Frequently Asked Questions

We respond first and foremost to our clients’ tastes and requirements, so each project has a different “look and feel”. That said, our approach is consistent: simple, thoughtful design that creates calm, highly functional homes. We love the term warm minimalism — pared-back spaces full of character. Often that character comes through colour, and vintage or reclaimed pieces, if that’s the right fit for the client.

We work on everything from one-room consultancies to full design services for major renovations and builds. Most of our work is residential, but we also design small commercial spaces like shops, cafés, and workspaces.

We like working with clients who appreciate the value of good design and who enjoy the process of transforming their homes. We like to have a trusting, positive relationship with our clients and our clients all seem to really enjoy working with Kinder Design. You can read some of our client reviews HERE.

We have extensive experience managing and delivering large-scale renovations, including two self-build family homes in the last decade. You can read more about our team and background HERE.

Our full design service follows six phases, aligned with the RIBA plan of work: 1. Refining the Brief 2. Design Concept 3. Design Development 4. Procurement 5. Overseeing the Build 6. Installation & Aftercare You can read about our Design Process in more detail HERE.

Floorplans are a key feature of almost every project, with the exception of some of the smaller design consultancies. Our design fees will always allow for us to produce any floorplans or elevation drawings that are required. 3D visuals are an ‘extra’ that can be helpful to have sometimes, particularly for larger projects, and again we always clarify when these are included in our design fee.

Yes—our Half Day Design Workshops are a great way to get design advice or start planning. You can find more information HERE. .

Timelines vary—full renovations typically take a year or more, while smaller refurbishments may only take a few months. It’s important to define a proposed project timeline early on, as part of the Refining the Brief phase of work.

Absolutely. Some clients like to be hands-on; others prefer us to lead. We're happy to work either way. We ask lots of questions at the outset and welcome your input and feedback throughout. You're also welcome to join us in showrooms or at supplier meetings, if you’d like.

Yes—we often incorporate existing furniture and can help you decide what to keep or replace. Designing a home around existing artwork or artefacts can be very satisfying and effective. We also like to reuse furniture and materials as much as we can rather than just throwing everything out and starting again.

Absolutely. We care deeply about the quality and sustainability of the materials and furniture that we specify. We are always actively learning more about surface materials and their carbon footprint, and will always prioritise working with the most sustainable products, budget allowing.

Yes—we typically source finishes, materials, lighting, furniture, textiles, sanitaryware, bespoke joinery, and even commission custom pieces where needed.

We charge a time-based Design Fee based on a detailed project brief. If sourcing is required, we charge a Handling Fee for procurement, set against the trade discounts we pass on to you. If we oversee the build, this is charged at an hourly rate.

Yes—we’re transparent about our discounts, which typically range from 10–20% off RRP. In legal terms, we act as an ‘agent’ (rather than ‘principal’) on your behalf when purchasing.

For full design services, we typically work with project budgets of £100k+, as our fees usually represent 12–18% of the total cost and so it doesn’t make best financial sense to employ an interior designer for smaller budgets. However, we don’t have a minimum for consultations—our Half Day Workshops are a cost-effective way to start a smaller project.

We’ll help establish a realistic budget based on your funds. While final costs depend on design development, we use past project experience to provide a ballpark budget early in the process.

Yes—we’re based in East Dulwich and work across London, with a preference for local projects where we can be on-site easily. That said, we’re happy to travel depending on the project’s nature and scale.

Yes—many elements of design can be handled remotely. Our Half Day Workshops are often fully online. For complex projects, regular site visits are recommended during key phases.

Yes—when delivering full design services, we coordinate trades and contractors to help your project run smoothly.

We value clear, regular communication—expect online meetings, in-person presentations, and site visits as needed. We document key updates by email, and use WhatsApp during office hours for quick exchanges.

We include one round of revisions after each design phase presentation. Further changes can always be made to our design work as we go along, and client satisfaction is paramount. But design changes after sign off may affect the project timings and need us to adjust our design fees.

Yes—we hold full Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance with Hiscox.

Typically, this is handled by an architect. We can recommend trusted architects and planning consultants. We can also liaise with Building Control and prepare the necessary drawings if needed.

Absolutely—we have a trusted network of contractors, trades, and specialists. We are also happy to collaborate with your chosen team too, if you already have an architect or contractor appointed.

We coordinate the project during the build, but don’t act as the principal contractor or architect. Our role is best described as Project Co-ordinator, as we’re not PMP-certified.

We’ll always inform you of any issues right away and work on solutions to keep things moving. Kinder Design is very solution focused, always looking on providing the most seamless end-to-end experience for our clients.

Yes—we provide aftercare to ensure you're happy, including addressing any concerns and offering maintenance guidance.

We’d love to have an initial call to hear about your project. From there, we usually recommend that we do a site visit (up to 2 hours, £200 fee). We’ll offer recommendations during the visit, then prepare a detailed project brief and Fee Proposal to guide our work together.

Our availability does vary from month to month, but generally, we can onboard a new project within a 2 - 8 week period. We look forward to hearing from you—please get in touch to book a discovery call or explore our services.