The first consultation is the moment a lot of people feel nervous about, and they really needn't. It isn't a test, and it isn't a hard sell. It's simply a conversation, the start of getting to know each other and your home. Here's exactly what happens, so you can walk in relaxed.
It's a conversation, not a sales pitch
The whole point of a first consultation is to work out whether we're the right fit for each other, on both sides. We want to understand your home and how you want to live in it; you want to get a feel for how we work and whether you'd enjoy the process. There's no obligation and no pressure, just an honest chat.
Come with how you want to live, not a finished idea. The idea is our job.
What we'll talk about
We'll want to understand the brief properly: how you use the space now, what's not working, how you want it to feel, and how a busy day actually flows through your home. The more we understand about your life, the better the design. We'll look at the space itself, talk through what's possible, and start to get a sense of direction.
What to bring
You don't need to arrive with a finished scheme, in fact, please don't. But a few things help:
- Any inspiration you've gathered, images, a saved folder, even a single room you love.
- A rough idea of budget, more on that below.
- A sense of how you want the space to work, and anything that frustrates you about it now.
We'll talk honestly about budget
This is the part people dread, and it's the most useful conversation of the whole meeting. Be open about what you're comfortable spending. We won't judge it, we'll tell you kindly what's realistic and where to focus it. If you'd like to understand how we charge before we meet, it's all set out on our pricing page.
What happens next
After the consultation, you'll receive a clear proposal, so you know exactly what working together would involve before anything begins. From there, if it feels right, we move into the design itself: concept, then detail, then bringing it all to life.
How to get the most from it
Be honest, be open, and don't worry about saying you don't yet know what you want, that's completely normal, and working it out is part of what we do. The clients who get the most from us are simply the ones who tell us how they really live.
If you've a project in mind and you're ready for that first conversation, get in touch, I'd love to hear about your home. And if you're still weighing designers up, you might find our note on the questions worth asking helpful first.
