09/04/2026
T H E W H E N
I visited a new project yesterday and it got me thinking as it’s something I’m seeing more and more.
Timings. When do you bring an interior designer on board?
Whether your going to knock down the back of your house to add an extension, just purchased the ultimate do-upper or are razing a rickety old bungalow to build your forever home, the process usually goes as follows -
1/ “we’re extending/ purchased/ knocking it down” (delete accordingly)
2/ we need an architect
3/ we need a builder
4/ builders start asking questions about finishes, changes to layout for them provide a a price
5/ you end up overwhelmed about the thousand questions that need answering.
6/ lets hire an interior designer.
One of the biggest mistakes I see when starting a home project, is bringing the interior designer in at the very end.
Interior design isn’t just picking out furniture once the house is built. It’s not the “final touch.” It’s part of the foundation (pun intended!).
When we’re involved from the beginning, alongside the architect and the builder, everything works better. The layouts feel intentional. The lighting is placed exactly where it should be. The cabinetry, joinery, ceiling details, and proportions are thought through before they’re installed.
We’re not just choosing finishes. We’re thinking about how you’ll move through the space. Where the natural light hits in the morning. How your family actually lives.
The architect designs the structure.
The builder brings it to life.
And the interior designer ensures it all feels cohesive, functional, and completely you.
When we collaborate from day one, you avoid costly changes later, and the end result feels seamless instead of pieced together.
That’s the difference.
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