Despite the fact nearly a decade has past from the last review, my experience shares similarities to the review below. We have been working with Barnes, both in the role of architectural designer and contract administrator during a recent project. We received the recommendation for our builder through their tender process. During the period where the build was smooth, we were happy with the service provided, however after the builder got into financial difficulties we did not receive the level of diligence required in the role of contract administrator to protect us and support us in this situation. Most disappointing of all has been the tone and approach to dealing with some of the points we have raised to date. Despite my willingness to discuss and come to a fair conclusion, they have adopted an unnecessarily threatening and aggressive tone without being constructive or acknowledging their areas of shortcoming (and after ignoring many of my emails to highlight these issues over the last few months). This is despite them being well aware of the personal toll this project has already had on us in the last year. To name a few: - After choosing to add loft works, necessary amendments to the contract were not made in a timely fashion (did not even highlight the need to amend the contract for c.2 months) - No consistent change request process was implemented meaning we had to have retrospective discussions on additional costs that we had not agreed but that the builder went ahead with - As the client, I found myself having to check the weekly valuations delivered by Barnes as work done on site did not reflect the work we were paying for (upwards of 10 hours a week spent personally at times). We also found a £7k line item duplication that had been entirely missed! - Barnes did not respond to certain items over email at key points in the build. This resulted in errors in materials / design that needed to be rectified (more time and costs incurred by varying parties) - Barnes did not spot that cheaper or substandard materials were used in areas of the build (counter to the description we were paying for in the agreed contract) As a result we are over a year in and only just coming to the conclusion of the structural elements of the project, having been forced to terminate the contract with the builder back in December, and having incurred a series of additional costs due to their lack of diligence during site visits/ valuations. Whilst as a designer we had an initially satisfactory experience, this is a distant memory. Sadly on a build project that got into difficulties (the time you most need a strong contract administrator), they provided a dissatisfactory service whilst expecting to be paid in full for their role. We would have also appreciated more transparency about the builders previous company / past history during the tender process (which they were aware of), as this would have formed part of our decision making. Rarely do I feel compelled to write a review of this nature, but I would not want others to experience the same ongoing stress and impact that we have had. Their own terms state "we reduce the stress by being the first point of call for any queries or problems on site" - this is totally the opposite of what I have personally found. I am without a completed home well over a year on and have only had added angst and problems on site given their lack of diligence, plus inadequate communication and accountability. read more

Barnes Design provided a useful service at initial planning stages of our kitchen-living room refurbishment with a small extension: they advised on planning, party wall agreements, land and condition surveys, etc., prepared the detailed schedule of works for putting out to tender, and eventually (on our insistence to be in sight of the budget), found a good building contractor at the right price. Ultimately, however, for the whole job, Barnes did not deliver good value for the fees they charge. * They did not fulfil the 'great ideas' or the 'exceptional spaces...fresh designs, using innovative techniques, current trends and oodles of psychology' they promise on their website, or the experience, vision and visualization that we needed. They seemed inexperienced at times with regard to costs, client relations and sourcing: * When we as clients questioned a) the initial builders' quote that came in £20K over budget b) the major feature of the whole project, which did not match - and fell short of - what was on the approved Barnes Design drawings/plans, and c) the high cost of a necessary Variation (unforeseen extra works), Barnes reacted in an unprofessional manner ("we feel we are being attacked; we've done nothing wrong"); they were unsupportive, threatening and rude, and caused us a considerable amount of distress. We could and should have done without their project management and sourcing of materials, which at times was particularly inept, caused delays and didn't make any cost savings that we or the builders would not have been able to achieve on our own. The building contractors and we agreed that it would have been more efficient in time and cost to work directly with each other beyond contract stage. read more