One of the most frequently asked questions I get as an interior designer handling home renovation projects is, “So, what do we do next?”. I am here today to give you a little insight on what to expect and what process we, as designers, typically try to follow to make your renovation project(s) run as smoothly as possible. I hope this article is helpful to you as you are considering taking on a renovation, have been trying to and have felt overwhelmed, or if you have hit a brick wall (pun intended).
The first step is to take the first step. I know it may seem scary and I know it may seem overwhelming. However, I am here to tell you that there are people here to help. We love what we do, and we are passionate about making you happy and making your home beautiful and functional. I recommend getting the help from a professional. There are a few things you will want to have ready when making the decision to seek professional help. Do your research; Pinterest will be your best friend. Find photos of things you like, things you love, and things you, well, don’t like so much. Some people get hung up on this task because they feel that none of the pictures they like go together. But that is okay! It still gives us good ideas for things that fit you and your personality and a peek into your taste and style.
Next, before a designer can give you prices and budgets, we need to get into your home to get measurements and get a better understanding of your space. This allows us to know what will fit into your home physically and stylistically. We can then go back to our office to do some brainstorming and pull together some ideas and palettes for you. Once we have this ready for you, we will then set up an in-store or in-home appointment with you to go over our presentation, which typically includes products, design, and budgets. From here on, it’s all about tweaking and getting you, as the client, to help us adjust the design to make it your dream space! Here’s the thing, this is your home and you are the one living in it. Make sure you are truly going to be happy in this space. Don’t ever be scared to voice your opinion on a selection or an aspect of the design. Again, we are here for you and only you!
Once everything is finalized and you are feeling good and at peace with your prospect space, it’s time to get a timeline together and begin the process of making the dream a reality. Our goal is to make the renovation a seamless process. Sometimes this means waiting a couple of weeks before demolition or installation begins. I know you may be eager to start as soon as the first deposit is made, but depending on the scope of work, it is better to wait until all of the contractors can be lined up back to back rather than spaced apart, leaving down time. During the process of renovating and installing, be aware that there may be bumps in the road. That is part of the joy of renovating an existing home. That’s one of the few things HGTV got right!
Now, sit back and relax. It’s almost over and your about to see what you had been envisioning all along. Enjoy the ride and know that, even though it may not seem worth living in a camper during the renovation for 3 months, moving your personal belongings into a pod, or constantly have people in and out of your house for a few weeks (all of which I have personally seen), I promise you the final product and the joy it brings you makes all of the little things seem so petty and sometimes even humorous.
I truly hope this article helps you in some small way and that you have enjoyed reading. Happy Renovating and we hope to see you soon!