Our Design Process (Project Procedure) from Start to Finish

Ever wondered about the project procedure top interior design companies employ to create amazing living and workspaces for clients? We’ll be diving into that in this post.

Every interior designer has their modus operandi when it comes to their projects, and we would be lifting the curtains in this post to show you how we carry out client projects from start to finish and why you should choose Oeuvre Designs to handle your space.

As an award-winning interior design company with the vision of becoming the leading interior design company in Africa, we operate a very structured approach to designing residential and commercial spaces.

Our project procedure is broken down into 4 phases: the consultation phase, the concept and design phase, the execution and implementation phase, and the installation & handover phase.

Let’s dive in to discuss these phases of the project in detail.

Phase 1: The Consultation Phase

This is the first stage of the project where our team meets with the client for a project brief, either physically or virtually. We interact with you to understand what your dreams are for your space and how you want it.

In this phase, our focus is on understanding your needs in detail, how you intend to use the space, the design you may have in mind, and every expectation you have concerning the outcome of your space.  

The consultation phase also includes preliminary studies of your site. We will find out more about you and your design expectations.

Before leaving, our architects carry out a site survey, take measurements of the space, and throw some ideas at you to determine your preference.

Important to note at this phase is that you have a budget range in mind as this would give us an idea of the scope of work, fittings, and accessories to include when planning the space.

Oeuvre Designs will be happy to bring your dreams alive and propose an acceptable budget for your project.

Phase 2: Concept and Design

The Concept and design phase ushers us into our creative process. In this phase, we interpret your vision, preference, and personality through design. Every piece of information gathered during the consultation phase would be utilized here.

We have three deliverables at this phase;

First, our strong focus on concept planning and designing births forth a proposed 2D architectural layout of the planned space.

Secondly, the proposed furniture and color selection is made which is then used in setting up a mood board for the client. A mood board shows the type of furniture proposed for your space and the colors palette used.

Finally, a quotation will be generated and is sent to the client alongside the mood board and proposed 2D layout.

It is important to note that the prices on the quotation will elapse 2 weeks after it is sent as a result of the prevailing market factors.

The duration for this phase is usually 3 weeks but could be more depending on the volume of spaces to be designed.

Phase 3: Execution and Implementation

The third phase of the project commences immediately after the client has commissioned the project execution to our team. We begin by sourcing the materials such as fabrics, wood, tiles, wallpapers, accessories, etc. from reputable sources.

As a bespoke interior design company, we take pride in building all our furniture items in-house in order to give quality attention to detail. When all materials are purchased, our artisans at the factory begin building out the furniture pieces to specification.

Attention to detail is a painstaking activity carried out here to ensure we give our clients the best, and that’s why they keep coming back.

This phase usually takes between twelve to thirty weeks, depending on the magnitude of the project, especially when making a lot of bespoke furniture pieces.

Phase 4: Installation and Project Handover

The installation and project handover phase is a very exciting phase for us at Oeuvre Designs as we get to see the beauty of all we’ve been working on the past few months.

It’s at this phase that we get to move all furniture items and fittings to the client space and bring to life the approved design from the concept and design phase.

It’s always a beauty to behold as the space unfolds from paper into what can be seen, touched, and felt.

Thereafter, we accessorize the space, bringing out the complete beauty and glory of the entire design process.

It’s always an emotional moment for clients as they behold the wonder they’ve been waiting for.

At this point, the client will be required to sign a project completion form as we hand over the space to them.

There you have it, the Oeuvre Designs process for designing your spaces from start to finish. As you would note, these projects take time, but it’s an important element in the design process and the result is always worth the wait.

Need to do up your space? Call our design studio on 0908 364 2867.

Why your custom furniture is ‘still’ being delayed

why your custom furniture is still being delayed

Ever placed an order for custom furniture that never got in at the time you expected? This is for you.

Nobody likes waiting, and in the case of custom furniture, this seems like an endless loop in our expectations.

I’m not here to talk about how you fought it out, to get your furniture at your place, or the heartbreak that came as a result, but to expose you, lift up the hood and show you what really happens in the back end after your order is placed.

In this post, we’ll be talking about the enormous wait times it takes for your furniture to come out, and why this is almost non-avoidable to some extent.

