I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Sadie, the talented Interior Designer behind Southern Home Interiors, to discuss how CGI has transformed the way she approaches her projects. It was fascinating to hear her take on how CGI has become a game-changer in the world of interior design.
How does CGI help you when it comes to working on interior design projects?
One of the biggest challenges we face is that most people are unable to visualise a space just by looking at a floor plan or mood board. You can talk through a design all you want, but until a client sees the space, it's hard for them to really understand the vision.
This is where CGI comes in – it's invaluable! It allows us to present designs to clients in a way that’s not only easy to understand but also incredibly immersive. We can add the actual paint colours for the walls, place the exact pieces of furniture that will be selected, and even include artwork. It’s almost like stepping into the room itself! This helps us deliver what our clients are dreaming of, ensuring that their vision becomes a reality.
How often do you use CGI in your projects?
Honestly, it’s a tool we use day in, day out. To be able to show our clients how a space will look in 3D, rather than relying solely on mood boards or sketches, is priceless. The level of detail and accuracy that CGI provides is something that traditional methods just can’t match. You can imagine how much easier it is for clients to make decisions when they can actually see how things will come together.
The ability to see a space in 3D builds client confidence. They can trust that the final product will look just as they imagined – or even better! And that’s so important when it comes to designing something as personal as someone’s home or business space.
I will always endeavour to make the entire creative process easy and stress-free for clients, starting with an initial client meeting to discuss the project and asking clients to complete a questionnaire. This allows me to understand who they are, what they like/dislike, and what they want to achieve. Using insights from the questionnaire, I can then develop a concept that includes key colours, styles, and furniture options. It is then that I begin the design process using SketchUp, a powerful tool for interior design visualisation. SketchUp helps clarify the design for everyone involved, ensuring seamless communication with clients and other professionals.
Once the client approves the design, it’s over to my husband Ben and his team for installation. From there, ordering begins, and project management ensures everything runs smoothly. I use CGI to present my work to clients, however any images of finished spaces or anything featured on my website are photos of actual, completed projects – this is important to me as I believe this shows honesty and transparency.
It sounds like it also helps streamline the process with other professionals involved in the project. Can you tell me more about that?
Absolutely. CGI isn’t just helpful for clients – it’s also a fantastic tool for collaborating with other trades and services. For example, when we’re working with carpenters or electricians, being able to show them a 3D visualisation of the space really helps everyone get on the same page. There’s less guesswork, and everyone knows exactly what they’re working toward. The results are always better when everyone has a clear understanding of the design.
It really sounds like CGI is a crucial part of your design process. Is there anything else you’d like to add about how it’s impacted your work?
It’s become something we rely on heavily, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. It makes the design process smoother, more efficient, and ultimately more enjoyable for everyone involved. Clients get to feel a real connection to their space before it's even built, and that’s something truly special. The trust and excitement that CGI builds with our clients – and even with our tradespeople – makes it an invaluable tool in our toolkit.
It’s been great to hear how Sadie uses CGI and particularly SketchUp to enhance her design projects. At Rowe & Co, I'm always thrilled to partner with designers like Sadie who are leveraging cutting-edge tools to create beautiful, functional spaces for their clients.
From helping clients visualise their dream spaces to ensuring smooth collaboration with other trades, CGI elevates the entire process. At Rowe & Co, I'm proud to offer these high-end CGI services, helping designers like Sadie bring their incredible visions to life.
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Rowe & Co is a creative production studio specialising in high-end property CGI and marketing collateral services for residential and commercial clients. Based in Dorset we work throughout the UK.
Get in touch if you would like to find out more: hello@roweandco.uk
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