What Is an Integrated Design Service?

Surrey Interior Designer

An integrated interior design service is when all aspects of the design process and build is entirely integrated and combined. It’s the blend of beautiful design, with efficient technology and executed though the build so that every element is intertwined, speaks to each other and is effortlessly combined.

In short, it’s all about collaboration, good relationships, seeking advice and constant communication. This way of working is something Sadie Pizzey Interiors are passionate about. Today we want to educate future renovators why this is so important to the success of your project.

Before we get into the fancy details, Sadie Pizzey Interiors is a Surrey Interior design firm, but we service all of the UK & overseas. We share a monthly Newsletter, where we share top design tips, behind the scenes access and our favourite suppliers for sourcing! So, signup below!

Is Integrated Design Needed for a Construction Project?

Surrey & London Construction Project

We’ve all heard the horror stories from friends and colleagues of a disastrous build.  It is often hard to understand why it all went wrong. Sometimes it is that one element of the team wasn’t skilled enough for the job. Sometimes it’s that the budget was unrealistic. Or the timeline is too tight. And although all these elements do occur and play apart, nine times out of ten the main failure is down to lack of collaboration and team work on the project.

Why do Renovation Projects go Wrong? Interior Design in Surrey.

SP Interiors have been on those projects, and they are awful. The lack of communication and collaboration occurs for a number of reasons. Sometimes one or more of the overall team does not want to collaborate. Sadie Pizzey Interiors have worked with architects who seem resentful that the client has decided to bring us onto the project. And then even more resentful when we want to explore the internal layouts to make sure they work for our client’s needs.

We have also worked with contractors who assume as we are a Surrey based interior design firm, that we have no knowledge of construction and just choose pretty fabrics. When actually our skillset is on the ground project fulfilment. They leave us out of changes and make decisions on site that affect everyone in the chain without communicating or taking responsibility. It is horrible for us, but far worse for the clients.

A Delayed Construction Design Team.

The other factor for when collaboration fails during a construction project is when the team isn’t formed at the start. We have worked on projects where we have come onto a site much later than we would have liked. We have been handed the architectural plans with the client hoping we can swap all the internal layouts.

The interior designer arriving on a project and making dramatic changes at this stage impacts everything. Lighting, electrics, door placements, flooring choices and the list goes on. The builder is underway and about to start first fix lighting & electrics and is less than impressed that we are adapting everything to work for the client’s needs. The relationships in the team are then frosty from the start and we spend the project trying to build the relationships and create a collaborative work force.

The above two scenarios unfortunately playout far more than you would hope. How does it impact the project?

• They’re huge responsibility issues. 
• The workings of the house don’t work like they should.
• The end finishes become rushed and disappointing.
• The budget escalates.
• The stress for the clients is through the roof.

What Does Good Look Like in Integrated Interior Design?

So, we’ve painted the doom and gloom picture of what a bad construction project looks like. How a house renovation can go from excitement and joy to leaving you penniless, unhappy and hating your home.

But what does good look like? It’s simple, it is a team of professionals who are excited, understands their skillset, and are determined to execute to the highest level. They know the only way to achieve this is through collaboration. And it works through the whole team. Everyone from the architect to the interior designer, to the principal contractor, to the garden designer, to the automation team, to the electricians, plumbers, decorators and the list goes on.

Collaboration, what does it look like on a large renovation project? Firstly, the whole team is formed at the very start. The architect, structural engineer, interior designers, contractors, garden designers, the whole team. 

Surrey & London Architects.

Then every stage is a check in with everyone. For example, SP Interiors are currently working on a lovely Surrey residential interior design project. The clients brought us in first do a feasibility study on the property and to create initial layouts. We then recommended our favourite architects to take over for the detailed building plans. Whilst they are designing, they share their model with us to see our thoughts and adapt their design.  Next, they present their plans and once the client is happy SP Interiors layer over our internal layouts. 

It is a beautiful example of integrated design and collaboration. The architect understands the building design far better than us, but we understand the internal layouts and client’s day to day needs more than them. It produces a more holistic design and is far more efficient for the client.

Surrey & London Garden Designers.

The same is seen in our relationship with the garden designer. Once Sadie Pizzey Interiors have got the green light on the conceptual design for our client’s homes, we share this with the garden designer. This enables them to continue the same material choice to the external finishes. So, there is consistency in the design as you move from the inside out and the whole home feels connected.

Managing a Renovation Project – Luxury Interior Design.

On site presence is everything. SP Interiors like to be on site at least once a week. When we are not there, we are on the phone all the time to the contractor, sub-contractors and suppliers. Once we’ve finished our internal layouts and the client is happy, we then share these back to the architect and the construction team. We are great designers but they are great at construction. There may be an element or two where they share some advice to improve the finished result, and we love that.

Once every drawing is finished, we share it with the team. Sadie Pizzey Interiors come to site and communicate with everyone there. It’s those relationships that cement you as a team. Every single project has problems to solve, but it is so much easier to problem solve as a team. Making sure everyone is introduced to everyone is also vital. If we bring on a subcontractor for an element of the project, we make sure they are introduced to the whole team. Everyone then picks up the phone (yes, a dated phenomenon) and regularly communicates their progress. It seems so simple, but you will be surprised how many projects don’t have this.

What Do the Stages of a Successful Integrated Design Project Look Like?

