A 1907 Craftsman kitchen remodel in Portland's Alphabet District blends historic character with modern function, honoring the home's original architecture.

The best time to hire an interior designer during a remodel is before construction begins. Early design planning allows layouts, materials, and budgets to align before decisions become expensive or irreversible. Most homeowners wait until plans are already underway, which limits options and often leads to compromises that could have been avoided.

Full-service interior design is often misunderstood. Many homeowners assume it means choosing furniture, picking finishes, and making things look pretty. In reality, full-service interior design is a comprehensive process that manages the entire project from planning through execution. At its core, full-service interior design provides clarity. It brings structure to complex decisions, aligns design with function, and ensures that every detail works together before anything is ordered or installed.

Whether you’re starting a kitchen remodel, planning an ADU, or building a new home from the ground up, understanding the difference between an interior designer, contractor, and architect will help you build the right team from the start.

It all started with a simple vision: slow mornings, coffee in hand, and the peace of sitting outside on comfortable furniture. Living in Portland, Oregon, where the weather can be unpredictable, that dream quickly turned into the desire for a covered outdoor space.