INTERIOR ARCHITECT
IN FRANCE
What are the different steps of an interior architecture service ?
What makes a good professional? We answer all your questions !
We reveal all the steps our firm, Perspectives Architecture & Design, follows with its clients in interior architecture ! Hold on tight... there are a few abbreviations, but once you get past them, it’s pretty simple, and you’ll be able to understand any interior architect !
Even if you don’t choose to work with us, these steps may vary, or there might be other approaches, and that’s okay! However, we work this way because we believe it’s the best approach.
The journey of a project with an interior architect in France
Sketch
Preliminary project
Final project
Construction contract assistance
Management project
Site reception
Let’s dive into the adventure of turning your vision into a reality -complete with sketches, swatches, and maybe even a little glitter !
The first meeting with the interior architect
Before starting any phase of the interior project : a meeting is necessary ! A real one !
After a brief exchange by email and phone, we like to meet you in person. This allows us to outline your expectations and needs, as well as discover the property you’ve told us about. To be completely honest, as interior architects, the first meeting with a client allows us to ensure two things :
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We ensure the project is coherent, realistic, meets regulatory requirements (such as the local urban planning regulations), and that we are qualified to carry it out.*
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We also make sure there is a good rapport and that we are ready to collaborate together.
On your side, the first meeting with your interior architect is a crucial step. You are looking for a professional capable of understanding your needs, translating your ideas into a concrete project, and guiding you through the entire process. According to us, here's what the perfect interior architect should be able to do during this first exchange :
LISTEN
It’s essential ! If a professional interrupts you and isn’t attentive: run away !
Listening allows us to gather as much information as possible about your project, and this must be done without judgment and with kindness. This is the starting point where we collect everything necessary for the smooth progression of the project.
UNDERSTAND
If you’re reaching out to an interior architect, it’s likely because you’re facing a problem... That problem is probably just the tip of the iceberg. This is why an experienced professional practices active listening, aiming to understand your tastes, constraints, expectations, and vision. They dig deeper into understanding your real needs.
INFORM
Finally, we are here to provide you with information. You’ll have an experienced professional by your side, so take advantage of the opportunity to ask all your questions! There are no silly questions! It’s the interior architect's role to inform you right from the start about what they believe is possible or not, the legal framework, an estimated budget, and more.
* We are an interior architecture firm, and while we have a DPLG architect on our team, some projects may exceed the scope of our expertise. It is our responsibility to identify if your project falls outside our area of competence and to refer you to the appropriate professional (such as a consulting firm, HMONP or DPLG architect, land surveyor, etc.).
The sketch phase in
interior architecture
Once the interior architecture quote and contract are signed, the project is officially underway ! We can begin the sketch phase of your interior design project.
We allow ourselves three weeks to complete the sketch phase of your renovation or design project and schedule our next meeting. This is the most impressive meeting—the one that takes your breath away and makes you say "Wow"—because it's the first time you'll see your space conceptualized in 3D with various proposals. Here, you'll discover it fully, while in the following stages, you'll become a collaborator and an active participant in your project, which will slightly lessen the surprise effect. So, what happens during this first meeting and what deliverable will you have in your hands ? It’s time to :
TO AGREE
We start by creating a specifications document to align on the objectives of the interior architecture project. This document includes :
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Project Presentation : An overview of the main points, the objectives to be achieved, and client expectations.
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Potential Project Constraints : Technical, budgetary, and legal considerations to keep in mind.
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Description of the Work to be Done : Details about the specific spaces involved and the tasks to be completed.
DIAGNOSE
We assess the feasibility of your renovation project. Examining various constraints, whether technical or legal (such as analyzing the local urban plan), helps us determine if your construction project is viable and whether the budget is adequate. During this phase, we also clarify whether additional professionals are needed on-site, such as an HMONP architect, engineering or control offices, or a surveyor.
ENVISAGE
1
2
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From the sketch phase onward, we use 3D views to help you envision your space as clearly as possible. This is an opportunity to see which ambiance you like or to eliminate certain options right away. The process is guided by your tastes, our ideas, and the possibilities available.
Be aware that some proposals may be unconventional; they aim to push you out of your comfort zone or help you see things from a different perspective !
Are you wondering what 3D views look like and what we're talking about ?
CHOOSE
Finally, during our meeting, we will present you with different axonometries and 3D views.
At that point, you'll need to choose the layout and arrangement of the spaces that you prefer.
Of course, these layouts have been thoroughly studied by your interior architect. They have already worked using overlays, zoning, and flowcharts.
Some interior architects enjoy doing this work in co-construction with their clients. At Perspectives Architecture & Design, we have chosen to present you directly with axonometries and keep the more complex sketches to ourselves !
REFLECT
Once the meeting is over, it’s your turn to reflect on your interior project. Some clients prefer a quick pace, but it’s important to take time for consideration. Rushing through the sketch phase can lead to having to revisit earlier decisions, ultimately wasting time as you start over. For this reason, we ask our clients to take at least a week to think about their interior project and share their feedback with us. Some clients may take several months !
Preliminary project
summary in interior design
Here we are, in the co-construction phase ! The project is feasible, we have a budget in place, and we're making great progress ! We've taken your feedback into account and are refining our 3D views to align more closely with your tastes. But how do we know what you like ? It's simple : as we've mentioned before, the best interior architect is the one who listens to you ! Throughout the interior project, we exchange ideas about your preferences, and we pay close attention to your desires and inspirations.
