Design Counseling

You’ve been thinking about your project for a long time, and you realize that you need some PROFESSIONAL advice, but aren’t ready to take the full plunge. Or you have a small interior design project that just needs some guidance. I offer a limited flat fee package that may be just what you need! You can get the benefit of over 30 years of design experience — even for a small project.

Two-Hour Design Consultation

Maybe you need some help picking out the right paint colors, and maybe a few minor interior design suggestions. I will arrive with color samples, evaluate the existing colors which likely won’t change (e.g. floors, furniture, tile), and suggest the right paint color for you, with your input, of course. Generally, I like to use full-spectrum paint colors (see Full Spectrum Paint article) which produce spectacular results, or I can also select from the standard Benjamin Moore palette. I will leave you with the selections we’ve made, recommendations on sheen, and color swatches.

OR — here are some other ways the session might also be used:

  • Maybe you need some help selecting just the right tiles to go with a countertop or a full bathroom. (I can even meet you at a nearby tile shop.)
  • You need a quick analysis to see if the addition you’re thinking of is even feasible. Is your budget realistic?
  • Are there any less expensive alternatives to remodeling the entire kitchen?

You can pick my brain, ask any burning questions, and get completely independent advice. If the issue is with the feasibility of an addition, I will spend approximately 1/4 hour researching the city codes, and provide you with a thoughtful analysis, and give you up to 1-3/4 hours on-site, with a discussion of the best ways to expand.

This design counseling session will provide you with great information, get the project going in the right direction, possibly some actual material selections, possibly some quick sketches on tracing paper, but no CAD drawings.

The price for this counseling session is $350 in my office or $450 at your home, due in advance of the consultation. Optionally, you can extend the session by an additional hour for $150 extra. The on-site price is good for projects within 30 miles of my office, and includes my travel time. Projects further away will incur an added travel charge of $50 for each additional ten miles, or fraction thereof.


Type of session desired




To arrange this counseling session, just call or e-mail me and we will find a mutually agreeable time. (No Sundays, however.)

NOTE: California Business & Professions Code Sec. 5536.22 requires a written contract between architects and their clients for architectural services, unless it is expressly waived by the client. Because the services you are requesting are very limited in scope and duration, we agree that proceeding with this PayPal transaction constitutes your waiver of a more extensive contract. However, if you request additional services, a written agreement will be provided.