The verdict in three sentences
In Douglas, an interior design studio website built by an island agency costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between 5 000 and 18 000 GBP, and agencies in the north-west of England quote similar or higher figures for an ambitious portfolio. Kolonell builds the portfolio, services pages and qualified project enquiry form at a fixed price of 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth. The honest comparison rests on the three-year total and on one practical point: a Douglas agency can walk round a finished project in Onchan or Castletown with your photographer, Kolonell cannot.
What do island agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The ranges below are cautious and indicative. They draw on public rate cards from island and north-west England agencies, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by agencies (often 70 to 110 GBP an hour) and rates visible on Upwork or PeoplePerHour. The Manx market is small: a handful of agencies, mostly generalists serving finance and retail alike.
| Criterion | Island agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 order of magnitude | 5 000 to 18 000 GBP | 1 500 to 5 000 GBP | 2 300 / 3 900 / 6 900 GBP, fixed price |
| Out-of-scope work | Often 70 to 110 GBP an hour | Often 40 to 70 GBP an hour | Additions priced before work starts |
| Usual timeline | 6 to 12 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Site visit and photo shoot | Possible, as an option | Sometimes | No: local photographer booked by the studio |
| Project write-ups | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % at kick-off, 50 % on delivery. A project manager is reachable during Douglas office hours, with Google Meet calls set at your convenience and a written update every week. The team works on GMT, so there is no gap in winter and one hour in summer. Plan details are on our international website offer.
Which three-year total should you compare?
A studio adds projects all year round, so the launch price is only part of the bill. The table assumes the same maintenance budget on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted separately.
| Item over 36 months | Island agency (mid-range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 11 000 GBP | 3 900 GBP |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 90 GBP a month over 33 months, 2 970 GBP | 2 970 GBP, quoted separately |
| Adding 6 project pages over three years | 6 hours at 95 GBP, 570 GBP | Priced before work, assumption 450 GBP |
| Interiors photographer, 3 projects | 1 800 GBP | 1 800 GBP, booked by the studio |
| Indicative total | 16 340 GBP | 9 120 GBP |
These figures structure the conversation, they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same rows.
What does each plan include for an interior design studio?
| Item | Starter 2 300 GBP | Growth 3 900 GBP | Premium 6 900 GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Gallery by main category | One page per project: brief, constraints, materials, credits | Detailed pages, filters for residential, offices, holiday lets |
| Services pages | One summary page | Full design, space planning, colour consultancy, work with trades | Full structure by service |
| Process and fees | Explanatory paragraph | Dedicated page on fee models | Dedicated page and fees FAQ |
| Project enquiry | Simple form | Budget, floor area, timeline, photos of the space | Qualified path by project type |
| Instagram, Pinterest, Houzz | Links | Instagram feed embedded | Polished integrations |
| Bilingual EN/FR version | No | No | Included |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A client area for sharing mood boards and quotes, or a bespoke booking tool, is a custom application quoted separately, as is ongoing SEO work.
What does a Douglas studio need from its website?
The island had around 84 000 residents at the 2021 census. A studio's clients include established families renovating Victorian and Edwardian houses on the promenade and in upper Douglas, finance, insurance and e-gaming professionals relocating to the island, owners of new-build homes around Onchan and Baldrine, coastal houses in Port Erin or Ramsey, office fit-outs for the finance centre, and homes refreshed for letting during TT fortnight. Many of these clients compare you with studios in Liverpool, Manchester or Dublin, so the site has to prove your level without anyone travelling.
- Narrative project pages: starting point, constraints (protected building, coastal damp, access), material choices, Manx trades involved.
- A clear explanation of fees: fixed fee, percentage of the works budget or hourly rate, with no invented figures.
- A qualified project enquiry: budget, floor area, timeline, photos of the space, to filter out pure curiosity calls.
- A fast gallery in WebP or AVIF, since most visits arrive from Instagram on a phone.
- Photo credits and a web licence from each photographer, plus written consent from the property owner.
On regulation, stay cautious. The island runs its own planning system, with registered buildings and conservation areas: note on your project pages that consents were obtained, without giving advice. The title “interior designer” is not protected in the UK and BIID membership there is voluntary; check the island's own position with the professional association. Data protection falls under Manx law (the Data Protection Act 2018 and its GDPR implementing regulations), overseen by the island's Information Commissioner: keep forms minimal and blur faces and addresses in photos of private homes. For accessibility, the island's Equality Act 2017 and WCAG 2.2 AA serve as the benchmark, with alt text for every portfolio image. This is not legal advice.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Which warning signs should you spot in a quote?
- A price with no page list and no number of project pages.
- A domain registered in the agency's name.
- No line on photo rights: a photographer who only licensed press use can ask you to take images down.
- An unoptimised gallery with files of several megabytes.
- A 24 or 36 month maintenance lock-in with no way to take back control.
- Promised Google rankings with numbers attached.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Fiona K. and her business partner run a two-person studio in Douglas: roughly 60 % residential refurbishments, 40 % office fit-outs. An island agency quotes 12 500 GBP delivered in 10 weeks. Kolonell proposes Growth at 3 900 GBP, delivered in 4 weeks. Either way, the studio books the same photographer for 3 projects at 1 800 GBP and uses the same maintenance assumption of 2 970 GBP.
Three-year total: 12 500 + 1 800 + 2 970 = 17 270 GBP with the agency, against 3 900 + 1 800 + 2 970 = 8 670 GBP with Kolonell, a gap of 8 600 GBP. Fiona picks Kolonell and keeps the local agency in mind for a future showreel filmed on the island.
FAQ
How much does an interior design studio website cost in Douglas in 2026?
As an order of magnitude, 5 000 to 18 000 GBP with an island agency and 1 500 to 5 000 GBP with a freelancer. Kolonell offers 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP at a fixed price.
Is the time difference a problem?
No: the team works on GMT, the same as the island in winter, with one hour of difference in summer. Calls are set at your hours and a written update arrives every week.
Can Kolonell photograph our projects?
No, Kolonell does no photo shoots or site visits. Plan for a local interiors photographer, often a few hundred GBP per project depending on the length of the shoot.
Can we publish our fees?
Yes, in whatever form suits you: fixed fee, percentage of budget or hourly rate. The Growth plan (3 900 GBP) includes a page dedicated to fee models.
Can the site be bilingual?
An EN/FR version is included in Premium at 6 900 GBP. Any other language is supplied by you or priced separately.
Let's scope your project. Send us three projects you want to showcase and your current site, and we will come back with a fixed-price plan and a launch within 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.
