Working in the design studio at 15 Richmond Hill
Who are we For?
Those who love Colour!
Those who want to get more out of life.
Those who know the result they want but do not want to get involved in the headache of achieving it.
We go into enormous detail and care to ensure our projects are completed start to finish without compromise.
How We Work
The studio works on a small number of projects so that Max can be closely involved. Typically, our projects involve designing entire homes.
If you would like to enquire about our interior design service, please email us at projects@maxbuston.com, providing a copy of your floor plan, photographs of the property and any details of your budget.
Interior Design - what to expect
Each and every project is tailor made to the client's specific requirements.
The interior design of a typical project involves a lot of planning.
We start with initial discussions. Projects then follow three phases:
1. Concept Design
2. Detailed Design
3. Procurement/Project Management
Initial Discussions
After making contact with Max and his team a meeting will be arranged to discuss:
• The vision for your project
• Project ideas and possible concepts
• Design limitations and boundaries
• Architectural considerations
• Colours, materials and furnishings
• The timeframe and budget
Phase 1: Concept
We find that the most successful projects are those with a well thought out concept design. A concept involves what each room will look like, how it will feel and how it will be used. A blueprint for a beautiful home. Having a realised design at the beginning enables the project to be properly designed and costed.
For concept design we prepare:
1. A 1:50 furniture floor plan
2. mood boards
3. concept images
4. sketches and photoshop visuals
5. furniture and lighting ideas
6. interior finishes (stone, timber, paint, fabrics, metals)
7. suggestions for window treatments.
Using mood boards and visualisations is a key part of our work in the design process. This is where we layer colours and textures together to design an interesting and liveable space. Every room would have a mood board, and colour visuals would be prepared for the principal areas. This is incorporated as a presentation document.
Phase 2: Detailed Design
This stage is where everything comes together in detailed drawings and wall elevations, as well as furniture lists, and finish schedules, such as for paint, hardware and window treatments.
The work submitted at the end of Detailed Design is sufficient to prepare a tender schedule of work for costing of procurement/decoration.
The scope of work varies significantly depending on the project structure, whether we are employed as Principal Designer or are working with an external architect.
Typical scope
At detailed design includes but is not limited to:
General arrangement layouts
Small power plans
Elevations of principal rooms
Architectural finish schedules
Furniture and bespoke furniture schedules
Project budgets
Showroom and studio visits
Phase 3: Project/Procurement Management
The proposed scope is designed to give our clients a stress-free time by delivering high end projects as well as saving them money by having a strict watch on the budgets which we manage and getting it right first time around.
It can include:
Design Management
Site and Building Management
Architectural Fixtures Procurement
Furniture Procurement
Examples of our role include:
• Visiting site frequently to ensure the project runs smoothly. We monitor the work according to the Schedule of Work and conduct fortnightly valuations. We issue Interim Payment Certificates against the work that permits the Contractor to raise invoices.
• Ensuring the project is completed on time according to the contractor's original timeline.
• Ensuring that the architectural fixtures (floor finishes, sanitary ware etc.) arrive on time.
• The project is design led. We deal with issues arising from site conditions and design clever solutions to ensure the result is of benefit to the finished interior.
• The design is kept in its true form and corners are not cut.
• If a client wants to develop something differently that process can be managed and variations added to the contract, and timeline updated.
Typical Project Management Thoughts
Structuring your project
The most valuable part of an interior is the concept design. We therefore recommend this is started at the front of any project. Once a vision has been created and visualised, we can advise how best to structure your project to bring it to life.
Depending on the scale of your project, you can employ us as Principle Designer, in charge of the project and building contractor/decorators. We are very architecturally focused in that the architecture must work in unison with the interior design. For projects requiring significant structural work we often link up with an architectural team.
Many medium scale projects do not require a full-time project architect, as we are able to carry out most restoration work and achieve planning permission in-house, for example for extensions and orangeries.
Phases and timelines
Typically a concept design takes 6-8 weeks.
Detailed design can range from 8 weeks for a small project to 12-16 for a larger one.
A tender process often takes 4 weeks.
Remember, if planning permission is required, an 8-12 week timeframe is not unusual.
We recommend building contracts use the RIBA structure. Contractors will need to submit their proposed timeframe as part of the tender.
Procurement and installation
Where the designer supplies furniture and fixtures, we supply those goods at retail prices.
Coordinating the supply of furniture to site is a lengthy process. Typically we send goods to a professional carrier to store and check, then we deliver everything in one go for a quick transformation.
We take great care with your furnishings, employing conscientious handlers. On installation we will arrange all loose furniture into dress position on-site.
When to employ an interior designer
The most common mistake we find is delaying choosing an interior designer until late into the architectural phase. We find the finished interior must be a harmonious balance with the architectural foundations.
Our advice is to employ the interior designer from the outset, in order to work through the concept and finished design that you want your house to look like. This blueprint can then be worked towards, and the architecture, nuts and bolts of the building can be created to enhance this vision.
To find out more...