Question 1

What interior design services does MRBI provide?

Accepted Answer

We offer comprehensive interior design, managing your project from initial concept through final installation. On a typical large-scale project, that means vetting contractors and communicating with job sites to troubleshoot issues as they come up, overseeing specialized subcontractors and artisans to ensure quality craftsmanship, and developing space plans, furniture layouts, and full architectural reviews of your home. We produce 3D renderings and detailed documents so you can clearly visualize the project before a single wall comes down. Our scope covers kitchen and bathroom renovations, custom millwork and built-ins, and the sourcing of premium finishes including flooring, stone, tile, paint, and wallpaper. We also specify cabinet hardware, plumbing fixtures, and trim, create detailed lighting plans, and procure furniture, textiles, rugs, and window treatments down to the last detail, including one-of-a-kind vintage and antique finds.

Question 2

Do you only work with clients in Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

No. While we are based in Philadelphia and our local work spans Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, the Main Line, and Bucks County, our reach extends well beyond Pennsylvania. We have extensive project experience in New York City, Washington, D.C., the Hudson Valley, the New Jersey Shore, and Nantucket. Over the years we have mastered the art of remote project management: building and collaborating with elite local teams, providing daily oversight, and troubleshooting from afar to deliver the same seamless results no matter where your home is located. We also keep our studio's roster intentionally small, so Mona can stay personally involved in the creative direction and day-to-day management of every project, near or far.

Question 3

What is your fee structure for interior design services?

Accepted Answer

We value open communication and strive to build strong relationships with our clients through honest and open practices across our business, including fees, purchases, and budgets. Our fee structure is a hybrid of hourly billing and a procurement fee for items bought through MRBI. We also include a standard management fee to cover overseeing any outside specialists and craftspeople whose services may be required. Sometimes, especially with long-term clients or once we have the whole plan locked down, a flat project fee makes the most sense instead.

Question 4

What does your interior design process look like?

Accepted Answer

We understand that starting a major design project can feel daunting, even intimidating, so our process is built to turn a complex logistical puzzle into a seamless, organized, and enjoyable experience. There are five main phases to an MRBI project: Inquire & Listen. We begin every project with a period of inquiry, looking closely at the daily rhythms of your household, how you entertain, work, rest, and live alongside family or pets. Concurrently, we work with you to refine your budget, establish a timeline, and get to know your aesthetic preferences. Research & Vet. We help select and vet the best general contractor, architect, and specialists for your job, drawing on contacts and resources across the country to identify the right fit. Analyze & Evaluate. We translate your feedback into concrete plans, materials, and realistic budgets and timelines, reviewing everything together to make sure it aligns with the overall vision. Refine & Decide. We hone every detail, weighing quality and price and checking and rechecking selections until we are certain we have landed on the best choice for your home. Execute & Proceed. We move into full administrative and project management mode, issuing procurement orders, tracking materials, and coordinating construction. Install & Complete. We manage the final deliveries, oversee placement, and style furnishings and art, handing you a fully realized home you can enjoy from the moment you walk inside.

Question 5

How long does an interior design project take?

Accepted Answer

Timelines are always dictated by scope, but successful projects, even smaller ones, benefit from careful, thoughtful planning. Rushing the initial design phase is often the fastest way to cause expensive delays once construction begins, which is why we typically dedicate four to twelve weeks to concept development alone. In our experience, a minimum of six months from our first meeting to final installation is ideal, and larger projects — multi-room renovations, ground-up new builds, or significant additions — often run twelve to thirty-six months from start to finish. A high-end, complex project requires hundreds of detailed decisions and precise trade coordination, particularly in spaces like kitchens and primary bathrooms, where electricians, plumbers, carpenters, tile and stone, as well as installers all need to be on-site in a specific sequence. Because of this, we recommend reaching out at least three to six months before you would like construction to begin, so we have plenty of runway to build the right team and formulate an optimal roadmap.

Question 6

What is a typical project size and budget for MRBI?

Accepted Answer

Our studio specializes in mid-to-large-scale residential projects, including full-home transformations, ground-up new construction, and extensive structural renovations, partnering with clients on comprehensive, holistic design work. To deliver the level of bespoke craftsmanship, sourcing, and hands-on project management we are known for, we typically take on projects with a minimum furnishings, construction, and design budget of $250,000. It is not uncommon for total project spend to climb well past $1,000,000 when a major home renovation is involved. Budgets at this level allow us to do our best work, giving your project the attention and time it deserves, and drawing on our trusted network of top-tier artisans and makers.

Question 7

Why and when should I hire an interior designer?

Accepted Answer

Hiring an interior designer saves you time, helps you avoid costly mistakes, and elevates your space well beyond what you could likely achieve on your own. A seasoned professional manages a project from conception through completion, handling the hundreds of daily micro-decisions and logistical headaches that would otherwise fall on you, turning what could be a stressful renovation into an enjoyable, largely hands-off transformation. Whenever possible, we encourage clients to bring us in as early as they can, even before purchasing a home, so we can help them understand what is and is not realistically achievable before they sign anything. A good designer also opens doors: access to to-the-trade showrooms, custom fabricators, and elite artisans unavailable to the general public. Because we have done this many times before, we are able to avoid ordering errors, costly do-overs, and unforeseen consequences of construction decisions — saving you money, time, and headaches in the long run.

