When people start thinking about renovating, one of the things they often weigh up is whether they really need an interior designer. It’s a fair question. Renovating is expensive, and once you’ve added builders, materials, kitchens, bathrooms, joinery and everything else, another professional can feel like an unnecessary cost.
So, as an interior designer, you might expect me to say everyone needs one. I don’t.
If you’re repainting a few rooms, replacing a kitchen like-for-like or you’re confident making your own decisions, you may be perfectly capable of managing the project yourself. But when you’re changing the way your home works, spending a significant amount of money or simply don’t have the time to manage all the moving parts, good design can make a huge difference. And sometimes, the most valuable thing a designer does is stop you from building the wrong thing.
Good design saves money.
One project that comes to mind is a residential build we designed in Mount Martha. The house had incredible ocean views and was going to be a substantial five-bedroom home, with a cellar and ensuites to almost every bedroom.
Our initial scope was to design the cabinetry and select the finishes, but when we started looking at the furniture layout, something didn’t feel right. The kitchen, dining and living areas had been planned as one open space, but the living and dining areas were going to be too tight.
It wasn’t immediately obvious from the architectural plans. Once we considered how the furniture would actually sit in the space, and how people would move through it, the problem became clear. Luckily, we caught it early.
Some internal framing had to be changed, but that cost was insignificant compared with what it could have cost if we’d discovered the problem after the kitchen, cabinetry and finishes were installed.
Sometimes the most valuable thing a designer does is stop you from building the wrong thing. Sometimes the answer isn’t to extend.
Another project comes to mind when I think about the value of good space planning is the Prices Hills Terrace we designed.
The clients were considering moving. They loved their neighbourhood but needed another bedroom for their children, a main bedroom with an ensuite for the adults, and a study. Buying a larger home nearby was going to be a significant investment.
When I walked through their existing home, I could see there was more potential in the existing footprint than they realised. The house had a very high pitched roofline, which I proposed utilising the space above and create another bedroom without extending. There were also opportunities to reorganise the existing ground floor layout to create the other spaces they needed.
They were able to stay in the neighbourhood they loved and create a home that worked better for their family. Sometimes the existing floor plan layout is the problem, not the size of the house.
Princess Hill Terrace: existing floor plan (top), proposed floor plan (bottom) – by Jasmine McClelland Design
What are you actually paying for?
You’re not simply paying for drawings or mood boards. You’re paying for experience, someone who can see possibilities you might not have considered and spot problems before they become expensive.
You’re also paying for a considered process. We work through the details and documentation carefully so that the design is clear before it reaches construction, giving everyone confidence in what is being built.
Most importantly, we’re listening. We don’t want to impose a particular JMD look on your home; we want to understand how you live and what you love, then use our experience to make it work beautifully.
We love function, and we can make anything beautiful.
In conclusion, is an interior designer worth it?
Honestly, not every renovation needs one. But when you’re changing how your home works, making a significant investment or simply don’t have the time or experience to manage it yourself, the right designer can make a huge difference. Not because we have all the answers, but because we know which questions to ask.
We help you understand what’s possible, make better decisions before they become expensive mistakes, and create a home that works for you, feels like you and gives you joy.
Jasmine McClelland Design Studio
IF YOU’RE THINKING OF DESIGNING OR DECORATING YOUR HOME,
