Melissa Galt identifies the biggest role of an interior designer. Melissa, who honed her own skills as a designer, is an author, business coach and marketing consultant to the trade.
“Our hope is to help homeowners discover about designers what they didn’t know existed,” said Melissa.
“Space planning is the most important element of interior design,” said Danielle Fennoy of Revamp Interior Design in New York. “It indicates the flow of a space, prioritizing an area’s function and storage. Visual hierarchy is established.”
Julia Oddo of TC Interior Design said some tasks include:
- FF & E (furniture fixtures and equipment) selection
- Full wall elevations
- Electrical plans
- Tile layouts
- Communication with vendors/contractors/installers
- Custom cabinetry and window treatments
- Art curation
- Styling and accessorizing
- Sourcing beyond public retailers
- Sourcing according to a budget
- Lifestyle needs (pet- and kid-friendly, ADA compliant)
Selecting lighting is also part of the job. But it’s not just about picking a light fixture.
“It’s about creating a mood, an environment, an experience,” said Danielle. “Designers renovate kitchens, bathrooms, and can make selections on architectural finishes. We can even design custom cabinetry. If the project allows, we can influence the exterior façade and landscaping. Consequently, the project will have a coherent vision from the inside out.”
“An interior designer will help you create a master plan,” said Danielle, “from an all-encompassing vision for an entire space to smaller visions for individual rooms that are connected to the big picture.”