faqs

The interior design process involves combining a flair for creative spatial design with an understanding of construction. At McCaren Interiors our specialist knowledge of architecture, interiors and access issues are all brought into play in the service of successful interior design. Depending on the project, an interior designer can do any or all of the following: interpret your brief, identify potential problems, produce designs for your approval, ensure that these comply with any relevant regulations, and monitor works on site.

Depending on your requirements we can produce hand sketches, CAD drawings, and mood boards to illustrate design proposals. We can also source samples and swatches to show possible wall and floor finishes, furniture and lighting.

There are no standard fee scales for interior design work, so our fees are normally based on a estimate of the amount of time it will take to complete the commission. Hourly rates are dependent on experience and range from 40 - 80 per hour. We also charge for expenses (such as travel and printing) and VAT.

For more information se our fees page.

Employing an interior designer should be a sound investment that will save you money both in the short term and long term. Design fees generally represent a small fraction of the total project cost but this is a fairly small outlay when compared to the added value that good design can achieve.

By working with an interior designer you will benefit from a wealth of knowledge and experience that can ensure that finishes, furnishings, products and construction methods are best suited to your project. In addition a designer can ensure that both you and your contractor receive appropriate levels of information on drawings and specifications to produce good quality workmanship.

A good design should also save you money by minimising operating costs, and maximising best use of available resources such as space and light, and indeed, finance. In addition, a beautiful, imaginative interior is most likely to command a premium value in the long term.

Most interior alterations do not require Planning Permission, the exception being works to Listed Buildings. In this case your property may also be subject to additional rules regarding what you can and cant build, the materials you may use, and parts of the existing fabric of the property (interior and exterior) which you must protect.

If your property is not listed, but your plans involve work to the exterior (such as a domestic extension, or alterations to a shop front) it is likely that you will need to apply to the Local Planning Department for permission. With our specialist knowledge of architecture, McCaren can advise you on the need for planning permission and can design both exterior and interior alterations to your brief.

This is up to you. You can appoint an interior designer for the entire duration of the project including tendering for the works and administering a contract with the builder, or you can chose to appoint us for the design stages only.

With their wealth of design and architecture experience McCaren have established very good working relationships with a number of local contractors whom we could invite to tender. To ensure that the process of tendering is accurate and fair we produce a Specification and Schedule of Work which are sent to each contractor to submit their price. These documents detail the terms and conditions of the contract, and the quality of workmanship and materials. They also list each main work item to be included in the Contract on an elemental or a room-by-room basis.

Once we have obtained a tender which is within your budget price, we would then draw up Contract Documents that formalise the agreement between Client and Contractor. When the Contractor makes a start on site, we make periodic visits, normally once a week, to inspect the works to ensure that they are being carried out in accordance with the Contract Documents. This full service which includes administration of the tendering and on-site stages, ensures that the project is built in accordance with our designs and the your wishes.