Architect or Interior Designer?
Architect or Interior Designer?
What’s the difference?
My dad thinks I can, and should, do everything! As the daughter of an officer in the Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army, that’s the least that is expected of me.
I have tried to explain to him that while I design the interiors of buildings, and I specialize in how spaces are organized, and how that organization can help my clients make more money, retain staff, have happier lives – it is unethical for me to claim to do something I am not qualified to do.
I am an interior designer.
An architect can also do what I do, and this where we both can deliver:
- I design interior spaces – for example, which room to increase to accommodate extra storage?
- Plumbing – what WCs, washbasins and taps to use and why. Toilets by the way are my favorite spaces!
- Electricals – how should the ‘plug points’ be placed? Automation or no automation or how much automation?
- Doors and windows – aluminium? UPVC? Wood finish – hardwood, veneer, laminate? How much cross ventilation?
- Floors – what material? What design? Single color or more than one?
- Ceilings – do do or not to do? Coves – do they work? Lighting – where and how? What kind of fixtures?
- Air conditioning – what kind?
- Walls – plain? Plaster of Paris designs? Wood cladding? Stone cladding? Wallpaper? Oh the variety available!
- Toilets – what kind of tiles, stone, sanitaryware, vanities, mirrors, lighting, ventilation
This is where I, as an interior designer, make my mark:
- Furniture – what type? To make (design in detail), buy (visit and select from stores) or import (Italy, Spain, USA, China, Turkey, Malaysia)?
- What kind of curtains? The look and the function. What fabric, what kind of rods or channels?
- Fabric selection – where to use natural fabrics? What colors? What type of fabric for curtains, blinds, upholstery, bed sets, cushions…this is actually the funnest
- Carpets, accessories and art – these 3 actually tie up all the effort that has gone into the residential or commercial space being designed. I call this part of the styling – the extra mile.
What I cannot, and absolutely should not do – is the Architect’s specialty. I cannot design a building, decide on structure, the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) back end, get permissions and completions.
I also cannot design your landscape, or which plants should be planted and when.
I am happy to say, that my partner, Alka Sood, is an architect, who can take care of most of the above, and where we lack the expertise, we work closely with firms that specialize in what we require to do a project successfully, and build relationships with our collaborators and clients for life.
This is just the basic distinction between an architect and an interior designer. Simplified.
Family and friends, hope this helps!
Papa, now do you see why I can’t?
