Terms of Service

Legal

These Terms of Service govern your use of the Arch & Handle website and the engagement of our interior design and architecture services. Please read them carefully before engaging our studio.

Important notice: These terms are provided for general informational purposes. For active client engagements, the terms set out in your signed Design Services Agreement (DSA) take precedence over these general Terms of Service in all matters relating to your specific project.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Arch & Handle website (the “Website”) or by engaging Arch & Handle for professional design or architecture services (the “Services”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”) in their entirety. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“Client,” “you,” or “your”) and Arch & Handle LLC (“Arch & Handle,” “we,” “our,” or “us”).

If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not access the Website or engage our Services. Your continued use of the Website or initiation of a service engagement following any update to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

These Terms apply to all visitors to the Website and to all prospective and current clients engaging Arch & Handle for professional design and architecture services, regardless of the method or channel of engagement.

2. About Our Services

Arch & Handle is a Washington DC-based interior design and architecture studio providing professional creative and technical services to residential, commercial, and hospitality clients across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond. Our scope of professional services includes:

Residential Interior Design — full-service interior design for private residences, apartments, condominiums, and high-end residential developments
Commercial Interior Design — workplace, retail, and corporate interior environments designed to perform as well as they appear
Architecture and Structural Design — architectural design services from concept through construction documentation, including new builds, additions, and adaptive reuse
Hospitality Design — hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, and experiential hospitality environments
Material and FF&E Specification — sourcing, procurement advisory, and material specification services
Project Design Oversight — on-site design supervision and contractor coordination to maintain design intent through construction

Important distinction: Arch & Handle provides professional design services, not construction services. We are not a general contractor and do not perform construction work. We work alongside and in coordination with licensed contractors engaged separately by the client (or, where agreed in writing, arranged through our studio). The design oversight we provide is a design function, not construction management, unless expressly stated otherwise in a written Design Services Agreement.

3. Service Engagement & Contracts

3.1 Written Agreement Required

All formal design engagements with Arch & Handle are governed by a separately negotiated and mutually executed Letter of Agreement (LOA) or Design Services Agreement (DSA) signed by both parties. These project-specific agreements define the scope of services, deliverables, fees, timelines, and any terms specific to your engagement.

3.2 DSA Takes Precedence

Where a signed DSA or LOA exists between Arch & Handle and a client, the terms of that agreement supersede and take precedence over these general Terms of Service in all matters relating to the specific project scope, fees, deliverables, and client-studio relationship for that engagement. These general Terms apply to the extent not inconsistent with the DSA.

3.3 Verbal Agreements

Verbal agreements, informal email exchanges, or verbal instructions do not constitute binding engagement commitments and are not sufficient to authorise Arch & Handle to begin work. No engagement is binding until a written agreement has been executed by both parties.

3.4 Right to Decline

Arch & Handle reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to decline any enquiry or engagement for any lawful reason, including but not limited to project scope, studio capacity, or alignment with our practice values. Declining an engagement creates no obligation of any kind.

4. Fees, Payment & Billing

4.1 Fee Structures

Arch & Handle offers several fee structures depending on project type and scope. The applicable structure for your engagement will be specified in your DSA and may include one or more of the following:

Hourly Rate — time billed at the rate(s) specified in the DSA for each relevant professional
Fixed Fee — an agreed lump-sum fee for a defined scope of services
Percentage of Project — a fee calculated as a percentage of the total project value, as defined in the DSA

4.2 Retainer

Most engagements require payment of an initial retainer before substantive design work commences. The retainer amount, which is applied against fees earned over the course of the project, will be specified in your DSA. Work does not begin until the retainer has been received and cleared.

4.3 Invoicing

Invoices are issued monthly or at project milestones, as specified in your DSA. Invoices are delivered electronically to the primary contact address on file. Clients are responsible for ensuring their contact information remains current.

4.4 Payment Terms

All invoices are due and payable within 15 days of the invoice date (“net 15”) unless a different payment term is specified in writing in your DSA. Payment may be made by bank transfer, check, or such other methods as Arch & Handle may designate from time to time.

