What it’s really like working with a designer.
You’ve scrolled through Pinterest, made a few mood-boards, and perhaps even created a presentation in Canva too. You know exactly what you want your space to feel like, but then the overwhelm inevitably sets in.
We believe any major home renovation or new build needs a solid designer leading the process, but we also understand the idea of approaching a designer might feel as daunting as tackling the project yourself. What does an interior designer actually do? What will you get out of the process? And most importantly - is it worth it?
Receiving a project enquiry is one of the greatest compliments we could receive (next to a new client committing to a project!). It means we’ve done our job in the groundwork stage - communicating exactly what we do and the value we provide.
While we can’t speak for every studio, we can give you a rundown of how we work - in the hope it gets you from the early ‘overwhelm’ stage to ‘ready for action’ quick-smart. Let’s dive in.
What we do!
We started Mosh Home with a ‘no wankery’ policy — simplifying the whole design process and reducing the stress and overwhelm associated with launching your reno or build journey (while simultaneously making the journey exciting and fun)!
At the heart of it, we’re problem-solvers — helping you live your best home life by looking at the way your home looks, feels and functions.
We do that by getting a detailed brief from our clients (learning all about how you live, any pain-points with your current situation, and your general home needs and wants), then developing plans that look pretty (3Ds of your home) plus technical documents (2D plans with lots of important details) that can be submitted to a builder for quoting and construction.
How we work.
Our projects are typically divided into three key stages — concept, design development and technical drawings.
Concept: The concept document is to illustrate the look and feel of the project. We’ll collect all your ideas through questionnaires, consultations and imagery, and come up with an idea of how we will use these details to address your project needs and wants.
We’ll show you these ideas through inspiration images which capture the vibe we’re going for, material palettes indicating the finishes that might be used, and a model of a few key spaces within your home that we’ll transform.
Depending on the project scope, we might present two options, letting you choose which ‘direction’ resonates with you.
Design Development: Once we’ve discussed the concept with you, and based on your feedback, we can then move ahead to the design development process.
This is where we take those initial ideas and fine-tune each space — dialling in fixtures (like joinery, lighting and tapware), finishes (like cabinetry, benchtops and paint) and fittings (like furniture and decorative lighting) so it’s super functional and looks fabulous.
The 3D models we develop serve as the basis for the next part of the journey — technical drawings.
Technical Drawings: This documentation is what you’ll ultimately hand over to your builder or subcontractors for quotes and execution.
These are 2D drawings, which show all key details for the builder and trades to carry out necessary work.
We’ll also provide a finishes schedule — essentially a ‘shopping’ list for you and your relevant trades, which will detail things like appliances, lighting, tiles, paint colours, cabinetry finishes etc. Typically, the sourcing of these will be managed by the builder and their trades.
Once we’ve completed these documents and you're happy (and the design package has been signed off), it's usually time for project handover — effectively handing over our work to you and your build team.
You’ll likely touch base with us during construction, and of course, see us once the project’s complete - we allow time for this in most projects.
What about time and money?
Ah, we’re so glad you asked! Hiring a designer should actually save you time and money. Hear us out.
While we acknowledge that this project requires a significant investment from you, the right designer will pay for themselves - through a lack of significant disruption to your normal professional and personal schedule, a seamless construction process, a boost to your property’s value, and the sheer joy and greater sense of wellbeing you get from being in a home you love (trust us - it’s priceless).
Our design packages usually start from $4000, but every project is unique. It’s always best to reach out for a discovery call to discuss your specific needs and get a clear understanding of fees.
DURATION. All things being equal, and using conservative estimates, a single space design can be completed in a matter of weeks, while a full package should be completed within 16-20 weeks, allowing you to move forward into construction.
But it ultimately depends on the studio. If you’re on a tight schedule, always communicate that with your designer, and ensure you understand their anticipated timeline before you fully commit.
Should I work with a designer?
Emphatically (and not surprisingly) yes!
A job worth doing is a job worth doing well, and if you’re considering substantial interior or exterior works and want to ensure your investment’s sound, bringing in experts will pay dividends.
That said, it’s worth considering WHO you need. New builds and substantial alterations or additions will require an architect or building designer, while interior designers can guide internal works with minimal structural changes.
Architects typically approach projects holistically — looking after both exterior and interior design choices. As such, the investment is usually greater.
We’re here to manage expectations — and we’ve definitely guided clients towards architects or building designers when needed. A lot of designers will collaborate too, but make sure you discuss the precise scope and limitations early in the piece.
Couldn’t I just do it myself?
In short, yes. You could do it yourself — if you have the time, patience and persistence to learn CAD drawing software to produce the models and drawings you’ll need to be completely confident with your design and to pass these onto trades for construction.
You’ll also need to go and find every finish, fitting and fixture for your home solo, rely on different opinions from salespeople, plus well-meaning relatives and friends who’ll always buy into the process.
And then all of this might lead you to the home of your dreams. But equally, would it be worth the risk?
In our humble opinion, the smarter and safer choice is to leave the project to a team with extensive experience in design, joinery and construction.
Anything else I should know?
Because designers work with suppliers, they typically get trade discounts on designer furniture — woohoo! At Mosh Home, we pass these onto our clients — the only overhead being a service fee for the time spent developing the concept, sourcing the items for you and facilitating the ordering process.
If you’re fitting out a whole home, this will quickly add up to thousands of dollars in savings — money worth redirecting towards design work.
We’ll kick things off with suppliers, and you’ll pay the invoices directly. Any admin work we do for this (liaising with suppliers and keeping you updated and informed of stock, ordering, delivery times) will be quoted for your approval before we start the sourcing process.
Your next best steps
We hope we’ve given you a clearer understanding of what an interior designer does and how one might help your project. And while this article has likely answered some questions, we’re also guessing it’s raised a few new ones too.
We believe any query — whether it’s regarding working with us or about design in general — is best handled with an Mosh Home Discovery Call, which can be booked here.
Can’t wait to chat with you soon!