Journal · Interior design and decoration · Português
What does an interior design project include?
From the initial brief to decisions on materials and furniture, an interior design project structures the process and defines what is needed to bring a space to life.
An interior design project connects the way a space will be used with the decisions that give it character. Organisation, circulation, materials, lighting and furniture are developed together, starting with the client’s needs.
The scope of the service varies according to the scale and complexity of the work. An existing room, a home under construction and a commercial space call for different responses. Understanding the possible stages and what the proposal actually includes is therefore essential.
Understanding the space and priorities
The first stage establishes the context: location, property type, current condition, schedule and planned investment. This information helps assess the work and set realistic priorities.
The brief explores needs, routines, references and decisions already made. In a home, this may involve storage, privacy or the relationship between living areas; in a commercial setting, circulation and business operations become particularly relevant.
Plans, measurements and photographs support this analysis. Where necessary and included in the proposal, an on-site measured survey is carried out. The quality of this information provides a sound basis for subsequent decisions.
Defining the concept and layout
The concept establishes a direction for the project. It brings together principles of composition, materials, colours and atmosphere, coordinated with the organisation of the space.
The layout translates this intention into the arrangement of functions and furniture. Before selecting pieces, circulation routes, areas of use and relationships between elements need to be checked. This stage identifies conflicts while solutions can still be adjusted in the drawings.
Visual references support discussion, but they need to be interpreted in relation to the project’s actual conditions. An inspirational image alone does not resolve dimensions, use or investment.
Developing materials, furniture and 3D images
Once the direction is approved, the project can develop finishes, lighting, furniture, textiles and decorative elements in greater detail. Where appropriate, bespoke pieces are considered to meet specific integration or storage needs.
3D images, when included, help explain volumes, proportions and relationships between materials. They support decisions and approval of the proposed solutions. The final selection of certain finishes also benefits from examining physical samples.
The number of images, meetings and revision rounds should be defined in the proposal. This clarity helps the client plan their involvement and gives the team an agreed sequence of decisions around which to develop the work.
Detailing and preparing for implementation
After the solutions are approved, the information required for the agreed scope is prepared. This stage may include drawings, specifications and supplier selection, alongside proposals for supply and manufacture.
The level of detail should match what will be implemented. A bespoke furniture piece requires different information from a catalogue armchair. Confirming dimensions, finishes and installation conditions is essential before placing orders.
Where architectural or specialist engineering designs are required, BORAGUI coordinates with partner professionals. Each party’s responsibilities should be clear from the outset.
Design, supply and installation
Developing a design and implementing it are distinct scopes of work. The proposal should explain whether it covers design services alone or also includes quotations, ordering, manufacture, deliveries and installation.
When these services are commissioned, BORAGUI coordinates the elements under its responsibility and follows the connection between the approved choices and the finished space. Having a design project does not, by itself, mean that all purchases or works are included.
Distinguishing design fees from supply costs makes the overall investment easier to understand. Changes after orders have been approved can affect costs and lead times, so decisions should be confirmed before production begins.
What to confirm in the proposal
Before work starts, the spaces covered, project stages, deliverables, planned revisions and agreed level of support should be identified. The schedule and approval points help organise the involvement of everyone concerned.
Having a designated point of contact and consolidating feedback at each stage supports clear communication. Decisions can then be considered together, reducing the risk of isolated changes conflicting with solutions already approved.
At BORAGUI, this process is adapted to each project. Discover our working process or tell us about the space you would like to develop.