HomeWhat Does an Interior Design Project Include, and What Does the Price Depend On?
When people search for the cost of interior design, they usually want two things: to understand what they are paying for, and to be able to compare studios fairly. A single figure rarely helps with either. What matters is what sits inside the project and which factors move the price. Here is how an interior design project works in practice, based on the way COZY., an interior design studio in Sofia, structures its work.
What a full interior design project includes
- Brief and site survey: understanding how you live, what the space must do, and measuring the apartment or house
- Space planning: a functional layout, tested with real furniture sizes
- Concept and style: materials, colours and mood, shown on reference boards
- 3D visualizations: so you can see and approve the result before any work begins
- Technical drawings: electrical points and lighting, plumbing, ceilings, flooring, walls and joinery details, prepared for the trades
- Specifications and budget: a list of materials, furniture and fixtures with an estimate
- Supplier coordination: help with choosing and ordering
On top of the design itself, there are two optional layers: author supervision, where the designer checks that the work on site follows the drawings, and full turnkey execution, which COZY. offers in Sofia.
Design only, supervision or turnkey
| Option | What you get | What you manage yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Design only | The full project: layout, concept, 3D, technical drawings, specifications, budget | Builders, deliveries and site decisions |
| Design with author supervision | The full project plus the designer checking that the work follows the drawings | Builders and deliveries |
| Turnkey (Sofia) | The full project plus the studio managing contractors, deliveries and inspections | Approvals and feedback |
What the price depends on
- Size and number of rooms. More square metres and more rooms mean more drawings and visualizations.
- Scope. A full home, a single bathroom, or a consultation on a few elements are very different jobs.
- Design only, supervision or turnkey. Each extra layer adds responsibility and time on site.
- Complexity. Changing the layout, custom furniture details, bathrooms, heating and cooling systems, and lighting design all need more technical work.
- Depth of detail. A set of drawings that a builder can follow without guessing takes longer than a general concept.
- The studio's experience and positioning. Hands-on experience with real construction is what makes drawings accurate.
What the design price usually does not cover
The fee for the design project is separate from the cost of carrying it out. Construction work, materials, furniture, appliances and fixtures are paid for on top of the design, unless you order a turnkey service, where the studio also manages the execution. When you compare offers, check that you are comparing the same thing: some quotes describe only the design, others include supervision, and others cover the whole realization.
How to compare quotes properly
Do not compare totals alone. Ask each studio:
- What exactly is included, and in what format do you receive it?
- How many layout options and revisions are part of the offer?
- Are technical drawings and a budget included?
- Is author supervision available, and how is it organized?
- How long does each stage take, and what do you need to provide?
The timeline also depends on you: a design project is a two-way process, and the speed of your feedback and decisions directly affects how quickly it moves.
How COZY. works
COZY. was founded in Sofia in 2019 by Geya Antonova. Projects are described step by step in a detailed written offer, so clients can see what they receive and in which order. Interior design projects and consultations are available for all of Bulgaria and can be delivered online, while turnkey execution is carried out in Sofia. COZY. works in the upper-middle to upper end of the interior design market, and its rates reflect the technical precision and on-site experience behind each project.
The studio's portfolio includes private homes, the Silver Court retail chain, the VivaDental clinic and offices for Hyperzon, Evolution and Smartico.
Frequently asked questions
Why do studios rarely publish one fixed price? Because two apartments of the same size can need very different amounts of work. The layout, the technical systems, the custom details and the level of service change the scope, so a fair price comes from a conversation about the actual project.
Can I use my own contractors? Yes. A complete set of technical drawings is designed for exactly that: any qualified tradesperson can work from it and quote on the same basis.
Do I need 3D visualizations? They are the best way to see the result before building. Approving the visualizations first is what prevents expensive changes on site.
Can the project be done online? Yes, for anywhere in Bulgaria. Turnkey execution, where the studio manages the work on site, is available in Sofia.
More information about the process and the studio is available at cozydesign.bg.