Some of the the First Decisions to Make with Your Builder

The success of your project depends on the decisions made early, when design and construction align. As both builder and design team, we see firsthand how the smallest early details can impact the entire build, from structure and timelines to finishes and flow.

When you start working with your builder, these are the key decisions that will set your project up for success:‍

1. Flooring Levels and Materials

Even though flooring is installed toward the end of a build, it’s one of the first choices you should make. The type and thickness of your flooring, whether it’s engineered timber, tile, or carpet, directly affects your floor heights, transitions, and door clearances.

A few millimetres out in planning can create uneven transitions or dragging doors. Early collaboration between your builder, designer, and flooring supplier ensures accuracy from day one.

2. Lighting and Electrical Layouts

Lighting placement and switching plans should be discussed as soon as your framing is underway. Your electrician will need this information before the plaster goes up, and your designer can help balance aesthetics and function — from pendants to power points.

Early coordination avoids awkward placements and ensures your lighting complements your interior layout and furniture plan.‍

3.The Details That Make a Difference

Skirting, cornices, and architraves might feel like finishing touches, but they’re part of the early design conversation. These details define your home’s character, minimal, classic, or contemporary, and often affect wall and ceiling preparation.

By aligning early, your builder ensures the right spacing and installation, and your designer ensures the right profile to complement the style.

‍4. Windows, Doors, and Skylights

Windows and doors influence structure, insulation, and timeline, so they can’t be an afterthought. Without them on site, construction can stall.

Choosing your window style, frame material, and even skylight locations early helps your builder order ahead and avoid delays, while your designer ensures proportions and finishes suit the home’s overall look.

‍5. External Cladding and Finishes

Your home’s exterior is both its protection and personality. The materials you choose, whether brick, timber cladding, or render, will affect everything from insulation to council approvals.

Builders need to know these selections early for structural detailing, while designers use them to balance texture, tone, and architectural form.
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6.Tile and Tapware Selections

Tiles and tapware have some of the longest lead times, especially if you’re after unique finishes or imported materials. But beyond the style, these decisions directly affect plumbing and tiling preparation, from setting floor falls to determining wall thickness and fixture placement.

Your builder will need the exact sizes and specifications to prepare the site correctly, so make these selections early to avoid delays.

7. Planning for Technology and Comfort

Smart wiring, soundproofing, and motorised window coverings all require planning before walls are closed. These aren’t luxury extras, they’re design features that improve how you live.

Discuss them early with your builder so electrical rough-ins can be coordinated, and with your designer to ensure they integrate seamlessly with your home’s aesthetic.

In the End, it’s About Collaboration. Every successful build begins with open communication between builder, designer, and client. Making decisions early doesn’t just save time, it creates clarity, protects your budget, and ensures every finish feels intentional.

At Lilac, we believe the best results come when every detail is considered as part of one cohesive vision, where design inspires the build, and the build brings design to life.