1. SAVE PHOTOS TO AN IDEABOARD

Create and Ideaboard on platforms like Pinterest, or Houzz - or cut photos from Magazines.

Don’t worry if things don’t coordinate on your Ideaboard yet  - just start saving what you’re drawn to.  Focus your attention on visuals you’re moved by - that will naturally spark ideas and excitement towards the next steps.  

*Pro tip -  go through your Ideaboard and pick your top ten photos based on how they make you feel, or something you absolutely love about them, or something you didn’t know you couldn’t live without.  When you get to step 2 you’ll have some top favorites to show your Interior Designer and some additional ideas to discuss at your first meeting.   You can still show your Designer the rest of your saved photos - but those top 10 ten photos will help you navigate towards what you love the most.

Now you’re ready for step 2…

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2.  HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

You may only Renovate or Build a handful of times in your lifetime, but an Interior Designer Renovates day in and out for their entire career.  They know the pitfalls to avoid and the questions to ask - they are experts at coming up with creative ideas and solutions to elevate the whole project.

Every project big or small should start out with professional forethought towards how to accomplish the best end results.  Both an Interior Designer and Contractor are integrally important to a project.  On a successful Renovation they tend to walk hand in hand from start to finish - however it’s best to hire your Interior Designer first so you’ll have all the details ready to go when it’s time to hire your Contractor.

Working with an experienced Interior Designer means you’ll be in great hands which are actively looking to make your experience as enjoyable and stress free as possible (your marriage, kids, mental health, and pocket book will thank you).  A good Interior Designer has the ability to create a functional and stylish space - seeing both the details and the big picture at once.  They take ideas and create a road map; understanding all the layers, trades, sequencing, planning, and have a greater access to wholesalers and suppliers necessary to create a beautiful transformation and bring those ideas into reality.

*Pro Tip:  A good Interior Designer should be well versed in creating spaces unique as the clients they serve. Check for different types of projects and various styles of work.   Make sure you’re seeing a diverse sampling of creativity and not just one set look that’s been cut and copied across multiple projects.  

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3.  TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET

Everyone has a Budget they’d ideally like to stay within, a number that’s been saved up or borrowed - those hard earned after tax dollars that will fund a beautiful transformation.  Prior to embarking on a project, it’s really important to discuss what that comfortable Budget number is.    The Budget shouldn’t be a secret, no different than when buying a car - there are different levels of price and quality - example: are you looking at a Kia, Toyota/Lexus, or Bentley?    Your Interior Designer will use the Budget as a guide to what will suit your lifestyle best, and work backwards from that number to ensure your project is designed within that range.

Keep in mind that just because your Budget is a certain number doesn’t mean you have to spend that whole number, or that the project you have in your mind will equal that number.  

I believe a great Interior Designer shouldn’t care how big or small a budget is, regardless they should have your best interests at heart and work to make whatever the budget is cover as much ground as possible towards the best outcome for you.  Having said that, sometimes clients don’t know how much to budget for, or they may have unrealistic expectations of how far a dollar will go in today’s economy -  your Interior Designer will help give you planning ranges to help ground your Budget and help highlight areas of where to spend and where to save - but ultimately how to check off as many things on your list as possible with the budget you have to work with.

Sometimes phasing a renovation into sections can help make things more financially attainable - Designers are specialists in finding ways to adjust the project scope to the Budget. Your Designer will ensure that when you do cross the finish line everything flows seamlessly together.

* Pro Tip - Always plan for a Contingency Budget for unforeseen elements anywhere from 10 to 20% of your total budget depending on the size and scope of your project.

Contingency Budget is not only for the unknowns - it’s also for the inevitables - those things that pop up along the way that you may decide to upgrade while things are opened up and all the trades are in motion.  As is the case with most Renovations, things can start to snowball and scope creep - especially if you’re looking to update a specific area of a home-  it’s often difficult to draw a line between the new and the existing.   Plus the positive momentum building towards all the new changes makes it very easy to keep adding further updates -  so a built in contingency can help keep the project moving ahead and give you some wiggle room to catch those opportunities to add in upgrades while knowing you have some working room within the Budget.

