Frequently Asked Questions...

For consulting services, no. For full service interior design packages, yes. See breakdown below: Whole House Furnishing $300,000+ Kitchen Remodels $200,000+ Bath Remodels $150,000+ Whole House Remodels $1M+ Can you complete a project for less? Most certainly. Our clients come to us because they want the BEST experience on every level, from concierge level service, to product quality, to installation and design integrity. We are not the cheapest option, nor do we want to be. Our priority is on maintaining the best level of service available today, with honest upfront communication, and thorough project management and oversight. Once the contract is signed, we don't want to bother you with anything more than a couple quick design meetings, weekly email updates, and a notification when your space is scheduled for its final installation. You get superior designer level results with minimal time out of your busy schedule. Sound perfect? Inquire now to discuss your project.

Yes! Part of the advantage to working with Judy Olson Interiors is our connection to several trusted industry professionals and contractors with decades of experience. We have access to quality cabinet makers, electricians, painters, flooring specialists, drapery specialists, wallpaper installers, and more! Once we evaluate your project and establish a proposed layout, we schedule a trade day where we meet all our most trusted trades to help us firm up the budget. Serving as the point of contact for those contractors, we acquire final pricing, manage the schedule, and handle all the nitty gritty details to save you time, energy, and stress. It's as easy as a remodel gets.

In our case, service based means that the bulk of our profits do not come from product sales. We are not tied or restricted to any particular brands or suppliers. We make our money connecting clients with the right solutions for them, delivering turnkey results that save them MONTHS of legwork and stress. The designs and products we propose are based on the client's individual needs, their desired design aesthetic, the project timeline, and the project budget. As a legit design business in California, we do have considerable business expenses and taxes to account for, so we need to charge markups on furnishings, decor, stone, tile, and flooring that we resell. Rest assured, we want to make sure you are satisfied with your investment, which is why we tend to stay away from high-end designer labels that have no actual value, and focus more on quality and longevity.

It depends upon the scope of work. A kitchen remodel for example takes an average of 6 months to complete (planning phase to final walkthrough), whereas a decorating (furniture and small pieces only) project can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months. The major factors that affect lead time are product quality level, budget, start date, and client involvement. Inquire with us directly to discuss the lead time that applies to your project.

In short, you don't. However, it gains us nothing to produce a fabulous looking space if it doesn’t serve you, the client, in the way you had hoped (especially since most of our business comes from referrals). That is why our process includes a thorough evaluation to give us clarity on what your needs and priorities are before we get started. In the unlikely case that you are not satisfied upon project completion, we will do whatever we can to remedy the issue, billing only as needed to cover our costs.

While we always involve our clients in the initial design phase to be sure we understand their style and needs, when it comes to each individual selection and decision, we feel those are best handled by professionals with a strong understanding of the art and science of design. We want to produce consistently high quality results for our customers, and therefore need to uphold an approach that has proven effective. We've been in business long enough to have tried many versions of the collaborative method, and have observed that for the most part it just doesn't work--at least not in a timely fashion. Consumers who cannot visualize and have no design expertise cannot be expected to make consistently ideal design choices. Our process is clean-cut, with a very high rate of success. Our ideal clients WANT us to take the decision making off their plate. They don't want to be led in circles for months to finalize their backsplash tile. If you want your space completed efficiently and effectively by competent professionals, then our full service design model is for you. If you prefer to be in more direct control over your project, we offer consulting services as well, to give you personalized guidance.

While every client is different, we have observed that the cost to furnish a home's interior professionally will cost roughly 10% of the current appraised value. To renovate, roughly 30% of the current appraised value. For some, that is to be expected. For many, it is considered astronomical. We respect your budget, and will be honest with you about what is achievable within the amount you are comfortable with. Please don't hesitate to contact us directly to discuss the budget for your project. Our Pre Reno Consultation is a helpful service if you're looking for personalized guidance on budget and design planning for your remodel.

Every project starts with a budget. The reason we ask clients upfront about their budget is because we actually do care about helping them towards the best possible outcome within their means. Some clients will be budgeted for a consulting approach, and have their needs met in one to two flat rate visits. And some clients want the full VIP experience. In this case, once a client is under contract, we write a full and thorough budget, accounting for design fees, product cost, labor cost, and a contingency fund. Over the course of the project, we constantly manage the budget, making nips and tucks along the way as the inevitable surprises pop up. We navigate the headaches so you can focus on you. We also keep you informed with weekly email updates. For those clients interested in a full-service contract, here are some typical overall project costs in the East Bay Area in 2026: Kitchen Renovations: $200,000+ Bathroom Renovations: $100,000+ Whole House Renovations: $1.5M+ Whole House Furnishing: $250,000+ Clients will be billed directly by any necessary contractors. Design services, materials, fixtures, and furnishings will be billed through Judy Olson Interiors, Inc.

Absolutely. We are a business. Any seller of product charges markups to account for the cost of doing business (rent, employee wages, software, insurance premiums, transportation, phone/internet, taxes, licensing, accountant fees, merchant fees), as well as the sustainability of the business (website, marketing, promotion). Clients do get to enjoy special pricing on select items, often resulting in thousands of dollars in savings. For items like sofas, rugs, flooring, casegoods, light fixtures, draperies, decor, bedding, and wallpaper, we charge an average markup of 30% on top of our cost. We keep things very simple and streamlined with a flat design & management fee, and a single invoice for materials, fixtures, and furnishings. Any product not included in that invoice is billed directly to your card on file, which makes our clients happy as they get to cash in on credit card points and travel miles. Don't worry--we talk numbers before the design process even begins, and write a full and detailed budget after the contract is signed. We manage costs very tightly over the course of the project, and send weekly email updates, keeping you well informed.