Interior Design Process
One of the most common concerns people have before hiring an interior designer is not about the cost. It is about the process. What actually happens? How involved do I need to be? How long will it take? What do I get at each stage and when?
This page answers all of those questions honestly, using the exact process Hada Interiors follows on every project, whether it is a focused single room commission in Knutsford or a complete whole house renovation in Chester.
Every project is different in scope, in property type and in what the client needs. What does not change is the structure of how Hada Interiors works and the standard of attention every stage receives.
If you are new to working with an interior designer, it is also worth reading how to brief an interior designer in Cheshire before your first consultation. It will make the initial conversation significantly more productive.
The Brief
Every project begins with a conversation, not a proposal.
Before anything is suggested or sketched, Hada Interiors listens. The aim is to understand how the client actually lives in their home, what is not working about it, what they want it to feel like, and what has held them back from making changes before now. This is not a formal intake process. It is a genuine conversation about the home and the life lived in it, and it shapes everything that follows.
The brief is built from this conversation. It covers the scope of the project, the design direction the client is drawn toward, the budget being worked within, and any practical constraints that need to be planned around from the outset. A clear brief protects both client and designer. It means the design work starts from an honest foundation rather than a set of assumptions that later turn out to be wrong.
You can read more about how to prepare your brief before your first consultation to make the most of the initial visit.
01
Site Visit & Survey
Hada Interiors recommends a site visit at the earliest possible stage of any project, including properties that are still under construction or mid-renovation.
Seeing a space in person reveals things that floor plans and photographs cannot. How natural light moves through the rooms across the day. How the proportions of a space actually feel rather than measure. How one room connects to the next and where the real design opportunities and constraints sit. For period properties in Chester or the surrounding villages, a site visit often reveals original features, structural details and spatial qualities that change the design thinking entirely.
The site visit is also when detailed photographs, videos and measurements are taken. This information forms the technical foundation of all the design work that follows.
For most projects, the initial consultation and site visit happen together at the client's property. The consultation is charged at Hada Interiors' standard hourly rate. If the client chooses to proceed with a full project, that fee is refunded in full against project costs.
02
Fee Guidance & Proposal
After the site visit and brief, Hada Interiors provides a realistic estimate of design fees and presents a formal written proposal for approval.
The proposal covers the scope of work, the creative direction, a breakdown of design fees by stage, and a realistic timeline for the project. Everything is written down and agreed before any design work begins. There are no surprises later in the process because every commitment Hada Interiors makes is documented at this stage.
Design work is charged at £96 per hour (£80 plus VAT). For larger commissions with a clearly defined scope, fixed project fees are available. The fee structure is confirmed in writing at the proposal stage and does not change without the client's agreement.
Once the proposal is accepted, a follow-up site visit takes place if required to capture any additional measurements or details needed for the design development phase.
03
Space Planning & Research
This stage is where the design thinking begins in earnest, and it is largely invisible to the client because it happens before anything is presented.
Initial layouts and flow diagrams are developed, testing different arrangements of space to find the one that functions best for how the household actually lives. Materials, finishes, furniture options and lighting solutions that are appropriate for the property and the brief are researched. What is available within the budget is explored, and the vocabulary of the scheme begins to be built before any of it is shown to the client.
This research phase is one of the most time intensive parts of any project and one of the most important. The quality of the concept presented at the next stage depends entirely on the depth of thinking that happened before it.
04
Concept Presentation
The concept presentation is the first moment the design becomes visible.
Hada Interiors presents a curated set of proposals covering floor plans, spatial arrangements, material palettes, mood direction and key furniture and lighting ideas. For projects involving significant layout changes, 3D visuals may be included to help the client understand how the space will feel before anything is committed to.
This stage involves a structured feedback conversation rather than a simple approval. Every element of the concept is walked through, the thinking behind each decision is explained, and the client's response is invited. Some elements will be exactly right. Others will need adjustment. This is the moment to refine the direction thoroughly, not to revisit the brief from scratch.
