Forj Creative is a Melbourne interior design studio working across commercial offices, retail environments, hospitality venues, and residential homes. We handle the full scope — concept design, space planning, documentation, approvals, furniture specification, and construction coordination — so you're briefing one studio rather than stitching a designer, a draftsperson, a fitout company, and a furniture supplier together.
What we design and build
Office fitouts
Commercial office design and fitout for businesses ranging from 20-person professional services firms to 150-person headquarters. Concept, space planning, workstation specification, breakout and collaboration zones, documentation, and construction coordination.
Retail fitouts
Flagship stores, showrooms, and boutique retail environments. Store design, joinery specification, lighting, visual merchandising integration, and construction management.
Hospitality fitouts
Cafes, restaurants, bars, and hotels. Venue design, front-of-house and back-of-house planning, kitchen coordination with commercial kitchen specialists, licensing and compliance considerations, and construction.
Residential interiors
Home interiors, renovations, and new builds. Concept design, joinery and cabinetry, furniture sourcing and styling. Typically Melbourne metro, Geelong area and Mornington Peninsula.
Furniture Sourcing & Selection
Commercial and residential furniture specification, sourcing, procurement, and delivery coordination. We work with Australian and international suppliers.
Our fitout process
1. Brief
A structured conversation to understand the business, the site, the team, and what the space needs to do commercially. For most projects this is a paid discovery session that delivers a scoping document and a fixed project quote.
2. Concept design
Mood direction, material palette, and a space plan. Two or three concept routes presented. Client selects the direction to develop.
3. Documentation
Detailed drawings, specifications, and schedules. This is the set of documents that goes to builders, trades, joiners, and council. Getting this stage right is the difference between a fitout that runs to budget and one that bleeds.
4. Approvals and tendering
Building permit submissions if required. Tender packages issued to preferred builders. Price comparison and builder selection.
5. Construction and site management
Site visits, contract administration, design issues resolved live, trades coordinated. Forj stays engaged through construction rather than handing off.
6. Handover and styling
Final walkthrough, defects list, styling, furniture install, photography if required.
Do you work on both commercial and residential projects?
Yes. Forj Creative handles both commercial fitouts and residential interior design. On the commercial side we work across offices, retail stores, restaurants, and hospitality venues.
Residentially, we design full home interiors and individual rooms.
The process is similar — spatial planning, material selection, documentation — but the brief, budget structure, and compliance requirements differ. We'll confirm the right approach for your project at the initial consultation.
What's the difference between interior design and interior architecture?
Interior design focuses on the aesthetic and functional arrangement of a space — materials, finishes, furniture, lighting, and colour.
Interior architecture goes a step further, dealing with the structural and technical elements: spatial reconfiguration, construction documentation, compliance coordination, and technical detailing.
At Forj Creative we offer both as an integrated service, which means your concept is developed with the technical reality in mind from day one — reducing redesigns and surprises on site.
How much does a commercial fitout cost in Melbourne?
Cost varies significantly based on size, finish level, and project complexity. As a general guide, commercial fitouts in Melbourne typically range from $800 to $2,500+ per square metre. A standard office fitout sits toward the lower end; a high-spec hospitality venue or retail environment with custom joinery and premium finishes will sit higher. We provide detailed, transparent quotes after an initial site visit and brief — we don't work with vague ballparks.
How long does an interior design project take from start to finish?
Timeline depends on scope. Here's a general guide:
Design & documentation phase: 4–8 weeks for most projects. Larger or more complex briefs may take 10–12 weeks.
Fitout / construction phase: 4–16 weeks depending on trade complexity, council approvals, and custom manufacturing lead times.
We build a project-specific programme at kickoff so you know exactly what to expect and when.
Do you manage the build, or just the design?
We offer full design and documentation services including construction drawings, material specifications, and trade coordination. We work closely with your builder or can connect you with our network of trusted builders and trades across Australia. We don't act as the head contractor, but we remain actively involved during construction to ensure the design intent is delivered correctly.
Do you handle council approvals and compliance?
Yes. Our interior architecture documentation includes compliance coordination as a standard part of the service. We prepare the technical drawings and specifications that your builder and council require. For projects that need a planning permit or building permit, we advise on the process and prepare the required documentation. Hospitality and retail fitouts in particular often require specific compliance work — we've navigated this for clients across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Can you work with our existing builder?
Absolutely. If you have an existing builder or contractor you trust, we're happy to work alongside them. We provide the design documentation and act as the design authority during the build — reviewing progress, responding to RFIs, and ensuring the finished result matches the approved design. A strong relationship between designer and builder is one of the biggest factors in a smooth project.
What areas do you service?
Our studio is based in Melbourne and we operate across all Melbourne metropolitan areas. We also take on projects across Victoria and are currently active in 5 states and regions nationally. If you're outside Melbourne, get in touch — we've developed efficient processes for interstate projects including remote consultations, digital mood boards, and coordinated site visits.
