Should I hire an architect or an interior designer first?

For most remodels and new construction projects, it is beneficial to involve both early in the process. Architects focus on structure, building systems, and exterior design, while interior designers focus on how the home functions for daily life, including furniture layouts, storage, lighting, room flow, and lifestyle needs.

When is the best time to hire an interior designer?

The ideal time to hire an interior designer is during the architectural planning phase and before contractor bidding begins. This allows the designer to influence the floor plan, cabinet layouts, lighting plans, storage solutions, and overall functionality before plans are submitted for permits.

Is it worth hiring an interior designer before construction starts?

Yes. Hiring an interior designer before construction starts can help reduce costly changes, improve contractor bid accuracy, prevent missed opportunities, and create a home that better supports the homeowner's lifestyle.

Can an interior designer help save money on a remodel?

An interior designer can help homeowners avoid expensive mistakes, reduce change orders, and make more strategic decisions about where to invest and where to save. While hiring a designer is an investment, early design planning often supports a smoother and more efficient construction process.

What does an interior designer do during a remodel?

During a remodel, an interior designer may assist with space planning, kitchen and bathroom layouts, cabinet design, lighting plans, material and finish selections, furniture planning, custom millwork design, contractor coordination, and construction site visits.

Can an interior designer work with my architect and contractor?

Yes. Interior designers commonly collaborate with architects, contractors, engineers, and homeowners. When the design team is involved early, projects often run more smoothly because layout, lifestyle, construction, and finish decisions can be coordinated before construction begins.

What happens if I hire a designer after plans are approved?

A designer can still provide value after plans are approved, but some opportunities may be limited. Once plans are permitted, layout changes can become more expensive and time-consuming because they may require plan revisions, contractor pricing updates, or resubmission to the city.

How do I know if my remodel needs an interior designer?

If you are remodeling a kitchen, bathroom, multiple rooms, an entire home, or building a custom home, working with an interior designer can help ensure the finished space is functional, cohesive, and tailored to your lifestyle.

Do interior designers increase home value?

Thoughtful interior design can contribute to a home's appeal, functionality, and perceived value. A designer can help homeowners prioritize investments in areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, primary suites, and common living spaces that may support both daily living and long-term resale value.

What should I bring to an initial consultation with an interior designer?

Helpful items include inspiration photos, architectural plans if available, a list of frustrations with your current home, your wish list for the new space, preliminary budget information, and a realistic timeline.

What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?

An interior decorator typically focuses on furnishings, styling, paint colors, and decorative elements. An interior designer may also work on space planning, floor plan functionality, lighting, kitchens, bathrooms, construction details, and coordination with architects and contractors during remodels or new construction.

Why does my home feel stressful even when it's beautiful?

The issue is often related to layout, functionality, sight lines, visual clutter, or how spaces connect to one another. A home can be beautiful and still create daily friction.

What is expansion and contraction in interior design?

Expansion and contraction refers to the experience of moving between smaller, more compressed spaces and larger, more open spaces. This contrast helps create flow, comfort, and a sense of arrival within a home.

Why do some open floor plans feel overwhelming?

When every room is visible at once, your brain is forced to process more information simultaneously. Strategic transitions and thoughtful sight lines help create a more comfortable experience.

How do sight lines affect how a home feels?

Sight lines determine what you see from key locations throughout your home. Visible clutter, storage areas, appliances, and busy spaces can create subconscious stress.

Can an interior designer help before construction starts?

Yes. Involving an interior designer during the planning phase often leads to better layouts, fewer change orders, improved functionality, and a home that better supports your lifestyle.

Why is natural light important in a home?

Natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms, improve mood, support energy levels, and create a stronger connection to the outdoors.

Do reflective surfaces affect how a room feels?

Yes. Too many reflective surfaces can create visual fatigue. Balancing glass, polished stone, and metal with warmer materials such as wood, plaster, textiles, and honed stone often creates a more comfortable environment.

When should I hire an interior designer for a remodel?

Ideally, before architectural plans are finalized. Early collaboration allows for better space planning, furniture layouts, storage solutions, and more efficient construction.

