Why You Should Hire a Designer Before a Contractor

renovation

Why Design Should Be Your First Step, Not the Contractor

Many people make the same mistake when they start planning their remodel: their first call is to a contractor. This might seem ike the logical starting point, but the reality is that design should always come first. The design process is the FOUNDATION on which the renovation is built...it's everything from your visions to materials and finishes to layout and functionality.

Why Start with Design?

Many homeowners mistakenly call the contractor first, thinking they’ll handle everything. Or at the very least they'll tell them what decisions need to be made and where to go to make selections. Contractors are not designers. FULL STOP. One contractor told me with embarrassment that his wife didn't let him pick out his own shirts so he was relived to finally be working with a designer on this particular project.

Without a clear design plan, contractors are left guessing, and interpreting, and using THEIR descretion which leads to a less-than-optimal result. Your contractor is there to EXECUTE the design, not CREATE the design.

What Happens During the Design Process?

The design process begins with clarifying your goals, your lifestyle, and aesthetic vision. We want to understand how you want to live and identify how your current space isn't serving you. Whether it's lack of storage, poor flow, or outdated finishes, we isolate the pain points and strategize solutions.

The design phase is your opportunity to get intentional about how you want your space to function and feel. We take a holistic approach to your remodel by considering details like: how light enters the room, how your furniture will be arranged, and how the space will flow from one area to another.

The design process we follow is considered best practice and it is taught and endorsed by most professional institutions including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Schematic Design: This is the conceptual phase, where we develop ideas and spatial relationships. We explore how the space will function and flow, and create initial drawings for review.
Design Development: Once we’ve agreed on a direction, we dive into the details—materials, finishes, and layouts are refined. By the end of this phase, we have a clear design plan that everyone can follow.
Construction Documents: These are the highly detailed drawings and plans that contractors will use to bring your design to life. They include everything a contractor needs to provide accurate pricing and execution, ensuring there’s no guesswork involved.

Why This Matters

The most obvious reason to have a detailed plan before you contact a contractor is that once the design is complete and materials are selected, you’re able to get apples-to-apples bids from contractors. This means you can confidently compare pricing because each contractor is working from the same detailed plan. This is how we assure clients that we can remain on-budget because we're starting out with a budget based on the actual design, not an arbitrary, hypothetical design. This also provides us the opportunity to alter the design to help us maximize the budget.

The design process is the first and most critical step to ensure your renovation is smooth, cohesive, and successful. So when you pick up the phone to call a contractor, call a designer first!