Designing with us

Working with Studio Portobello is a collaborative process. From our first meeting we strive to deeply understand how you live in your home and what you seek from the space - practically, aesthetically and emotionally. This helps us craft a home that feels like a portrait if you, and to deliver a plan that alleviates the endless decisions that come with managing interior projects.

Interior Consultations

  • The first step in our design process: an intimate, creative session designed to uncover your lifestyle, preferences, and aspirations. During this workshop-style hour, we immediately begin ideating your custom design.

    If a consultation is all you require, we follow up with a bespoke scheme, drawing, or relevant documentation. For larger projects, we continue with the Interior Design phases.

    A consultations for 1-2 rooms may focus on:

    • Decoration – Colour and material scheme: paint, wallpaper, flooring, soft furnishings

    • Layouts – Furniture, electrical and lighting plan, specification and budgeting

    • Drawings – A custom design of furniture, upholstery, or window treatments

  • For 1-2 rooms:

    400€ for a virtual on in-studio consultation

    500€ for an at-home consultation

    * 20% discount available when adding rooms or combining multiple consultation topics. Please contact us to discuss the scope of your project and how we can tailor our consultation to meet your needs.

Interior Design

  • For the most refined and cohesive outcome, we offer a comprehensive interior design service that reimagines your space. This full-service package unfolds across three phases:

    Design
    Concept Development: We create a complete design vision, from layouts to schemes and custom fittings. This phase is the most creative, shaping the overall direction of your interiors.
    Design Development: We translate your vision into detailed plans, elevations, specifications, and schedules—ready to guide contractors and builders. If relevant, we collaborate with your architect or project team.

    Project Management
    We collaborate with the building teams and coordinate interior-specific trades, such as carpenters, decorators and upholsterers, ensuring flawless execution and finish.

    Sourcing
    This is the final layer to your home’s authentic character. We carefully curate artwork, vintage pieces, and one-of-a-kind objects that bring depth and distinction to your home.

  • Our fixed fees are based on project size and charged per phase. Please get in touch for estimating your project.

    For example,

    Design creation:

    • Concept Development: Starting at 1,260€ for 20-40 sqm

    • Design Development: Starting at 1,920€ for 20-40 sqm

    Project Management:

    • Starting at 1,440€ for 20-40 sqm

    Sourcing:

    • 10% fee on the total value of items

Furniture and Art Sourcing

  • Sometimes, simply updating a detail can transform the way you feel in your home. To help you find the best furniture and art pieces, we source distinctive vintage, artisan, and contemporary works through our trusted European network of dealers, galleries, makers, and couriers. Acting as your agent, we work within your budget to find pieces that feel meaningful, timeless, and beautifully aligned with your home.

  • 200€ starting fee

    +15% fee on the total value of items, with a 1300€ total budget minimum (budget can apply to one or multiple items).

Frequently asked questions

  • Ideally, as soon as possible. Early planning allows you time to think deeply and to create a design that is truly exciting. Planning the interior early also facilitates estimates and planning with architects and builders, as things like electrical and plumbing or wall and flooring materials depend on the interior layout and choices.

  • Absolutely! A consultation would be perfect for this situation, and we can focus on a specific topic. If you would like to combine topics, such as scheming + the design of a simple custom piece (eg. seating), we would combine these as two consultations. Any consultations beyond the first one are discounted at 20%.

  • Yes, you may engage us for individual phases at a time. However, we do not offer later phases (e.g., Design Development or Project Management) without completing earlier ones. Consultations and Sourcing are available as stand-alone services.

  • The level of involvement is entirely up to you. We can handle everything from start to finish, or we can work collaboratively with you on every detail.

  • We understand that design evolves and revisions may be necessary. We communicate closely during the Concept and Design Development stages to allow for changes, and each phase includes a revision round. Any additional revisions beyond this may be subject to additional fees, in proportion to the changes required.

  • Of course, these only make your space more storied! We can incorporate your existing pieces into the design plan. Please make sure to outline this during the introduction call and we will incorporate them in the Concept Development stage.

  • No, please employ a registered architect to do your construction drawings and planning application. We can work with you as well as your architect to help with the internal configuration and design.

  • We try to go beyond the immediately available in order to create the most curated interiors. We work with a curated network of suppliers, makers, and collectors across Ireland and Europe, balancing established names with emerging talent. We do not work exclusively with any one supplier in order to maintain creative freedom.

  • Vintage is a wonderful way of finding unique and artful furnishings, as well as a sustainable choice. However, we do not limit ourselves and sourcing is always based on our client’s requirements, preferences and budget. A typical project includes a thoughtful mix of vintage, contemporary and made-to order items.

  • Our design fees cover our design expertise and coordination services, based on the size and complexity of your project - we do not supply or charge for products. Any products that we use in our designs are specified at recommended retail price, and selected with your budget in mind.

Starting your project

If you’re interested in working with us, we’d be delighted to start a conversation and to better understand your requirements.

We can visit your space, and our Dublin studio is available for you to explore the materials that we typically work with or to browse some of our previously sourced items. If you are located outside of Dublin, we can begin with a video call.

Please find a time that suits you and we'll respond to confirm any details!