No matter which of our services you decide upon the process is essentially the same, but please note that not all the stages listed below are available with all services - for more information please see our Fee Structure. Or call us on 0870 1212 617 to discuss your project.
After contacting Apiffany Interior Design you can expect to be telephoned by one of our design team. They will have a brief chat with you to discuss the likely scope of your project and which of our services you may be interested in. We then send to you by post or email our pre-consultation questionnaire. This document is used to establish your initial requirement and forms the primary basis of discussion at your first consultation and any work thereafter. Once we have received your completed questionnaire we’ll call you to arrange your FREE initial consultation.**
**Consultation is entirely free of charge for clients living within 40 miles of Milton Keynes. Clients living further a field will be charged a small pre-arranged fee to cover costs.
An essential part of our assessment is to view your chosen space, discuss your requirements and budget, make initial suggestions and assess how much involvement you need from us. An interior designer will visit you at your home and spend at least an hour discussing your requirements, getting to know you and understand the kind of look and feel you want to achieve. They will complete a full laser survey of the space to be redesigned and may also make sketches and take photographs at this stage. This is also your opportunity to view our portfolio and pose as many questions as you like about our services. Following this meeting we will send you a quotation for the design work we propose to undertake.
After the initial consultation we will have some idea of how you wish to proceed and will begin work on an outline idea. At a second meeting we will present you with a minimum of 2 mood boards. These boards are a visual representation of your designer’s ideas of the proposed design, colour scheme, materials, furnishings etc for discussion. This process will further establish your specific requirement and the budget for the project. Once approved, we will move onto creating your design in detail.
At our final design meeting you will be presented with your personalised final design concept. Our suggestions are presented in A3 & A4 format and may include visuals such as floor plans, elevations, layouts, and ideas boards, as well as written recommendations, and summary notes along with samples of fabrics flooring and wall coverings where required along with details of all proposed furniture, fixtures and/or fittings and accessories.
NB: Each of our offerings e.g. Lifestyle or Lifestyle Plus include the cost of a given number of design and planning meetings. Any additional meetings are chargeable at £50 per hour (inc VAT) pro rata.
Once we have received the client’s approval of final designs and the build specification has been identified we move onto the planning stage of your project when specifications are prepared and estimates obtained.
Apiffany Interior Design utilise the services of plasterers, decorators, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, floor & carpet fitters, upholsterers and soft furnishings manufacturers, all of whom are fully qualified and accredited by their respective trade/professional bodies. Our estimates are based upon an assessment of competitive rates from these sub-contractors who are carefully selected so as to ensure their delivery of workmanship to our exacting standards.
We also carry out ongoing assessments of market rates and continuously negotiate the appropriate rates. We seek to develop long term and stable working relationships with these tradesmen so that we can maintain the level and standards of workmanship that is in keeping with Apiffany's reputation. A significant number of our "team" have therefore worked on a number of our projects and are fully in tune with our standards of project management and scheduling and the need for high quality, durability of the finished piece of work in addition to being reliable against agreed timescales and estimates.
Where the entire project is fully project managed by and contracted through Apiffany, we, unlike many other interior design firms, underwrite the work fully against any installation defects for a period of six months. In this situation the Design and Project Management (Lifestyle Plus) contract is directly with Apiffany and if, in the unlikely event that something does go wrong - you deal directly with us to resolve it - you're not left trying to deal with the sub-contractor that completed the work.
Once the estimates are approved and the contractors appointed, their work would be fully monitored by a site foreman employed by Apiffany and overseen by the project manager appointed by Apiffany Interior Design Ltd.
To ensure the optimal use of resources we produce comprehensive project plans and work schedules along with ordering, supply and delivery schedules to ensure all materials are on-site as required. We do however have to allow for a centre level of supply unpredictability. You will receive copies of all planning documentation so you are made fully aware of start and completion dates.
NB: We will only project manage the work content that is clearly within our agreed scope of work. We will not project manage the activities of sub-contractors directly contracted with the client other than in exceptional circumstances. This will be chargeable.
Apiffany will source and supply all materials to complete the specified works unless otherwise agreed. We will also purchase (as your buying agent) on your behalf, all fabrics, furniture, furnishings and accessories that are specified for the project. As we are an independent consultancy with no retail ties we source from various companies, suppliers, manufacturers and retailers and we can usually secure at least a 10% saving on the normal RRP of all the items we specify.
We arrange for all items to be delivered in line with the delivery and project schedules – we also have a large warehousing facility – so where we do have to take early delivery we can store items until they are required on site.
Once the budget has been approved Apiffany maintain tight control. The expenditure against budget is continuously monitored and regularly reviewed with the client. Any circumstances that require further expenditure will require your written approval/agreement before we proceed. Any additional work requested by the client will only be commenced following the completion of a formalised ‘change in specification’ process which will then be reflected in the revised, agreed budget and project plan.
If you have appointed Apiffany to complete the works for you we now move onto the implementation stage of the project. We usually expect the client to clear the rooms that we are working in of all furniture and personal items, however we can arrange for this to happen as long as we have advance notice and have planned it into the schedule.
We will send a courtesy notice to your neighbours that work is to be carried out at the property, the likely duration and supply them with contact telephone numbers should there be any need for them to contact us once work has commenced.
Our site foreman will manage the day-to-day activities of the site ensuring that the property is left secure, clean and tidy at the end of each day of work. The project Manager will oversee the project – being onsite at key stages of the project and making ad hoc visits to ensure work is progressing as planned.
Once all the work has been completed we arrange a handover meeting with you and supply you with your handover pack. This documentation includes care and maintenance instructions for all your purchases along with warranty and guarantee details where Apiffany have purchased items on your behalf.
A design fee of 50% is payable upon engagement with the remainder payable immediately upon delivery of final design boards and specifications. Payment of the design fee is not dependent on progression of the project.
Optional Extra on Lifestyle: Project Management Fees are payable 7 days following project completion except in the instance where the project is delayed by the client – in which case Apiffany will charge on a time apportionment basis for the hours worked. This will be itemised and agreed with the client in advance.
Payment of construction costs are as follows:
20% on confirmation of the works
50% 5 days prior to the commencement of the works
20% on completion
The remaining 10% becomes due following a 4 week 'snagging' period.
All orders for purchases – furniture, furnishings etc will need your signed approval and full payment is required before we will place any orders with suppliers.
Your statement of account is updated regularly during the project and you can login to our client area to view your account online or we can email you regular statements.
**None of the above must be construed as an offer to supply goods and/or services. Each project is treated individually but all projects are subject to our standard offer and acceptance process where the scope of work, deliverables, schedules etc are agreed with the client before commencement of the project**