What It Really Takes to Furnish a Custom Home

When most people think of interior design, they picture mood boards, fabric swatches, and beautiful 3D renderings—and yes, that’s part of it. But what truly transforms a home from a construction site into a layered, livable, personalized space is what happens after the design is finalized.

That’s where purchasing, procurement, and FF&E come in. These terms might sound technical or industry-heavy, but they’re at the heart of why your project runs smoothly—and why your home feels cohesive on move-in day.

Let’s break them down in simple terms—and show you how we handle this essential phase of the design process at Katie Rainey Design.

What Is FF&E?

FF&E stands for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment. In the residential world, it covers everything that isn’t nailed down—think:

-Sofas and sectionals
-Dining tables and chairs
-Lighting (like chandeliers, sconces, and lamps)
-Rugs, window treatments, and artwork
-Bedding, bar stools, and even that custom coffee table built to fit your space

For example, in one of our recent new build projects, we sourced a custom 108" dining table to anchor the client’s open-plan kitchen and dining space. We layered in lighting that not only matched the architecture but was sized and scaled specifically for their ceiling height, and we selected performance fabrics throughout—knowing they had three young kids and a dog.

This entire scope of selections falls under the FF&E umbrella.

What’s the Difference Between Purchasing and Procurement?
These two are often used interchangeably, but here’s how we define them:

-Procurement is the full process of selecting, ordering, tracking, receiving, inspecting, and storing every piece of FF&E until installation. It’s the logistics side of interior design—and it’s where things can go off the rails if not managed properly.

-Purchasing is just one step in that larger procurement process. It’s the actual act of placing orders and managing payments with vendors.

Let’s say we’re furnishing a custom home with 15 unique pieces, including a sectional made to a specific depth, a pair of vintage chairs reupholstered in a coastal linen, and pendants handblown by a glass artist in Vermont. We don’t just hit "order" and wait. We’re:

-Confirming lead times
-Coordinating white-glove delivery
-Tracking every shipment
-Handling damaged goods or backorders
-Receiving everything to a warehouse for inspection
-Scheduling final installation and styling—all in sync with your move-in or construction completion date

This level of detail is what turns your vision into reality.

Why This Matters for You:
When you hire Katie Rainey Design, you’re not just hiring a designer to select pretty things—you’re hiring a team to manage the entire experience of bringing your home to life.

And on high-end custom builds or renovations, this phase is not a “nice to have”—it’s critical. Without it, furnishings arrive out of order, scale is off, or pieces don’t fit with the architecture. But when procurement is managed well, it’s seamless. You walk into your home and it’s ready to be lived in—beautiful, cohesive, and effortless.

In Summary:

FF&E = all the furnishings, fixtures, and equipment that make your house feel like home

Purchasing = placing the orders

Procurement = managing the full lifecycle of every piece, down to the last pillow

Have questions about how our procurement process works on new builds or full-service furnishings projects? We’re happy to walk you through it. Let’s chat about how to make your home feel truly finished—without the headaches.