Most projects require one or two rounds of concept refinement before the direction is agreed and the detailed design development can begin.
05
Detailed Design Development
Once the concept is agreed, Hada Interiors develops it into a fully detailed design package.
This includes precise technical drawings, construction elevations, sections and details for any bespoke joinery or built-in elements. It includes full specifications for every finish, fixture and furniture piece, with exact dimensions, finishes, colours and supplier references. It includes a lighting plan with switching logic and electrical schedules for the electrician to work from. A window treatment specification, a flooring schedule and every other element that contributes to the finished space is documented at this stage.
This documentation is what distinguishes a professionally designed interior from one assembled by instinct on site. It means every trade working on the project is working from the same information, and the design intent is protected through the build process rather than eroded by it.
06
Cost Planning, Permissions & Procurement
Before any ordering or building work begins, Hada Interiors prepares accurate cost estimates and handles any necessary applications.
For projects involving structural changes, extensions or alterations to listed buildings, planning permissions or listed building consents may be required. This process is coordinated alongside the relevant architects and consultants, managing the timeline to avoid delays to the wider project programme.
Procurement covers the sourcing, specification and ordering of every item in the design, from major furniture pieces and bespoke joinery through to lighting, textiles and accessories. All supplier relationships are managed, lead times are coordinated, delivery logistics are handled and everything required for installation arrives on site when it is needed rather than creating delays during the build.
07
Ongoing Site Support & Project Management
During the construction and installation phase, Hada Interiors provides regular site visits, contractor coordination, quality oversight and progress updates.
This involves direct communication with builders, joiners, electricians, plumbers, tilers, upholsterers and every other trade involved in the project, ensuring that the work on site matches the design documentation and that any issues are resolved quickly before they create problems downstream. Questions that arise on site are answered with reference to the design intent rather than left to individual trades to resolve independently.
For clients managing a renovation from abroad or managing a busy household, this stage is where the value of a fully managed design service is most tangible. The project runs to a clear timeline, decisions are made promptly and the quality of the finished result reflects the quality of the design that preceded it.
Hada Interiors works with clients across Cheshire, Chester, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Prestbury, Hale and beyond, including clients based internationally.
08
Furnishing Supply, Installation & Handover
The installation stage is when the design becomes fully visible for the first time.
Furniture, soft furnishings, artwork, lighting and accessories are installed and positioned precisely according to the design documentation. The installation is overseen personally by Gaby, ensuring that every element sits correctly, every detail is right and the finished space reflects the design that was developed and agreed in earlier stages.
A final walkthrough is conducted with the client, and any snagging items are identified and resolved. Care instructions are provided for any specialist materials, finishes or pieces that require particular maintenance.
The handover marks the completion of the project, but it is not the end of the relationship.
09
Post-Handover Evaluation & Aftercare
Hada Interiors follows up after the client has settled into the newly designed space to review how it is working, address any minor adjustments and provide any additional guidance needed.
Living in a newly designed space often surfaces small things that could not have been identified during the installation. A piece of furniture that works better in a slightly different position. A lighting scene that needs adjusting for a particular time of day. A material or finish question that only arises in daily use. These are normal and expected, and Hada Interiors addresses them as part of the standard aftercare commitment rather than treating them as additional billable work.
10
SERVICES
Hada Interiors offers a fully comprehensive interior design service to homeowners across Cheshire and Chester, built around one principle: your home, your vision, executed flawlessly. From initial space planning and technical drawings through to the final furnishing placement, we manage every detail, so the only thing you need to do is enjoy the transformation.
Hada Interiors proudly delivers its luxury interior design services across a diverse range of locations, encompassing both national and international projects as well as many of Cheshire’s most distinguished towns and areas:
Alderley Edge - Altrincham - Cheshire - Chester - Christleton - Hale - Knutsford - Prestbury - Tarporley - Tattenhall - West Kirby - Wilmslow