Anatomy of a Project

The field of interior design can be a bit of a mystery. For a lot of my clients their first interaction with us is their first ever interaction with a designer and they are often unsure what to expect. When is the best time to get a designer involved? What elements are covered and how does what they do overlap with other professionals on the project?

Most of our projects tend divide into 3 main stages; consultation, design, and specifications with an option of project management for those who need a bit more help running things on site.

So, what do those stages actually involve and what can you expect from us over the lifetime of your project? I’ve used a recent bathroom project in Kensal Rise in London to explain more about how we work.

1. Consultation

A first consultation meeting typically lasts between 1 and 2 hours and will cover everything that you have in mind for the project including layout (what currently works and what doesn’t), thoughts on style (we might go through a set of images to get some ideas, or you might have some saved that you want to share) and budget.

For this project in Kensal Rise the bathroom and next-door WC worked fine in principal but were lacking in character and were looking a bit tired. My client wanted something more modern and with more impact and shared a range of photos for inspiration. She also wanted to explore whether the room could be laid out more effectively or if it was better to stick with what they had.

Although this client was based in London and involved fewer site visits than a normal project, I visited the property at the start for the consultation, to see and photograph the space and to take all the measurements so that I could build a 3D model of the room to map out the layout.

2. Design

Armed with the measurements and the brief from our client we head into the design stage. We cover absolutely everything to pull together a completed room, and in this case we changed absolutely everything from tiles to brassware and sanitaryware, lighting, furniture and accessories.

A design is typically presented in the form of both design (or mood) boards, elevations, and 3D visuals.

Our design boards illustrate all the finishes suggested in the design and demonstrates how they are used in the room and also how they work together. They can incorporate existing elements as with the artwork in this case

The elevations and 3D views apply these finishes to a model and help clients to visualise how the completed room will look both from an aesthetic and layout perspective. In this instance I presented the design with the existing layout as well as alternative and the client opted to keep things as they were which also helps to keep costs down.

At this stage we might also go through a round of two of amendments to the design but in this instance there were no changes. Always good when you get the design right the first time! When we have a design that we’re happy with we move onto the next stage, specifications.

3. Specifications

The specifications stage is about arming you with everything you need to turn the design into a reality which incorporates four main elements:

Samples

At this stage we order samples of all the finishes in the design to check that everything works together in real life and, most importantly, in that room. Colours can look entirely different not just in different lights but also in combination with other colours so it’s essential to check that everything looks just right in the room. At this stage we may make some adjustments to the design if we feel that there is any element that doesn’t quite chime.

Contractors

Finding the right contractors to help with your project can be one of the biggest headaches you face as a homeowner. As we work predominantly in the North West of England we can typically suggest contractors to help with your project if you are within this area. Outside of this area we can also ask for recommendations from our contacts to try to make sure you are working with tradespeople who will do a good standard of work.

Technical Drawings

To make your life simpler and minimise the number of questions you are answering when your team is on site, we can put together a pack of drawings which illustrate the design in detail for your contractors to work to. We can also provide these drawings to you earlier in the process, as we did in this case, to give tradespeople a clear plan to price from, reducing the chance of them changing their price during the course of the job.

Shopping List

As a final step we also produce a detailed shopping list including every item and material you need to complete the design. This includes calculating quantities for items such as tiling and paint as well as detailing every last accessory you need to create the perfect look. If you prefer, we can also manage procurement so that every item gets to you exactly when it is needed.

At this point you have everything you need to bring your design to life, but our involvement doesn’t have to stop there. We also offer hourly project management support throughout the lifetime of your work either for those who want to be able to ask the odd question here and there or for those who want someone to hire contractors, manage all sourcing and procurement and conduct site visits to check on progress.

Whatever your situation we hold your hand through to the end of the process to help you to achieve your perfect design.

Five Common Mistakes People Make About Interior Design

Why hire an interior designer? Five important ways a professional can add value to your project