How we work.

If you have a design project, big or small, and are not sure where to start, what to expect, how we work and the best next steps to navigate your design or decorating project, we would love to talk about it. Here is how we work at ASI…

Step 1: Complimentary Call

Our 15 minute complimentary call is always the first step.

We ask that you complete our super-simple questionnaire and we will be in touch to schedule your call with our Principal Interior Designer Angela Smith. During this call Angela will discuss your project and design goals with you. It’s also a great chance for us to explain how we work and to ensure our design aesthetic aligns with your needs.

Step 2: Initial Design Consultation

Your initial consultation with Angela is usually held at your project address or our studio (it can also be held by video call). Prior to this meeting, we will send you a briefing questionnaire to assist us in gaining further information about your project and to enable us to make the best use of our time together. We ask that you also share any floor plans, architectural plans and photos you may have prior to your appointment.

During this meeting Angela will walk through the spaces and get a better understanding of your needs, review any floor plans, determine the function of the spaces, discuss layout possibilities, understand your style, budget and any specific requirements. You can ask as many questions as you need and share your inspiration images. You will receive a summary of the ideas and suggestions within seven days of the meeting.

At the end of our meeting, if you would like to move forward, we will ask you to sign a Client Agreement outlining the scope of works and our terms of engagement. Once this is signed, we will get started on your project! The summary from our discussions will form part of the design brief.

If you don’t need a full-service design offering, then this is a perfect ‘one-off’ design consultation. You may have good ideas and simply like some recommendations from ASI so you feel confident moving forward with the project yourself. There is no commitment required for you to take things any further after this meeting.

Step 3: Project Commencement

From here, things get really exciting as every project offers its own unique creative opportunities.

Here is a brief overview outlining our design process. We generally like to work in four stages:

• Preliminary design: ASI provides a preliminary moodboard to convey the intended style and overall aesthetic for your project. This moodboard is a visual representation to help you understand the direction we are heading in and ensure our suggestions align with your goals. After receiving your feedback and discussing it with you, we will proceed to develop a comprehensive and detailed design scheme.

• Detailed design: ASI initiates the project by concentrating on the key design elements and decorative aspects (depending on the design brief) of your renovation or new build. This will include structural and design elements such as floor plan layout, spacial planning, kitchen and bathroom design, cabinetry design and lighting. We carefully specify surface and material selections, including flooring, tiles, tapware and accessories, counter tops, wall coverings and window treatments. Typically, there will be several meetings with you and your builder (and any other trades). Where required ASI will obtain quotes and prepare schedules for your builder. Should your brief include sourcing and selection of furniture and soft furnishings, we will then transition to this stage presenting you with a list of products for review and approval.

• Procurement: Once products have been approved by you, we will liaise with our suppliers, manufacturers and workrooms and co-ordinate deliveries and installation. We mostly specify from our trade suppliers (not retailers), offering you unique products at a competitive price.

• Project realisation: Depending on the scope of works and your design brief, we can oversee most aspects of your project from coordinating necessary trades to onsite meetings to resolving any issues that may arise (and they do!). We ensure everything is delivered and installed in accordance with the design brief and where practical we personally inspect for quality control. Once all works are complete, we get to organising the final furniture installation and styling of your home – this is the super exciting part!

We work closely with you to understand your individual design needs. Everything is planned and carefully considered, allowing the project to go smoothly and leave you time and head space to do other things. We recommend engaging our services before your builder/architect plans are complete, so we can ensure a cohesive design throughout and avoid any expensive mistakes. We don’t put any limits on what we can achieve – we help you choose the right surface materials, select the best paint colour and purchase the perfect sofa that is the right scale for your room!

Learn more about our services and design process.

Let us make your every day beautiful!