Interior Design
Comprehensive interior design services integrated within our design-build model — which means your interiors are considered from the very first architectural sketch, not layered on after the walls are up. Cohesive, intentional, and breathtaking.
Design That Starts at the Blueprint
Most interior design happens after the house is framed — a decorator walks through, takes measurements, and tries to make furniture and finishes work within rooms someone else designed. Southern Shore's approach is fundamentally different: because we are the architect AND the builder, interior design is integrated from day one.
When we design a kitchen, we know exactly which appliances, cabinetry, countertops, and lighting fixtures will be installed — because we're building them. When we lay out a primary suite, the sight line from the bed to the bathroom, the placement of reading lights, and the material transition at the threshold are all considered before a single wall goes up. This is design-build interior design — and it produces spaces that feel inevitable, not decorated.
Our interior design studio works with both Southern Shore custom home clients (where we're fully integrated into the build) and homeowners with existing properties who want a professional design partner for renovations, furnishings, or a full interior transformation.
Interior Design Services
Space Planning & Programming
Before we talk about colors, we talk about how you live. Our programming process maps your daily patterns, entertaining style, and future needs onto the floor plan — ensuring every room earns its square footage and every circulation path feels natural.
Material & Finish Selection
Stone, tile, hardwood, paint, wallcoverings, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, hardware, and millwork finishes — curated into cohesive palettes that flow from room to room and complement the home's architecture. We maintain a physical materials library in our Gainesville studio and provide samples for every selection.
Furnishings & Decor
Curated sourcing from luxury manufacturers — upholstery, rugs, window treatments, art, accessories — plus custom casework and built-ins from our cabinetry division. The result is a fully realized interior where every piece was chosen intentionally.
Lighting Design
Lighting is the most underinvested element in most homes — and the one that most dramatically transforms how a space feels. We design layered lighting plans: ambient, task, accent, and decorative — with fixture selections, control systems, and scene programming that make your home feel extraordinary at any time of day.
The Design-Build Design Advantage
Why integrating interior design with architecture and construction produces better homes.
No More 'Value Engineering'
When the interior designer specifies something the builder didn't budget for, classic project delivery produces a change order. When interior design is part of design-build, every specification is reflected in the construction budget from day one.
Perfect Sight Lines
Interior sight lines — from the foyer through the living room to the outdoor living space beyond — are architectural decisions made in plan, not decorating decisions made after framing. We design these relationships before walls exist.
Lighting That Works
Recessed light placement, pendant heights, and switch locations are coordinated with furniture layouts and art walls BEFORE the electrician roughs in. No awkwardly placed can lights, no switches hidden behind the planned bookcase.
Seamless Transitions
The joint where hardwood meets tile, the reveal where drywall meets cabinetry, the baseboard profile that wraps the entire house — these micro-details define luxury. Our design team specifies them; our build team executes them.
Budget Coherence
Traditional project delivery often pits design choices against construction budget. Our integrated model means the designer and builder sit in the same room, making allocation decisions together — invest in what transforms the experience, save on what doesn't.
One Vision, One Team
No competing agendas between architect, interior designer, and builder — because they're all Southern Shore. One vision, communicated clearly, executed consistently from foundation to finishing details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What North Texas homeowners ask about our interior design services.
Is interior design included when I build a custom home with Southern Shore?+
Interior design services are an integrated component of every Southern Shore custom home. The extent of integration depends on your preference — some clients want full turnkey design (we specify and procure everything), while others prefer to make selections themselves with our guidance and approval. Either way, the design studio is deeply involved in material selections, lighting plans, and finish coordination for every custom home we build. This is not an optional add-on — it's how we deliver the cohesive result you see in our portfolio.
Can I hire Southern Shore for interior design only — without building a home?+
Yes. Our interior design studio accepts standalone clients for renovations, interior transformations, and full-home design projects. This is particularly valuable for homeowners who've purchased an existing home and want to reimagine it, or who've built with another builder and are now ready to design and finish. Standalone design engagements are billed on either a flat-fee or hourly basis depending on scope.
Do you work with clients' existing furniture and art collections?+
Absolutely. Many of our clients have collected significant pieces over the years — art, antiques, heirloom pieces — that they want incorporated into a new design. We inventory your collection, identify pieces to feature, and design around them. The goal is a home that reflects your life, not a showroom that could belong to anyone. We're also honest about what works and what doesn't in a new context — and can refinish, reupholster, or repurpose pieces where possible.
How does the design fee structure work?+
For custom home clients, interior design is included within the design-build contract — there's no separate design fee line item because design and construction are inseparable in our model. For standalone design engagements, we provide a detailed scope-of-work proposal with either a fixed fee or an estimated hourly range based on the project's complexity. Procurement of materials is typically handled on a cost-plus basis with full transparency into trade pricing.
Let's Design a Home That Reflects You
Great interior design isn't about following trends — it's about creating spaces that feel authentically, unmistakably yours. Schedule a design consultation to begin.