Interior design in Chennai — 35+ FAQs answered

Design-only ₹50-150/sq ft. Turnkey (design + execution + materials) ₹800-2,500/sq ft tier-wise. For 1,500 sq ft 3 BHK: design-only ₹75K-2.25 lakh, turnkey ₹12-37 lakh.

₹4-15 lakh tier-wise. Basic ₹4-6 lakh, Standard ₹6-10 lakh (most-chosen), Premium ₹10-15 lakh. For 1,000 sq ft 2 BHK home.

₹6-25 lakh tier-wise. Standard ₹9-16 lakh. For 1,500 sq ft 3 BHK home. Most popular Chennai home size.

₹9-37 lakh tier-wise. Standard ₹13-22 lakh. For 2,000 sq ft 4 BHK home, typically G+1.

₹15-60 lakh tier-wise. Premium ₹22-37 lakh, Luxury ₹37-60 lakh. For 3,000+ sq ft villas with custom features.

Modular kitchen + modular wardrobes + false ceiling + interior painting + light fittings + sanitaryware + door hardware + civil touch-up + site cleanup. Soft furnishings + furniture + decor accessories typically separate.

Milestone-linked: 10% booking advance, 40% on material production-ready, 35% on installation 70% complete, 15% on snag-clearance handover. Firms asking 50-70% upfront are red flags.

Yes — 18% GST on services. Homeli's quotes show base + GST separately. For B2B with GST: input credit applicable. For homeowners: GST is part of final cost.

Marine BWP IS:710 grade (Greenply/Century) for kitchen + bath cabinets — resists Chennai humidity. MR plywood swells in 3-5 years. Costs ₹40-90/sq ft more but lasts 15-20 years. Non-negotiable for kitchen carcass.

All three quality. Hettich (German) — best value, most popular Chennai choice. Hafele (German) — premium aesthetic. Blum (Austrian) — top-tier, expensive. For Chennai residential: Hettich. For premium/villa: Hafele or Blum.

Laminate: cheapest (₹120-300/sq ft), durable, many options. Acrylic: high-gloss premium (₹350-800/sq ft), shows fingerprints. Membrane: matte premium (₹250-500/sq ft). PU paint: most premium (₹500-1,200/sq ft), seamless finish. For most homes: laminate or membrane.

Asian Paints (most popular, widest range). Berger Paints. Both produce: exterior Apex Ultima/WeatherCoat, interior Royale/Silk Glamour. For Chennai monsoon: insist on Apex Ultima exterior + Royale Premium interior.

Quartz: most popular new — durable, easy clean, ₹1,500-3,500/sq ft. Granite: classic, ₹600-2,500/sq ft. Marble: looks luxe but stains in Chennai kitchens. Quartz wins for most modern kitchens.

Vitrified tiles (Kajaria, Somany, RAK) — most popular, ₹60-150/sq ft. Engineered wood — premium, ₹250-600/sq ft. Granite — premium classic, ₹250-700/sq ft. Avoid: ceramic in living areas (wears down fast).

Jaquar Continental + (mid-tier, ₹50K-2 lakh for full bathroom). Cera (Indian, value, ₹30K-1.5 lakh). Kohler (premium imported, ₹1-5 lakh). Grohe (premium German). For most homes: Jaquar; for villas: Kohler/Grohe.

Verify: registered business + GST, physical office, itemised quote with named brands, milestone payments (advance ≤ 15%), written warranty, 3+ callable references, 5+ years business. Avoid: lump-sum quotes, large advances, WhatsApp-only communication.

Firm (integrated): single contract, single accountability, written warranty, less project management burden. Freelance: lower fees but you handle execution + procurement separately. For most homeowners: firm preferred.

2 BHK 1,000 sq ft: 4-6 weeks. 3 BHK 1,500 sq ft: 6-10 weeks. 4 BHK 2,000 sq ft: 8-12 weeks. Villa 3,000+ sq ft: 12-20 weeks.

Yes — every Homeli home interior is custom-designed for your home, family, budget. Standard packages are starting points; you adjust scope and material tier per room.

Yes — Homeli includes 3D walkthrough as standard. Photo-realistic renders of every key space. Catches problems before installation. 2-3 design rounds typically.

Possible for partial scope. For full home with civil + electrical + plumbing changes: vacate recommended — work proceeds 30-40% faster, less disruption, better quality. Most clients vacate 6-10 weeks.

Per running foot: Basic ₹1,400-1,800, Standard ₹2,000-2,800, Premium ₹3,500-6,000, Luxury ₹6,000-10,000+. For 10-ft kitchen Standard: ₹2-2.8 lakh.

L-shape most popular (works in 8×10 ft+ kitchens). U-shape for maximum storage (needs 10×12 ft). Parallel for narrow long kitchens. Island for villa-scale (12×14 ft+) with open-plan layouts.

Per unit (8-foot tall, 4-6 ft wide): Basic ₹1.5-2.5 lakh, Standard ₹2-4 lakh, Premium ₹3-6 lakh. Walk-in ₹4-12 lakh.

Sliding: compact bedrooms (no swing space), modern. Hinged: standard bedrooms, full shutter visibility. For compact 2 BHK 10×12 ft bedroom: sliding. Standard+ rooms: either works.

Modular kitchen: 2-3 weeks production + 3-5 days site installation = 3-4 weeks. Wardrobe (per unit): similar. For 3 BHK with kitchen + 3 wardrobes: 5-7 weeks parallel work.

Industry standard from quality firms: structural warranty on carpentry (carcass + framework), MEP workmanship, finishes workmanship. Fixtures: manufacturer warranties (2-5 years). All in writing.

Branded hardware (Hettich/Hafele/Blum) carries manufacturer warranty. If hinge or drawer channel fails within warranty: free replacement. Homeli coordinates with manufacturer.

Quality modular kitchen (Marine BWP + Hettich + brand laminate): 15-20 years with normal use. Cheaper builds (MR plywood + local hardware): 5-8 years before swelling/failure. Materials matter.

First-year warranty service included. Beyond first year: paid maintenance plan available. Common services: hardware adjustments, hinge replacement, paint touch-up, deep cleaning. Lifetime spares available for 10+ years.

Yes — via written change order signed by both parties. Re-priced clearly, new timeline communicated. Avoid: verbal additions ('also add bedroom wardrobe') — always document changes to prevent later disputes.