Stop! Before You Hire That Builder: A Crucial Warning From Your Interior Designer
The Single Biggest Mistake You Can Make in Your Renovation (And How to Avoid It)
Hi Design Divas,
Let's talk about something I see constantly as an interior designer – something that makes my heart sink because I know it often leads to frustration, compromises, and unnecessary expense for homeowners.
It's the all-too-common practice of hiring a builder before hiring an interior designer and before finalising your design plan.
I understand the excitement. You've decided to renovate or build, and you want to get things moving. Hiring a builder feels like the most logical first step towards making concrete progress.
But trust me on this: it's putting the cart miles before the horse, and that horse doesn't even know where it's going yet.
Why Hiring a Builder First Is a Recipe for Trouble:
Builders are NOT Designers: This is the absolute crux of the issue. Your builder, plumber, tiler, electrician, painter – they are skilled tradespeople, experts in construction and execution. They are masters of bringing a plan to life. However, they are (usually) not trained designers.
Their expertise lies in the how, not necessarily the what or the why from a design perspective. Asking your builder for advice on joinery layout, tile combinations, lighting placement, or the optimal flow of your space is like asking your accountant for medical advice.
They might have an opinion, but it's not based on the professional training, spatial understanding, aesthetic principles, and holistic vision that a designer brings.
The Tyranny of the Building Schedule:
When you hire a builder first, their primary focus is (understandably) their construction schedule and keeping their team busy.
This means you'll likely be pressured to make critical design decisions long before the overall design concept is fully resolved. I've seen it countless times:
"We need the final layout for the kitchen cabinets by Friday to order them." (But have you considered appliance placement, workflow, and integration with the dining area yet?)
"Where do you want the taps and showerheads positioned? The plumber is here tomorrow." (But has the tile layout, niche placement, and overall bathroom aesthetic been finalised?)
"We need the electrical plan finalised now to run the wires." (But have you determined the furniture layout, artwork locations, ambient vs. task lighting needs?)
These decisions, made under pressure and in isolation, often lead to compromises, regrets, and spaces that just don't work as well as they could.
Good design takes time to develop and refine; it cannot be rushed to fit a construction timeline.
The Quoting Conundrum: Apples to Oranges:
What exactly is a builder quoting on if you don't have a finished, detailed design plan?
Without comprehensive drawings, specifications for materials, finishes, fittings, lighting, and joinery details, any quote you receive is based on assumptions, allowances, and guesswork.
You can't accurately compare quotes from different builders because they aren't pricing the same thing (it's apples to oranges, or worse, apples to... who knows?).
This ambiguity often leads to unexpected costs ("variations") down the track when details are clarified, blowing your budget out of the water.
The Solution: Design First, Build Second
It's simple, logical, and protects your vision and your wallet:
Engage an Interior Designer FIRST: Before you even think about talking seriously with builders, partner with a designer. We work with you to understand your needs, lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and budget.
Develop the FULL Design Concept: This involves space planning, mood boards, material selections, lighting design, joinery design, selecting fixtures and fittings and design documentation – creating a cohesive vision for your entire project.
Engage Your Chosen Builder: With a finalised design and a clear quote, you can confidently hire your builder, knowing everyone is on the same page. Construction can then proceed based on a well-thought-out, fully resolved plan.
The Benefits of Doing it Right:
A Cohesive, Considered Design: Your space will look, feel, and function exactly as intended.
Budget Clarity and Control: Minimise guesswork and unexpected costs.
Smoother Construction Process: Fewer changes, less confusion, reduced stress.
Better End Result: A home that truly reflects your vision and enhances your life.
Your Designer as Your Advocate: We can work alongside the builder during construction to ensure the design intent is followed.
Don't Sabotage Your Dream Project Before It Begins
Investing in the design phase upfront is not an unnecessary expense; it's the most critical investment you can make in ensuring your renovation or build is a success. It saves you money, time, and heartache in the long run.
So, please, if you're considering a project, resist the urge to jump straight to the builder. Prioritise the design. Finalise your vision and get the documentation sorted first. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.
Love, Penelope xx
Chief Anti-Vanilla Officer
In Our Experience…
We know from experience that reputable builders prefer to work with a full design package of floor plans, demolition plan, joinery elevations and 3D perspectives, electrical & lighting plan, full fixtures & finishes selections, and flooring and tile layouts.
That’s not to say that some aspects can’t be ‘tweaked’. However, if you’re 98% there you will save money, sanity, and angst!