Frequently Asked Questions
We often get asked a range of questions about our interior design services and have gathered them together below with the relevant answers to help you understand a little more about what Hollytree Design offers.
Q: Why work with an Interior Designer?
A: Have you ever wasted your precious time and money looking round shops or spending hours on the internet looking at colour schemes and interiors?
And ended up tired and confused and no further forward?
Are you and your family tired of poring over paint charts and fabric samples, and then not sure you've seen the best that's out there?
Have you ever wasted money on an item of furniture, painted a wall or bought a cushion that then make everything else in the room look wrong?
A qualified and experienced interior designer has been trained to listen to clients and accurately assess exactly how to create a beautiful, comfortable and workable interior scheme, taking into account personal preferences and circumstances, and thereby saving you from wasting time and money.
Q: Why choose Hollytree Design?
A: With many years of experience in the design world and of listening to and working with people, we take a holistic approach to creating the perfect surroundings for people to live and work in.
Our service takes into account even the psychological aspects of your surroundings to provide you with a complementary environment in which you can live happily, whilst making the experience as stress free as possible.
Q: Will using a designer be very expensive?
A: The amount you pay will depend on many things such as the size of the project, the quality of the fabrics and materials used, how soon you need the work done etc., but one of the jobs of the designer is to talk through with you the scope of the work needed and how to achieve what you want within your budget.
It's important to be honest about how much you can afford to spend, but the success of the project does not necessarily depend on using very expensive materials: it's perfectly possible to have a fresh and exciting scheme on a fairly small investment of money.
And, also, not everything has to be achieved immediately. An initial project can be part of an overall design scheme that can be achieved in stages as circumstances allow.
Q: How does the process work?
A: When you telephone or fill in the enquiry form someone will reply to your enquiry within three working days, to make an appointment to meet you at the site to talk about your requirements.
This initial meeting which lasts about an hour is free, and is to allow us to get to know each other, establish the scale of the project and how much you want us to be involved, for instance whether you simply require a design, plans and mood boards, or whether you would like us to source fabrics, furniture and accessories for you, and whether you require us to find contractors and oversee the whole project.
At the next meeting a full survey of the space will be made and more detailed information about how the room is used will be taken. At this stage it will helpful if you can give us as much information as possible such as tear-outs from magazines about looks that appeal to you.
Q: What happens during the design stage?
A: Following the second meeting, a design will be produced and delivered to you complete with details of fabrics, surface finishes and accessories chosen. These are in the form of mood boards, samples and floor plans so you can visualise the finished effect. At this stage you can choose to find your own contractors to carry out the work.
Q: Do you provide full building and decorating specifications?
A: Yes. We provide you with detailed drawings which contactors will need in order to carry out the work and, as such, are valuable documents. Every detail of the project is in these drawings and specifications and you can use these to brief your own decorators and builders.
Q: Who will manage the project?
A: If you wish, we can take care of planning drawings and applications for planning permission. We are also able to liaise with architects if necessary, and also find contractors to carry out the work for you from our list of approved contractors. Hollytree Design will oversee your project and coordinate delivery of materials and work on site. At all stages we will keep you informed, get your permission for any changes that might be required, and ensure the smooth passage of the work.
Q: What's the smallest job you'd consider taking on?
A: If you want some bright ideas for your downstairs loo that's absolutely fine. We'll give it as much creative consideration as any other project.
Q: What's the largest project you'd consider taking on?
A: We look at each project and it's requirements individually so there really is no size limit to proposed projects. Larger propositions will require more time at every stage and we will work closely with clients to find out their requirements so we can bring the job to a successful conclusion.
Q: Do you do interior design for commercial projects?
A: We welcome enquiries for commercial projects and are happy to come up with proposals for individual cases.
Q: Do you work with builders?
A: We are able to provide schemes for builders, developers and landlords which focus on making properties attractive to potential buyers, and taking into account cost considerations, spatial planning, sales targets etc. Tailor made packages can be produced depending on the requirements of individuals. Decorating and furniture packages are available to builders and developers for show homes and for buy to let landlords.
Contact Hollytree Design
You can contact Hollytree Design on 01844 217526 or email us on enquiries@hollytreedesign.co.uk
