faq

Got questions? Have a little look here to see if we can help...

How much do you charge for interior design consultancy services?
Eleanor (our main design consultant) charges $125 + gst per hour of consultancy. After that, you are only charged for the part hour that you use, ie. if she is only with you for 1 hour 15 minutes, that's all you are charged for!

Please note we are happy to travel up the Kapiti Coast and over to the Wairarapa, but there may be an additional travel cost involved for these areas.

What do the consultancy services include?
This service can include anything from simply confirming and reassuring you on some colour choices you've perhaps already made, to bringing you sampling suggestions for curtaining, upholstery or flooring or layout recommendations, through to putting together entire interior schemes and specifying furniture and product if you are really stuck!

After a consultation, any work that is carried out back at our office in regards to your job will also be charged for as consultancy, as we put in a lot of time and effort to give you the best results!

Depending on what you need, it may only require one visit from our designer to put you on the right path, and other times, it may include one or two return visits - especially when sampling decisions are involved.

What should I do to prepare for an in-home consultation?
Think ahead! If you have snippets from magazines, pages with post-its in books, pieces of artwork, websites, swatches of fabric, or perhaps a particular vase or ornament that you absolutely love, we want to see them! Get them out and have them ready so we can instantly get into your head and see what your initial thoughts are.

If you have lots of questions, write them down, so you are ready to fire away once we visit. It's all about being clever with your use of designer time! That being said, if you really are completely confused or working with a blank slate, we are always happy to help there too!

Do I need to make an appointment if I would like to come in to esdesign and meet with a designer to discuss my project?
Generally no, as we are an open studio so you will always be able to find someone in the office. However to guarantee you're able to speak to the designer who's been helping with your project, it is wise to call ahead first to make sure they are going to be around. We are very busy bees, and spend a lot of our time popping in and out to run errands and visit clients.

Please note there is no charge to pop in to the store to look at sampling with us, though as we can get particularly busy, especially on Saturdays and lunch times, it is recommended that you make a time to come in so you can have our complete and undivided attention!


How do I go about getting an accurate quote for my upholstery job?
If you pop in and describe your upholstery job to us, we will often be able to give you a ball park idea of cost on the spot. If you would like an accurate quote, don't worry, you don't need to lug your sofa in to the shop!

Take a photo or two and wing it through to us with an email to nikki@esdesign.co.nz, with a quick description of the condition that it is in (if you can see springs poking out the bottom, or if the foam feels like it's disintegrating, and if you would like any timber work stripped and/or re-polished). We would much prefer that we are all on the same page as to what the job entails and costs, before going ahead. That way, everyone stays happy!


Can I bring in my own chair for re-upholstery? Or can I buy one from you?
Either! Most of the time, we find our clients already have a beloved piece of furniture that they've picked up from an op shop or inherited from granny. 90% of our upholstery work falls into this category. Occasionally, we will have a client who is looking for a particular style or size of chair but just can't seem to find the right thing, and that's where our collection of chair frames can come in handy!


I have an old chair that I no longer need, do you buy old pieces?
Sometimes - it really depends on the item. We have over 100 old chair frames in storage, so unfortunately don't have a lot of space to add to it, but it is worth sending us a photo to check with us first. If it is something particularly lovely, unusual or rare, we often just can't help ourselves!!


Do you offer custom lampshade making services?
Yes, to any size or shape you would like! (Well, there are limits, but not many.) The lampshades you see in our store are just an example of the sizes and shapes available.

You may have an existing lamp base but want to replace the old shade - if so, bring the old one in and we will measure it up and give you a price to have a new one made. If you have a base but no shade, bring in the base and we will work with you to find a size and style that will suit it.


Can I use my own fabric for my upholstery/curtaining/cushion job?
Generally yes, though we strongly advise running it past us first so we can be sure that it is suitable for the job, and that you have enough! Certain fabrics are not recommended for certain applications, so it's important to get it right, first time.


I am working with an architect for my home renovation/new build. Do you work with architects, and what can you offer that my architect can't?
We work with architects all the time - so no problems there! You will often find the work that we do and that architects can do, will sometimes cross over.
Some architects prefer to cover all aspects of the design from structure through to specification of fabrics etc. Others are more then happy to let us interior designers look after all the internal aspects. Generally, you'll find that most situations fall somewhere in between.
Architects will often have a good idea of the look/style they envisage in your space, so we respect their views, and work with them and you to bring it all to life.

We like to think that architects, though capable of carrying out interiors work, have so many other things to consider with the rest of your reno/build, that it is nice to bring in people like ourselves to fully devote all our attention to those finishing touches. We also have the added bonus of having very 'up to date' product knowledge and first hand understanding of the nitty gritty aspects or interiors work, like ensuring there's enough space for curtain tracks, and addressing the everyday practicalities of your furnishings and finishes, whereas architects are fantastic at overseeing the big picture.

One thing we would say, is try to factor the interiors work into your budget from the get go, as it really is the part that pulls it all together! There's nothing worse then spending lots of money on getting the structure just perfect, to finding there's no money left for the bits that make it feel like a home.


Do you custom design furniture and inbuilt cabinetry?
We certainly do! Often the best way to get the most out of your interior space is to have something specifically designed and built to suit your needs perfectly, and that's where we can help.
We take into consideration the items you are wanting stored or displayed, the practicalities of the finish and fittings and the era and style of your house to create cabinetry that looks like it's always been there!

We have a range of builders, cabinet makers and joiners that we've worked with many times over the years  who we can then have price the work for you, or you are welcome to take the drawings to a cabinet maker of your choice.