Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing between the parties, the present general terms and conditions, printed on or attached to offers, invoices or any other documents whatsoever, are deemed to be in writing and shall be considered as fully accepted, without any exception or reservation, by those who receive them without objection. These general terms and conditions shall prevail over those of the client, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing by the interior architect.
Art. 1 – The term “client” refers to the person who has placed an order with SRL Maxime De Campenaere Studio, whose offices are located at Avenue Albert Giraud 39, 1030 Brussels (Belgium), and which is registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under number 0874.806.079 (hereinafter referred to as the “interior architect”).
SERVICES
Art. 2 – The interior architect provides advice relating to the layout and transformation of public or private spaces. He ensures and/or coordinates, where applicable, the supply of furniture and/or decorative items. However, the interior architect does not perform any mission falling within the exclusive competence of an architect within the meaning of the Act of 20 February 1939. This implies, in particular, that it is the client’s responsibility to appoint, at their own expense, an architect if, for example, an urban planning permit is required. Likewise, where the execution of the works requires the intervention of contractors or trades, such parties shall always be deemed to have contracted directly with the client, the interior architect not being considered as a general contractor. In this respect, the client is advised to verify the registration of contractors prior to signing any works contracts and also during the execution of the works (www.checkobligationderetenue.be) in order to avoid joint liability for their social and/or tax debts. The interior architect assumes no financial consequences resulting from failures of other contractors, including deregistration or lack of registration. The client waives any joint and several action and any third-party claims against the interior architect in the event of neighbourhood disturbances.
Art. 3 – The client undertakes to provide the interior architect with all documents, information and details necessary to enable him to perform the agreed services. The client also undertakes to do everything necessary to facilitate the interior architect’s intervention, in particular by ensuring accessibility and availability of the premises concerned. In this respect, the client shall respond to any request for clarification within five (5) working days. Failing this, the client shall be deemed to have agreed to the choices made by the interior architect. Approval granted by the client at each stage of the project shall be final and irrevocable. The client further undertakes not to interfere in the interior architect’s mission and refrains from giving technical instructions directly to contractors without prior consultation. Failing this, the client shall assume sole and full responsibility for any damage, inconvenience or other consequences resulting directly or indirectly therefrom. Finally, the client confirms that the property concerned by the services is insured against risks for which they could incur liability (fire, water damage, bodily injury to visitors, etc.) and declares having been informed of the possibility of taking out all-risk construction insurance covering all site participants and material damage related to the works.
QUOTATIONS AND ORDERS
Art. 4 – Any quotation, offer or equivalent document signed by the client constitutes acceptance of the description of the proposed services and goods, as well as their respective prices. The interior architect shall only be bound to perform the order after payment of the agreed deposit. In the event that works are carried out without a prior quotation, such works shall be invoiced on a time-and-materials basis according to the salaries and prices in force at the time of execution. For the delivery of movable goods and/or decorative items, the client must pay the full price at the latest upon signing the quotation. Custom-made goods, such as blinds or any other items that cannot be returned by the interior architect to his supplier, may under no circumstances be returned or exchanged. Unless otherwise stated in the quotation, where works are entrusted to a general building contractor, reasonable site supervision by the interior architect is included in the fees. This supervision includes a number of site meetings calculated on a weekly basis depending on the number of working days provided for in the works contract concluded between the client and the contractor concerned. Any additional site meeting or service rendered necessary due to delay or default attributable to the contractor may be invoiced to the client according to the applicable rates (site visits, administration, copies, travel, etc.), without prejudice to the client’s right to pass such costs on to the contractor concerned. Where works are entrusted to several separate contractors (separate trades), their coordination and supervision by the interior architect shall give rise to an increase in fees, set at 2% of the total amount of works excluding VAT per additional trade, due to the increased coordination burden. If the choice of a contractor by the client is not approved by the interior architect due, for example, to insufficient guarantees of competence and/or solvency, the interior architect may withdraw from the remaining missions with immediate effect, upon notification by registered letter. In such case, he shall retain the right to full fees for services performed up to the termination date, as well as any damages corresponding to the loss suffered.
Art. 5 – The interior architect undertakes to use all reasonable means to implement the project proposed to the client but does not guarantee absolute satisfaction, as the work performed involves a significant subjective and artistic component. He shall also not be held responsible for internal design or manufacturing defects of materials and supplies.
Art. 6 – The client acknowledges that the interior architect’s offer is based on a cost estimate established according to the visible and/or known condition of the premises and that unforeseen issues arising from the actual condition of the premises may lead to a modification of the final project cost. The client shall therefore inform the interior architect in advance and in writing of any specific characteristics of the premises.
Art. 7 – Any cancellation by the client of a quote that has been accepted by them shall result, on the one hand, in the full invoicing of fees corresponding to services performed up to the date of cancellation, calculated on a pro rata basis according to the phases or missions completed, and on the other hand, a minimum indemnity equal to 40% of the total pre-tax amount of the outstanding balance of the quote not yet executed, with a minimum of €300.00, without prejudice to the right of the interior architect to claim additional damages should they demonstrate having suffered a greater loss.
PAYMENT
Art. 8 – The client agrees to receive invoices in electronic format.
Art. 9 – Invoices are payable immediately. Failing payment within fifteen (15) days from the invoice date, the outstanding amount shall automatically and without prior notice be increased by an annual late-payment interest of 12%, as well as a fixed contractual penalty equal to 40% of the amount due, with a minimum of EUR 125.00.
