What’s the Difference Between a General Contractor and an Interior Designer?
And Who Should You Bring Onto Your Project First?
There are a lot of people involved in a home build project. Because of this, it can be confusing to decipher who your point of contact is during your home project. There are two main people you have likely heard of - the General Contractor and the Interior Designer. Because these two roles are more well known, their roles are sometimes confused prior to the building process.
In a majority of cases, the general contractor is the first point of contact during your construction project, whether that be a new design-build or a remodel. At the beginning of your project, it is ideal to work with your general contractor to create a budget for the project. Then to design an idea around what you are envisioning that fits within the budget. After that, the general contractor will bring together his or her vetted team of specialists to finalize all the details. (We will dive deeper into who is included in this vetted team of specialists a little bit later in the article). The general contractor is your right hand during your project, he or she is typically in charge of not only seeing your big picture vision but also ensuring it actualizes in your space within budget, correctly, and on time.
The Role of the Interior Designer vs. the General Contractor
On the other hand, the interior designer will consult the general contractor as well as you on the decorative side of the project. Such as the decor elements and soft goods in the project. This can include helping to decide on flooring, paint, textures, and furniture throughout the home or space. Interior designers are not licensed by the state of California to conduct construction activities, so they usually don’t know about the structural abilities to move walls or to install roofing and windows. (Tip: Be aware of somebody calling themselves a ‘Designer’ instead of an ‘Interior Designer.’ Anybody can become a ‘Designer’ but an Interior Designer is required to have a certification in the state of California).
The general contractor and interior designer come together to collaborate on what can be done in the home. The interior designer will make suggestions on cabinetry, flooring, and moving walls, and then the general contractor decides whether or not those decisions will be able to happen in accordance with structural engineering, budget, and other construction and building factors.
Along with the general contractor and interior designer, there are other consultants that help build the home and create the vision that you want.
Who is Included in the Vetted Group of Specialists?
There is typically a team of three types of engineers that will work on the project. The Civil Engineer will be responsible for your plot of land as a whole, and work on elements such as moving dirt, advise if a retaining wall is needed, along with water, sewage, and runoff. The Soils Engineer determines the soil compaction based on the type of soil you have and what kind of foundation the home will need. Lastly, the Structural Engineer handles the structural integrity of the building itself, including what kind of steel is needed, the support beams required, among other structural elements.
Another member of the team is the Architect. The Architect is the actual designer of the project in the sense that he or she draws out the complete design of the project including, design elements, spaces, and walls. The architect will work very closely with the interior designer to make decisions about the visual aspects of the home. Because they work so closely together, there can be friction between the two, and in that case, the general contractor will step in the help mediate and keep the project on course. Friction can develop when the Architect has a different vision for the home compared to the Interior Designer. There is a huge advantage to bringing on the General Contractor as the first member of your team when beginning your project because, for one, the General Contract will then be responsible for keeping the Architect’s designs within your budget. And secondly, the General Contractor can bring together an Interior Designer and Architect he or she has worked with before, and knows will work well together to mitigate standoffs or hold-ups.
Having a team that works well together is key to building a home and finishing a project on time, within budget, and creating the space you had envisioned. There are many people involved in the building or remodeling process, as well as moving parts and opinions. DCarson Construction can help you bring together our amazing vetted team and build the space you are envisioning- reach out to us when you are ready to get started!