RENOVATE | Who is building your home?
Who is building your home?
Build your a-team for your new build or renovation.
By now you’ve probably googled how to build a house or spoken to friends who have been through the process but could be a bit confused about all the different services that are available and when you need them all?
Bringing the right people onto your team from the beginning will save you a lot of time, precious dollars and headaches redoing areas of the design that should have been done in the first place. I’ve recently had a client who had a draftsman create a floor plan to include the full wishlist of things that he and his family wanted for their new home. Sounds pretty simple right? Well this same client then contacted me for a Floor Plan Review and his builders for an initial budget estimate only to discover that this said dream home is well beyond the allocated budget. So instead of plowing ahead and having to haphazardly cut costs once the build was underway the builder’s and I are able to work together in a Pre Design Phase to create a floor plan that reflects not only the client’s wishlist but also take into consideration the site (aspect and views), the budget and the fact that this was not going to be the family one forever to create a new floor plan and cohesive build process.
Building or renovating is one of the most significant investments you’ll make so it’s important to consider the project as a whole and set expectations early. There is nothing worse than being mid build and having to make really hard decisions about what to cut from a project as this will end up more expensive than tweaking things in the early design phases.
YOUR DREAM TEAM
So, who’s building your home? After working on a variety of projects, I can confirm there are so many different ways to build a house which can make it overwhelming to know who you need and why. Let me try and untangle this so you can assemble the perfect team to see your project become a reality.
BUILDER - This one is pretty self explanatory really, you need someone to build your house. A builder is a tradesperson who is responsible for the overall construction of a building, including the planning, design, and construction of the structure. They are responsible for the coordination of all the different tradespeople involved in the project, such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters.
The most important thing to define with your builder in the beginning is who is doing what and when does it need to be completed. For example, without an interior designer the responsibility for selecting materials and finishes will lay squarely with you and you don’t want to be caught out being asked what taps you are using when the plumber is on site ready to rough in and discover your dream tapware has a 16week lead time.
I spoke with Sarah Thorley of Luxe Building about the role an interior designer plays in their projects.
1. What is the role of an interior designer on the renovations and architectural new builds you guys do?
An interior designer is a key link between the design of a build/project and the builder. From the builder’s perspective, it makes a project run far more smoothly if an interior designer is on the project as many decisions have already been made (selections, locations, quantities etc) before starting the build. Also too that the entire project has been thought of well before construction commences, therefore less changes during the build. We find that a project is far more successful for the client if there is someone to guide their choices and be able to communicate this with the build team.
2. At what stage of the project do you usually like to get a designer involved?
Right from the start of planning!! We find it a great collaborative approach to use the clients ideas and match that with someone who can help with the design, space planning/functionality, finishes etc and then paired with the actual logistics of the build. We find that we are able to keep to clients budget when most of these conversations are had prior to final plans.
3. Why is it worth spending money in the planning phase on a designer?
100% a worthwhile investment. As mentioned above, we find clients will then save themselves time, stress and money when a designer has been engaged early.
—————————————————
Projects that require a substantial change to the footprint of an existing home or are a complete new build will need one of the following.
BUILDING DESIGNER (or DRAFTSMAN) - A draftsman is a skilled technician who produces technical drawings and plans. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create detailed drawings of structures and systems. They will be able to take your brief and turn it into a functional outcome including engaging surveyors and necessary consultants to get the relevant planning applications in place. Like many service professionals, a draftsman may specialise an areas of building design such as thermal performance or have a particular style of home they design so it’s important to review prior work to find someone that fits with your style and ethos of how you want to build.
In my experience, you will need to drive the aesthetic of the designs and be very clear on what you are wanting to achieve … or have your interior designer on board from the beginning to help drive this ;).
OR-
Do you have an idea for a design that is a little out of the box or a vague vision that requires a clever creative mind to realise? If so, you may need an…
ARCHITECT - If you are looking for a building design that pushes the envelope a little bit or is especially unique then hiring an architect is a very wise decision as it’s their job to not only creatively come up with a design that fits your vision but will also run your project to ensure it is built to specification.
—————————————————
INTERIOR DESIGNER - An interior designer is a professional who designs the interior of a building (surprise, surprise!). They are responsible for the layout, material selections, furnishings and decorations of a space. They must consider the function, aesthetics and safety of the space.
While each interior designer will often specialise in a particular type or area of a project, at MARG. Studio we like to work from the big picture of a project down to the final details to know we are delivering exactly the house (or business) our clients are asking for. My study in architecture gave me my passion for how a building can encourage or discourage us to move through a space and how it can make us feel.
While it might seem funny to be engaging an interior designer on a build where you haven’t even broken ground yet, coordinating with the builder from the beginning allows me to not only get your designs done with plenty of time to review and change but it also means that I can be engaged in the process of setting the budget and ensuring that all the selections and my fees fit into this. The later I come on, the more difficult it is to make cohesive selections that arrive on time and fit in the budget.
PRE-DESIGN PHASE
Still wondering how to bring together the above people into your project? The above considerations are part of the design process for MARG. Studio alongside our relevant trades and specialists and it’s called Pre-Design or you may have seen this outlined as a Feasibility Studio before. Essentially we are determining what is feasible on the site and within the budget and time frame before we launch into detailed designs.
At MARG. Studio we work on three types of projects:
Older homes that have enough space but need an overhaul of the layout to make it usable for the families living in them.
Older homes that have the bones of the original hundred year old homes but need some careful planning to extend so as to not detract from the original dwelling.
Brand new builds for clients who are conscious of creating something that is considered, will last a long time and has a bit of character even though it is brand new.
We have worked with a number of different builders and trades who reflect the same design, building and business values as our own to achieve what each client is asking for, which is different every time. The Pre-Design phase gets us all together to ensure we are all on the same page and know our roles so our clients can have peace of mind that are all working to the same goal.
NOW WHAT?
Whichever way you decide to set up your project I would recommend having a good understanding of what you are wanting to achieve and find the best services and trades to meet these needs. Essentially, to get the best out of any renovation or new build project I would follow these few steps to keep you on track -
Write your design brief (more on that here).
Build your team (see above).
Establish your budget (with the help of your trusty team) + relevant financial professionals.
IF YOU ONLY TAKE ONE THING AWAY FROM THIS, IT’S THAT THE EARLIER YOU PLAN, THE LESS COSTLY CHANGES YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE.
TAKE THE TIME EARLY TO MAKE SURE YOU ENJOY YOUR BUILDING OR RENOVATING PROCESS WITHOUT THE STRESSES AND HEADACHES.
Book in a free 30min chat to discuss the Pre-Design Phase of your renovation or new build.