4.5 Late Payment

Outstanding balances not received within 30 days of the invoice date are subject to a late payment charge of 1.5% per month (18% per annum) on the unpaid balance, calculated from the original due date until the date of receipt of cleared funds. Arch & Handle reserves the right to apply late payment charges without further notice.

4.6 Disputed Invoices

Any dispute regarding an invoice must be raised in writing within 10 business days of the invoice date, with sufficient detail to allow Arch & Handle to investigate the matter. Invoices not disputed within this period are deemed accepted. Arch & Handle reserves the right to suspend work on any project where there is a bona fide payment dispute until the dispute is resolved.

5. Intellectual Property

5.1 Studio Ownership During Engagement

All design concepts, drawings, specifications, construction documents, presentations, mood boards, renderings, material selections, FF&E schedules, and other documents and materials produced by Arch & Handle in the course of any engagement (collectively, “Design Documents”) remain the exclusive intellectual property of Arch & Handle until full and final payment of all outstanding fees has been received.

5.2 Licence Upon Full Payment

Upon receipt of full payment of all fees due under the applicable DSA, Arch & Handle grants the client a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the final approved Design Documents solely for the specific project for which they were produced and at the specific address identified in the DSA. This licence does not extend to modifications of the Design Documents, use on other projects, or transfer to any third party without prior written consent from Arch & Handle.

5.3 Photography and Publication Rights

Arch & Handle retains the right to photograph, document, and publish images of all completed projects for the purposes of portfolio development, marketing, editorial publication, awards submissions, and press coverage. The client may request a reasonable editorial review prior to publication in major media outlets. Arch & Handle will use reasonable efforts to honour such requests without compromising legitimate publication deadlines.

5.4 Restrictions on Preliminary Work

The client may not reproduce, share, publish, distribute, or use any preliminary Design Documents, unapproved design concepts, or work-in-progress materials without the prior written consent of Arch & Handle. This restriction applies regardless of whether payment has been made for the phase of work in question.

Design Documents produced by Arch & Handle may not be used by any third party — including other design firms, contractors, or developers — for any purpose without prior written authorisation from Arch & Handle.

6. Client Responsibilities

The successful delivery of your project depends on a constructive and responsive working relationship. As a client, you agree to the following responsibilities:

Accurate Information. Provide accurate, complete, and timely information about the project space, including measurements, structural constraints, existing conditions, survey data, and any known defects or issues that may affect the design.
Site Access. Provide timely and reasonable access to the project site for Arch & Handle team members and authorised contractors when required for surveys, design development, and construction oversight visits.
Prompt Communication. Communicate promptly regarding scope, budget, programme, or brief changes. Delays in client communication that impact project timelines are not the responsibility of Arch & Handle.
Permits and Approvals. Unless expressly stated as a studio responsibility in your DSA, the client is responsible for obtaining all necessary building permits, planning approvals, HOA consents, and other regulatory approvals required for the project.
Contractor Compliance. Where the client has appointed a contractor separately, the client is responsible for ensuring that contractor executes the work in accordance with Arch & Handle’s design documents and specification. Arch & Handle is not responsible for contractor non-compliance.
Change Management. Changes to the approved design after construction has commenced may incur additional fees and schedule impacts. The client accepts responsibility for any costs or delays arising from client-requested changes at post-approval stages.

7. Change Orders & Scope Changes

The scope of services defined in your DSA reflects the agreed programme of work at the time of signing. Changes to that scope, whether expansions, reductions, or revisions, are managed as follows:

Any change to the approved scope of services, design documents, programme, or deliverables constitutes a scope change and must be agreed in writing before Arch & Handle is obligated to carry out the changed or additional work.
Scope changes may result in additional fees, revised timelines, or both, as specified in a written change order or DSA amendment executed by both parties.
Verbal instructions to proceed with changed or additional work are not binding on Arch & Handle and do not oblige the studio to carry out the work or the client to pay for it unless confirmed in writing.
Arch & Handle will use reasonable efforts to notify the client promptly when a client request constitutes a scope change rather than an ordinary design development activity.

