Construction to Completion: Top 5 Benefits to Working with an Interior Designer

Construction to completion. Your new home is under way, you have the land, the architect, the floor plans are being designed. So many details and selections to make. When is the best time to bring in an interior designer?  Right Away! And here’s why; my Top 5 Benefits to working with an interior designer from construction to completion.

1. Full Design Vision 

First, A Designer looks at the blue prints with a slightly different set of eyes than the architect or builder.  Seeing not only the room shapes and flow of the floor plan but how will furniture layout for each room, locating electrical outlets and lighting to accommodate furniture, Window treatments and function, how they relate to the ceiling height and the trim details. Even details of function such as where do pet food bowls get placed, and where does your bakeware get stored that is located near your Kitchenaid mixer.

This palm Springs project allows interior walls to be moved and modified to accommodate the needs of my client’s family.  My client has an art collection that they want displayed in the home. A large piece in their collection needs a long wall and a good space to be a focal point. The result is the foyer wall built just the right size.  The blue tape is my layout during construction to verify the size.

I always layout the furniture and area rug sizes to make sure the sizes fit the space well  and to locate electrical floor outlets.  Which are important to have in a room where the furniture is placed in the center of the room, or off the walls. You don’t want have lamp chords running from end tables to perimeter walls.

2. The Bells And Whistles

Second, Selecting all surfaces such as flooring, cabinets and color, paint and countertops, can pull together the desired style and aesthetic you want for your home. Next, selections are made for  furniture styles and fabrics to build on to the design vision of the home.
We brought in our samples of selected stone tile, wall paint color, cabinet color, and counter top  to see the color palette in the actual space.  This gives me a chance to see the natural light, textures and constrasts to make sure I’m happy with feel and look. And most importantly, my client’s approval.

Fabric samples and carpet for the master bedroom, which had custom bedding made so I definitely wanted to make sure I was happy with colors and the look!

Fabric samples for the great room are reviewed in the space with natural light for final approval.  Furniture is then ordered 8-12 weeks ahead of the completion of the home.

3. A second pair of eyes

Thirdly, A skilled designer has experience with the process and can see the big picture and be your advocate on site. Seeing details and site Measuring. Tweaking the paint color if the actual natural light in the space calls for it.  As you probably know, choosing a paint color from a swatch in the paint store is much different than seeing the color in the actual space.

Great room and Dining Room spaces

4.  Timeline and budget

Another benefit to having a designer throughout the construction process is to help the project stay on time and within budget.   A clear budget and costs up front allow the project to flow smoothly from one phase to the next.  Product back ordered or changes on site can be both a construction delay and budget breaker.  Therefore, costing you, the homeowner, more money and an extended move in date.

5. Designed and delivered

Finally, Construction is completed! A final Clean is done and we have our install day.  My Favorite day is the install day…..what we’ve planned for months and sometimes a year or two in advance.  My clients are asked to be busy during install day so we can install all furniture and window coverings, art and accessories for a big reveal.

The End result! The furniture is delivered and set up, ideally without any surprises.   We’ve done the planning and paid attention to details ahead of time…..and it is worth it!

The Foyer wall with their piece of art on display – the smallest detail can make the biggest difference.

Hopefully I have shared with you 5 great benefits to working with a designer on your construction to completion home! When the last throw pillow is placed and the pet food bowls are right where they were designed to go, you’ll be so glad you made the investment to work with a designer.   If you’d like more information on working with my design team on your project, please give us a call.

Happy Building!

Best~ Michelle