Interior design studio website cost in Lausanne: local agencies vs Kolonell (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

In Lausanne, an interior design studio website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 9 000 and 32 000 CHF, and more if the portfolio has to be animated, filmed or tied to a custom tool. Kolonell delivers the project portfolio, the services page and a qualified project request for a fixed price of 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF, in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. The real decision rests on the 3-year total cost, on photo quality (Kolonell does not shoot) and on clear image rights for every published project.

This version is written for the English-speaking founders of interior design studios in Lausanne, many of whom work for the international families drawn by the sports federations, EPFL and the multinational employers of the Lake Geneva region.

What do Lausanne agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?

The ranges below are prudent ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of agencies in French-speaking Switzerland, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates commonly published by Vaud web agencies (often 110 to 190 CHF per hour) and rates visible on Malt or Upwork. The spread comes mostly from the number of projects to stage, the languages and the level of animation requested.

A Lausanne freelancer can therefore be as affordable as Kolonell for a small site. The difference lies in included copywriting, a project manager and a price fixed before kickoff. The project manager works in your time zone: Google Meet calls at a time that suits the studio and a written update every week. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), one hour behind Lausanne in winter and two in summer. 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 also pays for hosting, maintenance, adding new projects to the portfolio and often photography. The table uses prudent ballparks and the same maintenance assumption on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.

These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same grid and the real gaps show up fast, especially on the hours billed for adding projects.

What does each tier include for an interior studio?

A client area to share plans and moodboards, or a site progress tool, is a custom application quoted on request. So is ongoing search work.

What does a Lausanne studio actually need online?

A Lausanne studio's clientele is rarely uniform. It includes owners of older flats below the station or in Ouchy, families renovating a winegrower's house in Lavaux, executives of the international sports federations gathered around the Olympic capital, and researchers and managers linked to EPFL and the multinationals of the Lake Geneva arc. Many search in English as much as in French, which often points toward the bilingual Premium tier.

• A portfolio that tells each project's story: context (area, constraints of an older building, lake view), design approach, materials, partner craftspeople. Eight well documented projects beat thirty thumbnails.
• A fast gallery: WebP or AVIF images, progressive loading, controlled weight on mobile, since the first visit often comes from Instagram.
• Fees explained without misleading figures: flat fee, percentage of the works budget or hourly rate, and what each model covers.
• A project request that filters: intended budget, area, timeline, photos of the space. The studio saves hours of pointless meetings.
• Real press only: publications and awards the studio has actually received.

On titles, Switzerland has no federally protected title of interior architect, and VSI.ASAI is a professional association; the architect title follows other rules, and the site must not blur the two. Check with your professional association. Photos of private homes can be personal data (recognisable address, faces, personal items) under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD/revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023: written consent from the owner, blurring where needed, a contact form limited to what is necessary. Also check that the photographer's licence covers web use. Add alt text to every portfolio image, with WCAG 2.1 AA as the technical reference. This is not legal advice.

Which red flags should you spot in a quote?

• A price with no page list: ask for the number of projects laid out and the templates planned.
• Photos reused without checking the photographer's web licence.
• No mention of owner consent to publish their interior.
• A domain registered in the agency's name: it must be in yours.
• A proprietary tool that stops you from adding a project yourself.
• Mandatory long maintenance with no way to take back control.

Mini case study

Illustrative example. Sophie M., founder of a one-person studio in Lausanne, works mostly for expatriate families renovating lakeside flats. She receives two proposals. A local agency offers a bilingual site at 18 500 CHF, delivered in 12 weeks. Kolonell offers Premium at 8 200 CHF, bilingual FR/EN, with a written 5-week schedule at kickoff. In both cases she plans a Lausanne photographer for 2 projects, 2 400 CHF.

Build and photos: 20 900 CHF with the agency versus 10 600 CHF with Kolonell, a 10 300 CHF gap. With the same maintenance assumption over 30 months (4 200 CHF on each side), the 3-year cost becomes 25 100 CHF versus 14 800 CHF. Sophie picks Kolonell and keeps the agency's contact for a possible on-site video of a renovation.

FAQ

How much does an interior design studio website cost in Lausanne in 2026?

With a local agency, expect a ballpark of 9 000 to 32 000 CHF depending on scope, and 3 000 to 9 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF.

Can Kolonell photograph my projects?

No, Kolonell does no shooting and no site visits. You supply your images or book a local photographer, often around 900 to 1 800 CHF for a half day based on published rates.

Can my site be in French and English?

Yes, the bilingual FR/EN site is included in Premium at 8 200 CHF. A German version is supplied by the studio or quoted separately.

Can I add a new project myself?

Yes, the site comes with full access and a handover session; adding a project usually takes under an hour. During the 3 months of support (6 on Premium), the team helps you.

How does payment work?

By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Growth, that means two payments of 2 250 CHF.

Let's scope your project. Send us your best projects, your services and the clients you want to reach, 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.