Good To Know: The Value of an Interior Designer

All images from our Dutch Fields Project, photographs by Lucy Call.

"We shape the spaces that shape the human experience. This is what we do, what we create, what we give. It is how we earn our place at the human table. It is why our work is important to our clients, to our society, and to ourselves. It is the difference we make and why we choose this noble profession."

International Federation of Interior Architects and Designers.

Between us, our team has nearly 24 years of interior design experience. In all of our years working in this field, we have found that there are a lot of misconceptions around the home building process, and what interior designers actually do. Today for Good to Know, we wanted to talk a bit about what we really do, and how it helps our clients in a variety of ways. For all of our current and potential future clients, we want to lay out what our process looks like, so that you can better understand exactly what you’re paying for, and the value that you get from hiring an interior design team such as ours. 

If you’ve never worked with an interior designer before or if this is your first time needing one, it can be difficult to nail down everything that an interior designer does for a home project. While we do a lot of concrete things like ordering furniture, sourcing decor, and helping install everything, a lot of what we do can feel intangible. This is because our work is all about the details and the overall cohesion of the space. 

So, what Does an Interior Designer actually do? 

What we do day-to-day depends on the project and the needs of the client. For full service projects, we work with the architect/draftsman and builder throughout your project to make sure that your vision is coming to life. We help consult on the layout and design, we draw up cabinetry and millwork plans, and we select products and furniture for your home. Depending on your location, we may have connections and relationships with subcontractors, and we can consult and help make sure that you hire the best people for your project. We also select paint colors, coordinate site visits, manage the entire project, and finish it all off by installing the furniture and styling your home. Ordering furniture and fixtures alone is a massive project that is kept organized by numerous team members, spreadsheets, and tracking mechanisms. In addition to these things, we also help in other crucial areas of the home build process.  

We Coordinate with the Builder and the Architect. 

Throughout the process, we frequently act as a liaison between the builder, architect, and client. When people are building a home, they often ask why they need to hire a builder, an architect, and a designer. Technically, you could get a house built with just the first two, but without an interior designer do you really have a vision and the ability to create it fully? The truth is that while it feels like there is a lot of overlap between these three roles, each one is very different, and they work together and complement each other. 

In reality, everyone who works on your home wants a beautiful, high-quality final product. The builder and the architect are so vital and their concern first and foremost is making sure that everything is safe, functional, and up-to-code. The architect is primarily responsible for the home’s design, the builder is responsible for executing that design, and our principal responsibility is to the beauty, cohesion, and ultimate usability of the space. Whether we’re brought onto the project from the beginning or part-way through, we can help make sure that your dream home is truly becoming a reality. 

I love this quote on the importance of having a designer oversee the build process, because good design is all in the details.

“Even the seemingly unglamorous decisions like where to place your kitchen outlets can make a big impact in the final outcome of the project. For example, if you want one solid piece of marble backsplash in your kitchen versus a tile backsplash, it’s best to conceal the kitchen outlets underneath the upper cabinets to avoid breaking up the backsplash with outlet cuts.”

Alexis Rodgers via MyDomaine

We Advocate For Your Needs. 

In addition to coordinating between the builder and the architect, we also advocate for you! We want to do everything in our power to make sure that the project is everything you’ve dreamt of, and we work hard to eliminate as much stress as possible. 

“Working with Marianne at W Design Collective was the highlight of our new build. She took the time up front to really get to know me, my family, my priorities, and my style. It made everything go so smoothly because I always knew we were on the same page and I could trust her completely.”

The Sunrise Drive Project 

We Research Everything! 

One of the most important things that we do as interior designers is research. Our team is very focused on the practical and long-term usability of your furniture and fixtures, so we work hard to make sure that you are only getting high-quality items. We spend time going to market, visiting showrooms, and testing everything to find the perfect items for your home. If the perfect thing does not exist, we design it ourselves! 

We Help You Get More Value For Your Money

Believe it or not, interior designers help you get more value for the money you invest in your home project. People typically think of an interior designer last when they are hiring people to build their home, so it is not seen as a necessary expense, rather as an additional cost. While the upfront costs are certainly higher, the savings come in the long run. 

If you have a million dollar build budget you can build a larger home, with fewer details and hire a builder and draftsman so you can really stretch every dollar. Or, you can build a smaller home, hire an architect, builder, and designer, and have a higher quality product in the end. It comes down to the choice between quality versus quantity. Sometimes you need the quantity instead of quality because of your life situation, but if you truly have the option, speaking from experience, go for quality. I promise you will be happier in the long run and the home will stand the test of time and last for generations instead of being torn down in 50 years. 

During the build process, we help save money by working efficiently, planning all the details and saving time by not having to do the work twice because things are thought through (and we all know that time is money). Our team is careful to spend your budget as efficiently as possible. We know where to splurge and where to save, and how to make your budget stretch as far as it can. We also help avoid costly mistakes, as we are trained to see and avoid potential mistakes before they happen. 

Something that architects and builders sometimes miss is how the furniture is truly going to layout in a space. We had a client where the space the draftsman had given for the living room was long and narrow and the doors to the patio were directly behind the sofa. In reality, the layout would have been very frustrating to live with, and people would have to walk around the sofa to go outside. The funny thing is that on paper it all looked okay - the walkways were technically big enough, etc. and the draftsman and builder had done their part by making sure everything was to code. However, someone needed to watch out for the usability of the space and consider the furnishings, which is exactly why you hire a designer.  Because our client had brought us into the process at the beginning, we were able to catch that detail and our client was so grateful. 

On a remodel we are currently working on, the architect had created an extra bedroom on the top floor by adding a ceiling to the main floor. Unfortunately, they missed the fact that there was only one tiny bathroom for what is now three bedrooms. We edited the plan and found a way to put in another bathroom so the family wasn’t left with a non-functional bedroom because there wasn’t a bathroom big enough to accommodate everyone. 

As I mentioned above, our team specifically focuses on the long-term and practical use of the furniture and finishings in your space. We want your space to be beautiful, but also practical and functional for your day-to-day life. Depending on your family’s needs, we can source stain resistant or tougher furniture that is not only going to last, but will also still look good in the years to come.

The other way that interior designers help save you money becomes a factor if you decide to sell your home. Having your home designed by a professional interior designer can boost the future buyers appeal and overall value of your home, making it a great investment long-term. 

Should You Hire an Interior Designer? 

Now that you have a better understanding of what an interior designer does, you are better equipped to decide whether or not you need one for your next home build project. First and foremost, consider your budget, and whether or not there is room to pay for a designer. If you don’t have room for a full-service designer, you can look into design consultations and get a designer’s eye on your project that way. If the budget is there and you are building a new home or are undergoing a significant renovation, we highly recommend that you hire a designer. The design process doesn’t happen overnight, and it can be stressful at times, but we work incredibly hard to give you your dream home!

Do you have more questions about what an interior designer does? 

Ask us in the comments section below!