In casual conversation, it's common for people to treat "interior design" and "interior decorating" as the same. But when it comes to home renovations, there are major differences that any homeowner should understand.
While interior decorating includes important visual elements like fixtures, finishes, and paint colors, interior design includes a much wider range of essential issues that make a space both functional and appealing. In planning a project, a designer acts almost like an architect, considering issues like layout, ventilation, and water and electrical connections. At the same time, their design incorporates lighting, finishes, and other elements that help make the space look beautiful.
Here in Des Moines, Iowa, we have no shortage of service providers offering interior design services. Although it's a good problem to have, we've heard from many people that it can feel overwhelming to know what to expect and how to choose someone to work with on a home remodeling project.
For that reason, I want to give an overview of what interior designers do and explain what role they play in your project. Having that background can make it easier for you to get high-quality design work to meet your needs and move your home renovation forward.
Interior designers are fundamental to the success of a home renovation. But contrary to popular opinion, their job isn't centered around how a room looks. Instead, they adapt to your goals, vision, and budget to determine how a room works.
They can take on all types of planning, including:
Big-picture structural issues, like whether to remove a wall or put in new windows
Choice of materials for optimal performance and durability
Easy-to-overlook practical issues, like the location of outlets and light fixtures
Visual style elements, including art, furniture, and home accessories
Interior designers have the expertise to tackle these issues almost as if they were an architect. But in more complicated renovations involving major structural changes, they may need to get the design "stamped" by an architect or structural engineer.
The best designs are done by a dedicated interior designer—not a contractor, handyman, homeowner, or salesperson at a cabinet or flooring showroom.
While this may sound obvious, I can't even count the number of times our firm has had to repair mistakes that resulted from a project plan that was designed by a non-designer.
There are two main ways that you can incorporate interior design into your project.
Design then build: In this approach, you start by working with an individual or firm to create the design plan. Then you shop around to get bids and hire a general contractor to implement the design. This approach is sometimes called "design-bid-build."
Design-build: In the design-build concept, one company does both the interior design and the construction. This is the approach we take here at Compelling Homes.
We prefer the design-build approach for several reasons. It improves the client experience with a single point of contact, one company that is responsible for the project from beginning to end. Having everyone on the same team can make cost estimates more reliable, improve communication and execution of your ideas, and make the whole process feel seamless.
The most reliable way to find a great designer in the Des Moines metro area is to get referrals from past clients and review a company's portfolio to see examples of their work. These steps help you ensure that you're hiring someone with the right experience to create a tailored plan that suits your needs and aligns with your tastes and sense of style.
At first glance, it may seem that interior design is the same no matter where it's being done. But geography is always involved in interior design. Des Moines has its own neighborhoods, climate, home values, and vibe, all of which should be considered when designing a home renovation.
A house doesn't exist in isolation, so I recommend working with a team that knows Iowa and the greater Des Moines region. For example, remodeling houses in the South of Grand requires delicate attention to the nuances of older buildings. Renovating a house in West Des Moines means capturing elegance and charm to match the neighborhood.
A design team that understands the housing market in Iowa and the local nuances in Des Moines can help clients optimize their satisfaction and the resale value of their homes.
Having been in the Des Moines market for over 15 years, we've seen several notable interior design trends shaping home renovations.
Finished basements: Clients are interested in transforming this overlooked space into something that complements the rest of the house. Whether it's a wine cellar, a game room, a basement bar, and kitchen, or a living room with an open layout and comfy furniture, a finished basement is an extremely popular upgrade in this region.
Energy efficiency: More remodels than ever are prioritizing energy efficiency, including a focus on natural lighting and more efficient heating and cooling.
Blending modern and traditional: We've found that most homeowners want to add modern touches without losing the elegance of tradition. This often includes natural materials like wood and stone along with clearer sightlines and minimalist tendencies in hardware and furniture.
In the world of remodeling, every house is unique, and every homeowner has different wants and needs. An interior designer works with you to understand what's special about your project and get all the details on paper. A design-build firm goes a step further, turning your vision into reality.