*A floor plan developed by Kentucky Interior Designer Bethany Adams*

Do You Need an Interior Designer for a Louisville Home Renovation?

When embarking on a significant home renovation in Louisville, Kentucky, one thing is immediately clear: you need to hire a contractor. What’s a little more murky to most homeowners is whether or not they need an interior designer, and when to hire one.

Why Your First Call Should Be to a Designer, Not a Contractor

The short answer is that your first call should be to a designer, not a contractor. Here’s why: A contractor cannot accurately bid a project that hasn’t been designed!

Why Rushing to Hire a Contractor Before Design Is a Mistake

You may have heard scary stories from friends and neighbors about how hard it is to lock in a great contractor. While they’re not wrong, rushing to get the contractor to commit to a timeline is a recipe for disaster. The contractor needs the design drawings and specifications schedules months before he ever lifts a hammer. A good contractor wants to price everything out accurately, and in advance of beginning the project to ensure that it goes smoothly, stays on budget, and is completed on time. Believe me when I say, you want this too. Beware of any contractor who happily slots you in for a project starting in a month, without any information. If you start a project with a contractor without a solid plan, you can rest assured that your money will fly out the window once things get going.

How Bethany Adams Interiors Plans a Renovation, Step by Step

Enter Louisville interior designer Bethany Adams! In our studio, we carefully plan each and every step of your renovation, avoiding costly change orders and surprises. Based on a detailed client and home profile we’ll first develop concepts for your project. After you provide feedback, we then develop those concepts into a working plan and start specifying materials, finishes, and fixtures. Finally, we draft ready to build plans and elevations (these include floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and finish plans at a minimum), and source and price every item that will be included in your project.

Getting Accurate, Apples-to-Apples Contractor Bids

It is only THEN that we hand this information over to your contractor to bid. If you’re shopping around for a contractor, you can rest assured that everyone has the exact same information so you can compare apples to apples.

Why the Best Renovations Start with Planning, Not Construction

The best projects start with planning and end with execution, and that is exactly what we do at Bethany Adams Interiors.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you hire an interior designer for a home renovation?

Before you hire a contractor. A contractor can't accurately price a renovation until it has been designed, so bringing in a designer first — to develop concepts, finalize plans, and specify materials and fixtures — is what allows a contractor to bid accurately and start on schedule.

Why can't a contractor give an accurate bid without a design plan?

Without finished design drawings, finish schedules, and specifications, a contractor is essentially guessing at scope and cost. A contractor who offers to start a project within a month without any of that information is a red flag — it usually means costs and change orders will pile up once work begins.

What does an interior designer do before a contractor gets involved?

At Bethany Adams Interiors, the process starts with a detailed client and home profile, followed by initial concepts, then a working plan with materials, finishes, and fixtures specified. It ends with ready-to-build plans and elevations — including floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and finish plans — plus sourcing and pricing for every item in the project.

Does hiring a designer first actually help control renovation costs?

Yes. Complete design plans and specifications let multiple contractors bid on the exact same information, so homeowners can compare quotes apples-to-apples — and it avoids the costly change orders that come from starting construction before decisions have been finalized.

What's included in a renovation design package from Bethany Adams Interiors?

At minimum, floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and finish plans, along with elevations and a full sourcing and pricing schedule for materials, finishes, and fixtures — everything a contractor needs to bid the project accurately.Planning a renovation or whole-home transformation?

Start with a design partner who can guide you every step of the way.

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