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 Ocean Grove | Greer Mayberry Design

Interior Designer Ocean Grove

Greer Mayberry Design is a Geelong based interior designer offering interior design, interior decoration, and consultation services in Ocean Grove and across the Bellarine Peninsula, working with families and homeowners on residential renovations and new builds tailored to a different brief than the Surf Coast towns.

What do Ocean Grove homes need from an interior designer?

Ocean Grove has a mix of original 1950s and 1970s beach cottages, brick bungalows, and newer builds, with many being renovated rather than replaced. The typical brief is about opening up dated floor plans, improving light, and creating spaces that work year round for families who live there permanently or visit often.

The renovation landscape on the Bellarine is active. The original weatherboard cottages near the beach have character that's genuinely difficult to reproduce in a new build. A thoughtful renovation that opens the floor plan, updates the kitchen and bathrooms, and connects the living areas to the outdoors will meaningfully improve both the liveability and the value of the property.

Many Ocean Grove homes face south or south east, which means the light is softer and less direct than in Surf Coast homes across the peninsula. Colour choices that feel right in a north facing Torquay living room can feel flat in an Ocean Grove one. Getting this right at the selection stage avoids expensive mistakes later. It's one of the reasons local knowledge matters.

Interior Design for the Bellarine lifestyle

The Bellarine feels different to the Surf Coast, and not just geographically. Ocean Grove is a community in the genuine sense: active local schools, a surf club, local footy teams, cafes and shops with real regulars, families who have been coming for three generations alongside others who made the permanent move more recently.

Greer has known Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads since she was a child. Summers here were part of how she grew up. She understands what these towns feel like from the inside, how the families who live there use their homes, and what they actually want from a renovation or a new furnishing brief. That's where the design instinct comes from.

Coastal living room interior design by Greer Mayberry Design

For a clearer picture of what interior design services involve and how a project typically works, the Services page covers each stage in detail.

Greer Mayberry Design is based in Geelong and serves clients across Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, and the wider Bellarine Peninsula.

Get in touch to discuss your project.
Book a Consultation | or call Greer on 0439 666 386

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

Common questions about designing Ocean Grove homes

In most cases, yes. The original fibro and weatherboard homes on the beachside streets have character that's difficult to replicate in a new build, and buyers recognise it. A considered renovation that opens the floor plan and updates the kitchen and bathrooms will significantly improve liveability and add real value to the property. A two hour consultation with Greer Mayberry Design is the clearest way to understand what your specific property needs.
Yes. Greer Mayberry Design works with families renovating homes they live in or use seasonally. A consultation is a good starting point: it gives you professional direction on layout, materials, and selections without committing to a full project. From there, Greer can prepare a scope and proposal based on what your project actually involves.
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 Ocean Grove 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.