Building a new home - especially a vacation home here on Long Beach Island - is one of the most exciting investments you can make. Whether you’re planning a teardown after the summer season or breaking ground on a new construction project, you’ll likely be working with a builder who has an in‑house selections coordinator.

So you might wonder: ***Do I really need an interior designer too?***
The short answer? **Yes.** And here’s why.

A Builder’s Coordinator and a Designer Have Different Roles

On LBI, most builders have coordinators to keep construction on schedule and manage the technical side of ordering materials. They are a critical part of your team, but their focus is on building the house to spec. As a designer, my focus is on building the house for you.

I look at every finish, layout choice, and material through the lens of how your family will live in the home - your mornings, your summer weekends, the flow of sandy feet through the mudroom. I bridge the gap between the construction process and the lifestyle you’re dreaming of.

Creating a Cohesive Vision From Siding to Sconces

A coastal home on Long Beach Island is more than shingles and pilings - it’s a feeling. A well‑designed home weaves together the exterior palette, window styles, lighting, flooring, and furnishings so nothing feels piecemeal. Your builder’s coordinator will help you pick from options. Your designer curates those options into a cohesive vision that reflects coastal living at its best - natural textures, durable materials, and a timeless style that works for the island environment.

Planning for How Your Family Will Actually Live

One of the most overlooked parts of new construction is planning for the everyday details:

Where do beach bags and towels land when you come in from the sand?
How do guests move through the home when you host?
Where do kids store toys, games, and extra bedding?

As a designer who specializes in family‑centered living on Long Beach Island, I think through all of those lifestyle moments early. Builders build to a plan. Designers help you create a plan that actually works for your family.

Keeping Your Project on Schedule and Budget

Coastal building on LBI comes with unique challenges - tight timelines between seasons, supply chain delays, and strict codes for new construction. Finalizing selections early isn’t just convenient; it keeps your builder moving and avoids costly last‑minute changes. A designer anticipates those deadlines, helps you make decisions in the right order, and coordinates directly with your builder’s team so everyone has what they need, when they need it. That means fewer change orders, fewer surprises, and a smoother process overall.

Your Builder and Designer Are Teammates

This isn’t about replacing your builder’s coordinator - it’s about adding another layer of support. The best builders on Long Beach Island love working with designers because we share the same goal: delivering a home that’s beautiful, functional, and perfectly suited for coastal living.

Ready to Build on LBI? Let’s Talk.

If you’re planning a new construction project or a knockdown rebuild on Long Beach Island, bringing a designer onto your team early makes all the difference. I’d love to guide you through the process so you can focus on the fun parts—and end up with a home that feels like it’s always been yours.

Get in touch to start your LBI build journey today.

Why a designer is essential even if your builder has a coordinator