# River Jane & Co. (full text) ## Key facts - Business: River Jane & Co., an interior design studio in Spicewood, Texas 78669. Founder and lead designer: Mia Roberts. - Service area: about 28 miles around Spicewood, including Lake Travis, the Hill Country and West Austin. - How it works: a free 15 minute call, then a consultation (in the home or virtual, chosen for the project), then a Design Strategy. - Design Strategy: from $999 per room. Includes a layout, selections, a mood board, a 3D rendering, a 30 minute review call and a final visit with samples. Whole homes are quoted after the consultation. - After the Design Strategy: full design and project services, quoted in writing from the approved plan. - The Shade Haus: the studio's own shade line. Cordless Roman and roller shades from $299 a window, motorized shades from $399 a window (shade price; installation quoted separately), dual shades available. No drapery, no side channels. - River Jane Haus: a members-only furnishings shop, coming soon. - Contact: 512-883-3767, riverjaneandco@gmail.com, https://riverjaneandco.com/start ## Custom home interior design, decided before the builder asks https://riverjaneandco.com/new-build-interior-design Custom home and new construction interior design around Lake Travis and the Hill Country. When to bring a designer in, and what to decide at each phase of the build. Q: When should I hire an interior designer for a new build? A: Before the plans are final, if you can. A furniture plan drawn over the floor plan catches room size, lighting and outlet problems while they cost nothing to fix. The next best time is before your builder's selections are due. Q: Do you work with my architect and builder? A: Yes, alongside them. Your architect and builder own the structure and the build. Your Design Strategy covers the rooms, finishes and furniture, with a layout and selections your builder can price from. Q: What does new build interior design cost? A: It starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation in your home or virtual. A Design Strategy starts at $999 per room. A whole new home or several rooms is quoted after the consultation, and full design and project services are quoted from the approved plan. Q: Can you help if my selections are due soon? A: Tell us the date on the first call. You'll get a straight answer on whether the plan can be ready in time, and which decisions to make first if the schedule is tight. Q: What should I decide first on a new build? A: The furniture layout. It sets where the lighting, outlets and TV go, and those are due before the electrician roughs in. Tile and plumbing fixtures usually come next. Q: Do you handle window treatments on new construction? A: Yes, through The Shade Haus: Roman and roller shades, cordless from $299 a window and motorized from $399 a window, depending on fabric and controls. Plan motor power and shade pockets before drywall. Every window is quoted in writing. Q: Where do you work? A: Within about 28 miles of our Spicewood studio, including Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls, Lakeway, Horseshoe Bay and West Lake Hills, with Austin on the same terms. ## Whole home interior design, planned as one house https://riverjaneandco.com/whole-home-interior-design Full service, whole home interior design around Lake Travis and the Hill Country. One plan for every room, then full design and project services quoted from the approved plan. Q: What is included in whole home interior design? A: A plan for every room in the scope: layouts, finishes, fixtures, lighting, cabinetry, furnishings and window treatments. After the plan is approved, full design and project services are quoted from it: sourcing, ordering and design management at key milestones. Q: How much does whole home interior design cost? A: It starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation in your home or virtual. A Design Strategy starts at $999 per room. A whole home or several rooms is quoted after the consultation, and full design and project services are quoted from your approved plan. Q: Do I have to do every room at once? A: No. Plan the whole house, then carry it out in phases as the budget allows. Because the rooms were planned together, later phases still match. Q: Can I use my own contractor? A: Yes. The plan gives your contractor a layout and selections to price from, and it's yours to take to any contractor you like. Q: What does a full service interior design firm do that a plan does not? A: It carries the plan forward after approval: sourcing, ordering and design management at key milestones, quoted from the plan so you know the scope up front. Q: What should I decide first in a whole home project? A: The finishes that run through every room: flooring, wall colors, wood tones, metals and the lighting style. Pick those before any single room, and the rest of the house follows from them. Q: Do you design second homes? A: Yes. A second home follows the same path: a free call, a consultation, then a Design Strategy with a 30 minute review call. Tell us on the first call when you're in town, so the final visit with samples can be planned around it. ## Bathroom design in Austin, from layout to tile https://riverjaneandco.com/bathroom-design-austin Bathroom design in Austin and around Lake Travis: primary bath layouts, shower and tub plans, tile, vanities and lighting, with a layout and selections your contractor can price from. Q: Do you design bathrooms in Austin? A: Yes. We design primary baths, guest baths and powder rooms in Austin, including West Lake Hills, and around Lake Travis in Lakeway, Bee Cave and Spicewood, all within about 28 miles of our Spicewood studio. It starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation, in your home or virtual. Q: What does bathroom design cost? A: The first call is free. A bath Design Strategy is from $999 per room and includes the layout, selections, a mood board, a 3D rendering, a 30 minute review call and a final visit with samples. Your contractor prices the construction. Full design and project services after the plan, like sourcing, ordering and design management at key milestones, are quoted from the approved plan. Q: Should I keep the tub in my primary bath? A: Keep it if you use it. Plenty of people trade a rarely used tub for a larger shower and more storage. If you bathe every week, a freestanding tub under a window or in an alcove can be the best spot in the room. If it's the only tub in the house, keep resale in mind. Q: How big should a walk-in shower be? A: Code minimum is 30 by 30 inches, but 36 by 36 is more comfortable, and 36 by 48 or larger fits a bench. A doorless walk-in needs extra depth so the spray stays inside. Plan at least 24 inches of clear opening at the entry. Q: Can my shower be curbless? A: Usually, if it's decided before demo. A curbless shower needs the floor recessed or the slope built into the subfloor, and a linear drain helps. On a slab or an upper floor the details change, so ask your contractor to confirm the approach early. Q: Do you choose the tile? A: Yes. Tile is chosen with the layout, with the cuts planned so full tiles land where the eye goes, and you see samples at the final visit before you commit. Grout color is part of it, because it changes how a tiled wall reads. Q: Do you design vanities and built-in cabinets? A: Yes. Vanities, linen cabinets and towers are planned as cabinetry, sized to the room and the people using it, with drawers, outlets and mirror and sconce locations worked out together. Your cabinet maker or contractor prices and builds them. We don't build or sell cabinets ourselves. Q: Do you design baths for new builds? A: Yes. On a new build the bath decisions are due early, on the builder's selections schedule. Plumbing locations, niches, blocking and lighting get planned before drywall, when they cost the least to get right. Ask your builder for their selection deadlines so the plan is ready in time. ## Kitchen design in Austin, planned by an interior designer https://riverjaneandco.com/kitchen-design-austin Kitchen design in Austin and around Lake Travis: layout, cabinet direction, counters, tile and lighting, from $999 per room, with a layout and selections your contractor can price from. Q: Do you design kitchens in Austin or only around Lake Travis? A: Both. We design kitchens in Austin, including West Lake Hills and Steiner Ranch, and around the lake in Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood and the Hill Country, all within about 28 miles of our Spicewood studio, on the same terms. Every kitchen starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation, in your home or virtual. Q: What is the difference between a cabinet shop kitchen designer and an interior designer? A: A cabinet shop designer draws the cabinets that shop builds, and often does it well. An interior designer plans the whole room first: layout, cabinetry, counters, tile, fixtures, lighting and how the kitchen connects to the rest of the house. The shop you choose then prices from that layout and those selections and makes its own shop drawings. Q: Do you build or sell cabinets? A: No. We design the layout and cabinet direction, and your cabinet maker or contractor prices and builds them. You can take the same plan to more than one shop, which makes the quotes easy to compare. If you already have a cabinet maker, bring them in early so everyone works from one plan. Q: What does kitchen design cost? A: It starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation, in your home or virtual. A kitchen Design Strategy is from $999 per room and includes the layout, selections, a mood board, a 3D rendering, a 30 minute review call and a final visit with samples. Your contractor prices the construction. Full design and project services after the plan, like sourcing, ordering and design management at key milestones, are quoted from the approved plan. Q: How much space do I need around a kitchen island? A: A widely used guideline is 42 inches of aisle for one cook and 48 inches for two, with at least 36 inches for walkways. If stools line the island and people walk behind them, plan about 44 inches behind the seats. If the room can't give you that on every side, a peninsula is usually the better fit. Q: Should I choose quartz or quartzite for kitchen counters? A: Quartzite is harder and handles heat better, and true quartzite doesn't etch. Quartz is more consistent and easier to keep clean, but it can scorch under a hot pan and some brands warn against long direct sun. For a west-facing kitchen or a counter right next to the range, quartzite is usually the safer pick. Test any quartzite sample with lemon juice first. Q: Do I need a designer for a small kitchen remodel? A: If you're keeping the layout and changing counters, paint and hardware, maybe not. If cabinets, plumbing, lighting locations or the layout are changing, a plan saves money, because those decisions are built in place and expensive to undo. Even a single consultation can catch the costly mistakes before you order. Q: Do you handle kitchen window treatments? A: Yes, through The Shade Haus, our Roman and roller shade line. Cordless shades start at $299 a window and motorized at $399, depending on fabric and controls. For a west-facing kitchen, plan shades early so late sun on the counter is handled from day one. Every window is quoted in writing. ## Motorized shades for Austin and Lake Travis homes https://riverjaneandco.com/shade-haus/motorized-shades-austin Custom motorized shades for Austin, Lake Travis and Lakeway homes: battery or hardwired, app, voice and sun schedules. Motorized from $399 a window. Q: Are motorized