What areas do you serve?

Michelle Accetta Home provides interior design services throughout Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, and the greater South Bay area of Los Angeles County.

What is the first step in planning a home remodel?

The first step is identifying the problem you're trying to solve. Before choosing finishes or creating a Pinterest board, ask yourself why you're remodeling and what isn't working about your current home. The most successful renovations are built around solving real lifestyle problems, not just improving aesthetics.

Should I hire a designer before getting contractor bids?

Yes. A completed design package allows contractors to price exactly what will be built rather than estimating a hypothetical project. This leads to more accurate bids, fewer assumptions, and significantly fewer change orders during construction.

Why does the floor plan come before finish selections?

Beautiful finishes cannot fix a floor plan that doesn't function. Getting the layout right first ensures the home flows well, furniture fits where it should, and sight lines feel intentional. Finishes should enhance a great floor plan, not compensate for a poor one.

How far in advance should I order materials for a remodel?

Many materials used in remodeling have long lead times. Cabinetry, custom lighting, plumbing fixtures, natural stone, and furniture can take weeks or months to arrive. Ordering early helps prevent construction delays and keeps the project moving on schedule.

Do I need an architect and an interior designer for my remodel?

It depends on the scope. If you're remodeling within your home's existing footprint, an interior designer and structural engineer are often sufficient. If you're building an addition or new home, an architect should be involved early. The best results happen when both professionals collaborate from the beginning.

How can I keep my remodel on budget?

The most effective way to stay on budget is to finalize all design decisions before construction begins. When contractors have a complete design package, they can price accurately and minimize assumptions. Many budget overruns come from change orders that result from decisions made during construction rather than before it.

What areas does Michelle Accetta Home serve?

Michelle Accetta Home serves homeowners throughout Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Torrance, and greater Los Angeles and the South Bay.

Should I remodel or move in the current market?

With interest rates where they are, many South Bay homeowners are choosing to invest in their current home rather than give up a favorable mortgage rate. Renovating strategically can improve daily life and increase home value without the cost and disruption of moving.

What is a HELOC and how can it fund a renovation?

A Home Equity Line of Credit lets you borrow against the equity in your home. You only pay interest on what you actually borrow, not the full credit line. During the draw period most HELOCs are interest-only, keeping monthly payments lower than a conventional loan — making it a flexible option for funding renovations.

When should I bring an interior designer into a renovation?

The earlier the better. Bringing a designer in before plans are finalized allows them to influence the layout, flow, and functionality of the home before construction begins. Changes made during planning are significantly less expensive than changes made during or after construction.

How does Michelle Accetta approach interior design?

Michelle's design style starts with listening. Before any finish or floor plan decision is made, she focuses on understanding how a family actually lives — their routines, frustrations, and what they need their home to do for them. Function comes first. The aesthetic follows.

What areas does Michelle Accetta Home serve?

Michelle Accetta Home serves Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, and the greater South Bay and Los Angeles area.

Do I need an architect for a kitchen remodel?

Not always. If you're remodeling within the existing footprint of your home and aren't making major structural changes or adding square footage, you may not need an architect. Many kitchen remodels can be successfully designed by an interior designer, who can work with a structural engineer if engineering is required.

Can an interior designer create floor plans?

Yes. Interior designers regularly create space plans and floor plans that improve how a home functions. Depending on the project, we may redesign kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, and entire homes within the existing footprint. If structural changes or additions are involved, we collaborate with architects and engineers to ensure the design is both beautiful and buildable.

Should I hire an interior designer before buying a home?

If you're considering purchasing a home that needs remodeling, absolutely. Walking through a property with an interior designer before closing can help you understand what's possible, identify potential challenges, develop realistic renovation budgets, and determine whether the home truly fits your long-term goals.

Can I hire an architect and an interior designer at the same time?

Yes — and for new construction or home additions, it's often the ideal approach. When both professionals collaborate from the beginning, the home's architecture, floor plan, functionality, and interior design all work together seamlessly before plans are finalized.

Do I need an architect if I'm removing a wall?

