essenza
Luxury interior design intensives
Essenza
(Italian for “essence.”)
Luxury Interior Design Intensives
Consulting Services for Clarity, Confidence, and Expert Design Direction
When you need focused, expert guidance rather than a full design engagement, my consulting services provide direct access to 30+ years of interior architecture and design expertise. These intensives help you make smart decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and move forward with clarity — whether you're choosing materials, refining a layout, or preparing for a renovation.
These sessions are ideal for homeowners who say:
“I can manage this — I just need to know what will actually work.”
Essenza Ora
One-Hour Interior Design Intensive
Expert Design Guidance in Just One Hour
Get clarity, make confident decisions, and avoid costly design mistakes.
Investment: $500
When you need expert direction—not a long-term engagement—the One-Hour Intensive provides immediate clarity from a seasoned interior architectural designer. This session is perfect when one decision (or one room) has been slowing you down and you need an expert eye to move forward with confidence.
This One-Hour Consultation Is Ideal If You Want To…
• Get expert confirmation before committing to an important design decision
Paint colors, finishes, fixtures, cabinetry, flooring, lighting, or architectural details.
• Refine your furniture layout for better comfort, function, and flow
We adjust placement, proportion, and circulation based on your lifestyle.
• Clarify your design direction
Know what to prioritize, what to avoid, and how to elevate your ideas with intention.
• Prevent costly rework during a renovation or furnishing project
A quick professional review often saves far more than the cost of the session.
• Ask project-specific questions and receive tailored, seasoned advice
Bring plans, photos, measurements, or inspiration — we’ll review it together.
What Makes This Experience Different
This is not a surface-level decorating conversation.
You’re receiving expert guidance from a designer trained in interior architecture, space planning, and construction-level decision-making.
You’ll leave with:
clear direction
professional insight
actionable next steps
confidence in your decisions
No overwhelm. No second-guessing. No ambiguity.
faq
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You’ll receive focused, expert guidance on a specific design challenge. This may include reviewing layouts, selecting paint colors or finishes, refining a concept, or answering targeted questions. Most clients leave the session with clear direction and actionable next steps.
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Before your consultation, you’ll receive instructions on what to gather: photos, measurements, plans, inspiration images, or links to products you’re considering. The more organized you are, the more we can accomplish.
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You may bring questions about more than one space, but the best results come from focusing on one primary room or challenge. If you have a longer list, the Designer for a Day Intensive may be a better fit.
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Yes! After booking, you’ll receive a short questionnaire to help you organize your thoughts and upload relevant documents like photos, floor plans, or inspiration images.
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You’re welcome to take notes, screenshots, or photos during the session, and I can provide a brief email recap of the key decisions we discussed. For formal drawings, layouts, or documentation, a longer service or concept plan would be required.
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Yes. The One-Hour Intensive works beautifully over Zoom and is available nationwide.
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Many clients begin with a consultation to clarify direction and then upgrade to Design Concept Only or Full-Service Design. The consultation helps determine the best path forward.
Essenza Studio
Designer for a Day Workshop
Investment: $4,000
A Highly Productive Design Day for Complex Decisions or Multi-Room Projects
The Designer for a Day Intensive is a structured, hands-on design experience for homeowners who want meaningful progress on a renovation, multiple rooms, or a larger set of decisions. This collaborative workshop — virtually, helps us move through challenges with purpose, clarity, and momentum.
This Full-Day Intensive Is Perfect When You…
• Have several rooms or decisions to address and need expert support
We prioritize your list, then work through decisions in a focused, organized sequence.
• Are planning a renovation or new build
Receive guidance on layouts, cabinetry, millwork, lighting, materials, and functional planning.
• Want to accelerate momentum
Instead of spreading decisions across months, we accomplish them in one productive day.
• Prefer to execute independently but want a professional plan to follow
You leave with clarity — not confusion or guesswork.
• Need the reassurance of an expert to validate ideas or refine them
Ideal for detail-heavy projects and moments of overwhelm.
faq
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A surprising amount. This six-hour intensive is designed to move your project forward in major ways. Depending on your needs, we may refine layouts, select finishes and materials, develop room schemes, review cabinetry or millwork details, choose lighting, plan furnishings, or make key renovation decisions. The day is structured, efficient, and highly productive.
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Anything from selecting finishes or reviewing floor plans, to updating a room layout or discussing furniture selections. You set the focus, and I’ll provide personalized, actionable advice. Obviously, we can cover much more in our Designer for a Day service than a one hour consultation!
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Yes — Designer for a Day is ideal for clients who have a list of decisions or several spaces they want to address. We will begin by prioritizing your goals so we can dedicate focused time to the areas that will make the greatest impact.
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Absolutely. Many clients book this day early in their renovation or construction planning to get expert guidance on layouts, finishes, cabinetry, materials, and overall design direction. It’s an excellent way to avoid costly mistakes and ensure the project starts on solid footing.
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Designer for a Day is a high-level working session, not a documentation service. You’ll receive expert advice, sketches, notes, and direction during the session. If you need formal drawings, elevations, or detailed specification packages, those can be created through a Design Concept Only or Full-Service engagement.
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We will meet virtually via Zoom and then I will get to work in my studio. Virtual intensives work extremely well for clients locally as well as outside of my geographic area. Working this way is more efficient and we can make the best use of our time.
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Yes. You’ll receive a brief recap outlining the major decisions and recommendations we covered. If you need additional support, we will schedule a call within 5 days for any follow questions.
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Yes. We will discuss prior to beginning your project if you would like to purchase retail or trade.
Which Option Is Right for You?
One-Hour Intensive
Best for: one focused question or decision
Ideal when you want:
a quick expert review
clarity on materials or finishes
layout adjustments
a sanity check before finalizing choices
Which Option Is Right for You?
Designer for a Day
Best for: multi-room clarity or early renovation planning or detailed individual rooms
Ideal when you need:
deeper layout revisions
multiple material or selection decisions
cabinetry or millwork guidance
full-room schemes
structured, high-productivity progress
““I was able to completely put the job in Dawn’s hands. She did whatever it took to complete the project on time.””
THE PROCESS
1
Book Your Session
Choose the level of support that fits your needs
Select from a 1-Hour Consultation or the Designer for a Day experience—both held remotely and designed to meet you exactly where you are in your project.
2
Prepare for Our Session
You set the focus. I bring the strategy
You’ll receive a short questionnaire to help you outline your priorities, questions, and project scope. This ensures we make the most of our time together.
3
Meet & Make Confident Decisions
Expert answers in real time—so you can move forward without second-guessing
Whether we’re reviewing finishes, layouts, or styling options, this is your opportunity to get clear, confident direction from a seasoned design expert.
4
What’s Next? You Choose
Leave with actionable next steps—or keep the momentum going
You’ll walk away with clarity and confidence. If you’d like deeper support after our session, we can explore whether a Design Plan or Full-Service engagement is the right next step.
Ready to Move Forward with Expert Guidance?
Whether you need clarity on a single decision or support navigating a series of choices, booking a consultation is the first step toward creating a home that feels intentional, functional, and beautifully designed.