When Should You Hire an Interior Designer for a New Build or Renovation?

Entrance at Deerpark Residence by Aoife Maria Interiors.

One of the questions we are asked most often is when an interior designer should become involved in a new build or renovation. The answer is almost always earlier than people think.

There is still a misconception that interior designers come in towards the end of a project, once the building work is nearly finished and it's time to start choosing colours, furniture and fabrics. In reality, some of the most important design decisions happen long before any of that.

For us, it always starts with the bones of the space. The layout, natural light, proportions and flow, and, of course, understanding how the people living there actually want their home to work and feel.

When should you hire an interior designer for a new build?

Ground-floor space planning and interior architecture by Aoife Maria Interiors.

Ideally, while the architectural plans are still being developed.

It's surprising how often a room can look incredibly generous on a floor plan, only for you to realise that once the doors, windows and radiators are accounted for, there is nowhere sensible to put the furniture.

This is where reviewing the plans from an interiors perspective can make such a difference. We look at everything from the overall layout and circulation to kitchens, bathrooms, storage, lighting and bespoke joinery, thinking about how those decisions will affect the way the home is eventually lived in.

Sometimes moving a doorway or adjusting the position of a kitchen island can completely change how well a room works. These things are considerably easier to resolve on paper than when the walls are already up.

What about renovations and restorations?

With an existing property, the conversation is slightly different. As well as looking at how the home needs to function, we want to understand the building itself and what is worth keeping.

We might be rethinking the layout, opening up adjoining rooms or introducing a new kitchen, but that doesn't necessarily mean stripping away everything that gives the property its character.

Original details, proportions and the relationship between old and new all deserve consideration. Some of the most interesting homes are those where the history of the building remains part of the story, even when the interiors have been adapted for modern family life.

Ideally, we'd become involved before major construction or demolition begins, while there is still room to explore the possibilities.

Getting the details right before construction

Entrance hall architectural elevation for Deerpark Residence by Aoife Maria Interiors.

Kitchens, bathrooms, lighting and bespoke joinery all have an enormous influence on the wider interior, and none of them should really be designed in isolation.

The position of a kitchen island affects circulation, lighting and electrical points. Bedroom layouts determine where bedside sockets and wall lights need to go, while bespoke joinery needs to work with flooring, radiators and the architectural details of the room.

We also consider furniture surprisingly early in the process. That doesn't mean selecting every sofa or dining chair before construction starts, but we do need to understand their scale and position.

It is often these seemingly small decisions that make the greatest difference once a home is finished.

Entrance hall design development for Deerpark Residence by Aoife Maria Interiors.

What if construction has already started?

If you're already partway through a build or renovation, it doesn't necessarily mean you've missed the opportunity to work with an interior designer.

There may still be plenty of decisions to make, from lighting and joinery to materials, furniture and finishes. We can review what has already been decided, establish what is still flexible and work from there.

Naturally, the further along construction is, the fewer opportunities there may be to make changes without additional expense.

Working alongside your architect

An interior designer doesn't replace your architect. The two disciplines bring different expertise to a project, and there is often considerable value in having both involved from an early stage.

While an architect may be concentrating on the wider building design, planning and structure, we are looking closely at how the interiors will work once someone is actually living in them.

There is plenty of overlap, of course, which is why good communication between the architect, interior designer and wider project team is so important.

At Aoife Maria Interiors, we regularly work alongside architects, contractors, joiners, engineers and specialist suppliers throughout the design and implementation process.

How we can help

At Aoife Maria Interiors, every project begins with an initial consultation, giving us the opportunity to understand the property, discuss your plans and establish what level of design support you need.

For clients who are still developing their architectural plans, our Plan Review service can be a useful starting point. We also offer online Room-by-Room Interior Design and Full-Service Interior Design, with FF&E, procurement, installation and final styling available where required.

We work with private residential clients on new builds, renovations and restorations, alongside selected commercial, hospitality and residential development projects.

Bespoke joinery and architectural detailing at Deerpark Residence by Aoife Maria Interiors.

Planning a new build or renovation?

Aoife Maria Interiors is an award-winning interior architecture and design studio based in Ireland, working across Ireland, the UK and internationally.

If you're planning a project and would like to discuss how we could work together, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

From the team at Aoife Maria Interiors