ig. design & interiors
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we are asked most often, answered in full.
When is the right time to bring in an interior designer?
Earlier than most people think. The decisions that shape how a home feels - layout, flow, light, storage - are made before the drawings are finalised, and they are inexpensive to change at that stage and costly afterwards. If you are planning a renovation, extension or new build, a conversation before your architect draws anything is usually the most valuable one we have.
Do I have to commit to a full design service?
No. There are five ways to work with us, and each flexes around where your project is today and how involved you would like us to be. Consultancy gives you focused direction on a single decision or a whole home. Planning - Before You Build tests your layout while there is still freedom to change it. Full Interior Design carries everything from first brief to final styled shelf. Lighting Design shapes how a home feels after dark. The Finishing Layers dresses a house that is structurally complete but not yet finished.
How do you charge?
Every project is quoted as a fixed fee, agreed before any work begins. You will know what the design costs before you commit to it, and it does not move because the work takes longer than expected. The fee reflects the service, the size of the home and a very clear scope of works, which is what the Project Clarity Call establishes.
What happens when I first get in touch?
We start with a short phone call. It is an introduction rather than a briefing, enough to understand what you are planning and whether this is the right studio for it. If we both feel it is a good fit, the next step is a complimentary Project Clarity Call on Zoom, where we go through whatever you are able to share with us - your architect’s plans, imagery, anything you have gathered so far.
How long does a project take?
It varies greatly, depending on the service and the project. A single room and a whole-house renovation sit at very different ends of the range, and it is usually the build rather than the design that sets the pace. On a full interior design project we agree a schedule at the start of each phase rather than fixing a single date at the outset, which keeps the timings accurate as the project develops. Pace is set by the decisions inside a project, yours and the wider team’s alike, so the schedule is something we build and review together rather than hand over.
What areas do you cover?
We are based in Felden and work across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, the Home Counties and London. Projects further afield are considered on their own terms.
Will I be working with Annika, or with a team?
With Annika. She is the founder and principal designer and works on every project herself, from the first conversation to the final styled shelf. The same person at the brief and at the handover, not a name on a proposal. That is why the studio takes a small number of projects at a time.
The plans are approved. Is it too late for design input?
Not at all, though the sooner the better. Pre-construction planning tests how every room will really work - its flow, furniture and storage - and often reveals adjustments worth making before the first wall goes up. Where the build is already underway, lighting design and the finishing layers still make a significant difference.
Why is lighting treated as its own service?
Because it is the layer that most often gets left to the electrician, and the one that most changes how a room feels. A considered scheme is layered and calibrated to how each room is used, so a home feels warm and atmospheric from morning to night rather than evenly lit and flat.
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