The verdict in three sentences
For a high-end interior design studio in Frankfurt, a dated website loses commissions before the first meeting: private owners, developers and hospitality groups judge your portfolio, process and discretion within minutes. A redesign often costs EUR 12,000 to 35,000 with a local agency as a 2026 ballpark, against EUR 4,500 (Growth) to EUR 8,200 (Premium, the multilingual tier) on Kolonell's fixed grid, delivered in 3 to 6 weeks once content is ready. The main risk sits in the migration: URLs, 301 redirects, photo rights and the Impressum must be handled before launch.
Signs your current site is holding back large commissions
| Signal | What a demanding client concludes | Expected fix |
|---|---|---|
| Old projects, low-resolution photos | The studio has no recent references | Recent projects, professionally photographed, with owners' consent |
| No explanation of process | Budget and timing feel unpredictable | Process page: concept, design development, site supervision, handover |
| German-only site | The studio cannot work with international clients | Language versions set according to your markets |
| Slow on mobile | Lack of care, at odds with the craft | Optimised images, fast loading |
| Incomplete or hidden Impressum | Doubts about professionalism, risk of a formal warning | Compliant Impressum reachable from every page |
| Generic contact form | No filter between small requests and large projects | Qualifying form: property type, floor area, timing, indicative budget |
Clients in this field do not read promises: they look at rooms, materials, details. Every published project requires the owner's consent and clear photo rights, two points to check before writing a single line.
Redesign budget: what the options cost in Frankfurt
The ranges below reflect typical local agency quotes and public rate pages. They are 2026 ballparks.
| Option | 2026 ballpark (EUR excl. VAT) | Usually included | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | 3,500 to 10,000 | Adapted theme, existing content carried over | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Local agency | 12,000 to 35,000 | Custom design, CMS, migration | 8 to 16 weeks |
| Premium local agency | 35,000 to 80,000 | Full art direction, photography, integrations | 4 to 6 months |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,700 | Essential custom site | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,500 | Full portfolio, process and service pages, core SEO | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium | 8,200 | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | 4 to 6 weeks |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting and 3 months of support. Private client areas, integrations and an Arabic version with right-to-left layout for Gulf markets are on quote. Maintenance after the 3 included months is also on quote. Details are on the international offer.
Redesign timeline and risks
| Phase | Kolonell | Typical local agency |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, URL and content inventory | Week 1 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Mock-ups and sign-off | Weeks 1 to 2 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Copywriting and portfolio build | Weeks 2 to 3 | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Testing, redirects, Impressum | Weeks 3 to 4 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Launch and follow-up | Week 4 (Premium: weeks 4 to 6) | Weeks 10 to 16 |
These timelines assume content is ready: photos selected, owners' consent obtained, process copy approved.
| Risk | What happens | How to control it |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of Google traffic | Old URLs return 404 errors | Full URL inventory, 301 redirect map, monitoring in Search Console |
| Content migration | Projects or copy lost along the way | Full export before work, page-by-page checklist |
| Photo rights | Photographer or owner not credited or not asked | Check licences and consents before publishing |
| Compliance | Incomplete Impressum or privacy policy | Legal review before launch |
| Downtime | Site unavailable during the switch | Switch planned outside office hours, rollback ready |
In Germany the GDPR applies together with the BDSG, supervised by the state data protection authorities, and the Impressum duty stems from German digital services law. For a studio this mainly concerns the Impressum, forms, cookies and analytics tools. This is not legal advice.
When a local agency is the better choice
A Frankfurt agency has a real edge if you want shared art direction across the website, client presentations and print, with in-person workshops at your Westend or Sachsenhausen office. It is also justified for a complex client area tied to your project management software. If what you need is a site that showcases your strongest projects, explains your process and qualifies inquiries, the fixed grid covers the essentials.
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Questions to ask: who owns the redirect map? Who checks photo rights? Who writes in German, and are they native speakers? Who owns the site and the access?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Studio Westend Interiors, a six-person studio, receives a EUR 32,000 redesign quote from a local agency. It chooses the Premium tier at EUR 8,200, with languages set in the quote (German and English), a new photo shoot at EUR 4,000 (market assumption) and native German proofreading at EUR 1,800 (market assumption). Total: 8,200 + 4,000 + 1,800 = EUR 14,000, or EUR 18,000 less than the local quote. An Arabic version for a Dubai developer is priced separately, on quote.
FAQ
Does a redesign lose existing search rankings?
Not if the URL inventory and 301 redirects are done before launch. Without a redirect map, part of the traffic can drop for several months; with one, the dip usually stays limited and temporary.
Can we publish private clients' projects?
Only with their written consent, and respecting their wish for discretion (address, name, interior photos). Many studios publish 8 to 12 anonymised projects rather than 40 without consent.
Which tier suits a studio working with the Gulf?
The Premium tier at EUR 8,200 is the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote. An Arabic version with right-to-left layout is priced separately, on quote.
How long does the redesign take?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for Growth and 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, once content is ready. A local agency often quotes 8 to 16 weeks.
What does maintenance cost afterwards?
The first 3 months of support are included; after that it is on quote. On the market, allow EUR 150 to 600 a month as a market assumption, depending on how often the portfolio is updated.
Let's scope your project. Portfolio redesign, a migration without lost pages and the right tier, from Growth at EUR 4,500 to multilingual Premium at EUR 8,200, in 3 to 6 weeks. 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.
