#FromPinToPlan
Why Your Contractor Hates Pinterest (And What To Do Instead)…
Interior Design Advice for Smarter Remodels and Custom Home Projects
Let me start by saying...we love Pinterest! We really do. It’s a creative platform filled with dreamy rooms, curated color palettes, and the vibe of your dream home can start to take shape. It’s often the first place clients go when they start thinking about building or remodeling their home. Pinterest is amazing for gathering inspiration.
But here’s the truth no one tells you…
Your contractor probably hates your Pinterest board.
Not because they don’t care about your vision but because Pinterest brings the what and not the how. It’s filled with gorgeous imagery but these ideas lack context, realistic specs, or any sense of how those concepts can be translated into real life construction.
As an experienced interior design firm who works hand in hand with builders, architects and trades every day, we’ve seen this misconception that these beautiful concepts can be simply implemented into a client’s home. So let’s talk about why Pinterest can be problematic and how to use this tool in a way that actually serves your contractor and designer.
Inspiration Isn’t the Same as Information
Pinterest is built for visual inspiration and not execution. Many of the most beautiful pins floating around your feed are professionally styled editorial images or even digital renderings these days with the help of AI. These images don’t necessarily show the real materials being used, the costs associated, lead times or the structural modifications that were involved, and of course, the scale of the room itself.
So when you hand your builder a screenshot and say “Can we do this?”, they’re left to make assumptions and trust us…you don’t want a builder making these assumptions but rather you need to rely on your designer to bring your vision to life.
Your builder’s job is to build. Our job, as your designer, is to translate your vision into something they can actually construct.
How to Use Pinterest The Right Way
Use it to identify themes - Rather than pinning 300 different rooms, look for patterns. Do you love the color palette? Wallpaper? Oversized lighting? These cues help us, your designer, to understand your style without relying on any single image to overly dictate the design.
Talk in feelings, not fixtures - Instead of saying, “I love this exact tile,” try this instead…”I love how this space feels calm and organic.” That leaves room for us to find materials that capture the same mood and actually work within your budget and floor plan.
Bring your designer in early - When we’re brought into a project from the start…this means before framing is done and before finish selections are made, we can help translate your inspiration into detailed, accurate design documents that your contractor will love (and thank you for).
Let’s Take Your Pins and Make a Plan
We help clients bring their design dreams to life without feeling overwhelmed. We place all of the technical details, craftsmanship, and design intent into a cohesive package that you can deliver to your builder for execution.
If you’re planning a remodel or building a custom home and want designers who can speak both Pinterest and contractor…we’ve got you covered! Reach out to schedule a discovery call or browse our projects to see how we bring vision into reality with every project.