Transparent, Trade-Based Pricing
The Thirdington doesn't mark up furniture. We charge a transparent hourly rate for our design time — $200/hr — and pass along the same wholesale and trade pricing we receive as a design firm, typically 20–50% below retail. You always know exactly what your furnishings cost and exactly what our time costs. Many clients find that even after paying for our hourly design services, their total project cost is lower than if they had purchased the same furniture at retail on their own.
How We Compare to a Traditional Design Firm
Traditional interior design firms often mark up furniture 50–100% over wholesale cost, or charge a flat design fee that doesn't reflect the hours actually worked — so you rarely know what you're really paying for the furniture versus the service.
The Thirdington bills only for the hours we actually spend designing your space, at a clear $200/hr rate, and passes furniture through at trade pricing that typically runs 20–50% below retail — with full visibility into every invoice.
What This Can Mean for Your Project
Trade pricing that runs 20–50% below retail adds up quickly on a real furniture package. On a $20,000 furniture budget, for example, trade pricing could save roughly $4,000–$10,000 compared to retail — savings that often exceed the cost of the hourly design time it took to select, source, and coordinate the pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you mark up furniture? No. We pass along the same wholesale/trade pricing we receive as a design firm — no markup.
How is hourly billing different from a flat design fee? You pay only for the time we actually spend on your project, at $200/hr, so you're never paying for hours that weren't worked, and you're not paying a flat fee that bakes in a hidden furniture markup.
Is it really cheaper than doing it myself? Often, yes. Because trade pricing typically runs 20–50% below retail, many clients find that even after paying our hourly design rate, the total cost is comparable to or lower than buying the same furniture at retail on their own — and they get a professionally designed result.
How is your hourly rate determined? Our rate is a flat $200/hr for all design services, so you always know exactly what you're paying for before we begin.