Every prime and luxury fit-out is its own unique environment. Each project must be tailored to meet the distinctive requirements of the design, location and customer experience. DBSJ’s Senior Project Manager James Ball brings extensive expertise in prime and luxury fit-outs in the retail and hospitality industries. Today, we’re exploring the core principles that lie behind the successful transformation of spaces into exclusive, iconic interiors. 

“As a Senior Project Manager, my priority is to set a realistic programme and timeline with all stakeholders involved in the project from the outset,” James explains. Stewardship and honest communication are key to achieve the high standards required in prime and luxury interiors. Everyone, from shell and core contractors to fit-out experts, need to finish within the timings established.

“Quality in prime and luxury interiors is paramount.”

“All these factors need to be discussed so the framework to create exceptional prime and luxury environments is well defined,” he adds. “It is the best approach to ensure high quality while fostering a long-lasting relationship with our partners, rooted in trust and mutual success.” 

A strong supply chain is essential to deliver high-quality prime and luxury interiors. Trust is crucial, and it only develops over time when contractors consistently make the delivery experience as comfortable as they possibly can. “You need to work with people who manage the inevitable challenges and deliver to the level of quality you want them to deliver to,” James says. “A specialised, reliable supply chain is a very important piece in creating exceptional interiors.” 

When transforming prime and luxury fit-outs, we need to obtain all the right specialist materials, according to the Senior Project Manager. “A particular stone must come from a certain quarry in Italy and it needs to have a very specific vein. The timbers, metals, marble and raw materials come from all over the world. The finest leather, fabrics, furs and carpets are all hand-made. Procurement specialists travel across the globe to find these materials and samples that will be then presented to the customer. Every detail reflects the brand’s exclusiveness.” 

All stakeholders involved must also be experts in prime and luxury fit-outs. The approach to exclusive interiors is different from regular fit-outs. Collaboration with specialised architects and designers, as well as a reputable supply chain, is crucial. An unrelenting attention to detail and meticulous workmanship are the key to bringing exclusive visions to life. A creative mindset is also fundamental when creating bespoke solutions for exclusive interiors that exceed even the customers’ highest expectations. 

To guarantee an exceptional finish, a vigorous quality control regime must be in place throughout the project. The whole team needs to understand the level of excellence required to ensure those standards are upheld at every stage. As James puts it: “Snagging should be second to none. In our CEO’s, Darren Hill, own words, we don’t settle for anything less than flawless. One of DBSJ’s strong points is our integrated approach, bringing together a creative design team, a world-class joinery workshop and exceptional fit-out experts.” 

DBSJ has a very bright future ahead. The Construction News Fit Out Specialist of the Year 2024 award and its recognition among the top 20 businesses in The Sunday Times 100, Britain’s fastest-growing private companies league table are a testament to their success and the values that are driving the company forward. With a track record of excellence and a pipeline of exciting projects, we are ready to lead the way in the prime and luxury fit-out industry in the coming year. 

Contact DBSJ today to discover how we can bring your prime and luxury visions to life.