Q&A
Whether you are planning a kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation or needing a complete home redesign, working with an interior designer might be a new experience. We've outlined the practical details to help you understand what to expect when working together.
​IF YOU HAVE OTHER BURNING QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL US AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP.
IS THERE A FEE FOR THE CONSULTATION MEETING?
Yes, the initial consultation is a working meeting in your home designed to deliver immediate feedback and action points. We will discuss your project in detail, get to know you, how you use your space and your vision for your project. We will discuss floor plans, structural changes, ideas for finishes and inclusions, set a design direction and identify any immediate action points.​
We will discuss the process and how we work, your budget, the timeline and options moving forward. Following our meeting, we will respond with a Scope of Works and an Estimate of Fees for the next stage. The fee for this initial consultation is $600+GST. Find out more about our various services here.
HOW ARE YOUR FEES STRUCTURED?
Our fees are invoiced upfront at each stage of a project. An estimate of fees is provided for your specific project with a payment being made at the start of the Concept, Design Development and Documentation stages.
Fees for design support services including procurement, site meetings, showroom visits and design management during construction and variations are calculated at an hourly rate and invoiced in advance in 10 or 20 hour blocks.
HOW LONG DOES THE DESIGN PROCESS TAKE?
Depending on the scope of your project, the design stage will typically vary from 8 weeks for a single room to 18 weeks for a house. This includes the initial consultation, design concept, design development and documentation as well as sourcing of materials and furnishings. To ensure ample time to achieve the best results, plan for our initial meeting around 3-6 months ahead of construction starting.
WHAT INVESTMENT WILL I NEED TO ALLOCATE TO DESIGN?
While every project will vary based on different requirements, allow an additional 10-15% of the estimated build cost as a guide. After the initial consultation, we will provide an estimate of the design fees for your project.
DO I NEED TO ORGANISE MY OWN BUILDER?
We have builders we can recommend but are also happy to work with your builder of choice. Renovations can be complex and stressful so it's critical that the builder you engage not only delivers an excellent outcome but also fosters a good consultative relationship and open communication with all parties involved.
WHO WILL PROJECT MANAGE THE BUILD AND WHAT IS DESIGN MANAGEMENT?
Once a builder is appointed, they are responsible for delivering the project as documented and within the agreed time frame stated in their contract. They project manage and oversee all trades.
We design manage the project, working closely with the trades and builder to ensure the design integrity and quality is upheld, addressing any variations and providing any additional information during construction. We make regular site visits as the project progresses to ensure design expectations are being met and you are being kept across progress at every stage.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION DO YOU PROVIDE?
We provide all floor plans and elevations for your kitchen, bathrooms and joinery designs. We also provide lighting and electrical plans. You will receive 3D renders of key areas to help you visualise the space as well as floorplans to show furniture placement.
In addition, we provide detailed specification schedules for all finishes, fixtures, fittings and colours. Our goal is to ensure everything is taken care of, ready to hand over to the trades to get started.
​
Changes to the building envelope or complex internal structural reworkings would require a building designer, engineer or architect to provide construction drawings and the necessary council permits, which we can assist with.
WHEN ARE INVOICES DUE?
All invoices for design fees are due within seven days. This ensures that there are no delays in the design timeline on your project as work cannot proceed further if invoices are not up to date.
Payment for fixtures and furniture will require a deposit, which is usually 50% to confirm the order with the balance due prior to delivery.
HOW SHOULD WE COMMUNICATE?
Scheduled phone calls, meetings and emails allow us to keep a record of all the critical details for your project. We discourage text messaging as it is not a reliable way to keep track of important information.
WHAT HOURS ARE YOU CONTACTABLE?
Our normal hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm. However we understand that flexibiity is important for our busy clients and can make additional arrangements that work for both parties. If we are out of the office we will respond to you as soon as possible, and normally within 24 hours. We will reply to emails or messages received over the weekend on the next working day.