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FORJ

Interior design in Melbourne, from planning to documentation

FORJ works across commercial and residential interiors in Melbourne and Victoria. The scope can start with early planning or a test fit and continue through concept design, finishes, joinery, furniture and design intent documentation.

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Blackhearts & Sparrows Elwood, Wine store interior in Elwood
Blackhearts & Sparrows ElwoodRetail · Elwood, VICRelevant experience Designed by Sam Fossati in a previous role, before FORJ was established. Photography by Tom Fossati.
Commercial interior designWorkplace, retail, hospitality and other commercial interiors, from test fits to design intent documentation.Scope
  • Renovations
  • Apartments
  • Kitchens and bathrooms
  • Joinery
  • Furniture
Residential interior designRenovations, apartments, kitchens, bathrooms and multi-room furnishing projects.

Selected work

See all Design work

Services and stages

Engage FORJ for one stage, several, or the full Interior Design scope.

What each stage includes
  1. Stage 01Planning and feasibility
  2. Stage 02Concept design
  3. Stage 03Design development
  4. Stage 04Design intent documentation
  5. Stage 05Pricing and builder supportOptional
  6. Stage 06Delivery supportOptional
  1. WorkplaceDesks, meeting rooms and quiet space for the team you have.
  2. RetailDisplay, counter and stockroom, planned for customers and staff.
  3. HospitalityCovers, the bar and the kitchen pass, planned before finishes.
  4. Test fits and feasibilityTest the tenancy before you commit.
  5. Furniture and FF&EFurniture planned as part of the room.

Why FORJ for Interior Design

  • Senior design stays close.

    Sam leads the design work and stays involved as the project moves from planning into documentation and builder queries.

  • Designed with delivery in mind.

    Much of Sam's commercial experience was inside a design-and-build business, so he is used to seeing where drawings, pricing and site decisions can come unstuck.

  • Work with the right builder.

    FORJ can introduce builders from its network or work with your preferred builder. The network is an option, not a condition.

  • Start at the stage you need.

    Start with a test fit, a planning exercise, a concept stage or a full Interior Design scope, depending on where the project is up to.

Who leads the work

Sam Fossati, Design Director at FORJ, in front of a red dot painting

Sam Fossati leads Interior Design at FORJ. He has nine years of commercial interiors experience, much of it inside a design-and-build business, and stays directly involved from planning through the key documentation and delivery stages.

FORJ, your builder and your consultants

FORJ leads the Interior Design. The builder and specialist consultants are engaged separately, and each is responsible for their own part of the work. We can work with your builder or introduce one from our network.

Responsibilities of FORJ, the builder and specialist consultants

FORJ

Leads the interior design.

  • Planning and design direction
  • Materials, finishes, joinery and furniture
  • Design intent documentation for pricing
  • Design clarification during delivery, if included

Your builder

Engaged by you. Introduced by FORJ or your own.

  • Construction and trades
  • Construction pricing and programme
  • Site management and safety
  • Building from the documentation

Specialist consultants

Engaged separately where the project needs them.

  • Structural, mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire engineering
  • Building surveying and permits
  • Access and acoustic advice
  • Registered architecture where statutory scope requires it

Materials and furniture

A selection of the material and furniture suppliers FORJ works with. Builders are introduced separately, based on the project, location and budget.

Materials and finishes (8)

Furniture (5)

Selections are made for each project. The list is for reference and implies no exclusive arrangement or endorsement.

Questions clients ask

Can FORJ build the fitout?

No. FORJ leads the interior design and prepares the design intent documentation. The builder is engaged by you and delivers the construction. We can introduce builders from our network, or work with a builder you already have.

Can the builder just design it?

For simple scopes, sometimes. A separate interior designer works for you, not for the construction contract. The plan, materials and details are designed for how your business runs, so builders price a documented design instead of their own assumptions.

How much will the fitout cost?

Construction cost depends on the tenancy, the scope, the finishes and the builder's pricing, so we don't publish fitout rates. Early planning tests what is realistic before you commit, and design intent documentation gives builders a clear basis to price against.

Can we start with just a test fit?

Yes. Each stage can be engaged on its own. Many commercial projects start with a test fit or planning study, then continue into concept design once the tenancy is confirmed.

Can our builder do the drawings?

Your builder documents how the home is built. An interior designer works out the layout, joinery, finishes and furniture together before selections begin. FORJ works alongside your builder, whether you already have one or we introduce one.

Tell us what you are working on

A plan, an address or a short description is enough to start. We will come back with the questions we need answered to scope it.

Discuss a design project