shades worth it? A: For tall or hard to reach windows, rooms with lots of windows, west glass that needs daily sun control and homes that sit empty for stretches, yes. They protect floors and furniture, run on a schedule and keep cords off the window. For one small window you can reach easily, a cordless shade from $299 usually makes more sense. Q: How much do motorized shades cost? A: Motorized shades from The Shade Haus start at $399 a window, depending on fabric and controls. Size, shade type, power option and mounting also move the price. Every window is quoted in writing, line by line, before anything is ordered. Q: How do motorized shades work? A: A small motor inside the roller tube or headrail raises and lowers the shade. It stops at limits set during setup and takes commands by radio from a remote or wall keypad. Add a hub and the same shades run from an app, a voice assistant, a schedule or a home automation system. Q: Do motorized shades need to be plugged in? A: No. Most shades in finished homes run on batteries or a rechargeable pack, so no outlet or new wiring is needed. Hardwired motors take power from wiring an electrician runs to each window, which is easiest during a new build or remodel while the walls are open. Q: What happens to motorized shades in a power outage? A: Battery and rechargeable shades keep working from the remote because they carry their own power. Hardwired shades stop until the power comes back, unless the house has backup power on that circuit. If outages worry you, battery motors on the most important windows are a simple answer. Q: Can you add motorized shades to an existing home? A: Yes. Battery and rechargeable motors need no new wiring, which makes them the usual pick in a finished home. Measure the window depth and check the mounting surface before choosing an inside mount, and every window is quoted in writing before anything is ordered. Q: Do motorized shades work with Alexa, Google or Apple Home? A: Most major shade systems connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant through the maker's hub, and many also work with Apple Home or a whole home control system. Mention what you already use on the first call, and ask which system any quoted shade runs on. Q: Can Roman shades be motorized? A: Yes, depending on the fabric, the size and the product. Linen, cotton and many woven wood Romans can take a motor in the headrail. Very heavy or very large Romans have limits, and a motorized roller can be the better fit for those windows. ## Roller and solar shades for Austin and Lake Travis homes https://riverjaneandco.com/shade-haus/roller-shades-austin Custom roller and solar shades in Austin and Lake Travis: openness for glare, blackout for bedrooms, dual shades and motors. Cordless from $299 a window. Q: What is the difference between roller shades and solar shades? A: A solar shade is a type of roller shade. Roller describes the mechanism, a single panel of fabric that rolls onto a tube. Solar shades use an open weave fabric that cuts glare and heat while keeping the view. Rollers also come in light filtering, room darkening and blackout fabrics. Q: What openness should I choose for solar shades? A: Common options are 1, 3, 5 and 10 percent. Lower openness blocks more glare and heat with a dimmer view, and higher openness keeps more view and light. West-facing lake rooms often suit 3 or 5 percent. Test samples in the window at the worst hour of sun before you choose. Q: Do solar shades give privacy at night? A: Not much. Solar shades give privacy during the day when it's brighter outside, but at night with the lights on inside, people can see in. For rooms that need evening privacy, pair the solar shade with a blackout or light filtering shade, or choose a dual shade. Q: What is a dual shade? A: A dual shade is two roller shades on one bracket, usually a solar shade in front and a blackout or light filtering shade behind. Use the solar for glare during the day and the second shade for privacy and sleep at night. Each can be motorized on its own. Q: Can roller shades really black out a room? A: The fabric can, but light leaks around the edges of any roller. Mounting outside the frame with a generous overlap cuts most of it and gets the room closest to dark, and a fascia or cassette blocks light over the roll. The Shade Haus doesn't offer side channels, so overlap is the main tool. Q: Can roller shades be motorized? A: Yes, and rollers are the easiest shade to motorize. A tubular motor hides inside the roller tube and runs from a remote, wall keypad, app, voice assistant or schedule. Power can be battery, rechargeable or hardwired, so motors work in finished homes as well as new builds. Motorized rollers start at $399 a window. Q: How much do roller shades cost? A: Cordless roller shades from The Shade Haus start at $299 a window and motorized rollers at $399, depending on fabric and controls. Size, hardware and dual brackets also move the price. Every window is quoted in writing before anything is ordered. Q: Are roller shades good for lake houses? A: Yes. They suit big glass and sliders, nearly disappear when raised so the view stays open, and solar fabrics cut the glare off the water. For bedrooms and rooms that want softness, rollers on the view glass pair well with Roman shades elsewhere. ## Custom Roman shades for Austin and Lake Travis homes https://riverjaneandco.com/shade-haus/roman-shades-austin Custom Roman shades for Austin and Lake Travis homes: flat, hobbled and relaxed folds, blackout linings, kitchen and bath fabrics. Cordless from $299 a window. Q: How much are Roman shades? A: Cordless Roman shades from The Shade Haus start at $299 a window, and motorized Romans start at $399. The final price depends on window size, fabric, fold style, lining and controls. Every window is quoted in writing before anything is ordered. Q: How do cordless Roman shades work? A: A spring or tension system in the headrail holds the shade wherever you leave it. To raise it, lift the bottom rail and the folds stack as it goes up. To lower it, pull the bottom rail down. There are no cords to tangle, which looks cleaner and is safer around kids and pets. Q: Are Roman shades in style? A: Yes. Romans are one of the longest lasting window treatments, and the current look is simple: flat folds, natural linens, warm neutrals and woven woods. They suit the relaxed rooms going into Austin and Lake Travis homes now, and a well made Roman in a good fabric won't date quickly. Q: What is the difference between flat, hobbled and relaxed Roman shades? A: A flat Roman lies flat when lowered and stacks in crisp pleats when raised. A hobbled Roman keeps soft cascading folds down the whole shade and uses more fabric. A relaxed Roman is flat with a gentle curve at the bottom edge and looks best on narrower windows. Q: Can Roman shades be blackout? A: Yes. A blackout lining stops light through the fabric, which suits bedrooms, nurseries and media rooms. A little light always shows at the edges of a Roman, so for a really dark room, mount outside the frame and let the shade overlap the opening on every side. Q: Are Roman shades good for kitchens and bathrooms? A: Yes, with the right fabric. In kitchens, pick durable blends or performance fabrics that clean well, and keep the shade clear of the range. In baths, skip delicate fibers near the shower and choose materials that handle humidity. In a very steamy bath, a moisture resistant roller can be the better choice. Q: Should Roman shades be inside or outside mount? A: Inside mount sits within the window frame and shows off a deep return, which suits limestone and plaster walls. Outside mount covers the frame, blocks more light at the edges and can make a window look taller. Measure the window depth first, since an inside mount needs room for the headrail to sit flush. Q: Do you make drapery or curtains? A: No. The Shade Haus makes Roman and roller shades, cordless or motorized, and doesn't make curtains or drapery. If you love the softness of drapery, a lined linen Roman gives a similar feel with a cleaner line. ## Areas served ### Steiner Ranch https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/steiner-ranch Steiner Ranch sits on the ridges between Lake Travis and Lake Austin, and a lot of its houses started life as a builder plan that the owners now want to make their own. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood interior design studio about 40 minutes away by RM 620 and Mansfield Dam, and we work throughout Steiner Ranch. Book a free 15 minute call to start. Q: Is Steiner Ranch within your service area? A: Yes. It's about 40 minutes from Spicewood, around the east end of the lake by way of Mansfield Dam. We'll start with a free 15 minute call. Q: How do I make a builder home in Steiner Ranch feel custom? A: Change the finish layer. New light fixtures, a simpler counter, painted cabinets, better hardware and a bold powder room make a builder house personal without moving walls. Q: What will it cost to work with you in Steiner Ranch? A: Step one is free, a 15 minute call. Step two is a Design Strategy at $999 per room and up. If you're only changing the finish layer in a few rooms, that plan may be most of what you need. Bigger jobs get a quote for full design and project services. Q: What should I do with an upstairs game room? A: Give it zones. A media side with a sectional and room darkening shades, and a work or craft side with a table and task lighting. Built-in storage along one wall keeps it from becoming a dumping ground. Q: Can Shade Haus shades fully black out a media room? A: They get close. Room darkening fabric and dual shades cut most of the light, but we don't offer side channels, so a thin line of light at the edges is normal. Q: My east facing rooms feel dim. What helps? A: Warmer paint colors, richer textiles and more lamps. East and canyon facing rooms lose direct light in the afternoon, so they need warmth built into the finishes and lighting. ### Lakeway https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/lakeway Lakeway runs from shady 1970s lake streets near the old resort to the tall, wide open houses of Rough Hollow, and those two homes need very different plans. River Jane & Co. is an interior designer with a studio in Spicewood, about 25 minutes west, and Lakeway is an easy drive for us. Start with a free 15 minute call and we'll set up a consultation from there. Q: Is Lakeway inside your service area? A: Yes. It's about 25 minutes from our Spicewood studio. Every project starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation at your house or virtual, depending on what the project needs. Q: What does it cost to hire you for a Lakeway house? A: The first call is free. Most people then start with a Design Strategy at $999 per room, which gets you a layout, selections, a mood board, a 3D rendering, a 30 minute review call and a final visit with samples. Anything beyond that is quoted from the plan you approve, so you see the number before you commit. Q: Can you fix west glare in a Lakeway living room without losing the view? A: Usually, yes. The answer is a shade with the right openness, so you still see the water while the heat and glare drop. Motorized shades from The Shade Haus, from $399 a window, are the easy call on tall glass. We also move art and delicate fabrics off the sunniest walls. Q: Should I remodel my older Lakeway house or just refurnish it? A: It depends on the floor plan. If the kitchen is closed off and the rooms don't connect, new furniture won't fix it and a remodel of the main floor is worth pricing. If the layout works and only the finishes feel dated, refurnishing plus lighting and