Architects in Charlotte, NC and interior designers both have a key role in the design of your home. But at the same time, they couldn’t be more different in what they actually do.
Because these two professions are so similar, and yet so different, understanding the difference between them can be difficult. Let’s clear things up by looking closer at each one, and comparing interior design vs architecture side by side.
What Does An Architect Do?
When comparing an interior designer vs architect, you’ll see they do pretty different things. An architect’s job is to design any type of building, from a residential home to a retail store to an office building and more.
Architects are responsible for the appearance of the project, and for overseeing its progress. If a complication arises, the architect will be your advocate, and will discuss solutions with contractors and subcontractors.
When an architect designs a building, it will also generally be checked by a structural engineer. They’ll ensure the project is structurally sound.
What Does An Interior Designer Do?
While an architect is responsible for the whole building, an interior designer is focused on designing the interior space. This is the biggest difference between architecture and interior design, but not the only one.
If you’re remodeling your kitchen or redoing a room in your home, you’ll call on an interior designer to help you. But unlike an architect, an interior designer’s work is not typically checked by a structural engineer. An interior designer is exclusively focused on the aesthetics of a design.
Even when an architect designs an interior space, there are still differences from interior design. When comparing interior architecture vs interior design, only the architect will typically provide project management services, or go between you and contractors.
Interior Designer vs. Architecture: Side by Side
So, what’s the difference between an interior designer and an architect? As it turns out, quite a few things.
When comparing interior design vs architecture, only architects design both interior and exterior spaces of a building. Interior designers, on the other hand, are only focused on interior spaces.
Another big difference between interior designer and architect is that architects generally provide more services. Architects not only design the building inside and out, they can also provide project management services.
Even when comparing interior architecture vs interior design, there are big differences. For example, only an architect’s work typically needs to be checked by a structural engineer. Meanwhile, an interior designer’s focus is on aesthetics, so structural integrity isn’t usually a concern.
An interior designer will help you choose things like color palettes and other aesthetic details. They’ll help you take an existing space and make it pop with eye-catching designs.
If you’re planning to build a new home, or remodel an existing one, you want to be sure you get the right architect for the project. If you’re looking for an architect in Charlotte, NC, we at Vinyet Architecture would love to help. Whatever project you have in mind, we’ll help you bring it to life in a way that not only meets, but exceeds, your expectations.