Our process, and what it costs
Six stages, in order, with the studio involved through all of them. You always know which stage you are in and what happens next.
How it runs
Concept to
completion
- 01
Discover
We begin by understanding your site, lifestyle, aspirations and project goals.
- 02
Concept design
Initial design ideas are explored and refined into a clear vision for your future home.
- 03
Design development
Layouts, materials and architectural details are further developed and coordinated.
- 04
Documentation
Detailed drawings and documentation are prepared for approvals, tendering and construction.
- 05
Builder coordination
We collaborate with builders and consultants to ensure a smooth path from design to construction.
- 06
Construction support
Our involvement continues through construction, helping protect the design vision and assisting with key project decisions.
The principle
Every decision is made on paper first, while it is still cheap to change your mind.
Bond Design Studio, Sydney
Investment
What it costs,
and when
Designing or renovating a home is a significant investment, and we believe the process should be transparent from the outset.
Because every project differs in scale, complexity and scope, our fees are tailored to suit the individual requirements of each client. For homeowners seeking a complete design service, fees typically commence from 10% plus GST of the construction value, with the final fee determined by the nature and complexity of the project.
Our services can be engaged as a complete end to end solution, or for selected stages where appropriate.
Transparency at every stage
To ensure complete clarity, fees are invoiced progressively based on work completed. We also provide forward looking estimates so that you have a clear understanding of anticipated costs and project progress at every stage.
This approach allows us to focus on what matters most: creating exceptional homes while providing a professional, transparent and enjoyable experience from concept through to completion.
Why the number is what it is
You will find lower quotes, and they usually buy something different. A drafting or documentation only fee ends when the plans are printed. What we have described above runs from the first site visit to the last site visit, and includes the parts of a project that are hardest to hand over: the approval pathway, the consultant coordination, and the hundred decisions that come up once a builder is on site.
The comparison worth making is not fee against fee. It is what is included, who does it, and who is still answering the phone in month fourteen.
Common questions
Fees and
timing
- How much does a residential designer charge in Sydney?
- It varies widely with scope. A documentation only service is a smaller fee because it is a smaller job. For a complete design service, ours typically commence from 10% plus GST of the construction value, with the final fee determined by the nature and complexity of the project.
- When do I pay?
- Progressively, invoiced against work completed rather than up front. We also provide forward looking estimates, so you know what is coming before it arrives.
- Can I engage you for just one stage?
- Yes. The service can be engaged end to end or for selected stages where that suits the project. Concept design alone, or documentation for an existing concept, are both possible.
- Do I need an architect or a building designer?
- For a standard house in New South Wales, a registered architect is not required. Renovations, extensions and knockdown rebuilds of a single home can be designed and documented by a residential design studio. Architects are required for apartment buildings and other regulated work.
- How long does council approval take?
- There are two pathways. A complying development certificate is the faster one and suits straightforward sites that meet the state standards. A development application goes to your council, takes considerably longer, and is unavoidable on some sites. We work out which one applies to your block early.
- What happens after the drawings are done?
- We stay on. Stages five and six are builder coordination and construction support, which is where a design either survives contact with a building site or quietly gets value engineered away.
Next step
Ask for a
fee proposal
Tell us the site and the scope and you will get a written proposal with the stages and the numbers set out.