paint can get you most of the way for far less. Q: Do golf course homes in The Hills need a different look than lake homes? A: They usually want a more tailored one. Fairway views and more formal floor plans suit richer wood, fewer and larger pieces, and a little less texture than a lakefront house that sees wet swimsuits all summer. Both can share a Hill Country palette of stone, oak and linen. Q: What's the most common mistake in a new Rough Hollow house? A: Furniture that's too small for the room. A 20 foot ceiling and a long great room swallow a standard sofa and a 5 by 8 rug. Scaling up the rug, the sofa and the light fixtures, and splitting the room into clear zones, fixes most of that empty feeling. ### Bee Cave https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/bee-cave A lot of Bee Cave is new enough that the owners are still living with the builder's choices, from the streets around the Hill Country Galleria to the custom lots in Spanish Oaks and Belvedere. River Jane & Co. is an interior design studio in Spicewood, about 25 minutes west on Highway 71, and we work across Bee Cave. The first step is a free 15 minute call. Q: Can you help before my Bee Cave builder's selection appointment? A: Yes, and that's the best time to call. We'd rather set your palette and pick finishes before the design center session than try to fix mismatched choices after the drywall is up. Book the free 15 minute call as soon as you have a plan set and a rough schedule. Q: How much should I budget for a designer on a Bee Cave new build? A: Start with the Design Strategy, which runs from $999 per room and gives you a layout, selections and a 3D rendering to work from. Full design and project services come after that, priced from the plan you sign off on. The total depends on how many rooms you want designed and furnished. Q: My great room feels empty. Is that a furniture problem? A: Usually it's a scale and lighting problem. Big open rooms need larger rugs, deeper seating and a few pieces with real presence, plus lamps so the room isn't lit only from the ceiling. Splitting the space into two or three clear zones does most of the work. Q: Do you work on acreage homes in The Homestead? A: Yes. Acreage houses in and around Bee Cave are a good fit for us, and they're close to our Spicewood studio. The plan usually starts at the back door with a working mudroom and porches furnished like real rooms, then moves inside. Q: Is it worth updating a Falconhead house or should I wait until I sell? A: If you'll be there more than a couple of years, update the things you use daily now: lighting, the kitchen counters and paint. Those help both your daily life and resale. Big layout changes are worth pricing only if the floor plan truly doesn't work for you. Q: Do you do window shades in Bee Cave? A: Yes, through The Shade Haus, our own line. Cordless Roman and roller shades start at $299 a window, and motorized shades start at $399 a window. Dual shades, a sheer and a room darkening layer together, are an option for bedrooms that face the afternoon sun. ### Spicewood https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/spicewood Spicewood is where our studio is, and it's a place of opposites: Lake Travis waterfront on one side of Highway 71, ranch land and the Pedernales on the other. River Jane & Co. is an interior designer based right here in 78669, working on lake homes, ranch houses and everything between. Call for a free 15 minute chat and we'll take it from there. Q: Where is your studio? A: In Spicewood, TX 78669. We work across Spicewood and roughly 28 miles around it, including Lake Travis, the Hill Country and west Austin. It all starts with a free 15 minute call. Q: How do I start working with a Spicewood designer? A: Book the free 15 minute call. If it's a fit, we set up a consultation, which can be at your house or virtual, depending on the project. Most people then move into a Design Strategy for the rooms they want to tackle first. Q: What's the price of a Design Strategy for a Spicewood home? A: It's $999 per room to start. Included: a furniture layout, finish selections, a mood board, a 3D rendering, a 30 minute call to review everything and a final visit with samples. Full design and project services come after, quoted from what you approve. Q: My ranch house is dark inside. Where do I start? A: Paint and lighting first. Lighter walls and ceilings, lamps in the corners and a light rug make a big difference for little money. If you're remodeling anyway, adding a larger window or glass doors onto the porch is the biggest single improvement. Q: Do you make the shades yourselves? A: The Shade Haus is our own shade line. We offer cordless Roman and roller shades from $299 a window and motorized shades from $399 a window, including dual shades. We don't do drapery or side channel systems. Q: Do you work on guest houses and casitas on Spicewood acreage? A: Yes. We like to plan the guest house alongside the main house so the finishes feel related without being identical. It's also a smart place to try a bolder color or a more rustic look you'd hesitate to use in the main house. ### Horseshoe Bay https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/horseshoe-bay Horseshoe Bay sits on Lake LBJ, a constant level lake, so the water outside your window looks about the same in August as it does in March. Horseshoe Bay is about 35 minutes west of our interior design studio in Spicewood, and River Jane & Co. designs second homes, full time homes and new builds all around it. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Is Horseshoe Bay too far for you to take on? A: No. It's about 35 minutes west of our studio on Highway 71. A free 15 minute call is the first step, then a consultation, which can be at the house or virtual. Q: How do you design a second home on Lake LBJ? A: We plan it to run without you. That means durable, washable fabrics, guest rooms with their own storage, a locked owner's closet and a kitchen anyone can figure out. It should feel special and still be easy to open up and close down. Q: How is pricing handled for a Horseshoe Bay project? A: Room by room. Each room in a Design Strategy is $999 and up, and it comes back as a layout, a set of selections and a 3D view. Once you sign off, we price full design and project services from that plan, so the scope is clear before the big spending starts. Q: How do I update a Mediterranean style house without fighting it? A: Keep the architecture and change the finish layer. Arches, plaster and good stone stay. Heavy gold walls, dark bronze fixtures and busy fabrics go. Warm whites, lighter wood and simpler iron make the house feel current while still belonging to its style. Q: Does a constant level lake change the design? A: Yes, in a good way. Because the water on Lake LBJ stays about the same, you can plan the dock, the lower level and the furniture layout around a view that doesn't disappear in a dry summer. Q: Do you offer shades for big lake windows? A: Yes, through our own line, The Shade Haus. Motorized shades start at $399 a window and cordless Roman or roller shades at $299 a window. Dual shades are available where you want a sheer by day and privacy at night. ### Marble Falls https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/marble-falls Marble Falls keeps growing, and new neighborhoods off US 281 and Highway 71 mean a lot of families are picking tile and faucets for the first time. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood interior design studio about 20 minutes away, and we help Marble Falls homeowners with new build selections, updates and lake homes. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you travel to Marble Falls? A: Yes. It's about 20 minutes from our Spicewood studio, one of the closer towns we work in. A free 15 minute call starts things off, and then we'll set up a consultation at your house or virtually. Q: When should I hire a designer for a Marble Falls new build? A: Before your first selection appointment. Once tile, cabinets and counters are ordered, changes get expensive or impossible. If you have a plan set and a builder, you have enough to start. Q: What's the investment for a Design Strategy? A: It starts at $999 per room. You'll see the room as a mood board and a 3D rendering, with the layout and selections spelled out, and we finish with a samples visit at your house. Bigger design and project work is quoted after the plan is approved. Q: How do I work with a pink granite fireplace I can't replace? A: Let it lead. Pull warm whites, white oak, olive and rust tones and aged brass into the room. Avoid cool grays and stark white, which make the granite look pinker and out of place. Q: Which upgrades are worth paying the builder for? A: Things that are hard to change later: kitchen counters, shower tile, cabinet height and layout, and extra electrical. Light fixtures, paint and hardware are easier to swap after closing, so those upgrades often aren't worth it. Q: Do you have shades for Marble Falls homes? A: Yes. Our Shade Haus line starts at $299 a window for cordless shades. We don't carry drapery, but dual shades cover most bedroom needs. Q: Can you help with a Lake LBJ house near Marble Falls? A: Yes. Lake LBJ neighborhoods like Blue Lake Estates are close to our studio. We plan those houses for lake weekends, with durable finishes, easy care fabrics and storage for gear. ### Hudson Bend https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/hudson-bend Hudson Bend is a peninsula of steep lake lots near Mansfield Dam, where a 1970s cabin and a new glass house can share the same cove. River Jane & Co., an interior designer based in Spicewood, is about 30 minutes away and works all over the Bend. A free 15 minute call is the first step, and then we'll set up a consultation. Q: Do you take projects on the Hudson Bend peninsula? A: We do. The Bend is about 30 minutes east of Spicewood, and we're happy to make the drive. First comes a free 15 minute call to talk through the house and the lot. Q: Should I remodel or rebuild my older Hudson Bend lake house? A: If the main rooms already face the water and the structure is sound, a remodel is usually worth it. If additions have left the house chopped into odd levels with the view in the wrong rooms, a rebuild may cost less over time. It's worth deciding early, since it changes the whole design approach. Q: What do you charge to plan a Hudson Bend lake house? A: Think of it in two parts. First, a Design Strategy at $999 per room and up, which settles the layout and selections and shows you the room in 3D. Second, full design and project services, which we quote from that plan once you're happy with it. Q: What flooring works best at a lake entry? A: Porcelain tile or honed stone. Both handle wet feet, sand and sunscreen, and neither shows water spots the way polished finishes do. Save wood floors for the rooms farther from the door. Q: How do I make a dark lower level feel like part of the house? A: Use the same flooring as upstairs, warmer paint, and a lot more lamps than you think you need. Light the stairwell well. A lower level that looks like it belongs to the same house gets used, and one that doesn't becomes storage. Q: Can motorized shades handle glare off the lake? A: Yes. A screen fabric cuts heat and glare while keeping the view, and motorizing it is the practical choice for tall or hard to reach lake glass. Our motorized shades begin at $399 a window. ### Lago Vista https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/lago-vista On the north shore of Lake Travis, the view runs south across the water, which means the sun comes with it. River Jane & Co. is an