ARE INTERIOR DESIGNERS ABLE TO OFFER BETTER DISCOUNTS THAN RETAIL OUTLETS?
Absolutely! As professional decorators, we have access to exclusive rates on furniture, decor, artwork, and soft furnishings, which are generally not available to the public. We have connections with a vast network of suppliers who offer their products only to industry professionals. This exclusivity means you could save between 10-40% off the standard retail prices, significantly offsetting the cost of our services.
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL TIMELINE FOR DESIGNING/DECORATING A HOME?
The time it takes to design or decorate a home is influenced by several factors, including the project's size and complexity, and your personal requirements and tastes.
During our initial consultation, we establish a timeline and outline various stages:
- Concept Creation (Approx. 1 week) - We determine the overall design direction for your project.
- Design Development (2-3 weeks) - In this phase, we select colour schemes, textures, fabrics, joinery styles, and furniture arrangements.
- Design Documentation (2-3 weeks) - We compile detailed documentation of your design, including a comprehensive spreadsheet, to guide both you and any tradespeople involved.
- Order Management - After finalising your choices, we handle the ordering and delivery management of items. This stage's duration depends on the availability of the selected items.
- Final Styling - Once everything is delivered, we offer an optional service to fine-tune the styling of your space, adding the finishing touches to bring the design to life.
(Note: This service may not be necessary for all projects.)
WHAT IS THE DESIGN AND DECORATING JOURNEY LIKE?
The journey of designing and decorating your home, while lengthy and sometimes demanding, culminates in a profound sense of relief and achievement. Once completed, you'll find immense joy and comfort in your newly transformed space. It becomes a haven where you can unwind and feel completely at ease.
There's also a special kind of excitement and pride in displaying your unique style and preferences, particularly when entertaining guests. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, a thoughtfully designed and decorated home can significantly enhance your mood and overall well-being. Research indicates that living in a space that aligns with your taste and comfort needs can lead to reduced stress levels and heightened happiness. This is more than just a design accomplishment; it's a substantial contribution to your quality of life!
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A DESIGNER/DECORATOR?
Time and Money Efficiency: A designer saves you the hassle of endless weekend trips to shopping centres, trying to match lampshades with your living room. They have the know-how and resources to make efficient and aesthetically pleasing choices.
Harmony in Decision Making: Selecting sofa fabrics or arguing over the number of cushions on the bed can strain relationships. A professional decorator can offer guidance, streamlining these decisions and reducing household tensions.
Access to Skilled Tradespeople: Designers have a network of reliable tradespeople for tasks you might not have the time or knowledge to arrange yourself.
Exclusive Product Access: As industry insiders, decorators can source high-quality products from wholesalers that are typically not available to the general public.
A Home You'll Adore: Ultimately, the goal of a designer/decorator is to create a functional, beautiful, and real living space that brings a smile to your face every time you walk through the door.
WHAT IS THE COST OF HIRING AN INTERIOR DECORATOR?
This is perhaps the most common query we receive, and understandably so. The cost can vary significantly as each home and client's requirements are unique. We tailor our services to fit individual budgets and timeframes.
Here's a general breakdown of our process and associated costs:
- Initial In-Home Consultation: This begins with a one-hour meeting to understand your style, how you use your space, and your aspirations for your home.
- Proposal: Post-consultation, we'll send you a detailed document outlining the required hours to complete design selections, draft floor plans, and source soft furnishings, lighting, furniture, art, and decor. We work on an hourly basis and provide upfront quotes to avoid any unexpected costs.
- Designing Your Mood Board: We then create a mood board (or design concept board) for you, detailing recommended items, a floor plan layout, and a design action plan to show how we'll execute the process.
- Buying Your Furniture: After finalizing the design concepts, our Studio Coordinator will handle the furniture purchasing process. You'll benefit from our trade discounts, which can save you 10-30% off the retail price (though this practice may vary among decorators).
- Final Touches: Optionally, we can revisit to optimally place the furniture, correctly arrange cushions (yes, there's a technique to it!), and give your home that polished look. Many clients find this step educational and enjoyable. We always bring fresh flowers as a final touch to enhance the space.
Our aim is to provide transparent and tailored services, ensuring your satisfaction without any hidden surprises.
