BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A DESIGNER

Mention the word “designer,” and many people think of an interior decorator who deals primarily with fabrics and furniture. An experienced interior designer (also called a designer) plays a much more robust role, especially in Design + Build.

From the outset, an interior designer concentrates on proactive problem-solving. As a single point of contact throughout a remodel, a designer offers convenience, continuity, cohesiveness, and collaboration with every client. “I love working with clients to create solutions to their unique design challenges that ultimately exceed their expectations,” notes Harrell Design + Build Designer Barb Wingo, Allied ASID.

What does a designer bring to the Design + Build process?

A designer’s forte is often thought of in terms of the “finishing touches” to a remodel. While it is true designers help clients pick just the right shade of blue for their living room walls or the perfect light fixture for their entry, their skill and expertise are an integral part of the entire Design + Build process.

In the Design + Build process, the first person you discuss your remodeling plans with is an designer. They gather information about you, your family, your home, and how you want to live in your newly remodeled space from that initial conversation. This collaborative partnership with your designer continues through the design and into the construction of your remodel.

Where to Begin?

An experienced designer will gather all the information needed about your home to determine what is feasible. They will come to your home to measure the current structure, augmenting this with photos. All that data will lead to the creation of existing floorplans, called an “As-Builts.” This initial assessment of how the home is built is a crucial first step. When combined with detailed research and analysis of your property based on the city’s planning and development guidelines, this feasibility study informs the requirements for your project.

Designers are well versed in planning and building code requirements, especially in Design + Build. In-depth technical knowledge results in buildable designs, decreasing the need for change orders, which often result in delays and potential increases to the cost of construction. Credentials you may look for in a designer would be CID (Certified Interior Designer), Allied ASID or ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) or NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) designations such as CKD (Certified Kitchen Designer).

How Will the New Space Work?

A designer takes the information they have learned about you and what you’re looking to achieve with your remodel, coupled with the existing conditions, to create proposed designs. A designer maximizes flow and function using space planning and layout of remodeled areas or additional square footage, taking into account furniture layouts of existing or new furniture, placement of major works of art on the wall, and other factors that affect traffic flow and circulation throughout the spaces. While many architects create the interior and exterior “shell” of a space, a seasoned designer will focus on how that space will function. For example, will wall and window placement in the main bedroom allow for a bed and nightstands? While in the kitchen, is the chef separated from family and guests?

Designers create proposed floorplans, wall elevations, and 3D images incorporating fixtures and finishes to help their clients envision how their new space will look.

How Will My Home Meet My Needs?

The design process is an interactive one between designer and client. Designers ask a myriad of questions (and listen to the answers!) to determine how to customize various areas of your home to meet your distinct needs. “You are the expert on your home and your family,” Barb emphasizes. Designers work with you to assess your lifestyle, unique storage, and organizational needs. Does your family like to cook together? Then your kitchen design may include multiple prep spaces and a second sink in the island. Or, you may have activities or collections that require custom storage solutions.