ᐅ Interior Designer: When to Hire and What Does It Cost? Should I Use a Regular Architect?
Created on: 5 Oct 2012 08:35
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playingpro
playingpro5 Oct 2012 08:35Hello,
We are building our single-family home in 2014. The plot is already secured, and we had our first discussion about costs with the architect (who also designed my company building) last week.
He estimates the construction costs at 530,000 euros, excluding the kitchen. Now we want it to be a bit more upscale, so I THINK it will be around 600,000 euros... great bathroom, great kitchen, and so on! Our budget is around 650,000 euros, so there is still some room.
We have roughly planned the floor plan, which the architect has more or less approved!
However, we have a problem: We basically know what we want, but whether everything will harmonize from room to room is the question! Tiles in the hallway, hardwood flooring in the living room, but: which color, what style, shape, etc.? What paint color? One wall in the living room as a natural stone wall, but which kind of stone? There are many details to consider when I think about it...
My question is: When should an interior designer get involved? Or can this be done after the architect? Or maybe a space planner? If it’s an interior designer, what are the costs?
Thanks very much for any information!
Armin
We are building our single-family home in 2014. The plot is already secured, and we had our first discussion about costs with the architect (who also designed my company building) last week.
He estimates the construction costs at 530,000 euros, excluding the kitchen. Now we want it to be a bit more upscale, so I THINK it will be around 600,000 euros... great bathroom, great kitchen, and so on! Our budget is around 650,000 euros, so there is still some room.
We have roughly planned the floor plan, which the architect has more or less approved!
However, we have a problem: We basically know what we want, but whether everything will harmonize from room to room is the question! Tiles in the hallway, hardwood flooring in the living room, but: which color, what style, shape, etc.? What paint color? One wall in the living room as a natural stone wall, but which kind of stone? There are many details to consider when I think about it...
My question is: When should an interior designer get involved? Or can this be done after the architect? Or maybe a space planner? If it’s an interior designer, what are the costs?
Thanks very much for any information!
Armin
playingpro7 Oct 2012 12:03Hasn’t anyone here really hired an interior designer yet??
playingpro8 Oct 2012 13:21Hello building expert,
Thank you very much!!
Question: The house costs 600,000 euros... but the work of an interior designer is limited to the "interior fittings" of the house, while the rest is done by the architect, right? Does the interior designer then charge, for example, 10-15% of the costs of the interior finishings, such as the bathroom or kitchen? For example, kitchen plus bathroom plus other: 150,000 euros, with 10-15% of that?
We are not really looking for something super modern, more elegant and cozy! Something rather timeless...
Thank you,
Armin
Thank you very much!!
Question: The house costs 600,000 euros... but the work of an interior designer is limited to the "interior fittings" of the house, while the rest is done by the architect, right? Does the interior designer then charge, for example, 10-15% of the costs of the interior finishings, such as the bathroom or kitchen? For example, kitchen plus bathroom plus other: 150,000 euros, with 10-15% of that?
We are not really looking for something super modern, more elegant and cozy! Something rather timeless...
Thank you,
Armin
Hello Armin,
I am an interior architect and hopefully can encourage you to seek professional help. Clients who build with a developer or architect and then hire me for the interior design often say, “We wish we had brought you in earlier!” You should know: We don’t try to“… adapt your taste to current fashion trends;” that might be the job of an interior decorator. What distinguishes an interior architect from an architect is this: We design a house from the inside out, asking questions like: How do the residents live? Where is storage needed rather than windows? Where does a door make sense? Does the laundry room always have to be in the basement when the laundry usually happens on the upper floor? And so on. An architect plans from the outside in, considering factors like the integration of neighboring buildings and the façade. Both approaches are important, but only if both are given equal priority. I have seen many new builds where the focus was mainly on an impressive façade with large windows, and no one thought about the residents and their needs! So my advice is: Bring an interior architect on board as early as possible, preferably someone who works well with your architect, so no conflicts arise! Regarding costs: Good planning obviously costs money. But if the interior architect is responsible for the interior construction, you don’t need to pay the architect for that. Also, you can commission just certain parts, like the floor plan or the bathroom design, which keeps it manageable. And most importantly: You have a professional on your side to ensure you make the right decisions! Good luck!
