What is included in the Initial Consultation?
The Initial Consultation includes up to 90 minutes of Meredith’s time at your home (or via Zoom if you prefer) discussing your interior design project. We bring fresh eyes and a wealth of experience, so we can suggest solutions and ways of looking at your home that you might not have considered. The appointment length usually enables multiple rooms and topics to be considered in the one appointment.
What topics do you generally cover in an Initial Consultation?
Common topics include improving room layout or use, discussing how floorplans can be improved, discussing the priority plan for renovations that include a general budget and timeline. Discussions about paint colours and window furnishings. Sometimes people have samples they’d like us to choose from so they can finalise their kitchen or bathroom selections for a builder.
Can I just have an Initial Consultation without signing up to further work?
Yes, for some people all they need is the Initial Consultation to give them confidence to move ahead themselves, others want further help. The Initial Consultation means we then have enough detailed information about your project to provide a quote specific to your needs.
How far in advance should we book an Initial Consultation?
Generally 2-3 weeks in advance will mean there is going to be good flexibility to find a time that suits you. If you require an appointment sooner than that, give us a call to see how we can help fit you in.
What happens after the Initial Consultation?
If you’d like further help then Meredith will provide a quote for the scope discussed. Then if you’d like to go ahead with that work, the design phase begins.
How does the Interior Design process work?
Generally all our projects go through the following steps below after the Initial Consultation. The breadth of the project determines the extent of the process, for example a larger project will have an extensive Site Documentation and Detailed Briefing meeting, whilst small projects might have covered this during the Initial Consultation. Some projects have multiple presentations and refinements, others just a single presentation.
1. Quote acceptance
2. Site Documentation and Detailed Briefing
3. Design Consideration and Documentation
4. Design Presentation
5. Refinement
6. Documentation Finalised
Once the design is complete, the following steps can also be undertaken:
7. Furnishing Ordering
8. Project Administration
9. On Site Services, e.g. Styling and Picture Hanging
How do you choose the suppliers for furnishings in the rooms you design?
We have a large base of trusted suppliers from which we draw for our designs. We have chosen our preferred suppliers based on their quality, pricing, design, availability, customer care and after sales services such as delivery. Some of these suppliers are trade only and wholesalers, others are retailers. We can use suppliers that you nominate if you’d prefer, there may just be limitations to the design and delivery of your products.
Do you provide a discount on the furniture and furnishings you specify?
Where available we can provide discounts off RRP to our clients for furniture and furnishings we specify. In our designs this ‘trade pricing’ is nominated along with the RRP. This can help offset the cost of our design fees. Our priority is to make sure we fulfill your brief with the best selection to suit your needs.
Do we have to purchase furniture and furnishings from you?
No not at all. You can purchase via any other supplier, or simply use the styling/dimensions etc to find a similar piece of furniture elsewhere. We do find most of our clients prefer to purchase through us for the simplicity of ordering everything together rather than having to go to many different suppliers, as well as to receive any specified discounts.
Do you have trades you can recommend?
Yes, we have built up a great selection of trades that we trust and are happy to recommend to our clients.
We live overseas or interstate and want someone who can oversee our Melbourne renovation, can you do that?
Yes, that is something we’re regularly asked to do. We can organise quotes, make sure trades turn up and deliver, be there for furniture delivery and put everything in place whilst you’re elsewhere.