Interior architect or architect: who does what, and who do you need?

The short answer. To lay out, renovate, decorate or optimise an interior — without touching the structure or the building's external appearance — you need an interior architect. As soon as a project alters the structure, the volume or the façade (extension, raising the roof, new construction), the law requires an architect registered with the Order. Most projects start on the interior side; when the building fabric comes into play, we handle it with a partner architect. One point of contact, no grey area.

The most common confusion — and what it costs

"I have a renovation project, so I need an architect." For most interior projects, that is not quite right — and the confusion costs time and money. The two professions are complementary, but they do not deal with the same questions, nor at the same moment.

What an interior architect does

They design, lay out and decorate interior spaces: room distribution, circulation, light, materials, custom furniture, atmosphere. Their field is the use and the emotion of a place — making a shop inviting, seating a restaurant's guests comfortably, making a home truly match the lives of those who live in it. At My Interior Lab, this runs from the first sketch to the supervision of the interior works, with a coordinated network of craftspeople through to handover.

What an architect does

They work on the structure, the built volumes and the building envelope: extension, raising the roof, façade changes, new construction. As soon as a project alters the structure, the volume or the external appearance, it requires a planning permit and an architect registered with the Order.

The grey area — and how we handle it

Many fine interior projects end up touching the building fabric: opening a load-bearing wall, adding an extension, transforming a volume. In those cases we do not take on a role that is not ours: we lead the interior design project with a partner architect, who handles the regulatory and structural side. You keep a single point of contact for the overall vision, with no ambiguity over responsibilities.

Who do you actually need?

• Interior architect: reconfiguring, renovating, decorating, optimising an interior, creating custom furniture, rethinking a shop or a hospitality space.
• Architect (with us, through our partner): extending, raising, building, altering the structure or the external appearance.

Most projects start on the interior side and shift, when needed, to the architectural side at the right moment.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an interior architect or an architect to renovate?
For an interior renovation that touches neither the structure nor the external appearance, an interior architect is enough. If the project alters a load-bearing wall, the volume or the façade, an architect is legally required — at My Interior Lab, we bring one in through our partner architect.

Can an interior architect open a load-bearing wall or build an extension?
Not alone: this work concerns the structure and requires an architect and, usually, a planning permit. We lead the interior project and coordinate the partner architect for the structural part.

Do you need a permit for an interior fit-out?
Generally no, as long as you change neither the structure, nor the volume, nor the external appearance. As soon as one of these changes, a planning permit is required.

Does an interior architect supervise the works?
Yes. At My Interior Lab, the support runs from concept to the supervision of the interior works, coordinating the craftspeople through to handover.

What is the difference with a decorator?
A decorator works mainly on the atmosphere and finishes of an existing space; an interior architect also designs the space itself (distribution, circulation, light, custom furniture) and oversees its execution.

A project in mind?

Let's talk — one conversation is enough to see clearly which partner you need. Get in touch.