Planning a renovation or redesign in Cheshire and trying to understand interior design costs? At The Space Whisperer, we prefer fixed fees or a transparent percentage for full-service work—so you can plan with confidence and avoid surprises. Below, we outline how fees are structured, typical investment ranges, what’s included in design, and which factors move the numbers up or down in 2025.
How we price: fixed design fee or a clear percentage
We don’t use hourly billing as standard. Instead, we scope the brief and propose either:
- Fixed Fee — best for defined briefs with clear deliverables and milestones.
- Percentage of Project Value — for full-service projects where we design and support delivery end-to-end; typically 10–15% depending on scope and complexity (in line with UK practice ranges).
Procurement, delivery logistics, installation and on-site coordination can be provided as separate, optional services with their own scopes and costs, so design pricing remains transparent.
What’s included in our design fee
- Brief & survey — a clear brief, site review and measurements.
- Space planning — scaled layouts and key elevations.
- Lighting & electrical plans — layered scheme, switching logic and schedules.
- Bespoke joinery — concepts, elevations/sections and material specifications.
- FF&E — furniture, fabrics, window treatments, rugs and artwork selections.
- Specifications & schedules — finishes, sanitaryware, ironmongery, paint, tile.
- Design reviews — structured presentations to align decisions and budget.
Not included in the design fee: contractor/structural costs, furniture/finishes purchases, delivery logistics, installation, and on-site coordination. These can be added as separate services if required.
Typical design fee ranges (guidance, not a quote)
- Single room (design-only): £3,000–£6,000
- Kitchen / open-plan living (design & drawings): £8,000–£18,000+
- Primary suite: £6,000–£12,000+
- Whole-home (3–5 bed, design scope): £25,000–£60,000+ or price via percentage (typically 10–15%) for full-service delivery
These ranges reflect 2025 UK market context for full-service studios and allow for complex joinery and lighting—positioned competitively against leading guidance.
Optional add-ons (separately scoped & costed)
- Procurement: ordering, tracking, deliveries, access and installation coordination for FF&E and finishes.
- On-site coordination: liaising with trades to protect design intent during delivery; frequency depends on programme.
Keeping these separate safeguards your budget and avoids blending delivery costs into the design fee.
What moves the numbers up or down
- Scope & rooms: number of spaces, structural change, and services (kitchen/bath) complexity.
- Level of detail: bespoke joinery, stone, specialist finishes and custom upholstery.
- Lighting complexity: layered schemes with scene-setting and controls.
- Procurement & installation: whether you add these as optional support services.
- Programme & access: tight timelines, phased works, site logistics.
Typical timelines in Cheshire (guide)
- Discovery (1–2 weeks): brief, survey and goals/investment alignment.
- Concept & development (3–6 weeks): layouts, key elevations, lighting/electrical, finishes.
- Documentation & quoting (2–4 weeks): specifications, schedules and supplier quotes.
- Procurement & lead times (6–12+ weeks): especially for bespoke items.
- Installation & styling (1–2 weeks): coordinated to protect design intent.
Cheshire case snapshot
In a recent Wilmslow renovation, we re-planned living spaces, designed bespoke cabinetry and delivered a layered lighting scheme—creating calm, coherent rooms that work beautifully day-to-day. For how we run projects from concept to installation, explore our interior design in Cheshire page.
FAQs
Do you charge hourly?
Not as standard. We use fixed fees or a transparent percentage for full-service projects, so budgets stay predictable.
Can you help with procurement and on-site coordination?
Yes—both are optional and quoted separately from the design fee.
What’s the starting point?
A discovery call, followed by a site review and a proposal with a clear scope, fee and timeline.
Ready to plan with clarity?
Start with our approach to interior design in Cheshire, or book a free discovery call to discuss your brief and receive a tailored proposal.
