Gipson David Design is a full-service interior design firm in Oklahoma City that handles residential projects ranging from single-room refreshes to complete home renovations, with a business model that welcomes clients seeking either hourly consultation or full project management. The firm operates as a solo or small-team practice, meaning direct access to the designer rather than coordination through an office manager, a structure that typically reduces communication delays on revisions and decision-making.
The firm offers three primary service tiers. Consultation-only work starts at $100 per hour and suits homeowners who have a clear vision but need a trained eye on layout, color, or material selection without ongoing design fees. Project-based design (full conceptual work, specification, and sourcing) typically runs $3,000 to $10,000 for a single room, depending on scope and complexity. Full home design with construction administration and vendor management scales upward and is quoted per project. This tiered approach separates Gipson David from larger Oklahoma City firms like McAlpine Booth & Ferrier or Martin Rafferty Interiors, which generally require minimum project commitments of $25,000 or more and operate through formal proposals with less flexibility on engagement level.
Gipson David specializes in residential interiors with emphasis on custom furniture specification, spatial planning, and material selection. The designer works with local and regional sources for upholstery, cabinetry, and finishes, which often reduces lead times compared to national big-box ordering. Project delivery includes concept boards (digital or printed renderings of proposed layouts, colors, and materials), specification sheets for contractors or clients to order from, and coordination with local vendors. The firm does not appear to offer kitchen or bath design as a separate structural engineering service (meaning cabinetry selection and layout, not MEP permits), so clients needing licensed kitchen designer credentials for permit applications should confirm scope before hiring.
Typical projects span six to sixteen weeks from initial consultation to final installation, with hourly clients charged for follow-up shopping visits and revision rounds. This is slower than rapid design-consultation services like interior styling apps but faster than full-service renovation firms that manage contractors and timelines.
McAlpine Booth & Ferriert, a larger firm established in the 1970s, serves high-net-worth residential and commercial clients with a team approach and typically higher material budgets. Minimum projects there exceed $50,000. Martin Rafferty Interiors operates similarly, with emphasis on luxury furnishing and a substantial showroom in midtown. Both firms excel at large-scale estates and commercial work but are ill-suited to a homeowner wanting a $3,000 guest bedroom refresh.
Smaller solo designers and styling consultants around Oklahoma City often work purely on commission (taking a percentage markup on all items purchased through them), which can inflate client costs. Gipson David's hourly and flat-fee options provide budget transparency and work better for clients who plan to source some items independently or who distrust commission-based pricing.
For budget-conscious clients seeking decorating help without a designer relationship, furniture retailers like Article or Room & Board (with in-store design consultation) or online services like Modsy offer lower barriers to entry, though they lack the local vendor relationships and custom specification Gipson David provides.
Gipson David suits homeowners with a moderate to good budget who want a trained designer's eye without long-term firm retainers or corporate overhead costs. Clients doing partial renovations, rental property staging, or styling after a move benefit from the hourly consultation tier. The practice is also a fit for clients who value local sourcing and prefer working directly with one designer across a project.
It is a poor match for clients needing structural kitchen or bath design with engineering stamps, emergency same-week turnarounds, or who expect the designer to manage contractors and construction permits. It is also not ideal for clients with budgets under $1,500 or those seeking only furniture shopping advice (as opposed to full spatial design).
An initial consultation typically involves a phone call or in-person meeting to discuss the room or home, the client's aesthetic preferences, budget, and timeline. The designer may request photos or measurements. For hourly clients, work begins immediately; for project-based clients, a proposal with scope and fee follows. Revisions and material samples are handled by follow-up meetings or email. Payment is usually due on invoice or in installments tied to project milestones.
Gipson David operates by appointment; there is no physical storefront or walk-in availability. Consultations may be conducted in the client's home, via video call, or at the designer's office (verify location and parking before scheduling). The firm is responsive to early-morning and evening appointments for working clients. Service radius includes Oklahoma City proper and surrounding areas within a 20-minute drive; projects further out may incur travel fees.
Gipson David Design fills a genuine gap in Oklahoma City's interior design market, offering professional-level service without the five-figure minimum or corporate structure that larger firms impose.