It depends on whether the wall is structural. In many cases, an interior designer can develop the layout and overall design while a structural engineer determines whether the wall is load-bearing and specifies the appropriate structural solution. If your project also includes an addition or significant exterior changes, an architect is typically needed as well.

What's the difference between an architect and an interior designer?

Architects focus on the structure of a home, building systems, code requirements, permits, and the relationship between the home's interior and exterior architecture. Interior designers focus on how the home functions and feels from the inside — space planning, cabinetry, lighting, furniture placement, finishes, and creating spaces that support the way you live every day.

Can hiring an interior designer save money during a remodel?

In many cases, yes. A completed design package gives your contractor detailed plans, finish selections, and specifications before construction begins. This often results in more accurate bids, fewer assumptions during estimating, and fewer costly change orders once work is underway.

How do I know which professional I need first?

The easiest way is to schedule a consultation before hiring anyone. After learning about your goals, budget, and the scope of your project, a designer can help you determine whether you need an architect, a structural engineer, an interior designer — or a collaborative team from the start.

What makes a home feel cohesive?

A home feels cohesive when its rooms share a consistent design language. That does not mean every room needs to look the same. Instead, elements such as architectural lines, materials, finishes, colors, lighting and shapes are thoughtfully carried throughout the home so that each space feels connected to the larger vision.

How can different rooms have their own personality and still flow together?

Each room can have a distinct mood or purpose while still relating to the rest of the home. The connection may come through a repeated curve, a familiar material, a consistent color temperature or a new interpretation of a detail used elsewhere. The goal is not to repeat everything exactly. It is to create subtle relationships between the spaces.

When should an interior designer become involved in a custom build or major renovation?

Ideally, an interior designer should be involved early in the planning process. Decisions about architecture, cabinetry, lighting, electrical placement, plumbing, flooring and finishes often affect one another. Bringing a designer in early helps establish a clear vision before expensive decisions are made and reduces the likelihood of reactive changes later.

How does an interior designer help protect the investment in a luxury home?

An interior designer looks beyond individual selections and considers how every decision supports the entire home. This helps prevent costly mistakes, unnecessary replacements and disconnected design choices. A clear design direction also makes the decision-making process more efficient and helps the project remain focused on the agreed-upon priorities and budget.

How do you create a timeless home without making it feel too traditional?

Timeless design is not about avoiding personality or relying only on traditional choices. It begins by understanding the identifying features of a particular architectural style and then elevating them in a fresh, personal way. This creates a home that feels rooted in its architecture without looking predictable, overly trendy or copied from a moment in time.

Can a cohesive home include more than one design influence?

Yes. Many of the most interesting homes combine influences. The key is to begin with a clear baseline style and layer in secondary influences thoughtfully. For example, a modern home may include subtle coastal elements through natural materials, texture or lighting while maintaining the clean lines and architectural details that define the overall design.

Why is designing each room separately risky?

When rooms are designed in isolation, the home can begin to feel like a collection of unrelated ideas. A tile, fixture or finish may be beautiful on its own but still feel out of place when viewed alongside the rest of the house. Designing from a whole-home perspective creates continuity and helps every selection contribute to the same story.

Your Contractor Shouldn’t Be Your Interior Designer: Why Execution Matters in a Manhattan Beach Remodel

Interior Design Process

Oct 19

Written By Michelle Accetta

A beautiful finish board is not a finished design.

Choosing the stone, tile, plumbing, lighting and paint is only one part of designing a home. The design still has to survive construction.

And that is where some of the most important decisions get made.

In the high-end new construction and whole-home remodel projects I work on throughout Manhattan Beach and the South Bay, I stay involved well beyond material selections. I am on site at major construction milestones, reviewing placement, transitions and alignment with the contractor and trades. When something unexpected comes up, I am often on FaceTime with the contractor working through it in real time.

Because construction rarely unfolds exactly the way it looked on paper.

And when the designer disappears after handing over a finish board, those small on-site decisions still have to be made by someone.

Too often, that someone becomes the contractor.

