Let’s get one thing straight:
If you’re planning to hire an interior designer, do it at the same time as your architect.
No, not after construction starts.
Not when the contractor’s already measuring for drywall.
Same. Time. As. The. Architect.
In fact, the moment you start daydreaming about your future home or remodel—that’s when the hiring bells should ring. First call? Architect. Second? Interior designer. Third? Probably your therapist, because you’re about to start a construction project.
Why So Early?
Because when designers come early to the party, things actually go right.
Shocking, I know.
Let us collaborate with the architect while the floor plans are still warm and malleable. That’s when we can:
- Design your spaces with real furniture layouts in mind (not “oh-we’ll-make-it-work-later” ones).
- Tell you if that dreamy tub you want needs a bigger bathroom (spoiler: it probably does).
- Choose actual finishes so your contractor isn’t guessing prices for a mystery house from Fantasyland.
What Happens When Designers Show Up Early:
- Every single thing is specified ahead of time. Yes—down to the grout color and where your towel hook goes.
- Contractors bid accurately because they’re not making up prices based on vibes.
- Orders are placed on time, materials are in stock, and nobody’s scrambling to pick a “similar” tile because the one you wanted is backordered until 2042.
- Budgets? Based on reality. Not Pinterest dreams or contractor optimism.
Translation?
Your budget is safer.
Your timeline is saner.
You sleep better at night knowing someone already thought about the faucet finish in the powder room.
What Happens When Designers Come in Late?
Oh, you mean the usual?
Cue the chaos:
- “Can we move the window two inches?”
Sure, if you’d like to involve the architect, the structural engineer, the HOA, the city, the ghost of Frank Lloyd Wright, and possibly your cousin who once took a drafting class. - “Can we swap this tile? It’s out of stock.”
Yes, let me just find a new one that matches the design, fits the vibe, is available, is affordable, and doesn’t delay the project. Again. - “Can you just pick something similar that’s in stock?”
Yes, nothing screams custom design like last-minute panic shopping.
Oh, and if your contractor never read the spec book we painstakingly put together?
Yeah… you’ll be hearing the phrase “change order” more than your own name.
Final Thought:
If you truly want a smooth, well-designed, budget-friendly (ish) project:
Hire your interior designer at the same time as your architect.
Let us fight it out early (it’s a friendly design war, promise), make all the decisions up front, and hand your contractor a spec book so clear it could double as an IKEA manual.
Unless, of course, you enjoy chaos, confusion, last-minute compromises, and blaming your designer for everything from bad lighting to inflation.
Your call. 😎
