What to Expect from a Design Consultation with Ariane Design Co
A Confident, Guided Start to Your Design Journey Inside the Studio
Designing your home should feel inspiring, not intimidating. At Ariane Design Co., our consultations are built to give you clarity, direction, and a sense of confidence right from the beginning. Whether you’re refreshing a single room or planning a full-home transformation, our goal is to help you understand the process and feel supported every step of the way. We listen closely and develop concepts that reflect your character and naturally align with your lifestyle.
This consultation takes the form of our Mini Design Session. It is the foundation of our design process and often the first meaningful step toward creating a home that feels intentional and personal. Here is a warm, honest look at what happens when you book a consultation with us.
Inspiration Board by Ariane Design Co.
Preparing for Your Mini Design Session
Every meaningful design starts with understanding the people who will live in the space. Before we meet, you’ll receive a personalized design questionnaire that helps me get a genuine sense of who you are. This step is incredibly important because it reveals far more than photos or measurements ever could.
After your discovery call, preparing for the Mini Design Session is simple and straightforward. Once you decide to move forward, you will review and sign our design agreement and submit the Mini Design Session fee. This step officially secures your session and allows us to begin preparing thoughtfully, ensuring our time together is focused, productive, and tailored to your needs.
Client preparation, completed in advance:
Design Questionnaire (20 to 30 minutes)
The questionnaire explores the details that shape the heart of your home. You’ll be invited to share how you move through your daily routines, what brings you comfort, the colours, textures, and materials you naturally gravitate toward, how you entertain, the small rituals that ground you, and what “home” means to you in a personal way.Inspiration and Home Photos
You will be asked to share a Pinterest board that reflects the mood, colours, and textures you are drawn to, along with photos of your existing spaces. This provides us valuable context before we meet and allows us to spend our session focused on meaningful design decisions rather than surface-level discovery.
This part of the process often sparks beautiful conversations in the session that follows. Having this context allows us to use our time together more thoughtfully and ensures the guidance you receive feels relevant, grounded, and tailored to your space. Understanding your lifestyle is how we create spaces that feel personal and truly functional; not just pretty. At the end of any design, what matters most is intention and usability. These are the main pillars at ADC.
Mood Board by Ariane Design Co.
The Mini Design Session: A Clear and Confident Starting Point
Your Mini Design Session is a collaborative, two-hour conversation where we explore the heart of your project. During this session, we walk through your space together, talk through your goals, and identify what’s working well and what needs improvement.
Depending on your project, we may discuss:
Your design wishlist and top priorities: The “non-negotiables”
How to improve layout and flow; space planning and circulation
Colour palette ideas and paint direction. We try to stay away from trends because we want to showcase how unique you are.
Material suggestions that match your lifestyle and aesthetic
Styling improvements that are simple yet impactful and perfectly you
Any design questions or concerns you want to work through
This is your time to get honest, personalized guidance. Clients often tell me they leave feeling clear, inspired, and excited to begin. Our intention is to give you direction without overwhelm and to help you see the potential within your home.
+ What Happens After the Session
It’s important to clarify how the Mini Design Session fits into our overall process. For some clients, this session is a standalone consultation designed to provide clarity, guidance, and professional insight. There is no written follow-up or summary provided after this session.
For others, the Mini Design Session becomes the starting point for continued design support. If you choose to move forward with additional hours or a furnishings and styling service, this is when we transition into the studio phase and begin shaping your project more fully.
Laundry Refresh Project, North Vancouver BC by Ariane Design Co. / Renderings by Jeannine Graham
Inside the Studio: Where Your Concept Begins
When a project continues beyond the Mini Design Session, the creative work begins behind the scenes. This is where ideas start to take form and your project develops its own identity.
We start building the foundation of your design through:
Early sketches that explore flow, balance, and proportion
Inspiration boards that reveal the first glimpse of your overall aesthetic
Colour palette concepts that reflect how you want to feel in your space
Material direction with textures and tones that make sense for your home
This stage is thoughtful and intentional. We don’t rush the creative process because a space designed with care will continue to serve you for years to come. Every layer added becomes part of your home’s story; one that’s meant to reflect your own.
Depending on your goals, you may continue with:
+ Hourly Design Support
Personalized Design Support, Tailored to Your Needs
Our Hourly Design Package gives you the expert guidance you need while keeping you in control of the process.
Every package starts with a 2-hour Mini Design Session, where we discuss your vision, preferences, and must-haves. From there, your hours can be used however fits your project best:
+ Space Planning & Furniture Layouts – Optimize function and flow.
+ Sourcing & Selection – Get expert help finding the right pieces.
+ Plan & Sample Reviews – We’ll review floor plans, millwork drawings, and finishes.
+ Styling & Final Touches – Ongoing support to bring it all together.
Project 10th Street, North Vancouver by Ariane Design Co. / Photography: Kristen McGaughey
+ Furnishings and Styling
Our Furnishings and Styling service follows a different structure. This service does not include a Mini Design Session. Instead, we begin with a dedicated kick off call to understand your space, needs, and vision. From there, we create a complete room plan presented in a clear, organized format. You receive everything you need to furnish and style your space with confidence while managing ordering and installation on your own. This service is offered at a flat fee, with no additional consultation charges.
No matter which direction you choose, you will always have clarity, structure, and support. The goal is to make the process feel easy and enjoyable, even when the project itself is complex.
Furnishings and Styling Service Framework by Ariane Design Co.
Organized, and Supportive Experience
From the moment we begin working together, you’ll be supported by a process that is structured, thoughtful, and easy to follow. You’ll have access to your own private client hub where all project details live in one place, including documents, notes, layouts, and design recommendations. Everything is organized clearly so you can revisit decisions, track progress, and feel confident at every stage.
Communication is consistent and intentional. You’ll always know where we are in the process, what’s coming next, and what actions are needed from you. There is no guesswork or overwhelm, just clear guidance and steady support.
Our intention is simple. We want the experience of designing your home to feel calm, collaborative, and enjoyable. Not just the final reveal, but every step along the way.
West Kelowna Residence Design by Ariane Design Co. | Render by Jeannine Graham
Ready to Begin Your Project with Intention?
A design consultation is the first step toward a home that feels calm, meaningful, and truly yours. If you’re ready to begin with clarity and confidence, I’d love to guide you.
Click below to schedule your consultation, and let’s bring your vision to life—one thoughtful step at a time.
