Interior design vs. interior styling: what is the difference?

An interior stylist generally works with the visible layer of an existing space. Furniture, colours, textiles, rugs, artwork and accessories can completely transform its atmosphere without fundamentally changing the architecture.

Interior design starts earlier and goes deeper.

We may reconsider the layout of a home, move or introduce walls and doors, redesign a kitchen or bathroom, develop bespoke cabinetry, plan lighting and electrical points, and prepare the drawings and project information that contractors and specialist suppliers need.

Styling and furnishing can be part of the finished interior, but they are only one layer of a comprehensive interior design project.

Where interior architecture comes in

Some of the most important design decisions are barely noticeable once a home is finished.

A doorway that aligns correctly with a wall. A kitchen that feels naturally connected to the living area. Storage that appears to be part of the architecture. Lighting positioned according to the furniture, rather than simply distributed across the ceiling.

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Storage that forms part of the architecture – bespoke built-ins in Chalet Chardonne II.

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This is where interior architecture becomes an essential part of our work.

We study proportions, circulation and the existing or proposed architecture, and consider how the interior can be improved. Depending on the project, this can involve changes to layouts, walls, doors, kitchens, bathrooms, ceilings and built-in elements.

For renovations – whether a lakeside villa or a mountain chalet – we work with the possibilities and constraints of the existing building. For new-build homes, we can review the architectural plans before construction and make interior-related adjustments while they are still relatively straightforward to implement.

The earlier this happens, the more integrated the final result can be.

How an interior design project works: our 7 phases

Every project is different, but our work follows a structured process. Each phase builds on the previous one, so that important decisions are made in the right order before the project moves towards construction.

Phase 1: Analysis & research

We start by understanding the property, how you live and what you want to achieve. We analyse the existing or proposed layout, identify opportunities and constraints, and translate your requirements into a clear design brief.

Phase 2: Design & development

We develop the overall interior concept through layouts, realistic 3D visualisations, materials and samples. This includes initial selections for fixed elements such as flooring, tiles, sanitary fittings and lighting, as well as the dimensions and overall look and feel of the furniture.

Phase 3: Final design & approval

Your feedback is incorporated into one final design. Layouts, materials, finishes and key product selections are finalised, with quotations requested where required. The overall furniture concept is also approved before we move into sourcing.

Phase 4: Technical design & project preparation

The approved design is developed into detailed drawings and project information for contractors and specialists. This can include lighting and electrical plans, bespoke furniture drawings, specifications and a scope of work.

Phase 5: Sourcing & procurement

We source suitable furniture, lighting and other interior products, request samples and quotations, and coordinate orders where applicable. We can also arrange curtains, rugs and bespoke soft furnishings.

Phase 6: Execution & design coordination

During construction, we remain involved on the design side. We work with contractors, craftsmen and specialist suppliers, answer design-related questions, visit the site at key stages and help ensure the approved design is carried through correctly.

Phase 7: Delivery & final installation

Once construction is complete, we can coordinate the delivery of furniture, rugs, curtains and other furnishings and oversee their placement in the home. If required, we can also complete the interior with final styling.

Why a structured design process matters

A structured process is not about adding complexity. It is about resolving decisions at the right moment.

Changing a kitchen layout, a lighting position or a material on a drawing is relatively straightforward. Discovering the same issue during construction can affect several trades, increase costs and cause delays.

By developing and approving the design before moving into detailed technical planning, the different elements can be considered together and potential issues addressed earlier. The more that is resolved before construction begins, the more controlled the execution can be.

Designing the home as one complete picture

We do not see the kitchen, lighting, flooring, bespoke cabinetry and furniture as separate projects. They influence one another.

A kitchen island determines where the lighting needs to be. The furniture plan influences sockets and switches. The depth of a bespoke cabinet may affect a doorway. Flooring influences transitions, skirting and cabinetry details. A bathroom layout determines where plumbing, lighting, mirrors and tiles need to meet.

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Planned before it is built: plumbing, lighting, niches and tiles coordinated in one design – 3D visualisation of the master bathroom in Chalet Chardonne II.

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Our role is to bring these decisions together early enough for them to be coordinated. It is one of the most important – and often least visible – parts of a comprehensive interior design project.

The work you don’t see in the finished photographs

A completed interior shows the result, but not necessarily the work behind it.

A considerable part of an interior designer’s work happens before anything is built: checking dimensions, studying how elements connect, developing drawings, reviewing samples, communicating with suppliers and specialists, and anticipating decisions that will be needed later.

A beautiful concept still needs to work in reality. A carpenter needs to understand what has to be made. An electrician needs to know where lighting, switches and sockets belong. A plumber needs the correct positions for sanitary fittings. Suppliers need dimensions, specifications and finish information.

