How To Choose A Full-Service Luxury Design Firm

MRETTY ATELIER

Choosing A Full-Service Design Firm

How to evaluate a luxury interior design firm without relying on Instagram alone. A buyer's guide written by a firm that welcomes the scrutiny.

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The most useful interior design reviews are the ones that mention what went wrong - and how it was handled. A firm worth hiring is not one that never has issues; it is one that resolves them without an argument.

THE MRETTY APPROACH

Built On Three Principles

01

Read The Negative Reviews First

Every firm with 50+ projects will have a complaint. What matters is the response - was it owned, or deflected?

02

Ask To Visit A Past Project

Renderings sell. Real installations tell. We arrange viewings of completed homes (with owner permission) for every shortlist client.

03

Get The Contract Reviewed

A serious firm will hand you a draft contract before deposit, not after. Ask for a payment schedule, defect window, and warranty in writing.

Five Questions Every Firm Should Answer In Writing
CHAPTER 01

Five Questions Every Firm Should Answer In Writing

  1. Who owns the workshop that builds the carpentry?
  2. What is your defect rectification window?
  3. What is included in your warranty - structure, hardware, finish?
  4. What happens if the project runs over the agreed timeline?
  5. Can you provide three references from projects completed 3+ years ago?

If a firm hesitates on any of these, the answer is not the right firm.

Red Flags From Real Reddit Threads
CHAPTER 02

Red Flags From Real Reddit Threads

Patterns we see flagged repeatedly on r/InteriorDesign and r/askSingapore:

  • Hourly billing with no cap - logged hours expand to fill any budget.
  • Verbal change orders - 'we discussed it' is not a contract.
  • No factory of record - if the firm cannot tell you where your wardrobe will be built, neither can you inspect it.
  • Render-only proposals - beautiful 3D, no spec sheet behind it.
What MRETTY Puts In Writing
CHAPTER 03

What MRETTY Puts In Writing

Every MRETTY engagement includes: fixed-price contract with itemised line-items, factory production photo log, defect rectification window of 14 days post-handover, lifetime structural warranty on carcasses, and a single named project manager from sign-off to handover. None of this is upgrade or premium-tier. It is the baseline.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Honest Answers

How do I verify a firm's claimed past work?+

Ask for the project address (or building name). Reputable firms will arrange viewings. Cross-check designer credits on platforms like Houzz and Dezeen - real projects are usually documented in multiple places.

Should I get multiple quotes?+

Yes - but compare like for like. Three firms quoting 'a kitchen' will give three different numbers because they spec different materials. Insist on itemised quotes with brand names.

What is a fair design fee?+

For luxury full-service: 8-15% of the build contract, or a flat 10-18% of the total project. Hourly rates of S$120-S$250 are common but harder to budget.

How long should the warranty be?+

Minimum 2 years on finish and hardware, lifetime on carcass structure. Anything less is a red flag for a luxury price point.

RELATED PROJECTS

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Every MRETTY home begins with a conversation. No catalogues, no pressure - just a designer who listens.

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