The Interior Design Process Explained
The A-Z of what to know when you engage an interior design firm
Having your own space is a gift and privilege. Whether you’re embarking on a new business, moving into your forever home or in the home rental business, the question of “How can I design this space so that my customers, family, friends and I will experience joy and love?”. Great question and we wish we had a silver bullet answer for you. The truth is, it is complicated as there are government regulations, technical challenges, expectations vs budget feasibility, design tastes and the list goes on. Thankfully, we can help you with most of that and more.
1. Laying the foundations
Like every good structure, everything starts from the bottom. We like engage with our clients with a physical or virtual meeting and understand the feasibility of working with each other. This is because we are embarking on a journey that could potentially be months long and we want to make sure that you are comfortable with us as your appointed interior designers and with you as our clients. Here, we will find out more about your ambitions for your project, expected timelines and budgets. If you are unsure of any of the three, we are able to advise and build a detailed brief and identify your design needs and what sort of results you can expect.
If you have the floor plan of your space, fantastic. This helps us understand the history of the property, the limits of the property line, what was illegally erected in the past, do we require architect’s input, do we require submitting plans to local councils, what structural beams are load bearing an so forth.
Ultimately having the floor plan would be helpful but if you do not have one, fret not, we are be able to track it down as part of our service.
Bonus tip: If you are in Malaysia and you just received the keys to your new condominium, take advantage of the -defect liability period (DLP) where the developer is required to fix any defects or faults.
2. Conceptualization & Design
If you decide to engage our services, this is where the creative design process begins and where clients have the most involvement with the project. We will walk you through the design process step-by-step making sure your input is heard and considered. And perhaps the biggest question on your mind, “How much is this going to cost me?”. At this stage we will be able to confidently provide a figure that would meet your design expectations and a project timeline to go with it.
As the design concept takes shape, collaboration with the client becomes integral to the process. We present our ideas, incorporating client feedback to refine and enhance the design. This iterative process involves discussions on color palettes, furniture selections, and spatial layouts, allowing you to actively participate in shaping their space.
The design stage concludes with the finalization of detailed drawings, plans, and specifications. This comprehensive design package serves as the roadmap for the subsequent stages, ensuring a clear and shared vision between the designer and the client before moving into the project management and implementation phases.
Once you as our client is satisfied with the design, project cost and timelines, we’ll get your final sign-off and off we go!
3. Project Administration & Management
It is this stage where you hear the horror stories from your relatives or friends that works are slow, go beyond budget and ultimately have a sour experience with interior designers. While it is true unexpected factors can derail a project, if we have kept true to stages 1 & 2, the actual execution and management of the interior design can be a breeze. This stage can be broken down into 4 key components.
Construction & Execution. We are proud to work with expert contractors in Penang and throughout Malaysia that share the same vision in executing projects on time, uncompromising quality and focused on delivering clients projects efficiently. Our team makes regular visits to oversee the construction and supervise progress, address any issues and ultimately ensure that we transform the design plans into reality.
Procurement & Purchasing. A significant part of project management is the procurement and purchasing of furniture, fixtures and materials and managing logistics of the project. We will be coordinating with vendors and suppliers to guarantee necessary elements for the project are sourced efficiently.
Budget & Timeline Monitoring. We will watch over budgets and timelines vigilantly and control expenditures without compromising quality. Any deviations are addressed promptly to prevent delays and maintain financial integrity. Often once clients start seeing the physical space being worked on, they would want to add on to the project. If it is feasible and any deviations are agreeable, we will do our best to accommodate requests.
Communication & Quality Assurance. Clear and consistent communication is key during the project management process. We will provide you with regular updates on project progress and answer any queries promptly.
4. Post Project Evaluation
Congratulations! We have successfully navigated the ups and downs of your interior design project. At this point we will conduct a post-project evaluation to assess the success of the project. It is also here that we can conduct walkthroughs with you to address any final adjustments and concerns. It is also here that we may offer maintenance advice and provide information on preserving the longevity and aesthetic appeal of the newly designed space. And as always, our doors are always open to you for future collaborations.
If you are interested in taking up an interior design project of your own or if you have any questions on the process, we are always contactable through via our contact page, email, or drop us a message on our facebook chat