How collaboration creates homes that are both structurally sound and looks and feels like you to create a space that you are proud to have.
Renovations and new builds come with an age old question. Where does the architect stop and where does the interior designer begin? Because both disciplines work in the same spaces, the overlap can feel confusing. Yet that overlap is exactly where the best design happens. Architects shape the structure and ensure safety, while interior designers shape the experience of living within it. When both come together with a shared focus on human centered design, clients benefit from a home that not only looks beautiful, but works beautifully for their daily lives. At Concetti, we believe the strongest projects come from a harmonized team made up of the architect, the interior designer, and the contractor working together from the start.
The Core Difference
It is about approach, not talent
Architects and interior designers are both essential, but they approach the work from different angles.
Architects are the masters of structure and site. They determine what is possible on your property by understanding zoning, setbacks, drainage, and building codes. They design the structural shell, from roof pitches to elevations to mechanical systems. Their work ensures that the home is feasible, safe, and uniquely suited to its site.
Interior designers are the masters of human centered living. At Concetti, we begin by understanding you. Not just your preferences, but how you move through the world. We study your habits, your routines, the way you cook, relax, host, and recharge. Our space planning is grounded in behavioral insight so the home flows intuitively. We then personalize the interior experience with materials, finishes, and details that support your life. It makes a space that is not only beautiful, but also functional.
This difference in perspective is not a divide. It is a strength.
The Collaboration Zone
Where roles overlap and elevate one another
Concetti is an interior first studio, but our work often extends into exterior experience as well. We support selections for paint, pavers, windows, outdoor living, and stone to ensure harmony between inside and out. While we are not landscapers, we collaborate closely with landscape architects to create cohesive environments.
Both architects and interior designers work together during:
- Early space planning
- Reviewing room sizes
- Determining window placements
- Aligning structural plans with interior needs
- Assumptions around lighting and electrical placement
When it is time to divide the work, the roles become clear.
The architect provides stamped drawings for permits along with structural and mechanical plans.
Concetti provides detailed interior specifications including millwork packages, fireplace elevations, cabinetry layouts, finishes, lighting plans, and interior elevations. Our interior drawing package becomes an addendum that supports the architect’s plans without duplicating them.
The Design Dream Team
Architect and Interior Designer
A successful project is a three part partnership. Each discipline protects your investment in a different way. Boutique collaborations like Concetti and Felix Culpa provide a high touch, human centered approach where communication flows easily. You benefit from a team that talks to each other, respects each other’s expertise, and keeps your vision at the center of every decision.
The flow is simple and powerful:
You and Concetti shape the vision.
Concetti and the architect align the structure and spatial needs.
The full team works with the contractor to bring the design to life.
The Conclusion
You should never feel like you need to choose between an architect and an interior designer. They are both essential and irreplaceable. Architects bring the structure. Interior designers bring the soul. When both work together with a human centered approach, the result is a home that supports not only how it looks, but how you live.
If you are considering a renovation or new build, bring Concetti into the conversation early. We will help you create a space that reflects your identity, supports your lifestyle, and evolves with you for years to come.
