Interior Design for New Construction Homes

Residential

New Construction

Building a new house is a great way to create the home of your dreams, and it’s an incredibly exciting process. But a completed house is far from move-in-ready, and there are still thousands of design decisions to be made.

Whether your new construction home is custom-built by an architect, or constructed based on pre-existing designs, working with an interior designer from day one ensures your home will be everything you imagine while saving you endless time and trouble. Integrating interior design during the construction process is an investment in your home and is worth every penny.

What Is the Role of an Interior Designer During New Construction?

Before defining the role of the interior designer, it is helpful to define the architect’s role.

Whether the new construction process is residential or for a commercial or office space, an architect designs the interior and exterior spaces of a building, creating the overall volume and structure and determining the placement of essential pieces like walls, windows, doors, and stairs. Architects also determine the placement of critical fixtures like lights and switches, heating ducts and vents, plumbing elements, and other structural elements. Architects always work with clients to create a design that works for their preferences and lifestyle and consider how each space will be used.

Architects will typically work with their clients during basic material choices, discussing design choices like flooring, paint and wall treatments, furnishings, etc. During the new construction interior design process, they will create detailed floor plans that include the scale and placement of major interior decor pieces, and they will often have recommendations for the style and selection of those pieces.

That said, architects are not specialists in interior design. While flooring and furnishings are important aspects of interior design, it’s not the entire picture. An architect will not consider where best to keep your heirloom sideboard, showcase your vinyl collection, or store your dog toys. The architect’s interior design will be minimal and impersonal and still leave you with a thousand design decisions to make. That’s the role of the interior designer.

How Do Interior Designers Collaborate with Architects and Builders?

On a typical residential new construction project, the interior designer is the collaborator and go-between for the architect, the client, and the builder and construction crew.

Let’s take something simple like a kitchen island. The architect will design the size, scale, functions, and placement of the island. They will indicate whether it has power, plumbing, or ventilation and where these elements are placed. They will also usually recommend color choices, and materials for the sink, faucet, countertop, and other fixtures, keeping the client’s budget in mind.

So the builder may know that they are tasked with building an island with cabinets, a marble top, and a farmhouse sink, for example. The builder and construction crew will still need the client to compare and choose one specific countertop, specific sink, specific faucet, specific cabinet doors and drawer pulls, specific light fixtures, etc. Without an interior designer and a detailed design plan, a client may choose elements that don’t go together or work for the space or may simply become overwhelmed with choices and lose sight of the overall project (to say nothing of the budget).

An interior designer will have anticipated all these decisions and will have already worked with the client to make these choices in a way that fits the overall style of the home, the client’s needs and objectives, and the project scale and budget. An interior designer may also collaborate with the architect, for example, to find room for a much-needed wine refrigerator on the kitchen island.

Successful interior design for new construction homes means making design decisions ahead of time, in consultation with an interior designer who understands your goals, so your new construction proceeds with less stress, easier communication, and great results.

Designing for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

At J.Fisher, we are passionate about great design that protects the environment. While there are fantastic options for sustainable choices during a home remodel, new construction interior design is a fantastic opportunity to incorporate the latest eco-friendly and energy-saving materials and technologies.

Interior design for new construction homes can include advanced insulation in walls and windows, renewable technologies like solar panels, and smart meters to track energy usage.

While many of these environmental impact factors will be determined by the architect during the design process, we can advocate for green building practices throughout the process and help our clients make sustainable choices in every aspect of their interior design.

What are Some Typical Obstacles in New Construction Interior Design Projects?

Even the best-planned new construction projects have setbacks. Over the years, we have noticed that some obstacles are more common than others in residential interior design.

With so many different people and elements involved, a delay is inevitable. Whether a necessary item is back-ordered, a crucial step takes longer than expected, or the weather is uncooperative, new construction interior design projects are subject to small delays that cascade into bigger ones.
There can never be too much communication. If one person misunderstands a drawing or installs something incorrectly, it can affect the whole rest of the team and the project.
Scope creep. It can be extremely difficult to avoid small increases in time and cost that can add up to big scope creep. As construction progresses, it’s all too easy to have new ideas and make minor changes and adjustments to the design plan or find the perfect lighting fixture (then faucet, then paint color) that is just a bit over budget. Each decision makes sense at the moment, but collectively, along with the inevitable overages due to ordinary delays and setbacks, it can be a challenge to deliver a new construction project within the original budget.

How Can J.Fisher Help?

At J.Fisher, we approach new construction projects with a collaborative mindset, partnering with your architect to create the best space for your needs and lifestyle. We know that every new construction project is unique, so we collaborate and assist from concept to completion in floor plan creation, finish selections, coloration, plumbing fixtures, custom furniture, built-ins, and lighting fixtures.

We’ll be with you every step of the way, including assisting in equipment purchasing and procurement, shipping, tracking, and of course the final installation. For more information about how we can help realize your new construction dream home, contact us or schedule a virtual consultation today.

``Working with Jen was fantastic. She was extremely professional and finished on time and on budget. Very creative, efficient, accountable and I love the outcome. I was very pleased with the experience and highly recommend her to transform your home.``

"Jennifer Fisher has a true passion for interior design, and it is evident in her work ethic. She is a professional with the artistic ability to produce exceptional results. That is why I can strongly recommend J.Fisher Interiors for any decorating needs or projects you may have."

"Very professional, reasonable and creative services. Worked within my budget and was always timely on requests and suggestions while meeting the decor selections for my contractors scheduling deadlines. I would recommend J.Fisher Interiors to all of my friends."

The whole experience working with J.Fisher Interiors was excellent. My home looks amazing and there was a nice balance between brand new pieces and the vintage treasures that Jen was able to find. Unlike past experiences with designers, where my budget was ignored, she took great care in working within the budget and delivering a stunning space that I enjoy living in and get tons of compliments on…"

"Jennifer is helping us with a full remodel of our house. She has been instrumental in helping us with fixtures, colors, inside and out, our pool remodel, the entire project. She has been extremely professional, available, communicative and has really listened to our feedback and what we are looking for. She has kept our deadlines and budgets on track and really gives us a variety of options to consider. I am so thankful to have her, I do not know where we would be without her!"

"Jennifer jumped in to do a project for our office, and we couldn't be happier with the level of professionalism and skill with which she operates. She got the job done in a timely manner, her pricing was reasonable, and now, our team has been enjoying the space so much more. I'd highly recommend her expertise to other companies or individuals looking to freshen up their space."

"As a recent divorcee, I rented a condo in a rush and it was a mess -- dark with an odd mixture of colors and styles. Jennifer worked quickly to completely transform the space using cost-effective options that made sense given that I might only be in the unit for one year. In addition to designing the space, she also served as a project manager for the work. She is very dedicated, works quickly and efficiently, and has a very professional and pleasant demeanor. She has a definite style and sensibility but also adapts well to her clients' tastes. I couldn't be happier with the result."

Interior Design Consultation

J.Fisher Interiors’ studio is located in Austin. To schedule your consultation appointment, please fill out the contact form or call us at 512.954.0904. We would love to hear from you!