Architect or interior designer: who do you hire first for a new villa?

By Red Brick Studio · Updated 24 October 2026 · 2 min read

Machan, Lavasa, designed by Red Brick Studio

For a new villa, hire the architect first. The architect shapes the structure, the layout and how the house meets the site. The interior designer then works within that framework, and the contractor builds from finished drawings. If the work is purely cosmetic, with no structural change, an interior designer alone is usually enough.

What each professional actually does

The architect designs the building: structure, layout, light, ventilation and how the house sits on the land. For anything involving structure or a sanctioned plan, this is the starting point.
The interior designer works on what happens inside once the structure exists: fittings, finishes, furniture and the way rooms feel.
The contractor builds. A contractor works best from complete drawings, not from instructions improvised on site.

Why the order matters

Interior decisions depend on the structure. Window positions, ceiling heights, the place of the stairs and the route of services are all fixed early. If an interior designer is brought in after the walls are up, they can only work with what is already there.

A common regret is letting the contractor design by default: layout and material decisions get made on site because nobody else was asked to make them. Having the drawings done first removes that risk.

When an interior designer alone is enough

If you are refreshing a home that already stands, with no structural change and no sanctioned plan to prepare, an interior designer can lead. One practical tip: the title 'interior designer' is not regulated in India, so ask to see working drawings and finished projects, not just photographs.

The case for one studio doing both

At Red Brick Studio we work across architecture, interior design and landscape. Homes such as Machan and Frangipani at Lavasa, and Oblique House at Uksan Lake, were handled across all three. The advantage is practical: the person who decided where the window goes also decides what sits beneath it, so decisions are made once instead of being handed between teams.

That is not the right answer for every project, and a good architect and a good interior designer working as separate teams can produce excellent work. What matters is that someone is responsible for the whole house.

Questions to ask before you hire either

Are you registered with the Council of Architecture? (Architects in India must be registered to use the title.)
Can I see built projects similar to mine, and working drawings as well as photographs?
Who will visit the site, and how often?
How do you handle changes to the design once construction has started?
How do you charge, and what is included at each stage?

Common questions

Can an interior designer design a whole house?: For cosmetic work on an existing home, yes. For a new build or anything involving structure, an architect should lead, because structural and planning decisions come first.
Do I need an architect for a renovation?: If the renovation changes walls, openings or services, or needs a sanctioned plan, an architect is worth involving. For finishes and furniture alone, an interior designer is usually enough.
Is it cheaper to skip the architect and go straight to a contractor?: It can look cheaper at the start, but decisions that an architect would have made still get made, only on site and without drawings. That is where cost and quality problems tend to appear.

Projects mentioned

Sources for general guidance

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