First of all, let us establish that making good furniture takes time, especially if we are looking at having a good finishing. The devil is in the details – they say, and it takes one with a keen eye, good attention to detail, and ample time to rework what needs to be corrected in order for the finished product to look super amazing.

For example, there are a lot of steps that go into furniture production. This starts from the wood selection to drafting and cutting to the pattern, and then joining and trimming with all the steps in-between in order to achieve the right frame.

Then the frame gets sprayed where necessary and allowed to dry before it’s taken to the upholstery section where it is fitted with the right foam and fabric.

The industry standard for this entire process for our counterparts in the US is about 8-25 weeks, but this isn’t close for custom furniture makers in Nigeria.

The prevailing challenges for making custom furniture in Nigeria range from having a poor artisan attitude to work as well as fabric and accessories availability to customer expectations on the timeline.

The major challenge on which when solved would greatly improve the value chain for custom furniture makers is that of the artisan attitude to work.

Let us examine the condition of these artisans closely.

A lot of artisans have a very biased way of thinking about work in that they come in to learn and as soon as they feel they are okay with what they’ve learned at the factory, they disappear, giving no notice to their supervisor or boss.

When confronted, some of them disclose that they feel the factory owner would not let them go if they disclosed their intention.

The mindset a lot of them have is that they would feel tied down and not be able to take on other jobs at will. They all want to be their own boss at the detriment of whatever previous commitment they have with factory owners.

When they finally establish a workshop for themselves, they get patronage from a lot of customers who patronized them for their ‘cheap’ costs. Following this, the artisans keep collecting these jobs without considering the timeframe needed to complete a task and this ends many expectations in tears.

The customer’s joy of having his furniture done cheaply quickly fades away as he soon realizes that the artisan has abandoned his project for other new project entries and only works on a customer’s furniture when he goes to the workshop to sit it out.

This is also the case for furniture makers who subcontract the project to an independent artisan. He has to sit there to ensure it’s done in the timeframe agreed else he should be ready to also disappoint his own client as the furniture would never get out as planned, not even if you mark up the timeframe given by the artisan to allow for excesses.

Now you can see the reason why many custom furniture orders get delivered after the expected time frame given for it.

But that’s not all.

Most manufacturers get their fabric, fittings, and accessories imported and with the COVID restrictions, wait times are increasing rapidly for these items to come in and get cleared at customs.

While we can do nothing about it but hope, we can work on the customer end of the deal so everyone stays calm during this period.

A lot of customers are unaware of the timeframe it takes to achieve good results on custom furniture and come in somewhere way too close to their deadline.

Some come in as little as 3-4 weeks and expect magic to happen and the furniture at their place.

Even when explained to and they agree to be patient, the moment the initial timeframe they had in mind elapses, they become agitated and throw tantrums about their furniture being delayed.

As said earlier, the industry standard for our counterparts abroad is 8-25 weeks, and it’s not even close for us in Nigeria as the artisans who play a very vital role must be micromanaged and could still disappear at any time, leaving us drying out in the sun.

While we aren’t giving any excuses for the delay in your furniture orders, we thought its best you look under the hood yourself to see what it’s like at the back end and fully understand the process for delivering awesome furniture pieces.

Here are some tips for how to plan ahead amidst delivery delays and continue living life comfortably in the meantime.

If you are moving, don’t get rid of your current furniture just yet …

Moving is an exciting process. It is a time of new beginnings. In preparation for a move, many people decide to be out with the old and in with the new!

If you plan on selling or getting rid of any old furniture before your move, hold onto it for now. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable while waiting for your new furniture to arrive.

Before placing a furniture order, be sure to double and triple-check that the piece is the right color, size, and style.

Also, ensure that the furniture you order fits perfectly in your home by taking accurate measurements.

Our team of architects at Oeuvre Designs is always ready to help you with a consultation to ensure you’re left with no errors from start to finish.

Given current delivery delays, it is recommended to start planning for these purchases even earlier. If you want to change the furniture for your living room next year, start shopping now, and order as soon as you can.

By planning ahead and ordering ahead, you are more likely to receive your purchase by the time you need it.

Small Kitchen Design Tips

small kitchen design

Having a small kitchen brings up the challenge of knowing what to fit in and where to place it in order to design a great space.

There are many different cabinet designs and surface patterns you can utilize to create a sense of space in your kitchen design.

