How Designers Collaborate With Your Builder & Architect
When it comes to building a custom home or starting a large-scale renovation, incredible things happen when you have these three experts — designer, architect, and builder — working together for you. Why?
Because, together, we create results that put your vision at the forefront and transcend what either of us could produce for you alone. We each bring complementary skills and experiences to every angle of your project. We collaborate throughout the entire process, fine-tuning creative solutions, maintaining efficiency, and making recommendations that are in lockstep with one another.
HOW WE HELP YOU ASSEMBLE YOUR TEAM
The ideal order of operations is to establish your dream team before any construction begins, even before ground is broken, if possible. By starting with the professionals, we have the chance to really get to know you and your lifestyle, which ensures that your home will meet your biggest priorities…including the ones you didn’t realize were priorities.
You also give your builder, architect and designer the chance to collaborate on creative and strategic ways to realize your goals. And remember, the ideas, solutions, and amenities we imagine for you are always easier to create and fine-tune on paper. Once the foundation is poured and walls go up, our freedom is limited.
If we’re your first call, we can also play an active role in helping you assemble your team. We have worked with a variety of builders, architects, structural engineers, landscape architects, and more. Together, we can identify what your project will need, who the best person for the job is, and make that introduction.
As you can imagine, this will save you countless hours sifting through Google and interviewing professionals. Plus, you already have the peace of mind that we will work like a well-oiled machine together — because we’ve done it many times before.
HOW DESIGNERS COLLABORATE WITH YOUR ARCHITECT DURING THE DESIGN PHASE
Floor Plan
At this point, the architect typically takes the lead and creates an initial floorplan. However, as designers, we will collaborate with them to modify the design as needed. Yes, architects are structural experts, but interior designers pay closer attention to how your home will be used in a day-to-day capacity. This information can and will impact the structural design.
For example, we may learn that you are envisioning an enormous U-shaped sectional in your family room. While that may seem premature (or insignificant) to know at this stage, that information is highly beneficial. We can look at the floorplan with your architect and make sure there is enough space planned for it.
This is also true for that California King bed you want, the TV you’re imagining over the fireplace, the butler’s pantry you are dying to have, etc. We make sure that your desired living experience will be accommodated by the structure of the home itself…long before we ever select that oversized sectional for you.
Interior Architecture & Custom Features
Once the floorplan has been established, we will also work with your architect to refine fixed features and interior architecture. This could include STUNNING MILLWORK (like wall paneling, coffered ceilings, etc.), custom built-ins (like we did in the CEDAR HILL PROJECT), a jaw-dropping fireplace feature, and more. We love to get creative with custom designs and amenities for our clients — it impacts the way your home looks, feels, and functions — and having your architect’s collaboration makes it all possible.
After finalizing the plans with the architect and ensuring everything is properly documented, we will then meet with your builder to ensure that our designs can be built within the projected timeline and budget. If revisions are necessary, the process repeats until the final plans and specifications check all the boxes.
HOW DESIGNERS COLLABORATE WITH YOUR BUILDER DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE
We work hand in hand with the builder to establish allowances that honor the design concept and desired finish level to ensure our specifications fall within the a range that keeps us on budget. Once our plans and selections are approved, construction begins. The builder will use our many detailed drawings to efficiently execute the design. As designers, we make frequent site visits during this phase, actively checking on progress and making sure we’re available to answer any questions from the build team.
We will also conduct frequent walkthroughs during the framing, plumbing, and electrical stages, which allow us to catch potential errors early on. We firmly believe in the tried-and-true adage: measure twice, cut once.
In the event that a challenge presents itself during the construction process (e.g. a product becoming unavailable), the design may need to change slightly. We will be on-hand to help make these decisions quickly and in alignment with your goals. Out of respect for the architect’s work, especially if the exterior is impacted in any way, we’ll collaborate with them on solutions and present those to you.
From the architect to the builder to the many other trades involved in creating your new home, part of being a well-oiled team is communication, collaboration, and respect. That’s how we create a finished home you won’t ever want to leave.
THE FINAL LAYER: FURNISHING YOUR HOME
During the construction phase, we will also stay in close communication with your builder so that we can schedule your installation day (or multiple days) once construction work has wrapped up. With our goal of wanting you to move into your home as soon as construction wraps up, we are very proactive about ordering furnishings early. We start placing orders during the construction process and carefully house them until installation day.
Then, we sweep through the home in a flourish, laying down rugs, perfectly positioning chairs and sofas, styling with accessories, and so much more. These are the final touches that make your new house feel like home.
ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP?
There you have it — the magic of collaboration and creation. When we work together, the entire process for building or renovating your new space runs smoothly, efficiently, and closely in line with your desires for your home. After all, having a home that speaks to your lifestyle and inspires you to dream big and live boldly? That’s what it’s all about.