Last updated: September 10, 2027
These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern the provision of interior design services by Alison McGovern Interiors ("we," "us," "our," or "the Studio") to you ("the Client," "you," or "your"). By engaging our services, paying a deposit, or signing a project proposal, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
1. Definitions
In these Terms: "Services" means the interior design, consultation, specification, sourcing, and project management services described in your proposal or letter of engagement. "Project" means the specific design work agreed between us. "Deliverables" means the mood boards, drawings, specifications, schedules, and other materials we prepare for you. "Fees" means the charges for our Services as set out in your proposal. "Third-Party Suppliers" means contractors, tradespeople, manufacturers, and vendors engaged in connection with your Project.
2. Scope of Services
We provide interior design services which may include, depending on your agreed proposal, an initial consultation, concept development and mood boards, space planning, furniture and finishes specification, sourcing and procurement, styling, and project coordination. The precise scope of your Project will be defined in a written proposal or letter of engagement. Any work falling outside that agreed scope will be treated as additional services and may be subject to further fees, which we will discuss and confirm with you in advance.
We do not provide architectural, structural, engineering, or building surveying services. Where such services are required, we will recommend that you engage suitably qualified professionals directly.
3. Proposals and Acceptance
Any proposal or quotation we provide is valid for the period stated within it, or for thirty (30) days where no period is stated. A binding agreement is formed when you accept our proposal in writing and pay the required deposit. We reserve the right to decline any project at our discretion.
4. Fees and Payment
Our fees may be charged on a fixed-fee, hourly, or percentage basis, or a combination of these, as set out in your proposal. Unless otherwise stated, a non-refundable deposit is payable before work commences, and this deposit will be applied against your final invoice.
Invoices are payable within an agreed timeframe. We reserve the right to suspend work on any Project where an invoice remains unpaid beyond its due date. Late payments may be subject to interest at [rate]% per annum, or the statutory rate applicable in your jurisdiction, calculated daily from the due date until payment is received.
Fees quoted are exclusive of applicable taxes (such as VAT or sales tax), which will be added where required. Fees are also exclusive of the cost of furniture, materials, goods, and Third-Party Supplier charges unless expressly stated otherwise.
5. Purchases, Procurement, and Third-Party Suppliers
Where we source or purchase furniture, fittings, or materials on your behalf, you agree to pay for these in full in advance of ordering unless otherwise agreed. Prices for goods are subject to change by the supplier until an order is confirmed and paid.
We act in good faith when recommending and coordinating Third-Party Suppliers, but we are not responsible for the acts, omissions, quality of work, delays, or defaults of any contractor, tradesperson, or manufacturer. Any contract for building works, installation, or the supply of goods is between you and the relevant supplier directly, unless we have expressly agreed otherwise in writing. We recommend you satisfy yourself as to the suitability, insurance, and credentials of any supplier before engaging them.
6. Client Responsibilities
To allow us to perform the Services effectively, you agree to provide accurate and timely information, access to the property, and any necessary approvals or decisions when requested. You are responsible for obtaining any permissions, consents, or approvals required for the Project, including landlord, freeholder, planning, or building regulation consents. Delays in providing information, approvals, or payment may affect the Project timeline and may incur additional fees.
7. Design, Revisions, and Approvals
Your proposal will specify the number of design revisions included. Additional revisions beyond that number, or changes requested after you have approved a design, may be charged as additional services. Once you have approved a design, specification, or order, you accept responsibility for that decision, and any subsequent changes may incur costs, including restocking charges, cancellation fees, or the cost of goods already ordered.
8. Timelines and Delays
Any timescales we provide are estimates made in good faith and are not guaranteed. Completion of a Project depends on many factors outside our control, including supplier lead times, product availability, delivery schedules, and the performance of Third-Party Suppliers. We are not liable for delays caused by such factors, by events beyond our reasonable control, or by your delay in providing information, approvals, or payment.
9. Cancellation and Termination
Either party may terminate the engagement by giving written notice. If you cancel or terminate the Project, you remain liable for all Services performed and expenses incurred up to the date of termination, including any goods ordered on your behalf and any non-refundable deposits paid to suppliers. Deposits paid to the Studio are non-refundable.
We may terminate the engagement if you fail to pay an invoice when due, fail to provide necessary cooperation, or act in a manner that makes continuation of the Project unreasonable. Where you are a consumer, any statutory rights to cancel that apply to you under applicable consumer protection law are unaffected by this clause.
10. Intellectual Property
All Deliverables, concepts, drawings, and designs we create remain our intellectual property until all Fees relating to them have been paid in full. Upon full payment, you are granted a licence to use the Deliverables for the specific Project for which they were prepared. You may not reproduce, resell, or reuse our designs for any other property or purpose, or share them with third parties, without our written consent. We retain the right to use images and descriptions of completed Projects for our portfolio, marketing, and promotional purposes unless you request otherwise in writing.
11. Photography and Publicity
We may wish to photograph completed Projects. We will seek your consent before publishing any images that identify you or your property. You agree that we may reference the general location and nature of a Project in our marketing unless you have asked us in writing not to do so.
12. Liability
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Subject to the above, our total liability to you arising out of or in connection with the Services, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise, shall not exceed the total Fees paid by you to the Studio for the Project giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for any indirect, consequential, or economic loss, including loss of profit, loss of use, or loss of opportunity.
We are not liable for variations in the colour, texture, grain, or finish of natural materials, handmade items, or bespoke products, as these are inherent characteristics of such goods. On-screen and printed representations of colours and finishes are approximate and may differ from the actual product.
13. Insurance
We maintain professional indemnity and public liability insurance appropriate to our Services. Details are available on request. You are responsible for maintaining adequate buildings and contents insurance for your property throughout the Project.
14. Confidentiality and Data Protection
We will treat information you provide as confidential and will use it only for the purposes of delivering the Services. We handle personal data in accordance with applicable data protection law and our Privacy Policy, which is available on request or on our website. We will not share your personal information with third parties except as necessary to deliver the Services (for example, sharing a delivery address with a supplier) or where required by law.
15. Complaints
We are committed to providing a high standard of service. If you are unhappy with any aspect of our work, please contact us in writing at [contact email] so that we can seek to resolve the matter promptly and fairly.
16. Force Majeure
We are not liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations where such failure or delay results from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, fire, flood, extreme weather, strikes, supply chain disruption, pandemic, or governmental restrictions.
17. General
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. Our failure to enforce any right does not constitute a waiver of that right. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between us in respect of the Services and supersede any prior discussions or representations. We may update these Terms from time to time; the version in force at the time you engage us will apply to your Project.
18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of Fairfield County, CT, United States, and shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from them.
19. Contact
Alison McGovern Interiors
Fairfield County, CT
amcgoverninteriors@gmail.com
201-988-6847
www.alisonmcgoverninterios.com
