Your contractor is not your designer and that’s a good thing

Have you ever walked into a room and felt instantly calm, like the space itself gave you a hug? That doesn’t happen by accident.

Two Different Roles

A contractor and a designer are not the same.

• A contractor builds: walls, floors, plumbing, electricity. They make sure everything is safe, solid, and works properly.

• A designer shapes how the space feels. We think about light, flow, colors, textures, and the story your home tells about you.

Both roles are important but they serve very different purposes.

A Real Story

One of my clients, a busy mom, had a brand-new kitchen. The contractor had finished the job, and technically, everything worked. But the room felt dark, crowded, and stressful. She admitted she didn’t even want to cook there anymore.

That’s when I stepped in. I studied how she used the space, where she paused, what colors made her happy, what textures felt calming. We added warm golden lighting, swapped dark chairs for soft terracotta ones and placed a single tall plant to bring life.

Suddenly, the kitchen wasn’t just functional. It became the heart of her home, a place where she cooks, her kids do homework and friends gather around a glass of wine.

Why Design Matters

The contractor built her kitchen. I designed the life inside it. That’s the difference.

A contractor gives you a house.
A designer gives you a home.

So, ask yourself: do you want a space that simply works or a space that makes you feel alive, calm and proud every time you walk in?

✨ If you’re ready for the second option, let’s talk. I’d love to design a space that feels like it was always meant to be yours.

Written by Carole Vaudable, interior designer.

Kitchen proposal designed by Carole Vaudable Interior Design.