Question 8

What is Mona Ross Berman's design style?

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking, we do not specialize in any one particular style. Instead, our work references many periods, eras, and genres, with the goal of making every home we design feel authentic to its location and period, as well as to the lifestyle of the people living in it. We craft interiors by balancing quiet details against contrasting elements, old and new, modern and traditional, shiny and matte, an alchemy that gives spaces real character, depth, and a sense of provenance. Signature to our work is a distinctive use of color and pattern, along with a studied, idiosyncratic approach to heritage and tradition. Many of our projects carry a decidedly deconstructed, neo-preppy vibe: traditional and historic elements are present, but so is a healthy infusion of irreverence and wit. A room designed by MRBI feels effortless, refined, and lived-in, never stodgy or dull.

Question 9

What other services does MRBI offer beyond interior design?

Accepted Answer

We believe our job is to give our clients as much guidance and assistance as possible, and we have found that the more fully we are integrated into a project, the more cohesive the results and the happier our clients. Beyond core design work, we advise on art selection, framing, and installation, including family photographs. We also handle landscaping and exterior finishes, from patio and poolside furniture to hiring the right landscape architect. We vet and hire AV, security, and mechanical teams, advise on and source appliances, and design full electrical and lighting plans. We've helped design home gyms, wellness spaces, and game rooms, right down to specifying custom pool tables and sourcing infrared saunas and plunge pools. We handle the finishing touches too: custom stationery, signature monograms, curated accessories, and linens sourced to feel authentic and collected over time, never overworked or overly curated. And we stay on as a resource long after installation, providing maintenance and repair guidance for as long as it is needed. We have also completed non-residential projects, including a high-end clothing boutique in Bryn Mawr, a communications firm's office in New York City, and a dentist's office in Philadelphia.

Question 10

What makes MRBI different from other interior design firms?

Accepted Answer

Clients who work with MRBI benefit from talent, skill, and experience, paired with a level of client service, responsiveness, and transparency we consider just as important as the design itself. Many of our clients are repeat customers, hiring us for a summer home after we have finished their primary residence, or re-engaging us years later when life changes call for an update. We are proud of our ability to think strategically and find outside-the-box solutions: we approach complicated, multi-year projects much like a political campaign prepares for election day, by working backwards. At the start of every project, we ask which pieces have the longest lead times and what decisions will require the most attention, so that we can address them first. The complexity of our projects means the occasional surprise or mistake is inevitable, and not unlike many trained lawyers, we approach every order and decision with a healthy dose of skepticism, gaming out the ways something could go wrong and building in safeguards to keep that from happening. Finally, we see every project from a distance and up close, caring as much about the overall impression a home makes as we do about which screw finish is used. Our ability to understand your project as a whole — to have a very clear sense of where it should end up and how we should get there — is why we strive to be the first ones in the door and the last ones out.

About Mona Ross Berman — Philadelphia Interior Design Firm

About Mona

The Team

Working With Us

In Their Words

About Mona Ross Berman — Philadelphia Interior Design Firm

About Mona

The Team

Working With Us

What interior design services does MRBI provide?We offer comprehensive interior design, managing your project from initial concept through final installation.

Do you only work with clients in Philadelphia?No. While we are based in Philadelphia and our local work spans Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, the Main Line, and Bucks County, our reach extends well beyond Pennsylvania.

What is your fee structure for interior design services?We value open communication and strive to build strong relationships with our clients through honest and open practices across our business, including fees, purchases, and budgets.

What does your interior design process look like?We understand that starting a major design project can feel daunting, even intimidating, so our process is built to turn a complex logistical puzzle into a seamless, organized, and enjoyable experience.

How long does an interior design project take?Timelines are always dictated by scope, but successful projects, even smaller ones, benefit from careful, thoughtful planning.

What is a typical project size and budget for MRBI?Our studio specializes in mid-to-large-scale residential projects, including full-home transformations, ground-up new construction, and extensive structural renovations, partnering with clients on comprehensive, holistic design work.

Why and when should I hire an interior designer?Hiring an interior designer saves you time, helps you avoid costly mistakes, and elevates your space well beyond what you could likely achieve on your own.

What is Mona Ross Berman's design style?Generally speaking, we do not specialize in any one particular style.

What other services does MRBI offer beyond interior design?We believe our job is to give our clients as much guidance and assistance as possible, and we have found that the more fully we are integrated into a project, the more cohesive the results and the happier our clients.

What makes MRBI different from other interior design firms?Clients who work with MRBI benefit from talent, skill, and experience, paired with a level of client service, responsiveness, and transparency we consider just as important as the design itself.

In Their Words