Home remodelling can be a stressful feat, especially if your property is undergoing structural changes within the project. Regardless of whether you are renovating a single room or your entire home, it’s important to prioritise safety, functionality and design. And unless you are an expert in architecture yourself, the best way to ensure your project runs smoothly is to work with an Interior Architect.
But what is the role of an Interior Architect in home remodelling?
Rest assured that we have you covered. Learn more below.
What is an Interior Architect?
An Interior Architect is someone who focuses primarily on what is inside the building. They are involved in both the structural plans and the finishing touches, taking on a much deeper role an interior designer or architectural draftsperson. Their plans will not only ensure that walls, doors and windows are well-positioned, but also consider the joinery, furnishings, materials and colour schemes.
They consider both the layout and functionality of the space, creating rooms that ensures comfort and practicality. For example, they may look at how natural light flows through the room to determine the positioning for furniture such as beds and dining tables.
Their architectural qualifications also ensure a strong focus on safety and sustainability throughout their work. They are heavily involved in the structural planning and contribute throughout the entire project, even holding site meetings during construction to oversee progress.
How Does an Interior Architect Differ From an Interior Designer?
The roles of an Interior Architect and an Interior Designer overlap but have their differences. An Interior Designer commonly focuses on a space as they see it, without changing the look or functionality of the building. They’ll recommend certain materials, fittings, furnishings and colours that fit into the design scheme that you’re looking to achieve. Their main focus is on the aesthetics of the space and how they can incorporate light, colour and textiles into the room. An Interior Designer’s design is reliant on the Interior Architect to ensure functionality.
An Interior Architect on the other hand has a deeper focus on the structure of a room. While specifying interior materials, finishes, fittings, etc, they pay deeper attention to the functionality of the room, considering safety, accessibility, and sustainability. They’ll assist with creating structural plans, specifying building materials and construction methods to ensure that the necessary regulations are adhered to. They’ll continue to assist the project team with structural elements such as electrical, plumbing and air conditioning systems to ensure optimal comfort and practicality.
What Aspects of Building Interior Design Does an Architect Control?
An Architect plays a significant role in building interior design, enhancing the space in many ways.
Finishes
Taking on some of the responsibilities of an Interior Designer, architects can choose to work with specific materials, colours and finishes. From the walls to the flooring, they opt for styles that fit in with the architectural design scheme of the building to create a seamless flow from the interior to the exterior.
Ergonomics
An Architect prioritises the functionality and flow of a space, ensuring it is ergonomic and safe. Their design ensures that you perform tasks comfortably and in the most streamlined way possible. They pay attention to how each space is used, making clever decisions that optimise storage, efficiency, and more.
Functionality
Architects can have a huge influence over the function of the space, including the electrical, plumbing system, ventilation, air conditioning and more. They prioritise safety and efficiency to ensure that these are all well-placed and providing a good level of comfort for residents.
The Architectural Building Interior Design Process
The building interior design process is detailed and comprehensive to determine project preferences and requirements. Step one involves design meetings. These outline your design wants, needs and budget, ranging from a single meeting to multiple as required. In this step, an Architect is looking to gather as much information as they need for your design to be finalised.
Step two is the drawing and design phase. An Architect will complete construction and interior drawings based on your requirements which will show the layout of the entire space regardless of whether you’re remodelling a single room or entire home. And in the final step, construction gets underway. The drawings will be discussed with the builder and tradespeople involved in the project.
The Importance of Detailed Interior Design Drawing
The interior design drawings that are created by an Architect form the foundation upon which the entire project is built. They are the glue that connects each element of the project, from the builders to the joiners, electricians to plumbers and more. As such, the design drawings are one of the most important aspects of the entire project.
Throughout the duration of the project, the architect will ensure that everyone remains on track and in line with the drawings. When engaged to, they attend to construction sites to monitor the build is on track with timelines, and built as designed. Containing all of the relevant specifications for each space, it’s paramount that documentation is adhered to.
The more detail provided within the interior design drawings, the smoother the project will run. They bring the vision of both the Architect and homeowner to life in a manner that is understood by all parties involved.
Ace Your Project With BY Projects Architecture
Want to learn more about how an Interior Architect can optimise the safety, comfort and functionality of your space?
Get in touch with the team at BY Projects Architecture today. Let’s discuss your structural and design needs to create a plan that achieves your goals, matches your design scheme and stays within your budget.
Get started by calling us on 03 9663 8331, emailing us at projects@byarchitecture.com.au or completing our online enquiry form today. Ace your project with an Interior Architect from our team by your side. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
By
Aug 15, 2025
I highly recommmend the team at BY Architecture.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara is very friendly and easy to work with. Thank you for the great advices.
Response from the owner 23:14 17 Jun 24
thank you Arik. Happy to be helpful
Barbara and the BY Projects team were fantastic to work with for our knockdown-rebuild. We had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves in for, and through every stage of the process Barbara explained everything and was supportive and transparent.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
Response from the owner 06:53 31 May 24
Thank you for your enthusiasm Emily. And thank you for trusting us with your dream Home. It's been a pleasure working with you and your family, and we trust you will enjoy your home for the years to come.
We recently had the pleasure of carrying out a renovation for Barbara and BY Projects Architecture.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
Response from the owner 22:11 30 Mar 21
Thank you Koray. It was a pleasure working with AMCON Homes, we look forward to working with you again in the future.
Barbara provided excellent professional advice regarding Town planning and approval process by the Council. She went out of her way to find the right information and help me. Will surely use their services again when necessary.
I would highly recommend them.
I would highly recommend them.
Response from the owner 01:37 16 Feb 21
Thank you Jarardhan. We do hope you find a more suitable site soon to build your dream homeBarbara
We were in a very difficult position after a VCAT rejection. Barbara came into our project and reimagined what was possible with our property. Going from a house with three shops with significantly reduced value to a development with two town houses, a cafe and all able to be subdivided into three separate properties. Barbara was positive, enthusiastic, charming at planning meeting and all in all kept us positive and hopeful. Barbara went through the whole process with us and I would say went above and beyond what would generally be expected. She worked well with our development team, working out strategies for planning challenges. We are very thankful for her time and energy.
We engaged Barbara and her team many times over many years for our Building Development Projects, including Multi Residential, Child Care and Mixed Use. Most recently for a couple of houses in Port Melbourne with complex Heritage Overlay requirements.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
I have worked with Barbara and the team at BY Projects on a number of projects now. Its hard to think how you could get better value for money. They are great architects - that goes without saying. But its the extra mile they go to on your behalf in order to secure the very best for you that makes all the difference. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for your next project.
Response from the owner 06:02 24 May 19
Thank you Virginia for your kind words. It is always a pleasure working with you.
