The verdict in three sentences
For a high-end interior design studio in Melbourne, a local agency website usually lands between AUD 15,000 and 50,000, while the Kolonell fixed grid offers Growth at USD 4,900 and Premium at USD 8,900. A studio's real cost line is project photography and the image rights obtained from owners, not development. A studio that budgets visuals first and the site second spends less and launches sooner.
How future clients judge a studio in Melbourne
A homeowner in Toorak, a developer in Southbank or a hotel group refurbishing a property on Collins Street does not read your site like a brochure. They want three answers: does your style fit their project, is your process under control, and can you stay discreet about a private residence?
The site therefore has to show:
- A portfolio of real projects, published with the owner's written consent and clear photo rights. An unauthorised project, even blurred, can cost you a client.
- Pages by project type: private residential, hospitality, executive offices, property development. Each type raises its own questions.
- A process page: brief, concept, documentation, furniture selection, site supervision, with indicative durations.
- A studio page: team background, professional affiliations actually held, approach to sourcing.
- A qualifying enquiry form: indicative budget, floor area, timing, without collecting more data than needed.
The Privacy Act 1988 governs personal information, with a small business exemption below AUD 3 million turnover that carries exceptions. The Australian Consumer Law also prohibits misleading claims, which includes presenting a project as yours when you were only a subcontractor. This is not legal advice: have your position checked.
2026 price grid: freelancer, agency, Kolonell
Local amounts are a 2026 ballpark based on typical agency quotes. Approximate conversion: AUD 1 ≈ USD 0.65.
| Provider | What you usually get | Local price (AUD) | Approx. in USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance web designer | Adapted theme, 5 to 8 pages, little copywriting | 4,000 to 12,000 | about 2,600 to 7,800 |
| Fitzroy or Collingwood agency | Custom design, CMS, partial copywriting | 15,000 to 50,000 | about 9,750 to 32,500 |
| Premium brand agency | Identity, site, art direction, coordinated shoot | 60,000 to 150,000 plus | about 39,000 to 97,500 |
| Kolonell Starter | Polished showcase site, native copywriting | fixed price | USD 2,900 |
| Kolonell Growth | Filterable portfolio, project type pages, journal | fixed price | USD 4,900 |
| Kolonell Premium | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | fixed price | USD 8,900 |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in Melbourne's time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 weeks for Premium) and 3 months of support. If you work for Gulf clients, Premium is the right tier; right-to-left layout for Arabic is scoped in the quote. Private client areas (shared moodboards, selection sign-off) are on quote. See the international offer.
What the quote leaves out: the three-year bill
Here is how spending really splits for a studio launching a site with eight projects. Third-party lines are market assumptions.
| Line item | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Growth site | USD 4,900 | 0 | 0 |
| Interior photography (market assumption, USD 700 to 1,500 per project) | USD 5,600 to 12,000 | USD 1,400 to 3,000 | USD 1,400 to 3,000 |
| Shoot styling (market assumption) | USD 1,000 to 3,000 | USD 500 to 1,500 | USD 500 to 1,500 |
| Arabic or Chinese translation (market assumption) | USD 1,500 to 3,500 | adjustments | adjustments |
| Maintenance after 3 included months | on quote | on quote | on quote |
| Hosting and domain (market assumption) | USD 150 to 400 | USD 150 to 400 | USD 150 to 400 |
Photography dominates the budget whichever agency you choose. A studio that shoots two projects a year keeps its portfolio alive without starting over.
When a Melbourne agency is worth the money
A local agency is the better choice if your studio is rebuilding its identity from scratch (name, logo, typography, stationery) and wants one team to run brand and site together. The same applies if you want an art director on every shoot, or a highly animated editorial site designed as a design object in itself. In those cases, AUD 60,000 and up can be justified.
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Before signing, ask:
- Who manages owner permissions and the publication date of each project?
- Can the portfolio hide the address and client name by default?
- Who writes project copy, and in what tone?
- What does adding a project cost after launch?
- Does the site stay fast on mobile with high-resolution photos?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: "Atelier Fitzroy Interiors", a six-person studio, receives a local agency quote of AUD 35,000, about USD 22,750. It chooses the Growth tier at USD 4,900 and has six projects photographed at USD 900 each (market assumption), so USD 5,400. Total: 4,900 + 5,400 = USD 10,300. The gap with the agency is 22,750 − 10,300 = USD 12,450, reinvested in a stand at Denfair and the following year's photography.
FAQ
Can we publish a project without the owner's consent?
It is risky: discretion is a core selling point for a high-end studio. Get written consent and clear photo rights for each of the 8 to 12 projects you publish.
Is the USD 2,900 Starter tier enough for a studio?
It suits a young studio with three or four projects. Beyond that, the Growth tier at USD 4,900 with a portfolio filterable by project type shows your work better.
Can Kolonell handle a site for Gulf clients?
Yes, through Premium at USD 8,900, the multilingual tier: languages and right-to-left layout are set in the quote. Translation remains a third-party cost, often USD 1,500 to 3,500 (market assumption).
How long does launch take?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, once photos and core copy are gathered. A Melbourne agency commonly quotes 8 to 14 weeks.
Are client areas for sharing selections included?
No, these private areas are priced on quote because they depend on your tools. Many studios start with a public site and add the client area 6 to 12 months later.
Let's scope your project. For a studio that wants a filterable portfolio and project type pages, the Growth tier is delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once photos are ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
