Turnkey interiors explained: what's included and what to check

How it works · H Hue Design Studio, Nanakramguda

Turnkey means you hand over an empty space and get back a finished one. Here is what that should cover, and what to check before you sign.

Turnkey versus design-only

With design-only, the studio gives you drawings and you hire and manage the people who build them. With turnkey, the studio takes responsibility for the whole thing: design, purchasing, contractors, site supervision and final styling. You make decisions; they make it happen.

What a turnkey project should include

• Design: layouts, drawings, 3D views and material selection.
• Procurement: buying boards, hardware, tiles, fittings, lights and furniture.
• Execution: carpentry, false ceilings, electrical, plumbing and painting, coordinated in the right order.
• Supervision: regular site visits and quality checks.
• Handover: cleaning, styling and a final walkthrough with a snag list.

What to check in the contract

1. A line-by-line scope with materials and brands named.
2. What is excluded, such as appliances, loose furniture or civil changes.
3. A schedule with milestones, and payments tied to them.
4. How changes are priced.
5. What happens after handover if something needs fixing.

Who turnkey suits

Turnkey suits people who do not have time to manage contractors, people living in another city or country, and anyone who would rather have one point of contact than six.