What an interior designer does...
An interior designer envisions, plans, and outfits spaces in ways that make them both beautiful and functional. They balance aesthetic considerations with structural planning. This reflects the clients’ lifestyle, desired mood, and the home’s architectural features, ensuring that less glamorous details (like electrical outlets and air vents) fit into the scheme. An interior designer also cultivates relationships with trusted artisans, vendors, and others who help execute the design.
Designers charge for shopping, research, and sample selection and provide information about how products have performed for past clients. The designer's experience allows you to understand product durability, ease of cleaning, warranty coverage, and how responsive the manufacturer was to complaints.
When clients make changes to the agreed-upon design plan, the designer will communicate with the contractor on the construction implications of each choice. This is commonly done throughout the construction process. The designer should talk with the contractor daily or weekly to share and update information.
Be sure you hire a designer BEFORE building plans are drawn. Things work out best when the designer is brought in at the inception of the project. That’s when the designer’s input— for example, how much wall space a window treatment needs or the window height required for a certain couch, is essential.
You may have a clear vision for your home, but an interior designer can help you bring it to life while making sure it satisfies nitty-gritty considerations such as space planning. A trained eye and a creative mind allow for solutions that you might never have imagined, and attention to the tiniest details will transform your space into a haven that looks polished and pulled together.
Understanding the design process...
There is a natural flow to the design process, which every project no matter how small must go through.
The extent of each phase can vary depending on the projects needs. Below is a general outline for each phase.
Phase 1 - Programming
Programming is the discovery phase where you ask questions and describe your ideal vision. The goal is to outline style preferences, functionality, decision-making process, budget, and priorities. It is the most important step in the design process, yet it is commonly overlooked or cut short.
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Phase 2 - Schematic Design.
Using all the information gathered in programming, Schematic Design consists of the exploration of materials and the development of the overall design intent and presentation of materials. We will work through any design challenges and discover materials and design elements that complement the concept through sketches, SketchUp models, reference images, etc. We will also explore a rough furniture plan to ensure all the design elements “have a purpose,” and we are utilizing all the square footage possible. This will include the collection and gathering of proposed materials and finishes. We tend to spend the majority of our time together within this phase.
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Phase 3 - Design Development
Design development includes: plans, elevations, sections, and other related details to a high level of finish; color and finishes; furniture, fixtures, and equipment; and cost estimates and budget for construction and FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures and equipment) items. The resulting design is presented to you for review, revision, and final approval. Having a solid plan before we move into construction documents is the most cost-effective way to progress through your project. Making changes within construction documentation and especially during construction can be a timely and expensive process.
Phase 4 - Construction Documents
Construction documents communicate final decisions and agreements to initiate the project. This is important because it tells the contractor necessary information on how to build everything, and most importantly, gives the contractor a solid plan to supply bids for the work. Additionally, it serves as a written agreement for design plans. If the information is not communicated correctly or accurately, then it is possible for costly mistakes to happen or details to be overlooked. A 3D model or a sketch is not a typical acceptable format for jobs.
Typical drawings within construction documentation:
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Demolition Plan
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Floor Plans
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Fixed Finish Plan
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RCP (Reflected Ceiling Plan)
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Electrical plan
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Furniture Plan
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Interior Elevations and detail drawings
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Phase 5 - Construction administration
During construction, the role of a designer is to advise whether the work conforms to construction drawings and specifications. Often, the designer will want to be on site during FF&E (Furniture, fixtures, and equipment) installation and completion to check for any defects and errors and to ensure they are corrected. The construction process is complete when the designer has completed a punch list for the project and the items on the list have been corrected.