interior design studio in Spicewood, about 45 to 50 minutes around the lake, and we work in Lago Vista, Point Venture and Jonestown, all in ZIP 78645. A free 15 minute call gets things started. Q: Do you come around the lake to the north shore? A: Yes. The north shore is about 45 to 50 minutes from Spicewood by road, since you have to drive around the lake. The free 15 minute call comes first, then a consultation at the house or virtual. Q: Why do north shore homes get so much sun? A: Because the lake view usually faces south and southwest. That's where the sun is most of the day, so glass on the view side takes heat and glare from late morning to sunset. Sun rated fabrics and good shades make those rooms comfortable. Q: What would I spend to start with you on the north shore? A: The call costs nothing. The first paid step is a Design Strategy from $999 per room, which gives you a layout, selections and a 3D rendering, among other things. Anything after that is quoted once you've approved the plan. Q: How do you make a split level Lago Vista house feel connected? A: Same flooring, trim color and light fixtures on every level, plus good stair lighting. The lowest level gets warmer colors and more lamps. That way the house reads as one home instead of three stacked floors. Q: Can a small Point Venture townhouse look high end? A: Absolutely. Scale is everything in a small space. Right sized furniture, one big rug, built-in storage and a tight color palette make a compact home feel finished and expensive. Q: Do you help with new builds at The Hollows? A: Yes. We make selections with you before the builder's deadlines, using one palette for the whole house so choices work together. The earlier you call, the more options you have. ### Briarcliff https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/briarcliff Briarcliff is a small village on Lake Travis where a modest older lake house can sit two doors down from a brand new custom build. Our interior design studio, River Jane & Co., is in Spicewood about 15 minutes away, so Briarcliff is practically our neighborhood. Every project starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation to see what the house needs. Q: How close is Briarcliff to your studio? A: About 15 minutes. Our studio is in Spicewood, just west of Briarcliff off Highway 71, so it's one of the closest places we work. Start with a free 15 minute call and we'll decide together whether the consultation should be at the house or virtual. Q: What's the first thing to change in an older Briarcliff lake house? A: Usually the flooring and the kitchen. Running one floor material through the main rooms makes a pieced together house feel whole, and opening or updating the kitchen gives you the most daily payoff. Paint and lighting come right behind. Q: What will a designer cost me for a Briarcliff remodel? A: Our first paid step is a Design Strategy at $999 per room: the plan for how each room lays out and what goes in it, plus a rendering so you can see it. Remodel and furnishing work is quoted after you approve that plan, so the big number never shows up as a surprise. Q: Can you design a screened porch or outdoor room? A: Yes. We plan porches like any other room: layout, lighting, ceiling fans, outdoor fabrics and rugs that can take humidity. We also make sure the indoor rooms that open onto the porch are ready for wet feet and a lot of back and forth. Q: My new Briarcliff build feels cold. What helps most? A: Wood, texture and warm light. Add a wood tone in the kitchen or on a fireplace wall, bring in linen, wool and leather, and put lamps on dimmers so the room isn't lit only from recessed cans. A big rug does a lot for the echo too. Q: Do you sell shades for lake view windows here? A: Yes, through The Shade Haus. Cordless Roman and roller shades start at $299 a window and motorized shades at $399 a window. For lake glare we usually pick a screen fabric you can still see through, so the view stays when the shades are down. ### West Lake Hills https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/westlake Westlake is the wooded hill country just west of downtown Austin, across Lake Austin and Loop 360, where mid-century homes and brand new modern builds share steep, oak covered lots. Our interior design studio is in Spicewood, about 40 minutes west, and River Jane & Co. works across West Lake Hills and the wider Westlake area. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you work in West Lake Hills and the Westlake area? A: Yes, across the whole Westlake area, from Rollingwood to Rob Roy. West Lake Hills is about 40 minutes from our studio. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Is this Westlake in Austin or near Dallas? A: Austin. This page is about Westlake in Travis County, around West Lake Hills and Rollingwood. We don't work in the Westlake near Dallas and Fort Worth. Q: What's your pricing for Westlake homes? A: A Design Strategy runs $999 per room and up. Each one covers the room's layout and selections, a mood board, a rendering in 3D, a half hour review call and a final visit with samples. Full design and project services are quoted after you sign off. Q: How do I update a 1960s West Lake Hills house? A: Keep the stone, beams and relationship to the hillside. Open the kitchen, rebuild the baths and lighten the palette with warm whites and layered lighting. Q: Can a high end home really be kid proof? A: Yes. Performance fabrics, sealed stone, wool rugs, leather and a real mudroom let a house look polished and handle a busy family. Q: What window treatments suit tall glass in Rob Roy? A: Motorized shades, which make tall windows easy to manage. Through The Shade Haus they're priced from $399 a window. Q: How do I brighten a room with a dark wood ceiling? A: Lighten the walls, floor and furniture around it first. If it's still too dark, a whitewash or light stain keeps the wood texture while brightening the room. Paint it solid only as a last resort. ### Dripping Springs https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/dripping-springs Dripping Springs calls itself the Gateway to the Hill Country, and it's also an International Dark Sky Community, so how a house glows at night matters here as much as how it looks by day. River Jane & Co., an interior design studio about 40 minutes away in Spicewood, designs custom homes and updates across Dripping Springs. The first step is a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you work in Dripping Springs? A: Yes, all over town and out onto the acreage around it. Dripping Springs is about 40 minutes south of our studio. It starts with a free 15 minute call. Q: How does dark sky lighting affect interior design? A: It pushes you toward layered, warm lighting instead of bright overhead cans. Lamps, sconces, dimmers and shades you can drop at night make the house feel better and keep light from spilling into the sky. Q: What should I update first in a Belterra home? A: The kitchen and main living area, followed by the primary bath. Those rooms get the most use and make the biggest difference to how the house feels. Q: What's the price of hiring you for a Dripping Springs home? A: Plan on $999 per room for a Design Strategy. It includes a 3D rendering and a mood board so you can see the room before committing, plus a review call and a last visit with samples. Full design and project services get priced afterward, from the plan. Q: How do I design a casita for visiting parents? A: Treat it like a small home. A real bedroom, a walk-in shower with no step, a kitchenette and a sitting area. Wide doors and good path lighting make it work for everyone. Q: Do you offer shades for big glass walls? A: Yes. For tall glass, motorized shades from our own line are $399 a window and up. In bedrooms, dual shades pair a sheer with a room darkening layer. ### Austin https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/austin Austin houses run from 1930s cottages under old oaks to glass towers downtown, and each one needs a different kind of plan. River Jane & Co. is a residential interior designer based in Spicewood, about 45 minutes west of downtown, and we work across West and Central Austin, from Tarrytown and Clarksville to Barton Creek and Northwest Hills. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Which Austin neighborhoods do you work in? A: We work across Austin within roughly 28 miles of our Spicewood studio, which covers West and Central Austin, downtown, the hills west of MoPac and South Austin neighborhoods like Travis Heights. Austin projects start the same way as anywhere else, with a free 15 minute call. Q: What does an interior designer cost in Austin? A: With us, the first paid step is a Design Strategy, $999 per room and up. Each room gets a layout and finish selections, shown as a mood board and a 3D rendering. Full design and project services come after that, quoted from the plan you approve. The total depends on how many rooms are involved and how much building is part of it. Q: Can you remodel an older Austin house without losing its character? A: Yes. Keep the floors, the trim profile and the windows where you can, and put the changes into the kitchen, baths and storage. Additions should match the original trim and proportions so they read as part of the house. Q: How do you furnish a downtown condo? A: Measure the elevator and hallways first, then choose furniture that looks good from every side since it usually floats in front of the glass. Motorized shades are the practical call on a wall of windows. Q: What's the difference between Northwest Hills and Barton Creek homes? A: Northwest Hills is mostly 1960s and 1970s split levels and ranch homes, often needing a full update. Barton Creek skews newer and bigger, with 1990s and 2000s estates that usually need a lighter finish layer more than a new layout. Q: Do you offer window treatments in Austin? A: Yes. The Shade Haus is our own shade line, with cordless styles from $299 a window and motorized from $399. See our pages on Roman shades in Austin and roller shades in Austin. Q: Should I hire a designer or a decorator for my Austin remodel? A: If the project touches layout, cabinetry, lighting or plumbing, you want a designer. If it's furniture and finishing only, a decorator may be enough. Our article on interior designer vs decorator explains the difference. ### Barton Creek https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/barton-creek Barton Creek is full of big, well built houses from the 1990s and 2000s that still wear the gold walls and dark wood of the year they were finished. River Jane & Co. works out of an interior design studio in Spicewood, about 30 minutes west along Highway 71, and we design homes in all of Barton Creek's gated enclaves. It all starts with a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you work in Barton Creek? A: Yes. From our studio it's about 30 minutes east on Highway 71, closer than a lot of people expect. After the free 15 minute call, we'll set up a consultation. Q: How do I update a 1990s Barton Creek house without gutting it? A: Change the surfaces. Paint the walls and millwork lighter, replace the busiest counters, swap bronze fixtures for simpler finishes and update lighting. Keep good stone floors. That combination makes the house feel current for far less than a full remodel. Q: What's the first investment when working with you? A: A Design Strategy, which begins at $999 per room. For that you get a furniture layout and finish selections for the room, shown in 3D, then a 30 minute call to go over it and a final visit to look at samples together. Anything larger gets its own quote once that plan is settled. Q: