What happens in a design consultation?
If you've been thinking about getting some design support but aren't sure what the process actually looks like - this one's for you.
The Space Review is Wholesome by Design's signature starting point. It's a focused, on-site design consultation for Melbourne homes and businesses, with virtual options available for clients across Australia. It's designed to give you clarity, direction, and a practical plan - without the commitment of a full project.
Here's what to expect.
Before the session
Once you've made an enquiry and we've confirmed availability, I'll lock in a time to visit your space. Before we meet, it helps to have a think about what's not working, what you'd love to change, and what you're hoping to feel when you walk into the space. Nothing needs to be polished or prepared - in fact, the more honest a picture you can give me, the better.
If there are particular rooms or areas you'd like to focus on, note those down. And if you have images saved of spaces you love - on Pinterest, Instagram, or elsewhere - feel free to have those ready to share. They help me understand your aesthetic and what resonates with you quickly.
During the session
We meet at your space for up to 90 minutes.
I'll walk through the space with fresh eyes - looking at layout, flow, lighting, materiality, colour, and how the space functions for the people using it. I take a holistic approach, which means I'm considering not just how things look, but how the space feels to be in, how it supports the people inside it, and how it reflects your brand or lifestyle.
We'll talk through what's working and what isn't. I'll share observations and ideas as we go, and you're encouraged to ask questions, share what you've tried before, and tell me what matters most to you. Nothing is too small to mention - often it's the details that make the biggest difference. For business clients - whether you're running a psychology practice, a wellness studio, an allied health clinic, or any other service-based business - I'll also consider your client journey, how your team moves through the space, and how the environment reflects the quality of what you do.
After the session
Within 3 business days, your personalised Space Review PDF lands in your inbox. This isn't a generic checklist. It's a document built specifically around your space, your goals, and the priorities we identified together. It includes 5 quick wins you can act on straight away, 5 longer-term recommendations to guide your next steps, a directional concept board to give you a visual sense of where the space could go, and a 30-day check-in call so you have the opportunity to ask questions once you've had time to sit with the plan.
Many clients find the Space Review is exactly what they needed - a clear, considered perspective from someone who isn't living inside the space every day. Others use it as the natural first step toward a larger design project, with the review forming the foundation of the brief.
Either way, you'll leave with more clarity than you arrived with.
What a space review looks like in practice
Residential - Melbourne, VIC
A family looking to refresh their living areas after years of making do with furniture that no longer suited the space or their stage of life. We covered layout and flow, furniture sizing and placement, lighting updates, colour direction, and how to make a tricky open-plan space feel more considered and cohesive.
"My husband and I engaged Jefsie to assist us with furnishing and decorating our living room and playroom for our young family. We were incredibly impressed by Jefsie's intricate understanding of our brief, the ideas she brought to the table as soon as she arrived, and the outside of the box thinking with design solutions for tricky spaces in our house. Our only regret was not engaging Jefsie sooner." - Elle H.
Virtual - Mornington Peninsula, VIC
A couple looking to update their dining furniture in a way that worked with their existing floor plan and felt fresh without starting from scratch. We covered furniture sizing, materials and styles, reviewed items they'd already shortlisted, explored alternatives that balanced practicality and budget, and discussed positioning to improve the flow of the space.
"Jefsie assisted us with a virtual consult for updating our dining furniture that complemented our existing floor plan. Jefsie was extremely knowledgeable in the type of furniture that would soften and freshen our space while remaining practical for our young family. The document Jefsie provided after our consult exceeded our expectations and we now have a clear focus for furniture improvements." - Cassie S.
Commercial - Psychology Practice, South Yarra VIC
A wellness-focused psychology practice looking to refresh and expand their space — moving from three consulting rooms and a waiting area into an adjoining tenancy, adding a second waiting area and up to three additional rooms. The brief was to create an environment that felt cohesive, calm and warm without feeling clinical, while supporting both client experience and staff wellbeing across a multi-room practice.
We covered a lot of ground in the session: establishing a cohesive colour and material palette across all rooms, layered lighting solutions for south and west-facing rooms used for evening sessions, acoustic considerations for rooms used in trauma processing, zoning therapy versus admin areas within each consulting room, storage solutions that kept spaces clutter-free without encouraging accumulation, furniture recommendations balancing warmth and commercial durability, and a design direction that would carry through into the future expansion with long-term visual cohesion.
The result was a detailed Space Review PDF giving the practice a clear, prioritised design direction - covering quick wins they could act on immediately and longer-term recommendations to guide the fit-out.
Is a Space Review right for you?
The Space Review suits anyone who knows their space has more potential but isn't sure where to start - or who wants a clear, expert perspective before committing to a larger project. It's available for Melbourne homes and businesses, with virtual options on request for clients across Australia. It works equally well as a standalone session and as the starting point for a full interior design engagement.
If you've been sitting on the idea of getting some design support, this is the clearest, lowest-risk way to begin.
Ready to see your space differently? A Space Review gives you a clear, expert read on what's working, what isn't, and a practical plan to move forward.