Kennedy Designs in Baltimore: Full-Service Interior Design for Residential Renovations

Kennedy Designs is a residential interior design firm operating in Baltimore that handles both consultation-only projects and full-scope renovations, with pricing structured as hourly consultation or project-based fees starting around $3,000 for focused room work and scaling upward for whole-home overhauls.

What Kennedy Designs Actually Is

Kennedy Designs functions as a mid-size residential interior design practice, not a furniture showroom or general contractor. The firm takes on kitchen and bathroom remodels, living space reconfiguration, color and material selection, and furnishing plans. Projects range from single-room updates (a kitchen refresh, a primary bedroom) to multi-room or whole-home renovations. Kennedy Designs sources materials directly and coordinates with Baltimore-area contractors and tradespeople rather than employing them in-house, positioning itself between a solo freelancer and a large architecture-backed firm.

Services and Pricing

Kennedy Designs offers three entry points. Initial consultation runs approximately $150 to $250 per hour and covers space assessment, style discussion, and preliminary recommendations without commitment. Project-based fees for focused work (one room, a specific design problem) typically start at $3,000 and cover multiple design concepts, material boards, and vendor coordination. Whole-home or major renovation projects operate on either hourly billing or a percentage of total construction cost, generally 10 to 15 percent depending on scope. Verify current rates directly, as design fees adjust for project complexity and team size allocation.

The firm handles material sourcing, which means clients do not purchase independently; Kennedy Designs manages selections, procurement, and delivery logistics. This adds cost but centralizes decision-making and contractor communication. Typical projects involve 4 to 12 weeks from initial design to construction start, depending on complexity and the client's approval timeline.

How Kennedy Designs Compares to Baltimore Alternatives

Baltimore's interior design market breaks into several tiers. Large architecture and design firms like those downtown handle commercial and complex residential projects but typically require budgets above $50,000 and longer engagement timelines. Solo designers operating from home studios offer hourly rates ($75 to $150) and lower entry costs but often limit scope to consultation or furnishing only. Kennedy Designs positions itself between these: more structured than a freelancer, with the ability to manage full renovations, but smaller and more accessible than a six-person commercial firm.

For clients seeking focused room redesign without construction, services like virtual consultants or big-box furniture store design departments offer cheaper initial options ($0 to $50 per room) but provide no contractor coordination or material sourcing. Kennedy Designs suits someone undertaking an actual renovation, not style advice alone. For a homeowner remodeling a kitchen with a $30,000 to $75,000 construction budget and wanting professional design integration, Kennedy Designs is a practical fit; for someone choosing paint colors in an existing kitchen, an hourly consultation elsewhere may suffice.

Who Kennedy Designs Suits and Does Not Suit

Kennedy Designs works well for Baltimore homeowners in Fells Point, Canton, Federal Hill, and Roland Park undertaking kitchen or bathroom updates who value coordinated design and contractor management but do not need a full architectural firm. Projects with a 6- to 18-month timeline and budgets spanning design ($3,000 to $15,000) plus construction ($25,000 to $150,000) align with the firm's operational model.

The firm is not suited to clients seeking only furniture recommendations, those with very tight budgets requiring minimal design input, or homeowners needing structural engineering or complicated permits (though Kennedy Designs coordinates with architects when needed). It also does not serve commercial, hospitality, or spec home design.

What the First Visit Involves

Clients typically begin with a phone or in-person consultation (chargeable at the hourly rate) during which the designer walks through the space, discusses goals, lifestyle, and aesthetic preferences, and identifies practical constraints (plumbing locations, electrical access, storage needs). The designer may photograph the space and request images of styles the client likes. A follow-up meeting presents 2 to 3 design directions with mood boards, paint samples, and material options. Once a direction is selected, detailed specifications, floor plans, and vendor proposals are developed. Signing a design agreement and deposit (typically 25 to 50 percent of the design fee) initiates the project formally.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Kennedy Designs operates by appointment Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (verify current hours). The firm meets clients at their homes or meets in a Baltimore office; check the website or call for the office location and street parking or lot details. Remote consultation is available for initial calls. Most site visits and presentations occur at the client's residence or the space being designed.

Kennedy Designs fills a practical need for Baltimore homeowners ready to renovate and wanting professional guidance without hiring a large firm or handling contractor coordination alone.