A good renovation requires a lot of people making decisions together.

The homeowner has priorities for how they want to live in the space. The designer is working through the layout, materials and details that support those priorities. And the contractor and trades are figuring out how all of that gets built in the real world.

That's why I don't think design and construction should operate as two completely separate parts of a project. The more we're communicating with each other, the easier it is to work through questions before they turn into bigger issues.

Here are five things that can help that relationship work better.

1. Start Talking Before Construction

There's a lot of value in having the design and construction sides communicating before work begins.

During design, we're making decisions that eventually affect what happens in the field. We're thinking about things like layouts, clearances, cabinetry, storage, materials and how different elements come together. A contractor may look at those same decisions through a completely different lens because they're thinking about how they're actually going to build them.

We want that perspective.

If something in the design raises a construction question, I'd rather have that conversation while we're still planning than discover it after work is underway. It doesn't mean every unknown can be eliminated before construction—there will always be things we can't see until a project is opened up—but early communication gives everyone a better starting point.

2. Speak Up When Something Affects the Plan

Questions are going to come up during a renovation. Materials may become unavailable, something in the existing house may be different than expected or a detail may need to change once it's being worked through in the field.

When that happens, communication matters.

A change that seems small from one person's perspective may affect another part of the design. That's why I want the contractor to tell us when something needs to change rather than assuming it's too minor to matter.

The same goes in the other direction. If a design decision affects how something needs to be built, it's our responsibility to communicate that clearly enough for the contractor to understand what we're trying to accomplish.

Nobody should have to guess.

3. Make Sure Everyone Is Working From the Same Information

Renovations involve a lot of decisions. Cabinetry, plumbing, lighting, tile, hardware, finishes and countless details all have to eventually come together in one space.

Clear documentation helps keep those decisions from living only in someone's memory or getting lost between conversations.

From the design side, our job is to give the construction team clear direction about what has been selected and what we're trying to accomplish. If something changes during construction, that information needs to make its way back through the team as well.

The goal isn't paperwork for the sake of paperwork. It's making sure the person installing something has the information they need and that a change in one area doesn't accidentally create a problem somewhere else.

4. Look at the Actual Space Together

Plans are incredibly important, but there's also value in standing in the room together.

Once construction begins, there are things you can understand differently when you're looking at the actual wall, opening, cabinet or material rather than a drawing. That's especially true when an existing condition turns out to be different from what anyone expected.

Those conversations are where I think collaboration between the designer and contractor is particularly valuable. The contractor can explain what they're seeing from the construction side, and we can talk through how the available options affect the design and the homeowner's priorities.

Sometimes the answer is exactly what was planned. Sometimes we need to adjust.

Either way, it's much easier to make that decision when everyone is looking at the same thing.

5. Remember That We're Solving the Same Problem

Designer and contractor are different roles, and I think that's a good thing.

I don't need the contractor to approach the project exactly the way I do. I want them to bring their construction experience to the conversation, just as I'm bringing the work we've done with the homeowner and the decisions we've made during design.

When something unexpected happens, the question shouldn't be whose side wins. It should be: What's the best way to solve this for the homeowner and the finished space?

That requires respect in both directions.

For homeowners, it's also something worth paying attention to when you're putting together your renovation team. You're hiring individual professionals, but those people are ultimately going to need to work together. A designer and contractor who are willing to communicate, ask questions and respect each other's expertise can make a complicated process much easier to navigate.

We're Always Happy to Meet Good People

We enjoy getting to know contractors and trade professionals who care about their work and want to collaborate.

If you're a contractor or trade professional in San Diego and that sounds like the way you like to work, we'd love to connect. And if you're a homeowner who already has a contractor you trust, we'd be happy to get to know them too.

Reach out to start a conversation.

Danielle Perkins is the founder and principal designer of Danielle Interiors, a San Diego interior design firm helping homeowners create thoughtful, functional homes through kitchen and bathroom renovations, phased home improvements and new construction.