The verdict in three sentences
In Brussels, an interior design studio website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, 6 000 to 30 000 EUR, more with full art direction and a Dutch version. Kolonell builds the portfolio, service pages and project request form for a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. The real comparison is the 3-year total cost, who photographs your projects (Kolonell does not) and the usage rights on the images.
This version is written for the English-speaking founders of interior design studios in Brussels, many of whom work for the international community around the EU institutions.
What do Brussels agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
These ranges are prudent 2026 ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of Brussels agencies, minimum project sizes on Clutch.co, hourly rates published by Belgian studios (often 70 to 130 EUR per hour) and rates visible on Malt and Upwork. Brussels also has talented freelancers at moderate prices: for a small site without copywriting, they can be as affordable as Kolonell.
| Criterion | Brussels agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 6 000 to 30 000 EUR and up | 2 000 to 8 000 EUR | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 EUR, fixed |
| Changes outside scope | Often 70 to 130 EUR per hour | Often 50 to 90 EUR per hour | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Project photo shoot | Sometimes offered or coordinated | Rarely | Not included: your photos or a local photographer |
| Project page copy | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native French or English copy included |
| Dutch version | Often offered | Varies | Supplied by you or quoted separately |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery. A project manager reachable during your hours runs Google Meet calls and sends a written update every week; the team works from Senegal on GMT, one to two hours behind Brussels depending on the season. Full details are on our international website offer.
Which 3-year total cost should you compare?
The build price is only part of the bill. A studio adds projects every year, refreshes its photos and pays for hosting. The table uses the same maintenance assumption on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.
| Item over 36 months | Brussels agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 14 000 EUR | 4 500 EUR |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 100 EUR per month over 33 months, 3 300 EUR | 3 300 EUR, maintenance quoted on request |
| 6 new project pages over 3 years | 8 hours at 100 EUR, 800 EUR | Quoted beforehand, assumption 600 EUR |
| Interior photography (2 days) | 2 400 EUR | Local photographer booked separately, 2 400 EUR |
| Indicative total | 20 500 EUR | 10 800 EUR |
These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same table.
What does each Kolonell tier include for an interior design studio?
| Item | Starter 2 700 EUR | Growth 4 500 EUR | Premium 8 200 EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 6 to 8 projects | Full filterable portfolio (residential, retail, hospitality, offices) | Editorial layouts, before and after, large formats |
| Project pages | Short | One page per project: brief, floor area, materials, photo credits | Detailed story per project |
| Services | One page | One page per service (design, site supervision, bespoke furniture, colour consulting) | Full journey by client type |
| Project request | Simple form | Guided form: type of property, municipality, indicative budget | Same, in steps |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
An online furniture shop, a client area to follow the works or a configurator are custom applications, quoted on request. So is ongoing SEO.
What does a Brussels interior design studio need?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Brussels clients include owners of townhouses in Ixelles, Uccle or Saint-Gilles, officials and managers of the EU institutions and NATO renovating an apartment, shops and restaurants in the centre, and offices in the European Quarter. Many discover the studio on Instagram or Pinterest, then check the website on their phone.
- Three languages in practice. French, Dutch and English are all useful in Brussels. Kolonell writes French and English natively; Dutch is supplied by you or quoted separately.
- Flawless, lawful photos. Copyright protects the photographer: check that the licence covers web use, social media and duration, and credit the photographer. Get the owners' consent before publishing a private interior, with no identifiable address.
- Exact titles. The title of architect is protected in Belgium and reserved for people registered with the Order of Architects; an interior architect or designer presents their degree and role precisely, with no ambiguity.
- Personal data. The GDPR applies, supervised by the Belgian Data Protection Authority. Keep the form short, no plans or sensitive documents by unencrypted email, and a consent banner for non-essential cookies.
- Accessibility. WCAG 2.1 AA remains the technical reference; the European Accessibility Act, applicable since 28 June 2025, mainly covers certain services such as e-commerce, so check it if you sell furniture online.
This is not legal advice.
How should you compare quotes, and what are the red flags?
- Does the quote state the number of projects included and the number of pages?
- Are images compressed for mobile without visible loss?
- Who owns the domain, hosting and source files?
- Is the price for adding projects after launch written down?
Red flags: a generic Instagram-style theme that crops photos badly, images hosted by the agency with no copy handed over, nothing about photo credits, and a mandatory maintenance contract with no detail.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Camille D., founder of a three-person studio in Ixelles, compares three offers. An agency proposes 16 000 EUR with a Dutch version included. A freelancer proposes 6 000 EUR, without copywriting. Kolonell Premium costs 8 200 EUR for a bilingual FR/EN site with 18 written project pages; Camille has the Dutch translated by a translator for 900 EUR. Same maintenance assumption: 3 000 EUR over the period. Three-year total: 19 000 EUR with the agency, 9 900 EUR with the freelancer (copy written by Camille), 12 100 EUR with Kolonell. The freelancer is the cheapest; Camille pays about 2 200 EUR more so she does not have to write the 18 project pages herself.
FAQ
Can Kolonell photograph our projects in Brussels? No, there is no on-site shoot. A Brussels interior photographer often charges 900 to 1 500 EUR per day depending on experience.
Can the site be in Dutch? Yes, if you supply the translation or have it quoted separately. A bilingual FR/EN site is included from Premium at 8 200 EUR.
How many projects can we publish? On Growth at 4 500 EUR, the full portfolio is planned and the exact number of project pages is set in the quote. You can add more yourself afterwards.
Can we sell furniture on the site? An online shop is a custom application, quoted on request. Meanwhile, an available pieces page with a price request works from Starter at 2 700 EUR.
How quickly does the site go live? 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth, if photos and the project list are ready at kickoff; Premium follows a written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your best projects with photo credits, your services and the languages you need, and you will receive a fixed-price proposal delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
