Our Design & Remodeling Process

Every project begins with understanding your home, your priorities, and what you want to improve. Our four-stage process guides you from early design through selections, procurement, and construction support.

Erica works closely with you to explore options and make informed decisions. Thoughtful planning and clear communication help you understand what comes next as the design takes shape.

Two women sitting at a wooden dining table having a conversation, one woman with blonde hair wearing a denim jacket smiling, and the other woman with brown hair seen from behind.

The Four Stages of Our Process

Kitchen cabinet and appliance layout with measurements, including oven, upper and lower cabinets, wall hood in red, and side elevation views.

1. Design Development

We explore how your home works today and what you want to improve. Floor plans and conceptual cabinetry designs help you evaluate layout, flow, storage, and appliance placement.

As the direction develops, we consider scope, budget, and construction requirements with the project team. Focused revisions help refine the plan before moving into detailed selections.

Interior designer Erica Kay Thowe curating a material palette during a showroom visit, featuring white picket tile, a sage green paint sample, light oak cabinetry swatches, marble countertops, and a satin brass hardware pull.

2. Selections & Procurement

We refine cabinetry details and guide selections for countertops, tile, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and hardware. Each choice is considered alongside the overall design and budget.

Allowances are tracked against actual selections, and we manage procurement for items within our scope. Orders and delivery timing are coordinated with construction milestones.

Interior designer Erica Kay Thowe conducting an on-site construction visit for a Kansas City home renovation, reviewing field conditions with a notebook and measuring tape to ensure design alignment.

3. Construction Support

During construction, we serve as your design advocate, answering questions and reviewing field conditions to help carry the design through.

We collaborate closely with the contractor and cabinet makers, clarifying details and helping address design questions as the work progresses.

Completed luxury kitchen renovation in Kansas City by Erica Kay Design & Remodeling, featuring a professional 48-inch range, a custom white hood with wood mantle detail, a light grey zellige tile backsplash, and elegant brass hardware.

4. Project Completion

As construction wraps up, we assist with final installations, design-related walkthroughs, and punch list review.

We review how the details have come together and help identify remaining design items that need attention.

Budget & Scope Alignment

Before moving into detailed selections, we review the design scope, contractor’s proposed work, budget, and anticipated timeline together. This helps identify gaps and decisions that need attention early.

We review contractor bids for alignment with the design and provide design-related clarifications. As selections develop, we help you weigh options against your priorities and planned investment.

Interior designer Erica Kay Thowe collaborating with a local Kansas City custom cabinet maker in his woodworking shop to ensure precision and quality for a luxury kitchen remodel.

Our Trusted Partners

We work closely with contractors and custom cabinet makers whose craftsmanship, communication, and attention to detail align with our approach. These relationships support informed planning and coordination throughout the project.

We can recommend trusted partners or collaborate with your existing team when their approach aligns with our process and project requirements.