Design Services

A full interior design service is available and is typically charged on a service or product basis, rather than on an hourly consultancy basis. These services include:

Design Concept Design Planning Interior Design Service

Design Concept

Creation of the Design Concept is the first step in evolving a design for an interior. The Design Concept is arrived at following an interview meeting, or series of meetings, through which the designer learns about and understands the client and the client’s lifestyle. This understanding is essential in creating an environment which fits with, and promotes the client’s lifestyle.

"Creation of the Design Concept is the first step in evolving a design for an interior."

Design Concepts may be created for a single room, for a series of rooms, or for a whole residence. Most often, the core principles underpinning a single Design Concept will drive the design process for a whole residence. Continuation of a Design Concept throughout a property reaffirms and underlines the benefits of the initial Design Concept and promotes further the creation of a cohesive and harmonious design.

"Continuation of a Design Concept throughout a property reaffirms the creation of a cohesive and harmonious design."

A cohesive design is driven by a Design Concept, which typically, will be a series of images – either paper or PC based - which are presented to the client.

Design Planning

Design Planning takes the creativity of the Design Concept and translates it into an actual room or space design which is both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

"Design Planning takes the creativity of the Design Concept and translates it into an actual room or space design which is both practical and aesthetically pleasing."

When planning the design, the designer takes into consideration the individual client’s requirements and priorities, and lifestyle. These elements, usually alongside the Design Concept, remain central to the eventual design. Design Planning incorporates all areas of the design including suggestions for lighting layouts.

Overlaying the planning of the design will be a review of Spatial Planning to ensure the design not only looks appealing and pleasing to the eye, but is workable and liveable too – a nicely designed space becomes much less appealing if traffic flow and other considerations such as storage, are overlooked.

The client will be provided with technical scale Plans (aerial views) of the designed space; separate Plans are provided for furniture and for lighting. Additional technical drawings (Elevations and/or Sections) will also be provided as appropriate. Visuals by way of perspective sketches are available by arrangement.

Interior Design Service

The Interior Design Service is a complete package, from creation of the Design Concept to drive the design, through to implementation of the design, including provision of colour schemes and sourcing of all surfaces (floors, walls and suchlike), furniture, lighting, technology and accessories, to the extent suitable for the individual client’s requirements.

Typically, the Interior Design Service will consist of the following stages:

• Initial Stages - Design Concept; Mood Boards including preliminary Colour Scheming.
• Intermediate Stages - Design Planning; Spatial Planning; Sourcing; refinement of Colour Scheming.
• Final Stages - Project Management and Design Implementation.

Budgetary requirements are considered at each stage until the Final Stages, at which time they are then finalised and set for project management purposes.

Initial Stages

The Initial Stages are all about getting to know the client and the client’s lifestyle aspirations. Armed with this information, the designer will embark on the creative process which will lead to creation of the Design Concept.

Creation of the Design Concept is the first step in evolving a design for an interior, and this is arrived at following an interview meeting or series of meetings through which the designer learns about and understands the client and the client’s lifestyle.

This understanding is essential in creating an environment which fits with, and promotes the client’s lifestyle. A cohesive design is driven by the Design Concept. Essentially, whatever the lifestyle aspirations, good and thoughtful design makes that lifestyle easier to achieve.

"Whatever the lifestyle aspirations, good and thoughtful design makes that lifestyle easier to achieve."

Design Concepts may be created for a single room, for a series of rooms, or for a whole residence. Most often, the core principles underpinning a single Design Concept will drive the design process for a whole residence. Continuation of a concept throughout a property reaffirms and underlines the benefits of the initial Design Concept and promotes further a cohesive and harmonious design.

Typically, a Design Concept will be a series of images, being either paper-based or electronic, and presented as appropriate to the client, for discussion and illustrative purposes.

To further bring to life the mood to be created, a Mood Board or series of Boards will be created and discussed with the client. Often, it is useful for a client to become involved in this process by creating his or her own Mood Boards to share with the designer and assist in the communication of ideas.

