The verdict in three sentences
In Edinburgh, an interior design studio website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 7 000 and 25 000 GBP, and more if the studio wants 3D tours or a furniture shop. Kolonell builds the project portfolio, service pages and consultation request journey for a fixed price of 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. For a studio, the comparison comes down to the 3-year total cost, the quality and licensing of project photography, and how each quote handles the word "architect".
What do Edinburgh agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The ranges below are cautious ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public price lists from Scottish agencies, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles of Edinburgh and Glasgow agencies, hourly rates published by UK agencies (often 60 to 110 GBP per hour) and rates visible on Upwork or PeoplePerHour. An honest point: a good Scottish freelancer can deliver a portfolio site at a price close to our Starter tier.
| Criterion | Edinburgh agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 ballpark | 7 000 to 25 000 GBP and up | 1 500 to 6 000 GBP | 2 300 / 3 900 / 6 900 GBP, fixed price |
| Out-of-scope changes | Often 60 to 110 GBP per hour | Often 35 to 65 GBP per hour | Additions quoted before work starts |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| On-site project photography | Sometimes arranged with a partner photographer | Rarely | Not included: your photos or a local photographer |
| Project write-ups | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native English or French copy included |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Site ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % at kickoff, 50 % at delivery. Your project manager calls you on Google Meet at a time that suits you and sends a written update every week. The team is based in Senegal (GMT): no time difference with Edinburgh in winter, one hour in summer. Full tier details are on our international website offer.
What will the site cost over three years?
A studio adds projects as work completes, refreshes its photography and pays for hosting. The table assumes identical maintenance on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted separately.
| Item over 36 months | Edinburgh agency (mid-range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Site build | 14 000 GBP | 3 900 GBP |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 90 GBP per month over 33 months, i.e. 2 970 GBP | 2 970 GBP, quoted separately |
| Adding 6 project pages | 6 hours at 85 GBP, i.e. 510 GBP | Quoted before work, assumed 450 GBP |
| Interior photographer for 3 projects | 1 800 GBP | 1 800 GBP, booked by the studio |
| Indicative total | 19 280 GBP | 9 120 GBP |
These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same table.
What does each tier include for an interior studio?
| Element | Starter 2 300 GBP | Growth 3 900 GBP | Premium 6 900 GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Gallery of 6 to 8 projects | One page per project: brief, constraints, material choices | Portfolio filterable by project type |
| Service pages | One services page | One page per service (renovation, fit-out, holiday let) | Full structure, press and collaborations |
| Consultation request | Simple form | Qualified form: property type, budget, timing | Detailed journey, booking through your tool |
| Copywriting | Main pages | All pages and project write-ups | All pages, refined editorial voice |
| Bilingual FR/EN version | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written plan at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A furniture shop, a client area with shared mood boards or a configurator is a custom application, quoted separately, as is ongoing SEO work.
What does an Edinburgh interior studio website need?
Edinburgh has its typical projects: Georgian flats in the New Town, Victorian houses in Morningside or Bruntsfield, Leith lofts, holiday-let properties, offices and restaurants in the Old Town. The Old and New Towns have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 and many buildings are listed: a client buying into a listed building wants to know the studio understands those constraints.
- Project pages that tell the constraint: listed building, cornicing, kitchen moved into a former service room, budget, timeline.
- High quality photos with a web licence: many studios hold photographer images licensed for press or print only. Check the rights before going live.
- A form that filters: property type, area, indicative budget, desired start. The studio avoids off-target enquiries.
- A Google Business Profile consistent with the site and reviews.
- Light pages on mobile: most clients discover the studio on Instagram or Houzz before opening the site.
On compliance, the facts. The title "architect" is protected in the UK by the Architects Act 1997 and only a professional on the ARB register may use it: if nobody at the studio is registered, avoid ambiguous wording and check ARB guidance before using any term containing "architect". Forms and cookies fall under UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and PECR for cookies and email marketing. The Equality Act 2010 is a strong reason to make the site accessible, with WCAG 2.2 AA as the technical reference. This is not legal advice.
Need a professional website?
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Which red flags should you spot in a quote?
- A price with no page list or number of project pages.
- Domain or hosting account in the supplier's name.
- No copywriting: a portfolio without text says nothing about the studio's thinking.
- No question about photo licences.
- A heavy, animation-laden theme that slows galleries on mobile.
- Mandatory multi-year maintenance with no exit.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Isla M. runs a three-person studio in Stockbridge specialising in Georgian flat renovations. A local agency quotes 16 500 GBP, delivered in 11 weeks. A freelancer offers 4 200 GBP without copywriting. Kolonell proposes Growth at 3 900 GBP in 4 weeks, copy included.
Her existing photos carry a press licence: she negotiates a web extension with her photographer for 400 GBP, whichever option she picks. Starting cost: 16 900 GBP with the agency versus 4 300 GBP with Kolonell, a 12 600 GBP difference. She chooses Kolonell and keeps the local agency in mind for a future video campaign filmed on her sites.
FAQ
How much does an interior design studio website cost in Edinburgh in 2026?
With a local agency, expect a ballpark of 7 000 to 25 000 GBP, and 1 500 to 6 000 GBP with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP.
Does Kolonell photograph our projects?
No, we do not shoot on site. The studio supplies its images or books a local interior photographer, often a few hundred pounds per project based on published rates.
Can I call myself an "interior architect"?
Only people on the ARB register may use the architect title in the UK. Check ARB guidance before choosing any wording; we then write to your decision.
Can the site be in English and French?
Yes, the bilingual FR/EN version is included in Premium at 6 900 GBP. Any other language is supplied by the studio or quoted separately.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery, which means two payments of 1 950 GBP on Growth.
Let's scope your project. Send us your key projects, the photos you have and your services, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. 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.
