Four Stripes Tips

The Design Roadmap: Bringing Clarity to Every Interior Design Project

Cherelle Venable
June 5, 2025
Four Stripes Tips

The Design Roadmap: Bringing Clarity to Every Interior Design Project

Cherelle Venable
June 5, 2025

Most project delays aren’t caused by designers falling behind- they happen because designers aren’t given a clear view of what builders need, and when. The Design Roadmap in Four Stripes flips that dynamic.

Instead of reacting to shifting timelines, you’ll work from a strategic, top-down view of the project- aligned with key construction milestones like framing, rough-ins, and inspections. 

That means you’ll know exactly when selections are due, where dependencies exist, and how to keep pace with the build schedule.

From Chaos to a Coordinated Design Process


Design decisions don’t exist in a vacuum. A lighting plan delayed until after framing, tile choices made post-plumbing, or a faucet spec caught in long lead times- each one can derail momentum.

The Design Roadmap helps you avoid these costly missteps. It offers a visual timeline that maps your design workflow to site progress, so you can flag key decision points early and make sure nothing is missed.

Why It Works

  • Aligns your design milestones with builder timelines
  • Highlights critical selections tied to ordering and lead times
  • Helps clients understand what’s needed- and when
  • Prevents last-minute scrambles and missed handoffs
  • Keeps everyone -clients, contractors, and your team- on the same page

When you lead with a clear, proactive roadmap, you’re not just managing a project. You’re setting the tone, building trust, and establishing yourself as an essential partner on the build team.

Key Takeaways

  • Project delays often happen when designers lack up-to-date visibility into timelines
  • The Design Roadmap connects design milestones to builder progress (like framing, rough-ins, inspections)
  • It helps you anticipate key decisions, align with trades, and keep projects moving
  • Clear planning builds trust with clients and positions you as a proactive project lead
  • A strategic roadmap reduces missteps, missed handoffs, and last-minute scrambles

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