Where do I Start?
The most successful designs all start with well-thought-out plans. Before you lift a finger to move a table, or dial the phone for a professional, make sure you know the answers to these “getting started” questions.
Preliminary Soul Searching:
1. Decide what you want
- What’s the purpose of your space?
- How would like it to function?
- What do you want to accomplish in it?
- Do you have enough space? Do you need more space?
- Do you need to make changes for health reasons?
- Are you looking for peace-of-mind and a sense of security? For example: If you are getting older, and don’t want to climb the steps to your master bedroom, you may want to include a first floor master suite…perhaps you’d like to explore how you can convert a room (or rooms) that you really don’t use into a first floor master suite.
- Do you want to get more organized and enjoy coming home more?
- Do you just want to beautify your environment for your own fulfillment and personal expression?
2. Are you happy with the traffic flow?
- Does the way your family (and guests) move through the space cause bottleneck problems? (We hear this a lot when it comes to kitchens.)
- Are things difficult to access?
- Are things too far apart, requiring a lot of walking—or, in some cases, climbing?
- Are things too tightly cramped together?
3. Is your space efficient?
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- Does it function for the way you need it to?
- If you could improve its functioning, how much better would it serve your needs?
- So, what's bugging you about how it functions? What can't you stand about it?
- There’s not enough counter space…
- The sinks are too low…
- I’ve thought about moving the refrigerator over to the other side of the kitchen…etc.
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4. What’s your household like?
- Do you have children?
- Do you have grandchildren who visit often?
- Do you have dogs or other pets? Do they have special requirements?
- Are you renovating to improve the aesthetic value of your home?
5. What is your lifestyle like?
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- Do you live a more casual and laid back life at home?
- Is your home life very hectic?
- Do you do a little (or a lot) of formal (or informal) entertaining? A couple with no children may want a very different home than a couple with three kids.
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6. What are your priorities?
- Keep the project costs low?
- Fast turn around time?
- Good quality workmanship?
- To be able to rely on the expertise of a professional?
7. In a minute we’ll walk you through how to come up with a budget, and you’ll see why this exercise is important. “Must have” and “wish list” are important. Sometimes they are one and the same, but more often, they’re not. A must have item is one that you cannot live without—or one that you wouldn’t dream of doing a renovation and not including. A wish list includes things that you would like (or even love) to have—but can live without if you were limited by space, budget, etc.
We ALWAYS include this distinction in our initial discussions with our new clients—and our clients are pleasantly surprised when we are able to get many of their wish list items into the final plan. “Sometimes even professionals just don’t have the education and training to know HOW you can fit two sinks into a small master bathroom remodel, or include a mudroom in a new design when space seems so limited,” says Gavi Fiedler, owner of Interior Dimensions, Inc.
We ALWAYS include this distinction in our initial discussions with our new clients—and our clients are pleasantly surprised when we are able to get many of their wish list items into the final plan. “Sometimes even professionals just don’t have the education and training to know HOW you can fit two sinks into a small master bathroom remodel, or include a mudroom in a new design when space seems so limited,” says Gavi Fiedler, owner of Interior Dimensions, Inc.
| MUST HAVE | WISH LIST |
| Example: More counter space | Example: Granite countertops |
| Example: New appliances | Example: Stainless steel appliances |
| Example: A larger shower | Example: Custom tile shower with frameless glass enclosure |
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8. You can get input from other household members besides your spouse, especially if the space is one they use often.
For example, your pre-teen or teenager may use the kitchen or sitting room to do homework, and may not like the idea of her space being changed. Because planning a renovation is often a lot of fun and very exciting, this would be an ideal time to get their input on different ways of looking at and using the space.
8. You can get input from other household members besides your spouse, especially if the space is one they use often.
For example, your pre-teen or teenager may use the kitchen or sitting room to do homework, and may not like the idea of her space being changed. Because planning a renovation is often a lot of fun and very exciting, this would be an ideal time to get their input on different ways of looking at and using the space.
How to promote your idea to your husband/wife/partner:
- Point out the functionality—or lack of functionality
- Point out how this space is your office (especially if you work at home) and emphasize your need for organization and functionality
- Be prepared to show a return on investment—see some of our notes in the Cost Tab on return percentages for certain types of rooms
Start a STYLE FILE:
- Collect ideas by cutting out pictures from magazines
- Record TV episodes showing things you liked
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INSIDER’S SECRET: As fabulous and as fun to watch as those shows are, they can be seriously unrealistic. Many of the home improvement shows you see on TV grossly underestimate the cost of what went into their projects. So whether you are doing-it-yourself or hiring a professional, be prepared—it could cost more than you might otherwise expect. |
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Your Style File- NO charge
Whether you choose to work with us or on your own, we strongly recommend creating your own “Style File”. Pick up about 6 decorating magazines and go through them cutting out pictures of what you like- paint colors, art, accessories, furnishings, flooring, and window treatments. If we will be working together, we will ask that you send that to us before we start on anything. It will give us both a better feel for what you like or don’t like.
So now the big question is – HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?
Your Style File- NO charge
Whether you choose to work with us or on your own, we strongly recommend creating your own “Style File”. Pick up about 6 decorating magazines and go through them cutting out pictures of what you like- paint colors, art, accessories, furnishings, flooring, and window treatments. If we will be working together, we will ask that you send that to us before we start on anything. It will give us both a better feel for what you like or don’t like.
So now the big question is – HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?