How do I furnish a living room with a 20 foot ceiling? A: Go bigger on everything. A large rug, deeper sofas, oversized chairs, a low hung chandelier and tall art or a mirror above the fireplace. Lamps at seated height make the room comfortable at night. Q: Can you help with outdoor living spaces? A: Yes. We plan covered patios and pool terraces like indoor rooms, with shade, comfortable seating in outdoor fabric, a dining area and good lighting. Q: What's the right shade for tall west facing glass? A: A motorized screen or solar shade, which cuts heat and glare and keeps the view. Ours come from The Shade Haus, from $399 a window. ### Cedar Park and Leander https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/cedar-park Cedar Park is full of 1980s to 2000s houses on their second or third owner, and next door Leander is still busy building new ones. River Jane & Co. designs interiors from our studio in Spicewood, 55 minutes to an hour away, and we work in both cities, from Buttercup Creek and Twin Creeks to Crystal Falls and Travisso. Book a free 15 minute call to begin. Q: Are Cedar Park and Leander too far north for you? A: No. Both sit within the roughly 28 miles we cover, about an hour from Spicewood around the north side of the lake. The free 15 minute call is the place to start. Q: Where should I start updating my Cedar Park house? A: The kitchen and main living area, since that's where you spend the most time. Plan the whole house first so later phases match, then work through the primary bath and the rest. Q: Which Leander design center upgrades are worth it? A: Upgrades that are hard to change later: cabinet height, counters, shower tile and electrical. Light fixtures, paint and hardware are easy to swap after closing, so those builder upgrades are often not worth the markup. Q: What's the budget for your design help in Cedar Park? A: The first call is free. A Design Strategy starts at $999 per room and gives you a layout, selections and a 3D rendering to build from. Everything past the plan, from full design to project services, gets a quote of its own. Q: How do I make a game room look good with kids? A: Built-in storage, a washable sectional and a clear homework zone. Hide the clutter behind cabinet doors and keep surfaces clear. Q: Do you offer blinds or shades in Cedar Park and Leander? A: We don't sell blinds, but we do offer shades through The Shade Haus, our own line. Cordless Roman and roller shades are $299 a window and up, motorized $399 and up. Q: Do you work in Old Town Leander? A: Yes. Older homes in the original part of Leander are a nice change from new construction, and they reward a careful update that keeps their character. ### Davenport Ranch https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/davenport-ranch Davenport Ranch sits on the hills off Loop 360 near the Pennybacker Bridge, and it grew in stages, so a mid 1980s house can sit beside one from the 2000s. River Jane & Co. is an interior design studio based in Spicewood, about 40 minutes away, and we design updates, kitchens and whole homes in Davenport Ranch. First step: a free 15 minute call. Q: Is Davenport Ranch close enough for you to take on? A: Yes, it's about 40 minutes from Spicewood, and a quick call is all it takes to get going. We'll set up a consultation after that. Q: How should I update a 1980s contemporary house here? A: Work with the architecture. Keep the skylights and interesting angles, paint dark wood ceilings, and choose furniture that fits the room's shape. The light in these houses is often great, so let it do the work. Q: How is a Davenport Ranch project priced? A: Per room. A Design Strategy starts at $999 for each room you want planned, so a kitchen plus a family room counts as two. After you sign off on the plan, full design and project services are quoted separately. Q: What works in a small townhome or condo? A: Right sized furniture, built-in storage and a tight color palette. A round table, storage beds and an apartment scale sofa make a small home feel finished. Q: How do I handle glare from west facing views? A: A motorized screen shade with enough openness to keep the view, which we offer through The Shade Haus from $399 a window. Add sun rated fabric on the seating closest to the glass. ### Driftwood https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/driftwood Driftwood is Hill Country acreage south of Dripping Springs, the land of wineries, barbecue and long gravel drives, where a house often shares the property with a barn, a guest house and a pool house. We're River Jane & Co., an interior design studio in Spicewood about 55 minutes north, and we design ranch houses and custom builds in Driftwood. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: How far out is Driftwood for you? A: Not far at all. It's about 55 minutes from Spicewood, on the other side of Dripping Springs. We'll start with a free 15 minute call. Q: How do I make a modern farmhouse feel less generic? A: Skip shiplap on every wall and barn doors on every closet. Use plaster or smooth walls, mix in real antiques and vintage rugs, choose unlacquered brass or iron hardware and add limestone or handmade tile in the kitchen. Q: Should the guest house match the main house? A: It should feel related. Use the same materials in different amounts. The main house gets the most refined version, and the guest house or barn can be a little more relaxed. Q: What does design cost for a Driftwood custom home? A: Porches, guest house rooms and main house rooms are all planned the same way, at $999 per room for a Design Strategy. The rest of the work, full design and project services, is priced once that plan is approved. The free 15 minute call comes before any of it. Q: What's the best way to handle afternoon sun on open land? A: Deep porches on the west side do a lot of the work. Where there's no porch, use shades and sun rated fabric. Shade Haus cordless shades start at $299 a window. Q: Can you help design an outdoor dining porch? A: Yes. We plan it like an indoor room, with a real table, overhead lighting, fans and a clear path from the kitchen. ### Lake Austin https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/lake-austin Lake Austin is really a river held between two dams, and because its level barely moves, a waterfront house here can be designed around a view that stays put. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood based interior designer, and most of the shoreline is about 40 minutes from our studio. We work on Lake Austin homes from Rob Roy to the Tarrytown side. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you design homes along Lake Austin? A: Yes, from Rob Roy and Rivercrest to the City Park Road side. Most of the shoreline is about 40 minutes from our studio. Start with the free 15 minute call. Q: How is Lake Austin different from Lake Travis for design? A: Lake Austin stays at a near constant level, so the dock, boathouse and lower level are always usable and worth designing as real rooms. On Lake Travis the water can pull back in dry years, so rooms there need to work with or without it. Q: What does it cost to start a Lake Austin project? A: Nothing, for the first call. The paid part begins with a Design Strategy at $999 per room and up, and on a waterfront house the lake level room or the boathouse deck can be one of those rooms. Full design and project services are quoted afterward from the plan. Q: How should I furnish a boathouse deck? A: Like an outdoor living room. Deep seating in outdoor rated fabric, a solid table, warm low lighting and a ceiling fan if there's a roof. Keep it simple enough that a summer of wet swimsuits won't ruin it. Q: How do I keep a glass walled new build from feeling cold? A: Add warmth with wood, plaster, textured rugs and layered lighting. Lamps, sconces and a few pieces with real weight make a big glass house feel like a home. Q: Do motorized shades make sense on Lake Austin? A: On west facing glass, yes. They cut heat and glare while keeping the view, and they're easy to use on tall windows. Motorized Shade Haus shades run $399 a window and up. Q: Should the boathouse match the main house? A: It should feel related. Use the same color family and some of the same materials, but keep the boathouse simpler and tougher, with outdoor fabrics, sealed wood and tile or stone underfoot. ### Lake Travis https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/lake-travis Lake Travis winds more than 60 miles through the Hill Country, and a lake house in Lakeway lives nothing like one in Jonestown or Spicewood. River Jane & Co. is an interior design studio based in Spicewood, at the west end of the lake, and we work on lake houses, second homes and full time residences all the way around it. The first step is a free 15 minute call. Q: Which parts of Lake Travis do you cover? A: All of it within roughly 28 miles of our Spicewood studio. That includes Spicewood, Briarcliff, Lakeway, Hudson Bend, Steiner Ranch, Volente, Lago Vista, Point Venture and Jonestown, plus Horseshoe Bay and Marble Falls upstream. Q: What does lake house design cost on Lake Travis? A: For us it's $999 per room and up for a Design Strategy, after a free call. Lake houses tend to have extra rooms that matter, like bunk rooms and porches, so count those when you budget. Full design and project services are priced from the finished plan. Q: How do you design around changing lake levels? A: We make sure each room works even when the water is farther away. Furniture, lighting and art should carry the room on their own. Lower levels get humidity friendly finishes, and gear storage works whether the boat is in or out. Q: What's different about designing a weekend lake house? A: It has to run without you. Washable fabrics, guest storage, a locked owner's closet and a simple kitchen matter more than in a full time home. The goal is walking in on Friday and having the house ready. Q: Is nautical decor a mistake on Lake Travis? A: Usually. Anchors and navy stripes fight with the Hill Country around you and date quickly. Stone, oak, iron, linen and a palette pulled from the water and hills look better and last longer. Q: Do you work in Horseshoe Bay too? A: Yes. Horseshoe Bay on Lake LBJ is about 35 minutes from our studio, and Marble Falls is about 20. Both are part of the Highland Lakes chain upstream of Lake Travis. ### Lost Creek https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/lost-creek Lost Creek is a wooded West Austin neighborhood running from Loop 360 down toward Barton Creek, and many of its houses were built in the 1970s and 1980s under oaks that are now enormous. As an interior designer based in Spicewood, about 35 minutes away, River Jane & Co. updates Lost Creek homes one phase at a time or all at once. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you cover Lost Creek from Spicewood? A: Yes. It's about 35 minutes from Spicewood by way of Highway 71 and Loop 360. The free 15 minute call is step one. Q: How do I brighten a house shaded by big oaks? A: Warm paint, mirrors across from windows, lamps at seated height and a few surfaces with a little sheen. Cool grays and stark whites tend to look flat in filtered light. Q: What's the best order to update a 1970s Lost Creek house? A: Kitchen and main living area first, then the primary bath, then paint, flooring and the rest. Plan the whole house before you start so each phase fits the next. Q: What will a Lost Creek update cost to plan? A: Planning runs $999 per room and up through a Design Strategy. If you're phasing, you can plan the whole house at once or only the rooms in phase one. The design and project work for each phase is quoted from the approved plan. Q: Should I keep my stone fireplace? A: Almost always. A good cleaning and sealing can bring stone back to life, and it's usually the most characterful thing in a 1970s or 1980s house. Q: Can I live in the house while you update it in phases? A: Many people do. Planning the whole house first lets you tackle it one area at a time and keep the rest livable. ### Northwest Hills https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/northwest-hills Northwest Hills is where Austin's mid-century houses climb the hills toward Loop 360, full of split levels, clerestory windows and original stone. