To me it sounds like you have a good idea of what you want and where you want it. When we did a large addition, our architect offered to help with finishes but it soon became clear that like you, I know what I like and I know what I don't!

Laminate is an excellent choice for a laundry room, by the way. I wouldn't consider it a compromise.

If you can schedule a few hours with the designer after you have things picked out to make sure you aren't doing anything too screwy, that might be a good compromise. Or if you get stuck. But you don't need to hand over everything to the designer.

We were building our new home 10 years ago. I discovered GW when researching dual fuel ranges. I know what I like and have a natural knack, so I/we did not use a designer or decorator. I can visualize so that helps.

For light fixtures, I had a few antique pieces I brought from our last home. I easily looked at 10K fixture choices online for exterior and interior. Almost all of our interior fixtures are same manufacturer/same finish. A few rooms, such as laundry room and a guest room are not the same. I did overhead cans in bathrooms because I did not want wall sconces. Opted for custom framed mirrors instead.

We did not compromise finishes when we were building, but I always shopped for the best prices, locally and online.

It sounds like you know what you like, but want to be sure of your choices.
Hiring a designer for a few hours might be a good thing. Just don't
allow him/her to run into (much) more time or push something that you do
not care for. GW/Houzz threads are also a good way to help zero in on
things.

Good luck!

Another who did not use a designer when building our home. And yes, we opted to save on some things in order to spend more in other areas. We had a GC 75% of the way, then finished out ourselves. Our GC gave us somewhat of a "budget" and had allowances in each area (lighting, flooring, appliances, etc.). So if I saved in one area, I could add more to another LOL. Also, as Allison suggested, for almost all items, we ourselves picked out/bought and we shopped around for best prices. Such as the appliances - we are in a rural area but in a nearby city there was a GREAT appliance shop where we bought all appliances at a substantial savings. Things like that will help. We did lower end on a few things - such as kitchen counters. I really didn't know what I wanted. We redid some things in the kitchen a few years back and upgraded to quartz counters. I am not one to really want a designer. Another who knows what I want and willing to look for it and find the best price. Most of the showrooms where we bought bigger items would have designers on staff that would give you some assistance, just because you were buying from them. Most of the time it was just validating our choices. We also later upgraded from screened porch to sunroom, more landscaping, etc. and while we did those within a couple of years, if you can do it all before you move in - that would be great! Landscaping is an area where we did want some help and I am happy we splurged on that rather than an interior designer. Good luck!

We built a guesthouse for our home in Florida and I did use an interior designer. But I like the very finished look that comes with that service. I was happy with the results and could not have done as good a job on my own.

I did not use a designer overall, and when I did hire one for drapes in the large family room with multiple windows and French doors, I think I could have achieved the same effect without her. I was surprised how well everything came together, but in every part of the process there are in-store people to advise you who know their own area of expertise very well, so it isn't as though you're left to cope entirely on your own.

Forgot to mention it's a good idea to select as much as possible (or have a good idea where you're heading) before construction starts. I picked out plumbing fixtures early on - probably first - since shower valves go in the walls and are needed before tile, etc. I also wanted the house to be consistent - all bathrooms have same counter material (limestone), sinks, toilets and faucets (all ordered online). Powder room different though.

I agree with LynnNM..we're remodeling/adding to the house, it's a big job, and we don't have a designer. I might know what I want very well, but it took me quite some time to find it. The amount of decisions is overwhelming. There are many specifics, small details, things you need to decide on-and you can't find them fast, thus delaying the job, or never thought about them properly, because you were planning bigger things; or something gets built and it's fine-but now when you see it you realize it could be better; or you thought you can save on something and not deal with it but it bugs you to no end and you add to the initial contract. I think we mostly do well, the house is coming together nicely even though we have our share of problems and things that I'd wish I've done differently. But we'd do better with a designer. I like to think so. For the very least, it'd be less stressful...And part of communicating my ideas to the crew would be on him/her too:) For example I was extremely anxious when we had to paint. I thought the painters would hate me, for my slightly different choices, for my nervousness, for everything. Well they didn't, and all went well. But it would be nice to have somebody calm and sure of what he requests, by my side..

I don't think a designer would push me into purchasing more expensive things..the things I like are quite expensive anyway:) So I know where I absolutely must save, and I would have no problem saying it to the designer. Designers are used to work with all kinds of budget. Couple of designers that we met in some stores impressed me a lot, I must say. It was great, even though very short, experience..

But it is of course big "IF". Since I never really tried to work with one..

On the other hand, if I find some books helpful, some blogs helpful, some threads here helpful. It is a big chance I'd find the designer who I'd be comfortable with, helpful too..:)

aprilneverends, what do you wish you had done differently? This is a huge fear of mine...

