You don’t have to do this alone. Despite what you may believe, I’ve never had a client who’s actually written their own brief. This either gets done by your designer, or my past client’s have employed a Project Manager write the initial Brief for them.
Interior Designers will write your Brief for you, as we are trained to ask all the right questions; not just about the facts of what you need, but we also touch upon how you work and live, the mood you want to convey & take on board any colours or design styles you love. We live & breath design all day, every day (and dream about it too!).
The Questionnaire
When you appoint us to Your Project, we kick of with a one-on-one Design Workshop with you. BUT before that, we’ll send you some homework; a Salon & Spa Interior Design Questionnaire to get you thinking about exactly what you need and want.
It’ll start you thinking about all the exciting stuff like mood, look & feel and branding, as well as the facts and figures like how many styling stations you need.
Our Salon & Spa Interior Design Questionnaire will have you realising there are things you have not even considered. It’s the perfect time to consider all the things, before we get too far down the road of design, where any changes could impact time, schedule or budget. If something needs to be fitted into the plan at the last minute, we’d need to take the time to go back to the drawing board to firstly see if the change will work in the space, then assess any cost changes with your builder. Then if the change needs to proceed, any relevant design documentation & scheduling will need to be adjusted too. I love doing a job right the first time; making revisions is inefficient and leads to mistakes, additional work & delays.
Using a Questionnaire & developing a Brief puts you in the driver’s seat & in control of what you want; if any adjustments need to be made then we’ll know right at the start during the sketch plan stage.
The Brief
During our one-on-one Design Workshop with you, we’ll discuss your filled-out questionnaire, tease out any more detail by asking more questions, and familiarise ourselves with your current Premises. We’ll find out what you love about it & what you hate about it.
During our visit, we evaluate the existing layout, architecture, and design features. This analysis will allows us to identify any opportunities and challenges that need to be considered in the design.
After we’ve done all this we write the brief. The brief will include all the details discussed with you, such as design preferences, functional requirements, budget, timeline, and any other relevant information.
Get started planning your dream Salon with our 8-page Salon & Spa Questionnaire
How you can Start
If you want to have a go at doing this yourself, here’s some tips to get you started. Writing your own Interior Design brief can help you communicate your vision and requirements to us, allowing us to better understand your needs and preferences.
Here are some tips on how to write an effective Interior Design brief:
- Start with an overview: Begin by introducing yourself and describing the space that you want to be designed. Provide details about the size, layout, and intended use of the space. Also, specify any existing features that you want to keep or modify.
- Define your style: Identify your personal style preferences and the overall aesthetic that you want to achieve. Include examples of design elements, colors, patterns, and textures that you like, or any Branding colours that need to be considered. This will help the interior designer get a sense of your taste and style, and the culture & values of your Team.
- Establish a budget: Be clear about your budget for the project. This will help us determine what is feasible in terms of materials, furnishings, and decor, based upon our industry knowledge and experience.
- Outline functional requirements: Consider the practical needs of the space, such as seating, storage, lighting, and ventilation. Specify any equipment or appliances that you require.
- Consider the timeline: Set a realistic timeline for the project, including any key milestones or deadlines. Be aware that the timeline may be impacted by factors such as lead times for materials and furniture.
- Provide inspiration: Include images or examples of interior designs that inspire you. This can help the interior designer better understand your vision and preferences. Some clients will mention a hotel they love the look & feel of, or an artwork or even fashion, your inspiration does not have to come from images of other salons or spas.
- Define the scope of work: Clearly outline the scope of work, including what services you are expecting from the interior designer. This may include design concepts, drawings, materials/fittings & furnishing selection, and construction drawings & documentation.
By following these tips, you can create an effective interior design brief that will help your designer create a space that meets your needs and reflects your personal style.
(please pin the below graphic to your pinterest board for reference)
If you are planning a refurbishment, please explore our flexible Design Package Options designed to serve you for more information.
You’ve go no idea how grateful I am to have had you alongside my family. And the Salon’s everything I’ve dreamed of. You made it come alive! The opening was so amazing – very overwhelmed”
Absolu Hair Salon – Kara Mac Issac
(please pin the below graphic to your pinterest board for reference)
(please pin the below graphic to your pinterest board for reference)
(please pin the below graphic to your pinterest board for reference
So, why Hire an Interior Designer?
Unfortunately many people get confused or intimidated by the idea of hiring a professional Interior Designer for their project, and might be concerned about the process of working with a designer & the costs of doing so.
A lot of people I meet feel that they can hire a builder and do the design themselves, selecting materials and fixtures in dribs and drabs, often at the last minute (leading to less choice) with poor planning & lack of an overall vision. This will lead increased costs due to changes, additions and variations that the builder will not have allowed for.
You will save money & time. Your designer will plan functional and appealing spaces, provide drawings, visualisations & material / furnishing selections in a strategic manner so you can get competitive quotes, and you know what the design will look like & cost right from the start.
You require a Qualified Interior Designer & Registered Building Practitioner for any commercial project or residential project that requires a building permit; a proper interior designer is a highly trained & experienced registered professional, not just someone with ‘a good eye for colour’ and a knack for picking furniture.
Let’s make something beautiful together, book an appointment to explore your dream project.
Image: Omar Rodriguez @ormphotography
Lisa Elliott Interior Design 