You don't need to have it all figured out before you reach out.
Most people who contact FBD aren't sure exactly what they need yet. They know something isn't working, they have a rough idea of what they want, and they want to talk to someone who can help them think it through — without pressure, without a sales pitch, and without commitment.
That's exactly what the first call is for.
What happens when you get in touch.
-
No hard sell
The call is a conversation, not a pitch. If it's not the right fit, Nichole will tell you honestly.
-
Come as you are
No brief, no budget confirmed, no decisions made. You just need a rough sense of what's bothering you.
-
No commitment required
Enquiring doesn't lock you in to anything. You decide if and when you're ready to move forward.
-
Same-week response
Every enquiry gets a personal reply within three business days — usually much sooner.
Tell us a little about your project.
Fill in what you know. Rough is fine.
FBD Interiors is a good fit if you value...
A kitchen, bathroom or interior that works properly before build begins.
Joinery-first thinking, better storage, and practical daily flow.
Seeing photo-real visuals so decisions feel safer before you commit.
Builder-ready drawings and schedules for a smoother install.
Calm guidance in plain English, without being overwhelmed by too many choices.
Prefer to start somewhere smaller?
Not quite ready to reach out? The Calm Kitchen Blueprint is a free guide that walks you through the five key working zones every kitchen needs + seven decisions that make or break most renovations — and what to do instead.
A useful read before any conversation.
Most clients say the first call was the easiest part.
Twenty minutes. An honest conversation. And usually — more clarity than they'd had in months of researching, saving, and second-guessing themselves.
"The process felt nothing like what I expected. No overwhelm, no pressure. Nichole managed every decision in the right order."
— Mel, Havelock North
INVESTMENT AND TIMING
Design is about 10% of your spend, but it protects the other 90%
Our kitchen, bathroom, and joinery design services start from NZ$3,500.
Design usually takes around 1–4 weeks depending on scope, while manufacture and install are typically 6–12+ weeks depending on suppliers and trades.
My view is simple: if you are going to pay for design either way, it is worth getting someone good to think it through properly from the start.
What Our Clients Are Saying
-
I put this off for two years because I was convinced something would go wrong and we'd be left with a half-finished kitchen and a bill we couldn't explain. Nichole walked us through every decision before anything was ordered. When we saw the 3D render, it was genuinely emotional. that was our kitchen, exactly how I'd imagined it. The build was smooth because the brief was so clear. We're in it every day now and it still feels like the right call.
— Sarah, Havelock North
-
My husband wanted to just get a builder in and get it done. I wanted to know what we were actually getting before we spent that kind of money. FBD was the middle ground we saw every finish, every fitting, every detail in the renders before a single thing was ordered. No surprises on site. The builder said it was the most complete brief he'd worked from. We made one change during the design phase that I know would have been a disaster to fix mid-build.
— Kate, Napier
-
Our kitchen was the room we worked around, not in. Low benches, no storage, layout that made no sense for how we actually cook. I didn't want a new kitchen. I wanted our kitchen to stop being the worst part of the house. The process felt nothing like what I expected. No overwhelm, no pressure. Nichole managed every decision in the right order. Now the kids do homework at the island while I cook. Mornings are a different kind of morning.
— Mel, Havelock North
FAQs
-
Not at all. Many clients come in feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or early in the process, and part of your role is helping them get clarity.
-
Yes. You regularly collaborate with clients’ preferred builders, and your builder-ready drawings are designed to support smooth hand-offs.
-
No. You mainly work in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North, but you have completed projects across New Zealand when you can support them properly.
-
Most designs take around 2–4 weeks, with some smaller joinery or finishing projects taking 1–3 weeks depending on scope and decision speed.
-
Start with the free quiz for a quick read on what your kitchen needs, or download the Calm Kitchen Blueprint if you want a practical, lower-pressure place to begin.
Choose the next step that feels right for where you’re at.
Ready to talk it through?
You've got a rough idea of what you want. You're not sure what a designer actually does, or what it costs. This call is 20 minutes and answers all your burning questions.
20 minutes. No obligation.
Want to understand the process first?
This free guide walks you through the joinery-first process — what's included, what to ask your builder, and how to avoid the decisions that blow budgets.
An in-depth self led diagnosis.
Not sure you need a designer?
Answer 8 questions and get a personalised breakdown of what zone is letting your kitchen down and costing you your sanity. And it only takes 2 minutes.
Get you-specific answers.