Artech Design Group is a full-service interior design firm operating in Chattanooga that handles residential, commercial, and hospitality projects from initial concept through final installation. The practice works at multiple scales, from single-room updates to complete home renovations and office buildouts, and distinguishes itself by maintaining in-house project management rather than outsourcing coordination to contractors.
The firm operates as a design-led business that combines aesthetic planning with construction administration. This means the designer doesn't hand off plans to a general contractor and disappear; Artech's team oversees implementation to ensure finishes, colors, and spatial flow match the approved design. The scope includes space planning, material selection, furniture specification, lighting design, and color consultation. The practice works with clients who want strategic direction on layout and materials, not just decorative styling.
Artech offers three main engagement models. The full design service, which includes site visits, multiple revision rounds, detailed specifications, and project oversight, typically runs between $3,500 and $10,000 for residential projects under 2,000 square feet, depending on complexity and the degree of custom sourcing involved. Larger residential projects or commercial work is quoted individually. Consultation-only sessions (hourly advising on layout or material choices without full design documentation) cost $150 to $200 per hour. Material sourcing and purchasing services, available to clients who have a designer elsewhere but need help selecting and ordering furnishings and finishes, are typically charged at cost plus a 25 percent fee.
Verify current pricing and package details directly, as custom project rates fluctuate based on scope.
Chattanooga's interior design market divides roughly into three tiers. Large commercial firms like those attached to architecture practices focus on hospitality and institutional work with project budgets exceeding $100,000; these are less accessible for homeowners or small business renovations. Solo designers or decorators operating independently (often found through referral or social media) offer lower hourly rates, typically $75 to $125 per hour, but provide no formal project management and may lack relationships with contractors and vendors. Artech sits in the middle: smaller than a full architectural firm but structured enough to manage timelines and coordinate trades, making it a practical choice for a homeowner undertaking a kitchen or bath renovation or a small business refreshing an office or retail space.
Choose Artech if you want a designer embedded in the project from start to finish. Choose a solo designer if your budget is minimal and your scope is confined to styling decisions. Choose an architecture firm if you're planning a full commercial renovation or new construction.
Artech works best for clients undertaking structural changes (wall removal, layout revision, MEP relocation) or projects requiring coordination across multiple trades. It also suits homeowners and business owners who lack confidence in their own aesthetic judgment and want professional validation of color, material, and furniture choices. Clients should expect to be available for decisions: the design process requires input on mood boards, material samples, and directional choices before drawing begins.
The firm is not a fit for clients seeking quick, low-cost decorating updates or those unwilling to invest in a full design process. It is also not positioned as a fast-turnaround service; projects typically require 4 to 8 weeks from initial consultation to construction documents, plus the execution phase itself.
An initial consultation typically includes a walk-through of the space, discussion of the client's goals and constraints (budget, timeline, existing fixtures to retain or remove), and a review of design preferences through images or a mood board. The designer assesses the structure, lighting, flow, and existing conditions. From this meeting, Artech will prepare a proposal outlining scope, fee, and timeline. If the client signs the engagement letter, the next phase involves space planning and preliminary material research.
Artech Design Group operates by appointment. Confirm current hours and studio location by calling or visiting their website; design firms often maintain flexible schedules to accommodate client site visits and contractor coordination. The firm typically meets clients at the project site rather than a showroom, so logistics depend on the location of the work being planned.
Artech's strength is marrying design intention with actual execution, a rare commodity in Chattanooga's interior design market where many practitioners stop at the drawing stage and leave coordination to others.