Usually up to 45cm x 60cm (24 inches x 18 inches), a Mood Board conveys the sense of the overall mood to be achieved in a space. Often containing abstract images, a Mood Board will also contain images of furniture and decorative accessories, as well as suggested colour palettes for a scheme (see Consultancy Services, Colour Scheming).

Intermediate Stages

The Intermediate Stages are where the creative concepts and moods are turned into practical and aesthetically pleasing designs.

"Note is taken of individual requirements and priorities, and lifestyle. Design Planning incorporates all areas of the design including consideration of lighting layouts."

Having formed ideas and concepts, an aesthetically-pleasing, cohesive and harmonious design is arrived at through the Design Planning stage. Note is taken of individual client’s requirements and priorities, and lifestyle. Design Planning incorporates all areas of the design including consideration of lighting layouts.

In conjunction with, or overlaid onto Design Planning, is the Spatial Planning stage, which ensures that the design is practical and liveable. An appropriate spatial layout and planning of a room is essential in not only making best and full use of all living space, but it is necessary to ensure effective "traffic flow" throughout a space.

An often used example of a well-planned space is the use of a "golden triangle" in a kitchen, whereby the dishwashing, food cooking and food cold storage - the dishwasher and sink, the oven and stove, and the refrigerator - are all positioned in a triangle in relation to each other, thus ensuring the optimum and most "user friendly" use of space.

By understanding the uses of a certain space, and the priority of those uses, an appropriate design and use of space – for example, how much and which type of storage might be appropriate – may be achieved, thus creating and helping to maintain an harmonious living space.

"By understanding the uses of a certain space, and the priority of those uses, an harmonious living space may be created"

The planning of "smart" layouts which interlink between the living space (including kitchen, dining, living/den, and study areas), the sleeping areas, and any other areas key to a particular client’s circumstances, results in an environment which suits and promotes the client’s lifestyle.

At this stage of the process, the client is provided with a technical Plan (aerial view) of each space, together with Elevations or Sections (technical drawings), or visuals such as perspective drawings or sketches, as illustrated below.

That Was Then......This Is Now

Today's interpretation of Art Deco in Miami.

Sourcing of suggested items for surfaces (floors, walls, counters and suchlike) as well as preliminary suggestions for furniture, lighting, technology and soft furnishings, is also undertaken. Suggestions – images and often sample finishes - are presented to the client for discussion and approval. Direct overseas Sourcing is available as required, with the designer regularly visiting Europe, and interiors trade shows in London, Paris and Milan.

With a solid design plan in mind, Colour Scheming is now further refined. Particular attention is paid to the effect of colour on our moods, and advice is given on best use of colours to achieve desired moods.

Final Stages

The Final Stages of the design process are the implementation stages, at which time the design truly is brought to life. When the Intermediate Stages have been agreed upon with the client, the Design Implementation stage may begin.

At this stage, and following liaison with, as appropriate, the architect, the builder and any trades people, final budgets are agreed upon and set. A timetable of works is also discussed and agreed, and then formalised with all relevant parties.

For larger and more complex projects, a Project Management approach is taken, whereby KBD Designs may act as the intermediary or in a liaison role with the architect, builder, and trades, all again as appropriate.

Notwithstanding the formal stages set out above, the full Interior Design Service is a bespoke service and as such is tailored to the needs and requirements of each individual client. The stages above provide a framework under which a design relationship may be established.

"The Design Service is a bespoke service and as such is tailored to the needs and requirements of each individual client."

It will be discussed and agreed at the outset the extent of involvement the client wishes at each stage of the design process. Regular communication between the client and designer helps to ensure that the currently agreed level of involvement is the correct one for both the client and the designer.

The Interior Design Service is unique to each individual client’s needs. With this in mind, costs for this service vary depending on the scale and complexity of the service required. Retainer-based services are available for longer term projects. Please contact us to discuss individual requirements further.