Project Budget Guidance
Neil Dusheiko Architects is a London based design studio devoted to designing exceptional homes. We are best suited to substantial residential projects where the architecture, interiors and landscape need to be considered as one holistic exercise.
This page is here to give you a clearer sense of fit before you make an enquiry. Every house asks different questions and your budget, scope, site condition, planning context and the ambition of the brief all shape what is possible. The guidance below is intended to explain the scale and type of work the studio can serve best.
Best suited to
The Projects We Are Usually Best Suited To
We are particularly suited to:
You can see this approach across projects such as House of the Elements in Peckham, Aberdeen Park House in Highbury and Danish Mews House in Lancaster Gate, where existing homes are reworked with care, imagination and close attention to light, material and atmosphere.
Typical Construction Budget
Neil Dusheiko Architects is usually best suited to residential projects where substantial change is required with a construction budget from £500,000 + VAT.
This figure refers to the construction budget for the building works. It does not usually include professional fees, statutory fees, surveys, specialist consultants, party wall matters, loose furniture or contingency.
A construction budget is different from the total project budget. For a carefully considered residential project, it is important to allow for design development, technical coordination, planning, structural input, materials, workmanship and the additional care often needed when working with an existing building.
Why Budget Matters Early In the Process
A clear budget gives the project a useful frame. It helps establish what level of intervention is realistic, where ambition should be focused, and which parts of the project need the most careful attention. We are happy to have an initial conversation to help you as we track the construction costs of all our projects carefully.
In older, listed or conservation area homes, the early budget conversation is especially important. Existing buildings often contain unknowns: structure, pipework and electrics, damp, historic features, neighbour considerations or planning restrictions. Understanding the likely scale of investment allows the design to respond with intelligence rather than compromise later in the process.
For homeowners still testing what is possible, our Feasibility Studies & Planning Advice page explains how early-stage design and planning thinking can help shape a realistic direction before a full architectural appointment.
Projects That May Not Be the Right Fit
We are not usually the right studio for small isolated works, minor alterations or projects where the main requirement is a low-cost drawing service.
This may include:
- Single-room refurbishments without wider architectural scope
- Minor kitchen or bathroom redesigns
- Small loft conversions where the design scope is already fixed
- Basic planning drawings only
- Projects where the lowest possible construction cost is the primary driver
- Works that do not require a design-led architectural process
This is not because smaller changes lack value. It is simply that our studio is structured around substantial, carefully considered residential projects where we can bring the full depth of our design, planning, management and technical experience.
When a Project Below This Level May Still Be Worth Discussing
Occasionally, a project below our usual construction budget still carries enough architectural substance to benefit from a conversation. A modest intervention to a listed building, a sensitive conservation area home, a complex site, or an early strategic commission can all ask careful questions about light, fabric, planning and long-term use. If your project sits close to the threshold, or if the scope is still forming, please tell us clearly where things stand. The more we understand about the house, the site, the budget and what you hope to change, the easier it is for us to see whether we are right for each other.
What To Include In Your Enquiry
When you contact the studio, it is helpful to include:
This helps us understand the project carefully from the beginning and respond with greater clarity.
A Considered Beginning
The strongest residential projects begin with a clear understanding of the house, the brief and the life it needs to support. A realistic budget gives that ambition a useful frame, helping decisions stay focused and purposeful.
We are interested in homes with character, memory and possibility. We begin by reading the building, listening to the people who live there, and understanding where change can bring light, generosity, calm and long-term value.
If your project is substantial, design-led and ready for thoughtful architectural consideration, we would be pleased to hear from you.