Renovating with a designer: design supervision stage by stage

Design supervision in plain words

A design is decisions on paper. On site, contractors carry them out, and questions always come up along the way: a socket doesn't fit, the boxing came out wider, the tiles arrived in a different shade. Design supervision means the author of the design makes sure the decisions are followed, answers the crew's questions and accepts the work stage by stage.

The scope varies between designers: the number of visits, checks from photos, help with purchasing, acceptance. Agree on it in advance and write it into the contract - then it's clear what you're paying for and who is responsible for what.

What the designer does during planning

In the app route, many items of the “Planning” stage carry the “Designer” role - together with the owner or instead of them:

• references - picking interiors you like;
• measuring the space - the basis of the design;
• layout and furniture placement - the wiring and lighting depend on them;
• the kitchen design with the appliances placed - sockets, water outlets and the hood are marked out from it;
• lighting scenarios - main, decorative and night lighting;
• choosing doors, including concealed ones;
• the tile layout - the scheme, the joint direction and the starting point;
• the wiring plan - sockets, switches, lighting, dedicated lines based on the furniture layout.

If you answer “Yes” to “Working with a designer?” in the project survey, two more items are added to the route: “Hand the working drawings to the crew” and “Draw up a specification with lead times”.

Drawings and the specification

Working drawings are what the crew works from: the measured plan, the layout, wall elevations, wiring and plumbing diagrams, the tile layout. The crew works from drawings, not verbal agreements - this protects both you and the contractor: an argument over “that's what we agreed” is settled by a sheet of the design.

A specification with lead times is a list of finishes, plumbing, lighting and furniture, marked with what to order now. Long-lead items are ordered first, otherwise the renovation stands waiting. The specification is also the basis of the budget: How to draw up a budget for an apartment renovation.

Stage-by-stage supervision: what the designer checks

Almost every route stage ends with the item “Accept the stage” with the owner and designer roles. In practice the designer looks at what relates to the design:

• marking out plumbing and electrical points - before the first chase, together with the contractor;
• partitions and openings - dimensions, niches, openings for concealed doors;
• hidden work - from the contractor's photos before plastering, screed and boarding;
• ceilings - the level, curtain recesses, shadow-gap profiles, light points;
• tiles - against the approved layout;
• wall finishing - in daylight and artificial light;
• final installation and furniture - against the design and the specification.

How to accept work at each stage: How to accept a crew's work stage by stage.

Who decides: the designer or the owner

The designer runs the design, but the decision is the owner's. A convenient arrangement:

• the designer settles technical questions about the design and accepts the contractor's work;
• anything that changes the look, the budget or the timing the designer agrees with the owner;
• the owner sees the stages and photos and can accept the contractor's work directly, even if there's a designer on the property.

Record decisions in the same place as the stage: in a month nobody will remember who allowed the socket to be moved.

Money and the budget

The designer usually helps with purchasing from the specification, so they see the budget. The budget is closed to contractors and foremen: they see their items and mark the work. Agree with the designer who records expenses and how you check them against the budget.

How to work with a designer in the Doma app

How to invite a designer. “Profile” → “Property members” → “Invite” → the “Designer” role → “Create code” → “Share code”. The code is single-use and valid for a week. A designer can also create a property themselves and invite the client with the “Owner” role. Both need to be logged in - with email, the code arrives by email. In detail: Property members and roles.

How review works. The contractor marks items and taps “Send for review” - the work goes to the designer. The designer chooses “Accept”, “Send to owner” for approval, or “I have remarks” and writes what to fix. The decision stays in the property history: who accepted what and when.

What both see. The route and the survey are changed by the owner and the designer. Both see the budget. The property's “Inspiration” board is shared between the owner and the designer: each sees the other's ideas, and the contractor doesn't see it. Comments on items are available when one of the members has the “Team” or “Team PRO” plan.

After the renovation. Before the first invitation, the owner decides whether the designer and contractor keep access to the property in their archive once the renovation is over - the “Materials after renovation” question. The decision can be changed later.

If you're a designer, see the page for designers: what the app gives your work with clients' properties.