Small kitchens may seem to be a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful, and efficient. Even with a small budget, you can find that there are many options open to you to transform your kitchen into something more ideal for your needs.

There are three major areas you should focus on when planning your kitchen design to make it efficient. These are Storage, Lighting, and Appliances.

To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen, we recommend you make use of more unique storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more space-saving appliances, and adding personalized touches.

This requires creativity in coming up with storage solutions, here are some tips to get you started:

· Putting an island in the center of the kitchen that can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from any spot in the kitchen.

 · Using a galley kitchen design in which the cabinets and appliances line up on either side of a corridor.

· Selecting compact space-saving appliances such as smaller refrigerators, as well as appliances that can be hung underneath cabinets like microwaves.

· If you want to create an eating area in the kitchen, the trick is to use a drop table or a small-sized round table with two small chairs that can be tucked into a corner, or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide an eating nook.

· Another interesting trick in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under cabinet lighting or under the counter. With the proper type of lighting, the kitchen can be made to appear larger and more pleasing.

· The use of light-colored cabinets with glass doors makes the kitchen look spacious.

· Installing deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase workspace.

· Flooring tiles can be placed on a diagonal, and in a galley style, kitchen hardwood flooring can be run the length of the kitchen.

· For storage, you can hang up pots and pans. This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and they add a certain charm and character to your small kitchen design.

· The insides of cabinet doors can be used to hang up flat materials like oven mitts, and other miscellaneous light-weight items.

· Pantry storage with units that go all the way to the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for seldom-used items while making the lower cabinets more accessible with rollout shelves, and tilt-out bins.

· Install a large kitchen sink since larger sinks are considered to be more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.

When you look in kitchen design magazines you naturally notice that the kitchens featured are large and so you might think your small kitchen is inadequate. But good small kitchen design means being able to create space and incorporating ample storage facilities and being able to fit in all the necessary appliances.

If you would like us to design your kitchen space, send us a mail at info@oeuvredesigns.co and we’ll set up a discovery call with you within 24 hours.

Design your new home – Step by Step process

designing your new home

It’s always an overwhelming task for new homeowners when they think of creating the space they want and how to go about it. This is especially true for the ladies who would want to give it a touch of their personal taste/preference.

The rules of interior design come in handy to the ladies of the house who can walk through any home and easily spot furniture that needs to be moved and cabinets that need refacing.

The entire idea behind interior design is to make the home that you have purchased your own. It stands to reason because you are living in a home that was built by someone else and their style may not be yours. Interior design and home improvement are the way to go.

Most people consider home improvement to be a daunting task, which it can be if you go to extremes.

Those who attempt to completely renovate their entire home at once are faced with a multitude of problems that are associated with having to move furniture and other items out of the way so the interior design process can take place.

For others, it is easier to do a little bit at a time to make sure that each project gets completed with the minimum of hassle and interruption to daily life.

One of the easiest things to start with when it comes to interior design and home improvement is cabinet refacing. Cabinets that you are going to reface will not interrupt the day-to-day activities as other types of projects can and will when doing home improvement.

To reface cabinets, it is best to start with the doors as they are simple to remove and take to a workshop. When you reface you are basically just changing the tone of the wood that is used for the design of the cabinets.

This is done most times because the color or tone does not fit with the new furniture that has been purchased. This is a common practice among existing homebuyers who want to create their own personal style.

Cabinet refacing also entails changing the front faceplate of the cabinets to match the doors that have been changed. This is another common practice but it can be quite difficult.

It is best to hire a professional when you are planning on refacing any type of cabinet as the skills required to do so do take a long time to learn.

There are several books/videos online on the subject floating around but they tend to only give the base knowledge that is necessary and does not give the complete picture for dealing with all the different types of problems that you could run into.

Furniture is another big issue when it comes to interior design. When moving into a new home many people like to get new furniture but they cannot always afford the new stuff as prices seem to go up every year.

The best course of action is to try and buy the new items piece by piece instead of all at the same time. This will actually save you money in the long run as you can get a better deal as the pieces that you want to go on sale over the time that you are purchasing them.

There are plenty of furniture dealers around and all you need to do is search through them instead of dealing with only one dealer.

There is a matter of finding all the best for the best prices and that is not hard when you take and do a little research on the subject.

