The Home Masterplan
Your vision.
Every detail.
One complete plan.
You know what you want your home to feel like. You just don't know how to get there.
You've got the Pinterest boards. You've been to the tile shops. But somewhere between the floor plan and the finishes, it's started to feel overwhelming, colours, fixtures, layouts, a hundred decisions that all need to be right, and no time to make them.
That's where I come in.
Let's turn the overwhelm into a clear plan. It all starts with a free 15-minute chat.
Your whole home, considered from the beginning.
Renovating a character home is exciting, but knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. I help homeowners make confident design decisions from the very beginning, creating spaces that work for family life while keeping the character and charm they love.
Your Home Masterplan is our full-service interior design package for busy professionals who want a beautifully resolved home without having to manage every design decision themselves.
From layouts, cabinetry and finishes through to furniture, artwork and window treatments, we consider your home as one complete picture.
We develop the vision, document the details, work alongside your builder and trades during construction, then furnish and style your home ready for you to enjoy.
You stay involved in the decisions that matter. We take care of the hundreds of decisions behind them.
Your Story. Your Space. Beautifully Told.
What We Do
You know what you like. We help you bring it all together.
You have great taste. You know what you’re drawn to and probably have a pretty good idea of how you want your home to feel.
But knowing what you like and turning it into a complete, cohesive home are two very different things.
When you’re investing this much, the decisions can start to feel high-stakes. Will these finishes work together? Are we spending money in the right places? Will we still love this in ten years? Have we chosen the right builder? And after all this time and money, will the finished home actually feel like us?
That’s where we come in.
We take the time to understand how you live, what you love and what matters to you. Then we take the mental load off your plate, developing the complete design, working through the details and bringing you in for the important decisions.
You don’t have to become an expert in renovating just to get your home right.
The whole home. Not just the finishing touches.
Every element considered as part of one complete design.
Your kitchen isn’t designed separately from your flooring. Your bathroom tiles aren’t chosen without considering your cabinetry. And your furniture and artwork aren’t an afterthought once construction is finished.
We consider it all together.
Your Home Masterplan can include kitchen and bathroom layouts, custom cabinetry and cabinetry internals, benchtops, appliances, sinks, tapware, tiles, grout, flooring, paint, lighting and electrical placement.
Then we consider the furniture; sofas, beds, dining chairs, rugs, coffee tables, artwork, window treatments, lighting and the meaningful pieces you already own.
One vision. One home. Every detail working together.
How it Works... After a quick chat to make sure we're the right fit, every project begins with a Pre-Renovation Design Session. It's our time to get to know you, your home and how you want to live in it, so every decision that follows is grounded in what matters most to you.
Project Discovery
Before we begin designing, we take the time to understand your project properly.
We look at how you live now, what works, what frustrates you and what you want life in your new home to look and feel like.
We consider who lives there, how you use your spaces, what needs to be stored, how you entertain, whether you work from home, your hobbies, pets, collections and the pieces that matter enough to come with you.
Because before we design your home, we need to understand the people who will live there.
Your Story. Your Space. Beautifully Told.
01 — Concept Development
This is where the complete vision for your home begins to take shape.
We develop the layouts, materials, finishes, cabinetry, colour, lighting, furniture and overall design direction, considering how every element relates to the next.
Rather than giving you endless options to sort through yourself, we do the research and thinking first and bring you a considered concept.
You’ll see how your home can come together as a whole, including ideas and possibilities you may never have considered yourself.
We present your concept in person, giving us the opportunity to walk through the design together, answer your questions and gather your feedback before moving forward.
02 — Design Documentation
Every decision made. Every detail documented.
Once your concept is approved, we work through the finer details your builder and trades will need to bring the design to life.
This can include cabinetry dimensions and internal configurations, materials, finishes, handles, benchtops, fixtures, tapware, tiles, grout colours, vanity details, wardrobe internals, flooring, paint colours, lighting, electrical locations and installation heights.
Rather than leaving your builder with an inspiration image and asking them to interpret it, we give them detailed design documentation showing what has been selected and how the design is intended to come together.
You’ll also have access to your own client dashboard, including all selections and documentation, creating a clear record of the decisions made throughout your home.
03 — Design Management
When construction begins, we don’t disappear.
Even the most carefully documented project will generate questions once construction starts, especially in older homes!
That’s why we remain involved from a design perspective throughout the build.
Your builder and trades can communicate directly with us about design matters, rather than every question being passed back to you to figure out.
Our involvement includes key site visits and working directly with your builder and trades to resolve design questions as they arise.