During this phase of the project, we work extensively with samples and love to organize shopping days. This is a great opportunity for you to spend a few hours in good company while stepping out of the virtual realm. You can touch and see the materials in person, and test the furniture. Little by little, we’re getting closer to your dream architecture project !
The preliminary project summary concludes when we receive a final and definitive proposal. The atmosphere is perfect ; you know this is the apartment you want and not another one. You have nothing left to say : everything is perfect. At this moment, you receive the 3D views of the final proposal ! They are more detailed, precise, and realistic, allowing you to visualize your space as closely to reality as possible. This may also come with a 3D video tour of your apartment or house. The dream is within reach !
Definitive preliminary
project in interior design
This is the much-anticipated file! It contains all the necessary information to turn dreams into reality : budget, furniture selection, technical details... Until now, everything has been somewhat summary, but here we create everything that is definitive, as indicated by the name of this phase : layout plans, electrical network plans, plumbing plans... This is also the moment to submit the plans for custom furniture so that they can be crafted by specialized tradespeople. Here is a non-exhaustive list of what your final deliverable, properly prepared by your interior architect, will include :
Final Plans
Layout, plumbing, electricity...
Images of the final proposal
In 3D images, video, or drawings to help you visualize.
List of materials and shopping
List of orders corresponding to your budget.
Description of the work
Details of the tasks to be carried out by each trade.
Estimated timeline
Estimated time and key dates for the construction site (if project management is involved).
Estimated budget
For understanding and adhering to the budget.
The choice of the contractor or construction contract assistance
When you want a complete service and we are your project managers, we provide assistance with the construction contracts. This means Perspectives Architecture & Design support you in choosing the company that will carry out the work !
We regularly work with the same contractors, which allows us to establish a trusting relationship. Therefore, we always prefer to work with these companies to have enough flexibility during the execution of the project. However, we are open to new opportunities !
We always obtain multiple quotes (at least two), and our role is to analyze the quality of the services and products offered, the prices, the timelines, etc. We then provide you with recommendations regarding the selection of companies to undertake the work. The final choice of contractor is yours !
Project management assistance
This is a project management and coordination service. Our interior architects are familiar with the field and their contractors, making them well-equipped to provide expert advice. Thanks to their experience, they have a 360° vision that allows them to handle last-minute surprises, but more importantly, to anticipate them and be proactive. If you would like to learn more before committing, here are the details of what we handle during a construction monitoring service :
MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION
Before the start of the construction, we begin by defining the project timeline.
We are also responsible for part of the inventory management : placing orders related to the layout, handling deliveries, coordinating, and managing after-sales service.
Part of our job is to coordinate the different trades working on the site. We organize meetings with each trade to monitor the progress of the work. This allows us to ensure the quality of the interior design project and to make sure that the plans and ideas are well understood throughout the construction.
As the client, you are kept informed of all this through summaries and reports that outline the progress of your decoration project.
OUR COMMITMENTS AT PERSPECTIVES
We are often on-site to manage the technical details directly with our contractors. We provide directives and ensure the quality of the work. We handle all unforeseen issues, make necessary decisions, and remain available to the contractors throughout the entire interior design project. If there's a problem on-site, you might not notice it yourself... However, we are there to bring our expertise, as interior architects, and, for example, request that a finish be revised if the result does not meet the required standards.
Our interior architects commit to visiting each site regularly. This presence is essential for any project owner in order to detect and anticipate potential defects or errors. These visits result in detailed or concise reports, accompanied by photos and/or videos to document the progress.
This service is time-consuming and comes with heavy responsibilities, which is why increased vigilance is necessary. We are responsible for ensuring the quality of the work carried out.
Our company, as well as all of our contractors, are covered by a 10-year warranty, providing our clients with optimal safety and protection.
We also handle the drafting of the completion report alongside you during the final inspection to address or lift any reservations.
And finally, we are here to celebrate when the design project is complete!
Contact our interior architecture firm
Learn more about
our areas of intervention
Our regional expertise extends throughout Paris intra-muros. Although our interior design firm is historically located at 261 rue du faubourg Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, this does not prevent us from working everywhere! Currently, we have completed projects in the 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th arrondissements.
We also work in the inner suburbs (Hauts-de-Seine 92, Seine-Saint-Denis 93, Val-de-Marne 94). In Hauts de Seine, we mainly work in Asnières-sur-Seine, Bois-Colombes, Colombes, Courbevoie, La Garennes-Colombes and Levallois-Perret since these are the towns around where we live. We are also keen on projects in the surrounding areas: Reuil-Malmaison, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Boulogne Billancourt....
We have an extraordinary advantage for getting around: we are on a motorbike! So we no longer have any limits (not even traffic jams): in this way our radius of action also extends to other cities in the Île-de-France, covering Essonne (91), Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (78) and Val d'Oise (95). Among the many cities, we can mention La-Celle-Saint-Cloud, Charenton-le-Pont, Chatou, Le Vésinet, Versailles, Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, Marnes-la-Coquette, Vaucresson, Maisons-Laffitte, Sceaux, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, and many others.
We also offer to carry out projects remotely, as was the case, for example, with this project in Athens . Once the quote has been taken, we work on our computers, so it's easy to work remotely! And let's not lie to ourselves, since COVID, it has become a habit to hold meetings on Zoom, Googlemeet, or Teams...