Our method is rooted in a deep understanding of how we orchestrate and bring together all the details, artisans and the furnishings they craft to create something singular, something beautiful…your home.
With one part science and engineering, and one part design and imagination… it questions what’s possible. It’s proactive, guiding, responsive, and responsible. It’s how we transform homes into living works of art where you can celebrate your success and make the most of life doing what you love with who you love.
Welcome to our most comprehensive design service where every space is envisioned for gracious living, deep connection, comfort, and sharing life.
We capture your heartbeat and express your singular character in every thoughtful detail through an inspired collection of quality furnishings, textiles and finishes all crafted just for you.
Our Pinnacle Design service is perfect for the time-limited client desiring attention to every detail... we will handle all the work whether a complete decorative transformation, full space remodel or a full, custom construction project.
With a method built on the pillars of leadership, organization, and collaboration, our expertise, support, and advocacy will get the job expertly done. So rest easy and embrace the excitement of watching your home come to life... you need only to turn the key, step inside, and enjoy.
.png)
Working with Chris Shields was a wonderful experience and I was so grateful that we had him as our partner. His background in engineering helped us to think through what was behind the walls and how to problem-solve so that we would achieve the look we wanted. His sense of design is impeccable and he obsessed over each detail. The final result is that our home renovation turned out even better than we dreamed it would. We left the country during construction and were completely comfortable, knowing that everything was under control. Chris introduced us to a great contractor and we had regular check-in meetings throughout the process.
Chris has the patience of a saint and was the consummate professional. He listened carefully, spent time with us, and went above and beyond too many times to count. From the very beginning through the end of the project (which was completed on time), we were thrilled at every stage. Honestly, we can't imagine what it would have been like to collaborate with anyone else on this.
Every successful home and project starts with a foundation... ours is an engineered method tailored to ensure information flows, all details are addressed and you receive breathtaking results.
Every Pinnacle project is different, and the estimates for our design services and furnishings investment are based on our 18+ years of design industry experience. Our method delivers estimates at critical milestones before work is performed so you can make informed decisions. Design services are billed in hourly increments...click to learn more about our current rates.
All Pinnacle projects being with a 2-hour initial consultation where we tour your home and/or review your architectural plans, we listen to your desires and ideas and are excited to share our ideas and insights. Due to the work involved and what we'll deliver, we do charge for this consultation and you will get a sense of what it is like to work with us.
After our Step-1 Consultation, we deliver a project requirements document and estimate for our design fees through our project presentation (Step 7). We will meet with you to formulate the project scope and review our design agreement. We move to schedule your project once we receive your signed agreement and project retainer payment. Get ready for our Heartbeat Journey afternoon together followed by a review of our draft mood and conceptual design ideas ready for your feedback.
Taking our discoveries from our Heartbeat Journey afternoon, we bring our imagination, taste and technical prowess to the drawing board to craft your design. Here we address the details, take measurements, and review schematic ideas with trades so they can formulate their estimates for you.
We then select all the furnishings, fabrics and finishes to tailor your interiors. After confirming pricing and all lead times, we finalize the furnishings investment and project schedule. We bring all of these details to a comprehensive review with you to make all the final decisions.
Taking our discoveries from our Heartbeat Journey afternoon, we bring our imagination, taste and technical prowess to the drawing board to craft your design. Here we address the details, take measurements, and review schematic ideas with trades so they can formulate their estimates for you.
Our project presentation is the end of the design phase and a key milestone. You will have the opportunity to review all the specified details and approve the furnishings investment. If any revisions are required, we will schedule a follow-up meeting. With approvals received, we will collect payment for all approved items and move into the implementation phase.
With your approval of all the final decisions and payment received for all goods, we will initiate our logistics process with orders placed and tracking engaged. With target dates identified we will review the project schedule with you leaving you free to relax as we handle all the details. We are an ongoing presence on-site to coordinate with the trades, answer questions and advocate for you. And this is the best part...
The next time we meet your home will be complete! It's time to celebrate, have a tour, catalog and address all touch-up needs. We will coordinate with the trades to address all deficiencies and once done we'll meet one last time to present our Welcome Home project notebook to you.
Every Vista Consultation is different and a homeowner can tackle many DIY projects over time. From planning a new living room, to choosing the right window treatments, selecting the best colors and paints, you name it, you can schedule a consultation for every project need.
The cost for our Vista Consultation is based on project location:
Christopher responded right away to set up a consultation via Zoom and we have been working with him since. The ideas he shared as well as his expertise and guidance were incredibly helpful. He made the process so easy and worry-free. There was quite a bit of information that he gave us which we never would have thought of before starting our kitchen remodel. He definitely saved us time, money and likely a lot of frustration! We highly recommend Christopher Shields & Company!
Falling in love with the perfect sofa, cocktail table or floor lamp you discovered in your favorite home design magazine or on-line journal? Don't let labels like "Designer Grade," or "To-The-Trade" deter you from bring furnishings like this into your life.
