Although people use the terms "interior design" and "interior decorating" interchangeably, these professions are actually quite different. Interior design is the art and science of creating functional spaces within a building informed by human needs. Interior designers follow a systemic method, drawing from research, analysis. Designs must satisfy the client's needs and resources while also adhering to code and regulatory requirements, promoting environmental sustainability whenever possible. In the United States, interior designers must be licensed or registered. In many states, they must also hold the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Certification. Interior decoration is the furnishing and adorning of an interior space to be aesthetically pleasing. An interior decorator requires no formal training or certification and deals only with beautifying spaces, not addressing form and function. J. Salmon Design Inc. has spent many years both training and practicing the art of interior design. This expertise allows us to take a holistic approach to enhancing or creating spaces that our clients love.

We recommend bringing an interior designer on in the early stages of a project, just when floorplans are being developed by an architect. This approach allows us to pose questions and offer design solutions that save our clients time and money.

Full-service design projects can include whole-home design for new construction or an existing home, design for remodel or renovation, or full room furnishing. If you are unsure whether your project would be appropriate for our full-service design process, please book a discovery call. If we are not the right fit, we are happy to point you in the right direction of another trusted professional who can help.

J. Salmon Design Inc. is based in Worcester, Massachusetts, and works with clients across Central Massachusetts.

While the specific timeline for your project will depend on various factors, most projects take between 6 and 18 months from onboarding through the final steps of implementation.

Our design fee is dependent on the specifics of your project. Julie will meet with you personally to determine your project fee based on past project experiences and your design needs. For more detail, please view our interior design process here.

Julie personally oversees every project for J. Salmon Design Inc. and will be your primary point of contact throughout the process. Proactive communication is a hallmark of our approach. You can expect emails with updates about your project and scheduled virtual meetings at specific milestones to review the project concept board and present sketches, options, and considerations for your space. Our goal is to make the process enjoyable and effortless.

We are proud to collaborate with some of the area's finest builders, contractors, artisans, and tradespeople to achieve incredible results for our clients. We are happy to bring together a team for your project or work with your builder or contractor, whichever best fits your needs.

When working with builders and contractors, we participate in weekly onsite or virtual meetings. We use AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite to create design boards that communicate our design intentions, so everyone is on the same page.

Choosing fixtures, finishes, and furnishings can be overwhelming. We can narrow down selections based on a client's aesthetic, vision, and space realities. From there, they can confidently choose attractive, functional options.

We set our bar high when it comes to respect, communication, and reliability. We value and nurture the relationships we have built with our collaborators. Projects move along faster when we draw on our trusted network because we understand and respect one another's processes.

The first step is to book a complimentary 20-minute discovery call with Julie to discuss your project and determine if we’re a good fit. If you’re a homeowner, you can learn more about what to expect at each stage in your process here. If you’re a builder or contractor, visit this page to get more information about what to expect when we work together.