Working with a design and build team for a successful home project
(Dec. 26, 2023) — Taking on a home remodel project is a good amount of work, so I highly recommend partnering with a professional design and build team to guide you through the process from beginning to end.
An interior designer, general contractor, architect and an engineer make up the essential design and build team. The magnitude and special circumstances of your project will ultimately dictate which specialty groups you need.
The most common design team is an interior designer and a general contractor. This is usually the answer to most design projects where the square footage of a living space remains the same and just materials are updated, i.e., cabinets, tile and stone, flooring, paint, decorative lighting.
The interior designer will create a design plan and the general contractor and crew will turn that plan into reality. This type of remodel is the most typical because it’s the least invasive.
Living spaces become dated over time. Sometimes older homes are wonderfully chic and rustic, or perfectly vintage and quaint. But depending on how a living space was originally designed, or remodeled by a previous homeowner, the materials may need to be redone for the sake of aesthetics or repair.
The next level of design becomes more complex. This might include removing a wall or two to open up a compartmentalized floor plan, or pushing square footage to the side or back yards – or even up – to create a larger interior footprint.
Some interior designers are able to help you create this initial design plan. Usually this means a job site visit from a general contractor to help the interior designer assess load-bearing walls or where best to insert a stairwell.
If an interior designer is creating the design plan, you’ll need an engineer to provide structural drawings and calculations. The engineer’s job is to ensure that load-bearing walls, along with the foundation, roofing, plumbing and wiring, are safe and up to code. The engineer will also be able to dictate any new roof lines that tie into the addition.
The most significant design project you can take on is designing and building a new structure. You will need an architect to create the overall design plan. The architect will ask for your wish list from bedroom and bathroom count to specialty rooms like a home office or gym, or a great room for family and friends to gather.
The architect will cover every aspect of the new build that will eventually be sent to the engineer, who will provide structural input on what materials must be used for construction.
During the architectural design phase, interior designers are usually brought into the mix. This is the time for homeowners to really weigh in on the house layout, so it can really be a benefit to have an interior designer to help you navigate through this process.
The architectural phase is an exciting time for collaboration and brainstorming. The more you meet with your design team, the more your new home becomes a reality.
Big design projects require big design help, and knowing which design professionals you need to partner with is the first step of many. If you’re not sure where to start, begin with the design crew member with whom you’re most comfortable. You may have received a recommendation for a general contractor who might know an architect or an interior designer that they enjoy working with, and so on.
You’ll find that the design and build world is well-connected. Design and build professionals who have been consistently working in the design industry have their go-to crew members and are always happy to refer these individuals to potential clients.
When the design and build crew is in sync, great things will take place. There isn’t any “starting from scratch” or “ramp-up time” when seasoned design professionals team up. Whether these individuals know each other from past projects or are working together for the first time, a cohesive collection of creative individuals who know their roles and the roles of their peers is an important step to ensure a successful project from start to finish.
The camaraderie will create a comfortable setting for the client to feel like the design project is in capable hands.
Contact Jennifer Leischer with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.
Jennifer Leischer
Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton, CA. Combining a public relations degree from California State University, Chico, with further studies in design and interior architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Jennifer began her career as an interior designer in 1998, working for various firms in San Francisco and Orinda, and Denver, Colorado. She describes every designing moment, throughout her career, as a wonderful tutorial about the importance of relationships, open communication, and getting down to the basics of functional, yet stylish, living spaces.