If you are renovating or refurbishing an existing space, be honest about what you do and don’t like about the original house. We all have memories made at home and sometimes it is hard to let go of spaces you have a strong connection to.

Space-wise – be clear about what you need as well as what you want. Understanding the type of spaces you want in the house will help us move the design forward. It is better to think about spaces you want rather than rooms as it may be possible to design the layout to enable two functions to use one room.

Be honest about your budget and the likely value (and realistic ceiling value) of the property at the end of the project. This is one of the most challenging conversations we have as architects but the more open this discussion can be, the better the design process will flow.