We all dream of the perfect home—a space that reflects our personality, style, and comfort. When my family and I decided to take our new home in Lakewood Ranch to the next level, we knew we needed professional help. Enter Integrity Development LTD, a Bradenton, Florida area interior design firm that promised to deliver on every front, with a name that suggested trust, transparency, and integrity. Spoiler alert: reality didn’t quite match up to the name.
The Start: A Promising Partnership
We kicked things off with Integrity Development by paying their Full Design Services fee upfront. For a little over $7,000, this included four phases:
- Development: Budget, planning, renderings, selections, revisions, etc.
- Procurement: Ordering and scheduling of all items, quality control, etc.
- Management: Managing trades, site visits, quality checks on structural design builds, etc.
- Styling: Final installation and staging, receiving, unpacking, placement, etc.
We enthusiastically dove into the Development phase, envisioning how our home could transform with the right touches. After a few rounds of back-and-forth and a lot of Pinterest, we finally settled on a budget, or so we thought. I will say Molly Newton was very professional and pleasant to work with initially.
From the beginning, we made our budget crystal clear. We weren’t just throwing money around; we wanted to make smart investments to enhance our living space without breaking the bank. And we thought we had found partners who shared our vision.
Integrity Development assured us there were no markups on the furniture. Everything was supposed to be purchased at regular retail cost. It sounded like a fair and honest deal. They clarified that we had to purchase everything through them—no exceptions. This was supposed to ensure quality and consistency. Little did we know, it would also guarantee one of the biggest budget surprises we’ve ever encountered.
The Plot Twist: $13k Markup?
The day came when we received Integrity Development’s final proposal. And, let me tell you, it was the kind of plot twist that makes you gasp out loud. The final amount for furnishings and decor was marked up by over $13,000! In a project already slated to cost tens of thousands of dollars, that kind of inflation was not just a surprise but a jaw-dropper.
Naturally, my first reaction was to think, “This has to be a mistake.” After all, they said there wouldn’t be any markup, and the paid scope of work already included procurement, scheduling, and installation of furnishing and decor items. When I questioned the bill, they assured me—again—that there were no markups on the furniture. They claimed that they don’t inflate costs. But my gut feeling told me something was off, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.
The Investigation: Detective Work with Google Lens
I decided to take a deep dive into the proposal. Since their proposal included pictures of everything and no itemized list or prices, I used Google Lens to find every item shown in their proposal. It was then that my suspicions were confirmed. The markup was real, and it was staggering. Everything had been inflated to a price much higher than readily available online, shipping and tax included. I should also mention that there was nothing exclusive to trade vendors on this list; everything was readily available at consumer retailers like Crate & Barrel and Wayfair.
The Fallout: Budget? What Budget?
When I presented these findings to Integrity Development, they didn’t bat an eye. Instead, they doubled down on their claims. They insisted the markup wasn’t on the furniture but was due to unidentified “final decor and styling items.” These phantom items were never discussed.
It became clear that Integrity Development had thrown our carefully planned budget out the window. This wasn’t just a small oversight. This was a deliberate and significant overcharge in a project costing tens of thousands of dollars. Our clearly outlined budget was now nothing more than a distant memory.
To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I was angry, frustrated, and felt downright betrayed. We had placed our trust in a company that was supposed to bring our vision to life, not drive us into financial chaos with hidden costs and mysterious charges.
The Unfinished Business: Paying for What We Never Got
We decided not to proceed with Integrity Development due to the gross pricing discrepancy. As a result, the Procurement, Management, and Styling phases were never completed since we would not purchase the furnishings and decor through them.
At this point, you might think, “Surely, they made things right. Integrity Development offered a refund, right?” Nope. No refund was offered despite the glaring discrepancies and inability to proceed with the project. So, since we only completed the Development phase, we ultimately paid over $7,000 just for inspiration boards, vision boards, renderings, and a shopping list. That was a hard pill to swallow.
I had to step in and take over the project myself. I sourced the items, managed the logistics, and styled the spaces. Ironically, I found that I enjoyed it. Maybe I missed my calling as a designer, but the satisfaction of seeing my vision come to life—without the unnecessary markups and phantom charges—was worth the effort. Check out some of our interior design projects to see how they turned out.
My 5 Lessons Learned
- Trust But Verify: When working with a design firm, don’t just take their word for it. Verify everything—prices, timelines, and the scope of work. If something feels off, it probably is.
- Be Your Own Advocate: Speak up if something isn’t right. Your home and your money are on the line. If you don’t push for transparency, you might not get it.
- Get Detailed Agreements in Writing: Document every aspect of your project. From budget constraints to included items, a detailed agreement can save you a lot of headaches later.
- Use Technology: Tools like Google Lens can be powerful allies when verifying the cost of items. Don’t be afraid to do a little digital sleuthing.
- Be Open to Doing It Yourself: If a design firm isn’t meeting your needs, don’t be afraid to take the reins. You might discover a talent you didn’t know you had.
Final Thoughts: Integrity Matters
Though my experience with Integrity Development was far from perfect, it did have a silver lining. I learned a lot about the design process, gained some non-tech-related project management experience, and saved a good chunk of change by sourcing items myself. I came out of this ordeal wiser and more confident in making the right decisions for my home and family.
Would I work with Integrity Development again? Negative. Thankfully, I can say that our home still turned out beautifully, not because of the false promises of integrity but because of my commitment to making our vision a reality. Ultimately, “integrity” isn’t just a word—it’s an action. And sometimes, you have to be the one to bring it to the table.
I hope you found this blog helpful. If you have any questions, connect with me on social media. And be sure to check out my other blog posts here. Thanks for reading!