Online Service vs Private Designer: 16 Questions

The modern design service market has a new service that completely relieves you of all the hassle associated with design and future renovation. An individual design project is created online via a unique personal account that makes communication with the designer convenient, efficient, and excludes any misunderstandings. And most importantly, you don't have to worry that the process will drag on and you'll need additional funding—this service has clear deadlines and fixed pricing.

To understand all the nuances and grasp the real benefits of such services, we asked several important questions to a representative of the ReRooms.ru service and compared their answers with those of a private designer for better clarity. Which comments end up being more convincing will be shown in an interactive poll.

Dmitry Borisov, ReRooms.ru - Online service that makes individual design projects at affordable prices

Marina Novikova, Designer - Creates individual projects based on love for classical architecture

Why should you choose your service?Dmitry: Our clients are people who want to get a quality individual design project quickly and at an affordable price. They come to us, and we save their time and money. Each project is handled by a team of professionals—a draftsman-planner, visualizer, and assembler. Designer consultation is available at any time of day or night. In a short time, practically without participating in the process, the client gets a ready design project at a fixed price.

As a pleasant bonus, we create 3D tours for every project and give virtual reality goggles in which you can "walk" through your future apartment.
And of course, all our clients receive discounts up to 30% from furniture and decor manufacturers.

Marina: My clients are people who value original design and for whom it's important that every detail of their future interior is thought out, selected, and implemented according to their lifestyle, habits, and schedule.

I have many completed projects for different people, for various tasks, with different stylistic and structural features, and of course, differing in cost.
Regardless of the budget, I always approach each project holistically and select solutions that best fit both the future interior and the client's financial expectations.

How much will it cost to prepare a design project?

Dmitry: Our fixed price for the design project: Studio apartment - 19,990 rubles, One-bedroom apartment - 24,990 rubles, Two-bedroom apartment - 29,990 rubles, and Three-bedroom apartment - 34,990 rubles. House or Townhouse - 30,000 rubles per floor.

Marina: The cost of a design project is 3,500 rubles per square meter.

Design: ReRooms.ruWhat is the starting point of work on a design project?

Dmitry: Our manager answers all client questions in detail over the phone and schedules a meeting. Then our designer visits the client free of charge, discusses all details and nuances with them, takes all necessary measurements, and clarifies preferences regarding the functionality of the future interior and its style.

Marina: First, I study the BTI plan or the developer's layout. Then a team of surveyors visits the site to take measurements (this is a free procedure as part of the project work), and I spend about 3-4 hours in conversation with the client to compile a detailed technical specification.

How can you be sure that everything is understood and all wishes are taken into account in the design project?Dmitry: A detailed brief is drawn up during the very first meeting, which includes all client wishes.Marina: We prepare a file in which we list all client wishes in detail, as well as functional and stylistic features of the future interior.Is it possible to change the layout or add a few ideas at this stage?Dmitry: Of course. The very convenience of our service is that at every stage of preparing the design project, the client has the opportunity to completely change the entire project or make partial corrections online through their personal account: at each stage, they can make free edits to the design project twice, and third and subsequent corrections — at 5,000 rubles. But usually everything fits into two stages of edits: any number of corrections can be made in them.

Within 3 days after the first meeting with the designer, the client receives two layout options, which we discuss with them, consider their wishes and make corrections.

Five more days later, two variants of electrical and plumbing layouts are ready. We discuss them in detail with the client and adjust as needed.

And in total, 10 days after approving the drawings, we provide the client with ready visualizations for each room with furniture placement. Changes in the project are still possible at this stage.

Marina: When creating a project, we move gradually from general to specific to ensure that we're heading in the right direction. First, we prepare 2-3 layout options. We discuss them with the client and provide the final plan. Then we create the concept of the future interior in the form of collages, sketches, color schemes, and material layouts.

We pause here to review our impressions: is everything to your liking? If all goes well, we proceed to the next stage—detailed development of the rooms.

Then we create sketches with real finishes, furniture, and lighting. At this stage, minor changes in the layout (e.g., move a nightstand or replace a sofa with a pair of armchairs) are still possible.

But once the working documentation is prepared, layout changes become an additional service.

Design: ReRooms.ruWhat is included in the design project prepared by you?Dmitry: Complete set of plans for each type of work (measuring, demolition, installation, heating and air conditioning, plumbing layout, floor laying, underfloor heating, ceiling, switchboard, outlets, wall finishing, doors, lighting, furniture arrangement), kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room wall layouts, material and door lists, lighting fixtures, detailed estimate, and 3D tour of the future apartment.Marina: The design project includes measurements taken by surveyors, development of layout and concept, Photoshop collages for each room, sketches (hand-drawn or in 3D), drawings and technical documentation (plans, layouts, carpentry and custom-made items), and a comprehensive budget for implementation, listing every article of selected finishing materials, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and furniture.

