When to Hire an Architect

The simple answer is hire an architect when you are touching any walls that might be structural. But it’s also super helpful to hire an architect when you want a little help exploring the space. What COULD you do here? How could you enter or exit the space differently? Really good architects help you think outside the box and help you see nooks and crannies that you can move into or use for storage. They help you think about design details that they have used before with builders and designers that might be applicable.

Treehouse dining room built in (current).

You should expect to pay around $150/hr for an architect. After the initial walkthrough, they should give you a proposal that outlines the hours and investment you should expect as it relates to your specific project. I would always at least ENGAGE with an architect for a space that has lots of options. They will help you see the space differently and didn’t our fathers always tell us to surround ourselves with people smarter than us? We are huge fans of bringing in a specialist. There is great value in consulting with someone who knows the topic inside and out, especially when you’re going to invest in the project. Isn’t it worth a small investment to make sure you have explored your options?

I get asked quite often, why would I hire a designer and an architect? Don’t they do the same thing? Think about it this way…

• If your house was flipped upside down, everything that doesn’t fall out is generally what an architect focuses on (walls, flooring, lighting, tile, etc.).

• If your house was flipped upside down, everything that does fall out is a designer’s domain (rug, couches, art, tables, etc.).

Generally speaking, there is a ton of crossover because if you are a good architect, you also have a good eye. That means you can pick out furniture and other accessories, but it’s generally not part of the scope as the focus is on more technical details. And if you are a good designer, you can see the potential for a space and have the ability to select materials that go well together (even the fixed materials that wouldn’t fall out if your house turns upside down).

The Treehouse was a collaborative effort between my hubby & I and our architects. The next sequence of photos outlines the process for remodeling the Treehouse.

The Treehouse living room on move in day (2013).

Treehouse renderings from the architect (2019).

Construction began by tearing down the walls to see what they were working with, then building framing for the new design and prepping drywall (2020).

Skylights being installed (2021).

The magic typically happens when a designer and architect are paired together. You’d want to invest in this when you are doing a very critical part of your home and plan to stay for the long haul. When I say critical, I mean walls coming down that would compromise the structure, detailing of a bathroom or kitchen to ensure the plumbing and electrical is placed exactly where it should be, the precision of tile placement on a shower wall and measurements for cabinetry/countertops. This pairing can lead to stellar results like the Treehouse (below).

The final Treehouse design (current).

As a designer, I did most of the Treehouse project on my own. We initially had our architect draft basic drawings that we could work from; then I selected all of the materials and got to work with my husband for most of the early projects (and at times with our contractor for harder projects that we didn’t have the time for).

When we were ready to take the walls down on the main floor, both my husband and I were in the thick of very demanding jobs with little kids. We needed help to get the project over the finish line. Given the technical detailing of our primary bathroom, we wanted an expert. By technical detailing, I mean getting exact diagrams of where everything goes like tile/handles; the entire space is precisely mapped out. We had a general idea of what walls we wanted to knock down, but needed some ideas beyond what we’d come up with.

The Treehouse primary bathroom (current).

In the primary bathroom, I knew I wanted walnut, marble, and white walls with blue tile. With those guidelines, our architecture firm sourced the tiles we selected from, designed the new layout of the bathroom, detailed walls moving in the closet area, outlined cabinetry measurements, created new electrical outlets, drafted where the plumbing would run with the new design, and so much more (2022)!

Hiring Outside Architecture was the best decision for us. They came up with some new ideas such as making my office smaller to allow for another foot of space in the primary bathroom. The new space gave us enough room to get ready at the same time (it was too tight before). It also made the closet a little bigger. The office (also used as a bedroom) can still fit a queen bed and 2 end tables, which was important to us for resale someday. We loved how they considered the era and existing design of the home to create cohesion, provided very technical drawings, managed the process when our lives were busy, and put all of the materials in front of us so we didn’t have to run all over town. Experts are there for a reason.

A design-build firm is full scope, they have the interior designers, architects, builders, contractors, etc. Unless you are hiring a design-build firm, you should ask your architect questions like:

1. Do you pick tile and lighting for clients? If so, can we see examples?

2. If we want help selecting furnishings like couches, tables, and floor lamps, is that something you do? If so, can you share a client project where you helped them all the way to the finished product?

3. Have you worked with a designer before, and if so, what role do they play vs what role do you play?

And to your designer:

1. Can you provide technical drawings?

2. Do you typically select fixed materials like tile and countertops?

3. Have you worked with an architect before, and if so, what role do they play vs what role do you play?

Good luck & let us know how we can help!