Collaboration With Builders & Architects & general contractors

Partnering directly with builders and architects is one of my favorite ways to work! 
I offer a designer’s eye on both new construction and renovation projects—bridging the gap between technical drawings and the way clients actually live in their homes. I’ve worked directly with contractors on kitchens, bathrooms, built-ins, whole-home renovations, and custom new builds. 
I can do everything on the interior design and documentation side short of architectural details required for permitting, and I’m very comfortable collaborating with your team to bring the full vision to life.

What You Get

  • When we collaborate directly, you get:

    • Designer-led plan reviews with practical, livability-focused improvements

    • Space planning for kitchens, bathrooms, built-ins, closets, and living areas

    • Cabinetry drawings and elevations (concept through detailed sections and cut-throughs)

    • Finish and fixture selections for hard materials

    • Lighting and electrical plans, switching logic, decorative fixture placement

    • Reflected ceiling plans and ceiling detail concepts

    • Furniture layout plans to help inform window placement and outlet locations

    • Tile layouts, plumbing locations, niche details, and functional height guidelines.

      you cannot image the number of gcS i talk to who have never wokred with formal elevations or specification sets! make everyone’s life easier & get a full plan set

    • Review and redline markups of architectural and cabinetry shop drawings

    • Coordination drawings that clearly communicate design intent to trades

    • Support during framing walk-throughs and finish-phase decision making

    I am comfortable working at many stages of a project: early conceptual planning, mid-design refinement, or late-stage problem solving when field conditions change, but the earlier I get brought into a project, the better. ideally before permiting is complete so we can still move walls and plumbing.

How We Work Together

We’ll outline the relationship in whatever way fits your working style best—behind the scenes as part of your team or directly client-facing as a design partner.

A typical collaboration looks like this:

  1. Intro call

    • We discuss project scope, schedule, team structure, and deliverables.

    • You can share PDFs, CAD files, sketches, or existing selections.

  2. Review & deep dive

    • I walk the plan mentally—imagining daily life, circulation, and furniture flow.

    • I review functional adjacencies, door swings, wall placements, and room proportions.

    • CAD files are typically required to be provided so I can complete full furniture plans and detailed layouts.

  3. Design documentation

    • Redline markups, revised layouts, cabinetry elevations, lighting plans, or finish schedules—whatever the project calls for.

    • I can adapt to your standards or provide my own clearly labeled drawing sets.

  4. Trade coordination

    • I review cabinetry designer drawings, vendor submittals, and shop drawings for accuracy.

    • I help ensure specifications align with field conditions and the intended design.

  5. Client or site involvement (optional)

    • I can join meetings, Zoom presentations, or on-site walk-throughs.

    • Framing walk-throughs are especially powerful for catching issues early.

    • cross reference submittal documents & approve submittal elevations and specifications prior to ordering

Whether we work locally or remotely:

  • Local projects: I can join you or the client at lighting showrooms, flooring suppliers, or slab yards to make selections in person.

  • Remote projects: I source materials online, send curated selection boards, and coordinate samples to be shipped directly to the client and/or your office.

I fit seamlessly into existing project workflows—no disruption, just added clarity and design depth.

Typical Timeline

  • Timelines depend on scope and how many spaces are involved, but a general guide is:

    • Intro call & material review: 30–60 minutes

    • Plan review & preliminary feedback: 1–2 weeks depending on project size

    • Detailed drawings & documentation: 2–6 weeks depending on deliverables

    • Follow-up revisions & coordination: as needed throughout construction

    For fast-moving renovation projects, I can also work in short, focused sprints to answer immediate questions or develop quick-turn drawings. i am known for my email response time and thoughtfulness of response.

Why Builders and Architects Like Working With Me

  • 15+ years working on custom homes (many over 5,000 sf)

  • Kitchen and bath renovation design experience directly with contractors

  • High-end interior design collaboration on complex residential projects

  • Ability to think like the homeowner while speaking the language of trades

  • Clear drawings that reduce jobsite confusion and change orders

    I’m here to make your life easier, not more complicated—to answer the hundred little questions before they become field issues.

Ready to chat?

If you’re a builder, architect, or general contractor and would like to:

  • streamline client selections

  • elevate interior detailing

  • reduce redraws and change orders

  • or simply have a trusted design partner on future projects

👉 Let’s schedule a call
👉 Or share your email and I’ll send over my service menu and sample drawings

tell me about an upcoming project—even if it’s just an idea on trace paper—and we’ll figure out where I can best support your team.