Our Services
bringing your dream to life
Bahamian Interior Design Services
The key to any successful project is communication and logistics, especially when working in the Bahamas. We’re here for you. We’ll help you realise your island home or office and keep you up to date throughout the design project.
We pride ourselves on the creative and collaborative spirit of our methods and brand. We commit to excellence and transparency and to exceeding our clients’ expectations, no matter the size of the project.
We know the design process can be daunting, so we take our role in delivering your project as seriously as our creativity. Our job is to create a really lovely home for you!
We work on both residential and commercial projects ranging from furnishing/decorative jobs to large-scale renovations and new construction creating timeless spaces that have an inherently relaxed Tropical, Modern or Eclectic aesthetic.
Being a full-scope interior design studio we are inherently collaborative, proactive and a true partner in the process. From developing architectural details and finishes, to designing a functional, beautiful space with furniture, fabrics and decor, we are here to create an utterly gorgeous home or office.
catering to you
What We Do
Full Scope Design
Full scope Bahamian interior design is suited for clients who are looking to employ Island Nest Ltd to design and deliver their project all the way from concept to installation.
These design services are best suited for medium to large size projects. They will involve remolding and new build construction co-ordination. Furnishing, home decor as well as specialist finishes and millwork design.
Island Nest is managing and overseeing the design process and coordinating with the lead, or has the roll of, the contractor for the majority or entirety of a home.
E Design & Spruce
E-Design & Spruce is for the budget conscious customer who needs advice with laying out a room or sourcing furniture/decor or upholstery. After the Briefing Consultation we will produce a mood-board, plan of work and fee proposal to execute the Customer’s brief.
Working remotely, all correspondence is handled through phone, email and video conference calls. We require the customer to provide us with floor plans and/or dimensions of the relevant space to be designed. In order to keep the costs down we limit to two rounds of design consultation during the design process. Island Nest will execute all purchasing on your behalf, clear customs and deliver to your property. Alternatively we can take care of the installation as well. There is no project minimum, making this perfect for jobs of all sizes!
Turnkey
Turnkey is intended for clients who have bought an investment property and need it fitted out with furniture, decor, housewares, bedding and window treatments ready for rental in the shortest possible time. The selection of furnishings extends from budget-conscious to high end style and depends on the your brief, budget and property location.
We require the customer to provide us with floor plans and/or dimensions of the relevant space to be designed. In order to keep the time to a minimum there is one round of design consultation for approval on completion of the design process. Invariably sometimes product goes out of stock during the process, the customer authorises us to reselect in accordance with the brief.
Book A Consultation With Us
Interested in any of our services? Arrange a consultation with us, the Bahamian interior design specialists, to discover the path to your dream home.
What is Full Scope Bahamian Interior Design?
Full scope interior design is suited for clients who have larger budgets (BS$100k+) and are looking to employ Island Nest Ltd to design and deliver their project all the way from concept to installation. These design services are best suited for medium to large size projects. They will involve remolding and new build construction co-ordination. Furnishing, home decor as well as specialist finishes and millwork design. Island Nest is managing and overseeing the design process and coordinating with the lead, or has the roll of, the contractor for the majority or entirety of a home.
When is the best time to engage a designer?
As this is a full scope service the designer should be engaged as soon as possible, preferably at the Design Development stage of the Architectural process at the very latest. It’s the earlier the better so that we can co-ordinate the interior FF&E with the architect and engineers and all who are involved.
What is the first step in hiring Island Nest for my design needs?
If you’re interested in employing our design services for your residential or commercial space, give us a call and we can determine your needs. You can also visit our Consultation page where you can schedule a time to talk with us, and we will be in-touch within 24 hours to request more information and/or confirm the consultation.
Why should I schedule a consultation?
A consultation with Island Nest helps you to refine your brief. It also helps you get to know us and how we work before committing to a full scope design. We will begin by sending you a questionnaire before our meeting to outline your requirements.
We will then discuss your project and produce a conceptual mood board and a fee proposal for the work which gives you a better understanding of what to expect.
Is there a fee for this Preliminary Consultation?
No this first step is free off charge! We just want to get to know you and see how we can best support you. When you are ready to book a Briefing Consultation we will send you a questionnaire to help you refine your brief to us.
What do you charge for Full Scope Design? How do you determine your project fee?
We charge $250 for a Briefing Consultation, which is the equivalent of our hourly full scope design fee. One hour of our design time will be credited to our proposal, to waive the consultation fee if you choose to work with us here at Island Nest Ltd.
Our hourly rate for full-service design is then $250/hour. At the end of the Briefing Consultation, we’ll send you a proposal which will outline the scope of the project and our projected design fee in order to execute what’s required.
