What is the role of the interior designer?

What does an interior designer do, and what do interior designers bring to a project? Do we add value and is are interior design services even needed? And what is the difference between residential and commercial interior design?

We wanted to share with you why interior designers are important and leave you with hopefully a better, more rounded understanding of what we do and the values we bring to projects.

An interior designers’ primary responsibility is to translate your vision into a new property or site. We listen to your needs and spend time to research your location and your functional requirements of the space. Residential interior design is very different from Commercial interior design and as an interior designer I wanted to share with you some of the big differences we encounter between the two.

Residential Interior Design is different, it is about creating interior spaces that our clients can live in, whilst taking into account each individual clients’ taste and budget. We spend the time to understand our clients and their needs, so we are able to create a space tailored to their family and lifestyle, aesthetics and function.

However, when it comes to undertaking the interior design of a commercial space it is important we understand you and your customers needs, as well as your offering and how you want guests to interact with your space. A brand's site needs to be functional for often, a large number of staff, but also clients and / or patients too. We have to adhere to a multitude of standards, whilst also reflecting your brand's story and values. Ultimately a commercial space needs to be profitable, functional and somewhere guests want to visit again and again.

So, what needs to be considered by the interior architect / designer for a residential interiors project?

When undertaking the interiors of a clients’ home, we have to first and foremost, consider how the client lives in that space. A home is usually used for relaxing, eating, entertaining and possibly working too. We need to consider who lives in the space; are there children in the home or plans to have a family there in the future? One important point to remember is that this is the clients’ personal space.

An initial meeting is undertaken to understand the clients plans with the space, how they want to feel in a space and their future plans. For example, are they planning to work from home more permanently in the future and therefore, they require a dedicated space that is comfortable and easy to be productive in. We work with a range of clients, budgets, different sized houses, locations and families and therefore, we may sometimes need to explore adapting smaller spaces to be multifunctional.

The kitchen is often the heart of a family home, a place families enjoy meals together, a glass or two of wine, a place conversations are encouraged while cooking, a dining area, a breakfast bar, or a place to congregate. Some clients love the idea of a central hub like this, whilst others like to have a separate dining area where they can host and therefore, all this information needs to be collected and considered when designing.

Other points we discuss with our clients include personality, favourite styles, colours, features and textures. As well as clients' requirements with their space, for example, storage, day to day lives, and how the space will work for them in the years to come.

Ultimately a residential design scheme needs to work for our clients, it needs to be full of their personality, functional and most importantly a home.

Overview of residential stages.

Here is a quick overview and insight to the services we undertake.

Responsibility for the layout, design and decoration.
To advise the client on other services or trades that may be required.
To procure interior fixtures and fittings for the client.
Creation of 3d designs + visuals.
Undertake technical drawings.
To manage the project.

Commercial Design has many other considerations.

When designing for a commercial space, whether that be a restaurant, bar, retail space, gym, office or retreat, unlike residential spaces the interiors have to consider many different elements and users. For example the brand's story, values, personality, guests and staff, and ultimately how they interact with that space.

Your brand is key to creating a successful hospitality space. It is important to define this before any interior design work is undertaken to maintain clear brand consistency. Your brand's guidelines are a bible that will not only inform us as interior designers but also your marketing material, social media, print and packaging.

Also, your brand will define how your staff members interact with guests, what their uniforms should look like, what music should be played, there are so many layers to a brand and it is important to work with a brand designer to create these before you embark on the physical space.

Your interior design journey will begin with an initial meeting which will take place to confirm the brief and all details of the project, including budget and timelines. Commercial Interior Design is often broken down into stages, which takes the client from concept design through to implementation of the design on site.

Brief overview of commercial stages.

Brand Research.
Mood boards.
General Arrangements of the space.
Sample boards.
Planning Applications and License Drawings.
Procurements of interior fixtures and fittings for the client.
Sketches / 3d Visualisations of the space.
Technical Drawings.
Project management.

If you would like to discuss how we can help you create a home you will love, or a space for your brand to grow, please get in touch to arrange a free virtual consultation. We are always happy to discuss new sites.

hello@apa-interiors.co.uk