Who would be used to design a house redesign?

[ThyJones]

Hi there, sorry if this is the wrong section of the forum, I wasn't sure where best to put it.

This may be a real noddy question, it's just something I've never done.

We've just moved into a new house, and we're trying to plan ahead for the future, i.e where we will change walls, doors, stairs, loft conversions, extensions etc etc, and I'm really no use when it comes to designing.

Would this be an architect, or a builder or an interior designer? I would have assumed the first, but never been through this process? I assume for this whole plan it would cost a fortune? We're not ready to have the work done for a few years, but want some plans we can keep considered when we do work on the house.

Thanks for the input.

 

[angelboy]

It's not a straightforward answer I'm afraid as it's purely down to the individual.

Architects - firstly you don't need a full blown charted architect (read mega-money), you could go for an architectural technician who
basically have the architectural degree but without going the chartered route. You could even use a building designer who usually has some form of experience but not necessarily formal design/architectural training. Structural engineers can also knock up a set of plans as well - maybe with the added benefit that they can provide any potential structural calculations at the same time.

Builders - There are some very knowledgeable and experienced builders out there that have ripped apart and renovated plenty of properties in their time. Some may even be able to knock up a few plans for planning permission and building regulations and deal with the alterations with a 'turn-key' service.

Interior designers - This industry isn't regulated so you can get good and bad, although the better ones will have a design degree of sorts so they'll have the foundations required to be able to re-design a property and not just be able to dress and decorate it.

Now, there's good and bad in them all, hence why it's not a straightforward answer. You can get people who are from an architectural background that just want to get money from getting plans passed with no real attention to what you want, what's achievable, what will actually work and be able throw in a few tricks along the way. Same with builders, some just want to follow the plans with no input to design - if you tell them to knock a hole in the wall for a door they will without question but whether they know it'll work or not isn't their problem - they'll gladly fill it back in for you as well, until you've made up your mind that is. Same with interior designers - you might get a few that are 'one-trick-ponies' that want to do the same in every property, just because it's a) en-trend or b) they've only every mastered one style.

With all of the above - you have to check out their work and see if they can offer you what you want and within your budget.

In the meantime - do yourself a massive favour and start to research designs that you like and that you think you might want to incorporate into your house. Use www.houzz.co.uk as a starting point and create room by room scrap books. You'll soon start to notice your preferred style and 'must-have' elements within your home. By doing this, which ever route you choose you'll be starting further down the line and you'll be able to direct your chosen 'designer' better. You'll also have some tangible ideas to show them and they'll be able to tell you if it's possible in your situation or if the ideas can be altered to fit.

 

[^woody^]

we're trying to plan ahead for the future, i.e where we will change walls, doors, stairs, loft conversions, extensions etc etc,

Have you been watching too many TV shows?

What about next time, buy a house that does not need to be knocked about?

Otherwise, it's as the boy says

 

[ThyJones]

we're trying to plan ahead for the future, i.e where we will change walls, doors, stairs, loft conversions, extensions etc etc,

Have you been watching too many TV shows?

What about next time, buy a house that does not need to be knocked about?

Otherwise, it's as the boy says

To be fair no not really, it took us about a year to find our property because in our area to have the amount of land we wanted chances are we would be adding another 100-200k on top so we bought this house for exactly the reason that it has potential to adapt it over the years to deliver exactly what we want with the land/space we wanted.

I get your point though and that would likely suit a lot, but i actually enjoy doing the work and improving things and as i say we could never afford the extra money to get exactly what we wanted from day 1 if that makes sense.

 

[ThyJones]

It's not a straightforward answer I'm afraid as it's purely down to the individual.

Architects - firstly you don't need a full blown charted architect (read mega-money), you could go for an architectural technician who
basically have the architectural degree but without going the chartered route. You could even use a building designer who usually has some form of experience but not necessarily formal design/architectural training. Structural engineers can also knock up a set of plans as well - maybe with the added benefit that they can provide any potential structural calculations at the same time.

Builders - There are some very knowledgeable and experienced builders out there that have ripped apart and renovated plenty of properties in their time. Some may even be able to knock up a few plans for planning permission and building regulations and deal with the alterations with a 'turn-key' service.

Interior designers - This industry isn't regulated so you can get good and bad, although the better ones will have a design degree of sorts so they'll have the foundations required to be able to re-design a property and not just be able to dress and decorate it.

Now, there's good and bad in them all, hence why it's not a straightforward answer. You can get people who are from an architectural background that just want to get money from getting plans passed with no real attention to what you want, what's achievable, what will actually work and be able throw in a few tricks along the way. Same with builders, some just want to follow the plans with no input to design - if you tell them to knock a hole in the wall for a door they will without question but whether they know it'll work or not isn't their problem - they'll gladly fill it back in for you as well, until you've made up your mind that is. Same with interior designers - you might get a few that are 'one-trick-ponies' that want to do the same in every property, just because it's a) en-trend or b) they've only every mastered one style.

