A Calm, Considered Process

It depends on the discipline and the stage. Most architecture and interior projects are charged as a percentage of construction cost - typically 8–12% for full-scope architecture and 12–18% for interiors, depending on complexity and level of detail. For smaller projects, a fixed fee is often cleaner. Landscape is usually a fixed fee based on site area and planting density. We never charge hourly for design work - it punishes slow thinking, and slow thinking is where the good ideas come from.

What's included in the fee

• All design stages from concept to construction documentation
• Coordination with structural, MEP, and specialist engineers
• Site supervision visits and contractor liaison
• Material selection, sourcing, and specification

What's billed separately

• Government permits and authority fees
• Specialist consultants (acoustics, lighting design, AV)
• Physical models, 3D printing, or high-end renders
• Post-handover styling and furniture procurement

Our fee proposal is itemized line by line. Nothing appears on an invoice that wasn't agreed in advance.

Each discipline moves at a different pace. Architecture is the longest - typically 12 to 24 months from first meeting to handover, because the design, permitting, and construction phases each have their own rhythm. Interiors usually run 4 to 10 months. Landscape sits somewhere in between at 3 to 8 months, depending on whether there's hardscaping (paving, walls, water features) or purely planting.

What slows projects down

• Late decision-making from clients or committees - the single biggest cause of delay
• Slow permit approvals, especially for heritage areas or changes of use
• Material lead times - imported stone, specialist joinery, bespoke lighting
• Weather windows for external works (landscape, facades, roofing)

What speeds them up

• A single point of contact on your side with the authority to decide
• Early engagement of the contractor - we prefer design-build with a trusted partner
• Committing to material selections during design, not during construction
• Regular, short decision meetings rather than infrequent long ones

We give you a realistic timeline at the start and update it after every stage. If something slips, you'll know why and by how much.

You can absolutely use your own contractor. We work with whichever route suits you best. There are three common arrangements, and each has trade-offs.

1. Tender (we recommend for most projects)

We prepare a detailed tender package, invite 3–5 contractors to price it, and help you compare their bids - not just on price, but on method, materials, and programme. This takes 4–6 weeks but usually saves more than it costs.

2. Your existing contractor

If you already have a contractor you trust, we'll integrate them into the process from the concept stage. We'll still prepare full documentation, and we'll hold them to the same standards. The risk is that without competitive tender, pricing is harder to benchmark. We mitigate this by checking key rates against market data.

3. Design-build (single point of responsibility)

Occasionally a client prefers a single design-build entity to take the whole project. We work in this model with two or three trusted firms in the region. It's faster and administratively simpler, but you have less visibility into the pricing breakdown. We only recommend it for projects where speed matters more than cost transparency.

Whatever route you choose, our role is the same: protect the design intent, protect your interests, and hold the quality line.

As involved as you want to be - but there are two or three moments where your input is genuinely irreplaceable, and missing them causes real problems later.

Moments we need you

• The brief (Stage 1) - your needs, budget, and non-negotiables
• Concept selection (end of Stage 2) - which direction feels right
• Material and finish approval (Stage 3) - you'll live with these every day
• Final snag walkthrough (Stage 6) - before handover

What we handle without you

• Technical coordination between consultants and trades
• Weekly site inspections and progress reporting
• Material sourcing, ordering, and delivery coordination
• Resolving on-site issues without pestering you with every detail

Working remotely or from abroad

Many of our clients are overseas. We use video walkthroughs, a shared project folder, and scheduled calls (monthly at minimum, weekly during construction). You'll see progress photos and snag videos without needing to fly in. That said, we strongly recommend attending the concept presentation and the final handover in person if you can - those two moments are worth the trip.

Yes, we take on small projects. A single-room interior, a courtyard garden, or a small extension can be just as rewarding as a full building - and often more so, because the constraints force clarity.

What we consider small

• Single-room interiors (bathroom, kitchen, study)
• Courtyard or terrace landscape (under 100 sqm)
• Small extensions (under 60 sqm)
• Furniture and joinery design as a standalone service

What we don't take

• Speculative work - we don't design for competitions we haven't chosen
• Projects where the client wants a rubber stamp on pre-made drawings
• Anything requiring us to undercut another designer's fee

We assess fit, not size. If a project is interesting and we can do it justice, we'll take it on. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you honestly and often refer you to someone better suited.

Budgets change. Materials go up, scope gets added, priorities shift. We plan for it. Every project has a budget tracker that we update at the end of each stage, so you're never surprised by a final number.

Our approach to budget

• We set a realistic range at the brief stage, not an optimistic number
• We carry a 10–15% contingency in the cost plan from day one
• We flag cost impacts before decisions are made, not after
• We present value alternatives, not just 'yes' or 'no'

If the budget tightens mid-project

We'll sit down with you and go through a structured value-engineering exercise. That doesn't mean cheaping everything out - it means identifying where money is doing real work, and where it's just decoration. Often we can save 15–20% by adjusting finishes, simplifying joinery details, or phasing the work without touching the core design idea.

If the budget grows

Equally valid. Sometimes clients realise mid-project they can afford the stone they really wanted, or the garden they'd cut. We'll help you prioritise where additional spend has the most impact - usually on things you'll touch, see, or hear every day, rather than things that only look good in photos.

Yes. Permit coordination is part of the service for any project that needs it - and it's usually more involved than clients expect. We handle the paperwork, the submissions, the follow-ups, and the revisions when the authority asks for something unexpected.

What we handle

• Zoning and planning submissions
• Building permit applications and revisions
• Heritage or conservation approvals, where applicable
• Civil Defence, utilities, and infrastructure approvals
• Coordination with the contractor's own submissions

What clients typically don't know

• Authorities often reject the first submission - we build in time for one revision
• Some approvals require neighbor consent or public notice - these add weeks
• Permit fees are paid by the client directly, not by us - they're not part of our fee
• Changes made after a permit is issued require a formal amendment - sometimes costly

We'll tell you upfront which permits are needed, roughly how long each takes, and what could go wrong. No surprises later.

Yes - and for interior projects, this is often where most of the value is created. Choosing the right sofa, the right stone, the right fabric for the light in a room matters as much as the layout itself.

What we do

• Specify and source furniture, lighting, textiles, and finishes
• Negotiate trade pricing with suppliers on your behalf
• Coordinate deliveries, storage, and installation
• Manage defects, damages, and warranty claims post-installation
• Provide a full procurement schedule you can keep for reference

Three ways we can work on procurement

First, we can spec and you buy directly - you keep full control, we just provide the schedule. Second, we can spec and procure on your behalf, with you approving each order - this is the most common. Third, we can spec, procure, and install turnkey - the highest convenience, but also the highest fee. We'll tell you which fits your project.

We work with suppliers across the region and in Europe. For bespoke joinery and one-off pieces, we work with a small network of workshops we've used for years. You're welcome to visit them with us.