Settling into a new house is more than unpacking boxes or deciding on furniture—creating a space that feels like home. At Atelier Roux, we believe the best time to bring in a designer is before you move in. Whether it’s planning renovations, furnishing your space, or tackling both, early collaboration ensures a seamless transition and a home that’s as functional as it is beautiful.
To learn more about the benefits of hiring a designer early in the process, visit our blog on When to Hire a Designer.
Moving into a new home often brings mixed emotions—excitement about a fresh start, but also uncertainty about how to make the space feel truly yours. This is where the journey begins with Atelier Roux. We understand that every home tells a story, and our role is to help you define and shape the next chapter.
Our first step is a consultation, where we take the time to understand your needs, lifestyle, and aspirations. It’s not just about identifying what you don’t like about a space but discovering what you truly want. For one Brooklyn client, the challenge was a shared living and dining room with awkward angles. They loved entertaining but couldn’t picture how the space could work for hosting. Through thoughtful conversation, we explored their priorities and envisioned a layout that maximized flow between the dining area, living room, and kitchen.
This initial phase is about more than logistics—it’s about finding opportunities in the space and setting a foundation for a design that feels intentional, cohesive, and reflective of you. Our goal during the consultation is to uncover the full potential of your new home, aligning your space with how you live and what you love. This foundation sets the stage for every design decision to come.
Once we’ve uncovered the potential of your home and established your vision, the next step is creating a thoughtful floor plan. This isn’t just about fitting furniture into a room—it’s about designing a layout that enhances how you live and move through your space.
We carefully assess the architectural layout, identifying opportunities to improve flow, functionality, and balance. This involves reimagining how each room connects to the others, addressing any awkward angles or underutilized spaces, and ensuring that the design aligns with your priorities.
For example, in a Williamsburg loft project, our team tackled a cramped first floor that didn’t serve the client’s needs. By repositioning walls and incorporating smart built-in storage under the staircase, we transformed the area into an open-concept living and kitchen space that was practical and perfect for entertaining.
During this phase, we also collaborate closely with contractors to ensure feasibility, reviewing structural details and addressing any potential challenges upfront. Whether it’s adjusting the layout to accommodate large windows or creating custom solutions for unique spaces, we make sure every detail supports the design and reflects your vision.
Designing a home isn’t just about choosing beautiful finishes—it’s about knowing where to invest for longevity, functionality, and impact. At Atelier Roux, we help our clients navigate these decisions so they can feel confident about their selections.
While your contractor will price out materials and labor, our role is to ensure that every design decision aligns with both your aesthetic and your investment priorities. We guide you in selecting finishes that not only enhance the overall look of your home but also hold up to daily life.
For example, in an apartment project, our clients wanted a sophisticated, modern interior but weren’t sure where to focus their budget. We advised them to invest in high-quality kitchen cabinetry and custom millwork—elements that define the space and endure heavy use—while opting for a more cost-effective stone in areas with less wear. The result? A home that felt cohesive, luxurious, and built to last.
Through our expertise, we help you make choices that add value to your home, ensuring your investment is well-placed for both aesthetics and functionality.
Once we’ve outlined the layout and defined the major elements of your home, we refine the aesthetic through mood boards, material samples, and custom design elements. This stage is about capturing the feel of your space—balancing textures, colors, and materials to ensure every detail aligns with your vision.
We take a hands-on approach, presenting curated selections of finishes, textiles, and furnishings that reflect your style while maintaining harmony with the architecture. Seeing and feeling these materials in person makes a world of difference, helping you confidently decide between options.
We explored natural stone countertops, light oak flooring, and custom lighting fixtures for a client’s West Village hideaway. They wanted a minimalist design, but one that still felt warm and inviting. By layering natural textures and selecting pieces with timeless appeal, we achieved a refined yet livable space—a perfect reflection of their taste.
This collaborative process ensures every decision is intentional, so when it’s time to execute the design, you already have a clear picture of what your home will feel like.
A strong design is only as good as its execution, which is why we work closely with contractors to ensure every detail is implemented correctly. We provide comprehensive construction binders, detailed drawings, and ongoing site visits to oversee progress and address any issues that arise.
The reality of any renovation or build is that unexpected challenges come up—whether it’s plumbing hidden behind walls or structural changes that impact design plans. Our role is to advocate for your vision, working alongside the contractor to problem-solve while maintaining the integrity of the design.
During a Brooklyn brownstone renovation, unforeseen plumbing issues required adjustments to the kitchen layout. Instead of compromising the overall flow, we worked with the contractor to refine the design while preserving the intended functionality and aesthetic. These kinds of pivots are inevitable, and having a designer involved ensures they are handled smoothly, without sacrificing the end result.
By staying engaged throughout the process, we make sure that what’s installed matches what was envisioned, down to the smallest detail.
Once construction is complete, it’s time to bring your home to life with furnishings, lighting, and styling. This final stage is where personality and functionality come together—where a house truly becomes a home.
Our approach blends custom-designed pieces with curated selections to create a space that feels intentional and effortlessly beautiful. Whether incorporating heirloom furniture, sourcing new statement pieces, or designing custom upholstery, we ensure that everything fits seamlessly within the larger design.
For a client moving into a Brooklyn duplex, the challenge was creating a layout that accommodated both their love of entertaining and the irregular angles of the open living-dining area. We selected a dining table that maximized seating without overwhelming the space, paired it with sculptural lighting to define the area, and anchored the living room with a bespoke sectional that created natural flow between zones. The result was a space that felt open, functional, and perfectly suited to their lifestyle.
With the right furnishings and thoughtful styling, your home becomes a place that not only looks beautiful but also supports the way you live every day.
As the final pieces come together, we walk through your home to ensure every detail is perfectly executed. This step isn’t just about checking off a punch list—it’s about ensuring that every material, fixture, and furnishing feels as you envisioned.
We take the time to adjust the final styling, confirm that all installations meet our standards, and address any last-minute refinements. Whether it’s ensuring your custom drapery falls just right, fine-tuning the placement of artwork, or adjusting lighting levels for the perfect ambiance, these final touches make all the difference.
But our work doesn’t stop the day you move in. We provide guidance on caring for your materials and finishes, advice on future additions, and support if you need recommendations for ongoing maintenance. A well-designed home is meant to evolve with you, and we’re here to ensure it continues to serve you beautifully.
Your new home deserves more than a quick setup—it deserves thoughtful planning and expert design. By partnering with Atelier Roux before you move in, you’ll benefit from a streamlined process that brings your vision to life.
If you are ready for the next step, we offer a complimentary 30-minute discovery call to discuss your vision and how we can help . If you’re still exploring, visit our blog post “When to Hire a Designer” for more insights, or browse our portfolio for inspiration.
Atelier Roux is a full-service design firm run by Manon Roux. We’re dedicated to crafting bespoke interiors that harmonize with the rhythm of our clients’ lives, seamlessly merging sophistication with purpose in every narrative we create.
Interested in working together? Fill out an inquiry form here and let’s talk about how we can help!