Do I need an interior designer for a renovation or new build?

Involving an interior designer early — whether you're renovating an existing home or building from scratch — means your layout, material selections, cabinetry, lighting, and finishes are all considered together before decisions get locked in. Changes are far less costly at the planning stage than after building starts. A two-hour consultation for $180 is often the clearest way to understand what working with a designer would actually involve for your specific project.

Is hiring an interior designer expensive? I'm not sure if it's for me.

Interior design isn't only for high end or large scale projects. Greer Mayberry Design works with clients across a range of budgets and project sizes, from a focused two-hour consultation through to full service design for whole home renovations. The consultation is the low risk starting point: you get professional direction and a clear picture of what the full process would involve, with no obligation to go further.

Am I locked in once I receive a quote? What if I want to make changes?

No. Once a client receives a quote from Greer Mayberry Design, there is flexibility to adjust the scope before committing. The process is designed to give you choices, not lock you in. Many clients find this is the point where the process starts to feel manageable — you can see what's involved, ask questions, and decide what's right for your project and budget.

How long does an interior design project take?

Timelines vary depending on the scope of work and the trades involved. The design phase — concept development, selections, documentation — is typically completed within a few weeks to a few months depending on project complexity. The build phase (construction, cabinetry, installation) takes longer and depends on trade availability and the scale of the project.

Can Greer give me a rough idea of what the build will cost?

Yes, within reason. While Greer Mayberry Design cannot provide firm builder or cabinet maker quotes, Greer draws on years of local project experience to give clients a realistic ballpark for material and build costs based on their brief. For more detailed costings, trades are brought in early in the process to provide accurate quotes based on the design documentation.

Does Greer project manage?

Greer Mayberry Design does not offer formal build project management, however Greer remains a supportive presence throughout the process. She can assist with design decisions during construction, answer questions, liaise with trades and suppliers where needed, and help ensure the original vision is carried through. The day to day running of site works, scheduling, budgets and builder supervision is typically managed by you, your builder, or a project manager, with Greer there to support the design side along the way.

Can I use my own trades?

Absolutely. Greer encourages clients to use trades they already know and trust, or those recommended by their builder. Existing relationships often make for a smoother process. If you're starting from scratch, Greer is also happy to recommend trusted trades and suppliers to help get you started.

Can you incorporate my existing furniture or favourite pieces?

Absolutely. A home doesn't need to start from scratch to feel beautifully considered. Greer loves working with meaningful pieces you already own and will design around the items you'd like to keep, blending them into the new direction through colour, texture, layout and layering.

How can an interior designer save me money?

Working with an interior designer can save both time and money. Greer helps you make the right decisions early, avoiding costly mistakes, delays, and expensive changes later in the build or renovation process. She also saves you countless hours researching products, suppliers and finishes by narrowing options quickly and clearly. Access to trusted suppliers and trade resources can also provide value that isn't always available to the general public.

I don't know what style I want, can you still help?

Definitely. Many clients begin the process knowing what they like, but not how to define it. Start collecting images, spaces or details you're drawn to, and Greer will help identify the common thread. She is experienced in interpreting personal style and translating it into a home that feels cohesive, elevated and genuinely yours.

Interior Designer Barwon Heads | Greer Mayberry Design

Interior Designer Barwon Heads

Greer Mayberry Design is a Geelong based interior designer offering interior design, interior decoration, and consultation services in Barwon Heads and across the Bellarine Peninsula, working with homeowners renovating and new builds in this coastal village.

What makes Barwon Heads homes distinctive?

Barwon Heads is a small, tightly held village, with a strong local character built around its original weatherboard cottages, the moonah scrubland, and the estuary views. Renovations here work best when they enhance that character.

The moonah tree is the right starting point for understanding the Barwon Heads aesthetic. Silvery, windswept, and deeply local, it sets a palette that runs through the best homes in the area: earthy and organic, not stark white. Natural timber over highgloss cabinetry. Stone and texture over polished surfaces. The materials that feel right here are the ones that reference the environment the house sits within.

Indoor and outdoor connection is the other constant. The estuary, the bluff, the natural bushland surrounding the village: the homes that work best treat their outdoor setting as part of the interior brief, not something that happens separately outside the back door.

Greer's interior design connection to Barwon Heads

Greer grew up coming to Barwon Heads & Ocean Grove in summer. It's where she spent holidays as a child and returned to as a teenager. She understands what the town feels like from the inside and what draws people back to it year after year.

That kind of local knowledge shapes how she approaches a brief here. She knows the light, the setting, and the way properties sit within the landscape. She knows what "Barwon Heads" means as an aesthetic aspiration and where the line is between a home that belongs there and one that doesn't quite.

For more on what a project involves from start to finish, see Greer's interior design services page.

Get in touch with Greer for any projects in Barwon Heads.
Book a Consultation | or call on 0439 666 386

Based in Geelong. Working across Geelong, the Surf Coast, and Melbourne.

Common questions about designing Barwon Heads homes

A warm, natural material palette that references the coastal scrubland tends to work best: earthy greens and stone tones, blackbutt or spotted gum timber, organic textures in the textiles and joinery.
Start with a consultation. Greer Mayberry Design offers a two hour in home consultation for $180, which is the best way to walk through your property, understand what's working and what isn't, and get professional direction on layout, materials, and the sequence of decisions before committing to a full renovation. It's the clearest first step for almost any project.
Yes. Greer Mayberry Design works with clients across the whole Bellarine Peninsula. If you're planning a renovation or looking for design direction on your Barwon Heads property, contact Greer to discuss your project.
Timelines vary depending on the scope of work and the trades involved. The design phase: concept development, selections, documentation is typically completed within a few weeks to a few months depending on project complexity. The build phase (construction, cabinetry, installation) takes longer and depends on trade availability and the scale of the project.
Greer Mayberry Design does not offer formal build project management, however Greer remains a supportive presence throughout the process. She can assist with design decisions during construction, answer questions, liaise with trades and suppliers where needed, and help ensure the original vision is carried through.
The day to day running of site works, scheduling, budgets and builder supervision is typically managed by you, your builder, or a project manager, with Greer there to support the design side along the way.
Absolutely. Greer encourages clients to use trades they already know and trust, or those recommended by their builder. Existing relationships often make for a smoother process. If you’re starting from scratch, Greer is also happy to recommend trusted trades and suppliers to help get you started.
Working with an interior designer can save both time and money in many ways. Greer helps you make the right decisions early, avoiding costly mistakes, delays, and expensive changes later in the build or renovation process. She also saves you countless hours researching products, suppliers and finishes by narrowing options quickly and clearly. Access to trusted suppliers and trade resources can also provide value that isn’t always available to the general public.
Definitely. Many clients begin the process knowing what they like, but not how to define it. Start collecting images, spaces or details you’re drawn to, and Greer will help identify the common thread. She is experienced in interpreting personal style and translating it into a home that feels cohesive, elevated and genuinely yours.
Greer Mayberry Design is based in Geelong and works with residential and commercial clients across:
Geelong, Torquay, Surf Coast, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Anglesea, Jan Juc, Bellarine Peninsula and along Great Ocean Road.