Chic & Unique LLC in Baltimore: Custom Interior Design for Townhouses and Small Homes

Chic & Unique LLC is a Baltimore-based interior design firm that specializes in residential projects under 3,000 square feet, with particular depth in the city's classic rowhouses and narrow townhouses where spatial planning determines success. The firm works on both full renovations and selective room overhauls, handling everything from layout and material selection to vendor coordination and project management.

What Chic & Unique Actually Is

This is a small design practice, not a large firm with showrooms or a design-build construction division. The owner works directly with clients on consultation, conceptual design, and execution oversight rather than delegating to junior staff. Projects tend to run three to six months from initial consultation to completion, depending on scope and whether renovation or construction work is involved. The firm serves homeowners, renters furnishing new spaces, and occasional small commercial clients within Baltimore and inner suburbs like Canton and Fells Point.

Services and Pricing

Chic & Unique offers three engagement models. Consultation visits run $150 to $200 per hour and are typically booked for two-hour blocks; these work for clients who want feedback on a specific room or color choice without a full design contract. Full-service design projects carry a flat fee ranging from $2,500 for a single room (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen) to $8,000 to $12,000 for whole-home packages, depending on square footage and complexity. The firm also offers project management and purchasing services on an hourly basis at $125 to $175 per hour for clients who have already committed to a design but need coordination with contractors and vendors.

Clients pay the design fee upfront or in installments; material costs, furniture, and any contractor work are billed separately. The firm does not mark up purchases but will coordinate with local furniture retailers, fabric vendors, and tradespeople on the client's behalf.

How Chic & Unique Compares to Other Baltimore Options

Baltimore's interior design market splits between high-end full-service firms (often associated with design-build construction companies like Caves Valley or urban renovation specialists), independent designers like Chic & Unique, and freelance staging and styling consultants working at lower price points. Firms in the $15,000-plus range typically manage larger homes, handle all construction coordination, and include project management as standard. Chic & Unique's $2,500-to-$12,000 range and hour-by-hour flexibility appeal to rowhouse owners and renters whose needs fall between a quick styling advice and a full renovation budget.

Choose Chic & Unique if your project is a single room, a rental lease limits major renovation, or you want direct designer access without paying for a firm's overhead. Choose a larger firm if your project involves structural changes, major addition work, or if you want a dedicated project manager separate from the designer.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

This firm works well for Baltimore residents who own or rent townhouses under 2,500 square feet, particularly those navigating the layout constraints of rowhouse living where flow and storage are critical design problems. It also suits people starting from near-zero with furnishings and décor and those who want design input without committing to a five-figure budget.

Chic & Unique is not the right fit if you need architectural design for structural changes, if your project requires extensive contractor management across multiple trades over many months, or if you expect the designer to source and negotiate contractor bids as part of the service.

What the First Visit Involves

Initial consultations are scheduled by appointment and usually take place in your home. Expect a walkthrough of the relevant space, discussion of your style preferences, practical constraints (budget, timeline, lease terms, pet considerations), and preliminary ideas about layout, color, or furniture direction. The designer will take photos and measurements. At the end of the consultation, you'll receive a proposal outlining scope, fee, and next steps. Many clients book a second paid consultation to review preliminary design concepts before committing to a full project contract.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Chic & Unique operates by appointment only; there is no retail location or walk-in availability. The designer travels to client homes throughout Baltimore and nearby areas. Appointment availability varies seasonally, with spring and early fall typically busier. Contact the firm directly to confirm current scheduling (verify current hours and appointment lead time).

Chic & Unique fills a practical niche in Baltimore's design landscape by handling the scale of projects that overwhelm general contractors and cost less than full-service design firms, making it a working choice for rowhouse owners who know what they want but need a trained eye to execute it.