Your contractor should not have to be your designer.

I work very collaboratively with contractors. Good contractors are invaluable to a successful project, and many of them bring excellent ideas to the table.

But construction and design are different jobs.

The contractor is responsible for determining how something can physically be built.

My role as the interior designer is to ask the next question:

How can we build it in a way that also looks intentional?

Sometimes I am asking the contractor what feels like 800 questions.

Can we move this?

How much room do we actually have inside this wall?

Can the plumbing come through here instead?

What happens if we shift this light three inches?

Can we change where this tile terminates?

What is behind this wall?

Where will this seam land?

The point isn't to make construction more complicated.

It is to understand the physical limitations of the project so we can find the best aesthetic solution within them.

That conversation is part of the design process.

The Smallest Construction Decisions Can Have the Biggest Visual Impact

Most of the mistakes I notice on a remodel aren't dramatic.

They're small.

A niche is three inches too high.

A wall sconce isn't centered with what is below it.

A tile transition ends in an awkward location.

A tub filler isn't properly aligned with the tub.

The grout spacing changes the way a stone installation reads.

None of those decisions will necessarily prevent the house from functioning.

But visually, you know something isn't quite right.

That is often the difference between a remodel that feels professionally designed and one that simply contains beautiful materials.

Luxury is often in the alignment.

Lighting Is a Perfect Example

Lighting placement is something I pay particularly close attention to during construction.

A lighting fixture isn't simply an object hanging on a wall or ceiling.

It becomes a focal point in your sight line.

And once the light is turned on, we also have to consider where that light is actually going.

What is it illuminating?

How does it hit the wall?

Where will your eye go when you walk into the room?

How does the fixture align with cabinetry, mirrors, furniture and architecture?

An electrical plan might show a fixture in approximately the correct location.

But before rough electrical is finalized, I want to look at that placement in the actual space.

Sometimes a few inches make an enormous difference.

That is why I remain involved during rough electrical on my Manhattan Beach remodel and new-construction projects instead of simply specifying a beautiful fixture and wal

The Same Thing Happens With Plumbing

The plumbing selections may have been made months earlier.

But their final location still matters.

Take a freestanding bathtub.

Where exactly does the tub filler land?

How does it align with the tub?

What do you see behind it?

What relationship does it have to the windows, tile or architectural features around it?

The same applies to shower controls and shower heads.

These aren't decisions I want someone making for the first time while standing on the job site with a plumber waiting for an answer.

We think through them beforehand.

Then we verify them against the reality of the space before they become permanent.

Shower Niches Are One of My Favorite Examples

A shampoo niche sounds like a small detail.

It isn't.

Its location has to work functionally, but it also needs to work with the tile layout.

You have to think ahead.

Where do the grout lines land?

Where does the niche begin and end?

Can the edges align with the tile pattern?

Is the niche centered in the space or intentionally positioned somewhere else?

What is physically inside the wall?

A niche can be perfectly functional and still look awkward because nobody considered its relationship to the tile before construction began.

Once the tile is installed, fixing that mistake can be expensive.

This is exactly the type of detail that gets resolved through collaboration between the interior designer and contractor.

A Fireplace Is a Perfect Case Study

I recently shared another South Bay project where an existing brick fireplace with a wood mantel was completely transformed.

We framed the fireplace all the way to the ceiling to emphasize the room's height.

Stone was installed over the original brick surround.

Porcelain was used at the hearth.

Roman clay finished the new fireplace structure.

On a finish board, those decisions look simple:

Stone.

Porcelain.

Roman clay.

Done.

Except that wasn't the design.

During installation, we still needed to determine exactly where the stone would stop.

Where would the Roman clay begin?

Where should the seams in the porcelain land?

What grout spacing would make the stone look most seamless?

How should one material transition into the next?

Those decisions changed how the entire finished fireplace read.

You can select every material correctly and still end up with the wrong result if those installation details aren't resolved.

The execution is part of the design.

A Designer Who Hands You a Finish Board and Disappears Hasn't Finished the Job

This is probably my strongest opinion about full-service interior design.

