Learning how to design a home step by step begins with understanding the people who will inhabit it. For Los Angeles-based Commune Design, a successful home is shaped through collaboration, careful planning and an appreciation of everyday living. In this design masterclass, principals Roman Alonso and Steven Johanknecht explain their approach to creating considered residential interiors, from the earliest conversations with clients through to construction and final installation.
The design process begins with an extensive questionnaire, encouraging clients to reflect on their routines, preferences and expectations. Rather than simply presenting a finished vision, Commune Design invites homeowners to become active participants in the creative journey. This collaborative approach establishes a foundation for the project, ensuring that decisions about space, materials and furnishings respond to how the occupants live.
For those exploring how to design a home step by step, the concept phase provides a framework. The team divides this stage into three presentations, beginning with floor plans, furniture arrangements and the overall atmosphere of the residence. Kitchens, bathrooms and millwork are then developed through discussions of cabinetry, finishes and materials, before attention turns to furnishings. Each decision is refined through client feedback, with the resulting concept book becoming a reference for everyone involved.
The next stage of home design is design development, where initial ideas are translated into detailed construction drawings and specifications. Working alongside architects, consultants and builders, the studio documents everything from lighting and plumbing to hardware and appliances. As Roman Alonso explains, clear communication and thorough documentation are essential to ensuring that the completed interiors reflect the client’s intentions.
Understanding how to design a home step by step also means recognising the importance of furnishings early in the program. Budgets, procurement and custom pieces must be considered well before construction concludes. Johanknecht emphasises that furnishings complete an interior, transforming an architectural space into somewhere genuinely lived in.
During construction, the interior designer assumes an important oversight role, reviewing submissions, visiting the site and collaborating with tradespeople. For Commune Design, this exchange is not simply about following drawings but finding the best possible solution through shared expertise. The relationship between architecture and craftsmanship becomes particularly important when translating detailed ideas into built form.
The final stage is installation, when furniture, lighting, artworks and decorative objects are brought together. Careful scheduling helps manage the complexities of placing hundreds, sometimes thousands, of individual pieces. Even the smallest object contributes to the experience of a home, adding personality and meaning to its rooms.
Ultimately, how to design a home step by step is as much about relationships and preparation as aesthetics. Through this design masterclass, Alonso and Johanknecht demonstrate how interior design benefits from thoughtful collaboration, detailed planning and an understanding of daily life. Their approach offers a practical perspective on how to design a home step by step, from initial concept to the finishing touches.
0:00 – Introduction To How to Design a Home Step by Step with Commune Design
0:34 – Get To Know The Client
1:14 – Establish The Plan And Process
2:13 – Develop And Refine The Design
4:36 – Select Furniture And Finishes
5:32 – Oversee Construction
6:47 – Install The Finishing Touches
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Photography by Ethan Hetherington, Laure Joliet and Stephen Kent Johnson.
Interior design by Commune Design.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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