Many people hesitate to hire an interior design studio because they do not know what to expect. They want to know what it costs, how long it takes and how much say they keep over their own home. Here is how a project with us runs, from the first visit to the handover of the finished rooms.
At CARLO Design, every interior design project has five phases, whether we are working as an interior designer in Berlin or on Mallorca. Knowing in advance what happens in each phase makes it easier to plan your own time and decisions.
Phase 1: Getting to know you and visiting the property
First we get to know each other. We visit you at your property. If you are not there yet, we start with a video call. This first meeting carries no obligation.
Most of our questions are about your daily life. How do you live? What bothers you about your current home? Which rooms do you actually use, and which sit empty? The answers shape the design more than square metres and floor plans do.
Phase 2: Concept and design
From that conversation we develop a first concept with the layout, materials, colours and initial visualisations. You can see the direction before any decision is final.
We are in frequent contact during this phase. A moodboard is a proposal to discuss. We show it to you, you tell us what works and what does not, and we revise it.
We keep revising the design until you can picture your everyday life in it.
Phase 3: Detailed planning
Once the concept is settled, we work out the details: where sockets and lights go and how two materials meet. We draw up the bespoke furniture, specify the surfaces and line up delivery dates.
Any detail missing at this stage gets decided later by a tradesperson on site, and enough of those small decisions show in the finished room. So we produce complete construction drawings that every trade can work from.
Phase 4: Realisation and construction management
Now the building work starts. For many clients this is the most stressful phase, so we take on the construction management. We coordinate the trades, check quality and progress against the schedule, and deal with problems on site before they reach you.
You have one point of contact and do not have to mediate between the electrician, the joiner and the tiler. We get in touch when a decision is needed from you.
Phase 5: Handover and styling
Before handover we walk through every room, check the work against the drawings and have any remaining defects put right. If you wish, we also do the styling with lamps and decoration, so you move into rooms that are already furnished.
How long a project takes
That depends heavily on scope. An apartment renovation can be completed in three to six months. A comprehensive remodel or new build often takes nine to eighteen months. At the first meeting we give you a realistic timeframe for your project.
How we discuss the budget
We work on high-end projects and raise the budget openly at the first meeting. The most common complaint in building projects is a budget that creeps up step by step. Agreeing a cost frame from the start prevents that.
If you are thinking about renovating or refurnishing your home, arrange a first consultation with no obligation. We will look at your property and tell you what can be done there.
What your own project will roughly cost, you can work out in two minutes. Work out your budget →