FAQ
Your Aesthetic & Collaboration
How will you figure out my aesthetic?
Understanding your style is a partnership. Your job is to help show what feels like home to you by gathering inspiration images (from Pinterest, magazines, travel, or saved photos) that showcase rooms, materials, or colors you love. They don’t need to be perfect; they just give us a visual direction.
During our consultation, we will ask thoughtful questions about your lifestyle, priorities, and how you want your home to function. Our job is to find the common threads—the contrast, warmth, layout, and mood—and translate them into a cohesive, buildable design plan.
Will you push me into a particular style?
No. Your home should reflect your life, taste, and how you actually use the space.
That said, our work does have a distinct design point of view: modern, practical, polished, and architectural, featuring clean cabinetry, thoughtful contrast, durable materials, and a strong focus on layout and flow. We will make recommendations to shape the absolute best, most elevated version of your style.
Timeline & Process
How early should we get in touch?
Please reach out as early as possible—ideally before you select materials, finalize layouts, or start construction. Bringing a designer in early helps you make smart, confident decisions before the expensive parts of a remodel are in motion. If construction is already underway, changes may be limited by budget, timeline, or structural details.
I’ve never worked with an interior designer before. What is the process?
Every designer works differently, but our relationship is built on clear roles:
- Our Role: To lead the design process, ask thoughtful questions, make professional recommendations, and create a functional, buildable plan.
- Your Role: To provide inspiration, communicate honestly, review information carefully, and make timely decisions.
A Note on Selections: We ask clients to trust the process and avoid shopping for their own selections. A comprehensive, coordinated design plan requires a unified approach rather than piecing together disconnected ideas.
What are the steps to get started?
- Discovery Call: A brief conversation to talk through your project, timeline, investment, and overall fit.
- Onboarding: If we move forward, you will complete an extensive questionnaire and send your inspiration images.
- In-Person Consultation: We meet with a clear direction already in hand to dive deep into your goals.
Investment & Fees
What is the fee structure?
- Design Fee: We charge a flat design fee tailored to the overall scope of your project so you have complete transparency from the start.
- Procurement Fee: We charge a 30% procurement fee on products to cover ordering, vendor follow-up, logistics, and coordinating seamless delivery.
How much are typical design fees at Kendal Cavalieri Design?
Design fees typically range from $3,200 for a main bathroom up to $15,000 for multi-room projects (such as a kitchen, living room, office, and primary bathroom combined).
What does a remodel cost in Buffalo, NY?
While every project varies based on size, scope, and material selections, typical project ranges in the Buffalo area include:
| Project Type | Typical Starting Cost* | Higher-End Range |
| Bathroom Remodel | $36,000 | $140,000+ |
| Kitchen Remodel | $100,000 | $300,000+ |
*Starting costs include materials, construction, and design fees.