Some of my favorite projects are the ones where the designer and contractor really work as a team.

We each have a different job to do, and I think the best projects happen when there's respect for what everyone brings to the table. The designer has spent time with the homeowner understanding how they want to live in the space and working through the details of the design. The contractor knows what it takes to actually build it. We need both.

And for homeowners, that relationship matters more than you may realize. There are a lot of decisions that happen between a design on paper and a finished room. When the people designing and building your home communicate well, those decisions are much easier to work through.

A Lot of Our Work Happens Before Construction Starts

My team's job is to think through as much as we can before construction begins.

That starts with understanding the homeowner. We want to know what they need from the space, what's not working now and how they actually want to use it. From there, we can start working through the details that eventually affect what gets built.

Sometimes they're really small details. Which direction does the door swing? Is there enough clearance next to the cabinetry? What needs to be stored here? How is this material going to meet the one next to it?

These aren't always the things a homeowner gets excited about when they're dreaming about a remodel, but they're important. We've seen how something as small as door clearance can affect cabinetry, or how a shower enclosure decision can affect what needs to be planned before everything is finished.

The more of those questions we can work through before construction, the clearer the direction is for everyone once the project gets into the field.

The Plans Aren't the End of the Conversation

Even with a lot of planning, construction is construction. You open things up. You see conditions you couldn't see before. A dimension may be different from what was expected, or something may need to be worked through once everyone is standing in the actual space.

That's why I don't think the designer's role ends when the plans and selections are handed over.

When questions come up during construction, the contractor may need information from the design side before the work can keep moving. Being available for those conversations helps us protect the design while also responding to what's actually happening in the field.

And sometimes the contractor sees something we need to know.

That's where I think a good working relationship really matters. I don't expect the people building the project to simply follow a design without question. If there's something we need to talk through, I want to talk through it. The goal is to solve the problem together and make the best decision we can for the homeowner and the finished space.

Everyone at the Table Has Expertise

I have a lot of respect for a good contractor and good tradespeople.

There are things I bring to a project because of the work I've done with the homeowner and the decisions we've made during design. There are also things the contractor understands because they're responsible for turning those decisions into something real.

Those roles shouldn't be competing with each other.

For homeowners, this is something I'd pay attention to when you're putting together the team for your remodel. You don't just want talented people individually. You want people who are willing to communicate with each other, ask questions and respect what everyone else brings to the project.

That makes a difference not only in what gets built, but in what it's like to get there.

To the Contractors and Trades We Haven't Met Yet

We love working with contractors and trade professionals who care about the details, communicate when something needs attention and want to work together toward a finished project we're all proud of.

If that's how you like to work too, we'd love to know you.

And if you're a homeowner who already has a contractor you trust, we're happy to work as part of that team. You shouldn't have to choose between good design and good construction. The best projects need both.

Reach out to start a conversation. We're always interested in getting to know people doing good work in San Diego.

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.