A finish board is a roadmap.

It isn't the finished destination.

There are too many decisions that happen between concept and completion for a designer to simply specify materials and walk away.

Especially on a high-end Manhattan Beach remodel or new-construction project.

Your contractor will inevitably encounter conditions that weren't obvious months earlier.

A wall may be shallower than expected.

Framing may dictate a different location.

Tile dimensions may affect alignment.

A plumbing line may interfere with the original plan.

A fixture may need to move.

Those situations aren't failures.

They're construction.

The question is who is making the decisions when they happen.

Without a designer involved, the answer is often whichever trade happens to be standing there at that moment.

That person may be excellent at their craft.

But they are solving the immediate construction problem.

They are not necessarily looking at how that decision affects the entire visual language of the home.

That's my job.

Why I Stay Involved During Construction

On my whole-home remodels and new-construction projects, my involvement doesn't end when the selections are approved.

I stay engaged through important construction milestones including rough electrical, rough plumbing, tile installation and other major finish details.

Sometimes that means being physically on the job site.

Sometimes a contractor needs an answer quickly, and we work through it by FaceTime.

What matters is that the design intent isn't lost between the drawing and the finished home.

That level of involvement is particularly important in luxury residential construction, where the difference between “nice” and “exceptional” often comes down to details that most people can't immediately identify.

They just know the finished room feels right.

Interior Design and Construction Should Be Collaborative

None of this means the designer should dictate construction to the contractor.

The best projects are collaborative.

The contractor understands the building.

The trades understand their specialties.

The designer understands how all of those individual decisions need to come together visually.

I rely heavily on my contractors' knowledge.

They also rely on me to answer aesthetic questions that shouldn't fall on them.

That back-and-forth is how we find solutions when something unexpected comes up.

The contractor determines what is possible.

The designer helps determine what the best-looking version of that solution should be.

You need both.

Planning a Manhattan Beach Remodel or New Construction Project?

If you're investing in a whole-home remodel or new construction in Manhattan Beach or the South Bay, don't think of interior design as simply selecting finishes.

The most successful projects are designed all the way through execution.

Materials matter.

Floor plans matter.

Lighting matters.

But so do grout spacing, fixture locations, tile transitions, sight lines and the hundreds of decisions that happen while the home is actually being built.

Those details are what transform a collection of beautiful selections into a cohesive home.

If you're planning a high-end remodel or new construction project in Manhattan Beach or the South Bay, you can schedule a Project Clarity Call to talk through your project, your scope and where design support would make the biggest difference.

FAQ: Interior Design During a Manhattan Beach Remodel

When should I hire an interior designer for a whole-home remodel?

Ideally, an interior designer should be involved before construction begins. Early involvement allows the designer to coordinate space planning, lighting, plumbing locations, cabinetry, materials and architectural details before those decisions become expensive to change.

Does an interior designer need to stay involved during construction?

For a full-service project, yes. Many important aesthetic decisions happen during construction, including fixture placement, tile layouts, grout spacing, shower niche locations, material transitions and alignment. Staying involved helps ensure that the original design intent carries through to the finished home.

Can't my contractor make those decisions?

Your contractor should absolutely contribute their construction expertise, but your contractor and interior designer have different roles. Contractors are primarily responsible for how something gets built. Your interior designer is responsible for how individual construction decisions affect the overall visual result.

What does an interior designer review during construction?

Depending on the scope, this can include rough electrical placement, plumbing locations, lighting placement, tile layout, shower niche placement, cabinetry details, material transitions, fireplace details, grout, alignment and other finish decisions.

Do you work with contractors on Manhattan Beach remodeling projects?

Yes. I work collaboratively with contractors and trades throughout high-end remodel and new-construction projects. The goal is not to replace the contractor's expertise, but to bring construction knowledge and design intent together so on-site decisions support the finished design.

Do you provide full-service interior design in the South Bay?

Yes. Michelle Accetta HOME provides full-service interior design for whole-home remodels, new construction and furnishings projects throughout Manhattan Beach and the greater South Bay.

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Michelle Accetta