Interior design and project management
One person holds the design, the budget and the trades, from the first sketch to the final styling, across York and North Yorkshire.
You shouldn't have to be the one chasing the joiner
Most renovations split in two. A designer draws the rooms, then you’re left to find the builders, order the tiles and work out why the plasterer hasn’t turned up. The design and the build drift apart, and you end up managing both.
When I take on the design and the project management, the plan and the people who build it stay with one person: me.
What I manage for you
From the first visit to the last cushion, I keep the whole project moving so you’re not chasing anyone.
- The brief and the budget. We agree what the project needs to do and what it should cost before anything is ordered.
- The design. Layout, colour, furniture, lighting, fabrics and finishes, planned together so each room works with the next.
- Sourcing and ordering. I find, order and track everything, from the kitchen to the door handles.
- The trades. I bring in my own team of tradespeople, book them in the right order and meet them on site.
- Keeping you informed. You know where things stand at every stage, and you make the decisions that matter.
- The finish. Snagging, styling and the final reveal.
How a project runs
- A first conversation. We talk about the house, how you use it and what you’d like it to become.
- The concept. I put together the design and the plan, and we adjust it until you’re happy with the direction.
- Sourcing and scheduling. I order everything and organise a timetable, so each trade arrives when the work is ready for them.
- The work on site. I coordinate the builders, joiners, decorators and suppliers, and deal with the surprises every renovation throws up.
- The finish. Final checks, styling and the handover of a finished room or house.
Why a former teacher makes a good project manager
Before I designed my first room, I spent more than 25 years teaching in primary schools. Teaching is planning, timetables and keeping a lot of people pulling in the same direction while still listening to every one of them. It turned out to be the best training for project management I could have had.
Over the years I’ve built a team of tradespeople I trust. They’re good at what they do, and above all they’re problem solvers, which matters most on the day something behind a wall isn’t what anyone expected.
"I worked with Pip on a few of her projects and together we brought them to life. The end result was many happy clients."
You stay in charge of your house and your budget
Handing a project over can feel like giving up control. It shouldn’t. You agree the plan and the budget, you sign off the big choices, and I keep you up to date at every stage, so nothing arrives as a surprise.
If you’d rather run your own builder, I can do the design only and hand you the plans. Either way works.
The Old Rectory, near York
A full house refurbishment with a cottage and stables, designed and project managed from start to finish. See more of my house refurbishments.
Tell me about your project
A few details is all I need to get back to you personally, usually within a couple of days.
Design and project management: common questions
What does an interior design project manager do?
They run the whole project for you: the design, the budget, the ordering and the trades on site. I plan the rooms, order everything, book and coordinate the builders, joiners and decorators, and keep you updated until the work is finished.
Do I need an interior designer and a project manager?
Not two separate people. I do both, so the person who designed the room is the one making sure it’s built as planned. If you already have a builder you trust, I can do the design only.
Do you use your own builders and trades?
Yes. I work with a team of tradespeople I’ve built up over years and trust. If you’d rather use your own builder, I can design the project and you manage the work.
Do you project manage single rooms as well as whole houses?
Yes. The process is the same for one room or a whole house; it simply scales to the size of the job.
Which areas do you cover?
I’m based in York and manage projects across Harrogate, Knaresborough, Helmsley and the rest of North Yorkshire. Projects further afield are welcome too.
Planning a whole house? See my house refurbishments, or interior design for a single room.