WE UNDERSTAND THE PROPERTY MARKET AND WORK TO
MAXIMISE YOUR PROFITS.
THEREFORE OUR AIM IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE –
ADDING VALUE TO YOUR PROPERTY
THROUGH CREATIVITY.
INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECTS
Hourly rate: £72.00 and scale drawings/perspective drawings are extra, but we will provide a no obligation estimate including costs for relevant drawings if requested for each individual project, prior to its commencement.
HOUSE DOCTOR SERVICE
Our one hour verbal consultation fee is circa £90-120* depending on the size of the property. This will give you an idea of what changes could be made should you wish to tackle the project yourself.
If you require us to provide the full House Doctor service, we will submit a quote for the relevant work required. Where possible we will emphasise the good points of the property and aim to enhance them. Any features that could be considered unattractive will be given a discreet makeover by the team. Please note – a builder may need to visit subsequent to the initial consultation (at no additional cost), to price any building work elements to the project.
*This cost will be deducted from the final bill should you choose to proceed with the agreed House Doctor plan.
The above simplifies and summaries the process of design from commencement to completion; not all of these processes apply to every project.
Please contact us for further information.
Concept
Shortly after our appointment, we discuss our clients' ideas and requirements and ask them to put-together detailed wish-lists. Some of this ground will have been covered at the initial consultation. We then put-together an initial concept design consisting of hand-drawn layouts and perspective sketches. This is presented to the client and revised, if necessary, following further discussions. By the end of this exercise, the general layouts will have been agreed.
Planning
Planning permission is generally required for external alterations to a building. At least eight weeks should be allowed for a planning application to run its course, and longer should the proposals be contentious. Additional constraints apply to listed buildings, or those within Conservation Areas. We have extensive experience in sensitively handling the planning procedure, negotiating with planners, and maximising the likelihood of a positive outcome.
Detailed Designs
The next stage is to discuss and develop the designs in further detail, including all fixtures, fittings and finishes. This is done in liason with specialist consultants and suppliers, such as a structural engineer, kitchen company (if not bespoke), audio-visual consultant, party wall surveyor, landscape designer and so forth. Our CAD drawings are gradually developed as specialist information is obtained until they are sufficiently detailed for accurate pricing.
Pricing
We generally send our drawings and a pricing schedule to two or three builders with whom we have excellent working relationships with a view to obtaining competitive tenders. We are also happy to work with builders recommended by clients. Our fully-itemised tender report clearly shows how each builder has arrived at his price, and enables omissions to be made if necessary. The chosen builder is then formally appointed and the building works can start.
Construction
We always prefer to run our projects on-site so that we can maintain our exacting standards of finishing, as well as keeping the project on-budget and on-schedule. Many of our projects involve refurbishments of existing buildings and we are well-used to dealing with unforeseen issues that always arise during the construction phase. We visit the building site weekly during the course of the construction phase and are in daily contact with the principal contractor.
The purpose of this document is to explain precisely how we charge for our services. We operate a simple fee structure, full details of which are outlined below. (Please note the prices quoted are for residential clients only; commercial projects are subject to individual quotation.
Initial Consultation
An important part of our assessment is to view your chosen space, discuss your requirements/ budget, make initial suggestions and assess how much involvement you need from us. This initial consultation takes place in your home, within days of you first contacting us.
The consultation is your opportunity to show us the space, present us with your ideas and ask us any questions you have about how we work. The consultation generally lasts 90 minutes, during which time we discuss your interior needs in greater detail, show you our portfolio and generally get a better feel for the area you want re-designed.
At this stage, if required, we would also undertake a full laser survey and take photographs of the space in question. Following the meeting, we will send you a detailed proposal for the work we propose to undertake, with fixed fees given for each item.
Fee: £110.00
Interior Design
After receipt of our proposal, if you wish to proceed, the next stage involves us making as many site visits as necessary to establish the detail of your requirements, presenting design suggestions and samples as appropriate, and drawing up floor-plans and layouts. How long all this takes varies according to the complexity of your particular project – and, crucially, any changes which you ask us to make along the way.
Together with the final drawings, we’ll present you with a detailed sampleboard and a list of key items of furniture, fabrics, fittings (such as lighting) and accessories, all of which can be purchased through us. All goods within the design scheme will be invoiced at the Trade Price plus an agreed handling charge.
Once you have approved the final drawings, we can prepare detailed specifications for the works to be undertaken by craftsmen and contractors – carpenters, plumbers, decorators and the like. You can choose whether to hire and supervise contractors yourself, or to use our services
Fee: Fixed fee for our research time and interior design ideas based on an hourly rate of £50.00. An estimate
will be given to you prior start of work.
A 50% deposit for our design fee is payable upon engagement with the remainder payable upon delivery of sample boards and design specifications.
Design Packages and Supply
All products supplied to complete your new interior scheme are charged at the best Trade Prices we can negotiate on your behalf, plus a small handling charge of 15%. A deposit is required prior to the placement of any purchase orders.
Project specification for contractors (optional)
Once you have approved the final drawings, we can prepare detailed specifications for the works to be undertaken by craftsmen and contractors – carpenters, plumbers, decorators and the like. You can choose whether to hire and supervise contractors yourself, or to use our services
Fee: Fixed fee based on an hourly rate of £50.00. An estimate will be given to you prior start of work.
Project co-ordination/management
Carpentry Designs, if commissioned, will work on your behalf to see the project through from start to finish. We will produce competitive costings & negotiate trade discounts. We will appoint contractors, source suppliers, organise the work/installation, hold regular site meetings with the contractors, co-ordinate hand-over including the resolution of any snagging issues and organise a 3 months defects meeting.
Carpentry Designs do-not receive any commission from the tradesmen involved. (Please note that not all interior designers operate this way!) We pride ourselves on achieving the best possible service and value for our clients.
Fee: charged at 15% of the overall project cost.
(However, this 15% is generally recouped by the package deals and discounts we negotiate on your behalf, from manufacturers and contractors. Thus, our overall involvement makes this service extremely good value.)
Invoices in respect of the project co-ordination/ management fee are charged in line with payments to contractors/ suppliers or at intervals throughout the duration of the project. Clients will be invoiced directly by each contractor, ensuring those all-important guarantees.
Our residential projects have varied greatly in size and contract value, ranging from £6K for a room make-over (curtains, flooring, colour scheme, lighting and accessorising the new decor) to over £500K for a large residential project, re-designing the entire footprint of the property to include a stylish new extension, together with a comprehensive internal refurbishment. This included a state-of-the-art German kitchen, Italian furniture and exclusive finishes throughout.
We also get commissioned by design-led commercial clients with projects ranging from interior design consultancy only, where we have advised clients on custom made joinery work, bespoke furniture and exclusive finishes for independent hotels, bars and restaurants.
