Like the interior designer, architects mold and manipulate space to create aesthetically pleasing and well functioning homes or offices for the client.
Architects are knowledgeable about the mechanics of finishes and materials; “structures,” or the how and why things work the way they do; and the surrounding environment’s relationship to their creation. The major differences between an interior designer and an architect are the architect’s education, training, and experience and their ability to create new structures from the ground up. They are typically not trained in, and customarily not interested in, the finishing of a space, that is, its decoration.
I say typically because until the latter part of the 20th century, most architects focused on buildings and houses. More recently, however, they have extended their domain to include interior renovations.
The residential architect can be masterful in creating a satisfactory built environment, inside and out. But this is more the domain of the “design architect,” one whose interests veer towards combining great design with great structure. They are interested in the implementation of a master plan and the outfitting of its interiors.
The best projects combine the skills and abilities of the architect, the interior designer, and the decorator. It is rare, however, to find a firm or individual who can successfully bring all three skill sets into play. It’s always to the clients advantage when these design professionals team up, creating comprehensive design networks to better serve the end product and their clients.
