A clear, calm path to a space that truly works
If you’ve never worked with an interior designer before, it’s normal to wonder:
What actually happens? Where do we start? How involved will I need to be?
At Decca Design Inc., we believe clarity creates confidence. That’s why we’ve built a proven 7-step design process that removes guesswork, prevents overwhelm, and keeps your project moving forward, calmly and intentionally.
This isn’t just about design.
It’s about people, workflow, compliance, budgets, and creating a space that supports your patients, your team, and your long-term vision.
Here’s how we do it.
Step 1: Discovery & Direction
Understanding your needs before we ever draw a line
Every great project starts with listening.
We take time to understand:
- Your goals and challenges
- How your space needs to function day to day
- Your brand, patients, and team
- Your timeline and investment comfort
This step sets the foundation for everything that follows. If the flow doesn’t work, nothing else will.
Step 2: Site Review & Feasibility
Clarity before commitment
Before concepts begin, we assess what’s possible.
We review:
- Existing site conditions
- Measurements and constraints
- Applicable municipal codes and regulations
- Alberta healthcare and commercial requirements
This ensures we’re designing something that’s not only beautiful — but buildable, approvable, and realistic.
Step 3: Envisioning the Concept
Turning ideas into a clear visual direction
This is where your vision starts to take shape.
You’ll share inspiration — magazine clippings, Pinterest boards, Houzz ideabooks — and together we uncover the common threads that define your style.
From there, we develop:
- Hand-drawn sketches
- Conceptual layouts
- Computerized drawings
- 3D visuals to understand scale and flow
By the time we move toward permits and pricing, you’ll have a complete drawing set, including:
- Site plans
- Floor plans
- Elevations
- Perspectives
- Section details
You can see your future space before a single wall is built.
Step 4: Planning Every Detail
Structure replaces stress
This is where our Exacting Project Control System shines.
Through weekly 60–90 minute meetings over 8–10 weeks, we guide you through up to 1,500 decisions, one step at a time.
We cover everything:
- Exterior finishes
- Millwork and cabinetry
- Doors and trim
- Paint, flooring, and finishes
- Plumbing, appliances, lighting, and electrical
No running from supplier to supplier.
No decision fatigue.
Every choice is documented in your Design Finishing Binder — the roadmap for pricing, permits, and a smooth build. Copies live on-site so every trade knows exactly what to do.
This is how we keep you excited, not exhausted.
Step 5: Execution
Protecting the design during construction
Design doesn’t stop when construction begins.
We stay actively involved to:
- Answer contractor questions
- Clarify specifications
- Address site challenges
- Assist with substitutions if needed
If you’d like deeper support, we can also act as Project Manager, assembling a vetted team of trades, managing bids, coordinating materials, and conducting regular site visits.
Our goal?
Keep your project on schedule, on budget, and aligned with the original vision.
Step 6: Furniture & Furnishings
Bringing the space to life.
While construction is underway, we plan the finishing touches.
We develop a furniture and styling concept that includes:
- Furniture layouts
- Fabrics and finishes
- Window treatments
- Artwork and accessories
- Signage, vinyl, and branding elements
Everything works together, functionally and visually, to reflect your brand and enhance the client experience from the moment someone walks in.
Step 7: Celebrate
Because this relationship doesn’t end at move-in
When the build is complete, and you’ve moved in, we don’t disappear.
Your Design Finishing Binder becomes your Maintenance Manual, including:
- Finish schedules and paint colours
- Appliance and equipment information
- Contracts, correspondence, and decisions
- Project photographs
Our clients become like family. You’re always welcome to call with a question, a future idea, or a new phase.
Because working with Decca isn’t just about creating a space – it’s about creating confidence, clarity, and a place that supports people every day.
Thinking about a new space or renovation?
If you’re planning a commercial or healthcare project in Alberta and want a clear, proven path forward, we’d love to help.