Changes to approved design documents after construction has begun are particularly likely to incur additional fees and delay, and the client accepts the associated costs and schedule risk.

8. Third-Party Contractors & Suppliers

8.1 Contractor Relationships

Where Arch & Handle recommends or introduces contractors, subcontractors, fabricators, or suppliers, those parties are engaged by and enter into contractual arrangements directly with the client, not with Arch & Handle (unless a specific procurement arrangement is agreed in writing). The contractual relationship between client and contractor is entirely separate from the client’s engagement of Arch & Handle.

8.2 No Responsibility for Contractor Performance

Arch & Handle is not responsible for the performance, workmanship quality, financial stability, or conduct of any contractor, subcontractor, or supplier, regardless of whether that party was introduced or recommended by Arch & Handle. Any defects in construction, fabrication failures, delays, or cost overruns attributable to a contractor or supplier are matters between the client and that party.

8.3 Design Oversight vs. Construction Management

Design oversight services, where included in a DSA, are provided to monitor adherence to design intent and specifications. They do not constitute construction management, project management, site supervision, or safety management services. Arch & Handle does not accept responsibility for construction site safety, contractor scheduling, or contractual disputes between clients and contractors.

8.4 Material Lead Times and Pricing

Material lead times and supplier pricing are subject to market conditions beyond our control. Arch & Handle is not responsible for changes in material availability, supplier lead times, or pricing that occur after specifications have been issued.

9. Confidentiality

9.1 Client Confidentiality

Arch & Handle treats all client information as strictly confidential, including project details, site addresses, budgets, personal financial information, family and household composition, programming preferences, and any other information disclosed in the course of a project engagement. We will not disclose client information to third parties except:

As necessary for project delivery — for example, to licensed contractors, structural engineers, material suppliers, or other consultants engaged in the delivery of your project; and
As required by applicable law, regulatory authority, or court order.

9.2 Studio Confidentiality

In return, clients agree to treat as confidential all information disclosed by Arch & Handle that is not publicly available, including but not limited to: studio fee structures and rate schedules, trade pricing arrangements and supplier relationships, proprietary design processes and methodologies, and internal project documentation. Clients may not disclose this information to third parties, including other design firms or contractors, without prior written consent.

9.3 Mutual Obligation

The confidentiality obligations in this Section survive the termination or expiry of any engagement between the parties and continue for a period of three (3) years from the date of termination of the relevant engagement, unless a longer period is specified in the applicable DSA.

10. Limitation of Liability

Please read this section carefully. It limits the remedies available to you in the event of a dispute with Arch & Handle.

10.1 Cap on Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Arch & Handle’s total aggregate liability to any client arising out of or in connection with any engagement, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), statute, or otherwise, shall not exceed the total fees actually paid by that client to Arch & Handle for the specific service or project that gave rise to the claim during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to liability.

10.2 Exclusion of Consequential Loss

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Arch & Handle shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profit, loss of use, loss of revenue, loss of anticipated savings, or any other form of economic loss, even if Arch & Handle has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

10.3 Client-Directed Changes

Arch & Handle is not responsible for losses, defects, or damages arising from design changes made at the express direction of the client contrary to our professional recommendation, contractor errors in executing our design documents, defects in materials or products specified from third-party suppliers, or the failure of any contractor to comply with our design specifications.

10.4 Exceptions

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes Arch & Handle’s liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable DC, Maryland, or Virginia law.

