Our design & installation service explained

When I was working as a home designer for John Lewis, I had many clients who loved the designs I produced for them but didn’t know where to start when it came to implementing those designs and coordinating their projects. They would often ask if we could recommend decorators, electricians and plasterers etc, but because we were a retail store, we weren’t able to do that. I found it very frustrating to see people needing help and not being in a position to do anything more for them.

When I eventually set up my own studio, one of the main motivations for doing this was to help people with the practicalities of making changes to their homes. I know it can be really difficult for homeowners to find reliable trades - those who turn up when they say they will, who produce good quality work, and who will rectify any problems that arise. It's difficult for homeowners to know what to expect from the trades they hire, and to know if a problem really is a problem, or if it is just a normal part of the job. There are also all the other moving parts to consider during a renovation - how much should it cost? How long will it take? When should I order everything so it’s here when the trades need it? What if something arrives broken? Where do I store everything to keep it clean and safe whilst the building work is going on? There are many more questions I could add to this list, because renovating even one area of your home is complex, so it’s no wonder that homeowners can feel overwhelmed and stressed by the process. 

Because of this, I decided very early on in my design career that my studio would offer a design and installation service for clients so we could take care of everything and take away the stress of renovating.

So, whilst setting up Louise Misell Interiors, I also set about finding high quality tradespeople and suppliers who I knew we could rely on. I auditioned them all, often trying them out on projects in my own home or visiting their previous work to see it in person. I assessed their communication skills, their tidiness, their timekeeping, and of course the quality of their work, until I knew I had found my team. I then honed our studio’s processes until I felt we had a robust service which would deliver the right results for our clients. This became our design and installation service and the steps throughout our process have all been considered very carefully. Each one is there for an important reason, and we follow this process to make sure things run as smoothly as possible. Here’s how we run a project from start to finish, and why we do it this way:

Step 1 - Design consultation - we get to know you, see the property, find out what you’d like to achieve and why, discuss possible design solutions, your preferences, timelines and of course budgets.

Why this step is important: this is the big picture thinking - what is possible? Where will the budget take us? Are there possibilities you haven’t yet considered? We throw ideas around with you and give you a chance to see if you like the way we think and work before deciding to start your project with us.

Step 2 - After meeting you we send a thorough design proposal. This includes our projected pricing and timeline for your project, as well as a detailed scope of work and information on what you should expect to pay for trades, along with budget guides for furniture and fittings.

Why this step is important: You need to have a good idea of what your project is likely to cost you and how long it will take before you can commit to it. We give you as much information as we can at this stage, based on our own past projects with real numbers so you can be sure we’re not plucking figures out of the air.

Step 3 - Once we have agreed to work together, we arrange a site survey to measure and photograph the spaces, and a concept meeting to look through samples and inspiration and drill down those initial ideas into more concrete ones.

Why this step is important: We need to get to know you and your tastes better so we ask more questions and get into the finer details - Do you love to cook? Do you like velvet but hate linen? Do you hate brown because it reminds you of the 70s? The concept phase is vital to understanding your needs and preferences so we can produce designs you will love.

Step 4 - We then design your spaces by researching, sketching in 3D, and sourcing everything from sofas to light switches, from blinds to flooring, from taps to worktops, and we sample and document everything carefully as we go.

From 3D sketch to the finished room - the en suite from our Unique Family Home  project

Why this step is important: Here we distil the concept ideas into practical, workable and beautiful designs based on the brief we have taken and our vision for your spaces, whilst keeping the project budget and timeline in mind. We merge our creative ideas with your brief to create something unique to you and the way you like to live. As we design in 3D, we know that our designs will function and fit, and it means we can produce technical drawings for our trades so they can implement the vision once the design has been finalised.

Step 5 - We present the completed designs to you with samples, floorplans and 3D renders of the proposed designs, so you can see how your home will look when it’s finished. All materials, furniture, and fittings costings are presented with all specifications listed fully.