How long does it take to prepare the project?Dmitry: Preparing a design project for a room will take 16 days; studio apartment - 20 days; one-bedroom apartment - 23 days; two-bedroom - 29 days; three-bedroom - 39 days; house or townhouse - 71 days.Marina: Developing a full design project depends on the area and complexity of the project and takes an average of three months.

Can the cost change during the project preparation stage?Dmitry: No, it does not change. Cost and timelines are fixed.Marina: The cost, as well as the scope of work, is clearly stated in the contract attachments. It only changes if the work itself changes.

Who finds and purchases construction materials?Dmitry: The client can do it themselves, but if they don't wish to—our designer-assembler provides free assistance for 6 months. Due to our cooperation with well-known global suppliers, we offer a personal discount of up to 30% on furniture and components and materials.

Marina: I should mention that we do not purchase rough materials—this is done by builders, and we only buy finishing materials, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and furniture. We check invoices and specifications for compliance with the project by article numbers and quantities. Then we send the verified invoices to the client for payment.

Additionally, we can take on the task of preparing procurement schedules, tracking deadlines, and communicating with suppliers and contractors within the "assembly" service. The cost of this service is 10% of all purchases according to the estimate, including design discounts.

Who finds the contractors?Dmitry: If desired, the client can find contractors themselves and confidently hand over the design project we prepared.

Alternatively, we can recommend our verified contractors who work without advance payments at affordable prices and with all warranty obligations for two years.

Marina: I can recommend several teams I work with regularly.

Also, as part of author supervision, I can conduct an audit of contractors found by the client.

Design: ReRooms.ruWho oversees the work and ensures the quality of the renovation?Dmitry: The quality of the renovation is ensured by our contractor. We provide free author supervision over the progress of the renovation.

Marina: All construction work is covered by a separate contract with the team, and they are responsible for the quality of the repair work.
Of course, I can also oversee the implementation of the design project, but as part of the "author supervision" service: this is 4 visits to the site per month, checking that construction work matches the project, consulting with builders, and promptly making corrections to the drawings if necessary. The cost of author supervision with my contractors is 30,000 rubles per month, and with the contractor chosen by the client - from 50,000 rubles per month.

How long will the renovation take?Dmitry: Based on our experience, a one-bedroom apartment renovation takes 1.5-2 months.Marina: The time for the renovation depends greatly on the area and complexity of the project and the number of specialists involved. A 50 sq. m apartment can be completed in 2 months, while a 200 sq. m house requires no less than half a year.

Can the cost change during the renovation stage?Dmitry: All materials and their costs are listed in the estimate.

The deviation from the initial estimate can only occur if additional expenses for rough materials are required, for example, due to uneven floors or walls. However, the cost never increases by more than 10%.

Marina: The cost, as well as the list of construction works, is clearly stated and only changes if the scope of work changes. The cost of rough materials is estimated approximately and may change in either direction.

How will the apartment look after renovation?Dmitry: Just as it is in the design project! Especially since all our clients have already "walked" through their apartments using 3D goggles in our virtual visualizations. The apartment is fully ready for living, and the quality of the renovation is ensured by our verified contractor.Marina: In ideal conditions, upon completion of the object, it is fully ready for living. If we conducted author supervision and assembly, and the budget included furniture, textiles, and decor, then the client moves into a fully finished interior.

Design: ReRooms.ruWhat if something doesn't like at this stage?Dmitry: We're confident that everything will be liked at all stages. If the renovation is done by our contractor, then he is responsible to the client. If something doesn't like, the renovation company reworks or fixes the defects.

Marina: I try to agree on as many details as possible in a format convenient for the client, so I rarely encounter such situations. If there are mismatches with the project or incomplete work from a construction perspective, these are always corrected within the complaint and warranty services.

Can the cost change at this stage?Dmitry: No.

Marina: Since dozens of suppliers are involved in the implementation process, and we all depend on exchange rate fluctuations and seasonal price increases, there is a chance that the budget size may change.

However, if staying within the budget is a priority, we find cheaper alternatives during work. It's very important to balance quality, cost, and project compliance, and we're always on the client's side in this process.

Summing up

So, what are the obvious advantages of the new ReRooms design service compared to private designer services: price

Yes, the price is affordable. 24,990 rubles for a design project of a one-bedroom apartment.

deadlines

Yes, it's fast: the design project will be ready in just 20 days.

service

There is a personal account with the ability to monitor all stages of design project preparation online and 24/7 designer consultation services.

free edits

There is the opportunity to make multiple edits at all stages of design project preparation.

What do you think?

On the cover: ReRooms.ru design project