What to Expect When You Hire an Interior Designer in Kennington

Author: Laura Fellows

Most people who get in touch with us have never worked with an interior designer before. They're not quite sure what they're buying, whether it's worth it, or at what point in the process they should get us involved. These are completely reasonable things to wonder about, and we'd rather answer them honestly upfront.

At Baker & Fellows we work on period homes across South London. Here's a straightforward account of what hiring an interior designer actually involves, and why it tends to cost clients less than going it alone. If you'd like to find out more, take a look at how we work with Kennington homeowners here.

Image: AURA Architecture & Interiors

Come to Us Before Anyone Else

This is the thing we'd want every potential client to know. We recently worked with a homeowner who had already booked a floor fitter and a kitchen designer before they came to us. We made it work, and they were genuinely happy with the result - but they spent around £10,000 more than they needed to on the kitchen, and the process was harder than it should have been. If they'd come to us first, that money would stay in their pocket.

The right time to bring in a designer is before any other decisions have been made. Before the builder. Before the kitchen showroom. Before you've decided what you want. That's when we add the most value.

Image: Shoot Factory

What We Actually Do

There's a common assumption that interior designers pick colours and fabrics and not much else. In reality our work covers everything from initial space planning and concept design through to sourcing materials, designing bespoke joinery and storage, managing contractors, and being on site to make sure things are built the way they were designed.

One thing that surprises almost every client is that we design cabinetry and built-in storage ourselves rather than sending you to a manufacturer. This matters because manufacturers are incentivised to upsell. We're not. Our job is to get you the best possible result within your budget, which often means our design fees are more than covered by what we save you on the joinery and cabinetry alone, before you even factor in the costly mistakes that happen on almost every project without proper design guidance.

Image: European Heritage

How Involved Do You Need to Be?

As involved as you want. Some clients want to be across every decision. Others prefer to hand the project over and check in at key milestones. We work well either way. What we ask at the outset is that you're clear about your priorities - what matters most, where there's flexibility, and what your honest budget is. The more clearly we understand that at the start, the smoother everything runs.

What Does the Process Look Like?

Every project starts with a design consultation at your home. We come to you, spend time understanding how you live and what you want the finished project to feel like, and look at the architecture, the light, and the practical constraints of the house.

From there we develop a design concept covering spatial planning, materials, lighting, joinery, and furniture. Once that's agreed we move into delivery — managing procurement, coordinating contractors, and staying involved until the project is complete and you're happy with it.

Baker & Fellows is a residential interior design and architecture studio based in South London, working across Kennington and surrounding areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I hire an interior designer for my Kennington home?

Before anyone else. Before the builder, before the kitchen showroom, before you've committed to anything. The earlier a designer is involved the more value they add, and the more expensive mistakes they prevent.

Will hiring an interior designer save me money?

In our experience, yes - often significantly. We design bespoke joinery and cabinetry directly rather than going through manufacturers, which removes the upselling incentive and typically saves clients far more than our design fees cost. On top of that, having a designer manage your project prevents the kind of costly mistakes that happen on almost every renovation without proper guidance.

How much does it cost to hire an interior designer in South London?

Design fees vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. We're always transparent about costs from the very first conversation. Get in touch at hello@bakerfellows.com to discuss your project and budget.

What's the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?

An interior decorator focuses on surface elements — colours, fabrics, furniture, and accessories. An interior designer works at a deeper level, covering spatial planning, architecture, lighting, joinery, and the structural organisation of a space. At Baker & Fellows we work across both, as well as architecture for projects involving structural or planning work.