The verdict in three sentences
In Wellington, a local agency charges 10 000 to 38 000 NZD (about 6 000 to 22 800 USD) for an interior design studio website as a 2026 ballpark, and a freelancer in the capital often comes in below our Starter tier. Kolonell offers a fixed price of 2 900 USD, 4 900 USD or 8 900 USD, native copywriting included, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. For a studio that splits its work between small hillside homes, compact apartments and offices for public bodies, what matters is a site that proves your skill with constrained spaces and reassures an institutional buyer.
What budget should you plan for each type of supplier?
Our ranges rest on public rate cards of Wellington and Auckland agencies, minimum project sizes on Clutch.co, hourly rates published by New Zealand agencies (115 to 180 NZD per hour excluding GST) and rates visible on Upwork. Local prices in NZD, approximate USD equivalent (1 NZD is roughly 0.60 USD).
| Criterion | Wellington agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 ballpark | 10 000 to 38 000 NZD (6 000 to 22 800 USD) | 2 500 to 8 000 NZD (1 500 to 4 800 USD) | 2 900 USD / 4 900 USD / 8 900 USD, fixed |
| Reference pages for public clients | Often included | Rarely | From Growth, with client consent |
| Copywriting | Depends on quote | Usually yours to supply | Native English or French, included |
| On-site photos | Sometimes | No | No: your photos or a local photographer |
| Timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Extra hour | 115 to 180 NZD | 65 to 100 NZD | Prior quote for every addition |
| Access and domain | Check | Check | In the studio's name, everything handed over |
Let's say it plainly: if your copy is already written, a Wellington freelancer will often be the cheapest option, and they can come and look at your plans. Kolonell is useful when the studio has no time to write, wants a written fixed price and a project manager who keeps the schedule. The team is in Senegal (GMT), twelve to thirteen hours behind Wellington: Google Meet calls early morning or at the end of your day, written update every week. Payment by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff, 50 % at delivery. Everything is detailed on our page for international clients.
What does a four-person studio's site cost over three years?
Assumption: Growth tier. Maintenance and photos identical on both sides, because they do not depend on the supplier you choose.
| Item over 36 months | Wellington agency | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Build | 20 000 NZD, about 12 000 USD | 4 900 USD |
| Maintenance at 100 USD per month over 33 months | 3 300 USD | 3 300 USD, quoted on request |
| Photos of 5 projects (often dark interiors, extra lighting) | 5 000 NZD, about 3 000 USD | 3 000 USD |
| 3 office case studies added | 10 hours at 140 NZD, about 840 USD | Quoted beforehand, assumption 700 USD |
| Support after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Indicative total | 19 140 USD | 11 900 USD |
Replace each line with your own quotes: the point of the table is to force the comparison onto the same scope.
Which pages does a Wellington studio need, tier by tier?
| Page or feature | Starter 2 900 USD | Growth 4 900 USD | Premium 8 900 USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 6 projects | One page per project: constraints, plan, solution | Filters: small space, heritage, offices, hospitality |
| Services | One page | Small-space planning, cottage renovation, offices, colour consultation | Detailed method and fee models |
| Public references | No | List authorised by clients | Full case studies |
| Project brief | Simple form | Floor area, suburb, budget, timing, photos of the space | Two journeys: private client and organisation |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Pages in te reo Māori | Text supplied by the client or quoted separately | Same | Same |
A shared space where a public client follows plans and approvals is a custom application, quoted on request.
What are Wellington clients looking for?
Wellington is a city of slopes, wind and small sections. The cottages and villas of Thorndon, Mount Victoria or Aro Valley have narrow rooms and sometimes little light; Te Aro apartments are compact; homes in Kelburn or Khandallah look over the harbour. On the professional side, ministries, public agencies, NGOs, diplomatic missions and screen industry companies around Miramar commission office and reception fitouts.
- Show the constraint: a before/after plan, the floor area, what you gained. In this market it says more than a beautiful photo.
- Older buildings and earthquakes: many character buildings have been seismically strengthened. Talk about how you coordinate with the engineer and the architect, without presenting yourself as either.
- Te reo Māori: a few headings or a bilingual page are appreciated by some public clients; have them translated by a qualified translator rather than an automatic tool.
- Titles: DINZ is an association; only the architect title is protected. The site states each member's exact status.
- Photos: credits, verified web licence, written consent from owners and organisations.
On compliance, the facts only: the Privacy Act 2020 applies to every business, with no size threshold. Public agencies follow the NZ Government Web Standards for their own sites; a studio working for them benefits from aiming at WCAG 2.1 AA, with alt text and sufficient contrast. 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 signals should worry you?
- A portfolio without plans when your clients are buying your grasp of space.
- Public references published without written consent.
- Slow overseas hosting without caching: test a project page on mobile.
- A free automatic te reo Māori translation thrown in.
- A contract silent on ownership of the domain and content.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Sam O. and Mere T. co-run a four-person studio in Te Aro: half small homes, half offices for public agencies and NGOs. An agency quotes 21 000 NZD (about 12 600 USD) over 12 weeks. Kolonell proposes Growth at 4 900 USD in 4 weeks. They want an introduction page in te reo Māori, given to a qualified translator for 1 200 NZD (about 720 USD).
Kolonell cost with translation: 4 900 plus 720, or 5 620 USD. Gap with the agency: 12 600 minus 5 620, or 6 980 USD, reinvested in shooting two offices completed in Thorndon.
FAQ
How much does an interior design studio website cost in Wellington?
With a local agency, the 2026 ballpark runs from 10 000 to 38 000 NZD, about 6 000 to 22 800 USD. A freelancer charges 2 500 to 8 000 NZD. Kolonell: a fixed 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD.
Why not simply hire a freelancer?
It is often the right choice if your copy is ready: they can cost 1 000 to 2 000 USD less than us. Kolonell makes sense when copywriting and project management need to be included.
Can Kolonell write in te reo Māori?
No, native copywriting is in English or French. Te reo Māori text is supplied by the studio or quoted separately, and laid out at no extra cost on Growth.
How do exchanges work with a 12-hour gap?
Calls early morning or at the end of the day in Wellington, plus a written update every week. A Growth project wraps up in 3 to 4 weeks.
How do we pay?
Bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery, which means two payments of 2 450 USD on Growth.
Let's scope your project. Send us a few before/after plans, your authorised office references and the audience 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.
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.
