If we had to guess, we would say you likely purchased your vacation home for….vacation? Maybe a deeper connection with the family? Great experiences at your summer cottage start here - leave the headaches to us!

• We bring a wealth of style, experience and knowledge to your design project that helps to prevent costly mistakes and to define and enhance your distinctive style.

• We understand that the way you live in your second home is very different from the way you live in the “real world.” Time spent at a vacation home should be about creating memories and well deserved R&R, not caring for a high maintenance home.

• We work hard to take the stress out of taking on a huge project from far away.  You may not be able to be on site, watching your trade teams and catching problems, but we can!  

• We both keep an eye on your project, and send you weekly email updates on what was accomplished throughout the week and what we expect to accomplish during the following week. We will never leave you in the dark!

• We have established relationships with quality manufacturers and skilled local tradespeople saving you countless hours of vetting and supervising trades and purchases.

Our initial meeting is a chance for us to get to know one another and to make sure we’re the right fit for you, your family, and your vacation home.

• We request that all decision-makers are present (it’s only fair). We’ll discuss your goals for the space in terms of style and functionality, as well as your ideal timeline.

• It’s also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the design process or how we work.

• We generally will not offer specific design advice at this early stage, as we don’t truly understand your project, nor do we have a plan in place to see how those ideas will fit into the bigger picture. We will give you a sense of possible directions we envision, and tell you about specific areas we believe should be a part of the project.

• At this meeting, you will receive our Lifestyle Questionnaire (our roadmap to creating your family’s perfect summer get-away).

• The fee for our initial meeting is $100, payable before the meeting.

We work to keep our pricing fair and transparent. Our clients are often away for the majority of their project, and the last thing they need is stress regarding out of control or confusing pricing. Please reach out to us at anytime with questions or concerns.

• Design fees are based on the scope of work and square footage of your project. Prospective clients receive a Letter of Agreement, including design fee, following our first meeting.

• We will source furniture, fabrics, and rugs, available to be purchased through BCD at 20%  off of our regular retail prices.

• If BCD receives a Trade Discount from a supplier other than Bayberry Cottage, and the discount  is greater than 10%, the discount is shared between BCD and the client.

• Your design will include selection of all art  and accessories plus professional delivery and designer installation of all design components, as well as pieces of your own that you would like us to use.

• All accessories and art will be left for your approval. You will receive pricing for all previously unapproved items at 20% off, and we request that you make a decision about which pieces you would like to keep within 72 hours of receiving pricing so that we may arrange pickup of items you would like to send back.

• Designer Team time is billed at $250 per hour and delivery/set up is billed at $75.00 per man, per hour.

Dream Home by Bayberry is intended for remodels and new builds and includes design for the entire home, keeping the concept cohesive throughout. Please see our Master Plan FAQ for smaller projects.

As soon as possible! Working with your Interior Designer at the beginning of a project allows you to work through the entire project with a plan in place, preventing mistakes and keeping your design cohesive. Although a good designer can help you at any stage in the design, it is most advantageous for you to have a plan in place at the very early stages of the process.

Yes, we are happy to work with tradespeople that you have selected or have worked with in the past. Or, if you would rather work with a team that has been vetted, Bayberry Cottage regularly works with many of our talented local trades from landscape design to architecture to upholstery and we’re happy to recommend the best of the best!

• Like us, our contractors have intimate knowledge of lakeshore homes and the preventative measures they should take to make sure our moody Michigan weather’s toll on your investment is easily manageable.

The most important goal of a good designer is happy clients! While it’s true that we consider it our job to take you just outside of your comfort zone (because that’s where really good design lives), in the end your vacation home should function exactly the way that you need it to and should represent your unique style, not your designer’s.

• Your custom design from Bayberry Cottage blends your  personal style, your fabulous summer home, the way that you live and entertain, and the elements of a coastal, casual, comfortable and colorful vacation home. It's what we do best!