The Initial Building Design, Internal Layouts & Conceptual Design

Nine times out of ten the architect starts the project with a briefing from the client. They initiate a survey to see what is possible of the site. This is then a great stage to bring on the interior designer and garden designer and even the principal contractor. A team meeting with everyone and the client is then a great start. The architect can share the findings of the survey, the designers can start to understand the initial scope and brief and the contractor can share construction concerns and work arounds. 

The Drill Down Chat-Interior Design Deep Dive!

Sadie Pizzey Interiors then begin our client journey with our Drill Down Chat. Typically, a three-hour meeting where we explore the clients wishes, practical requirements and really drill the client (in the nicest sense) to identify who they are, what’s important to them and build a picture of what makes them unique. 

We then collaborate with the architect on the initial layouts. They share their building plans and how that impacts the internals. We create details internal layouts to suit the client’s needs that often results in some tweaks to the architects’ plans. The architects will also in conjunction share their plans with the structural engineer, ensuring that the structural impacts of the design are viable and will be within the client’s budget.

SP Interiors develop a conceptual design to correlate to the internal layouts and present our plans to the client.

There is then a check in with the contractor and off it all goes to planning.

The Design Details – Surrey Interior Designer

The next stage is all about the details. The architect heavily collaborates between the structural engineer and contractor to ensure the build is structurally sound and everyone understands the technical requirements.

Once this stage is finalised, we begin our interior design details. SP Interiors create a detailed SOW for the principal contractor and specification documents for every tiny element in the interiors. We include detailed layouts, lighting & electrical placement & circuits, aircon positions, thermostat locations, bathroom and plumbing drawings, kitchen plans and elevations, flooring choices, doors, hardware, wall finishes, it is a lot of detail!! But it is essential!

And the garden designer will be doing the same for the external. Why is this needed? Between the architect, structural engineer, interior designer and garden designer, the contractor now has all the drawings, selections and information to build. This means their quote is accurate, there are no PC sums or mounting construction costs. And the builder can get building, be efficient with their team and off they go. 

The Build -Luxury Interior Designer Involvement

There are a lot of moving parts during a build. A build schedule is essential from the principal contractor so that all professionals understand what is happening when and more importantly what needs to be on site by when. 

Once a build is up and running, we like to be on site once a week to have a walk around with the contractor, check the schedule and answer any questions that may occur on site.

SP interiors are also there to constantly check deliveries have arrived and check all the quantities and discrepancies.

Issues occur on every building site and when this happens, we all communicate the problem and then come together to problem solve.

If changes are made during the build everyone is emailed with the updates and we share google folders with all the build documents.

We get genuinely excited every time a milestone is reached, whether that’s the windows going in, or the wall panelling is installed, we come to site and we celebrate with the team.

Client Involvement During a Renovation Project.

Our client’s involvement can be a lot less, depending on their schedule and how much they want to be involved. We have scheduled meetings to present different stages of the process. From the Design direction meeting to the SID (structural interior design) selections and then the F,F&E meeting (the pretty bits). Some clients choose to meet us on site once a week so they can understand where we are in the process. If clients can’t, then we email them weekly with the on-site updates.

Trust is a huge part of a build; construction is a huge investment! An integrated design service allows clients to feel confident in the team and the build, it allows them to focus on work, family, friends and life without feeling exhausted by the whole process.

How Can Clients Ensure This Success During Their Build.

It’s really very simple, take time at the beginning to form the right team. And where possible ask them to recommend further professionals as they will already have good working relationships with these people. SP Interiors are working on our favourite project so far. It’s our forth project with the principle contractor, third with the garden designer and forth with our joiners. We all know how each other works and it is the most collaborative team we’ve worked with so far.

Understand the importance of investing in these professionals. SP Interiors have heard more times than we like, “We only want to use you a bit because we want to save our money for the furniture”. Sofas can wait, getting the design and fundamentals of the project right is far more important. What’s the use of a great sofa if you didn’t get the lighting or heating right to enjoy the room.

Give the beginning of the project time. Christmas is not a deadline. Understand that at least six months is needed before a spade even goes in the ground, to get the team, design and process right.

The time also ensures you are happy with the design and will commit to it without making changes. The odd change on site here and there is to be expected, but significant changes results in timely and expensive delays.

Be clear and honest with your budget, it allows all professionals to design a home that you can afford and love.

About Our Surrey Interior Design Practice.

• In case you didn’t know we are an award winning commercial and residential interior design practice based in Surrey but servicing clients throughout the UK and internationally.
• We run our projects with a tried and tested stepped process, which not only produces incredible interiors but keeps projects organised, on budget and clients relaxed.
• SP Interiors are construction experts and most of our projects are either from the ground up or extensive renovations. We like to be involved at the very start of a project as we find our internal layouts often have an impact on structural changes.
• Most of our clients are surprised by the amount of drawings and details we need to provide. Our drawing packages enable accurate quotes, smooth on site installations and all the design decisions and costs decided in the early stage of a project.
• We manage orders of everything from flooring, joinery, lighting, furniture and everything in between, through a professional data system which keeps us ontop of scheduling, deliveries and discounts. 
• Transforming our homes and businesses is no mean feat, we get one chance to get it right so make sure you have the right team working on your project.
• If you want some help in how to start your project, then our two hour “Walk and Talk” consultation is invaluable. We walk around your home and instantly solve your design problems. Email us at info@sadiepizzeyinteriors.com to find out more.

Work With Us!

If you would like know more about how to work with us, then visit our contact page and book in a discovery call with us or email: info@sadiepizzeyinteriors.com.

And If you love swooning over beautiful interior pics, then also follow us on Instagram!