However, if you plan on having a themed look for your home, then it’s best to consult a professional to design the space, and have bespoke furniture made to fit in the space.

If you are planning on doing any painting as part of your home improvement project, then it is best to do so before you have moved in.

This will save you a lot of hassle as it is hard to find a place to put everything when the house is full of furniture and other items.

Paint does not take a long time to dry so it should not hold up the moving in process for very long. The best course of action is to go with the higher quality of paint.

The better the quality the better coverage you get when you are painting in the darker colors. If you are painting before you move in, then you have the option of using a paint sprayer which gives a lot more ease.

This will cut your painting time in half and will save you money in the long run as you use about half as much paint as you do with the brush and roller method.

Don’t forget to check all the walls for holes before you start any projects. It is easier to reface a wall when there is nothing else going on. Else you may end up with a not-so-nice-looking wall that is full of dimples and holes and other unsightly blemishes.

Hiring a professional is the best way to go when you have something that needs to be done with the walls. A professional drywall contractor can easily repair all the problems in less than a day and most likely for a fraction of the cost that you would pay if you tried to do it yourself and messed it up.

Interior design is a fun and exciting time for a lot of people but it can also make for a lot of stress and cost if you are not careful. Before tackling any home improvement project, you should first make sure that you have the required skills and funds to complete the project. If you don’t then it is best to hire a professional.

More than likely they will be able to save you money in the long run even though their fees sound like they are high. They do have the right to charge higher fees as they have spent years learning their trade. You will find that hiring a professional for your project will make the time a lot more enjoyable for you and your family.

Need to design your space, contact Oeuvre Designs and you’ll be glad you did.

Principles of Interior Design

Imagine walking into a room whose ambiance is so welcoming, furniture pieces having a perfect blend with colors and lighting of the space radiating, and having a feel of that space being a masterpiece, that’s what applying the principles of interior design does for you.

You should always apply the principles of interior design as a guide when working either with existing furnishings or an empty room.

These principles are based on how you utilize the different elements of design (space, line, form, color, texture) in creating the desired space you want.

The principles of interior design are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.

Principle #1: Balance

Balance relates to the visual equilibrium in a room. It conveys a sense of calm and a feeling of completion. A well-balanced room gives careful consideration to the placement of objects according to their visual weight.

The elements of line, form, color and texture all help determine an objects visual weight, which is the amount of space it appears to occupy.

Balance also refers to how and where you place the elements (line, form, color and texture) within a room. To maintain balance, try to distribute the elements throughout the room.

Formal balance, often referred to as symmetrical balance, creates a mirror image effect.

Informal balance uses different objects of the same visual weight to create equilibrium in a room. It is more-subtle and spontaneous and gives a warmer, more casual feeling.

Principle #2: Emphasis

Emphasis is the focal point of the room. The focal point should be obvious as you enter the room; it is the area to which your eye is attracted.

Whatever is featured, as the center of interest such as a fireplace, artwork or a window treatment framing a beautiful view must be sufficiently emphasized so that everything else leads the eye toward the featured area.

You can add emphasis to a natural focal point or create one in a room through effective use of line, form, color and texture.

Principle #3: Rhythm

Rhythm supplies the discipline that controls the eye as is moves around a room.

Rhythm helps the eye to move easily from one object to another and creates a harmony that tells the eye everything in the room belongs to a unified whole.

Rhythm is created through repetition of line, form, color or texture. It can also be created through progression. Progressive rhythm is a gradual increasing or decreasing in size, direction or color.

Principle #4: Proportion and Scale

Size relationships in a room are defined by proportion and scale.

Proportion refers to how the elements within an object relate to the object as a whole. Scale relates to the size of an object when compared with the size of the space in which it is located.

Principle #5: Harmony and Unity

A well-designed room is a unified whole that encompasses all the other elements and principles of design.

Unity assures a sense of order. There is a consistency of sizes and shapes, a harmony of color and pattern.

The ultimate goal of decorating is to create a room with unity and harmony and a sense of rhythm.

Repeating the elements, balancing them throughout the room, and then adding a little variety so that the room has its own sense of personality accomplishes this.

Too much unity can be boring; too much variety can cause a restless feeling. Juggling the elements and principles to get just the right mix is a key to good design.