Coming out of this meeting, you’ll receive a custom design proposal which will provide the all-in design fee to hire us.
Design fees are billed to the client as each stage of the project commences, and are estimated based on the projected number of hours required to design, deliver, co-ordinate and install with the team.
At the end of stage 2, the design fee can be fixed and converted into a lump sum.
With the exception of shipping fees we do our very best to estimate shipping costs, but we cannot be held to account if the Bahamas Government changes the fee or taxation structure mid project.
How long does the design process take?
No two projects are the same, therefore completion times are bound to differ depending on the scale and type of project. After each consultation, our team will draw up a proposal that includes the estimated costs and timeline for your designs. The average process takes approximately 4-6 weeks to complete before moving into material selection and the install/renovation phase. Please note construction and install time frames vary by project type and schedule of the contractors.
What does a typical project schedule look like?
As previously stated, timelines vary from project to project depending on the scope of work and which island we are working on. The timelines listed below are typical and are dependent on size and scope of the project.
Stage One: (2-4 weeks )
• Schematic Design – During this stage we will ‘rough-in’ your brief for style and functionality. We start with the architectural plans testing the space planning then we bring the design to life with moodboards, inspiration photos and sketch plans. We will provide options for colour palettes for finishes, fixtures and furniture (FF&E). At the end of this stage. you will receive a custom design proposal which will provide the all-in design fee to hire us. We can generate 3D renderings if needed, Architectural CAD drawings are required, and price will be determined based on the number of views.
Stage Two: (4-6 weeks total)
• Design Development – Once the design concept is approved, we finalise the drawings and selection of furniture. This includes specification of decorative materials and selecting the specific products that bring the approved concept to life. This may also includes sourcing and purchasing fixtures, flooring, slabs, paint, furniture, lighting, window treatments, appliances, etc., dependent on the type of project. Upon the completion of the design development phase our team will be ready to prepare for the construction and/or purchasing. We take care of all arrangements by partnering with our trusted suppliers, which allow us to ensure that all materials and products are finished to the highest standard and executed as intended.
Stage Three: (4-8 weeks dependent on the construction program)
• Implementation – At this time construction is underway, surface materials and mill work is going in. The time scale really depends on the size of the project and materials selected, and our team are busy executing all aspects of co ordinating the contractors and overseeing the construction.
• FF&E (furnitures, fixtures & equipment) is starting to arrive in Florida where we are consolidating ready for shipment. To be efficient with the shipping process we try to ship the FF&E items all together so that they arrive on one day or multiple days depending on project scale.
• All furnishing items will be delivered to and stored at our warehouse in Florida for a fixed monthly fee until everything is ready for install day*.
Stage Four: (1-2 weeks).
• FF&E Install – We determine the best shipping route dependent on size and location of the project. We clear all FF&E items through the Bahamas customs process, collect from the dock and deliver to the projects and start to bring your island getaway to life.
*Note: additional installation and mover fees are applicable and will be shared ahead of final install
What is the payment schedule for Full-Scope projects?
We require payment at each stage of the process:
• Stage One: Schematic Design 20%
• Stage Two: Design Development 30%
• Stage Three: Implementation 45%
• Stage Four: FF&E Install 5%
What kind of projects do you do?
We do renovations, either the whole house/condo or just your bathroom or kitchen. We also do new build projects.
What is FF&E?
FF&E stands for Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment. All items like paint, flooring, granite and specialist mill work etc are purchased according to the construction program.
What if I have a small budget or I just want some design advice on colour or type of rug or sourcing a lamp?
We understand that engaging an interior design service is a luxury; in this instance we can accommodate smaller budgets with our E Design & Spruce or our Turnkey services. Our Clients work with us for minimal design needs all the way to projects including full-scale renovations and new construction.
Our aim is to align and maintain budget expectations, timescale and other aspects at the beginning of the process to make sure everyone knows what to expect and which design approach makes most sense for your budget. As previously noted our full-scope design service is intended for larger-scale FF&E and construction projects.
Can I describe the type of style that I’m looking for?
As part of the initial design consultation, our team will discuss your design style, in order to prepare our fee proposal and we will provide you with a mood board before you commit to our service.
On engagement we further develop your preferences and any design references you have and discuss with you at length in order to further familiarize ourselves with your aesthetic and tailor our designs to your specific needs and style.
In every project, we strive to infuse as much of your personality and passion into your home, as we understand the need in creating a space which reflects who you are.
E-design & Spruce?
