What Archade is and how it started
Archade is a start-up founded by Carlo Crespi, a Bologna-based designer with years of experience in design studios. In the summer of 2024 Carlo set out to create a project that makes design more accessible and engaging. Today Archade is a design studio, a consultancy platform and an online shop specialising in furniture.
What makes Archade different?
- A complete offer: interior design, made-to-measure furniture and packages of complete rooms, ready to order.
- One single point of contact: we take care of design, coordination of production, supply and kerbside delivery; assembly is available on request, with a separate quote. Production is entrusted to selected partners and craftsmen, whom we choose and follow ourselves.
- Flexible services: you can buy a complete package, individual pieces of furniture or ask us for a made-to-measure project.
- Transparent method: clear quotes, agreed timescales and budget, a single contact person for the whole project.
What interior design services do you offer?
- Interior design for private homes, hospitality and commercial premises.
- Full project management: from the first concept through to coordinating suppliers and supervising the works.
- Bespoke furniture and custom supply, working with selected craftsmen.
- On-site advice on dividing the spaces and choosing services, partitions and finishes.
- Decoration with artworks, design pieces and antiques.
What are the packages and how do they work?
Packages are complete furnishing schemes already thought through, one for every room and style: you choose the room, the style and the size range and you receive a ready scheme, with a selection of coordinated furniture.
You can buy them in two ways: design documents only, if you want to carry it out yourself, or design plus furniture, if you would rather we handled the orders to the suppliers and the delivery. Every package stays customisable: you can swap or remove single pieces and keep the scheme consistent.
Are your renderings made with artificial intelligence?
No. Every rendering you see on the site comes from a real project, made by people. A designer chooses the style, searches for and selects the furniture piece by piece, builds the room in 3D and only at the end produces the rendering. This work is where Archade’s value lies: a room thought out by someone who chose every piece.
We only use artificial intelligence in the adviser on the home page, which helps you find your way around the site: the projects and the images are made by our designers.
Can I customise a package or buy only part of one?
Yes, we are very flexible. If you want to buy only some items or change certain parts of the package, we adapt to your needs while keeping the overall style of the project consistent. Write to us at info@archadedesign.com or call us on +39 351 499 9599: if needed, we can also talk it through on a video call.
Do you work only in Italy or abroad too?
We work mainly in Italy, but we can look at international shipping and projects. Please contact us by email to check any shipping costs or customs procedures.
What if I do not have an accurate floor plan of my room?
We can guide you in taking the basic measurements or, if you prefer, arrange a paid site visit to take accurate measurements. A detailed, up-to-date floor plan is essential for the best possible project.
If I buy a package with the design, who measures the room?
You take the survey: you send us the floor plan of the room with the measurements, we redraw it and develop the scheme on that basis, then hand it back to you. We take the survey ourselves only when the project is bespoke.
How does the warranty on the furniture work?
If you buy as a consumer, you have the 24-month legal guarantee of conformity from delivery, provided by Archade. If a piece of furniture has a defect, repair or replacement is free of charge, including shipping costs. Write to us at studio@archadedesign.com with your order number and a few photos of the defect: we will take care of it. All the details are on the page Legal guarantee.
Do you offer after-sales or support once everything is installed?
Yes. If you have a problem with a piece of furniture or a finish, or you want the scheme updated over time, we are here to work out the right answer: repair, replacement, addition or a later restyle.
How important are sustainability and environmental impact to Archade?
We don't use generic terms such as "eco-friendly" or "sustainable". When a piece of furniture has an environmental feature documented by its manufacturer, such as a wood certification or an official ecolabel, we state it on the product page with the name of the certification. If you want to know what a piece is made of, write to us and we will send you the manufacturer's information.
Can I see samples or handle the materials?
When the manufacturer makes them available, we can send you samples of fabrics, woods and finishes. Write to us at info@archadedesign.com telling us which piece of furniture you are interested in: we will let you know if the sample is available and how to receive it.
How do I measure a room accurately?
- Get your tools ready (tape measure or laser measure, paper, pen, phone or camera).
- Sketch the room, marking doors, windows and anything unusual.
- Measure the perimeter and the length of every wall carefully.
- Take the width and height of doors and windows, plus their position relative to the corners.
- Note the ceiling height (in more than one spot if you can) and the position of beams or recesses.
- Take wide photos and close-ups.
- If you have existing floor plans, compare them to check your survey is consistent.
- Send us everything clearly (photos or a scan of your notes), so we can do our best work.