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood interior design studio about 45 minutes away by Highway 71 and RM 2222, and we update Northwest Hills homes from Highland Hills to Cat Mountain. Book a free 15 minute call to start. Q: How far is Northwest Hills from your studio? A: About 45 minutes by Highway 71, RM 620 and RM 2222. Start with a free 15 minute call and we'll go from there. Q: How do I update a mid-century house without ruining it? A: Keep the clerestory windows, beams, stone and original floors. Modernize the kitchen, baths and lighting around them with pieces that fit the era. Q: What's the cost to plan a Northwest Hills update? A: Budget $999 per room and up for the Design Strategy. A kitchen, a family room and a primary bath would be three rooms. Full design and project services are quoted afterward, based on what you approve. Q: How do I make a split level feel connected? A: Use the same flooring and wall color on every level, light the stairs well and give the lower floor warmer colors and more lamps. Q: Can I open a 1970s kitchen to the family room? A: Often, yes. Borrowing space from a dining room or hallway is common. Check with a contractor about load bearing walls before you commit. Q: What shades work for west facing views? A: A screen fabric that cuts glare and keeps the view. Motorized is worth it on big glass, and ours are $399 a window and up. ### River Place https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/river-place River Place is built into canyons above Lake Austin, so many homes have long stair runs, shaded lower floors and views that change from room to room. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood interior designer, and River Place is about 40 minutes from our studio by RM 620 and RM 2222. A free 15 minute call is the way in. Q: How far is River Place from your studio? A: About 40 minutes from Spicewood, by RM 620 and RM 2222. After a free 15 minute call, we'll set up a consultation. Q: What paint colors work in shaded canyon homes? A: Warm ones. Creamy whites, warm greige and soft clay tones glow in filtered light, while cool grays and stark whites turn flat and murky. Always test a sample on the darkest wall in the room. Q: Can I update my River Place kitchen without a full remodel? A: Often, yes. New counters, a simpler backsplash, painted or refaced cabinets, new hardware and better lighting can change the kitchen without moving plumbing or walls. Q: What's the cost of your first paid step? A: It's $999 per room and up, for a Design Strategy. You get the room planned and rendered in 3D, then a review call and one more visit to look at samples together. Anything beyond the plan is quoted separately. Q: How should I light a long staircase? A: Use sconces or a pendant visible from every level, add a runner on wood stairs, and hang art along the wall. Treat the stair as a room people walk through. Q: Do you offer window treatments for hillside views? A: Yes. Our Shade Haus line covers cordless Roman and roller shades from $299 a window, motorized from $399, and dual shades for bedrooms. ### Rollingwood https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/rollingwood Rollingwood is a small city tucked between MoPac and Bee Caves Road, and on almost every street you'll find an original 1950s ranch house next to a new two story modern rebuild. From our interior design studio in Spicewood, about 40 minutes west, River Jane & Co. designs both kinds of Rollingwood home. It starts with a free 15 minute call. Q: Is Rollingwood in your service area? A: Yes, it's about 40 minutes from our studio. A free 15 minute call gets it started. Q: How do I make a modern new build feel warm? A: Add wood, plaster, big rugs and soft fabrics, and layer the lighting with sconces and lamps. The architecture can stay clean while the rooms feel lived in. Q: Should I tear down my Rollingwood ranch house or update it? A: If the house has good floors and proportions and you like one story living, an update can be a great choice. If you need much more space than the footprint allows, a rebuild may make more sense. Q: What should I plan first on a Rollingwood new build? A: The main living area, the kitchen and the primary suite, since those rooms drive the most selections. A Design Strategy is $999 per room to start, and full design and project services are quoted once the plan is approved. Q: How do I get privacy with big windows on a close lot? A: Dual shades, with a sheer by day and a room darkening layer at night. Ours come from The Shade Haus, starting at $299 a window cordless. Q: Can you help me pick finishes for a modern rebuild? A: Yes. Modern houses depend on a few materials used well, so the choice of wood tone, stone, plaster and metal matters a lot. We set the palette for the whole house, then pick each finish against it, so the rooms feel warm and connected. ### Spanish Oaks https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/spanish-oaks Spanish Oaks is a guard gated golf community in Bee Cave where nearly every home is custom, set on large Hill Country homesites with long views over oak covered hills. River Jane & Co. is an interior designer with a studio in Spicewood, about 25 minutes away on Highway 71, and we design new builds and updates in Spanish Oaks. A free 15 minute call is the first step. Q: How long is the drive from your studio to Spanish Oaks? A: About 25 minutes on Highway 71 from Spicewood, so it's an easy one. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: When should I bring in a designer on a Spanish Oaks custom build? A: As early as possible, ideally before the first selection deadline. Setting the palette early makes every later choice faster and more consistent. Q: How do you price design for a custom estate? A: The same way as any other house: a Design Strategy from $999 per room first, then a quote for full design and project services based on that plan. On a large custom home the room count adds up, so we'll help you pick which rooms to plan first. Q: How do I update an early 2000s Mediterranean home? A: Keep the stone and arches, lighten the walls and beams, swap dark bronze for aged brass or iron and bring in lighter wood and linen. Q: How do I make a large home feel personal? A: Give each room its own character, scale furniture and lighting to the space, and use lamps everywhere. A study, a cozy nook and a comfortable family room balance the more formal spaces. Q: Do you offer motorized shades for big windows? A: Yes, through our own line, The Shade Haus. Motorized shades are $399 a window and up, and cordless Roman and roller shades begin at $299 a window. ### Tarrytown https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/tarrytown Tarrytown's streets run under big old oaks, between MoPac and Lake Austin, and the houses underneath are mostly 1940s and 1950s homes with a lot of character. River Jane & Co. is an interior design firm in Spicewood, about 45 minutes west, and we work on Tarrytown updates, additions and new builds. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you take Tarrytown projects? A: Yes, Tarrytown is about 45 minutes from Spicewood. We'll start with a free 15 minute call, then set up a consultation. Q: What paint colors work in dark Tarrytown rooms? A: Warm whites, creams and soft earth tones. Cool grays go flat under heavy tree shade. Always test samples on the darkest wall of the room. Q: How do I make an addition match my 1940s house? A: Copy the original trim profile, door style and window proportions, match the flooring and carry the paint colors through. The goal is an addition nobody can spot. Q: What does it cost to plan a Tarrytown update? A: Older houses need a plan before anything else. Ours is a Design Strategy at $999 per room and up, with a layout, selections and a 3D rendering, so you can see an addition or a new kitchen before anyone builds it. The rest gets quoted from the plan. Q: What kitchen finishes suit an older Austin house? A: Painted inset or shaker cabinets, marble or soapstone, unlacquered brass or nickel and handmade tile. Those finishes feel right in a house from the 1940s or 1950s. Q: Are Roman shades a good fit for older windows? A: Often, yes. Cordless Roman shades from The Shade Haus start at $299 a window and sit nicely inside original window frames. ### Travis Heights https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/travis-heights Travis Heights is hilly South Austin between South Congress and I-35, with Blunn Creek running through it and bungalows from the 1920s and 1930s on streets that rise and fall. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood based interior design studio about 50 minutes away, and we design updates, additions and whole homes in Travis Heights. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: Do you work in Travis Heights? A: Yes. It's about 50 minutes from Spicewood, and South Austin is well within the area we cover. The free 15 minute call is the first step. Q: How do I update a bungalow without losing its charm? A: Keep the floors, built-ins, windows and original hardware. Modernize the kitchen and baths with finishes that suit the era. Q: What's the cost of a Design Strategy here? A: The same as everywhere we work: $999 per room to start. For a small bungalow, a kitchen and one bath make a sensible first plan. Full design and project services come later, priced from what you approve. Q: How much color can a Travis Heights house take? A: More than you think. Pick one bold move per room, like a colored kitchen or a patterned tile floor, and let the rest of the room support it. Q: Should I add on or make better use of my existing space? A: Try making the existing rooms work harder first with built-ins and right sized furniture. If you still need more space, an addition that matches the original house is the next step. Q: Do you do window shades for older windows? A: Yes. The Shade Haus, our own line, makes cordless Roman and roller shades from $299 a window. Mounted inside the frame, they keep the original window trim visible. Q: What kitchen finishes suit a 1920s bungalow? A: Painted cabinets with simple shaker or inset doors, soapstone, marble or butcher block counters, a handmade or plain subway tile and unlacquered brass or nickel hardware. They look like they could have been there all along. ### Volente https://riverjaneandco.com/interior-designer/volente Volente is a small village on the north shore of Lake Travis, mostly steep lots running down to the water along Lime Creek Road and the Sandy Creek arm. River Jane & Co. is an interior designer in Spicewood, around 50 minutes away across Mansfield Dam, and we design lake houses and custom homes in Volente. It starts with a free 15 minute call. Q: Is Volente part of your area? A: Yes. It's about 50 minutes from Spicewood, across Mansfield Dam and up the north shore. Start with a free 15 minute call. Q: How do I make an old Volente lake house feel bigger? A: Lighten the paneling and walls, remove soffits, enlarge windows on the lake side and replace heavy ceiling