Q: Are you licensed?

BC: Yes, Britto Charette is a licensed and insured interior design firm. Some of the insurance policies we carry include workers’ compensation, commercial general liability, and professional liability.

Q: What is your specialty? Do you create interiors for every type of building or project?

BC: We specialize in luxury interior design with a focus on residential interiors. Many of our projects are large in scope and include construction and coordination with an architect of record; mechanical, structural, plumbing, and electrical engineers; audio visual; landscape architect; and pool consultant.

Q: I love your design aesthetic, but my home is smaller than some of the projects I see on your website. Do you work on smaller projects?

BC: Yes! We opened a new sister company called bc2 interiors that caters to clients with projects that are smaller in scope. bc2 interiors is also different from Britto Charette in that the company bills hourly for interior design services. bc2 interiors is helmed by interior designer Arianna Castro, who has worked alongside Jay Britto and David Charette at Britto Charette for many years. You can learn more about bc2 interiors by visiting the website here.

Q: What is the difference between an interior decorator and an interior designer? How do I know which one is a good fit for me?

BC: Great question! Check out our infographic for a quick rundown of the differences between what decorators can do and what an interior design firm like Britto Charette offers.

Q: Will you visit my home before I hire you? I’d like you to check it out first.

BC: Sorry, but no. We receive scores of inquiries every year and can’t dedicate our resources to traveling to each one of those potential job sites. As much as we would like to walk your space with you, we don’t visit a space until we have a contract in place. We do this to protect our existing clients. Because we are a boutique firm, our primary focus is, of course, on our existing clients. Many of our projects are in Florida, but it takes time to drive to every site and walk it. And many of our projects are in other states and countries so visiting every potential site isn’t feasible.

Q: What is your design process?

BC: You can check out our design process from start to finish, here on our blog.

Q: I’ve seen your furniture designs online and on Instagram. Where can I buy your furniture?

BC: We’re so happy to hear you like our team’s designs! Each piece is custom made to order. Because they are bespoke, they are not in stock and so timeline depends on the piece. Please contact our studio for more information including specifications and pricing. 305.640.5005.

 Q: Do you accept every project request?

BC: Because we are a boutique firm, we can’t accept every project request. We simply don’t have the resources to dedicate to every size and scope of project. Instead, our team focuses on interior design projects that are large in scope and that have a minimum budget of $1M. For FF&E-only (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) projects, we have a minimum budget of $500k. For projects smaller in scope and budget, our sister company, bc2interiors, can be a fabulous option.

Q: Do you provide clients with contracts?

BC: Every project begins with a contract because we believe contracts protect everyone involved. We also encourage prospective clients to review the contract with their own legal representatives.

Q: How much will it cost to complete my interior design?

BC: Every project is unique, so every project price is different. Our team will work very hard to make you aware of all costs, from construction to furniture to storage and delivery, and to plan for unforeseen circumstances.

Q: How much is your design fee?

BC: Our design fee is always based on square footage and is driven by the project’s complexity and level of service required. For furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E, which is classical interior decorating) only, the design fee will be different than it is for large-scope interior design projects that include kitchens, bathrooms, construction, and the custom details that you see in our portfolio.

Q:  Are all of your designs unique?

BC:  All items presented to the client are specially selected and/or custom designed for their    projects.

Q: What is FF&E?

BC: FF&E stands for furniture, fixtures, and equipment. It’s a stage in the design process where our team selects and purchases sofas, tables, rugs, lighting, drapery, AV equipment, etc. for our clients.

Q: What is COM?

BC: This refers to Clients Own Material and is a custom fabric order.

Q: What is an RCP?

BC: Reflected Ceiling Plan is a way for our team to accurately show the lighting of the ceiling and is based on and coordinated with the furniture plan.

Q: What is Value Engineering?

BC: Value engineering is used to reduce the cost of a design in order to meet budgetary needs, for instance when unforeseen occurrences due to issues such as force majeure or prices of materials dramatically increases.