Where can I find the floor plans of my home if I no longer have them?
Cadastral plans are requested online on the Italian Revenue Agency portal with SPID or CIE, or through a qualified surveyor. Often the building manager or the notary who handled the purchase keeps a copy too.
If you cannot get hold of it, don't worry: we will guide you in taking the basic measurements, or we can arrange a site visit, which is a paid service.
How can I contact you for more information or a quote?
Information: info@archadedesign.com
Orders, returns, guarantee and Studio services: studio@archadedesign.com
Phone and WhatsApp: +39 351 499 9599
If it helps, we can also talk on a video call to better understand your needs and suggest the right solution. A site visit, when needed, is a paid service.
Can I apply to work with you?
Of course. If you are a designer, an architect or a professional in the sector, send your CV and portfolio to studio@archadedesign.com. We look carefully at every application and will get back to you when a collaboration opportunity suited to your profile comes up.
How do you keep projects and personal data confidential?
We handle floor plans, drawings and personal data in full compliance with privacy law, and we are happy to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) if needed. The use of the deliverables we hand over to you is governed by the terms of the service you buy.
What payment methods do you accept in your shop?
In our shop you can pay with:
- credit and debit cards from the main card networks
- PayPal
- Apple Pay and Google Pay, if your device and browser support them
Payment takes place over an encrypted connection and your card details are handled by the payment service: they never pass through us.
What are the delivery times and costs for online orders?
- Delivery times: these depend on whether the product is in stock. If it is ready to ship, dispatch usually happens within 7 to 15 working days. If the item is made to order or needs bespoke finishes, it can take 4 to 12 weeks, with the date confirmed when you order.
- Shipping costs: each item has a shipping class (Standard, Medium or Oversize) and the cost depends on the class and on the delivery zone (Italy, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia, minor islands and remote areas). From the second piece in the same class you pay half price. You see the exact amount in the cart, before paying. There is no free shipping and no collection from our premises.
- Delivery and assembly: delivery is to the kerbside. Assembly is not included: you can request it separately, with a quote.
- International shipping: on request, we check the costs and the customs procedures. Get in touch for the details if you live abroad or you want delivery outside Italy.
What is your returns and refunds policy on products bought online?
- 14-day right of withdrawal: if you buy as a consumer you have 14 days from delivery to withdraw, without giving any reason. The product must be returned intact and well packed.
- Catalogue furniture and packages: can be returned, even if you chose them as part of a project. They are not made-to-measure goods.
- Made-to-measure goods: withdrawal is excluded only for goods that are genuinely made to measure or personalised to your specifications (art. 59, paragraph 1, letter c, of the Italian Consumer Code).
- Costs and refund: the cost of returning the goods is yours. We refund the price you paid, including standard delivery. For defects, on the other hand, you pay nothing: the legal guarantee applies.
- How to do it: use the page Withdraw from the contract or write to studio@archadedesign.com: we will send you the instructions for the return. All the details are on the page Returns and refunds.
Does the guarantee change if I buy with a VAT number?
Yes. The 24-month legal guarantee of conformity applies to those who buy as consumers, that is for personal use. If you buy with a VAT number for your business, the Italian Civil Code rules on sales between professionals and the terms written in the offer apply.
In both cases you handle the claim with us, not with the manufacturer: write to studio@archadedesign.com. For defects covered by the legal guarantee, repair or replacement is free of charge, including shipping costs.
Do you offer discounts or promotions on online orders?
We often run special offers and discount codes in our online shop, valid on a selection of products or on the whole basket. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow our social channels to keep up with what is running.
Can I track my delivery?
Yes. Once your order has shipped you will receive a tracking code or a confirmation email with a link to follow the parcel through to delivery. If there are any doubts or delays, get in touch and we will be glad to help.
How can I ask for more information about a product before buying it?
On our online shop you will find descriptions, technical sheets and, where available, reviews from other customers. If you need further details (sizes, materials, finishes), contact us by email or phone: our team of experts will give you all the support you need.
How do I exercise my right of withdrawal?
If you bought as a consumer you have 14 days to withdraw, without having to give a reason. The period starts from delivery of the last item in the order, or from the conclusion of the contract for design services.
The easiest way is the page Withdraw from the contract: you fill in the form, confirm, and you receive a receipt by email straight away. Alternatively you can write to us at studio@archadedesign.com or by certified email. From there we open the case with the supplier and tell you how and where to return the goods: do not ship anything before you have received the instructions. All the details on costs and refunds are on the page Returns and refunds.