Mona Hajj Interiors in Baltimore: Residential Design with a Commercial Real Estate Background
Mona Hajj Interiors is a one-designer residential interior design practice based in Baltimore that brings commercial real estate expertise to home renovation and furnishing projects. Hajj works directly with clients on space planning, material selection, and project coordination for full-home and single-room transformations, typically serving Baltimore households undertaking significant renovations or moves.
What Mona Hajj Interiors actually does
The practice focuses on residential interiors rather than commercial contracts, though Hajj's background in real estate development informs her approach to spatial efficiency and material durability. Projects range from master bedroom refreshes to complete home renovations. The work emphasizes functional layouts suited to how clients actually live, paired with finishes and furnishings that balance aesthetics with longevity. Hajj works with existing contractors or helps clients assemble teams, coordinates selections and timelines, and manages the visual continuity across multiple rooms and phases of work.
Services and pricing structure
Mona Hajj Interiors charges for design services separately from the cost of furnishings and construction. A typical engagement begins with an initial consultation (free) followed by either hourly fees or project-based fees depending on scope. For smaller projects like a single room, clients can expect hourly rates in the range of $100 to $150 per hour, with an initial design phase lasting 5 to 15 hours depending on complexity. Full-home design fees are structured as a percentage of the total project budget (typically 8 to 15 percent) or as a flat fee negotiated upfront. Material purchases and construction costs are billed separately. Confirm current rates directly, as fee structures adjust with project scale and market conditions.
The practice also offers consultation-only services for clients who prefer to source and manage selections independently but want professional input on color, layout, or furniture placement. This rates lower (roughly $75 to $100 per hour) and suits homeowners working on a partial refresh rather than a full redesign.
How it compares to other Baltimore interior design options
Baltimore's residential interior design market includes larger firms offering full-service project management (like those operating out of Canton or Harbor East with five or more designers), boutique one- or two-person practices, and independent consultants working part-time. Mona Hajj Interiors occupies the middle ground: a solo practice with professional credentials and structural expertise, without the overhead and extended timeline that comes with a larger firm. Firms like Glynis Wood Interiors (also Baltimore-based) offer similar boutique-scale service but tend to specialize in period homes and traditional aesthetics, whereas Hajj's work spans contemporary, transitional, and mixed-era interiors. For clients wanting a designer embedded in their project over several months with site visits and contractor coordination, a solo practice is often more accessible in terms of communication and cost than a multi-person studio; the trade-off is longer timelines if the designer is managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Those working with builders or architects on new construction often receive design coordination as part of the building contract; Hajj is better suited to homeowners making changes to existing spaces or adding personalization that standard construction documentation does not address.
Who it suits and who it should not
Mona Hajj Interiors is strongest for Baltimore homeowners undertaking renovations in older neighborhoods (Canton, Fells Point, Roland Park) where spatial constraints and period details require careful planning. It also works for clients relocating to Baltimore who need a design eye to adapt a new-to-them home quickly. The practice suits people who value a direct relationship with their designer and prefer fewer layers of approval or communication.
It is not ideal for quick turnarounds (less than 4 to 6 weeks) or for clients seeking a designer primarily for styling and decoration without structural or spatial changes. Very large projects requiring simultaneous management of multiple trades may move more smoothly through a firm with a project manager on staff. Clients wanting frequent in-person meetings should clarify availability upfront, as a solo practice has natural scheduling limits.
What the first visit involves
Initial consultations include a walk-through of the space, discussion of how the client uses the rooms, visual references (images, color preferences, lifestyle priorities), and budget parameters. Hajj typically follows up with a written proposal outlining scope, fees, timeline, and deliverables (which may include floor plans, material boards, shopping lists, or contractor specifications). A signed agreement and a deposit (usually 25 to 50 percent of the design fee) precedes the active design phase.
Hours, location, and logistics
Mona Hajj Interiors operates by appointment; there is no showroom or retail location. Most initial consultations and check-ins occur at the client's home. Verify current hours and scheduling preferences by phone or email before booking. The practice typically completes design phases over 8 to 12 weeks, depending on project complexity and decision speed, though timelines can extend if construction timelines shift or material lead times lengthen.
Mona Hajj Interiors deserves its place in a Baltimore guide because it demonstrates how local design practice adapts to the city's specific housing stock—older, dense neighborhoods with unconventional layouts and preservation constraints—while remaining accessible to homeowners managing single or multi-phase renovation.
