If you’re an interior designer, this story may sound familiar to you: When he goes to a furniture market, designer Brad Ramsey and his team focus on bringing back inspiration to their clients, rather than on buying. Is it worth the market trip when the order will most likely be placed online? Brad Ramsey says yes.

The client may not be ready to buy just yet, but Ramsey heads into market knowing what they want and adjusts his lens accordingly. Does the client love a cushy deep seat? Or, perhaps because they are short, they prefer a shallower seat so their legs won’t dangle. Being at market in person, Ramsey and his team seize the opportunity to document potential pieces with photos and measurements to bring back to their clients, alleviating any pressure to buy on the spot.

“[Luxury] happens when you are truly seeing an entire project, all the materials, all the finishes, [from] architectural phase all the way through [furnishing] it,” Ramsey says. This holistic view allows him to create luxurious spaces regardless of budget constraints.

Delegating design dollars

So, where does Ramsey suggest investing his clients’ design dollars? Art and lighting top his list, especially in high-impact areas like entryways and dining rooms. For upholstery, he prioritizes everyday-use items.

A family room sofa might be splurge-worthy, while he might be quicker to make room in the budget by slashing spending on accent pieces like a rarely-used guest room chair.

Brad Ramsey’s approach redefines luxury as being more about the experience of working with a designer rather than the project’s price tags. Admittedly frugal by nature, Ramsey is the kind of designer who loves solving the puzzle of mixing high and low, designing custom spaces that feel opulent, regardless of the budget. | To see more of Brad Ramsey Interiors, visit him online.