We can do our very best work when our clients are actively involved and are a part of our design team.

• Give your designer clear goals for the space! How do you want it to function? What’s working and what’s not? What do you consider your style to be?

• Consider starting a profile on Houzz.com so you can show us spaces that you love or that inspire you. Pinterest is a great site too!  If you are not already using these sites, we’re happy to help you get familiar with them.

• Decide which pieces are important enough that you want us to work with them.

• Make decisions as quickly as you can once you have the information you need. Difficulty deciding in a timely manner can lead to big delays on your project.

• Be open to new ideas. We will listen closely to understand your goals and from there, our job is to create a space that you can’t create on your own, and to think outside of the box to solve your current problems. One idea on its own may not speak to you right away, but when creative ideas are looked at with an eye toward the completed project rather than individually, they make more sense.

• Trust the process! We always have a plan, and every decision we makes is made with the end result in mind.

• Try not to revisit decisions you have already made. Every decision builds on another and to undo one often means backtracking and revisiting a number of other decisions.

• Don’t shop after you have hired your designer! Again, these surprise purchases can cause us to have to redo work that has already been done and often leads to more billable time. If you have really fallen for something, talk to your designer about it before you purchase; how will it affect the decisions that have already been made?

• Have fun! We’re building your dream vacation home and it should be exciting! We’re here to handle the unexpected (and inevitable) issues that arise with any design project,  so that you can enjoy the process and the beautiful outcome!

We recently read that in every room, there are over 200 individual decisions that need to be made. It helps to stay organized! Here is our process in a nutshell (your project may or may not require all of these services):

• Initial consultation - we’ll get to know one another, discuss your goals for the project, and give you the information and paperwork you’ll need to move forward.

• Scope of Work - we’ll lay out our understanding of the goals of your project and send that to you for your approval.

• Trade Day - we measure and photograph your space and any existing pieces you want us to work with. We like to include other Trades (as needed) on this day, including Contractors, Window Treatment Specialists, Kitchen and Bath Specialists. Landscapers, Closet Designers, etc.

• Design and drawing of floor plans - includes suggested furniture sizes, possible custom pieces, and traffic patterns

• Color plan - fabrics and paint colors

• Furniture sourcing - furniture, rugs, lighting, artwork etc. presented with the floor plans and color plan for your approval

• Lighting plan - new lighting specifications and placement for contractors

• Drawings and specifications of custom built pieces

• Selection of contractor needs: floors, counters, faucets, doors, hardware, etc…

• Final paint selection

• Presentation of final design

• Purchasing

• fabric cuttings from manufacturers ordered for approval

• vendor purchase orders placed

• Follow-up on orders for quality control and timeliness

• Coordinate with contractor schedules

• Observe construction to catch problems before they become big problems

• Selection of accessories to be approved after installation

• Receiving and inspection of orders

• Installation

• Client Reveal

• Deficiencies identified and resolved

• Project closure meeting - final invoices

• Thank You & Project Completion

If we had to guess, we would say you likely purchased your vacation home for….vacation? Maybe a deeper connection with the family? Great experiences at your summer cottage start here - leave the headaches to us!

• The Interior Designers at BCD  bring a wealth of style, experience and knowledge to your design project that helps to prevent costly mistakes and to define and enhance your distinctive style.

• They understand that the way you live in your second home is very different from the way you live in the real world. Vacation homes should be about creating memories and well deserved R&R, not caring for a high maintenance home.

• They understand you are using your own Builder and trades.

• They know that shopping for your own furniture,  fixtures, and finishes is exciting, but can also be overwhelming!

Our 2 Hour Project Kick-Off is a chance for us to get to know one another and to make sure we’re the right fit for you.

• We request that all decision-makers are present. We’ll discuss your goals for the space in terms of style and functionality as well as your budget and your ideal timeline.

• It’s also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the design process or how we work.

