Commercial interior design, answered
With more than 25 years across office, medical, hospitality and government fitouts, we're asked the same handful of questions at the start of most projects. Here they are, straight — if yours isn't covered, ask us directly.
What does an interior designer actually do?
Far more than styling. We handle space planning, building codes, compliance, workflow design, technical documentation, material selections, lighting, and coordination with builders and consultants — acting as your advocate from concept to completion.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes — a short introductory call to understand your project, timeframe and goals. From there we can scope a feasibility review that outlines budget expectations and compliance requirements before design begins.
What do you need from me to get started?
Your goals, the tenancy size and location, any site plans or measurements, a preferred timeline and budget range, and functional requirements — number of rooms, workstations, or customer flow. We'll guide you through anything you're unsure of.
How much should I budget for a fitout?
Costs vary with tenancy size, sector regulations and finishes — design fees typically sit around 10% of construction cost. We run a needs review early to check your vision aligns with budget before design work starts.
If my scope or budget is unrealistic, will you tell me?
Yes, always. Clear, honest guidance is one of our core values — if a timeline or budget won't work, we say so early and recommend adjustments before you commit.
How do you keep the project on schedule and on budget?
Staged reviews, detailed drawings that remove ambiguity on site, and a tender process across at least three builders so pricing is accurate before construction starts.
What is your design process?
Six stages: research, analysis, design, drawings, tender, build. It's the same structure whether the project is a single consult room or a multi-level office.
What's your experience with building codes and compliance?
More than 25 years across medical, wellness, hospitality, government and workplace sectors — accessibility, acoustics, fire regulations and change-of-use requirements included. We work directly with certifiers and engineers to keep your design compliant before it reaches build.
Can you work with my existing furniture or layout?
Where it makes sense, yes. We assess what you already have against the new concept and compliance needs, and integrate anything that still earns its place.
What if I want to make changes to the design?
Welcome, early on. Concept and development stages are the right time to refine — once documentation moves into technical drawings, changes can affect cost and timing, so we'll flag that clearly if it comes up.
Do you manage the build, or just the design?
We attend site meetings, resolve queries and protect design intent throughout construction. Your builder runs the trades on site; we make sure what gets built matches what was designed.
Still have a question?
Tell us about your project and we'll give you a straight answer.
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