When you’re having a home built, you’ll be working with a team of design professionals and builders. While you might already have builders lined up, who handles the design side of your project? Interior architects and interior designers are two different types of professionals you might end up hiring to help you design your dream home. While they both handle design-related tasks, they bring different skill sets to your project. If you’re wondering how each can help you with designing your custom home, keep the following in mind.
Interior architects are professionals who design building interiors with more of a focus on function than aesthetics. These architects are involved with the more technical side of these projects, including designing the entire structure of a home or building’s interior. Some interior architects might focus more on designing new building interiors, while others focus on redesigning building interiors for renovation or rebuilding purposes.
Interior designers are also involved in the design process for a building’s interior, but they deal mostly with aesthetic design rather than practical or functional design. These designers focus more on color schemes, lighting, textures and other elements that give a home a certain style or look. Interior designers often help clients choose flooring, light fixtures, wall coverings and other items to achieve a specific look.
One of the biggest differences between interior architects and interior designers is that architects need to be licensed. In some states, interior architects have to renew their license every year. The exact requirements for licensing vary by state, but most require architects to pass the Architecture Registration Exam, complete an internship and prepare a portfolio.
Interior designers don’t need licensing in many states, although a small number of states do require a license to practice. In these states, the exact requirements vary but might include having a bachelor’s degree, passing an exam and completing full-time work experience in the interior design field.
Interior architects and interior designers have different responsibilities on the job. Interior architects need to be familiar with building codes and other safety regulations in order to design building interiors. Some of these architects even test materials used in the building process to ensure that they meet building codes and regulations. Interior architects also keep sustainability in mind when designing building interiors, which might involve making use of natural light in the building and ensuring that eco-friendly materials and building methods are used in the construction process.
Interior designers might also be familiar with building codes and regulations, since they may refer to them when drawing up plans for clients. For example, interior designers might provide clients with plans that include building permits needed for the project, as well as specifications for floors, lighting and other components. These designers also have an in-depth understanding of design elements used for aesthetic purposes, such as how to choose color schemes and how to blend different textures in a room. Some interior designers might specialize in designing certain rooms, while others provide more general services that cover the entire home. Others might work mainly with certain styles or handle commercial rather than residential projects.
Susan Shuxian Hu has been a dedicated realtor serving in Silicon Valley since 2010. With great passion, outstanding negotiation skills and due diligence, she has helped many buyers and sellers in their real estate needs. Living in West San Jose for more than 14 years, she has broad knowledge in Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Altos and Saratoga. She has enormous patience working with buyers and never tired of showing all possible properties that may fit client’s needs. Clients appreciate her best service to their satisfaction. She specialized in luxurious real estate purchase in Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Palo Alto. She also helped friend and past client’s referral working in San Francisco, Foster City and far reached Bay Area.
Susan Shuxian Hu was graduated in East China Normal University in Shanghai with bachelor and master degrees in Bio science. She came to US in 1989 and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Texas A&M University in 1996. After one year of postdoc in Southern Florida University in Tampa, she moved back to Orlando with her family and started working in Lucent Technologies. In 2002, Susan moved to California, Silicon Valley joined a start-up company. Since then she worked in high tech Corporation till 2009. Driven by her dream job pursuing, she found her passion working in sales by helping people in real estate after one year of education in De Anza business and real estate law study. Since then, she has been serving many people in Bay Area for their real estate needs.
With bilingual advantage, she has been actively working with Chinese immigrants as well as local engineers and residents. With rich high tech background and connection with Chinese community, Susan has served in luxurious real estate in last a couple of years.