Most of our clients have never worked with an interior designer before, so if you haven’t either, you’re in good company. One client told us it “felt like a luxury and something ‘other people’ did” at first.
Two worries come up most often when people get in touch: that their project is too small, and that we won’t work with “ordinary” homes. This post answers both, and walks you through what happens next.
In this post, you’ll discover:
- whether your project is too small
- whether we work with ordinary homes
- what happens on the free discovery call
- what a project is really like, and when clients get excited
- what clients tell us afterwards
Is my project too small?
We design for a single room or a whole home. If you’d like to start small, a VIP Day (£995 per room) is one room designed in a day. A Design Direction Session (£345) can stand alone, or be the start of a full project.
You don’t need to have it all worked out first. That’s what the free discovery call is for.
Do you work on ordinary homes?
Yes. We work on everything from period homes to new builds, and most of our projects are in homes that are newer than period. One of our Poole projects was a new-build flat.
Another client wrote that they thought our services would be far “out of our league”, and then added “how wrong was I.”
What happens on the free discovery call?
It’s a free 15-minute call, and it’s a chat about your home. I ask what you’re planning to update or renovate, and why you feel you need help. I also ask how many rooms are involved, what isn’t working, and how you want your home to feel.
Then I’ll tell you honestly whether we’re the right fit, before we go any further.
What is a project actually like?
A full project usually takes three to six months. It starts with a full measure and site survey, so we can plan your space properly. Then we choose the overall look and feel and the colour palette, and we set up an online studio with a board for each room.
The moment clients get excited is when they first see the design board of all the proposed items for their room, and look at the physical samples. It’s a lovely stage! Everything you’ve talked about suddenly looks real.
After any updates, we order everything, schedule the trades and organise the deliveries. Then comes the reveal, when you walk in and it’s all done.
What if I can’t picture it?
You’ll see your rooms in 3D, look at all the samples together, and get a clear view of the costs and the overall plan before you buy anything.
Who looks after the trades and the ordering?
We do. We take care of the project management and the buying, with access to trade pricing, and we plan and organise the trades, so you’re not left chasing anyone yourself.
Will I be glad I hired a designer?
Clients often tell me later that they’re so glad they listened to my advice. For example, we’ve spotted false economies and avoided expensive mistakes they might have made if they hadn’t hired us.
Many of our clients come back years later, when they make more changes or move house.
Ready to talk it through?
If you’ve been wondering whether a project like yours is the right size for us, book a free discovery call with me. Tell me about your home and what you’d like to change, and I’ll tell you honestly whether we’re the right fit. Book a free discovery call
We work with homeowners across Dorset and the New Forest.
Final thoughts
Hiring an interior designer for the first time is a big step, and it’s one most of our clients have taken. Which room would you change first? I’d love to know!