What are the benefits of hiring a firm that offers both architectural and interior design services?

I’m about to be interviewed by a magazine publisher this week on this very topic - so thought I would highlight the benefits of hiring a studio with the combined disciplines of architecture and interior design.

Now to be clear Studio 29 Architects have always had the belief that the two specialisms are interconnected. So, when it comes to designing homes it is a holistic process, it not just about casually adding an extension or a loft room but really considering the entire layout down to the smallest detail, along with the owner’s brief and wants. Without the consideration of interior design, the space is simply unfinished.

A home redesign always starts with a smart layout, adequate storage and easy moving circulation. Then the space is further defined using colour, lighting, finishes, fixtures and furniture. The relationship between you and your home is so important -You want to have a great feeling every time you enter your home.

Using the combined services of architects and interior designer is a great help to clients as the early design and agenda are strongly intact throughout all the design process. We really offer hand holding guidance from start to finish of a project, we know it can be scary for clients starting a home refurbishment. At our studio you will always work with a dedicated architect throughout your project. This keeps the communication key, it really helps to distil the design and desires. The project does not have that danger of becoming disjointed as tends to happen when there are too many people involved - and ultimately the end result is not the best.

In my case (Louise) I start with an interior design idea once I’ve visited a space. I stand in the space to see how it feels and quite quickly I understand what is missing - then it can grow from a single idea. This can be anything! Sometimes I am shown a specific object or a view by a client and we organise the space experience around that. Adding layers of colour, warm lighting and texture to really make a space answer a problem. Every material has to work hard, not just in endurance but in visual addition something that really sings in the space.

I would consider the combined services of architecture and interior design less expensive then if a client were to hire a separate architect and interior designer. Purely for the fact that we definitively organise the layout from early concept and then to great detail in the later stages. It saves time and this costs! We already know which reliable brands to use and how to place them. We specialise in space and choosing furniture, I wouldn’t expect a home owner to become an expert in this. I mean when we start to draw a living room space we have already begun the process of thinking of which sofas that would work well in there, it’s become second nature.

Early discussion about interior design does benefit a project in terms of budget - the earlier the better as it helps understand the costs and if anything needs to be altered to suit the client’s budget.

All the prior organisation of the interior design along with the architectural design, means that once the construction works are underway the furniture and fixtures will be ordered by us, so that the property renovation is then fitted with the interior furniture chosen. There are now long leading times for deliveries and when both interior design and architecture are considered together this is streamlined to make sure the property is complete and ready for you to move in!