FAQS
Can you help with selecting finishes for a project I’m working on with a builder, where the builder has already designed the spaces?
This isn’t something I do. A building company is not a design service (unless it’s using the services of a professionally qualified designer). I offer a professional design service, so my role would be to provide that service as a professional in the field and not finish a project planned (not designed) by others.
When I’m working with other services who may be included on the projects, I only work on the design, details and finishes of interior spaces that follow the architectural designs created by professional qualified architects.
How does your fee structure work?
Each design project has a detailed design brief, so the design fees are derived individually and work on a fixed fee under a set design contract.
For each design contract, there’s a set timeframe for the design service. This also allows for a set number of revisions for me to incorporate your feedback and changes.
The fixed fee for the overall service is split into monthly payments according to the number of months set for the project design service. The first payment is a deposit, which is made before the design service starts.
What projects I take on is based on my availability. But I only work on two projects at the same time to ensure I can give the right amount of attention to your project.
Please get in touch if you would like further information on fees.
Do you offer a decor service so you can help with the furniture and furnishings of my current space?
Unfortunately, that’s not something I do. Furniture and furnishings selections as an individual service are better suited to someone offering interior decorating services or interior styling services.
My design service focuses on interior architectural design and furniture design. I do include an interior styling service with furniture and furnishings selections to complete a space I’ve designed but I don’t offer it as a standalone service.
Why would I not go directly to a cabinetmaker or builder for the design of my home when they appear to offer the whole package?
To put it simply, cabinet makers are not designers. Good cabinetmakers work with professionally qualified designers on their designs, using their experience and knowledge of construction methods to ensure a piece is built as the designer intended.
A cabinetmaker’s job isn’t to organise and plan your space or advise you on the best ergonomics layout or help you choose finishes. While cabinetmakers have a good understanding of cabinetry finishes and fittings for function and build, so do designers. The cabinetmaker or builder’s role is not to design your space but rather build it.
Do you offer architectural design services for extensions and additions to my home?
No. I offer a design service for interior spaces only (interior architecture). But I do work alongside architects to detail and design the interiors of the buildings they design.
If you require architecture services, always use a professional and registered architect. If you need interior design services, always use an interior architect.
I’m overwhelmed with the variation of information I find online. How do I find the right designer for me and the right design service?
With the field of design being disrespectfully unregulated in most parts of the world, there are a lot of unqualified designers offering, what they describe as, ‘design services’.
Some renovation companies offer design as part of their package, without having a professional design qualification; real estate agents describe home staging as a ‘design service’; and there are those people who take a three-month online course in home styling and decorating and refer to their service offering as ‘interior design’.
You can find tapware, finishes, tiles and furniture showrooms offering ‘design services’. And sales staff are often referred to as interior designers. But if they were, chances are they’d be working in a design studio for a design professional rather than on the sales floor.
There’s a significant difference between a home stylist with an online qualification, and a professional designer with a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree and a wealth of industry learning experience in design.
So as a starting point, find out who is a professional designer and who is a decorator, renovation procurement company, stylist, real estate agent or showroom sales assistant.
When you establish who you’re speaking to, ask about qualifications and experience. It’s essential you employ the right designer with an appropriate qualification and the knowledge required to complete your project. Without these checks, expensive mistakes can be made which could cost you money and time to recover.