What the interior design fee covers
Interior design is often perceived solely through its aesthetic outcome, overlooking the technical phases that precede it. A project passes through laborious and layered stages: precise site survey, budget definition, verification of regulatory and structural constraints, functional distribution study, systems integration, lighting design, detailed technical drawings, on-site trade coordination. The fee compensates this work and the responsibility inherent in managing projects where the stakes are high. Errors generate multiplied costs, mid-project changes push back the schedule and raise costs. Good design anticipates problems and resolves them before they become costs.
The variables that determine project cost
Each proposal stems from a specific analysis. The uniqueness of every context rules out any standard fee scale. The variables determining our engagement are multiple and interconnected:
- Scope of services: from preliminary design alone to complete site management, from bespoke furniture design to dedicated lighting schemes, through to final staging and outdoor space coordination.
- Scale of works: a targeted refresh of surfaces and furnishings versus a full redistribution of the interior layout requires a radically different level of engagement.
- Timeline: a project compressed into a few months and one spread over a longer period allow different margins for depth and planning.
- Property context: working on listed historic buildings or properties of particular character calls for a different technical and regulatory approach than recent or standard construction. Geographic location also affects logistics: managing a project outside Milan demands more rigorous planning, continuous travel, reduced site presence.
- Outdoor spaces: terraces, gardens, and courtyards constitute autonomous projects that dialogue with interiors but require dedicated expertise, verification, and coordination. Complexity increases significantly when these surfaces approach the scale of interior rooms.
- Systems and regulatory framework: the necessity to upgrade existing systems, comply with current regulations, or integrate advanced technologies directly influences project complexity.
- Expected impact: we consider how the project will affect property value and how well the space works day to day over time, relative to expectations and spatial habits.
Indicative cost ranges per square metre
The fee varies according to the scale and nature of the project:
- From 150 €/m²: targeted renewal work — surface and finish updates, lighting corrections, furniture reorganisation without structural works.
- Up to 450 €/m²: comprehensive renovations involving complete spatial redistribution, total systems revision, bespoke furniture design, and site management from opening to completion.
Between these extremes lies a broad intermediate zone. As reference, the partial renovation of a 95 m² two-bedroom apartment in Milan's historic center, managed with a medium-to-high level of detail, resulted in a fee of approximately € 31,500. To guarantee our applied quality standard, we engage the studio's operational structure beyond a minimum threshold of € 10,000. Below this figure, the relationship between organisational complexity and expected outcome does not permit maintaining our defining standards.
From first contact to signed contract
Before formulating an offer, we verify that prerequisites exist for a solid design process:
- Preliminary analysis: we assess property dimensions, primary objectives, approximate budget.
- Initial meeting: we arrange a direct encounter—by phone, in studio, or on site—to align expectations and understand how the client actually lives and what matters to them.
- Documentation gathering: we request current floor plans, photographic and video material, budget and timeline confirmations. Sharing a concise list of functional priorities proves valuable: more natural light, a dedicated workspace, increased storage capacity, outdoor view enhancement.
- Formal proposal: we prepare documentation with detailed description of operational phases, included services, and corresponding fees.
- Contract: upon approval, we formalize engagement establishing deadlines, services, payment terms, and protection scope for both parties.
We treat all data with absolute confidentiality, in line with our transparency policy.
When budget and expectations do not align
Every studio has its operating range. The collaboration works when method, expectations and available budget are aligned. A certain level of work requires proportionate resources. The strategic value of what we do lies in managing that complexity. When the budget cannot support the standards the project demands, we prefer to say so before starting — rather than accept compromises that would fail both the client's ambitions and our own criteria.
What a clear fee protects
A clear fee means both sides know exactly what is included and what it costs. The fee defines a precise scope of services, responsibilities and deliverables. When that scope is shared, the project moves forward without grey areas and without renegotiation.
