Where to start: Designer or Contractor?
A question that we often get when our Edmonton and area interior design clients first inquire with us is, “should we have a contractor chosen first or wait until the design is done?” While this depends on the type of contractor and type of designer, there are a few reasons why you may want to start with one over the other. So let’s discuss these reasons and some of the associated pros and cons, to help you decide the direction you’ll take on your next project.
Photos by Christina Louise Branding
Designer First, Contractor Second
Generally speaking, this is my preference and what I will recommend when people ask. And it’s not just because I’m biased - there are real reasons for this!
The main reason I suggest working with your designer first is because our job is to work closely with you to understand your needs, tastes and functional requirements to ensure your design is reflective of your unique style and personality. This means you have a cohesive design concept that aligns with your preferences and lifestyle.
It also means you have a clear understanding of what the scope of your project is.
We assist with prioritizing spending and establishing a realistic budget through:
Space Planning and Functionality
Material and Finishes Selection
Cost-Effective Decision Making
You may not have realized that a small change to the layout of your space could make your home more functional and is worth adding to the scope. Or perhaps there is an easier way to achieve your vision that ends up decreasing the scope of work you thought you needed. We know where it’s imparative to spend a bit more and where we can get away with spending a bit less.
Once you’ve approved your design concept with our team, we then prepare a set of drawings, specification lists to create a Statement of Work (SOW). This document gives the contractor a very clear understanding of the work that’s required and the level of finishes they need to budget for (and when you’re with us, they’ll know the exact finishes so their quote is even more accurate). It helps them know if they need to engage a specialized sub-trade and they can give a better estimate of the project timeline.
We then collaborate with the chosen contractor throughout the implementation of your project as your advocate. Helping to problem solve in a timely manner, improve communication and of course, ensure the design intent is executed accurately.
Contractor First, Designer Second
We often collaborate with contractors where they hire us to handle the design for their client / project, but I find this works best when the scope of the project is very tight. What do I mean by this? Well let’s say you want to update your bathroom. All of the plumbing fixtures are staying in the same place, no walls are moving, you’re just updating your finishes and fixtures to reflect your style. AND you already know what your budget is for the project. This is a perfect situation where it works just fine to have us come in after you’ve engaged the contractor. They can then provide us with the budget allocated to the design choices, the time frame for the project and we can pull together the design within those parameters (and with our process of understanding you and your needs / wants too).
But this can cause problems. We’ve been hired for projects before where the budget allocated to certain items was not in alignment with what the client desired for their space. And when this happens we end up with change requests to update the budget or a need for the client to settle for a less than desirable option.
We’ve also been in situations where the client has a contractor already but the client wants us to handle the design. If the contractor isn’t used to working with a designer, it can be challenging if we’re incorporating ideas they may not have experience with. In the same way that we aren’t the right fit for every client, a particular contractor may not be the best fit for your project. But if we have that clear understanding of what your project is going to entail, we can help you find the right fit based on our contacts and experience.
Designer and Contractor at the Same Time
This typically happens when you hire “Design-Build” firms (where the same team does the design and implementation) but there are projects where we take this approach too. A great example of this is when our clients come to us with a more unique scope or a large scale project where it’s critical we have a contractor chosen to collaborate with throughout the design process. We’ll then recommend the contractor we feel is the best fit for that project and engage them early on to discuss our options and have them review the design throughout the process.
So what is best for you?
Every home, client and project is unique and the approach you take will be reflective of that. We’re happy to give guidance on that via our complimentary Discovery Call. It’s 20min on Zoom where we can get to know each other, chat about your project, I can give you some guidance on the best approach along with estimates for our design fees. And in case you’re curious about what happens next… we then schedule a paid Initial Design Consultation where I come to your home for an in-person visit to see the space in person, discuss your needs and wants in more detail, share ideas, inspiration and more. From there I can prepare a customized quote for your project. Let’s chat.