This technical preparation is what translates the visual concept into something that can actually be built.

Choosing materials: more than looking beautiful

Material selection plays a major role in creating the character of an interior, but appearance is not the only consideration.

We also look at how materials will be used, how they feel, how they respond to natural and artificial light, and how suitable they are for everyday life.

A kitchen worktop, timber floor, bathroom tile or upholstery fabric each has different practical requirements. Maintenance, durability, texture and the way materials age are considered alongside colour and appearance.

Whenever possible, we work with physical samples as well as visualisations. A material seen on a screen can look very different in the actual light of a home, next to the other finishes.

Furniture is part of the planning, not an afterthought

Furniture may be installed towards the end of a project, but it should not necessarily be selected at the end.

Key furniture dimensions influence the architecture, circulation, lighting and technical planning.

The position of a dining table affects the lighting above it. A sofa determines where side tables, sockets and lamps may be needed. A large rug affects the proportions of a seating area. Curtains need sufficient space beside windows, walls and cabinetry.

For projects that include furnishing, we select and source furniture, decorative lighting, rugs, window treatments and other pieces through specialist suppliers and dealers. These are developed as part of the same overall design, rather than added as a separate decorative layer once construction is complete.

Working with the right specialists in Switzerland

A comprehensive renovation or new-build project involves many different areas of expertise. Depending on the project, we work alongside architects, engineers, general contractors, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other specialist suppliers.

Over the years, we have built a trusted network of professionals in Switzerland with whom we work regularly. Established working relationships make communication and coordination more efficient and provide continuity from design through to execution. Many of the professionals in our network also communicate in English, which makes the process considerably easier for our international clients.

Where architectural, structural or other specialist expertise falls outside our scope, we work with the appropriately qualified professional. Each party remains responsible for their own specialist area, while Highwood develops and coordinates the interior design.

If you already have an architect, contractor or specialist team in place, we can equally collaborate with them and integrate our design into the wider project.

What happens once construction starts?

The start of construction does not mean that the designer’s work is finished.

The contractor remains responsible for managing and executing the construction work, while we stay involved to safeguard and coordinate the design. We communicate with the relevant contractors and specialist suppliers, answer design-related questions and visit the property at key stages.

This is particularly valuable during renovations. Existing houses do not always correspond exactly with old or available drawings. Walls can be thicker than expected, technical installations may be located somewhere different, and elements hidden behind ceilings, floors or cabinetry may only become visible once work begins.

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On site in La Tour-de-Peilz: when a renovation reveals what was hidden, we find the solution together with the contractor.

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When this happens, decisions sometimes need to be made quickly. Because we remain involved, we can work directly with the relevant specialist to find a practical solution while keeping the overall design in mind.

How long does an interior design project take?

There is no standard duration: a furnishing project, a kitchen renovation and the complete renovation of a villa require very different amounts of work.

The design phase itself can take anywhere from several weeks to several months, depending on the size and complexity of the property and the number of decisions involved.

Once the final design has been approved, technical development, contractor and supplier preparation, detailed production drawings, ordering and manufacturing all require additional time. Bespoke joinery, kitchens, natural stone, specialist finishes, lighting and furniture can have significant lead times.

Construction introduces another set of dependencies. Different trades need to work in the correct sequence, and materials and bespoke elements need to be available at the right time.

For a substantial renovation, it is therefore sensible to think in months rather than weeks. A complete project, from the start of the design through to completion, can easily take six to twelve months, while larger or highly bespoke projects may take longer.

When should you involve an interior designer?

For a furnishing project, we can become involved once the architectural space is established. For a renovation or new-build home, earlier is better.

Ideally, we become involved before important interior decisions have been fixed – particularly walls, door openings and heights, kitchens, bathrooms, ceilings, lighting, electrical points and other technical installations.

This is especially important for a new-build home. Interior planning should begin before construction reaches the point where walls and technical installations become difficult or expensive to change.

A seemingly small decision can influence several other elements of the interior. Planning these relationships early creates more freedom in the design and reduces the need for compromises later.

What you are really engaging an interior designer for

The visible design is only part of the service.

Much of our work happens before the finished interior can be seen: anticipating what will be needed later, resolving the relationships between different elements, documenting decisions and giving each specialist enough information to work towards the same design.

It is the combination of spatial thinking, interior architecture, visualisation, technical development, material knowledge, bespoke design, furnishing and design coordination that turns a collection of individual choices into one coherent home.

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One coherent home: Villa Grandvaux, designed, furnished and complete.

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That is how we approach interior design at Highwood Interiors: not as a decorative layer added to a building, but as the process of designing how the home itself will work, feel and come together.