WHO ARE YOUR TYPICAL CLIENTS?
Our clientele is wonderfully diverse, ensuring that no two projects are ever identical, which is something we thoroughly enjoy. We cater to a wide range of clients, each with their unique needs and aspirations:
Families Upsizing: Those transitioning into their first significant family home, seeking to create a space that's both functional and welcoming.
Empty Nesters: Clients who are moving from a family home to a smaller unit, requiring a design that adapts to this new phase of life.
Bachelors: Helping to stylishly outfit their personal spaces, reflecting their individuality and lifestyle.
Investment Property Owners: Providing complete turnkey fit-outs for rental properties, ensuring they are attractive to potential renters.
Small Boutique Commercial Projects: Tailoring our services to small-scale commercial endeavours, creating unique and engaging business environments.
We particularly value working with clients where there is a strong personality fit, as it adds to the fun and creativity of the project. We're always open to exploring different types of projects within these varied client profiles.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO BLEND RETAIL AND TRADE-ONLY ITEMS?
Absolutely! Our approach involves understanding your budget and then sourcing items that we believe will best suit your project. This means that if the perfect item for your space is available at a retail store, we'll provide you with a hyperlink, allowing you to purchase it at your convenience. For trade-only items, we take care of the entire ordering and delivery process on your behalf, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience.
CAN I CONSULT WITH YOU AND THEN DO THE SHOPPING MYSELF?
Certainly! Our initial consultation is designed for exactly this purpose. It's an opportunity for you to tap into our professional expertise for any design-related queries you might have. If, after our discussion, you feel confident enough to handle the shopping and selections yourself, you're more than welcome to do so. Alternatively, if you prefer, we can provide a quote to manage the sourcing for you. The choice is entirely yours, and we're here to support you in whichever path you choose.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE JUST A FEW ROOMS DECORATED INSTEAD OF THE ENTIRE HOUSE?
Absolutely! We frequently focus on specific areas such as lounge rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, outdoor spaces, and entryways. However, we understand that every client has unique needs and priorities. Therefore, you have the flexibility to choose as many or as few rooms as you'd like for us to work on. We tailor our services to address the specific aspects of your home that you want to enhance or transform.
WHAT RANGE OF BUDGETS DO YOU ACCOMMODATE?
We are adaptable to a wide array of budgets and make it a priority to establish a clear budget during the initial consultation. This approach ensures that we align our design solutions with your financial comfort zone, ensuring
HOW CAN AN INTERIOR DECORATOR ASSIST ME?
As interior decorators, we act as your creative and practical guides throughout the entire duration of your project. This can range from a swift 4-week setup to extensive collaborations spanning over 3 years, covering various rooms, renovations, or even new homes.
Our role includes:
Furniture Planning: We determine the optimal arrangement of furniture in your space. This might involve utilizing your existing pieces, introducing new ones, or a combination of both.
Sourcing Specific Items: Struggling to find that perfect navy blue velvet armchair? We excel at finding or customizing unique pieces to match your vision. Whether it's coordinating bespoke items like bedheads with special fabrics and details, or selecting off-the-shelf items from retail outlets, we ensure that every piece fits seamlessly into the overall design of your space.
In essence, we're here to turn your vision into a reality, handling everything from planning to procurement, to create a space that truly reflects your style and meets your needs.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I'M UNCERTAIN ABOUT MY BUDGET?
Not knowing your budget initially is completely fine! We can help with budgeting to assist you in understanding where to allocate funds more effectively, whether it's deciding where to splurge or where to save on new furniture purchases. Additionally, if you have shopped at specific stores in the past, we can use the price ranges from these retailers as a guide. This approach helps us to tailor our suggestions and plans to suit your financial comfort zone, ensuring a smooth and stress-free design process.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET HELP WITH JUST PARTS OF MY HOME INSTEAD OF THE ENTIRE HOUSE?
Certainly! Many of our clients seek assistance with just one or two rooms, rather than an overhaul of the entire house. It's quite common for clients to have already acquired several major items and simply need a professional eye to bring everything together cohesively. In such instances, we offer our services on an hourly basis, focusing specifically on selecting those final pieces that will complete your space. Whether it's adding finishing touches or addressing specific challenges in a room, we're here to help according to your individual needs and progress.