E-Design & Spruce is for the budget conscious customer who needs advice with laying out a room or sourcing furniture/decor or upholstery. After the Briefing Consultation we will produce a mood-board, plan of work and fee proposal to execute the Customer’s brief.
Working remotely all correspondence is handled through phone, email and video conference calls, we require the customer to provide us with floor plans and/or dimensions of the relevant space to be designed. In order to keep the costs down we limit to two rounds of design consultation during the design process. Island Nest will execute all purchasing on your behalf, clear customs and deliver to your property.
Alternatively we can take care of the installation as well. There is no project minimum, making this ideal for any sized project!
What is the first step in hiring Island Nest for my design needs?
If you’re interested in our E-design & Spruce services for your home, please call us or schedule a preliminary consultation on our website. Our team will be in touch within 1-2 business days to request more information if needed and to confirm the Briefing Consultation.
Is there a fee for the Preliminary Consultation?
No this first step is free off charge! We just want to get to know you and see how we can best support you. When you are ready to book a Briefing Consultation we will send you a questionnaire to help you refine your brief to us.
What is your Briefing Consultation fee?
We charge $250 for briefing consultations, which is the equivalent of our E-Design & Spruce hourly design fee. Following the consultation meeting, we’ll send you a proposal which will outline the scope of the project and our projected design fee in order to execute what’s needed.
If you choose to move forward with hiring Island Nest the Briefing fee will be credited to the design fee.
What do you charge for E-design & Spruce? How do you determine your project fee?
Our hourly rate for E-design & Spruce is $250/hour, following the briefing consultation meeting we will determine the design fee based on the scope of work.
How long does the design process take?
It really depends on what your requirements are. The E-design process takes 4-6 weeks to complete, and as we live in the islands, delivery could add another two weeks to that time frame. If Sprucing is all you require 2-4 weeks should be enough.*
* Upholstery such as curtains and re-upholstery of furniture can 4-8 weeks sometimes 12 weeks depending on the capacity of the upholstery workroom at the time of ordering.
What does a typical project schedule look like?
Time lines vary from project to project depending on the scope of the request, but we generally find that E-design takes about 8 weeks. Our process is as follows:
Stage One: (2 weeks for Design)
• Briefing Consultation – during this first meeting we will discuss your design goals and determine how we can help you. If you have Images, plans and dimensions of your space that would be great especially as we are working virtually!
• Design – once we have collated the information and determined your needs. We will get to work in producing a sketch plan and mood boards. You have the opportunity of two rounds of design review where your comments and changes can be made and these are included within the project fee, and all designs are reviewed virtually via skype or Goto meeting.
• This is the crucial point for achieving your delivery program. At this point you will sign off the design and product selection to enable us to start the procurement process.
Stage Two: (2-4 weeks for procurement)
• Specifications and Procurement – Upon the your approval of the design and furniture proposal. Payment on the associated invoice for the larger projects payment for stage two is due. For smaller projects we require payment in full upfront in order to purchase product. Island Nest will handle all purchasing on behalf of the client.
OPTIONAL: Stage Three: (2 weeks for installation)
• Installation – You have the option to have the product delivered to your property for your installation saving some cost for you. If you choose to employ Island Nest additional installation and mover fees are applicable and will be shared ahead of final install.
What is the payment schedule for E-design & Spruce projects?
The depends on the size of the project and how quick the delivery program needs to be. In principle we require payment in full up front. If the project has a longer program we require payment at each stage of the process.
• Stage One: 20% to engage Island Nest
• Stage Two: 45% Procurement
• Stage Three: 30% When the product is ready to ship
• Stage Four: 5% Prior to installation
What if I’m only looking for help with light decorating ideas?
If you are looking for advice with less design commitment we also offer ’Spruce’. It still involves a virtual Briefing Consultation, to discuss your sprucing needs for your specific space(s) and determine the scope. We will prepare a fee proposal and if accepted we will come up with a plan and offer a solution on your ideas. We handle all the purchasing and shipping logistics delivering to your property for your installation.
Can I purchase my own furniture or products?
Yes you can but the Briefing Consultation fee is only refundable if product is purchased from our specific vendors.
• If you purchase product from your preferred selection like Amazon or Wayfair there is of course no procurement and handling charges from Island Nest.
What Guarantees do I have?
All furniture purchased from the Island Nest vendors is guaranteed and if the item arrives damaged we will repair it or if this is not possible we will have the item replaced.
• Furniture and decor items are not refundable, however they can be returned for credit and a restocking fee of 20%.
• Bedding and linen is not refundable.
Why hire Island Nest interior design studios?
We pride ourselves on the creative and collaborative spirit of our methods and brand.
