A full renovation project: phases, timescales and decisions

A full renovation project develops in successive phases —preliminary design, design, permits, works and handover— and each has its decisions and its timescales. Understanding the journey in advance is what turns building work into an ordered process rather than a source of uncertainty.

1. First visit and preliminary design

It all begins by listening: how you live, what you need, what you would like to change. We visit the home, study layout possibilities and give an initial idea of timescales and investment. Indicative time: 2–4 weeks. Key decision: defining the brief —what we want the home to do for us.

2. Design

We develop the final layout, the materials, the lighting and the furniture, with visualisations of the result and options by budget. This is where the big design decisions are made. Indicative time: 6–10 weeks. Key decision: closing the layout and level of finishes, because that is what sets the budget.

3. Permits and contracting

Depending on the scope, the works require a prior notification or a licence, with their administrative timescales in Madrid. In parallel, the contractor is engaged and the works budget is closed. Indicative time: variable, from weeks to a few months depending on the type of permit.

4. Works

Execution with continuous site management: demolitions, services, masonry, joinery, finishes. We visit the site, resolve incidents and coordinate trades so the result stays faithful to the design. Indicative time: 4–8 months depending on surface area and complexity. Key decision: keeping to the criteria in the face of the unexpected, without straying from the design.

5. Interior design and handover

Furniture, lighting, textiles and art, and a final review detail by detail. We hand over the home finished and ready to live in. Indicative time: overlaps with the end of the works.

What you decide and what we decide

You decide what is essential: how you want to live, the level of finishes and the big style choices. We take care of everything else —how it is resolved technically, in what order, with which trades and with what construction detail— and present the decisions to you at the right moment, with clear options, so that choosing is easy and not overwhelming.

How we avoid delays

Most delays come from decisions made late or from unforeseen issues that were not anticipated. We fight them with a highly defined design before the works begin, a realistic schedule and continuous on-site management. We also take on a limited number of projects each year, precisely so we can give each one the time it deserves.

How long it takes in total

As a reference, between commissioning the design and handover, a full home renovation usually takes 9 to 14 months, depending on surface area, permits and level of customisation. That is how we work in our design and site-management service.

Timescales are indicative and depend on each home, permit and scope. They are confirmed in the design phase.