• This first meeting is a paid consultation. You’ll receive valuable guidance for the direction of the design, as well as our Dream Home Vision Book - a guide for remodels, new builds, or redecorating. This binder will keep you on track with your trades, regardless of whether or not you move forward with Bayberry Cottage. And when you complete your design project with Bayberry Cottage, we’ll apply your consultation fee to your last invoice!

• Following our meeting, you will receive our Letter of Agreement and Lifestyle Questionnaire. Our LOA will specify our requested deposit. When we receive the signed Letter of Agreement, the Lifestyle Questionnaire, and the requested deposit  we will begin work on your project.

• The fee for our 2 hour project kick-off is $500, payable before the meeting.

We work to keep our pricing fair and transparent. Our clients are often away for the majority of their project, and the last thing they need is stress regarding out of control or confusing pricing. Please reach out to us at anytime with questions or concerns.

• Design fees are based on square footage and scope of work of your project. You will receive a Letter of Agreement, including design fee, after our first meeting.

• We will source all finishes, fixtures, furniture, fabrics, and rugs, putting the complete plan together for you in an easy to use binder that will carry you from start to finish on your project.

As soon as possible! Working with your Interior Designer at the beginning of a project allows you to work through the entire project with a plan in place, preventing mistakes and keeping your design cohesive. Although a good designer can help you at any stage in the design, it is most advantageous for you to have a plan in place at the very early stages of the process.

The most important goal of a good designer is happy clients! While it’s true that we consider it our job to take you just outside of your comfort zone (because that’s where really good design lives), in the end your vacation home should function exactly the way that you need it to and should represent your unique style, not your designer’s.

Your custom design from Bayberry Cottage blends your  personal style, your fabulous summer home, the way that you live and entertain, and the elements of a coastal, casual, comfortable and colorful vacation home. It's what we do best!

We can do our very best work when our clients are actively involved and are a part of our “team”.

• Give your designer clear goals for the space! How do you want it to function? What’s working and what’s not? What do you consider your style to be? (Consider starting a profile on Houzz.com so you can show your designer spaces that you love or that inspire you. Pinterest is a great site too!  If you are not already using these sites, we’re happy to help you get familiar with them.)

• Decide which pieces are important enough that you want your designer to work with them.

• Make decisions as quickly as you can once you have the information you need. Difficulty deciding in a timely manner can lead to big delays on your project.

• Be open to new ideas. We will listen closely to understand your goals and from there, our job is to create a plan that you can’t create on your own, and to think outside of the box to solve your current problems. One idea on its own may not speak to you right away, but when creative ideas are looked at with an eye toward the completed project rather than individually, they make more sense.

• Trust the process! Your designer has a plan, and every decision she makes is made with the end result in mind.

• Try not to revisit decisions you have already made. Every decision builds on another and to undo one often means backtracking and revisiting a number of other decisions.

• Don’t shop after you have hired your designer! Again, these surprise purchases can cause your designer to have to redo work that has already been done and often leads to more billable time. If you have really fallen for something, talk to your designer about it before you purchase; how will it affect the decisions that have already been made?

We recently read that in every room, there are over 200 individual decisions that need to be made. It helps to stay organized! Here is our process in a nutshell (your project may or may not require all of these services):

• Initial consultation - we’ll get to know one another, discuss your goals for the project, and give you the information and paperwork you’ll need to move forward.

• The scope of work - we’ll lay out our understanding of the goals of your project and send that to you for your approval.

• Design and drawing of floor plans - includes suggested furniture sizes, possible custom pieces, and traffic patterns

• Color plan - fabrics and paint colors

• Furniture sourcing - furniture, rugs, lighting, artwork etc. presented with the floor plans and color plan for your approval

• Lighting plan - new lighting specifications

• Drawings and specifications of custom-built pieces

• Selection of contractor needs: floors, counters, faucets, doors, hardware, etc…

• Final paint selection

• Presentation of final design