Interior Design & Home Renovation | North Raleigh, NC
This question comes up on almost every first call before a major renovation or new build. The short answer is yes. On most larger projects the architect, builder and interior designer each play a different role. The best results happen when all three work together from the beginning.
The architect designs the building. The builder prices it and constructs it. We design how the house works from the inside out. We also coordinate directly with the architect and the builder. That way the whole team works toward the same goal. Nobody hands the project off from one person to the next.
Here’s where each role fits, and why the interior work matters more than most people expect. Take this North Raleigh colonial. It had great bones, but an outdated layout and architectural details that no longer worked.
What the architect and builder do
An architect designs the building itself. That covers the structure, how the house sits on the lot, and the drawings for engineering and permitting. They solve the big-picture questions about the building.
The builder prices the project and constructs it. That means coordinating trades, managing the schedule and building from the documents they’re given. The more complete those documents are, the more accurately they can price and build the project.
What we do
We design how the house works from the inside out. That starts with the floor plan. From there it runs through cabinetry, lighting, bathrooms, kitchens and finishes. It ends with the construction drawings the builder builds from.
We usually begin earlier than people expect. Many of the most important decisions happen before anyone finalizes the construction documents. Look at a floor plan through the lens of daily life and you’ll spot things worth changing. On paper, those changes are easy.
“A floor plan can work for the building and still not work for the people living in it.”
Here are a couple of real examples. For a family we worked with in Cary, the plans put the guest bathroom directly beside the main living area. You would hear the toilet flush from the sofa. Less than ideal. So we looked at how the family would actually use the space and found a more private location. It works better day to day, and it works better when you have guests over.
On a project in Raleigh, a small primary bathroom plan called for two sinks. That left very little room for storage and countertop space. So we asked the couple a question. Two sinks, or room to store all your cosmetics and set things down? We recommended one sink, with drawers and wall cabinetry instead. The bathroom works much better for the two people using it every day.
On the same project, the architectural plans showed the laundry room directly off the entry. There was nowhere to set down a basket, take off shoes or store coats. We think about the entire arrival sequence. What are you carrying? Where does it go? How does the space work during a busy week? A floor plan only tells you how it looks. We add storage to almost every project, because that’s what most people struggle with day to day.
Decisions like these are far easier to make before construction begins than after the walls go up. From there we develop the full interior package. That’s cabinetry and millwork, kitchen and bathroom layouts, lighting plans and plumbing fixtures. It also covers tile layouts, finishes, and the construction drawings the builder and trades rely on. We help clients obtain accurate bids too, and work through budget adjustments before construction starts.
Understanding the scope & budget first
What construction actually costs surprises most people. Part of our job is helping determine where the budget should go, before decisions start piling up.
“Most projects aren’t over budget because someone made a mistake. They’re over budget because nobody established priorities early enough.”
When priorities are clear, budget decisions become much easier.
On one project, the initial pricing came back higher than expected. So we sat down with the family and reviewed every part of it together. A skylight and a specialty tilting window that opened to an outdoor bar were expensive additions. Neither one was essential to how they lived. The kitchen was a daily-use space and a clear priority, so that’s where we focused the investment.
It’s also why we don’t start sourcing materials before we understand the budget. Falling in love with products before you know what the project can realistically support rarely helps anyone. Setting the budget first gives every decision that follows a framework.
When should you hire an interior designer?
Ideally during the planning stage, before construction pricing and before anyone locks in the major decisions.
That’s where the greatest value is. You can make decisions thoughtfully and set the budget on purpose. The architect, builder and interior designer can also solve problems together, before those problems get expensive.
That’s why we focus on projects that are still in planning. Once construction is underway, people make decisions reactively and under pressure. That limits how much impact we can have on the overall outcome.
The bottom line
On a major renovation, addition, or custom home, the architect, builder, and interior designer each fill a different role.
The architect designs the structure. The builder constructs the project. The interior designer develops the spaces, details and documentation. That’s what makes the home function well for the people living in it.
The smoothest projects usually have all three of us in early, working together from the start. Are you planning a renovation or new build in Raleigh or the Triangle? Understanding these roles before construction begins can save a significant amount of time, money and frustration later.
We love collaborating with the project team. The best projects happen when everyone brings their own expertise to the table. Our role is simply a different one, and knowing where the lines fall helps you put the right team together.
If you have questions about your project, schedule a complimentary discovery call and we’ll be glad to answer them.