Designer or Architect?

I have a client who recently asked me to explain why someone needs a designer up front, if they are building or remodeling. Couldn't they just work with an architect? The answer is, yes. But think of hiring a painter to do apply venetian plaster vs. a faux finisher, or a cafeteria service to handle your office party instead of a caterer, or perhaps ask your son's pediatrician to remove that noticeable mole on your forehead when it really should be done by a plastic surgeon.

Certainly an architect is a highly skilled, trained and licensed professional - in architecture. Your architect may even have a lot to say about the interior finishing of your spaces. But an interior designer is a specialist in this area. We spend a lot of time working with the client to determine how they live and want to live. I have a client who, through the discovery process, described a desire to have 5 places to nap throughout the home - besides the beds. That requirement effects the space plans, (where the furniture is placed), the size of the rooms, where the doors and windows are, etc.

Working with an interior designer at the outset of a project avoids change orders and delays while the architect redraws; the engineering is recalculated; the plans rechecked. Looking at your needs after the building is done, can result in regrets - hard to take after spending thousands of dollars.

What if you have a beloved hobby, an aging parent(s), a pampered pet, a desire to travel, an amazing collection of something? All of those wonderful details about a client should be reflected in your design concept and ideally that starts from the first draft of the plans. Working with an interior designer is the best way to achieve exactly what you expect and exceed your goals.