Now that you’ve decided to ahead with it, where do you start when planning your renovation? There are so many decisions to make and proper planning will help make the project run more smoothly. To avoid unnecessary cost over-runs, materials and fixtures need to be selected and ordered to allow for lead times and so they are available when needed.
Figure out what is the intention of your project?
What you wish to gain from the renovation? Is it for function, esthetics, a quick fix/flip, getting ready for resale, or to finally have your forever home? The scale and scope of the project will help you determine who you need to collaborate with. Do you need a designer? An architect? A contractor?
Just like a house needs a foundation, I often coach clients to answer some of the following questions to provide the foundation for their decision-making process.
How to Decide What You Want
We’ve worked with many people over the years and most of their questions relate back the fear of making the right decisions to get the final version of their dreams. The dreams many times they can’t actually “see” in their mind. “I don’t have the vision”, I don’t have the imagination”, or “Once I see it, I know what I love but I can’t articulate it” are all common comments that we hear while consulting and collaborating with our clients.
Your contractor, designer, architect can’t tell you what you want. We can only make suggestions. And yes, we may suggest things you’ve not considered but if you can’t provide us some clues as to your preferences our job is that much harder and there’s a greater chance you don’t get your ideal outcome and it could potentially cost you more money.
One of my top tips for people, even before we meet with them initially, is to
gather ideas and images from magazines and online resources such as Houzz or Pinterest. And take the time to reflect on what is truly important to you, what you want the space to do for you – and almost more importantly how you want it to FEEL. As you go, note down why each image resonated with you, as by the time you’re done, you might not remember.
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Be sure to keep in mind the style of your home. Does your preferred design esthetic match your home’s style? We advise that you respect the house and be sympathetic to its bones. You can’t turn an old Victorian house into a modern marvel. Almost nothing breaks my heart more than seeing a project that just doesn’t fit with the house.
For more information, check out our podcast All Things Renovation at www.AllThingsRenovation.com or click on the Podcast page at www.woodbeart.com. The first series of episodes focuses on hiring a contractor.
For photos of our work click on https://woodbeart.com/our-work