I am an interior architect and hopefully can encourage you to seek professional help. Clients who build with a developer or architect and then hire me for the interior design often say, “We wish we had brought you in earlier!” You should know: We don’t try to“… adapt your taste to current fashion trends;” that might be the job of an interior decorator. What distinguishes an interior architect from an architect is this: We design a house from the inside out, asking questions like: How do the residents live? Where is storage needed rather than windows? Where does a door make sense? Does the laundry room always have to be in the basement when the laundry usually happens on the upper floor? And so on. An architect plans from the outside in, considering factors like the integration of neighboring buildings and the façade. Both approaches are important, but only if both are given equal priority. I have seen many new builds where the focus was mainly on an impressive façade with large windows, and no one thought about the residents and their needs! So my advice is: Bring an interior architect on board as early as possible, preferably someone who works well with your architect, so no conflicts arise! Regarding costs: Good planning obviously costs money. But if the interior architect is responsible for the interior construction, you don’t need to pay the architect for that. Also, you can commission just certain parts, like the floor plan or the bathroom design, which keeps it manageable. And most importantly: You have a professional on your side to ensure you make the right decisions! Good luck!
Hello Armin,
I am also an interior designer working in the planning and consulting of both residential and commercial spaces.
I believe it is very important to address the specific needs of the client and develop tailored concepts.
Which colors, shapes, and materials complement each other to create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing space is one question. Another is which of these characteristics suit the person or people who will live or work there.
That was also my question, which is why I expanded my expertise a few years ago by training in Feng Shui to be able to plan accordingly.
Regarding questions like: Which color, which appearance, which shape, etc.? Which wall color? A natural stone wall in the living room, but which stones? Many factors come together when I think about it...
I would be happy to provide consulting on these topics.
Best regards
Rolf
I am also an interior designer working in the planning and consulting of both residential and commercial spaces.
I believe it is very important to address the specific needs of the client and develop tailored concepts.
Which colors, shapes, and materials complement each other to create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing space is one question. Another is which of these characteristics suit the person or people who will live or work there.
That was also my question, which is why I expanded my expertise a few years ago by training in Feng Shui to be able to plan accordingly.
Regarding questions like: Which color, which appearance, which shape, etc.? Which wall color? A natural stone wall in the living room, but which stones? Many factors come together when I think about it...
I would be happy to provide consulting on these topics.
Best regards
Rolf
playingpro27 Mar 2013 16:09Hello and thank you for the replies... some progress is being made after all.
In the meantime, we visited another architect who designs very beautiful houses. I have already seen quite a few (around 10) while passing by, all high-quality single-family homes.
Now, the budget for this house size and with THIS architect is significantly higher—950,000 to 1 million euros instead of the targeted 650,000 from the architect who already built my company’s building... he is more down-to-earth, while Mr. Sulzmann is definitely more exclusive... but also very beautiful, so we are going with him! I’m not sure if I still need an interior designer, as I THINK he already has a very good sense for beautiful things... hmm...
Best regards,
Armin
In the meantime, we visited another architect who designs very beautiful houses. I have already seen quite a few (around 10) while passing by, all high-quality single-family homes.
Now, the budget for this house size and with THIS architect is significantly higher—950,000 to 1 million euros instead of the targeted 650,000 from the architect who already built my company’s building... he is more down-to-earth, while Mr. Sulzmann is definitely more exclusive... but also very beautiful, so we are going with him! I’m not sure if I still need an interior designer, as I THINK he already has a very good sense for beautiful things... hmm...
Best regards,
Armin
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