fixtures with flush ones plus lamps. Those changes open up the room without losing the character. Q: What's the price to begin? A: The call is free. After that, a Design Strategy costs $999 per room and up. A lake house with a lot of levels can start with a plan for the main floor only. The rest is quoted from the plan you approve. Q: How should I plan a three level lake house? A: Give each level a clear job before you choose finishes. Arrivals and kitchen on one, gathering on another, pool and water access on the lowest. Carry the same flooring and trim through all of them so the house feels whole. Q: What finishes stand up to lake weekends? A: Porcelain tile or honed stone at the lake entry, performance fabric on seating, washable slipcovers and rugs that can dry outside. Skip silk, velvet in pale colors and unsealed wood near the water doors. Q: Do you offer motorized shades in Volente? A: Yes. Motorized shades make sense on tall lake glass, and ours begin at $399 a window. Cordless Roman and roller shades begin at $299 a window. ## Guides ### How interior designers charge: flat fee, hourly or percentage https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/how-interior-designers-charge Three fee models, what each one rewards, and the questions worth asking before you sign anything. Q: What is a typical interior designer hourly rate? A: It depends on the designer's experience, the market and what the hour covers. Get the rate in writing, ask whether drafting, admin and drive time bill differently, and ask for an estimate of hours for your scope with a cap. The rate matters less than the rate times the hours. Q: Is a flat fee or hourly better for a remodel? A: For a kitchen, bath or whole home remodel, a defined scope with a set price is easier to budget than open hours. Hourly suits small jobs where the scope is short and clear. Q: Do interior designers mark up furniture? A: Many do, and some pass trade pricing through and charge a fee instead. Neither is wrong. Ask which model the designer uses and get it in writing before anything is ordered. Q: Is a percentage fee a red flag? A: No. It's a common model, especially on large projects. Ask what the percentage applies to, whether trade discounts are passed through, and who pays freight and delivery. Q: How does River Jane & Co. charge? A: Each step is priced before it starts: a free 15 minute call, a consultation in your home or virtual, then a Design Strategy from $999 per room. A whole home or several rooms is quoted after the consultation, and full design and project services are quoted from your approved plan. Q: Can I hire a designer just for a plan? A: Yes. A Design Strategy gives you a layout, selections, a mood board and a 3D rendering. That's a layout and selections your contractor can price from, and you can carry on with us or on your own. ### Interior designer vs decorator: which one your project needs https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/interior-designer-vs-decorator A decorator works with the room as it's built. A designer can change the room itself. A quick test tells you which one you need. Q: Is an interior designer more expensive than a decorator? A: The scope sets the cost more than the title does. A decorating project with no construction is usually smaller. A remodel or new build costs more because there are more decisions and more drawings, whoever handles them. Q: Can a decorator choose tile and plumbing fixtures? A: Some can. The question is whether they can also produce a layout your contractor can price from, and line it up with the plumbing and lighting. If they can't, hire a designer for that part. Q: Do I need an interior designer if I have an architect? A: Often, yes. Architects design the structure and the envelope. An interior designer plans the rooms inside it: furniture layouts, cabinetry, tile, lighting placement and finishes. The two work best together, and early. Q: Should I hire a designer before or after my contractor? A: Before, or at the same time. Layout and selections drive the price, so a contractor can bid far more accurately once there's a plan to price from. Q: Can River Jane & Co. just help me furnish? A: Yes. A Design Strategy can focus on furnishings and layout, and furnishings are then quoted from your approved plan. ### Designing a lake house on Lake Travis: light, glare, humidity and fabrics https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/lake-house-interior-design-lake-travis What a Lake Travis house needs planned before anyone picks a sofa. Q: What fabrics work best in a lake house? A: Performance fabrics for anything people sit on after swimming, washable slipcovers for dining chairs and the family sofa, true outdoor fabric on porches, and wool or indoor and outdoor rugs depending on how close the room is to the water. Q: How do you reduce glare on west facing lake windows? A: Roller shades in a solar fabric on the west glass, matte and honed finishes inside the room, and a furniture layout that sits across the view so nobody stares into the sunset. Q: What flooring holds up best in a lake house? A: Wide plank white oak with a matte finish in the living spaces, and honed stone or textured tile at entries from the deck and dock. Q: How do I design a modern lake house that doesn't feel cold? A: Keep the clean lines and the glass, and add texture: plaster, wood, limestone, linen and rush, with a palette taken from the view. Q: Should lake house shades be motorized? A: On tall or hard to reach west glass, motorized shades make it easy to lower them every afternoon. Hardwired motors need an electrician, so plan the wiring early. Through The Shade Haus, cordless shades start at $299 a window and motorized at $399 a window, depending on fabric and controls. Q: Can you design a lake house we only use on weekends? A: Yes. The plan accounts for a house that sits closed between visits: humidity control, performance fabrics, finishes that handle sun, and storage that dries out. ### Lake house decor that doesn't look like a theme https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/lake-house-decor Skip the oars. Make a lake house feel like the lake without buying out the lake aisle. Q: What colors work best for lake house decor on Lake Travis? A: Colors from the view: limestone cream and gray, cedar and live oak green, the gray green of the water, and a little sunset orange for accents. Navy and white reads coastal and tends to look like a costume in the Hill Country. Q: How do I decorate a lake house without it looking nautical? A: Lean on natural materials: linen, jute, rush, white oak, iron and limestone. Add a few personal pieces with a story behind them, and skip the oars, anchors and signs. Q: What is the best rug for a lake house? A: Wool in bedrooms and living areas away from the water, and indoor and outdoor rugs at the doors to the deck and dock. Pick a size that holds the front legs of every seat. Q: How big should art be in a lake house great room? A: Bigger than you think. Over a sofa, aim for about two thirds of the sofa's width. In a tall room, one large piece works better than a cluster of small frames. Q: How do I keep lake sun from fading decor? A: Keep art and textiles out of direct afternoon sun, choose solution dyed or performance fabrics near west windows, and use shades that come down when the sun swings around. Q: Can River Jane & Co. help with decor only? A: Yes. Decor and furnishings can be the focus of a Design Strategy, from $999 per room, with furnishings and accessories quoted from your approved plan. ### What happens in a Design Strategy https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/what-happens-in-a-design-strategy How our interior design consultation works, from the first call to the samples on your table, and what a Design Strategy costs per room. Q: How much does an interior design consultation cost? A: The first 15 minute call is free. After that comes a consultation, in your home or virtual. A Design Strategy starts at $999 per room, and a larger scope is quoted in writing after the consultation. Q: What is included in a Design Strategy? A: For each room: a layout, selections, a mood board and a 3D rendering. It's followed by a 30 minute review call and a final visit with samples. Q: Does $999 cover a whole house? A: No. $999 is the starting price for one room. Several rooms or a whole home are quoted after the consultation, in writing, before any work begins. Q: Is the consultation in person or virtual? A: Either one. Mia decides after the 15 minute call, based on the project and where the house is. Q: How long does a Design Strategy take? A: It depends on the scope. Timing for your project is set after the consultation, once the rooms and the decisions are clear. Q: Can I use the plan with my own contractor? A: Yes. You get a layout and selections your contractor can price from, and the plan is yours to use. Q: Do I have to hire you after the Design Strategy? A: No. If you'd like to keep going, full design and project services, including sourcing, ordering and design management at key milestones, are quoted from your approved plan. ### Motorized shades for west facing lake views https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/motorized-shades-west-facing-lake-views Openness, fabric, power and controls for the glass that faces the sunset, from The Shade Haus, the River Jane & Co. shade line. Q: How much do motorized shades cost? A: Motorized shades from The Shade Haus start at $399 a window, and cordless shades start at $299. The final price depends on the fabric and controls, and every window is quoted in writing. Q: What openness is best for west facing windows? A: Around 5 percent is a good starting point, but it depends on the glass, the exposure and how bright you like the room. Common openings are 1, 3, 5 and 10 percent. Look at samples in the window at the worst hour of the afternoon before choosing. Q: Do solar shades give privacy at night? A: Not much. They give daytime privacy, but with lights on inside at night people can see in. Pair them with a Roman or room darkening shade, or choose a dual shade, where evening privacy matters. Q: Can you add motorized shades to an existing home? A: Yes. Battery and rechargeable motors need no new wiring, which makes them the practical choice in a home that's already built. Q: Do you offer dual shades? A: Yes. A dual shade pairs a solar screen for daytime with a privacy or room darkening fabric for evening, on the same window. Q: Do you do drapery? A: No. The Shade Haus makes Roman and roller shades, including dual shades. ### Are motorized shades worth it? When they pay off and what they cost https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/are-motorized-shades-worth-it Which windows justify a motor, what moves the price, and where a cordless shade is the smarter buy. Q: Are motorized shades worth it? A: Yes for tall or hard to reach windows, west or south glass that needs daily sun control, rooms with lots of windows and homes that sit empty for stretches. They protect furnishings, run on schedules and get rid of cords. For a small window you can reach easily, a cordless shade usually makes more sense. Q: How much do motorized shades cost? A: At The Shade Haus, motorized shades start at $399 a window and cordless shades at $299, depending on fabric and controls. Beyond that, size, shade type, motor, power option and mounting all move the price. Every window is quoted in writing before anything is ordered. Q: Do motorized shades need to be plugged in? A: No. Most motorized shades in existing homes run on a battery pack or a rechargeable battery, so no outlet or new wiring is