We commit to excellence and transparency and to exceeding our clients’ expectations, no matter the size of the project. We know the design process can be overwhelming, so we take our role guiding you through this journey as seriously as our creativity. We love Bahamian interior design, and love to bring our own personal touch into your home, creating a truly special space.
View our portfolio here.
What is a Turnkey?
Turnkey is intended for clients who have bought and investment property and need it fitted out with furniture, decor, housewares, bedding and window treatments ready for rental in the shortest possible time. The selection of furnishings extends from budget conscious to high end style and depends on the your brief, budget and property location.
What is the first step in hiring Island Nest for my design needs?
If you’re interested in our turnkey service for your investment property, please schedule a preliminary consultation on our website to arrange a conversation with us. Our team will be in touch within a couple of business days to request more information if needed and to confirm the consultation.
What is your consultation fee?
How do you determine the project fee?
Following the preliminary consultation meeting, we’ll send you a proposal which will outline the scope of the project and our projected design fee in order to execute what’s needed. At this stage we will also confirm the brief style and budget.
What is the design fee for Turnkey?
Our design fee is a minimum of 20 hours based on our hourly rate of $250.00 per hour.* This includes one design review at the end of the design process (Stage one). For this we require dimensions drawings ideally in CAD or PDF will do.
* Window treatments attract an additional fee as the windows counted and measured and ceiling heights have to be measured as well.
*Time and travel disbursements are also additional.
What is the cost to import Furniture and Home decor in the Bahamas?
Furniture items attract 25% duty; Home decor items such as rugs, lamps, decorative cushions, art and other accessories attracts 45% duty. Added to this we need to add 10% for overland freight 15% for overseas freight, 3% insurance, 1% for Government taxes and 12% VAT.
How long does the Turnkey design process take?
The average turnkey process takes 2 weeks for the design process and 4~6 weeks to complete depending on the location. It also depends on the level of design input the customer requires at the design stage.
What does a typical Turnkey project schedule look like?
Stage One: Design (2 Weeks)
• At this point you will have accepted our proposal and we will get to work on the design
and selection or product. It is very helpful if you have floor plans of your spaces otherwise we will go in measure, check window & check electrical locations
• At the end of the two week process we present back to you the design and furniture selections. You will have the option to comment and change once and then we proceed to procurement.
Stage Two: Procure (4 weeks)
• Once a design concept and budget is approved we proceed to purchase. The product is shipped and help in our warehouse in Florida or Nassau depending on which Island your project is on.
Stage Three: Ship (1 week)
• The product is shipped to the your property; We will take care of the import process, duties, payment and deliveries we proceed with installation which takes 4-7 days. Please note that as the Bahamas is an archipelago sometimes logistics go wrong there maybe shipping delays etc. We do our very best to deliver within the time frame, rest assured you are in a safe pair of hands with Island Nest.
Phase Four: Install (1 week)
• We secure the relevant contractors for installation, unpacking and styling, If you choose to do the installation and unpacking yourself you would save 5% of the costs.
Can I describe design style that I’m looking for so that the Island Nest team can re-produce it?
Of course! As part of the design kickoff process, our team will discuss your design style, preferences and any design references you have in order to tailor our designs to your specific needs.
However in order to keep the turnkey costs down and the project on track we ask in this option that your trust us enough to deliver your vision within the agreed budget. Additional reviews in Stage One are charged by our hourly rate.
What is the payment schedule for turnkey projects?
• Stage One: 20% to engage Island Nest
• Stage Two: 45% Procurement
• Stage Three: 30% When the product is ready to ship
• Stage Four: 5% Prior to installation
What Guarantees do I have and what changes can I make?
• All furniture purchased from the Island Nest vendors is guaranteed. If the item arrives damaged we will repair it or if this is not possible we will have the item replaced.
• Furniture and decor items are not refundable, however they can be returned for credit and a restocking fee of 20%.
• Bedding and linen is not refundable.
• Consultation fees are not refundable unless product is purchased from Island Nest.
• A change to the design or product selection after the sign off stages is charged by our hourly rate.
Why Island Nest interior design studios?
We pride ourselves on the creative and collaborative spirit of our methods and brand.
We commit to excellence and transparency and to exceeding our clients’ expectations, no matter the size of the project. We know the design process can be overwhelming, so we take our role guiding you through this journey as seriously as our creativity. Our job is to create a really lovely home for you!
You can view our portfolio here.
What we do
The Sky is the limit
We are passionate about Bahamian Interior Design, and we create houses, condominiums or even offices. We work on residential or commercial projects in Nassau or the family islands. Creativity, communication and logistics are the keys to any successful project. We’re here for you!
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