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British architect John Nash is credited with creating the Italianate style of architecture. The style was further popularized in the U.S. by landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing and architect Calvert Vaux. The style spread across the U.S. due to Downing’s popular book on the style and the availability of plans and materials due to the mass production of the Industrial Revolution.

You have three options in terms of professionals who can draw up blueprints: a draftsperson, an architect, or a structural engineer. A draftsperson can sometimes draw up plans for new construction, but they more often work from approved plans for alterations or to provide 3D drawings. Architects are usually the best option for standard residential construction projects. Structural engineers might be necessary for custom home builds or for alterations that could affect your home’s structural integrity. Draftsmen cost the least of the three, followed by architects and then structural engineers.

Depending on what the blueprints are for, a qualified draftsperson, contractor, or architect can draw them up. In some cases, including specialty permitting for a build, you may be required to use a licensed architect. 

In many cases, a blueprint drawn up by a certified professional is required before a city or municipality approves a permit. 

An architect is usually involved in the process of determining the layout and structural features and requirements of the home itself, taking into account the local codes, climate, and materials needed to make the home structurally sound. Architects may communicate more with contractors and subcontractors throughout the building process. In comparison to architects, interior designers typically focus on the aesthetics of a home interior and possibly exterior, helping the homeowner decide on color schemes, textures, and materials to incorporate into the design.