Luxury Coastal Pool Villas — Interior & Outdoor Designer

Luxury Coastal Pool Villas — Designer Diani Beach, Kenya | 4 Private Pool Villas | 4 Distinct Design Identities One villa. One identity. One designer. You will define a distinctive boutique-resort experience and take it from first concept to a procurement-ready design package. The main structural and architectural plans are already complete. Fixed fee: $500 USD per villa Payment: Split across three approval-gated milestones Summary We are developing an exclusive boutique resort of four attached private 2-bedroom single floor pool villas, about 50 steps from the white sands of Diani Beach. Architecture is complete. We are hiring four exceptional interior designers — one per villa — to create four completely different luxury hospitality experiences. This is not a furniture-filling exercise. Each villa should feel like a distinct international boutique experience while remaining practical, durable, and commercially attractive for short-term luxury rental. Design Directions Each villa will have its own identity. Preferred starting directions: 1. South American / Tulum Minimal Earthy textures, microcement, warm tones, raw timber, sculptural forms, lush indoor-outdoor greenery. 2. Southeast Asian / Bali Luxury Tropical luxury, rich timber, bamboo detailing, natural stone, organic textures, relaxed indoor-outdoor resort living. 3. Swahili Heritage A sophisticated contemporary take on Kenyan coastal/Lamu design — textured plaster, carved timber, brass accents, built-in baraza-style seating, local craftsmanship. 4. Greek / Cycladic Minimalist Whitewashed surfaces, soft curves, arches, natural stone, built-in furniture, blue/neutral Mediterranean accents. Creative Freedom: These are starting points, not rigid templates. You may propose another direction — Japandi Tropical, Wabi-Sabi Coastal, Contemporary African, etc. — with a clear rationale and relevant portfolio references. Diani Beach — Design Considerations This is a beautiful but demanding coastal environment. The design must respond to: • High humidity • Salt-laden coastal air • Strong equatorial UV exposure • Year-round temperatures of approximately 24–32°C • Seasonal monsoon rains • Changing coastal wind conditions Prioritize materials and finishes with corrosion resistance, UV stability, moisture and mould resistance, timber durability, and ease of maintenance. We want the villas to look unique and luxurious without specifying materials that will fail quickly in a coastal environment. Existing Architecture The main structural and architectural plans are complete. No architectural or structural redesign is required. Existing structural columns, load-bearing walls, and architectural geometry should preferably remain unchanged. We welcome ideas for door and window schedules as construction is about to start. We will provide: • AutoCAD DWG files • PDF drawings • Existing floor plans and dimensions • Pool and external layouts Your role is to develop the interior design, FF&E, furniture, finishes, lighting, and procurement strategy around the existing architecture. Areas to Design Interior • Master bedroom + ensuite • Guest bedroom + ensuite • Living area • Dining area • Kitchen with island • TV wall • Ceiling treatment • Door & window openings • Decorative elements • Interior lighting • Soft furnishings and accessories Exterior • Private swimming pool • Baja / tanning shelf and seating ledge • Poolside lounge, shower, leg wash and built-in garden seating • Integrated planters in the boundary • Outdoor furniture • Outdoor lighting • Landscaping / planting direction Required Deliverables 1. Photorealistic 3D Visualisation Six final high-quality rendered views: 1. Living / Kitchen / Dining 2. Master Bedroom 3. Guest Bedroom 4. Bathroom + Outdoor Shower 5. Pool / Poolside Lounge 6. Garden / Outdoor Living Renders should be marketing-grade — suitable for short-term rental listings, investor presentations, social media, and website use. 2. FF&E + Material Specification A consolidated specification covering: Flooring, walls, ceilings, joinery, kitchen finishes, bathroom finishes, furniture, lighting, artwork, decorative accessories, soft furnishings, outdoor furniture, and key landscape/planting direction. 3. Custom Furniture & Joinery Drawings Dimensioned design/detail drawings for key custom elements such as: Beds, wardrobes, kitchen island, dining table, dining chairs, sofa & lounge chairs, outdoor furniture, TV/feature wall, and any built-in seating. Drawings should be fabricator-ready — enough dimensions, materials, and design intent for pricing and manufacture. 