The Importance of a Site Visit

Making sure you visit the site of your upcoming project as an Interior Designer is a very important step in the design process that shouldn't be overlooked. Even if you are strictly doing E-Design I know you can't physically go to your clients home when doing E-Design but photos and measurements from your client are extremely important. The more information you have the better. Even if accuracy is questionable it is still better than nothing. Things that we make sure to include in our in home site visits include:

1. Take digital pictures of the space to be designed

2. Measure the entire length and width of the space to determine overall square footage

3. Measure the length of each wall

4. Measure the ceiling height of the space

5. Measure the length, width, and height of each entry way or door. Note: door swing and placement of the wall

6. On each wall, measure the length, width, and height of each window. Note and measure the trim and type of window. Note views from window orientation – North, South, East or West.

7. On each wall, list and measure the placement of electrical outlets, heaters, video outlets, other exposed mechanical equipment, etc.

8. List and measure the length, width, and height of any fixed architectural elements that will remain in that space. For example, a fireplace, built-in bookshelves, columns, baseboard, molding, etc.

9. List and measure the length, width, and height of any existing furniture, equipment, accessories, artificial lighting, rugs, etc. that will remain in the space.

10. Take digital pictures of any existing furniture, equipment, accessories, artificial lighting, fabrics, rugs, etc. that will remain in the space.

11. Note existing flooring. If remaining, capture the material and color.

12. Record any existing color schemes that will remain in that space.

Every detail makes the design better when it is accounted for. It is also important for the designer to feel the space out when they get the opportunity to physically go to the site. Sometimes pictures just don't do the space justice and human scale can be skewed. Depending how experienced a designer is they can visually see and feel the space and automatically know what will work and what won't work. Scale and proportion will be used to help balance the different design elements. This part of the design process is necessary and is a form a due diligence for the designer to competently design the interior space.