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Interior Design Project Timeline: How Long Each Phase Takes

October 7, 2024
Project timeline

Six months for the design. Longer if there’s a build. Here’s where the time goes.

~6 monthsDesign to install, when the kitchen and bathrooms are staying
4 monthsA 4,200 sq ft Kensington refurbishment, start to finish
5 phasesFrom first meeting to handover

How long does an interior design project take? Where the kitchen and bathrooms are staying, the design and installation usually take about six months. Add building work and the build sets the pace, and on a large house that can run into years. This guide shows how long each phase takes, what affects it, and what keeps it moving. For what actually happens at each stage, see Working With an Interior Designer.

  1. 1InspirationBrief and scope
  2. 2ConceptDesign and costs
  3. 3Technical designDrawings and tender
  4. 4RealisationBuild and orders
  5. 5HandoverInstall and keys

The phases at a glance

PhaseWhat happensTypical length
1. InspirationFirst meeting, brief and scope agreed4–8 weeks
2. ConceptLayouts, visuals, materials and a costed list of every item4–12 weeks
3. Technical designBuilder’s drawings, tender, permissions. Depends on the size of the build4–18 weeks
4. RealisationBuilding work, orders and lead times1–36 months
5. HandoverInstallation, styling, snagging, cleaning1–2 months
Home office in a Hampstead house designed by Kia Designs
01Phase 1

Inspiration

4–8 weeks

We meet, walk through every room and talk about how you live. Then we write it down: the brief sets out what you want, and the scope sets out who does what. From here everything runs through Basecamp, so you can see every step.

  • First meeting
  • Written brief
  • Scope of works
  • Specialists identified

Your partBring photos, samples and the things you hate. Decide who signs off decisions.

Music room in a Grade II listed Cornwall manor house
02Phase 2

Concept

4–12 weeks

We present the design: layouts, mood and materials, 2D drawings and 3D visuals, and the bespoke joinery. You also get a costed list of every piece of furniture, lighting and fabric, so the concept is a plan you know you can afford.

  • Layouts
  • 3D visuals
  • Materials
  • Costed list
  • Joinery design

Your partGive clear feedback, then sign off. Revisions are where most time is lost.

Orange spiral staircase leading to a mezzanine office
03Phase 3

Technical design

4–18 weeks

We turn the design into the drawings a builder prices from, then tender it to contractors who are right for the job. Any permissions run alongside: building control, planning or listed building consent, and a licence to alter if it’s a flat.

  • Technical drawings
  • Tender package
  • Contractor selection
  • Permissions

Your partChoose your builder, or use your own. Answer questions on the spec quickly.

Hampstead house kitchen with cantilevered storage
04Phase 4

Project realisation

1–36 months

The build happens, and we order everything in parallel. A single room can hold over 100 items, and bespoke pieces take the longest, so they go on order as soon as the design is signed off. Everything is checked against the design and stored until the house is ready.

  • Site visits
  • Orders placed
  • Lead times tracked
  • Changes managed on site

Your partApprove orders on time. Late sign-offs push lead times back week for week.

Drawing room in a Kensington townhouse
05Phase 5

Handover

1–2 months

Installation takes days or weeks, not an afternoon. We plan it with the curtain fitters, art hangers and building concierge, style every room, work through the snag list and bring in cleaners before you get the keys.

  • Installation
  • Styling
  • Snagging
  • Cleaning

Your partKeep the diary clear for the final walk-round.

What changes the timeline

Six things that add weeks

Scope

One room or a whole house. Moving walls or kitchens adds a build, and the build sets the pace.

Decisions

The fastest projects decide once, in the order we ask. Reopening signed-off choices costs the most time.

Lead times

Bespoke furniture, joinery and stone take longest. They go on order the moment the design is signed off.

Permissions

Listed buildings, conservation areas, estates like Grosvenor and leasehold licences all need time. We plan for them from the first meeting.

Contractors

Good builders and specialist trades are booked ahead. Tendering early protects your start date.

Surprises on site

No design survives a building site untouched. We adjust the details on site while keeping the overall feel.

4
Months, start to finish

On one Kensington townhouse we had a team on site the day after exchange and finished a 4,200 sq ft refurbishment in four months. Speed comes from decisions made early, not from rushing the site.

Questions about timing

How long does interior design take without building work?

Where the kitchen and bathrooms are staying, about six months from brief to installation. Most of that is design sign-off and lead times on furniture.

How soon can you start?

The first conversation is free and we can usually meet within a few days. If timing is tight, tell us at the start and we’ll plan the order around it.

Can we use our own builder?

Yes. We work alongside your contractor and manage the design side of the build, so decisions don’t stall on site.

What does it cost?

Our design fees start at £28,000 and usually work out at 4–11% of the total spend. Our pricing page explains how they work.

If you have a date in mind, a move or the end of a let, tell us at the first meeting. It’s much easier to plan a timeline backwards from a fixed date than to speed one up halfway through.


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  • About Author

    Kia Stanford is known for her impeccable eye for detail and her ability to create beautiful and luxurious interiors. Kia has become renowned for her use of exquisite materials, bold colours, and luxurious textures. She has worked with a wide range of clients from celebrities to CEOs. Kia’s signature style is an eclectic mix of modern and traditional, which she combines to create unique and timeless designs. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Living Etc, House & Garden, and Elle Decoration. She believes that each space should be tailored to the individual and their unique style. She is an inspiration to many aspiring interior designers and a testament to the power of creativity and hard work.