We give you access by reviewing, confirming and handling all of the additional special details that come with designer grade furnishings. Since these goods typically require expert handling and delivery, we also take care of the order expediting, inspection and delivery right into your home.
Our purchasing service is expertly crafted for discerning clients who seek the finest in bespoke furnishings and are acquiring items on an as-needed basis outside of a traditional design project.
Know what you want and just need a little confidence to make it happen? You can rest easy knowing you will be talking with an interior designer with over 18 years of industry and fine furnishings experience. We will gladly offer our design direction and styling tips to make your ascent to a whole new level of living an exciting experience.
Our Ascent Access service requires a $500 set-up fee for each item which is credited back to your purchase if you place your order within 30-days.
Do you need more comprehensive help regarding how you may fill out your home with quality furnishings? Consider booking one of our Vista Consultations and request a room review or "Heartbeat Tour" to shop in our favorite designer showrooms and art galleries.
Working with Chris has been such a great experience! He first helped me choose the perfect Phillip Jeffries wallpaper, and I was so impressed with how thoughtful and easy he made the process that I went back to him when we decided to add some new chairs to our family room. We picked out 2 beautiful Kravet chairs that fit the room perfectly. He spent time with me on multiple occasions picking fabric and talking about our wants and needs.
Chris is incredibly knowledgeable, has a great eye, and made everything feel effortless. He really listened to what I wanted and delivered pieces that brought the whole space together beautifully. I’ve already told a few friends about him and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for a very talented interior designer!
With our office located in Lakewood, Colorado we have easy access to serve clients in a wide region of the greater metro Denver area including Denver, Boulder, Evergreen, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, and Castlerock. We also serve clients in Colorado's mountain communities.
Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Some of our services offer Saturday appointments.
When considering a design or decoration project for your home, I believe the best practice is to hire an interior designer at the very beginning… before you engage with an Architect or Builder. My design firm offers a comprehensive functional and lifestyle requirements gathering process that can set a good foundation for the Architect and Builder.
We have received feedback from both Architects and Builders telling us that the insights they’ve received from our requirements gathering process are enormously beneficial in creating and locking down project scope. I see our process as the first step toward a successful project. Our guidance and advocacy help capture all that is important to you and ensure a successful project collaboration.
We do maintain a pipeline of project work that drives our availability. So, if you are ready to take the next step, please schedule a discovery call today.
Christopher Shields & Company, Inc. is a residential interior design focused company. We are not licensed to provide architectural, structural engineering or general contracting services. We will discuss the differences as well as the roles and responsibilities of each entity during our design agreement review (Step-2).
It is the client's responsibility to vet, retain and sign agreements with these services. While we will collaborate with these services to create and work toward planned project milestones, we do not supervise or provide construction management or financial transaction services for these entities.
We do maintain a list of quality Architects, Builders and Structural Engineers we are happy to share with you. While we may refer various services to give you options, these referrals are provided as a courtesy only and the client is solely responsible for researching the business’ background, practices, reputation as well as the quality of products and services sold by the business.
Every interior design project requires time to design and time to implement. The total amount of time required is directly related to the scope and complexity of your project.
For example, a single room decoration project can take 9 months to complete (taking furnishings production into account), an extensive primary bathroom remodel project 10-12 months to complete, and a new custom home with extensive construction and engineering 18-24 months to complete.
A successful interior design project, one that delivers on-time and to-budget, is directly influenced by your ability to maintain a fixed scope and make decisions in a timely manner. It is also directly influenced by things that can be outside of our control like the availability of the materials specified, and the availability of every participant who will implement the project from contractors, to trades and artisans.
For over 10 years, Chris has relied on his years of engineering experience to develop his design project method to guide clients to success. His method of requirements gathering and getting early input from makers, contractors, and trades allows him to system engineer a well-defined project scope.
A well-defined project scope that is kept from "creeping" (growing) also allows for more exact cost and time estimation, resulting in estimates, investments, and project schedules you can rely on.
When it comes to the design work we deliver, the time it takes from project initiation to your full project presentation tends to follow this schedule:
From our initial 2-hour consultation (Step-1) to our delivered requirements document and design time estimate: 5-7 business days
If your project requires the expertise and collaboration of an Architect, this is the perfect time to start meeting and interviewing candidates. Our requirements document is a valuable tool assisting architects in creating their own scope.
Upon your signed agreement and retainer paid (Step-2), the time from our Heartbeat Journey afternoon together to present our draft moods and design concepts (Step-3): 7-10 business days
We then move into schematic design (Step-4) to prepare basic drawings and ideas for contractor and trade estimates: 14-21 business days
This is followed by a Trade Day requirements and schematic design review (Step-5) and request for estimates: 14-21 business days
Our deep dive into the details of your design including all design drawings and full specification of all items (Step-6): 6-10 weeks
At this point we are ready for your full design presentation (Step-7)
In summary, the total amount of time from signed agreement to your full design presentation averages 15 weeks.