Art. 10 – Any late payment shall also result in the immediate suspension of all services and/or deliveries until full payment has been made. The interior architect shall under no circumstances be held liable for any direct or indirect damage resulting from such suspension.
Art. 11 – Goods sold shall remain the property of the interior architect until full payment of the sale price (including accessories), it being understood that the risks shall be transferred to the client as from shipment.
EXECUTION TIMEFRAMES
Art. 12 – Although determined in good faith, execution and/or delivery timeframes are provided for indicative purposes only. The interior architect undertakes to use all reasonable means to comply with them but does not assume an obligation of result. In order to best comply with such timeframes, the client undertakes to remain available throughout the project, on site, by telephone or email, and to provide access to the premises concerned.
Art. 13 – Any delay in the execution of services or delivery of goods shall not justify termination of the contractual relationship or engage the interior architect’s liability. This applies all the more so to delays attributable to contractors or trades, which may under no circumstances be imputed to the interior architect. He shall nevertheless endeavour to obtain compliance with deadlines from the defaulting contractor for the benefit of the client.
Art. 14 – Any delay shall in no case justify termination of the contractual relationship or a claim for damages against the interior architect. Any event of force majeure (fire, strikes, accidents, etc.) affecting the interior architect or one of his suppliers and resulting in a total or partial suspension of performance shall release the interior architect from all liability. The client shall be informed as soon as possible of the disruptive event. Where such circumstances compromise the execution of the order under the agreed terms, the interior architect reserves the right to terminate the contract without commitment or liability.
Art. 15 – The interior architect may terminate his intervention without cause or compensation, subject to one (1) month’s notice.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Art. 16 – The interior architect remains the sole holder of all intellectual property rights applicable to his services and to the works designed or produced in execution of the contract (in particular plans, studies, photographs, videos, logos and developed concepts) (hereinafter the “Creations”), in any form and on any medium whatsoever. He is the exclusive holder of all moral and economic copyrights relating to the Creations. He is authorised to access the Creations and to take photographic or video recordings thereof. He is also authorised to publish such recordings on any medium, including the Internet and social media (Instagram account, etc.), for reference and promotional purposes. The client is prohibited from reproducing or communicating to the public all or part of the Creations, other than for strictly private use, without the prior written consent of the interior architect and without crediting him.
COMPLAINTS – LIABILITY
Art. 17 – To be valid, any complaint by the client relating to any element of the contractual relationship must be sent by registered mail within seven (7) working days from the occurrence of its cause (receipt of invoice, defects observed, etc.). In any event, the interior architect’s liability for minor hidden defects is limited to a period of one (1) year from acceptance of the works (i.e. written acceptance, taking possession of the works or full and unconditional payment).
Art. 18 – Subject to mandatory legal provisions that may apply where the client is a consumer, the interior architect shall in no event be liable for any damage, direct or indirect, exceeding the price of the service or goods concerned. Compensation for damage caused by non-performance or improper performance of a contractual obligation by an auxiliary of the interior architect may, within legal limits, only give rise to contractual or tort liability against the interior architect and not to extracontractual liability against the auxiliary, even where the event giving rise to the damage is also of a tortious nature.
Art. 19 – In the event of a serious breach by one of the parties that is not remedied within fifteen (15) calendar days following dispatch of a registered letter by the other party, the latter may immediately terminate the contract without notice or compensation, without prejudice to its right to claim damages. In particular, non-compliance by the client with payment conditions shall be deemed a serious breach.
Art. 20 – Each party may terminate the contract with immediate effect, by registered letter to the other party, without compensation and without judicial intervention or prior notice, in the event of insolvency, judicial reorganisation, declaration of bankruptcy or liquidation of the other party.
RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
Art. 21 – Where the contract has been concluded off-premises and the client is a consumer, the client has the right to withdraw from the contract within fourteen (14) days from its conclusion or, in the case of goods, from the day on which the client or a third party designated by the client (other than the carrier) takes physical possession of the goods. To exercise this right, the client must send the interior architect a clear statement of withdrawal (by letter or email), possibly using the model withdrawal form available at:
https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Forms/Formulaire-de-retractation.pdf
and return the goods concerned, at their own expense, within fourteen (14) days of notification, in accordance with Articles VI.67 et seq. of the Code of Economic Law. Reimbursement of payments received shall be made within fourteen (14) days from notification of withdrawal or, for goods, from receipt of the returned product in its original packaging or proof of dispatch. The interior architect may withhold reimbursement of any depreciation resulting from handling exceeding what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods. No right of withdrawal exists where performance of the service has begun with the client’s consent or where goods are custom-made.
SEVERABILITY
Art. 22 – The nullity or unenforceability of any clause of these general terms and conditions shall not affect the validity of the remaining clauses, which shall remain binding to the fullest extent permitted by law. Where applicable, the client and the interior architect shall endeavour to replace the ineffective clause with a provision that best reflects the contractual objective, both legally and economically.
APPLICABLE LAW – JURISDICTION
Art. 23 – The contract concluded between the interior architect and the client shall be governed by Belgian law. Any dispute relating to the validity, interpretation, performance or termination of the contract that cannot be resolved amicably shall fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the French-speaking courts of Brussels (Belgium).
Last updated: 14 January 2026