It depends on what you want your experience to be.

• If you’re looking for expert guidance to define or refine your style, then yes.
• If you’ve made expensive mistakes or feel unsure where to start, then yes.
• If managing a renovation or pulling together all the moving parts feels overwhelming, then yes.
• But if you already know exactly what you want and simply need someone to purchase items at a discount, then probably not.

A designer’s role isn’t about markdowns—it’s about mastery. Our job is to spend your money wisely and create spaces that reflect how you live and work. When you hire Kelly Cleveland Interiors, you gain a collaborative partner who understands your goals and helps you avoid costly detours. Through expertise, trusted vendor relationships, and a clear process, we’ll create a design solution that’s uniquely yours. Together, we’ll define priorities, set a realistic budget, and build a project plan that feels as seamless as the finished space itself.

Absolutely. Many of our clients start here. We’ve developed a collaborative process to uncover what inspires you, even if you can’t yet describe it. Through conversation, imagery, and observation, we identify the colors, textures, and layouts that resonate with you.

Our expertise helps filter endless options into curated, confident choices. The result is a home that feels unmistakably yours—timeless, layered, and personal.

Our philosophy centers on you, not a fixed aesthetic. We’ve designed homes that range from modern to traditional, yet all share the same DNA—refinement, balance, and livability.

We listen carefully, then shape spaces that express your taste through the lens of professional design.

Yes. An in-person consultation includes a walk-through of your space, discussion of project goals, review architectural drawings and take preliminary measures in order to prepare a design fee proposal. Before scheduling, we ask new clients to complete our intake form (available on the CONTACT US page) and set up a complimentary phone call to ensure we’re the right fit.

This meeting sets the foundation for a productive partnership and helps us define the next steps clearly.

Our fees are tailored to the scope and structure of your project. After an initial meeting about your goals, expectations, and timeline, we outline a detailed proposal that defines how we’ll work together. We use one of three structures:

• Consultation Fee: for short-term or advisory work.
• Flat Design Fee: for defined projects with a clear scope.
• Hourly or Day Rate: for renovation, open-ended, or consulting work.

Each proposal includes transparent estimates of design time and costs.

• Yes. Establishing a working budget is one of the most important steps in a successful design project. We’ll start by discussing your goals, priorities, and the level of investment that feels right for you.

Together, we’ll identify where to save and where to invest. By combining your vision with our experience, we’ll create a plan that reflects quality, comfort, and longevity. Our budgeting process helps you make confident choices and eliminates financial surprises later in the project.

Working with a designer is about expertise and partnership, not markdowns. Our responsibility is to spend your money wisely and avoid costly mistakes. Through long-standing relationships with trusted vendors, we secure access to quality furnishings, finishes, and craftsmanship not typically available to the public.

We help you determine where your investment has the most impact—whether that means heirloom furniture, architectural details, or art. To guide your decisions, we can provide an investment range for common categories and discuss long- and short-term goals.

It’s always best to be transparent about your budget. We’ll align selections with your priorities and reserve 10–15% for unexpected costs—especially in renovation or new-construction projects.

Yes. Kelly Cleveland Interiors has extensive experience with projects ranging from full gut rehabs and new construction to minor renovations and additions. We guide clients through planning, materials, finishes, and furnishings—ensuring every detail aligns with the design vision and architectural framework.

Our structured process keeps the project organized, efficient, and aligned with your goals from start to finish.

Let’s pause there. While HGTV can be fun and inspiring, it rarely reflects what a real design process looks like. The budgets, timelines, and transformations you see on television are condensed for entertainment—not construction reality.

In the real world, renovating an entire kitchen costs more than $10K and takes longer than a weekend and a glue gun. Thoughtful design takes planning, coordination, and expertise.

We love enthusiastic clients who enjoy design shows for ideas and creativity. Just remember—they’re a great starting point, not a realistic project roadmap. Together, we’ll turn inspiration into something achievable, personal, and beautifully built.

Begin by interviewing and selecting a strong architect and contractor. We can recommend trusted professionals based on your location, style, and budget.

Ideally, we join the team early—before construction begins. Early collaboration allows us to align architectural details, lighting, and finishes with your overall design goals. Projects are most successful when the designer, architect, and contractor work as a cohesive team.

Yes. Over the years, Kelly Cleveland Interiors has built relationships with many talented professionals across Chicago and beyond. When you share your project details, we’ll suggest architects and contractors whose expertise and approach align with your project needs.

Absolutely. Kelly Cleveland Interiors welcomes collaboration with new professionals. Clear communication and mutual respect are essential, so we recommend an early meeting among all parties to define roles, responsibilities, and points of contact.

Often. Architects typically focus on structure, engineering, and systems while designers specialize in the interior experience—furniture layouts, finishes, lighting, and overall atmosphere.

If your architect’s strengths don’t include these interior details, partnering with a designer ensures your space feels both functional and beautifully resolved. As a luxury interior designer in Chicago, our role complements your architect’s, transforming architectural plans into lived spaces with depth and personality.

Absolutely. Our process balances beauty with functionality—integrating cabinetry, materials, lighting, and hardware into cohesive, enduring designs.

You can view examples of our kitchen and bath work in our online portfolio.

Yes. Kelly Cleveland Interiors works on projects across the country, from coastal residences to mountain retreats. We build strong local teams in each location and manage every stage of design remotely and on site as needed. No matter where your project is located, our process ensures consistency, communication, and exceptional results.

Kelly Cleveland Interiors can develop outdoor furniture layouts, finishes, and specifications for patios, terraces, and garden rooms. For extensive exterior or landscape work, we collaborate with licensed landscape architects and outdoor specialists to maintain design cohesion.

Our goal is to connect indoor and outdoor living seamlessly—so your home feels complete, inside and out.

Kelly Cleveland Interiors is selective and deliberate with our project load. Rather than limiting ourselves to a fixed number, we design our schedule to give each client focused attention and consistent communication.

Typically, we are in the active design phase for one project at a time, while others may be in implementation or procurement. This approach ensures a thoughtful, detail-driven process and results that meet our exacting standards.

Decoration enhances an existing space with furniture, fabrics, and finishes. Design shapes the space itself—planning structure, flow, and function before the decorating begins.

As defined by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ):

“Interior design is the art and science of understanding people’s behavior to create functional spaces within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.”

Kelly Cleveland holds a degree in Interior Design from Harrington College of Design, where she was formally trained in both residential and commercial interiors. She also earned a B.A. in Journalism and Communications from Millikin University, which informs her clarity in client communication and storytelling through design.

Since founding Kelly Cleveland Interiors in 2002, Kelly has led a diverse portfolio of projects ranging from historic renovations to new construction across Chicago and nationally. Her work blends classic principles with a modern sensibility—creating spaces that are timeless, personal, and deeply livable.

Yes. Kelly is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the Interior Design Peer Alliance, a collective of established designers who mentor emerging talent and support professional standards in the industry.

She also serves on the VIP Luxury Gala Host Committee for The Design Center at the Mart and is a Brand Ambassador for Brizo, a leader in luxury plumbing and hardware design.

Yes—and we encourage it. Our past clients are generous with their time and happy to share their experience working with Kelly Cleveland Interiors. They can speak to both the process and the results, offering valuable perspective on what collaboration looks like from start to finish.

Yes. Housing Forward© and Designs for Dignity, including Chairs for Charity and Carpets for a Cause.