Planning your
interior.

01

Start with how the room needs to work

Write a short brief before choosing individual pieces. Describe who uses the space, what happens there and what you would like to improve. A dining room used every day may need a different balance of seating, circulation and storage from one used mainly for guests.

Separate the things you want to keep from the things you are open to changing. Existing furniture, art and architectural details give the discussion a useful starting point. A few references with a sentence explaining what you like about each are more useful than a large collection without context.

02

Gather plans, photographs and priorities

Prepare any available floor plans and photographs showing the room from different directions. Include doors, windows, fixed elements and the relationship to adjoining spaces. Mark which dimensions are measured and which are estimates; the accuracy needed for design development and furniture production should be agreed separately.

Note the project location, your intended timing and the budget you would like to discuss. Distinguish the furniture budget from design work, building work and delivery so the first conversation can establish what is included and which constraints need attention.

03

Agree the scope and the people involved

A project can begin with one room or a complete home. ELBRA's services cover space planning, materials, bespoke furniture, lighting, 3D visualisation and styling. The stages and deliverables are agreed for each project.

If you already work with an architect, interior designer or contractor, explain their role and the support you need. Establish who develops each part, who approves decisions and who is responsible for installation. The project location also helps establish how meetings, site information and samples can be coordinated.

04

Review materials as a palette

Consider wood, stone, textiles and metal finishes together. Compare their colour, texture and sheen in the intended light, alongside the finishes that will remain in the room. Ask about care and suitability for the way the space will be used.

Digital views help discuss the overall composition. Physical samples help confirm the material choices: screen colour and a rendered surface are not a substitute for reviewing the actual finish. Keep the selected references together so changes can be checked against the whole palette.

05

Develop furniture with the room

Review the size of each piece alongside circulation, seating and the other furniture. For a made-to-order piece, discuss dimensions, upholstery, finish and the details that need development before production.

ELBRA connects interior and product design with its atelier in Portugal, where commissioned ELBRA pieces are made to order. Bring existing furniture references or a particular design problem to the conversation. Confirm the specification, practical access requirements and delivery arrangements for your project before an order is finalised.

06

Keep the agreed decisions in one place

The specification book brings the agreed design into one reference. It gives you and the people delivering the project a clear record of what has been chosen, so decisions can be reviewed together and carried into the next stage.

Use the agreed specification as the reference for subsequent discussions. Record changes and identify anything still awaiting approval before it affects ordering or production. The contents, stages and deliverables depend on the scope agreed for your project.

The space

Layouts, key dimensions and relevant elevations.

The palette

Material selections, finish references and their intended applications.

The furniture

Selected pieces, bespoke details and specifications for development.

The complete picture

Visualisations, lighting and styling notes, where included.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Bring your space to the conversation.

Tell us the location, the rooms you want to work on and your main priorities. We can then discuss the scope and what information would be useful next.