Why You Should Have an Interior Designer Review Your Architectural Plans Before Construction

When you're planning a renovation or building a new home, architectural plans are one of the most important pieces of the project. They establish the structure, dimensions, walls, windows, doors and overall layout of your home.

But there is another important question that should be considered before construction begins:

How will you actually live in the space?

That's where an interior designer's perspective can be invaluable.

At Barbara Rose Designs, I often review architectural plans before construction begins to look at the home from the inside out. I'm not replacing the role of the architect or contractor. Instead, I'm adding another layer to the planning process, looking closely at how the architecture will interact with furniture, cabinetry, lighting and the way you use each room.

A Floor Plan Can Work on Paper But Not Work for Your Furniture

One of the first things I look at when reviewing architectural plans is furniture placement.

Where will the sofa go?
Where will you watch television?
Can you comfortably walk around the dining table?
Will the bed fit properly between the windows?
Is there room for nightstands?
Does a door swing interfere with furniture?
Is there enough space to create a comfortable conversation area?

These may sound like decorating decisions, but they can actually affect architectural decisions.

For example, moving a window several inches during the planning stage may allow a bed, sofa or built-in to fit beautifully. Discovering that problem after the house has been framed or after the window has been installed, is a very different situation.

That's why I believe furniture planning should happen much earlier than many homeowners expect.

Window and Door Placement Matters

Windows create natural light and architectural interest, but their placement also determines what can happen inside the room.

When reviewing plans, I look at the relationship between windows, doors, furniture and cabinetry.

A beautifully centered window may look perfect on an elevation but leave no appropriate wall for a television or furniture arrangement. A door may technically fit but swing into an area needed for furniture. French doors may require more clearance than anticipated.

Small adjustments during the planning stage can sometimes dramatically improve how a room functions.

Kitchens Need to Be Planned Around Real Life

Kitchen design is another area where reviewing the plans early can make an enormous difference.

Before construction begins, I want to understand how the homeowner will actually use the kitchen.

Where will you prepare food? Where will groceries be unloaded? How far is the refrigerator from the sink? Is there adequate space around the island? Where will people sit? Can someone open the dishwasher while another person walks through the kitchen?

I also consider appliance locations, cabinetry, storage, lighting, electrical requirements and how the kitchen connects to the surrounding rooms.

A kitchen isn't simply a collection of cabinets and appliances. It's a working environment, and good planning can make the difference between a kitchen that looks beautiful and one that is beautiful and comfortable to use.

Lighting Shouldn't Be an Afterthought

Lighting is another reason I like to understand the interior design before construction progresses too far.

The location of recessed lighting, chandeliers, pendants, sconces, outlets and switches should relate to the final furniture plan.

A chandelier should relate to the dining table, not simply the center of an empty room.

Bedroom sconces should relate to the bed and nightstands.

Kitchen pendants should relate to the island.

Floor outlets may need to be planned for furniture arrangements that aren't located against a wall.

Thinking about these details early can reduce compromises later.

Bathrooms and Closets Deserve the Same Attention

Bathrooms and closets often involve fitting many functions into relatively small spaces.

In a bathroom, I look at the relationship between the vanity, shower, tub, toilet, storage, doors and circulation.

In a closet, every inch matters. Door placement, ceiling height and wall dimensions can significantly affect the amount of usable storage you ultimately have.

Sometimes a relatively small change to the original plan can create a much more functional bathroom or dramatically improve closet storage.

3D Visualization Can Help You Understand the Plans

One of the challenges homeowners face is that architectural drawings can be difficult to visualize.

You may understand the dimensions on paper but still have trouble imagining what the finished room will actually feel like.

At Barbara Rose Designs, I use Chief Architect software to develop floor plans and 3D visualizations that can help clients better understand their spaces before construction.

We can explore furniture placement, cabinetry, architectural details and different layout possibilities in a way that is often much easier to understand than looking at a two-dimensional drawing alone.

Being able to see the space can also make it easier to identify something that doesn't feel right and make adjustments while those changes are still relatively easy to make.

The Best Time to Make a Change Is Before It's Built

Construction involves hundreds of decisions, and changes become increasingly difficult and expensive as a project progresses.

Moving something on a floor plan can be simple.

Moving it after framing, plumbing, electrical work or cabinetry has been completed may not be.

That's one of the biggest reasons I encourage homeowners to have their plans reviewed from an interior-design perspective before construction begins.

The goal isn't to find fault with the architectural plans. The goal is to make sure the architecture and the interior work together.

Architects, Contractors and Interior Designers Bring Different Expertise

A successful renovation or new construction project is collaborative.

Your architect brings architectural and structural expertise. Your contractor understands how to build the project. Your interior designer considers how the finished spaces will function, feel and relate to the people living in them.

When those perspectives come together early, the homeowner benefits.

Planning a Renovation or New Home on Long Island?

If you're preparing for a renovation, addition or new construction project on Long Island, consider having your architectural plans reviewed from an interior-design perspective before construction begins.

At Barbara Rose Designs, I can review your plans, evaluate furniture placement and space planning, explore layout options and use 3D visualization when appropriate to help you understand how your future home will function.

Because before we make a home beautiful, we need to make sure it works.

Barbara Rose Designs
Interior Design • Renovation Planning • Architectural Plan Review • Space Planning • 3D Visualization