needed. Hardwired motors get power from wiring an electrician runs to each window, which is easiest to plan in a new build or remodel. Q: How long do motorized shade batteries last? A: It depends on the size and weight of the shade, the motor and how often it moves. A shade that runs twice a day uses more than one that moves once a week. Rechargeable motors top up with a cord, and some can use a small solar panel against the glass. Q: Can motorized shades be used manually? A: Usually not by pulling on them, because the motor holds the shade in place. The remote or wall keypad keeps working if your Wi-Fi goes down, since it talks to the motor directly, and some systems offer a light tug feature. Ask what your specific motor can do before you order. Q: Is it cheaper to motorize shades during construction? A: Hardwiring is. Running power to each window while the walls are open is far simpler than fishing wire through finished walls later, and ceiling pockets and blocking are easy to build at the same time. Battery motors cost the same either way, since they need no wiring. Q: Do motorized shades add value to a home? A: They add the kind of value buyers notice on a tour: tall windows that work, rooms that stay comfortable in the afternoon and floors that haven't faded. Nobody can promise a resale number. The clearer payoff is protecting what's inside the house and using the rooms you paid for. ### Cordless Roman shades: how they work, what they cost and where they fit https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/cordless-roman-shades-guide The mechanism, the fold styles, the right fabric for each room and the windows where a motor makes more sense. Q: How do cordless Roman shades work? A: A spring system in the headrail is balanced to the weight of the fabric, so the shade stays wherever you leave it. You raise it by lifting the center of the bottom rail and lower it by pulling the rail down. The lift cords stay hidden inside the shade. Q: How much are cordless Roman shades? A: Cordless Roman shades from The Shade Haus start at $299 a window, and motorized Romans start at $399 a window. Each shade's price depends on its size, fabric, fold style, lining and control, and every window is quoted in writing. Q: Are cordless Roman shades safe for kids and pets? A: They're much safer than corded shades because there are no loose cords to reach. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends cordless window coverings in homes with young children, and cordless shades keep cats and dogs from getting tangled in pull cords. Q: Can cordless Roman shades be blackout? A: Yes. A blackout lining blocks light through the fabric. A little light can still sneak in at the edges, so for bedrooms and media rooms that need to be truly dark, mount the shade outside the frame so it overlaps the window on every side. Q: How do I measure for an inside mount Roman shade? A: Check that the frame is deep enough for the headrail first. Then measure the width at the top, middle and bottom and use the smallest number, and measure the height at the left, center and right. Note any cranks, handles or sensors that could get in the way. Q: What size window is too big for a cordless Roman shade? A: Every product has maximum sizes, and big Romans in heavy fabric get hard to lift by hand. Tall windows are the other limit: if you can't reach the bottom rail when the shade is up, you can't lower it. Split those windows into several shades or motorize them. Q: Why won't my cordless Roman shade stay up? A: Usually the spring tension no longer matches the weight of the shade, which can happen over time or after a fabric change. It can typically be adjusted without replacing the shade. Don't force it or pull on one corner, and contact whoever supplied the shade. Q: Are Roman shades still in style? A: Yes. The current look is flat folds, natural linens, soft neutrals and woven woods, which suits the relaxed interiors going into Austin and Lake Travis homes. A well made Roman in a good fabric is one of the longest lasting window treatment choices you can make. ### How much does it cost to furnish a Lake Travis home? https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/how-much-to-furnish-a-lake-travis-home Square footage tells you less than you'd think. The number comes from a handful of decisions you make before you buy a single thing. Q: How much does it cost to furnish a house? A: It depends on how many rooms you furnish, the quality level, how much is custom and what you keep. Square footage alone is a poor guide. The reliable way to get a number is a room by room list of every piece, priced with freight, delivery and tax included. Q: How much does it cost to furnish a 3 bedroom house? A: More than the bedroom count suggests. Once you add the living room, dining, kitchen seating, office and porch, a three bedroom house has a lot of rooms to fill. The total depends on quality level and custom work, so list every piece per room and price that list instead of trusting an average. Q: What should I buy first when furnishing a house? A: Plan the rooms to scale first. Then order the slow, made to order pieces like upholstery, beds and dining tables, followed by rugs, window treatments and lighting. Art and accessories come last, once the room exists. Q: Where should I spend and where should I save? A: Spend on what gets used hardest: upholstery, mattresses, dining chairs, counter stools, main rugs and shades on west glass. Save on accessories, decor and trend pieces you'll likely change in a few years. Q: How long does it take to furnish a house? A: In stock pieces can arrive quickly. Trade lines, custom upholstery and made to measure shades take much longer. Plan early, or furnish in phases, so you can choose better pieces instead of only what's available by a deadline. Q: Is it cheaper to furnish a house with a designer? A: A designer costs money, but a plan heads off the expensive mistakes: pieces at the wrong scale, returns, and rooms that don't work together. Our Design Strategy starts at $999 per room, and furnishings are quoted from the approved plan so you see the number before anything is ordered. Q: Do you help furnish lake houses and rentals? A: Yes. Lake houses need planning around hard use: performance fabric, durable finishes, extra sleeping and window treatments for west glass. It starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation, in your home or virtual. A Design Strategy from $999 per room sets the plan, and a whole home is quoted after the consultation. ### How to choose an interior designer, and what to ask https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/how-to-choose-an-interior-designer Get clear on your project before you fall for a portfolio. Then ask the questions that show how a designer works when the photos stop. Q: How do I find a good interior designer near me? A: Start with referrals from friends and from builders or contractors who work with designers, then check Google reviews, Houzz and Thumbtack. Shortlist three or four who've done projects like yours, and ask each to show plans as well as finished photos. Q: What should I ask an interior designer before hiring? A: Ask how they charge, what the first step includes, how furniture and materials are priced, who you'll work with, how they work with your contractor, how many revisions are included, how you'll see the design before committing, and what the timeline is. Q: How many interior designers should I interview? A: Three or four is usually enough. Fewer and you have little to compare. More and the search becomes a project of its own. Stick to designers who've done work like yours, and compare how they explain their process as much as their style. Q: Should I choose a designer based on style? A: Style matters, and process matters more. A designer with a great eye who misses deadlines or can't give your contractor clear selections will cost you time and money. Choose someone whose style you like and whose process you trust, and ask how they'd approach your house specifically. Q: What should an interior design contract include? A: The scope by room, the design fee and payment schedule, how purchases are priced, what you'll receive, who orders furnishings and where they ship, and how changes in scope are priced and approved. If any of it is vague, ask for it in writing before you pay a retainer. Q: Do I need a registered interior designer in Texas? A: For most residential projects, experience with work like yours matters more than the title. Texas regulates the title registered interior designer, and some commercial projects require one. Ask about it if it matters for your project, and ask to see similar work either way. Q: How do I start with River Jane & Co.? A: Book a free 15 minute call. If it's a fit, the next step is a consultation, in your home or virtual. Then a Design Strategy from $999 per room sets the plan, and full design and project services are quoted from the approved plan. ### What does an interior designer do, and when is one worth it? https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/what-does-an-interior-designer-do Most of the job happens before anything is bought or built. That's the part worth understanding before you hire anyone. Q: What does an interior designer do? A: An interior designer plans the inside of a home: room layouts, built-ins and cabinetry, materials and finishes, lighting, and furnishings. On remodels and new builds they also produce the layout and selections a contractor can price from. On furnishing projects they choose and source everything to a plan. Q: Is an interior designer worth it? A: For projects that involve construction, usually yes, because a mistake caught on paper costs far less than one caught after it's built. For a small furnishing refresh, a single consultation may be all you need. The value depends on the scope. Q: What is the difference between an interior designer and an architect? A: An architect designs the structure and exterior of a house. An interior designer plans the rooms inside it: furniture layouts, cabinetry, tile, lighting placement and finishes. On a new build the two work best together, starting early, and many projects need both. Q: Does an interior designer buy the furniture? A: Many do. A full service designer sources and orders furniture and materials and tracks lead times. Others hand you a plan and a list to buy from yourself. Either way, ask how purchases are priced before you start, and where pieces ship. Q: When should I hire an interior designer? A: As early as you can. On a new build, before the plans are final. On a remodel, before you order cabinets or tile. On a furnishing project, before you buy the big pieces, so everything is sized and chosen as one plan. Q: Can an interior designer work with my contractor? A: Yes, and on a remodel or new build they should. A clear layout and selections list gives the contractor something specific to price, and fewer decisions get made on the fly once work starts. Q: How much does an interior designer cost with River Jane & Co.? A: It starts with a free 15 minute call, then a consultation, in your home or virtual. A Design Strategy is from $999 per room and includes a layout, selections, a mood board, a 3D rendering, a review call and a final visit with samples. Full design and project services are quoted from the approved plan. ### Stone fireplace ideas, from the wall going up in Mia's own living room https://riverjaneandco.com/journal/stone-fireplace-ideas Mia is designing her own living room around a stone fireplace that runs to the peak of a vaulted ceiling. Here are the calls to make on a wall like that, before the mason starts.