House refurbishment costs depend on scope, materiality, and the depth of change you want. A single-room update costs far less than a whole-house interior overhaul; material choices, existing condition, and the complexity of your brief shape the budget more than square footage alone. Understanding these variables before you start helps you plan realistically.
What factors determine refurbishment cost?
Refurbishment cost splits into two questions: what you’re changing, and how much care the change demands. A room refresh—new finishes, updated furniture, repaired surfaces—carries a different budget from a structural or services overhaul. The studio’s work spans both: the Witham Project involved residential interior design across multiple rooms; the London Embankment Apartment required a complete interior approach in a central London setting. Both began with Discovery, the stage where the studio establishes what exists, what must change, and what defines success for the space.
Material selection anchors cost more than any other variable. A reupholstered sofa keeps its original frame and structure; a new sofa requires new manufacture. Joinery—built-in storage, fitted cabinetry, bespoke elements—costs more than loose furnishing because it’s custom-made for your space. Hard finishes (flooring, wall treatments, plasterwork) involve specialists and site time. Soft furnishings (curtains, upholstery, smaller pieces) can be sourced more flexibly. The studio’s Concept, Design & Specification stage defines exactly what materials enter the space, which is where cost precision becomes possible.
Location and existing condition matter. A London property refurbishment (see the London Embankment Apartment, Tone at Canary Wharf) often carries higher labour and material costs than equivalent work in a smaller town like Witham. If existing surfaces are sound, you can retain them; if structural or environmental issues exist—damp, poor insulation, failing services—remedial work must happen first, and that sits outside interior design budget. The Discovery phase identifies these issues before planning begins.
How does scope shape your budget?
A single room refurbishment—new decoration, updated furniture, fresh finishes—is a different financial commitment from a whole-house interior. The studio’s commercial work illustrates this: Fruittii Hair Salon and Keystones Estate Agent were focused, defined spaces where Concept, Design & Specification could be precise because the scope was clear. A residential project spanning multiple rooms (like the Witham Project) requires co-ordination across surfaces, materials, and functional needs, which extends both design time and the range of specialists involved.
Refurbishment also differs from renovation. Refurbishment updates the interior without changing the building’s structure or services; it’s about surfaces, finishes, and how the space feels and functions. If your brief includes rewiring, replumbing, structural repair, or major systems work, those costs sit separate from interior design and should be budgeted independently. The studio’s process assumes the building shell is sound; if it isn’t, that work must be addressed first.
Phasing a refurbishment can spread cost over time. You might refresh the main living spaces first, then move to bedrooms or secondary areas. This approach allows you to learn from the first phase and adjust decisions for the second. However, phasing also means multiple mobilisations (bringing in teams, setting up site) and can delay final coherence across the home. The studio’s Discovery phase helps clarify whether phasing makes financial or practical sense for your situation.
What does the design process cost to use?
Interior design itself—the thinking, planning, and specification—is a service separate from the cost of materials and making. When you commission the studio, you’re paying for the Discovery phase (where the brief is established), the Concept, Design & Specification phase (where decisions are made and documented), the Commission phase (where suppliers and makers are engaged), and finally the Reveal (site management and installation). Each phase has a cost; the studio’s fee structure is transparent and based on the scope of work, the complexity of your brief, and the time required to deliver.
Working with a designer costs less than making expensive mistakes without one. The studio’s approach—evident across projects like Beaulieu Dental Practice, Fruittii Hair Salon, and the residential work—is to specify materials and finishes with precision before money is spent. This prevents costly rework: if a colour is wrong, or a sofa doesn’t fit, or materials don’t work together, the cost of correction far exceeds the design fee that would have prevented it. The Concept, Design & Specification phase is where this precision happens; by the time Commission begins, decisions are locked and suppliers are confident in what they’re making.
Some clients engage the studio for specific stages only—perhaps Concept, Design & Specification without full Commission and Reveal. Others work through the entire process. The scale and complexity of your project, your existing knowledge, and your confidence in managing the build phase shape which stages you need. The studio can advise on this during Discovery.
How do you plan a realistic budget?
Begin by clarifying scope: which rooms, which elements (surfaces, furniture, fixtures), and what your aesthetic aim is. A minimal refurbishment—fresh paint, updated soft furnishings, minor repairs—costs less than a comprehensive interior overhaul with new joinery, specialist finishes, and high-end materiality. The studio’s work across commercial spaces (Tone at Canary Wharf, Keystones Estate Agent) and residential interiors (London Embankment Apartment, Witham Project) shows that clarity of brief drives clarity of cost.
Material choice is the largest variable under your control. Hard finishes—flooring, wall treatments, lighting, built-in elements—are fixed costs tied to the space. Soft furnishings—seating, tables, accessories—offer more flexibility because they can be sourced at different price points without changing the interior’s character if the design intent is sound. The studio prioritises material integrity and longevity over trend; a well-chosen material lasts decades and justifies its cost through permanence.
Build in contingency. Existing buildings reveal surprises during refurbishment: a wall surface might be worse than it looked, services might need rerouting, or installation might take longer than planned. A realistic budget includes a contingency—typically a percentage of the main cost—to cover these unforeseen factors. The Discovery phase uncovers as many potential issues as possible up front, but absolute certainty isn’t possible until work begins.
What happens after refurbishment is finished?
The Reveal phase is when the interior is handed over to you complete. At this point, the studio’s role shifts from making to teaching: you learn how to live in the space, maintain materials, and care for finishes. A well-refurbished interior doesn’t need constant attention, but it does benefit from understanding. Natural materials like stone, wood, and leather age visibly; this is intentional and valued in the studio’s work, not hidden or treated as failure. Your refurbished space should feel durable, considered, and capable of lasting.
The cost of refurbishment is an investment in the home’s livability and, often, its market value. A thoughtfully designed interior—one where materials, proportions, and function are coherent—adds value that outlasts trends. The studio’s approach to quiet luxury, restraint, and permanence means the spaces it designs don’t require constant refreshing or re-trending. They age well and remain relevant because they’re rooted in principle, not fashion.
How do you start planning your refurbishment?
The first step is to be honest about what you want to change and why. Are you refreshing finishes because they’re worn, or because the space no longer functions for how you live? Do you want to update aesthetics, improve functionality, or both? The clearer your brief, the more accurate a cost estimate can be. The studio’s Discovery phase exists for this: to sit with you, understand your home, your habits, and your aspirations, and from that foundation, plan what refurbishment means for your space.
Speak to a designer early, before you commit to a budget or start buying materials. A single conversation during Discovery can prevent costly decisions made in isolation. The studio works with prospective clients to establish whether a full interior design engagement makes sense, or whether advice on a specific area would be more useful. Either way, clarity at the start shapes efficiency and cost-effectiveness throughout. Get in touch to discuss your project; the studio can advise on scope, process, and what the next step looks like.