With all of the above - you have to check out their work and see if they can offer you what you want and within your budget.

In the meantime - do yourself a massive favour and start to research designs that you like and that you think you might want to incorporate into your house. Use www.houzz.co.uk as a starting point and create room by room scrap books. You'll soon start to notice your preferred style and 'must-have' elements within your home. By doing this, which ever route you choose you'll be starting further down the line and you'll be able to direct your chosen 'designer' better. You'll also have some tangible ideas to show them and they'll be able to tell you if it's possible in your situation or if the ideas can be altered to fit.

Really indepth reply thank you for taking the time. Will definetely take the thoughts onboard and will do a bit more research now.

Thanks

 

[angelboy]

To be fair no not really, it took us about a year to find our property because in our area to have the amount of land we wanted chances are we would be adding another 100-200k on top so we bought this house for exactly the reason that it has potential to adapt it over the years to deliver exactly what we want with the land/space we wanted.

There's nowt wrong with that logic.

 

[r896neo]

I would steer clear of an architectural technician unless you know exactly what you want and you only need them to create plans. If your actually looking for ideas then an architect would be much better. A proper interior designer would also potentially be good if you got the right one, i.e. not the wall paper and cushion type.

In my experience a good architect is likely to come up with the sort of interesting and practical ideas that make spaces work better, removing doors to improve circulation etc

 

[^woody^]

a good architect is likely to come up with the sort of interesting and practical ideas that make spaces work better,

What interesting options are typically available on standard domestic properties?

Not many I'll wager.

Architects are a complete waste of time and money on domestic internal jobs and most extension/alteration work. And likewise for interior designers.

A proper architectural technician is worth using. A plan drawer with a drawing board from the 50's or a pirate copy of AutoCAD is not.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I would steer clear of an architectural technician unless you know exactly what you want and you only need them to create plans. If your actually looking for ideas then an architect would be much better. A proper interior designer would also potentially be good if you got the right one

With all due respect that's utter Shoite! I have countless clients who come to me having wasted a fortune on clueless, impractical and unimaginative architects. And as for using an interior designer that's just mad talk!

 

[u587162]

Just to add my 10 cents worth on the subject as some people on this forum might recall my many postsings and experience with both.
I signed up with a full RIBA architect as my large detached house was to be totally gutted out and extended massively with every internal wall touched. Met a guy at a nice Grand Design show, drew me a lovely design, CADs, 3D, ipad walk through model, the works. Really nice, easy going guy. Problem: He couldn't get it approved by the council and he seemed hopeless at knowing actual local planning laws. I guess thats why he/they say they offer one free retry if the council reject it, because they cant be arsed to know the rules and throw muck at the wall and hope it sticks....if it doesn't well, just amend for a free retry and if it still doesnt pass, the sart charging third time.

I lost nearly 6 months+ (perhaps thats nothing compared to some people) but I had to take decisive action because this 7 bed house was costing me money empty and wife didnt want to move in because of the poor state of the house. We decided to part ways and he agreed to not charge me any more than the £1200 I paid him out of the £5k stage payments. To be fair, he probably lost a lot on this project because I was a demanding customer, but I lost sympathy when he couldnt pay attention to details I gave him (like mixing north and south direction) and getting design ideas wrong. Council didnt like him to much and encouraged me to go with someone local.....perhaps not politically right for them to say or do that, but I had to get this sorted.

I found a council yes man...sort of. He was an architectural technican, bit of the older type. Bonus was that he was also a qualified structural engineer so could do both design and calcs in one shot. Problem: very argumentative, his way or no way, wouldnt compromise on some issues, told me not to challange him and when I proved him wrong on one issue (he claimed I couldnt have up to 4m eaves as PD extension if I build 1m AWAY from boundary after I got advice from good folks here), he was adament three times I was wrong, before I got an apology.

Anyway, he copied the architect's design almost 100%, drew everything by pen and paper, no computer drawings, construction plans were just one large A1 sheet. Overall, not hugely impressed, but I got the impression. And cost? He cost me the same if not more that the RIBA guy (excluding his structural calcs fees). I would have got more for money with the RIBA if only he didnt design Buckingham Palace for me, as nice as it is, but was just clueless about local planning rules, and PD rules for that matter.

Conclusion: If I was ever to do a £xxx,000 project like this again, I would get someone who does CAD drawings and someone who I can get on with. A bit of a hit and miss.

 

[r896neo]

Its clear from the replies that it all comes down to the person. I had an idiotic technician who literally drew plans based on a clients sketch. It was a terrible layout and made for a pointless extension that would have left the rest of the existing ground floor completely unused. He offered no opinions and couldnt see the glaring problems.

I recommended an architect i had used and he removed a wall, moved a doorway improving movement from the hall and it was 10x better.

 

[u587162]

[comment deleted]

 

[kazuya]

my advice, live in it for a while, what needs changing will become clear in time