What We Need from Our Clients When We Work Together
Working with an interior designer is often a new experience. Understandably, many clients ask how best to prepare, what will be expected of them, and how to ensure the process feels smooth and enjoyable from the outset.
At Fiona Brass Interiors, we believe the most successful projects are built on clarity, openness, and mutual trust. Below are a few key considerations that help shape a calm, well-managed design journey and ensure the end result truly reflects how you want to live.
Clarity Around Budget, Timescale and Priorities
Having a clear sense of budget from the beginning allows for honest conversations and thoughtful decision-making. Budgets can vary widely depending on the level of finish, bespoke elements, and suppliers involved, so early transparency helps us guide expectations and design appropriately from the outset.
Equally important is understanding timescales. Whether you’re working towards a particular event, a family visit, or simply want the project completed within a certain window, knowing this early allows us to plan carefully and minimise disruption.
It’s also helpful to establish priorities. Some clients prefer to focus first on main living spaces, while others choose to begin with private areas such as bedrooms. The more insight we have at the start, the more seamlessly the project can be managed.
Understanding What You’d Like to Keep
Before design work begins, we always encourage clients to review what they already own and decide what they’d like to keep. This helps us understand storage needs and allows existing pieces to be thoughtfully integrated rather than overlooked.
Favourite furniture, artwork, or meaningful objects often become the foundation of a design. When we understand what matters most to you, we can design around those pieces, giving them renewed purpose and ensuring your home feels personal and lived-in rather than overly new.
Open Communication and Ongoing Feedback
Clear communication is essential throughout the design and installation process. While we manage the detail and coordination, we believe clients should always feel informed and confident about how their home is progressing.
Questions are always welcome. If something feels unclear or needs revisiting, early conversations allow adjustments to be made calmly and efficiently, keeping the project moving forward with ease.
A Thoughtful and Honest Brief
We take time to get to know our clients properly. Before work begins, we share a tailored design questionnaire that explores how you live, how you use your spaces, and what you’re drawn to visually. This, combined with in-person discussions, allows us to build a clear and considered brief.
The more detail you’re able to share at this stage: likes, dislikes, routines, and aspirations, the stronger and more intuitive the design outcome will be.
Trust in the Process
Perhaps the most important element of all is trust. Our role is to guide you, challenge assumptions where appropriate, and introduce ideas you may not have considered before. That can feel unfamiliar at times, particularly when it comes to your home.
The spaces clients love most are often those where they allowed room for creative confidence. Trusting the process allows the design to unfold naturally, resulting in interiors that feel distinctive, balanced, and entirely personal.
A Collaborative Journey
Working together should feel reassuring rather than overwhelming. With clarity at the outset and a shared sense of trust, the process becomes one of collaboration rather than decision fatigue.
If you’re considering working with an interior designer and would like to understand whether our approach feels right for you, we invite you to explore our portfolio and get in touch. We’d love to help you create a home that supports how you live, now and into the future.