What happened to the days when professional architects, interior designers and landscape architects provided “complete” services on behalf of their clients?
Today, it seems as though the design and construction industry has increasing numbers of consultants and contractors – from color experts to lighting specialists – who ostensibly can help improve your project.
Are there too many design consultants? I certainly think so.
As an example, when we embarked on a simple deck extension, we were told that we needed a structural engineer and a waterproof consultant, as well as fountain, grading, drainage and landscape consultants.
In a more extreme example, when a client recently remodeled their master bedroom suite, their design team included the architect and the structural, electrical, energy consumption and lighting consultants; along with a closet consultant, a life safety consultant, a handicap consultant and a feng shui consultant. In addition, someone needed to take on the interests of the owner: the owner’s representative (another consultant). Stop the madness I say!
Indeed, the consultant mania of today is a dangerous and slippery slope. It is not only exceedingly expensive to hire multiple contractors, but can also generate a host of thorny problems. If every contractor and consultant is not on the same page, aware of what the other is doing and/or up to date at all times, the chances for loss of control and/or error are extraordinarily high.
Because of the potential for chaos, we always advise against using multiple consultants for architectural and design tasks that were once otherwise performed by the basic three professional entities.
In fact, well-trained architects, interior designers and landscape professionals can and should work together as a team – and the use of outside consultants is, in most cases, unnecessary.
So if you find yourself hiring one consultant after another – think twice! Whether your project is large or small – and regardless of who suggests using multiple consultants – the core three should be able to aptly complete the task!