A documented concept, not a construction contract
Most interior design engagements in Germany follow the HOAI fee structure — a multi-phase commission that runs from concept through site supervision. That model fits a full renovation, but it does not fit every client. Some clients want clarity before they commit. Some live abroad and will execute the work locally. Some have a builder or architect already, and only need a coherent design direction to brief them. The Mood & Material Concept exists for these situations.
It is a four- to six-week consulting engagement that ends with a documented vision board: a printed and digital concept for one space, or a coherent set of spaces, including color palette, material direction, lighting logic, furniture references and sourcing notes. Pricing is on a day-rate or package basis — not HOAI. There is no obligation to commission us for execution afterwards. If you choose to, the concept work credits against a later Apartment Design, Altbau Renovation or Luxury Living engagement.
Who this service is for
Expats refreshing an apartment in Germany. You want a German-quality concept for a space you may rent or own, executed through your own trades. The vision board gives you a documented direction without the overhead of a full commission.
International clients executing locally. You want the discipline of a German interior architect — context, narrative, structure — applied to a project in New York, London, Zurich or elsewhere. We work remotely, ship material samples internationally and hand over a deliverable your local team can implement.
HNW clients before committing. You want a discreet concept session before deciding on a full renovation. The Mood & Material Concept is the format for that decision: a real piece of work, on paper, that tells you what the project could become.
Couples or solo clients pre-purchase. You are evaluating an apartment or house and want to know what it could become before you sign. We assess the existing condition, sketch a direction and document the case for or against. For a historic villa, this often precedes a full Villa Renovation.
What you receive
A documented mood board, printed and digital, organized by room or by theme. A material samples reference — fabric, stone, wood, metal, paint chips — physically compiled, with international shipping available. A color palette with concrete brand and finish references, so a painter or supplier anywhere can match it. Furniture and lighting direction with sourcing suggestions. A written narrative that explains the concept and connects each decision back to context. Optional: 2D space-planning sketches where layout is part of the question.
The work follows our method: context, narrative, structure. We start with the building, the city, the life that will happen in the space. We identify the connections that make this particular project meaningful — origin, use, light, the people who will live there. And we translate that into a structure of color, material and form that another professional can build from.
What this service is not
It is not an HOAI commission. It is not site supervision. It is not a documentation of execution quality — implementation rests with you or your trades. The vision board is the deliverable; what happens on site afterwards is not part of this engagement. If you want a full execution with site supervision in the Rhein-Main region, that is a separate Consulting or HOAI commission, and we are happy to discuss it.
How the engagement runs
Four to six weeks from kickoff to handover, with one site visit (in person where feasible, otherwise via video) and one workshop or feedback round. Day-rate or package pricing, agreed before we begin. A single point of contact throughout. The handover is a physical and digital package — vision board, samples, written narrative, sourcing references — built to be readable by a third party.
