Authority Guides: The Definitive Design References
These are the comprehensive references — the long-form guides we write when a subject deserves more than an essay. Each one distills the studio's full position on a discipline: what it costs, how it works, and where the decisions that matter are actually made.
Written for Charlotte homeowners building at the highest level — and for the architects and builders who collaborate with us — these guides are designed to be saved, shared, and returned to throughout a project.
Getting the most from a reference guide
These guides are long because the subjects are. Use the section headings to move straight to the stage of your project — planning, budgeting, selections, construction or installation — and return to the guide as each stage begins.
The guides describe how a full-service studio approaches the work. Market cost ranges and timelines are general reference points, not quotes; every Emerald & Oak project is scoped individually with a written proposal before commitment.
- Use the guide to frame questions before meeting a designer or builder.
- Share relevant sections with your architect or builder to align expectations early.
- Revisit the timeline sections when ordering long-lead items.
In the Authority Guide archive
- The Definitive Guide to Luxury Interior Design in the Carolinas: The comprehensive guide to luxury interior design across North and South Carolina. From Charlotte and Lake Norman to Highlands and the Lowcountry — process.