* Pro Tip - Set aside budget funds for Furnishings.  Often one of the last things on the list are Furnishings, last but not least - they are a very important part of the whole picture. There’s no sense in fully renovating a home with no budget left for new Furniture to relax on.   Your designer will help navigate which of your existing home furnishings are compatible with the refreshed look of your home and which need to get updated.

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4.  DUCKS IN A ROW

Let your Designer really get to work here - the more fore thought and organization at this stage the smoother the project.  A good designer will dive deep on ideas, layout and space planning, working drawings, 3D renderings, selections, and eventually moving things to estimate and order.  In today’s world with things like inflation, shipping delays, and rapid turn over on supplier products - the more elements you can have organized ahead of time the better.  It streamlines the process and helps avoid costly delays.  

* Pro Tip - Let your Designer’s momentum build - do your best to keep in step with their questions, ideas, and documents for review.  It keeps the planning moving ahead efficiently and cuts down on information overload or playing catch up if you do your best to stay current with where things are at.

5. INTERVIEW CONTRACTORS/RENOVATORS

Your Designer will have lots of ideas and planning to get the ball rolling, and once some of those initial ideas start to land it’s time to start interviewing Contractors/Renovators.  

Keep in mind most Contractors and Renovators will want a good idea of what all the scope is before they can accurately estimate their services for it, but by this stage your Designer will already have a good grasp on scope, as well as working drawings at the ready to help articulate a more accurate picture of what all will be involved.  

*Pro Tip:  Your Designer may have recommendations of Contractors/Renovators they’ve worked with on past projects.  I find there’s a ‘birds of a feather’ element here that can really benefit a homeowner.  The tendency for like minded people to come together means - if you have a good feel for your Designer - it’s likely that they interact with and can recommend like minded Contractors, Trades and Suppliers; which can serve the well being of a project with everyone pulling towards optimal outcomes, as well as a positive working synergy onsite.    

6.  TIME YOUR RENOVATION

Work with your Designer and Contractor to time when to embark on the updates.   Give thought to where you will live away from the Construction - maybe you’ll schedule things around travel plans, rent an AirBnB, or move to another area of the house.  Especially with Kitchen Renovations - if you’re planning to live through one - it’s important to give thought towards how you’ll function day to day without a fully functioning Kitchen for multiple weeks.  

*Pro Tip:  If you plan to live onsite through a renovation - ask your Contractor to set up a Zipwall to separate and segregate yourself away from all the construction noise and dust.  Within this separate area , it’s a great idea to pre-set up a mini Kitchen with Microwave, Mini Fridge, running Water etc.  That way you’ll be able to manage day to day operations without access to your usual space.

*Pro Tip:  Ask your Designer or Contractor if there are optimal times in your area where trades are less busy.  For example the Summer season in colder regions is sometimes the only window where Exterior work can be completed and the limited number of warm days naturally bottlenecks trade availability.  Planning an Interior Renovation away from the Summer months in this scenario could allow for offseason pricing and better trade availability.

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7. TRUST THE PROCESS

Plans for Construction are complete, and now it’s time to let your Contractor or Renovator dive right in.  Depending on if you’ve decided to live away from the Renovation or live through the Renovation - as things progress, you’ll start to see your Contractor’s Sub-trades such as Electrician, Plumber, Mechanical, Millwork Provider, Drywaller, Taper, Painter, Flooring/Tile Installer etc on-site.  These Sub-trades are professionals in their own right and here to do their part of the puzzle so to say.  If you cross paths and questions come up - always refer those back to the Contractor so they can direct the Sub-trades and stay on top of all the details.  Otherwise it can become confusing to the Sub-trades with whom they should be confirming with - you or the Contractor.  

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*Pro Tip: A box of donuts or tasty treats goes a long way on site.  Especially in conjunction with a friendly report with the Sub-trades.  When a project comes together and the vibe from the home owners is warm and appreciative, this translates into a great overall experience, more collaboration, and happy trades looking for ways to go that extra mile for you.  

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