Why Interior Designers Should NOT Order Building Supplies

Feb 20

Updated September 2023

Unless you’re a general contractor or a cabinet supplier, your interior design firm SHOULD NOT be ordering building supplies.

Unless you are a general contractor or a cabinet supplier, your interior design firm should NOT be ordering building supplies. Instead you should specify finishes and provide all the specifications to the contractor so they can place the orders.

This is one area where I occasionally see interior designers taking on responsibilities that cause extra headaches and coordination. Not to mention that ordering building supplies doesn’t yield sufficient profit from markup to offset the hassle.

Designers should refrain from placing orders for materials that would be considered building supplies.

How interior designers are typically involved in construction projects

Instead, they should specify the finishes (like cabinets, tile, moldings, trim, sinks, toilets, faucets, etc.), then provide all the specifications to the contractor so the contractor can place the orders on behalf of the client. Otherwise, if you take this on, you’re responsible for getting all the order information from subcontractors, ordering the correct quantities and pieces needed for install, handling any claims, tracking orders, managing deliveries, etc.

The margins on those materials are just too low, and the risk is too high if quantities are off or if delivery dates impact other work. (Like when my client was working on a new build, and the plumbing fixtures weren’t there on time. The builder’s plumber had to move to another job, and the client had to wait MONTHS for plumbing to be installed…can you imagine that delay???!!! And the liability if YOU were the one who placed that plumbing order?! Yeah, no.).

Imagine having to compute quantities on allll the tile trim pieces needed for a complex bathroom tile install. Or having to rely on your GC’s trades to provide quantities and communicate the required parts.

That just seems like a more difficult way to do business...involving yourself in things you really don't have control over (and we aren't even talking about what it implies legally if you're managing subcontractors).

What interior designers should order for construction projects

Instead, consider only ordering the items for a new construction/renovation project where you know the quantities and size and don’t need a subcontractor’s input to place the order.

This would apply to things like lights, wallpaper, and mirrors, which typically have higher margins and can easily be ordered by your company. Since you’re specifying hang heights and install details anyway, it is only natural you would order these items.

You can still design and specify material finishes for a home. You would then provide all those details to the GC so they could manage those ordering the multiple items they need at the appropriate times for installation from the supply houses they deal with regularly.

Now, I’m only talking about items installed before construction completion. When it comes to furniture delivery, that is a different and additionally complex topic. Yes, you will be ordering all free-standing furniture items for the project, as this is clearly outside the scope of your contractors. If you want to learn more about the interior designer's role in construction projects, be sure to read this post.

Add your name below and we’ll deliver The Weekly Install™ straight to your inbox every Friday.