Step 6 - Once you have had time to process the proposed scheme, we make any revisions needed and finalise your designs

Why this step is important: We tweak anything that you’re not keen on and present alternative items for your approval. We need to be sure that you are happy with all elements of your schemes before moving on to ordering and installation, as changes made later on cause delays and will inevitably increase your spending on the project. Once revisions are complete, you will have a plan which we can work from to complete your spaces.

Step 7 - When the designs are approved we call on our trusted tradespeople to quote for the work they will be doing for us. We produce any technical drawings needed to help our trades to quote and discuss the designs in detail with them so they can quote accurately. Once the quotes are in, we have a budget review meeting to make sure you are happy with the overall cost of the project.

Why this step is important: Up until this point, the labour estimates we have been working from are based on projected project costs. Now the design phase is complete we can provide the detail needed for our trades to give accurate costings and can look at the actual overall costs with you, making changes to the budget and design if necessary.

Step 8 - Once everything is signed off, we create an ordering schedule, place orders and organise deliveries. We receive deliveries to a warehouse so that everything can be checked on arrival, with any problems handled immediately by us.

 It doesn’t happen very often but we need to catch it immediately - 7 of the 9 light fittings we ordered arrived broken, and this mirror was smashed in transit

Why this step is important: We send items to a warehouse for a number of reasons - the items from our suppliers often come on large lorries which are unsuitable for domestic deliveries, our warehouse can receive deliveries as needed which eliminates the need for you to wait in for them all, we are able to open and thoroughly check items for damage or missing parts and alert our suppliers of any problems, and we can securely repackage items to keep them safe before they are needed on site. The items are also covered by our insurance should anything go wrong whilst they are in storage. We track and document every delivery so we know where each item is at each stage of the renovation.

Step 9 - At the same time as we place your orders, we instruct our trades to start work on any bespoke items, such as making curtains, or building cabinetry, and start the process of installation, which can include anything from rewiring to tiling, laying flooring to decorating. We coordinate the schedule so that the items with the longest lead times (usually sofas) will arrive when the work is complete, ready to be installed. We continue to communicate with our trades to make sure the design plan is being followed and carry out site visits to check on the work.

Why this step is important: To keep your project on track, the installation work needs to be complete so your rooms are ready to receive furniture and accessories. We also need to schedule around the availability of our trades and communicate with both them and you so everyone knows what to expect and when. We are here to make sure that every single detail is right, that the work is being done in the correct order and to rectify any problems that come up as we go along.

Step 10 - This is the most exciting part of the process for our clients. The furniture, window dressings, accessories and finishing touches are installed, and the rooms are complete. Where possible, we schedule photo shoots at the same time so everything is captured looking its best, and will bring in a team of cleaners if needed.

Why this step is important: Clients come to us to execute the vision, and they want us to take care of all the details so they can enjoy using their finished spaces. No one wants to live with an incomplete project, and styling and accessorising are incredibly important to making a finished space feel like home. It’s our job to make sure everything is finished beautifully and looks stunning - just like it did in the design plans we produced.

Step 11 - We strive to resolve any issues that arise as we go through the renovation process but it’s not always possible to get them all settled before the installation day. To make doubly sure that everything is perfect, we walk through the finished spaces with you, taking notes and then coordinating our trades to make sure everything is as it should be.

Why this step is important: We have selected our trades and suppliers because they care about the details as much as we do. We have built up good relationships with them over the years so they are invested in making sure all the loose ends are tied up and we don’t leave you with a to-do list to carry out after we’ve gone - we are with you until everything is complete.

Step 12 - We close our project with you by presenting a binder which has all the relevant information from your project in one place, including any guarantees or warranties. Final invoices are settled and the project retainer is returned to you.

Why this step is important: If you have any issues in the future, such as needing to replace a lightbulb in one of your lamps, or to check a paint colour used in a room, you’ll know where to look for the information you need. We also give you a copy of our care guides so you’ll know how to clean up spills or wash and care for items.

Our design and installation service is designed to take you through the whole process from start to finish so we can provide unique and flawless designs, executed as intended, to produce a harmonious home for you. We know you are busy and don’t necessarily have the time or resources to make these changes to your home, but we have the experience, resources and knowledge to bring in the right people at the right time and plan all the details needed to get you over the finish line.