11. Professional Standards & Compliance

Arch & Handle is committed to the highest standards of professional practice in the interior design and architecture industry. In that commitment, we maintain the following:

Licensing. We operate in compliance with the professional licensing requirements of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. All architectural services are performed by or under the direct supervision of architects licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.
Interior Design Standards. Our interior designers hold or are supervised by professionals holding NCIDQ certification and relevant state credentials where required.
Building Codes and Regulations. Our design documents are prepared with reference to applicable building codes, accessibility standards (including ADA compliance where applicable), zoning regulations, and local authority requirements in the jurisdiction of the project.
Professional Liability Insurance. Arch & Handle maintains professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance appropriate to our scope of services. Evidence of coverage can be provided upon written request for active engagements.

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Good Faith Negotiation

In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Website, or any engagement between the parties (“Dispute”), the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the matter through good faith direct negotiation. The party raising the Dispute shall provide written notice specifying the nature of the Dispute. The parties shall have a period of 30 days from the date of that notice to attempt to resolve the matter by good faith negotiation before initiating any formal proceedings.

12.2 Mediation

If good faith negotiation fails to resolve the Dispute within the 30-day period, the parties agree to attempt to resolve the matter through non-binding mediation before a mutually agreed neutral mediator in Washington, DC, prior to commencing litigation. The costs of mediation shall be shared equally between the parties unless otherwise agreed. Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive or equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.

12.3 Governing Law and Venue

These Terms and all disputes arising out of or relating to them are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the District of Columbia — specifically the DC Superior Court or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia — for the resolution of any Dispute that proceeds to formal litigation.

13. Termination

13.1 Termination by Client

A client may terminate an engagement with Arch & Handle by providing at least 30 days’ written notice to the studio. Upon termination, all fees for work performed, time expended, and commitments made on the client’s behalf up to and including the effective date of termination are due and payable within 15 days of the final invoice. The client’s obligation to pay for completed work survives termination.

13.2 Termination by Arch & Handle

Arch & Handle may terminate an engagement in the following circumstances:

Client fails to make a required payment and the default is not remedied within 30 days of written notice of non-payment
Client engages in conduct that is abusive, threatening, or otherwise hostile toward Arch & Handle personnel
Client commits a material breach of the DSA or these Terms that is not remedied within 30 days of written notice
Continuation of the engagement would require Arch & Handle to violate applicable law or professional standards

13.3 Effect of Termination on Design Documents

Upon termination of an engagement for any reason, all Design Documents — whether complete or in progress — remain the intellectual property of Arch & Handle until all outstanding fees have been paid in full. The client’s licence to use any Design Documents is suspended from the date of termination until full payment is received. Arch & Handle will not be obligated to release or transmit any Design Documents until the client account is settled in full.

14. Website Use

The Arch & Handle website is provided to you on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or availability of the Website or its content.

You may use the Website solely for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You must not use the Website in any way that violates applicable federal, DC, Maryland, or Virginia law or regulation.
You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Website, its servers, or any systems or databases connected to it.
You must not transmit any unsolicited commercial communications, malicious code, or content that is defamatory, obscene, or otherwise harmful.
We reserve the right to update, modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or aspect of the Website at any time without notice and without liability.
Website content — including design images, project descriptions, team profiles, and editorial content — is protected by applicable copyright and intellectual property law. Nothing on the Website grants any licence to reproduce or use this content without our express written consent.

15. Amendments to These Terms

Arch & Handle reserves the right to update, revise, or replace these Terms of Service at any time. The date of the most recent revision appears at the top of this page. We will use reasonable efforts to notify active clients of material changes via email to the address on file.

Your continued use of the Website or your continued engagement of our Services following the posting of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of those revised Terms. If you do not agree with a material change, your recourse is to discontinue use of the Website or, with respect to active project engagements, to address the change through the dispute resolution process set out above.

Non-material changes — such as corrections of typographical errors, clarifications that do not alter the substance of any provision, or formatting updates — do not require notification and are effective immediately upon posting.

16. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, wish to raise a concern, or need to contact us in connection with a current or prospective engagement, please reach out using any of the following:

Email: info@archandhandle.com
Telephone: 1-888-884-4011
Studio Location: Washington, DC

We aim to respond to all written enquiries within two business days. For urgent matters relating to an active project, please call us directly.