Designhaus is a full-service interior design firm located in Chattanooga that handles residential renovations, commercial office buildouts, and hospitality projects from concept through installation. The studio works directly with homeowners and business owners, as well as with contractors and architects, and manages projects ranging from single-room refreshes to whole-home overhauls and tenant improvements.
Designhaus operates as a design-led firm rather than a decorating service or furniture retailer. The team conducts space planning, material selection, color consultation, and project coordination. Projects typically begin with an in-home or on-site consultation where designers assess the space, discuss how the client uses it, and identify budget parameters. The firm works across contemporary, transitional, and classic aesthetic directions, and is known for layering texture and function into spaces rather than applying a single signature style to every project.
Designhaus offers three primary engagement models. Full-service design includes space planning, finish selections, furniture specification, lighting design, and on-site project management. This typically starts at $8,000 for smaller residential projects and scales with square footage and complexity. Consultation-only services, where a designer provides recommendations over one to three visits without ongoing project oversight, run $150 to $250 per hour. Design packages for specific rooms (kitchen, master bath, primary bedroom) are priced à la carte and generally begin around $3,500 to $4,500 per room, depending on scope.
Material and furniture costs are separate from design fees. Designhaus sources from both national wholesale showrooms and local vendors, and clients pay for purchases at cost plus the designer's commission, typically 20 to 25 percent on furnishings and finishes. Custom cabinetry, millwork, and upholstery add to project budgets and timelines; confirm current pricing during your initial consultation, as material availability and lead times shift quarterly.
Several design-focused alternatives operate in Chattanooga at different price points and service levels. Designhaus positions itself as mid-to-upper-market full-service design; projects generally span three to nine months and require an upfront fee commitment. For clients seeking lower-cost, faster turnarounds, local staging and decorating services offer room styling for $1,500 to $3,500 per space without architectural or planning components. For luxury commercial and residential work with higher budgets (typically $50,000+), other Chattanooga firms emphasize bespoke millwork and high-end furnishings. Designhaus suits clients who want professional space planning and cohesive design but do not necessarily require custom joinery or six-figure budgets; it also works well for homeowners managing renovation projects through contractors who need a designer to bridge vision and execution.
Designhaus fits homeowners undertaking kitchen or bathroom renovations who want design expertise alongside construction, professionals outfitting a new office or commercial lease, and property owners preparing homes for sale who want staging paired with design recommendations. It suits clients comfortable with a collaborative process and willing to commit three to six months to a project.
It does not suit clients seeking quick, budget-conscious decorating swaps or those looking to furnish a space in a few weeks. It is also not the right fit for projects requiring only furniture placement advice without structural or material planning, or for clients with very limited budgets under $3,000.
Initial consultations are typically scheduled by phone or through the Designhaus website and last 45 minutes to one hour. The designer tours the space, discusses how it functions, reviews any existing photos or mood boards the client has gathered, and asks about budget range and timeline. Following the consultation, Designhaus provides a proposal outlining scope, fees, and estimated project duration. If the client moves forward, a design agreement is signed and a deposit is collected before work begins.
Designhaus operates by appointment Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional Saturday consultations available upon request. The studio is located in the North Shore area of Chattanooga with on-site parking. Most client meetings occur at the client's home or commercial space rather than at the studio. For projects involving site visits, plan for the designer to spend two to three hours on-site during the initial visit and typically one to two hours per follow-up visit for material verification and design refinement.
Designhaus earns its place in Chattanooga's service landscape by integrating space planning with material expertise and managing the often-messy middle ground between initial inspiration and finished installation.
