Interior design — questions answered.

Interior design is more than choosing wall colours, furniture or a visual style. The main task of a designer is to understand what problem needs to be solved in a space and find a practical, comfortable and visually strong solution for it. This could be an inconvenient layout, a lack of storage, a complex kitchen, a small bathroom, an unclear budget, an empty room, a commercial space without a clear logic, or a renovation that's difficult to explain to builders. For residential projects, a designer helps make a home, flat or individual room comfortable to live in. For commercial spaces, the goal may be different: improving functionality, atmosphere, client experience, zoning or the visual expression of a brand. At WHAT Interiors, work begins with understanding your situation and the problems that need solving: how you use the space, what isn't working now, what you want to change and what the right result looks like for you. Floor plans, 3D visuals, drawings and material selection are not ends in themselves — they are tools that help reach a clear solution.

Interior design services can include a consultation, space analysis, floor planning, a design concept, 3D visualisation, material selection, kitchen design, bathroom design, fitted furniture, wardrobes, as well as drawings for builders, joiners or contractors. But it's important to understand: these are not separate "packages" or pretty documents. They are tools that help solve your problem. A floor plan helps you understand how to use the space better. 3D visualisation lets you see the interior before renovation or furniture production. Drawings give builders and joiners what they need to execute the idea correctly. A consultation gives you a professional perspective quickly so you don't have to proceed blind.

It starts with a conversation. We discuss your space, objectives, budget, timescales and what's causing difficulty right now. After that I suggest an appropriate format for the work. This could be a consultation, a layout plan, a design concept, 3D visualisation, technical drawings or a fuller design package. But each stage is chosen for solving your problem — not as a box-ticking exercise.

Interior design begins with understanding the problem and the goal. Before choosing furniture, colours and materials, it's important to work out how the space needs to function. Who will use it? What tasks does it need to support? Where is there not enough room? What is currently frustrating? What needs to stay? What definitely needs to change? Once that's clear, you can move to the floor plan, zoning, visual direction and technical solutions. This approach avoids spending money on random purchases and decisions that don't end up working.

Yes. A full design project isn't always needed. An interior design consultation is the right fit if you have a specific question or uncertainty — for example, you're not sure about a layout, you want to check an idea before committing to renovation, you don't know how best to use a room, you're choosing between several options or you want to understand where to start. Sometimes one professional consultation saves time, prevents mistakes and helps you make a more confident decision.

Yes. You can start with one room, one zone or a specific task — not the whole project. This could be a living room, bedroom, children's room, kitchen, bathroom, study, wardrobe room, hallway, reception area, office corner, retail zone or any part of the space that currently isn't working the way you need it to. This approach is particularly useful when the problem is localised: not enough storage, an awkward furniture arrangement, a difficult room shape, poor lighting or a lack of coherence in the interior.

Yes, some projects can be done remotely. This works well when you already have floor plans, measurements, photographs or drawings. Remote work can suit a consultation, floor plan, design concept, 3D visualisation, furniture selection or fitted furniture design. If a project requires precise technical solutions, site measurements or on-site coordination with builders, a site visit may be needed. It all depends on the task — not on a pre-chosen package.

A design concept establishes the overall direction for the interior. It can include a moodboard, colour palette, materials, furniture references, lighting, textures and the general atmosphere of the space. But its main purpose is not simply to show attractive images. A concept helps you make the right directional decisions before spending money on renovation, furniture and materials. It's a way to check in advance that the interior will match your taste, lifestyle, the functional requirements of the space and your budget.

Yes. 3D visualisation lets you see the interior before work begins. It's a useful decision-making tool — it helps you understand proportions, materials, colour, lighting, furniture, storage and the overall feel of the space. For clients, it often saves both time and money: many mistakes are better caught on screen than discovered after the renovation is done.

Yes. I can prepare drawings and technical documentation for builders, joiners or contractors. Their purpose is to make the design idea clear to the people who will execute it. This reduces the risk of errors, wrong dimensions, misunderstandings and unnecessary questions on site. Depending on the project, this can include floor plans, wall elevations, furniture drawings, dimensions, notes, material specifications and details for fitted furniture.

Yes. This is one of WHAT Interiors' strengths. Kitchens, bathrooms and fitted furniture require not just good taste but practical thinking. Dimensions, storage, materials, construction, comfort and how everything will be manufactured and installed all need to be thought through carefully. I can help with kitchen design, bathroom design, wardrobe rooms, fitted wardrobes, media units, storage walls, bespoke joinery and other built-in furniture. The main aim is not simply to make it look good, but to find a solution that works comfortably every day.

Yes. WHAT Interiors works with both residential and commercial spaces — offices, boutiques, retail spaces, hospitality interiors, reception areas and other venues where it's important to think through not only appearance but also functionality, movement of people, atmosphere and the impression the space creates. In commercial interiors, design should serve the business: making the space legible, comfortable, visually strong and suitable for clients, staff or visitors.

WHAT Interiors is an independent design practice where you work directly with the designer. It's not a large studio with a big team and complex processes. For the client this means a more personal, flexible and attentive approach. I engage with your brief myself, think through the floor plan, furniture, visualisation and technical solutions myself. Where necessary, I can liaise with your builders, joiners or other specialists to ensure the design is not only well considered but clearly communicated for delivery.

Yes. At the initial stage you don't need a ready-made technical specification. Many clients arrive with the feeling that "something isn't working" but can't yet explain exactly what. That's perfectly normal. You can simply describe what's bothering you, what you'd like to change, which areas matter most and what result you're hoping for. From there I'll help to structure the brief and identify which format of work will be most useful for you.

Yes. Depending on the project, I can help with selecting materials, furniture, lighting, finishes, textiles, wall colours, flooring and other interior elements. But selection is not simply a list of attractive things. Good choices need to work with the floor plan, budget, lifestyle, timescales and the overall concept of the interior. The goal is not to buy more — but to choose well.

Not always. It depends on how complex the renovation is and how many decisions need to be made in advance. If you're changing the layout, kitchen, bathroom, lighting, fitted furniture or working with contractors, it's better to have at least a clear foundation: a plan, key decisions, dimensions and a visual direction. This avoids making decisions on the fly during the renovation — under pressure and without an overall logic. Good preparation often saves more than the designer's fee itself.

The cost of interior design services depends on the size of the space, the complexity of the project and the level of detail required. As a guide: a consultation can start from £250; a layout review or planning solution from around £350–£450; a design concept for one room from around £650; kitchen, bathroom or fitted furniture design — which typically requires more technical work — usually starts from around £950–£1,250; a fuller design package for one room can start from around £1,250. These figures are intended to give you a clear sense of the likely budget range. The final cost depends on the brief, the number of spaces, the level of detail required and how deeply the project needs to be developed. At WHAT Interiors, I first try to understand what problem needs solving — not which package to sell. Sometimes a consultation is enough. Sometimes a floor plan is needed. Sometimes visualisations, drawings or technical materials for builders and joiners are required. The aim is to identify the level of help that will genuinely enable you to make the right decisions, save time, avoid mistakes and move towards an interior that works in real life.

The simplest step is to send a short message describing your project. Let me know where the property is located, what the space is, what isn't currently working, what you'd like to change, whether you have floor plans, measurements or photographs, and what stage you're at. From there we can work out what kind of help will actually be useful. This could be a consultation, a floor plan, a design concept, 3D visualisation, drawings or a full package — but the format isn't the main thing. The main thing is finding the right solution to your problem and giving you a clear next step. Ultimately, you're not buying pictures, drawings or documents. You're getting professional help that enables you to make the right decisions, save time, avoid mistakes and move towards an interior that will work for your life or business.