Creating the Perfect Design

The good news is you have decided it’s time for a home renovation and now you are super excited to start. The not-so-good news is now you have to design, and that terrifies you. That’s why I created these five steps to arm you with the tools and education to alleviate your fears and make the process fun. You will also save a lot of design fees by performing these tasks. Let’s get started!

STEP 1: KNOW THYSELF

• Determine what you can spend on the home renovation. By calling contractors and explaining your project details, you can quickly get a price range. It is essential because you don’t want to waste money or time planning to design a project that is not reasonable nor can you afford.
• Make a list of all the items you would like to remodel. Separate the must-haves vs. the dream. Take pictures of these items and place them with the list in a file labeled “Home Remodel.” Keep all of your information in this file to share with your contractor.
• Think about how you want your family’s lifestyle to change. Would you like a better area for the family to congregate in the kitchen? Have you always dreamed of having the look of Little Italy? Would you like to feature a wine collection or become a sous chef? Now is your chance to live out some real fantasies. Read on to see just how to make that happen for your home renovation.

STEP 2: STUDY THE MARKET

• Open an account at HOUZZ.com. Here’s a great link to help you set up an account and start idea books jillianlare.com/houzz-ideabooks-tutorial. Here you will access thousands of current pictures of every style, feature, accessories in every room in the house and by any geographic area. Save the images you like and make notes to share with your designer later. The more you do here, the easier it is for you or your designer to find what you like faster.
• You must make a detailed list of the names of the materials you want. You will need this list to perform research in step four. HOUZZ has a feature where you can find out the names of tile, counter, paint colors, or anything you like.

STEP 3: EDUCATE THYSELF

By knowing some of the essential rules of design, you will be well equipped to prevent crucial mistakes commonly made by even the best designers. It’s not that hard, and a little time spent here pays for itself.

Start by writing down how you actually use the room. Before we draw anything, we ask a version of these questions:

• How many people use the space at the same time?
• What never works about the room today — the thing that annoys you every single morning?
• What has to stay? A window, a view, a piece of furniture you love.
• Who else lives here, and will the room still work for them in twenty years?

Answering those before you fall in love with a finish will save you more money than any material choice you make later.

Then learn the two things that catch most homeowners out.

Clearances and traffic flow. Most design mistakes are not about taste, they are about space. Doors that collide. A dishwasher you cannot stand beside while it’s open. A shower you have to sidestep into. These are the errors that are expensive to discover after the walls are closed.

Accessible design. Worth understanding even if nobody in your home needs it today. The Department of Justice publishes the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and I hold the Certified Universal Design Professional credential from NARI — which in plain terms means designing rooms that keep working as life changes.

And if you would rather we handle all of this for you, here is our remodeling process, step by step.

STEP 4: HIT THE ROAD

Now that you have your list of materials and ideas, it’s time to take it a step further. Search your local area for vendors online who sell these products. An example would be “travertine tile.” You can google “travertine tile Austin, Texas” to get a list of the tile stores that sell travertine. First, see if they have good reviews. Then go to their website and look at their inventory. If you like what you see, contact them to set an appointment to see the tile in person. Ask for pricing, product specifications, maintenance requirements, and a sample. Once you start collecting samples, always bring them with you to the other appointment to help you match the selections. Below I made a list of most of the categories you will need to consider. I linked some of my favorite local companies, so if you live in Austin, you are in luck.

Appliances

• https://www.harwayappliances.com/

Plumbing Fixtures

• http://www.mooresupply.com/locations/

Electric Fixtures

• http://www.legendaustin.com/

Hardware, Accessories

• http://www.buildwithbmc.com/bmc/s/bmc-design-center-austin

Windows, Doors

• http://www.buildwithbmc.com/bmc/s/bmc-design-center-austin

Tile and Wood

• https://stonesolutions.com/
• http://www.travistile.com/
• https://crossvillestudios.com/
• https://www.emser.com/
• http://landerspremierflooring.com/

Counters

• https://pacificshorestones.com/

Door Glass

• https://www.austinbluemoon.com/

Shower Glass

• https://www.binswangerglass.com/location/austin-tx-3804-s-congress-ave

Paint Colors

• https://www.sherwin-williams.com/

STEP 5: HIRE A PROFESSIONAL

Would you perform open-heart surgery on a friend because you grew up watching General Hospital? Of course not! Although home remodeling is not life or death, your home is one of your most significant investments. Design mistakes can create long-term anguish and hurt the value of your home. Do your homework and take the time to learn your needs now and into the future to enhance the outcome and lower your design fee.

After that, it’s time to let a talented professional take over. A seasoned designer has the experience needed to guide you through this challenging and daunting task. There is a copious amount of detail that you probably don’t know about nor even considered. Even though the design may be great, construction issues during your home renovation will present real-time design problems that will need to be worked out on the fly. Without help from a pro, it could be a stressful and costly endeavor. Qualified designers can also perform CAD (Computer-Aided Drawings), source samples, and bring fresh ideas to the table. If you hire the right designer, you will add value to your home and love the results.

CONCLUSION

By following these five steps, you can be sure to create the perfect design for your home renovation. Take the time to learn about your family’s needs and study the market. Hire a qualified designer to help you with difficult choices. As a result, your family will be happy and have an enjoyable experience!

Before you start designing, it helps to know what actually drives the budget. We cover that in why home renovation projects go over budget.

Thank you for reading this blog, “5 Steps to Create the Perfect Design for Your Home Renovation.” It’s the second part of the series entitled, “Home Remodeling Zombie Survival Guide.” If you have questions, please make comments below or email me at Roy@NewCreationsAustin.com. To get started with your estimate, click the button below.