Happy New Year! Does it feel like January yet? Well, it’s minus 100 so yeah, I guess it does! With the holidays behind us and the return to school, work and, well…reality, we shift our focus back to our daily routines with thoughts of what’s to come in the year ahead. For me personally, I will be embarking on my own home renovation (stay tuned for juicy behind-the-scenes updates) so as I face being both the “client” and “designer” simultaneously, I find myself thinking more and more about what my clients may know or not know when they embark on their own home makeovers. As an interior designer, it is our job to explain and educate our clients throughout any project. So what would I tell myself as the “client”?? Keep reading to find out!
Be realistic about your budget.
Have a clear budget in mind and share it with your designer and your GC up front. Remember that your designer is there to show you options that work within your budget. They are not a magical genie that can make your $100,000 design dream fit into a $50,000 design budget (sorry guys, no fairy dust here). But have no fear! There are often solutions to your spending woes. One way to solve your budgeting dilemma may be to break your project out into phases. Another would be to reduce the scope of work. Remember that your designer is there to help you get the quotes you need early on so that you can make educated decisions.
Understand the ripple effect of making changes.
Sometimes a seemingly small change during a project can cause an unwanted domino effect. Switching out a piece of furniture like one side table for a different side table may sound pretty harmless (and often it is!) but it may mean incurring additional costs and/or having to swap out multiple pieces of furniture in order for the overall design to look a certain way or fit within the overall budget or floor plan. For instance, if you change out a small side table for a larger side table now the lamps and area rug that have been selected are too small and also need to be changed. Likewise, changing the size of a window midway through a construction project could impact the placement of furniture in that room, which in turn can affect the specific items that have been selected as well as the style and specifications for the window treatment, not to mention the order for the window itself! So before making a change, ask your designer the reasons behind their suggestions in the first place and check with them (and with your GC) about any potential ripple effects the proposed change may cause so you can be well informed before making a decision.
Expect the unexpected.
As with most things in life, it is inevitable that something will go wrong at some point during the project. Surprises or mistakes can be big or small, stressful, interesting, and even costly, but remember that this is not life or death and there is always a solution to every design dilemma. Do your best to remain calm and positive. Communicate your concerns clearly with your trades and look to the professionals on your job to determine the best way to get things back on track. That’s what they’re there for!
The anticipation of a new project can be both exciting and nerve wracking! I’m feeling all the feels about my own project!
Remembering that every project has its highs and lows and expecting to experience a bit of an emotional roller coaster will help to reassure you that it’s all a normal part of the process. Hold on tight (keep your arms, hands and legs inside the ride at all times) and remember that in the end you will get to enjoy the newly remodeled home of your dreams!