Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer free consultations?
At ABP we do charge a non-refundable Initial Consultation fee of $390.00 including GST. This cost covers the time taken to visit your home, access the spaces and discuss the project requirements. This also allows us prepare a Scope of Works and Fee Proposal.
During the consultation, we do give on the spot design advise, direction and recommendations, ensuring that the consultation is worth the investment.
We also ask a lot of questions about your needs, wants and desires for your project.
Ready to meet? Get in touch and book a consultation.
What's included in the Initial Consultation?
Once we receive your initial inquiry you will get a follow up call to book an Initial Consultation. This appointment is conducted at your home or project site and lasts up to 2 hours.
We will start with a tour of your home or site, where we will provide expert advice, recommendations and determine the design direction.
We will discuss your design style, lifestyle needs, your vision (and ours), your budget, time-frame, our design process, how we work and outline our fees.
After the consultation, we will prepare and provide you with a Scope of Works, Fee proposal and outline the next steps.
What are our Design Fees?
Our project fees start at $1,950.00 inc GST.
Each project is unique, and that is why the initial consultation is essential in understanding your project. This allows us to form a project specific Scope of Works and Fee Proposal. This is a fixed fee calculated for your project, based on the estimated working hours for the project scope.
How do I know what services I need?
Its OK if you don't know what service(s) you require. At the Initial Consultation, we will be able to ascertain your requirements.
At work on projects of all different sizes - you might require a whole house of furniture and soft furnishings or maybe you need your kitchen or bathroom re-designed and renovated. We offer a range of services from selecting paint colours, window furnishings through to designing and decorating your entire home.
We often work in phases with our client as budget allows, so a small project can often lead to something more, down the track.
Do you offer discounts on furniture and accessories?
You sure do! This is one of the benefits of working with an Interior Design Studio.
We endeavor to pass on a portion of these industry supplier pricing benefits. These do vary from supplier to supplier and are at ABP's discretion.
Do you work with small budgets?
We often help client set a suitable budget around their requirements.
Every job is different and we appreciate that every client's lifestyle and budget is unique. We collaborate with you, working towards a stunning result within your budget requirements.
What if I only want Window Treatments and some soft furnishings?
Yes, of course. We offer this bespoke service and can work with you to create curtains, blinds, upholstery, custom bedheads, bedding or cushions.
We visit your home, take measurements and discuss your requirements before designing and recommending soft furnishings to meet your needs. Feel free to contact us to find out more
Can I use my existing Furniture?
You certainly can! We love an electric interior and its important to combine treasured pieces with new items, it helps make a house feel like home.
We often recommend re-upholstering older pieces as this can have an amazing impact in a room.
Do you work on Commercial projects?
Yes we do. We have worked on commercial projects including cafes, office fit outs, medical consulting suites and hair salons over the years.
If you have a commercial project, we would love to hear from you.
How do you work with Trades people?
Yes, then it comes to building and renovations, it is important to building relationships with suppliers, trades and builders. Where possible, we will recommend our team of trusted professionals, fully insured and licenced, to work on your project. However as the client, you will be responsible for any contract arrangements and fee negotiation.
We do offer an administration service on these project, to liaise with trades throughout the build project, to ensure the design intent is maintained.
For decoration projects we have a team of contacts we use for all window treatment manufacturing and installation as well as re-upholstery, custom cushion maker and wallpaper installer.
What hours for you work?
Our studio is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
However, we understand that sometimes this doesn’t always suit and we be happy to work around your requirements.
What are your payment terms?
Payment for design fee's must be received prior to commencement of the relevant stage.
Upon acceptance of your interior proposal, ABP requires a 60% deposit payment, in order to place orders with suppliers. If the job exceeds $100,000.00 a progress payment of 20% is due for payment halfway through job completion. The remaining 20%(or 40% is order is under $100,000.00) is due approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the installation of goods.
In some cases suppliers require payment upfront , this is not unusual and varies from supplier to supplier.
Whats the best way to communicate with you?
Like you, we often have a great idea late in the evening or over the weekend!
We know it is tempting to send a text message or a direct message on Instagram, however, we don’t recommend it.
To avoid your messages for being missed, contacting us via email is the best method of communicating with us. It allows us to have a record of thoughts / feedback and decisions, and all correspondence can be tracked and documented.
What areas do you work in?
ABP Interiors was based in the Bayside suburbs of Melbourne for over 13 years, so we certainly, work that area.
We are now based in Hawthorn and work in and around Melbourne as well as the Mornington Peninsula and other areas in Australia.