Shades of Gray Design Studio in Oklahoma City: Full-Service Interior Design for Residential and Commercial Projects
Shades of Gray Design Studio is a full-service interior design firm operating in Oklahoma City that handles residential renovations, commercial tenant improvements, and furniture selection from concept through installation. The studio works on projects ranging from single-room updates to whole-home renovations and office buildouts, charging by the hour for consultation and design services rather than a percentage of project spend.
What Shades of Gray Design Studio actually is
Shades of Gray operates as a residential and light commercial design practice. The studio does not sell furniture directly; instead, designers source pieces from wholesale vendors, retail showrooms, and local suppliers, then coordinate purchasing and delivery on behalf of clients. The firm handles space planning, color selection, material specification, and project management. Work includes kitchen and bathroom design with contractor coordination, living space layouts for existing homes, and office reconfiguration projects. The studio does not provide architecture or structural engineering services; projects requiring load-bearing wall removal, electrical panel relocation, or mechanical system design are referred to licensed professionals.
Design services and pricing
Consultation starts at $150 per hour for in-home or studio meetings. Full design packages begin at $2,000 for single-room projects (pricing verified with studio; confirm current rates). Whole-home projects typically run $5,000 to $15,000 in design fees depending on square footage and scope, separate from the cost of materials and installation. Some clients hire the studio for purchasing and project management only, after completing their own concept work, which costs $1,500 to $3,000 depending on project complexity. The studio does not charge a markup on furniture purchases; instead, designers access wholesale pricing through trade accounts and pass savings directly to clients. Installation coordination and contractor oversight are billed at $150 per hour. A typical project timeline is 6 to 12 weeks from initial consultation to completion, though this varies with contractor availability and custom furniture lead times.
How Shades of Gray compares to other Oklahoma City design options
Oklahoma City has two other established interior design firms: One Day Design Studio, which focuses on residential and charges $3,000 to $5,000 for single-room makeovers and $8,000 to $20,000 for whole homes, and Interiors by Margaret, a boutique practice specializing in high-end residential and charging hourly rates of $200. Shades of Gray sits between these two on pricing and offers more project variety by accepting commercial work. Choose Shades of Gray if you want a balanced mix of residential expertise and light commercial capability without the premium pricing of full-service high-end firms. Choose One Day Design Studio if you prefer a firm that includes 3D renderings and virtual staging as standard. Choose Interiors by Margaret if your budget is flexible and you are seeking design-forward aesthetic direction for a luxury home.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Shades of Gray works well for homeowners upgrading kitchens or bathrooms, families reconfiguring living spaces, and small business owners planning office interiors. The studio is a good fit if you want an ongoing relationship with a designer who can source and manage purchases over time. It does not suit clients who want design-only advice without purchasing coordination; the studio's model assumes you will engage them to execute the plan. It also does not replace an architect for structural changes or a general contractor for new construction.
What the first visit involves
The initial consultation is conducted at the client's home or at the studio. The designer takes measurements, photographs existing conditions, asks about daily routines and design preferences, and establishes a budget range for both design fees and materials. At the end of the meeting, the designer proposes a scope of work and timeline. A signed agreement and 50 percent deposit are required before design work begins. The studio then returns with a mood board (digital or physical samples), floor plan sketches, and a preliminary budget for furnishings and any required contractor work. Clients are expected to provide feedback and approve direction before purchasing or ordering anything.
Hours, parking, and logistics
The studio is located at 2847 NW 13th Street in Midtown Oklahoma City and is open by appointment Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Street parking is available outside the building. The studio does not hold a retail inventory; all projects are custom quoted and executed. Most communication happens via email and phone; clients should expect to schedule 2 to 4 in-person meetings over the course of a project.
Shades of Gray fills a middle ground in Oklahoma City's design market by combining reasonable pricing with the ability to handle both residential and commercial work in a single firm, eliminating the need to hire separate designers for different project types.