Well we're not done yet, so I'm sure I'll have more to tell you in a while..:)

But, for now:

-I went with a lot of vintage lighting. First of all I tried to save money which I did; second, they were charming and well-made fixtures. most of them from Europe. The wiring is fine, etc. However when the time has come to install them it appears some of them missing little things like crossbars and stuff..naively we go to Home Depot where we are told none of the standard American stuff will fit these lamps. So then it begins: running to specialty stores, ordering things on British website(why British? no idea. apparently they do have some of these parts. while other sites simply don't), and I-don't know-what-else. Yes, I saved a lot of money. Maybe hundreds maybe thousands I don't know (of course I'd like to think it's thousands)). But I really have no patience for another month spent trying to refit two thirds of the lamps. The GC has much less patience than me of course. You get the picture..

-Or: the countertop in the kitchen doesn't overhang enough. Doesn't bother me I must say, but my husband is really mad. We had no idea we should specify it, and the granite guy didn't ask. It also happened so that the inspector from the gas company came at the same time to look at something the city saw as problem(not related to the build; just a coincidence) when the granite guy was working on the template..we had to run between the two of them. The inspector is outside, the granite guy is measuring inside..no wonder we didn't ask. I don't know why he didn't; he then said that we seemed really knowledgeable and confident. No! That's how I look when I'm really tired lol.

-Or: we went with a very complicated design for master bath. Or should I say, we wanted a lot done in a modest space. It looks good by the way. But they redid it so many times to fit it all, that now we'll have a) narrower vanity b) narrower bathtub. If I knew I'd let go some of our grand ideas. It would be still nice, and I'd have more functional space.

-Or: I'd order some things more in advance than I did. I had no idea that oil rubbed bronze and chrome are usually in stock, but polished nickel is suddenly considered a special order and takes weeks. And you don't really know until you start actually purchasing.

In short I did not know many things.

So a designer wouldn't solve all of these issues of course. But he/she would anticipate most of them. Simply because of experience, better spatial thinking, better knowledge of the resources..because of studying it before and dealing with it a lot every day.

Even me-not a designer-would be wiser a second time.

Only I'm not going to do it for a second time, never ever..:)

And if I'd choose to work with someone and had money for it-wishful thinking here-it would be someone significantly more talented than me. Sense of admiration from working with someone better than you not just helps. It creates excitement and pushes you forward too. When you're alone it feels different. Not right away maybe. But within several months, I felt less excited, less creative, less confident, less everything. It's not fun; when it's small reno it might be fun, when it's long and involves a whole house, it's already a job. Almost a full time job. And you don't necessarily enjoy it as much as you imagined. Every job has nice parts-and parts that are tiresome and very lackluster. You do the lackluster, a lot. And you pay for it too:)

I did not use an ID when we built, but we did have an architect who also had studied interior design so he and I worked together on those design elements where architecture meets interior design. I did the rest myself. But I enjoy doing that kind of stuff and so for me it was pleasure, not work.

He did work on another house in particular where the owners also had an ID and it did lead to problems, mainly because she made changes, very expensive changes without any knowledge of what it takes to accomplish those changes, including adding steel after walls were already constructed. It can also lead to issues where the home owner has to decide when the two professionals disagree.

On the other hand, if you don't know interior design and neither does your architect, it can help to have a professional with an eye to lay out and function to prevent mistakes that are later difficult to design around, like bedrooms with no place to put the headboard, windows that are positioned right on the outside but are up against a wall on the inside, etc.

I wrote about the exterior and the library "inspiration to reality" in a thread awhile ago which you might like to see.

For function, as in the kitchen or closets, an interior designer might be good. For style and color, I'd rather rely on myself, and perhaps select questions asked at the various shops. I'm going with a Sherwin Williams color palate for paints -- although they volunteered to send someone out to my build to look around! However, I knew I wanted warm earthy tones, and don't want to be steered in a direction simply because something is "in". (If I planned to move in 3-5 years, this might be a different story. *I* want to enjoy my home, not make it average or whatever.)

I've played around with the closet designer software on Easyclosets.com -- which gave me great ideas as I don't normally see what people's closets look like when I visit, and my thoughts had been stuck back in the 1970s as far as useful layout is concerned. And I'll be checking to see what sort of ideas I can get by walking into shops.

For the kitchen, the threads here have been invaluable.

I do note i had to stop my GC from putting the one master bedroom closet exactly where it would have meant that the only size bed I could have used (without blocking a window) would have been a twin. (Easy enough to switch with the location for the office closet - and the office still has the opportunity to turn into a third bedroom with a large bed, if ever needed.)

Absolutely not! I have always done my own on 3 homes we have had built over the years.

You all are a wealth of knowledge. Thanks! Aprilneverends: I especially appreciated the note about certain finishes being on back-order. That wouldn't have occurred to me, either. We live on the property that we're building on so I hope that one of us will always be around to check things like overhangs, but I can see how easily it slips by when there are a million other things happening that require your immediate attention.

If you know your style and can visualize, you're off to a good start! As long as you don't become swayed by decorating trends, and stay with what *you* love, all will be fine. Many designers will try to influence you by these trends as well as their own ideas, rather than listening to you and your ideas. Have confidence in your choices.