pricing design projects is hard
TRUE STORY Y'ALL
A client once reached out for a full living room refresh. Beautiful home. Great style. Big vision. She kept saying:
“I just want it to look high-end, you know?”
We did the discovery call, talked about her goals, and put together a thoughtful proposal: quality sofa, custom drapery, a few key investment pieces. Nothing crazy.
The total? About $45K for the room.
She ghosted me for three days.
When she finally replied, she said:
“I had no idea a sofa would cost $8,000. I thought we’d spend maybe $15K total.”
That’s when it hit me: clients think everything costs Wayfair prices.
The problem isn’t the proposal.
The problem is that no one has educated them on real costs upfront.
John! OMG! I used it in a Discovery Call today and instantly knew the client was a fit! We have a paid consultation next Wed!
Cathy H.
They send you Wayfair links saying "I found this for less" because they think $8,000 for a quality sofa is a ripoff.
They want a $200K look with a $50K budget and expect you to make the math work, then blame you when it doesn't.
And when you don't show them what quality products and renovations actually cost upfront, one of three things happens:
They ghost you after the proposal because they're shocked at the pricing and too embarrassed to admit they can't afford it.
Get the guide for $97
@johnmcclaindesign
26K Followers
designer. mentor. advocate.
I'm John McClain. I've been running interior design firms for 16+ years and built a seven-figure business in Florida and Los Angeles.
My work has been featured in Elle Decor, HGTV, House Beautiful, and The Wall Street Journal. I created this guide because I got tired of losing good clients to a problem that had nothing to do with my design work and everything to do with their expectations.
Give it away before a Discovery Call to attract serious, investment-ready clients.
Reference it during calls to quickly assess budget fit
Powerful Use Cases (Dozens of Ways to Use the Guide)
This isn’t just a pretty PDF.
It’s a workhorse in your business:
Weed out tire kickers before you spend hours on proposals
Set realistic ranges so clients know what they can actually afford
Reference the ranges in agreement to set scope creep boundaries
Show hesitant clients where their money goes & why your pricing is fair
Point back to what they saw upfront if they question costs later
REMODEL/ RENOVATION COSTS
Kitchen and bathroom remodels, including square foot pricing for general home remodel.
This is a complete reference system with real ranges you can use as-is or customize for your market ( we did the research for you).
COMPLETE & DETAILED PRICING TABLES FOR THESE 9 CATEGORIES:
Every table is based on real 2026 project data. And every range can be customized to match your market, your vendors, your positioning.
Flooring, fixtures, tile, appliances, hardware, window treatments & more.
Beds, mattresses, nightstands, toilets, sinks, & more.
WINDOW TREATMENTS
Drapery, shades, blinds, and hardware.
Styling accessories including art, throws, lamps, etc.
ACCENTS, Accessories, bedding
Labor, Storage, & Shipping
Contractors, trades, warehouse fees, freight to give clients a full picture of pricing.
outdoor furnishings
Sofas, chairs, rugs, tables, firepits, and other outdoor furnishings.
Home Office + Media/playrooms
Desks, bookcase, custom built-ins, lamps, rugs, seating, pillows & more.
LIVING + DINING ROOMS
Sofas, chairs, area rugs, tables, & more.
imagine clients saying yes to your $45k proposal
get the investment Guide for $97