Interior Design Installation Services in New York: What Happens Before You Move In
Interior design installation services in New York start the day the first order is placed and end when the last piece is in its place in your home. In between, every item is tracked, received at a warehouse, checked, delivered on a single move-in day, then hung, styled and cleaned over the installation days that follow. On my projects, the client isn't there for any of it. The first time they see the home is on reveal day, when it's finished.
Tracking every order from the day it's placed
A fully furnished home can involve dozens of vendors, from upholstery workrooms and lighting makers to rug companies and art galleries. From the moment each order is placed, I track it: confirmed ship dates, production updates, delays and freight. If a piece falls behind, I know early enough to expedite it or find an alternative before it affects the schedule.
Receiving and checking every piece at a warehouse
Every piece of furniture, lighting and decor on my projects is delivered to a receiving warehouse, not to the home. The warehouse unpacks each piece, checks it for damage, and confirms it's the right size, finish and fabric. Anything damaged or incorrect is repaired or replaced long before it gets anywhere near the client's home. Then everything is held until the last piece arrives.
This step also saves a lot of disruption. Without a warehouse, a furnished home means dozens of separate deliveries, each one needing someone at the home to let the delivery team in. In a New York apartment building, every one of those deliveries also needs its own certificate of insurance (COI) and freight elevator reservation. Sending everything from the warehouse together replaces all of that with one move-in day.
Move-in day
Move-in day is when the movers bring everything from the warehouse to the home and place it room by room. It usually takes one to two days, no matter how large the project is. In New York, I book the freight elevator and delivery window with the building ahead of time, and the moving company provides the insurance certificate the management office requires.
The movers carry each piece to its room, unwrap it and set it according to the furniture plan. Larger pieces like beds, shelving units and dining tables are assembled on site, and rugs go down before the furniture goes on top. By the end of move-in day, the home is furnished, but it isn't finished yet.
Installation days
Installation days are the two to seven days after move-in, when the home goes from furnished to finished. This is when:
Art and mirrors are hung and every lamp is set and tested
Beds are made with the new linens
The kitchen, baths and closets are set up, so everything has a place
Books, objects and fresh flowers are styled throughout the home
All packaging, moving blankets and debris are removed, and the home is cleaned top to bottom
At the end, I walk through every room and adjust whatever needs it, from the angle of a chair to the height of a frame.
Reveal day
Reveal day is the first day the client needs to think about the home. Until then, there's nothing for them to do: no deliveries to wait for, no boxes to unpack, no frames to hang. They walk into a home that's beautiful, fully working and styled down to the flowers on the table.
I keep clients away until the reveal for a simple reason. A home in the middle of an install looks like chaos, and seeing it half-finished makes people second-guess decisions that will make sense once everything is in place. Walking into the finished home is a much better first impression, and it's the one I want clients to remember.
What to look for in interior design installation services in New York
If you're comparing designers in New York, ask how they handle installation. A full-service installation should include:
Order tracking from the day each piece is ordered
Warehouse receiving, so damaged or incorrect pieces are fixed or replaced before they reach your home
A single move-in day, with the building, freight elevator and insurance certificates handled for you
Installation days for art, lighting, styling and cleaning
A reveal, so the first time you see the home, it's finished
If any of these are left to you, expect to spend weeks finishing the home yourself. For more on what to ask before you hire, see how to hire an interior designer in NYC.
Walking into a finished home
Everything above happens so that reveal day is simple. You open the door, and the home is done: furnished, styled, spotless and ready to live in from the first night.
If you're planning a home in New York, the Hamptons or Miami and want to walk into it beautiful, fully working and perfectly styled, without lifting a finger, book a consultation. You can see finished homes in the portfolio.
Frequently asked questions
What do interior design installation services include?
Interior design installation services include tracking every order, receiving and checking each piece at a warehouse, coordinating with the building, delivering and placing the furniture, hanging art and mirrors, setting lighting, styling the home, and removing all packaging before a final cleaning. The goal is a home that's ready to live in the day you walk in.
What's the difference between move-in day and installation day?
Move-in day is when the movers deliver everything from the warehouse and place the furniture, which takes one to two days. Installation days follow, usually two to seven days, when the art is hung, the home is styled, and everything is cleaned.
How long does an interior design installation take?
From move-in day to reveal day, most installations take three to nine days: one to two days for move-in, then two to seven installation days, depending on the size of the home and the amount of art and styling involved.
Do I need to be home during installation?
No. On my projects, the client stays away during move-in and installation, and walks in on reveal day once the home is finished and cleaned.
Paul De Andrade is the founder and principal designer of Studio Kestrel, a residential interior design practice working across New York City, the Hamptons, and Miami. He has been designing interiors since 2014, founded Studio Kestrel in 2019, and has completed more than 30 full-service projects through the studio since. His work is rooted in organic modern principles, feng shui, and a wellness-led approach to how a home is built around daily life. Studio Kestrel has been featured in Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Homes & Gardens, Domino, and Hamptons Magazine, among others.
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