At this point you will be engaging with contractors to vet your options with the goal of finalizing an agreement and getting on their schedule.
For Pinnacle projects we will provide an estimate for our interior design services which encompass steps 2 through 7 in our design method based on the size and scope of your project (determined during Step-1). We do charge for our services in 15-minutes increments following our current fee structure:
We do offer Vista design consultations as needed for projects of various sizes and scope following our regional fee structure:
Yes, we do charge for our Step-1 Consultation and the resulting requirements document we deliver as a part of the service. The cost for the consultation is based on our Vista design consultation model (see above). This 2-hour consultation includes a full tour of your home and/or review of your architectural plan. We listen to your desires and ideas and are excited to share our ideas and insights. We do not hold back on sharing our ideas with you. During this meeting you will get a sense of what it is like to work with us, and we will deliver a full project requirements document containing all we discussed during our time together.
The Project Requirements document is a powerful and extremely valuable tool because it clarifies and puts into language everything we discussed. It organizes your thoughts (and our ideas), makes sure no heartbeat is missed, and becomes the guiding document to finalize scope, create budgets and clearly communicate with Architects, Builders and other supporting trades.
As a design professional, I shop, or as designers say "source," from our curated list of high-quality and exclusive manufacturers, makers and artisans. Over the years we have found our go-to resources due to their commitment to craft, expression, enduring quality as well as their longevity and ability to deliver as promised. We tend to work directly with these makers or through their design center representatives. With so many details to pay attention to, and so many nuances in finishes, our trade representatives are invaluable resources that help us tailor all we design for you.
While we never charge more than retail (MSRP), it is rare when we source from mainstream retail stores... our clients are rarely mainstream and desire uniqueness. Furnishings like those described tend to have a higher investment than standard, mass-produced goods found in retail establishments.
The project budget is where the realistic picture of your project begins. We see interior design as a personal investment you are making in yourself, and we work with you from the very beginning to set good expectations for your project scope and the level of investment it will require. We always start a project by establishing a budget with you.
We have discovered our clients tend to know what they want to invest but may not know what a reasonable cost is for materials, furnishings and the design fees. We will guide you through our process based on our extensive experience of project costs. Our process allows us to create a budget that will be our guide showing us how we can do our best work for you.
Every interior design project requires time to design and time to implement. The total amount of time required is directly related to the scope and complexity of your project.
For example, a single room decoration project can take 9 months to complete (taking furnishings production into account), an extensive primary bathroom remodel project can take 10-12 months to complete, and a new custom home with extensive construction and engineering can take 18-24 months to complete.
A successful interior design project, one that delivers on-time and to-budget, is directly influenced by your ability to maintain a fixed scope and make decisions in a timely manner. It is also directly influenced by things that can be outside of our control like the availability of the materials specified, and the availability of every participant who will implement the project from contractors, to trades and artisans.
For over 10 years, Chris has relied on his years of engineering experience to develop his design project method to guide clients to success. His method of requirements gathering and getting early input from makers, contractors, and trades allows him to system engineer a well-defined project scope. A well-defined project scope that is kept from "creeping" (growing) also allows for more exact cost and time estimation, resulting in estimates, investments, and project schedules you can rely on.
In summary, most interior design projects with some level of construction average 10-12 months to complete from our Step-3 all the way through our project close-out in Step-15.
Whether we are approaching a renovation, building a new home from the ground up or decorating an existing space, a successful collaboration is like the perfect diamond. The diamond represents your team, and the four points of the diamond represent the four main roles of the project – the Interior Designer, the Architect, the Contractor/Builder, and the Landscape Architect.
The quality of the diamond, hence the success of the collaboration is driven by what we call, “The 4 Cs”:
A. Communication – Regularly schedule project management meetings and status reports are a must.
B. Commitment – Professionalism and delivering quality results on-time and to-budget with high standards drives us.
C. Continuity – We “show-up” and are frequently on-site “being there” to answer questions and get the team the information they need… It’s the foundation of teamwork and efficiency.
D. Creativity – Unique ideas and challenges encountered require creative solutions, and we bring solutions to our clients that give them choice – not problems the client is forced to figure out on their own.
As you can probably imagine, an interior design project whether decoration, remodel or a complete custom home build is a complex endeavor requiring the participation, skills and talents of many people. There will be challenges and there will be problems that need to be addressed.
Mistakes are human, and delays in manufacturing or damage during shipping are a reality. Sometimes the challenges or problems discovered will have schedule and cost impacts. Anyone telling you otherwise or trying to gloss over these realities is not being forthright.
Our goal is to keep these stressful moments to a minimum by being proactive in planning and working to create solutions for you first with the goal of handling these issues for you behind-the-scenes. For those moments that will require your participation and may have schedule or cost impacts, we will always collaborate with the team to bring you solution options and their impacts for your consideration and decision.
For issues we may create, you have our word that we will take full responsibility for our actions. It is our culture to take responsibility and bring solutions to situations.
