Architect, Drafter, or Design-Build: How to Decide
Most homeowners start their custom home or major remodel by asking the wrong question. They ask "How much does each option cost?" instead of "What does each option actually do for me?"
The answer matters. Hiring the wrong type of professional leads to misaligned expectations, change orders, stalled permits, and designs you can't afford to build. I've seen all of it.
This post lays out the real differences between architects, home designers, and design-build firms. Not the marketing versions. The practical ones.
Architects
An architect is licensed. That license requires years of education, internship, and exams covering structural safety, building science, accessibility, zoning, and professional ethics. It's not a title you can give yourself.
What does that mean for your project? An architect designs the whole building, not just the look. We handle complex sites, zoning challenges, structural coordination, and permitting. We also act as your advocate during construction, making sure what gets built matches what was designed.
The tradeoff: architects are typically separate from the builder. You'll need to hire a general contractor separately. And yes, professional fees can seem higher upfront. They tend to save money downstream through better planning, fewer surprises, and tighter construction documents that give builders less room to improvise.
When an architect makes sense: custom homes, complex renovations, tricky zoning, steep or waterfront sites, or any project where design quality and long-term value matter to you.
Home Designers / Drafters
A home designer focuses on layout and aesthetics. There's no license requirement. Some are very talented. Many work on interiors, simpler renovations, or stock plan modifications.
Where designers work well: cosmetic renovations, interior-focused projects, or straightforward layouts where structural changes and permitting aren't major factors.
The limitation: most designers don't handle structural engineering, zoning negotiations, or construction oversight. Their involvement often ends when the drawings are handed off. If your project hits a permitting snag or a structural issue mid-construction, you may end up hiring an architect anyway.
For a kitchen refresh or a bathroom update within existing walls, a good designer can do the job. There are some great kitchen and bath designers out there, I should know, I’m president of my local chapter of the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association). For anything involving load-bearing walls, setbacks, height limits, or a building department that asks hard questions, you'll want more.
Design-Build Firms
Design-build combines design and construction under one company. One contract, one point of contact. That simplicity is the main selling point.
Where design-build works well: straightforward additions, mid-range renovations, or projects where speed matters more than customization.
The thing to understand: in a design-build firm, the builder runs the show. Design decisions tend to favor what's efficient to construct, not necessarily what's best for how you live in the space long-term. There's also no independent advocate reviewing the builder's work on your behalf. The designer and the builder work for the same company.
Think about it this way. When you buy a car from a dealership, the salesperson works for the dealership. An architect is more like having your own mechanic come with you. They work for you.
Side-by-Side Comparison
A note on cost transparency: architects charge clear design fees, but construction costs come from separate builder bids. Designers often charge hourly or flat fees, but they're usually not involved in construction pricing at all, so you're on your own figuring out what things actually cost to build. Design-build firms give you one number, which sounds simpler. But that number sometimes includes allowances that shift once construction starts. Ask how detailed their proposals are before you sign.
Three Mistakes I See Repeatedly
Choosing based on lowest upfront cost. A cheaper design fee means nothing if the drawings are incomplete and the builder has to figure things out on the fly. Every decision made in the field instead of on paper costs more. Ask how design decisions will impact construction cost before you compare fees.
“We had less than 4% of construction overages over the course of the project.”
Assuming all three options cover the same services. They don't. Designers and design-build firms often can't handle zoning variances, structural coordination, or independent construction oversight. If your project needs those things, you'll end up paying twice. Once for the original hire, and again for the architect you bring in to fix the gap.
Not planning for the full process. Design is one phase. Permitting, bidding, and construction are three more. Who manages each one? If the answer is "we'll figure it out later," that's where budgets blow up and timelines double.
So How Do You Decide?
It comes down to your project's complexity.
Building a custom home on a challenging lot in Pierce County with setback restrictions and a septic system? You need an architect. Refreshing a kitchen without moving walls? A designer can handle it. Adding a straightforward bedroom and bath over the garage? Design-build might make sense.
Most of the homeowners I work with come to me after they've already started down one of the other paths and hit a wall. A design-build firm couldn't get the permit. A designer's drawings weren't detailed enough for the builder to bid accurately. The project stalled.
Starting with the right professional costs less than switching mid-project.
What One Client Had to Say
"Andrew did an amazing job in the design and execution of my renovation. He quickly came up with living spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful. He understood the spaces I find inspiring and was able to create a truly unique and magazine-worthy space I enjoy coming home to every night.
He worked hard to bring world class design and stay within my budget. We had less than 4% of construction overages over the course of the project. I highly recommend using Andrew to transform any sized space into your dream home."
— Matt, Client
If you're not sure which path fits your project, I'm happy to talk it through. No pressure, no commitment. Sometimes a 30-minute conversation saves months of going in the wrong direction.