If something needs to change, we help find the best solution while considering the original design intent and the practical realities of the build.
We’ve thought through the design. We’ve documented it. And we’re there to help make sure it’s carried through.
Our role during construction is design management. Your appointed builder remains responsible for construction, trades and management of the building works.
Furnishing & Styling
The part where it finally feels like home.
The furniture and finishing layers aren’t something we leave until the renovation is finished.
They’ve been considered alongside the design from the beginning, so your completed home feels cohesive from the architecture and hard finishes right through to the artwork on the walls.
We source and coordinate the furniture, rugs, artwork, lighting, window treatments and other pieces selected for your home.
We also look at what you already own.
A chair that belonged to Mum. Dad’s old desk. Family photographs. Books, collections or artwork that deserve a place in this next chapter of your home.
Then, when the time comes, you leave it with us.
Furniture is positioned. Rugs are laid. Artwork is hung. Lamps are plugged in. Books are put away. Shelves are styled. Meaningful pieces find their place.
When we’re finished, you get to walk back through the door and experience the home we’ve been creating together.
Finished, personal and ready to live in.
A home that feels like you.
We don’t believe hiring an interior designer should mean giving up your own taste.
Your preferences, your history, your family and the way you live are what make the design interesting.
We’re known for bringing together cohesion, character and colour, often mixing new pieces with vintage finds, custom pieces and things you already own so your home feels collected over time rather than bought in one hit.
We might restore something that’s been in your family for years, commission a piece specifically for your home, discover something from a local maker or find something completely unexpected.
There should always be at least one thing that makes you wonder:
“Oh my goodness, where on earth did she find that?”
Because the goal isn’t to create a home that looks like Nikki McGar Interiors.
It’s to create a home that feels completely, unmistakably yours.
Your Story. Your Space. Beautifully Told.
Ready to create your forever home?
If you're planning a renovation or new build across Geelong, the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula or Melbourne, I'd love to hear what you've got planned!
The first step is to book your complimentary 15-minute Reno Roadmap Call.
This is a chance for us to chat about your project, what you're hoping to achieve and how I might be able to help.
If we're a good fit, the next step is a Pre-Renovation Design Session, where we'll explore your home, your ideas, priorities and budget in more detail.
From there, I'll put together a tailored design proposal outlining how we can work together to bring your vision to life.
Ready to get started?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does interior design cost?
I specialise in full-service interior design for homeowners planning substantial renovations, particularly older character homes.
My projects typically involve whole-home transformations, from rethinking layouts, kitchens and bathrooms through to flooring, lighting, furniture and those all-important finishing touches.
I generally work with clients who have renovation budgets starting from $200,000.
If that sounds like your project, I'd love to hear about it... book your call here.
Do I need to be doing a full renovation to work with you?
Not at all. Some clients are mid-build with an architect and builder already engaged, others come to me for furniture and styling only, with no renovation required.
Do you offer furniture and styling without a full renovation?
Yes. Many clients come to me to have their home professionally furnished, styled and finished, no renovation required.
How do you work with builders?
Already have a builder? Great. We’ll work alongside them.
If you don’t, we can introduce you to builders we’ve worked with previously, giving you a more informed place to begin your search. You remain responsible for selecting and appointing the builder who is right for your project.
Once your builder is appointed, we can communicate directly with them and your trades on design matters throughout construction.
You don’t need to become the go-between or know the answer to every question they ask.
When should we start?
The best time to make design decisions isn't when your builder is standing on site waiting for an answer!
For a complete home renovation or new build, I recommend starting the design process at least six months before construction begins.
This gives us time to develop your design, refine the details, prepare documentation and consider product lead times, without the pressure of last-minute decisions.
Starting sooner? Let's chat about what's achievable. Around four weeks is generally the minimum design lead time, although selections may be limited by product availability.
Planning to renovate or build in the next 6–12 months?
Now's the perfect time to get started.
What areas do you service?
I'm based in Barwon Heads and work across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast, including Jan Juc, Bells Beach, Aireys Inlet, Lorne and Wallington. I also take on select projects in Melbourne and further afield.
Do you supply custom curtains and blinds?
Yes, curtains and blinds are quoted and delivered as part of the same process, matched to the fabrics, colours and finishes used throughout the rest of the home.
What happens after I book a Pre- Renovation Design Session?
We'll talk through your project, your home and how you want to live in it. From there, I'll put together a clear proposal outlining scope, process and investment, so you know exactly what's involved before we begin.