We understand that investing in your home is a significant decision. Here are answers to questions we hear most often from prospective clients.
How does the design process begin?
Every project begins with a private consultation — a conversation, not a sales pitch. We meet in your home or over a call to understand how you live, what you value, and what your home should feel like. This initial meeting helps us both determine if we are the right fit for each other. From there, we develop a proposal tailored to your specific project.
What areas do you serve?
Our primary studio serves El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Folsom, Sacramento, and the greater Bay Area. We also take select projects nationally and internationally. Over nearly thirty years, Marta has designed luxury residences across six continents.
What is the typical investment for a full-home design project?
Our projects range significantly based on scope, from single-room transformations to complete whole-home designs. Full-service luxury design projects typically begin in the mid-five-figure range and scale with the size and complexity of the home. During our initial consultation, we provide transparent guidance on investment levels so there are no surprises. We believe in the value of thoughtful, lasting design — these are homes designed to be loved for decades, not decorated for a season. View our complete investment guide.
How long does a typical project take?
Timelines vary with scope. A single-room design can take three to four months from consultation to completion. A full-home project — especially one involving renovation or custom fabrication — typically spans six to twelve months or more. We source materials globally, commission custom pieces from artisan partners, and oversee construction to protect the design intent. Quality at this level requires time, and we never rush the process.
What is the Cultural Layering Method?
The Cultural Layering Method is Marta’s signature six-phase design process, developed over nearly three decades of practice. It begins with a Sensory Interview — a deep conversation about how you experience the world through texture, light, sound, and memory — and moves through global sourcing, cultural composition, artisan execution, integration testing, and an ongoing design relationship. The result is a home that feels collected over a lifetime rather than purchased in a weekend. Learn more about our process.
Do you work with our existing contractor, or do you bring your own?
We work with both. If you have a contractor you trust, we are happy to collaborate with them. We also maintain relationships with exceptional builders and craftspeople in the Sacramento region and beyond. Regardless of who builds, Marta provides construction administration — regular site visits, material verification, and design oversight — to ensure the finished home matches the vision. Read more about design during construction.
Can you help with just one room, or do you only take whole-home projects?
We welcome projects of all scopes. Many client relationships begin with a single room — a kitchen renovation, a primary suite redesign, or a living room transformation — and evolve over time as the home grows. Marta’s design philosophy includes an ongoing relationship phase, so the home can continue to develop as your life changes.
What makes your approach different from other luxury designers?
Three things set our work apart. First, the process begins with who you are — your heritage, your travels, your memories — not with a style quiz or Pinterest board. Second, Marta personally sources materials from artisan partners across six continents, bringing provenance and craft that catalogs cannot replicate. Third, Marta’s background includes medical studies in human ergonomics, so every design decision considers how your body and nervous system respond to the space — not just how it looks, but how it makes you feel.
I have just moved into a new-construction home and it feels generic. Can you help?
This is one of the most common reasons clients come to us — especially in communities like El Dorado Hills and Granite Bay, where beautiful new-construction homes often feel interchangeable. Builder-grade finishes, neutral palettes, and open floor plans are designed to appeal to everyone, which means they reflect no one. We specialize in transforming these homes into spaces with genuine warmth, personality, and cultural depth. Read how we approach this.
Have a question we did not answer? We would love to hear from you.
