What does an interior designer do for a custom home build project?
What Does an Interior Designer Do for a Custom Home Build?
Building a custom home is an exciting opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind space that is perfectly tailored to your lifestyle and taste. But it can also be overwhelming. There are thousands of decisions to make, from the size of the kitchen island to the finish on your cabinet hardware. That’s where an interior designer steps in—not just to make your home beautiful, but to help it function for how you live.
At Wendi Gee Interiors, based in Austin, TX, we work with clients throughout the entire custom home building process. We’re not just picking paint colors and throw pillows; we’re deeply involved in every phase, from early visioning and space planning to furnishings and final styling. When we’re brought in early, the process runs more smoothly, and the final result is a cohesive, functional, and beautiful home that reflects your vision and lifestyle.
WHY BRING AN INTERIOR DESIGNER IN EARLY
We prefer to be involved from the very beginning. When interior and exterior visions aren't aligned, things can quickly unravel. We’ve seen it happen: an architect designs a stunning ultra-modern home, and then the client brings us in with inspiration photos filled with cozy, traditional interiors. It’s a major disconnect.
Being involved early allows us to:
Ensure architectural and interior styles are in harmony
Maximize space planning and furniture layouts
Identify and resolve functionality issues early
Guide the design in a direction that fits your lifestyle and budget
We attend early meetings with the architect and provide feedback on floor plans and elevations to make sure every square foot supports how you want to live.
THE POWER OF SPACE PLANNING
Space planning is one of the most important contributions we make to a custom home build. We often say that good furniture layout makes a house livable.
We analyze the flow of your home and ensure that rooms are properly sized and arranged for the way you live. We consider:
How many people need to be seated in the living room?
Do you need space for a grand piano or a dog bed?
Will your morning routine include sitting by the window with a coffee?
How do people move between kitchen, dining, and outdoor spaces?
We’ve worked on projects where the client brought us in late, only to find their living room couldn’t fit their existing furniture. That mistake cost them architectural revisions and lost time. Early space planning prevents this.
SITE LINES
Another essential piece of spatial planning is managing sight lines—what you see as you move through the home. We think carefully about what you’ll see the moment you walk in the door, how rooms visually connect, and what views should be framed or minimized. Do you want to walk in and see a fireplace or a piece of art? Do you want to hide the kitchen mess from view? These moments are what give a home its intentional flow and create that wow factor without feeling forced.
OUR PROCESS
We follow a clear and comprehensive process to guide clients through the custom home journey:
Life and Style Session
Deep dive into your lifestyle, preferences, routines, collections, pain points
Visual exploration of inspiration images
Identification of functional needs and priorities
Concept Development
Mood boards and preliminary ideas for finishes, color palettes, and materials
High-level space planning and vision alignment
Architectural Plan Review
Redline markups on floor plans and electrical plans
Coordination with architect for space planning and flow
Material and Fixture Selections
Exterior materials: roof, facade, porch ceilings, soffits, gutters, windows
Flooring, tile, countertops, paint colors, wallcoverings
Decorative lighting and plumbing fixtures
Cabinet hardware, shower glass hardware, and door hardware
Fireplace materials: insert, mantle, surround, hearth, tile, cap
Pool and patio materials: coping, surface, tile, pavers
Detailed Drawings and Documentation
Interior elevations for cabinetry, walls, tile layouts, and more
Custom design drawings for mouldings, fireplaces, built-ins
Finish schedules showing every item with specs and placement
Bidding Support
Coordination with builders to ensure design aligns with budget
Clarification of what items are must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
Construction Support
Site visits, problem solving, and builder collaboration
Adjustments and refinements during construction
Furnishings & Styling
Selection and procurement of furniture, art, and accessories
Installation planning and coordination
Final styling for a move-in-ready home
OUR DELIVERABLES
Here is a more detailed list of what we provide during a custom home build:
Drawings and Design Documents
Redline edits on floor plans and electrical layouts
Interior elevations of key spaces (kitchen, bathrooms, built-ins)
Tile and flooring layout drawings
Fireplace and millwork drawings
Custom moulding designs
Material Selections & Schedules
Exterior finishes: roof, windows, siding, soffits, porch ceilings
Interior finishes: flooring, wall coverings, tile, paint, cabinetry finishes
Hardware: cabinet pulls, interior door levers, hinges, stoppers
Plumbing and decorative lighting fixtures
Shower glass details and hardware
Pool materials and patio finishes
Specifications schedules documenting every item and its location
Furniture Planning
Full furniture layout plans for each room
Furniture sourcing and procurement
Custom upholstery and window treatments
Art and accessory curation
Project Management Support
Meetings with architect and builder
Ongoing budget alignment
Site visits and issue resolution
Coordination with vendors and trades
MANAGING THE BUDGET
A big part of our job is helping clients set realistic expectations about budget. Many clients are surprised by what custom homes actually cost. In the Austin area, for example, the cost to build a custom home starts around $450 per square foot on the low side and can climb quickly depending on the architecture and design.
We work to educate and guide:
Reviewing inspiration photos and providing early budget insight
Helping clients prioritize their wish list
Working with builders to determine allowances
Finding smart savings and investment opportunities
Whether we're brought in early to set allowances, or later to work within them, our job is to make the most of every dollar.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
What makes a custom home special is the opportunity to create something truly personal and unique. We don’t do cookie-cutter. We think outside the box, whether it’s creating a dramatic powder bath, a cozy reading nook, or a show-stopping fireplace surround.
Sometimes that starts with a function-first design (like a hidden charging station or custom smoothie bar), and other times it’s driven by a beautiful finish like a hand-painted wallpaper or a custom moulding pattern. The result is always elevated and intentional.
COMMON CHALLENGES WE SOLVE
We love custom homes, but they come with challenges—many of which we help our clients avoid:
Mismatched styles between architecture and interior
Poor furniture fit due to floor plans that weren’t space-planned
Last-minute changes that could have been avoided with early collaboration
Pinterest vs. reality gaps in cost or feasibility
Overlooked functions like storage needs, traffic flow, or pet accommodations
We help solve these problems before they become costly or irreversible. And if they arise late in the game? We step in and guide the solution.
THE GRAND FINALE: FURNITURE & STYLING
This is our favorite phase—where all the plans, drawings, and decisions come to life.
About six months before construction wraps, we begin ordering furniture. We work with a trusted receiving warehouse who holds the items until we’re ready. Once construction is complete and punch lists are done, we move in like a stealthy design squad.
We:
Install furniture
Hang art and mirrors
Style shelves and surfaces
Light candles, turn on music, and get ready for the big reveal
The texts and phone calls we get from our clients after they walk into their fully finished home is the most rewarding moment of the process. All the hard work has paid off, and our clients finally get to live in the space we’ve created together.
FINAL THOUGHTS
So, what does an interior designer do during a custom home build? Everything. There are few decisions we are not involved in. We are your creative partner, project advocate, and design expert, ensuring your new home reflects you in every way.
From furniture layouts that actually work, to material choices that stand the test of time, to styling that makes your home feel finished and you, we’re with you every step of the way.
If you're planning a custom build and want to make sure your home isn't just beautiful, but also livable and lasting, bring us in early. You'll be glad you did.