For homeowners planning a high-end home
How Much Does Luxury Home Design Cost in the UK? A Complete 2026 Guide
Sviatoslav JerdetchiiCEO & Founder of Craftex. Updated , 5 min read
The short answer
Luxury home design in the UK usually costs 10% to 15% of the build budget in design fees, and architects alone charge 3% to 15% of construction cost. High-end builds start above £3,200 per m² and super-spec homes pass £6,000 per m².
- Set the build budget first, because most design fees are a share of it.
- Agree how the fee is charged: a percentage, a lump sum or by the hour.
- Allow for planning, surveys, project management and VAT on fees.
- Fix the design before work starts, because late changes cost the most.
Most luxury home budgets go wrong in the first meeting. The owner asks what the architect charges. Nobody asks what the whole home will cost to design and build. Months later, the drawings are beautiful and the build price is a shock.
This guide sets out what luxury home design costs in the UK in 2026. It covers design fees, build costs per square metre, and the costs people forget. Every figure comes from a named source. Planning a home in London? Book a site visit and we will talk through your brief and budget.
Luxury home design cost has three parts
The total cost of a luxury home has three parts. Looking at only one gives a false budget.
- Design fees. Architect, interior designer, structural engineer and other consultants.
- The build. Usually the largest part, priced per square metre.
- Other costs. Planning, surveys, project management, VAT and contingency.
The table below brings the main published figures together.
| Cost item | Typical figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Architect fees | 3% to 15% of construction cost | HomeOwners Alliance |
| All design fees | 10% to 15% of the build budget | Build It |
| Architect hourly rate | £50 to £100 per hour | HomeOwners Alliance |
| High-end build | Above £3,200 per m² | Build It |
| Super-spec build | £6,000 per m² or more | Build It |
| Project management | About 5% to 7% of build cost | Build It |
These are UK figures. London usually costs more, because labour, access and logistics cost more.
Architects charge in three ways
The RIBA describes three ways architects set their fees.
- A percentage of construction cost. Used when the scope is not yet fixed. The fee rises or falls with the build budget.
- A lump sum. Used when the scope is clear. It gives cost certainty, but the fee changes if the brief changes.
- A time charge. An hourly rate, often with a cap. Common for feasibility studies.
Fees are usually invoiced monthly or by stage. A common split is 35% up to planning, 35% for technical design and 30% during the build.
Listed homes and homes in conservation areas usually cost more to design. They need extra drawings, heritage input and more time with the council.
Specification drives the price more than size
Two homes of the same size can differ hugely in cost. The specification and the site matter more than the floor area. These are the main cost drivers we see in London:
- Basements and structural work. Digging down or opening up walls needs engineers and party wall agreements.
- Bespoke joinery. Made-to-measure kitchens, wardrobes and panelling need detailed drawings.
- Stone, timber and specialist finishes. Each needs samples, details and careful sequencing.
- Building services. Smart lighting, heating, cooling and audio-visual systems need their own design.
- Planning constraints. Listed buildings and conservation areas add design and approval time.
- Late changes. Changing the design after work starts is the fastest way to raise the cost.
This was a full high-end renovation of my Victorian rental apartment in Westminster, just off Sloane Square and Belgravia. The scope included full fit-out: electrics, plumbing, a new bespoke kitchen, and a luxury bathroom refurbishment. Craftex took care of everything and made the process easy. They weren’t the cheapest, but you can tell they really know what they’re doing when it comes to prime London property renovations. The team was professional, organised, and genuinely seemed to care about getting everything right. I was especially impressed with the quality of the finish – the attention to detail really shows in every corner. I’m very happy with the results and would definitely recommend Craftex to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality renovation work in Central London.
Two Craftex homes show where design money goes
Herbert Crescent: detail decided before the build
At Herbert Crescent in Knightsbridge, we refurbished a 450 m² home over 32 weeks. The design centred on bespoke joinery and a restrained palette of materials.
Every layout, finish and fixing was agreed visually in advance. Long-lead joinery and finishes were ordered before work began. So design decisions happened over drawings and samples, not in the middle of the build. Our joinery team made the bespoke pieces in-house.
Kensington Olympia: interior design that shapes the build
At the Kensington Olympia penthouse, we designed and refurbished 400 sq m in 12 weeks. The client wanted a monochrome scheme with a bold blue finish in the reception rooms. Our decorators were specially trained to apply the Italian decorative paint on the walls.
We also designed a dressing room with dark wood cabinets and added smart lighting. In total, over 1,000 m² of walls and ceilings were redecorated. Interior design at this level is not decoration added at the end. It sets the joinery, lighting and finishes the builders must deliver.
Interior design is a separate fee to plan for
Architectural design shapes the building. Our guide to luxury home architecture trends and layouts covers that side. Interior design sets how each room looks, feels and works. On a luxury home, it is usually a separate appointment.
Interior designers charge by the hour, by the room, as a fixed fee or as a share of the interiors budget. Ask which method applies before you compare quotes. Also ask whether furniture and fittings are bought through the designer. Our high-end interior design team works alongside our architects and builders.
Costs people forget to budget for
The design fee is rarely the only cost before the build starts. Plan for these from day one:
- Planning drawings and application. Build It puts planning illustrations at about £1,500 to £15,000.
- Surveys. Measured, structural and drainage surveys before the design is fixed.
- Party wall agreements. Needed for many basements and shared walls in London.
- Project management. About 5% to 7% of the build cost if appointed separately.
- VAT. The RIBA notes it is usually charged on architects' fees as well as the build.
- Contingency. A reserve for what opening up an older home reveals.
Our guide to luxury home planning mistakes shows where budgets usually slip.
One team prices the design as it is drawn
With separate architects and builders, the design is often finished before anyone prices it. If it comes in over budget, you pay to redesign it. With high-end residential architects and builders in one team, cost is checked at every design stage.
Craftex has designed and built in London since 2016. Around 60% of our labour is in-house, including joinery. Our minimum design order is £15,000, and we take on construction projects from £100,000. The exact design scope is agreed at the first consultation.
We also build commercial projects, covered in our guide to commercial building types. For a commercial job, see our list of top commercial construction companies in London.
Have a home in mind? Book a site visit and we will set out the design stages for your project.
Five questions to ask before you appoint a designer
- How is the fee charged, and what happens if the brief changes?
- Which design stages does the fee cover?
- Who checks the cost of the design as it develops?
- Which surveys and consultants are extra?
- Is VAT included in the quoted fee?
