A question of method, not appearance
In many projects the most substantial part of a studio’s financial return does not come from professional fees, but from the margin retained on supplies. On the surface the consultancy appears to have a contained cost, while an additional share, often in the region of 10–15% on every order, is absorbed into the prices of furniture and materials. The result is an overall investment higher than it may appear at first glance, driven by dynamics that are rarely explained clearly to the client. For us this approach is incompatible with the ethics of design: anyone relying on our work must be able to trust that every decision, including the financial ones, is made exclusively in their interest.
How we are compensated
Our only remuneration is the fee agreed at the quotation stage. There are no additional margins linked to supplies, nor side payments from companies, showrooms or craftspeople. If a client asks what our overall financial return is, the answer is straightforward: it coincides with the fee defined in the quotation and set out in the contract. In return, the client benefits from better financial conditions than those typically associated with commission-based models, and this advantage is verifiable.
Professional conditions
We work with suppliers under professional terms that an end client, acting alone, cannot usually obtain:
- trade discounts on list prices reserved for studios, particularly when we purchase directly from the company and not through shops or agents;
- special conditions on production times and methods, especially in the case of complex projects or large-scale supplies;
- a different negotiating position, linked to the number of projects we manage and the visibility of our work (publications, network of contacts, continuity over time).
These advantages do not become an extra margin for the studio, but are passed on entirely to the client. In our quotations we always indicate the list price, the discount applied and the net price reserved for the client, so that every step remains legible from beginning to end. Depending on the type of product and the volume of orders, the saving compared to a purchase managed independently can typically range between 10% and 25%, and the client is free to compare these conditions with other offers.
Invoices and payments
For supplies we follow a set of simple and rigorous rules:
- invoices are issued directly by suppliers in the client’s name;
- payments are made by the client to the supplier, without intermediate steps through the studio’s accounts;
- the studio does not resell products and does not issue resale invoices.
This choice avoids double accounting steps and re-invoicing costs, reduces any ambiguity around financial flows and simplifies administration for both parties. In the context of residential projects and small to medium-scale interventions, it is the most linear and sustainable model.
Practical tools
Transparency is also built into our day-to-day working tools. We use a shared budget file that lists all supplies with their updated net prices, so that the financial framework is always easy to read. Alongside this we maintain a dedicated folder for quotations, where for each item we keep the complete document with list price, discount applied, payment terms and operational notes, ensuring that every step is recorded. The client has constant access to these materials and can consult them at any time. This system reduces misunderstandings and disputes over costs: every line can be checked from the outset and is clearly positioned within the overall budget.
Zero conflict of interest
In our sector it is common for suppliers and brands to offer bonuses, incentives or kickbacks to studios. Our position is clear: the discounts we obtain in negotiation are passed on in full to the client, without retaining hidden percentages. Any unexpected financial benefit is returned or turned into an additional advantage for the client, so that the situation remains transparent for everyone involved. Supplier selection follows criteria that are independent of any financial return: we prioritise product quality, reliability over time, seriousness in after-sales service and coherence with the project. This allows us, in the event of a problem, to stand unreservedly on the side of the person who will live in the space, without having to balance conflicting interests between client and supplier.
Beyond standard practices
Compared to common habits in the sector, we consciously choose an opposite model:
- no hidden commissions that progressively erode the initial discount promised to the client;
- no mechanisms designed to push spending upwards in order to increase the studio’s margin;
- no unnecessary invoicing loops that inflate costs without adding value.
The old model appears to us dated, opaque and unreliable. Ours aims to be light, contemporary and trustworthy: clear in the numbers, clear in the responsibilities, clear in the way decisions are taken.
Elective affinities
This approach to transparency also defines the kind of clients with whom we work best. It is ideal for those who want access to the figures without having to manage every detail themselves, for those who prefer to delegate knowing that there are no hidden interests, and for those who have already experienced a lack of clarity elsewhere and now seek a framework that can finally be read in full. As an additional safeguard, we include in our contracts a clause that expressly forbids the studio from receiving commissions on supplies. At the same time, we know we are not the right studio for those who treat the lowest price as the only decision-making criterion, for those who use our work as a starting point and then turn elsewhere solely to obtain more aggressive conditions, or for those who expect the same discounts as commission-based models while asking for a fee aligned with those who deliberately renounce such margins. For us, sustainability has to apply to everyone involved: the client, the studio and the suppliers.
Transparency as the basis of trust
We believe that total transparency is the starting point for building a healthy, productive and long-lasting relationship. Knowing clearly how much is being invested, why, and who benefits from each choice is the simplest way to avoid suspicion, misunderstandings and disappointment as the project advances. When the financial framework is clear, the conversation can focus on what really matters: the quality of the project, of time, and of the life that will take shape in the spaces we are creating together.