4. Procurement Schedule A procurement-oriented schedule, not conceptual. For significant FF&E items, include: Item description, quantity, dimensions, material/finish, suggested supplier, approximate price where available, and direct Alibaba / amazon / Made-in-China / other online link. The goal: move from design → sourcing → procurement without redesigning the villa. Software Experience with one or more of the following is preferred: SketchUp / 3ds Max / Blender / Revit / Lumion / V-Ray / Enscape / similar. Editable 3D source files must be provided at completion. Budget & Milestones Fixed budget: $500 USD per villa. Milestone 1 — $100 | Creative Direction & Concept Approval Deliverables: • Mood board • Design concept / narrative • Material and finish palette • Initial FF&E direction • Lighting direction • 2–3 preliminary concept views or sketches • door/window opening style schedule recommendations Purpose: Approve the design language before major 3D work begins. Approval gate: Client approves the design language, palette, and overall direction before any major 3D work begins. Milestone 2 — $200 | Design Development & 3D Visualisation Deliverables: • At least Six final photorealistic renders • Agreed camera compositions • Final materials, furniture, and styling (including wardrobe, vanities & kitchen) • Furniture layouts • Lighting plan • Finish selections • Key design details Purpose: Deliver the complete approved interior design visually and spatially. Approval gate: Client approves the complete visual design before documentation and procurement work begins. Milestone 3 — $200 | Final Documentation, FF&E & Procurement Deliverables: • Editable 3D model / source files • FF&E schedule • Material specifications • Key furniture/fabrication drawings • Quantities and dimensions • Alibaba / Made-in-China sourcing links Purpose: Convert the approved design into a procurement-ready package. Approval gate: Final handover of a complete, procurement-ready design package. How the fee breaks down: $100 Concept → $200 Design & Renders → $200 Documentation & Procurement Total: $500 per villa. Each milestone is subject to approval before proceeding to the next. Do not proceed without approval of the previous stage. Reasonable revisions within the approved design direction are included. Major redesigns after concept approval are treated as additional scope. Remote Collaboration We work remote-first and will provide all architectural files and context. Collaboration can be via messages, Zoom, WhatsApp, and cloud file sharing. You may be based anywhere if you can meet deadlines and communicate clearly. We expect proactive questions about climate, local availability, and procurement, especially if you are not familiar with East African coastal conditions. Who We Are Looking For We are particularly interested in designers with experience in: • Luxury residential interiors • Boutique hotels • Resorts • Villas • Tropical/coastal properties • Short-term rental / hospitality design A strong portfolio and design eye matter more than formal qualifications. We want someone who combines: strong aesthetics + practical detailing + coastal material knowledge + procurement awareness. Application — 5 Short Questions Please answer these five questions along with your portfolio: 1. Design Direction Which direction are you applying for — Tulum, Bali, Swahili, Greek/Cycladic, or your own proposed concept? Briefly describe your approach. 2. Relevant Experience Share one hospitality or high-end residential project where you worked from an existing architectural design and developed the interior/FF&E. What was your specific role? 3. Coastal Materials Diani has high humidity, intense UV, and salt-laden coastal air. Name two materials/finishes you would avoid and two you would prioritise, with brief reasons. 4. Collaboration & Feedback How do you typically collaborate with client, architect, consultants, contractors, and fabricators? How do you handle design feedback and revisions? 5. Delivery Which software will you use? Can you provide the editable 3D model, detailed FF&E specifications, furniture drawings, and procurement links within the $500 fixed budget? Important We are commissioning four villas with deliberately different identities. The successful designers will not simply be filling rooms with furniture. The goal is to create four memorable boutique-resort experiences within one development. If you have a distinctive design style, understand tropical hospitality, and can translate an existing architectural shell into a compelling, procurement-ready interior, we want to see your work.