Elizabeth C. Interior

Thinking about remodeling your home? One of the first big decisions you’ll face is whether to hire a designer or take on most of the layout, materials, and design choices yourself. I’ve put together a simple comparison to show what it’s really like to remodel with or without a designer. 

 

Planning & Vision

With a Designer: You get a well-thought-out plan that fits your style, space, and how you actually live. We think about everything—flow, lighting, finishes, and even resale value—so your home looks like it was designed on purpose (because it was).

 

Without a Designer: You’re calling all the shots. From collecting inspo, picking finishes, and figuring out how it all fits together. Pinterest is a great start, but turning those ideas into a real-life space takes time, design know-how, and a whole lot of time to make decisions.

Space Planning & Layout

 

With a Designer: We take a good look at your space to make sure it not only looks great but works for how you live. That could mean rethinking the layout, picking the right furniture sizes, or layering in lighting to make everything feel just right.

 

Without a Designer: You might end up guessing what fits where—ordering furniture that’s too big, too small, or just not quite right. Without a trained eye, it’s easy to miss out on smart layout solutions that make the space really work.

Materials & Selections

 

With a Designer: Designers have access to trade-only vendors, curated sources, and tried-and-true materials. We also help balance splurge vs. save decisions so you stay within budget while still achieving a high-end result.

 

Without a Designer: You’ll spend hours (or weeks) comparing options, reading reviews, and hoping what you choose looks good. Returns, reorders, and decision fatigue creates stress and delays.

 

Project Management

With a Designer: We coordinate with contractors, manage timelines, and troubleshoot issues as they arise with your contractor. A designer becomes your advocate throughout the process and ensures the contractor is aligned with the vision we are working towards. 

 

Without a Designer: You’ll need to oversee the project yourself—ordering items on time, taking daily calls or meetings with the contractor, resolving delays or hiccups along the way, and making decisions quickly under pressure.

 

The Finished Product

With a Designer: You’ll walk into a space that truly reflects you—elevated, cohesive, and thoughtfully tailored to your lifestyle, with details that transform a house into your home.

 

Without a Designer: You might wind up with a space you like, but sometimes things just don’t fully click. After putting in the time and money to remodel, the last thing you want is mismatched finishes or that nagging feeling that something’s off. Without a solid plan or some design experience, it’s easy for the end result to fall a little flat.

 

When you’re investing in your home, working with an interior designer can save you time, stress, and costly mistakes. Our team can help you avoid overwhelm and make the process smoother, more enjoyable, and successful.