General Contractors and Interior Design
When building a custom home or new home people generally turn to three different resources in order to help them complete their vision: an architect to design the plans and ensure the structural integrity of the building, a general contractor to coordinate the sub-contractors, keep an eye on the budget and keep the project moving on time and an interior designer who chooses the colors, materials and furniture for the home.
Because general contractors have so much experience building homes and following through until the last detail is completed, they often have ideas about what may work for the interior of a home.
Some people prefer working with an interior designer because he/she will know where to find specialty items, how materials and furniture will work in a room and how to seamlessly flow one look into another from room to room so there is a cohesive theme to the home.
But there are other people who have a great eye for design, love to pick out or design their own custom furniture and enjoy the process of assembling a room.
For these people, a general contractor may be able to step into the role of interior designer.
Any general contractor hired should have building experience.
In order to ensure work is being done properly under their supervision, they have to have an idea of how that work is meant to be done.
General contractors generally know how to build custom furniture or know a sub-contractor who can do it.
One contractor in Colorado helped a client who wanted steel walls on one wall in a living room and above the fireplace for a more modern look.
The contractor found the metal, worked with heat and design to get the raw, rough look that the homeowner wanted and hung the sheet metal.
Because the contractor knew what was involved in the installation process, he was better able to gauge what type of metal should be used.
People who build houses know how materials will work together and have usually seen enough homes to understand how to design custom spaces like kitchen nooks, libraries and even walk-in closets.
If you're the type of person who knows the look you want for your home, you may not need an interior designer.
All you may need is a general contractor who can guide you through the process of ensuring the space is safe, can offer opinions of the types of materials that may work the best for the space and how to make the space efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
Those who simply have a general idea of what they want without concrete specifics should hire an interior designer.
Those who need an experienced guide through the process may be better off working directly with the general contractor.
Because general contractors have so much experience building homes and following through until the last detail is completed, they often have ideas about what may work for the interior of a home.
Some people prefer working with an interior designer because he/she will know where to find specialty items, how materials and furniture will work in a room and how to seamlessly flow one look into another from room to room so there is a cohesive theme to the home.
But there are other people who have a great eye for design, love to pick out or design their own custom furniture and enjoy the process of assembling a room.
For these people, a general contractor may be able to step into the role of interior designer.
Any general contractor hired should have building experience.
In order to ensure work is being done properly under their supervision, they have to have an idea of how that work is meant to be done.
General contractors generally know how to build custom furniture or know a sub-contractor who can do it.
One contractor in Colorado helped a client who wanted steel walls on one wall in a living room and above the fireplace for a more modern look.
The contractor found the metal, worked with heat and design to get the raw, rough look that the homeowner wanted and hung the sheet metal.
Because the contractor knew what was involved in the installation process, he was better able to gauge what type of metal should be used.
People who build houses know how materials will work together and have usually seen enough homes to understand how to design custom spaces like kitchen nooks, libraries and even walk-in closets.
If you're the type of person who knows the look you want for your home, you may not need an interior designer.
All you may need is a general contractor who can guide you through the process of ensuring the space is safe, can offer opinions of the types of materials that may work the best for the space and how to make the space efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
Those who simply have a general idea of what they want without concrete specifics should hire an interior designer.
Those who need an experienced guide through the process may be better off working directly with the general contractor.
Source...