Interior designer for custom interiors

A standalone cabinet or a cohesive custom interior?

Is your question about storing clothes, books, or tableware in a specific spot? Start with the function and layout of that cabinet. Our explanation of custom cabinetry helps with shelf configuration, fronts, hardware, and comparing proposals.

An integral interior design becomes relevant as soon as different elements meet. Think of a kitchen wall that transitions into a workspace, a bench with storage space next to a window, or a wall unit that also determines the lighting. In such cases, a drawing of each piece of furniture separately is not enough: the connections between them must also be designed.

Not everything needs to be custom-made. A standalone dining table or armchair can provide freedom of movement alongside fixed elements. We discuss which components should organize the space and where a movable piece of furniture is more practical.

Which connections need to be included in the design drawings?

Start with a floor plan showing all fixed volumes. Next, check the most important walls in elevation: which lines run through, which parts are recessed, and how does the whole connect to doors and windows? Material choices follow those proportions, not the other way around.

A supplier assesses the technical requirements of their product. Establish who will coordinate the information from the kitchen supplier, interior builder, electrician, and finisher. This prevents a detail from falling between two different contracts.

Adding custom work to elements you want to keep

First, map out which flooring, kitchen, doors, and furniture are staying. Note what you like and what hinders current usage. A new wall unit does not need to exactly replicate existing wood tones: a deliberate contrast can be more convincing than a nearly identical shade.

View material samples in the space where they will be used, both in daylight and under the lighting you will be using. Pay attention not only to color but also to sheen, texture, edges, and the transition to adjacent surfaces. Determine which combination you want to keep before ordering individual items.

A hypothetical scenario: an existing kitchen is staying, but a workspace needs to be added next to it. First, we examine the passage and the view of that workspace from the living room. Only then do we follow up with the height of the work surface, closed storage, and materials. This is a design scenario for illustrative purposes, not a description of an executed project.

What is designed and what is detailed by the maker?

A mood board makes a direction visible. For execution, concrete agreements regarding dimensions, materials, and connections are also required. A perspective image alone is not an approval for production. Discuss with the executing party which shop drawings, product specifications, and check measurements are necessary.

• Document per piece of furniture what Rive Home designs and what the maker develops technically.
• Agree on who will measure the final situation and at what point this will occur.
• Determine who will verify material samples and shop drawings before production begins.
• Note who will communicate changes to other involved suppliers.
• Make it clear which coordination and site visits are included in the project quote.

Do you already have an interior builder in mind? Bring their proposal or drawings along. We can then discuss which design questions remain open and how the handover will be organized. You can read more about this division of labor under having an interior designed and executed.

A budget for design, production, and finishing

Rive Home works with a fixed quote per project. The scope of the assignment determines that quote: how many components are designed, how detailed the work goes, and what coordination or guidance is agreed upon. A fixed design fee does not automatically mean that production and assembly are included.

In the total budget, keep the design assignment, the manufacturing and installation of furniture, installation work, and finishing clearly separated. Also, check who is responsible for removing existing work, repairing walls, or painting. This allows you to compare proposals for the same tasks and see which costs are still outside the quotes.

Does the plan need to fit within a specific investment? First, determine which components provide the most value. Detail those sufficiently for a usable price estimate and have alternatives for materials, detailing, or phasing listed separately. There is no guideline rate provided here: without project scope, that would give an unreliable expectation.

Can custom work be carried out in phases?

Yes, provided that the final result and the mutual connections are established beforehand. A workspace, for example, can be built later than the cabinet wall. However, a cable route or connection hidden behind that wall may need to be prepared in the first phase.

For occupied homes, discuss which spaces must remain available during assembly. Let the maker assess the delivery route, the dimensions of large components, and the protection of existing finishes. The practical situation at your address is decisive; there is no standard assembly approach that fits every home.

Schedule a check moment before the final parts are ordered. Especially when different parties are waiting for one another, they need to know which dimensions and choices are final. Ask the contractors to confirm their own lead times and conditions rather than assuming a general schedule.

Preparing your custom project

For an initial conversation, a floor plan, overview photos, and a list of components that are staying or changing are helpful. Indicate which rooms you want to tackle together, what has already been ordered, and what decisions are still pending. Your desired implementation timeline and investment range are also relevant starting points.

For a home in Amsterdam or Haarlem, the same principle applies: the request and the existing situation determine the design. You do not need to have material choices or a complete furniture list yet. We first discuss where cohesion is needed and what the agreed-upon assignment should yield.

Would you like to view our work beforehand? In the Rive Home project overview, you will find images of various interiors. Discuss which examples match your situation during an introductory meeting; the overview is not a technical specification of the furniture shown in the images.

Discuss your custom interior