to save and splurge on any project and we are here to help you navigate where to do so in your design. We are happy to work with you to develop a budget for your project.
▾ Do you have a waitlist?
We highly recommend reaching out to our team as early in the process as possible, as we often have a waitlist. To ensure that you receive the best possible service, we suggest contacting us at least 6 months prior to when you require design assistance. By doing so, we can add you to our schedule and guide you from the very start.
▾ How long does a project take?
Good design takes time and is worth the patience and investment. Although each project is unique, we have developed a step-by-step design process to guide you through without feeling without overwhelm. The complete design process can take anywhere from 4-9 months depending on scope, with full-scale renovations taking a year or more.
We prefer to have the design complete and organized before construction begins to make it as easy and stress-free as possible.
Lean more about our process
▾ Where do I start?
The best place to start is by filling out our inquiry form. After the inquiry is received we will contact you to schedule a complimentary discovery call to further review your project and share more about our process and services.
From there we come out for an in-home consultation for up to two hours. We will use the time to review the spaces you would like transformed. We will talk through the details of your project, timeline, budget, and priorities. We use this information to create a scope of work and a custom proposal for your project and a plan for executing the design.
▾ Do you work outside of the Philadelphia area?
Yes! We service clients locally and nationwide and our Full-Service Design process remains the same for local or distance work. For out-of-state clients, we tailor the experience based on how hands-on you’d like us to be. We will travel to you for the initial meeting and consult, complete the design work in our studio then return for final install. We can build in additional time for site visits for clients who want more support during construction.
To get started contact us for your complimentary 20-minute discovery call.
▾ Do you offer virtual design?
We have an Online Design Service that doesn’t include any travel but still gives you a complete and professionally designed space. While this service is less customized and detailed compared to our Full-Service Distance design, it still guarantees a top-notch result. Our package relies mostly on retail sources that you can purchase and install yourself, making it a hassle-free experience. Please note that if you are embarking on a construction process, the management of trades and construction oversight would be your responsibility. Learn more about Online Design.
▾ How do you present your designs?
We typically present designs in two phases. First is a concept design that includes detailed floorplans, visual mood boards that set the foundation of the project as well as the initial color palettes.
The second phase is the detailed design presentation. This presentation will be in person with as many samples as possible and a walkthrough of the proposed design. Depending on the size of the project you may have more than one design presentation. This is typically a hard-finish presentation followed by soft finishes and furnishings.
All Full-Service Designs include 3D renderings to help you visualize your new space.
▾ What if I want to make changes to my design?
Our job is to create beautiful designs that take our client’s perspectives, ideas, and dreams into consideration throughout the process. We want to learn how you live in your home and collaborate to create a space that is genuinely tailored to you and your needs.
Design is collaborative and your feedback is valued and welcomed throughout the entire project. We hope our designs are everything you envisioned and leave you feeling inspired, but you will have the opportunity to share feedback to fine-tune at each stage to get exactly what you want.
▾ What sets Sharp & Grey apart?
At our core, we are passionate about crafting thoughtful designs that stand the test of time and reflect your unique lifestyle and home architecture while ushering you through a process that leaves you feeling inspired throughout. Our approach is all-encompassing, placing our clients at the center of every project. We take pride in going beyond fleeting trends to create a personalized space that exudes depth and character, tailored to your everyday life.
We firmly believe that effective design hinges on open communication and collaboration. We know that home is an incredible personal palace and we feel privileged to be invited into our clients' lives. We aim to alleviate any stress associated with design projects by working closely with you every step of the way. Moreover, we value your investment and strive to respect your project budget.
▾ What does an interior designer do and how are they different from an architect or contractor?
We may be biased, but we believe an interior designer is as crucial to a project as a builder or architect. While the architect focuses on the structure of a building, the interior designer focuses on the form, flow, and function of a space by creating a cohesive design from room to room. We are here to make sure your home meets your needs day in and day out for years to come.
As a designer, we partner with the client, architect, and builder to collaborate and create a thoughtful and personalized design. We will select all of the finishes and fixtures for the home (such as flooring, tile, plumbing, lighting, etc.) as well as furniture, wall coverings, and window treatments. We also create detailed construction documentation that elaborates on the architectural plans that the builder and trades can build from and style down to the last detail.
▾ How are you different than a design-build firm?
As an independent design studio, we pride ourselves on crafting thoughtful and distinctive spaces in partnership with your architect and builder. Our unique perspective allows us to intimately understand your lifestyle and design for how you truly live and function in your home. We act as your unwavering advocates throughout the entire process, ensuring that every detail is executed to perfection. Unlike a design-build firm, we focus on the entirety of the project, offering not only exceptional design services but also furnishings, custom window treatments, installation, and styling - right down to the last pillow on your sofa. Our level of depth and attention to detail is unparalleled, resulting in a finished product that exceeds all expectations.
▾ When do I need an architect?
We can often handle minor floorplan changes like moving or removing walls. Architects or engineers may need to get involved for more in-depth structural changes, additions, or new construction. We can advise when it may be necessary to engage an architect or structural engineer in our consultation or when we begin a project.
▾ Do you have trades you work with and can recommend?
We have built a network of trusted trades, manufacturers, and builders and are happy to recommend skilled tradesmen and installers for your project.
▾ What do I need to know about hiring an interior designer?
As a designer, our top priority is to ensure that your project is a stress-free and fulfilling experience. Our expertise goes beyond creating a beautiful and comfortable home; we can assist you in defining the scope and budget, managing timelines, and navigating the construction process. With our extensive network of connections, we can also help you find the right contractors, trades, and architects for the job. Whether it's construction projects or selecting furnishings and soft goods, we offer a complete package.
We take the time to truly understand your lifestyle and how you envision your space. Our goal is to make the entire process effortless and enjoyable, and we strive to exceed your expectations every step of the way.
