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.

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 Torquay

Greer Mayberry Design is a Geelong based interior designer offering interior design, interior decoration, and consultation services in Torquay and Jan Juc. With hands-on experience on residential and developer projects along the Surf Coast, Greer brings genuine knowledge of how Torquay homes actually work.

What makes designing a Torquay home different?

Torquay homes need to work for how people actually live on the Surf Coast: sandy feet through the door, somewhere for the boards, meals eaten outdoors, where you put your dog leash. it’s a lifestyle that's casual but increasingly considered. Every material choice and layout decision starts from how you live in Torquay.

This begins with the practical decisions. Engineered floors throughout rather than carpet near beach entries. Entry spaces designed for the transition from beach to home. Kitchens that handle family and friends entertaining without feeling like a display home. Outdoor areas that match the quality of the interior.

The Hamptons aesthetic has been thoroughly done. Shiplap, shell accessories, and blue stripes feel like a display home now, not a personal home. What works in Torquay today is warmer and more specific: natural textures, colour with intention, and a house that feels like it belongs to someone rather than like somewhere generic.

Sunlight is a real material consideration. Coastal homes often have strong north or east facing exposure, and fabrics and floors chosen without thinking about fade will show it quickly. Getting orientation right at selection stage is far cheaper than fixing it later.

Greer's work in Torquay

On a recent Torquay project, Greer worked with a property developer to design a townhouse aimed at retirees and families wanting a genuine Surf Coast lifestyle. The developer's original plan included carpet in several rooms. Greer pushed for engineered floorboards throughout, knowing how the house would be used by buyers coming in from the beach.

The kitchen was the central brief. Rather than a standard bench and overhead cabinet layout, Greer integrated banquette seating directly into the cabinetry design. The kitchen felt bigger without the footprint changing. She took the colour palette into blue tones through the cabinetry, referencing the beach without being literal about it, and carried that palette through to the laundry so the house had a consistent thread from one end to the other.

Outside, she specified stepping stones through the garden rather than a poured concrete path. A small decision that made the outdoor area feel considerably more relaxed and organic. The stairway was opened up for airiness. The powder room was given a grass weave wallpaper and natural stone surfaces. A developer project can still feel genuinely considered.

"I didn't want to do exposed aggregate, just a slab of concrete. We wanted to marry the garden into the stepping stones to feel more relaxed, organic and beautiful."

Greer Mayberry, on a recent Torquay project.

Greer also spent years in the surf industry at a Torquay based surf brand, visiting homes and living within the Surf Coast community. She knows this culture from the inside. That shapes how she approaches every Torquay brief.

Residential and commercial interior design projects in Torquay

Greer Mayberry Design works on residential renovations, new builds, developer projects, and commercial fit outs in Torquay. For residential clients, the scope of interior design services ranges from a two hour consultation through to full service design for whole home renovations and new builds. For commercial fit out, take a look at the Blush Bar project.

If you're working on a project in Torquay, get in touch to discuss what's involved.

Common questions about designing Torquay homes

Engineered hardwood floors throughout are the practical and aesthetic choice for a coastal home. Carpets near a beach entry or in a living room used by surfers, kids and dogs don't hold up and don't suit the Surf Coast lifestyle. Natural fibre rugs can be layered over timber floors for warmth and texture where it's needed.
The difference is in the specificity. Holiday rentals default to generic: white walls, loop pile rugs, furniture that fits nothing in particular. A home that feels personal has furniture chosen at the right scale, a colour palette with intention, and materials that reference the coastal environment without recreating a postcard version of it. A consultation with Greer Mayberry Design is the place to work out what that looks like for your specific house.
Yes. Greer Mayberry Design has worked on developer led projects on the Surf Coast, helping design interiors that appeal to the right buyer: families and retirees wanting a genuine Surf Coast lifestyle. Understanding who will live in the home shapes every decision, from the kitchen layout through to the landscaping and outdoor areas.
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.
Yes. Greer Mayberry Design works across Torquay, Jan Juc, and the wider Surf Coast. Jan Juc sits within the same coastal corridor as Torquay and shares its design considerations. Contact Greer to discuss your Jan Juc 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 Melbourne.