Services | Charlton Brown

Initial ideas

We like to begin with a meeting at the property to discuss your brief. This is
the beginning of an ongoing process where your ideas and requirements are collected. Once back at the studio we carry out research to identify all of the site’s opportunities.

Design development

While we are developing the brief, we will also begin producing initial sketch designs, usually in 2D and 3D. We find that this is an essential step that unlocks further ideas and results in a well-rounded project brief.

Cost plan

A cost estimate is produced by a quantity surveyor, which allows us to make strategic choices about the scope of the project right at outset. This cost estimate will be updated at regular intervals throughout the design process to allow decisions to be made rationally, such as adding a special finish or removing a feature.

Design programme

We will produce an outline programme taking into account the planning strategy and requirements such as your availability to attend meetings, or a target date to begin construction.

Planning application

We have an excellent track record in securing planning, listed building and freeholder licence to alter consents, and will advise on appropriate strategies that can save time or reduce risk of refusal. We do this by maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of local authority planning policy developments, and working with excellent consultants who advise on Planning and Heritage.

Design finalisation

This is the stage where designs begin to be ‘frozen’, as the exciting decisions on room layouts, materials and finishes are tackled. Depending on priorities this stage can continue while construction begins, or it can be completed beforehand to obtain firm quotes for as much of the work as possible.

Technical design

Our work can now begin on preparing the technical drawings and specifications that will be priced by the contractor. We will work with the structural and services engineers, party wall surveyors, fire engineers, swimming pool specialists etc. to ensure that all features work together, and everything is integrated cleanly and works as one.

Tender

In assistance to the quantity surveyor we will help to find contractors that are a good fit for your project, and provide them with a clear package of drawings to help them price the work fairly. We then help to review their offers, and conduct interviews and inspections of their projects currently under construction to assist with the final selection.

Regular site inspections

Before the site is handed over to the contractor we will establish regular inspection and progress meetings and lines of communication that work for all parties. During construction we will be on hand to answer any questions that they have and provide additional drawings to ensure our designs come to life as expected.

Completion

When completion is approaching we will inspect the site to make sure that it is ready to hand over, and assist with coordinating the commissioning and testing of systems so everything is working from the first day of occupation.

After completion

We usually recommend a ‘settling’ period of one year to allow any minor issues to be detected. During this time we will remain on hand to inspect any issues that arise and coordinate the contractor’s work to make any repairs.

Initial Ideas

During this phase, we will meet with you at the Property and discuss your desires and aspirations for the scope of the interiors, and have early discussions with you about possible for specialist strategic item

Developing the Brief

Throughout this phase, we work with you to understand and define your vision for the Project, including exactly how you wish to use the various rooms and any particular requirements you have for them. We use a combination of meetings, questionnaires and discussions to hone this down to a clear and deliverable brief.

The objective of this phase is to tailor the further design phases, in line with your preferences, to arrive at a ‘look and feel’ for the Project and to understand the ways in which you would like it to support your lifestyle. If you have any preexisting furniture, artwork, heirlooms or other specific items that you would like for us to include, or from which you would wish us to draw inspiration, we’ll work with you to integrate these into the design.

Concept Design

A cost estimate is produced by a quantity surveyor, which allows us to make strategic choices about the scope of the project right at outset. This cost estimate will be updated at regular intervals throughout the design process to allow decisions to be made rationally, such as adding a special finish or removing a feature.

Design Development

During this phase, we work to develop the approved Concept Design into detailed room-by-room schemes. During the course of several meetings, we present options for individual fixtures and fittings; samples of materials and finishes and will coordinate meetings with specialist suppliers (eg, for kitchens, specialist joinery and lighting design) to assist the client with their choices.

FF&E Design

During this phase, we develop the layouts of each room to include individual items of furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). This is where the designs take on a whole new level of detail, and a vast amount of the character of the interiors will be established.

We will present options for each item required, and check these against the concept design Mood Boards to reach a complete design for the Project. 

Design Implementation

Our work can now begin on preparing the technical drawings and specifications that will be priced by the contractor. We work up the agreed design into technical drawing packs that cover all of the details and specifications that will be required by the contractors and craftspeople to realise the project as we have imagined it.

Construction Implementation

Before the site is handed over to the contractor we will establish regular inspection and progress meetings and lines of communication that work for all parties. During construction we will be on hand to answer any questions that they have and provide additional drawings to ensure our designs come to life as expected.

FF&E Procurement

During this phase, we source suppliers for all of the agreed items on the FF&E Schedule, suggesting alternatives where the chosen items are not available or cannot be procured within the chosen timeframe. Where items are to be manufactured bespoke or to order, we write out the project specifications to ensure that they will fit within the scheme. We then review their drawings and make suggestions for any necessary amendments.

We negotiate with suppliers to achieve the best costs (including any ‘trade’ discounts), then present the final FF&E quotes to you. We always pass on any trade discounts directly to you, and these discounts generally represent 20% to 50% of the direct-to-customer price.

FF&E Installation and Styling

Upon practical completion of the construction works, we will take over the site for the duration above to manage and oversee the delivery to site of all of the procured FF&E, artwork and accessories. We will then style the Project to reflect the approved Design Concept with all of the procured FF&E, together with any items that you have requested that we include.

Development Potential

We are adept at ascertaining site opportunities and parameters quickly and regularly provide feasibility studies for purchasers and agents within the timescale of their purchase negotiations. Depending on the intended use of the site we draw on advice from experts that can reveal hidden value, including estate agents experienced in selling prime single-family and multi-unit residential properties, planning consultants, and tax advisors.

Planning Opportunities and Risk Analysis

Viability of extensions, demolition and new-build are essential to understand quickly and we maintain a current working knowledge of local authority policy, legal precedents and other significant developments within the prime London postcodes.

Conservation and Listed Buildings

We are experienced in developing sensitive sites for end-users and as development projects and can advise on the nuances of developing sites within Conservation Areas, Locally Listed and Listed Buildings at the outset.

Prime London Planning

We have an excellent track record in securing planning, listed building and freeholder licence to alter consents, and will advise on appropriate strategies that can save time or reduce risk of refusal. We do this by maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of local authority planning policy developments, and working with excellent consultants who advise on Planning and Heritage.

Track Record

Our Track Record on planning applications across these areas over 20 years is excellent, and we are proud to have built a body of work where some of the most sought-after roads feature several of our planning consents and built projects. We maintain good relationships with Local Authority planning departments, The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust, and Heritage Specialists that are influential in determining applications in these areas.

Unparalleled Success

We regularly take on projects where sites have been blighted by planning applications that have been poorly received, and have been refused or have required to be withdrawn. Our approach has been honed to provide clear planning application documents that have been shown to secure consents where others have failed.

Developed Design

We can help on projects where developers benefit from design assistance on key details only, or more comprehensive drawing packages for Design & Build Employers Requirements packages.

During Construction

We often assist contractors realise developers’ schemes under novated contracts, as well as acting for the developer in an advisory role during construction.