We get the frantic calls all the time - actually, the one we got today inspired this post.
The disaster that often creates the need for a renovation has suddenly presented you with the dilemma of whether you should hire an interior designer to select materials for the renovations or do it yourself.
If you are reading this and you have full confidence in selecting all the materials and coordinating the style and finishes that will remain timeless for years to come, then no need to read further in this post. You've got it covered!
But, if you are already a little overwhelmed by the thought of making these selections, and the time that will be involved, and the questions your GC will have for you now and every step of the way, please read on.
I am certainly not saying this to be facetious, but as a designer, we see first hand where folks are trying to undo or coverup the miscalculation that they, or the previous homeowners made in selecting materials for their home.
You see, it is not your fault. You walk into a showroom and you are presented with a zillion choices for tiles, flooring, cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, appliances, hardware, paint colors, grout colors. And not to mention trying to shop online. If that wasn't bad enough, most of the choices are all trendy, and the GC needs the choices like yesterday! Can you see how this can be overwhelming, and force your hand into a decision you may regret later?
This is typically what happens, and for such a large investment, it is a bit dangerous to not have the confidence in this part of the process.
I get that some homeowners are quite savvy and keep up with what's trending online through sites like Pinterest and Instagram. We know that these channels have opened up so much more to homeowners looking to renovate. But it is one thing to choose some elements that you love, and quite another to make sure that they flow well together, they coordinate with the rest of your home, they function the way you would expect and the maintenance and upkeep involved. And on top of that, making sure that you will still love it years down the road.
What some people will do to avoid this whole scenario, is rely on their GC to make these selections for them. Yikes!
Here's the thing - you may be lucky to find a GC that is very skilled at curating materials and style and making sure it all looks great and will be timeless, but that is very rare. What you will find instead is that your GC will select the least expensive and most readily available materials to make the budget and timeline work, and this may not be what's best for you and your home.
This is not a dig at GC's out there - we love them and need them to execute the work we do for our clients, but it is important to understand that their expertise lies in executing the design and not creating and documenting it. We have seen many budget allowances that just don't make sense for the project.
A renovation - whether minor or major needs to be thoughtfully designed.
So what do homeowners who prefer to do it themselves over hiring an interior designer think they have to lose?
It could be a few things:
Some think they will lose their say in the style direction. I wrote about that myth HERE
Some think they will lose control
Some think they will lose money. I wrote about that myth HERE
But it is important to look at your renovation not from the standpoint of an expense that just flies out the door, but from the perspective of a long term investment in your home, which will also have short term gains.
You will enjoy and be proud of your home now, and the style will remain timeless, if you choose the right designer. What does that cost to you to get back your time and the confidence.
Better yet, what does it cost to avoid making a very big mistake on one of the largest investments you will make?
Here's an example of a kitchen we recently designed.
Our client distinctly asked for purple and pink - a color choice we don't typically make for kitchens. Our job was to choose the right shades of these colors that will create that timeless feel and of course coordinate all the materials, finishes, fixtures and appliances.
The result is a modern kitchen with a slightly retro vibe that even someone who doesn't love pink and purple would love. It feels fresh and on trend for today, but will have longevity and timeless appeal.
We could have easily given her Barney purple and Barbie pink. Haha, but there is an art form to choosing color, materials and finishes for permanent surfaces that even people who wouldn't choose it for themselves can still appreciate and see the intent of the design in it.
Take this bathroom we completed back in 2018. We went with a very classic and sophisticated touch, but included bold and modern elements to marry trends with timelessness.
We still get messages from admirers about this bathroom almost 7 years later.
Is it for everyone? Maybe not, but most can see the thought that went into the design.
Here, our client wanted a warm and neutral spa-like bathroom, and here's what we did for her.
Soft neutrals that are still fresh, soothing and timeless. The black adds that touch of sophistication and the marble mosaic floor tile hints at a bit of boldness without being loud. It all balances very well.
What I am leading up to here, is that if you are not confident in selecting any element of your renovation, you should call in an interior designer. And find one who enjoys doing this type of work.
Our firm does, and understands very well this idea of making sure your investment goes a long way. We are consumers too, and we know what it costs to renovate.
We understand that when most people who find themselves in the midst of a renovation, it is usually due to a necessity versus having a large pot of money set aside for this purpose.
It's usually after a natural disaster, or a water leak inside the home, or mold, or things are just so outdated that they are unusable.
That's why we created a service around this, to make a well thought out, well designed and fully curated & documented design available to anyone at a price point that they can live with.
Going it alone when you don't have the confidence to do so, may save you a few thousand dollars now, but may have long term effects.
With our Curated Materials Selections design service, here is what you get:
1 Hour onsite consultation
Measure of space
1 Floor plan layout (more complex spaces could incur additional fees)
Presentation board with all materials and finishes selected
3D rendering (up to 2 views)
Materials list with detailed specifications and links to all products
1 Revision
Turn-around time - 3-6 week
Physical samples available upon request and may incur additional fees
Here is an example of a presentation board that shows all the key elements of this kitchen. This is a good start to visualizing how the materials and finishes related to each other.
Here is an example of a rendering we include as part of this service.
Here is an example of a rendering for a kitchen we did a few years ago and a follow up rendering that reflects a revision made to better suit the budget.
This rendering is the original vision we presented that the client loved.
Here is the revision, that still was an amazing choice that the client loved. We used a classic subway tile for the backsplash, but one that has some iridescence that shimmers ever so beautifully for a warm glow in the kitchen.
See the completed kitchen for yourself below
Here is the finished space
Of course, no pretty kitchen or bathroom matters unless it is properly designed and lays out for full functionality and ease of use.
We provide detailed floor plan layouts and elevations, with every detail called out for the GC or builder to build from.
An example of a detailed spec sheet with direct links to the products specified. We covered some of the details below because this is an actual client project.
There are a lot of moving parts, and we consider every single detail - down to the grout color, and package that up for your GC or builder.
You can see at the very bottom of the page that the selections are categorized, which makes it easy to navigate. This document alone will save you and your GC so much time and energy, and ultimately money.
Just a side note that when we say timeless design, we don't mean basic as it can often be interpreted.
We still want unique and visually interesting.
Some of these things that make these bathrooms and kitchens timeless:
Using marble slabs and mosaics
Straight edges on countertops
Geometric patterns
Clean lines for the cabinetry
Colors that are more shady than bright
Mid-tone to dark wood floors. In some cases light wood works as well.
Gold - yes, I know people think that gold goes out of style, but gold is the one finish you will always see embraced in any era.
Floor to ceiling tile application
Statement light fixtures
Lighting
This doesn't mean you cannot incorporate some trends as well. Trends simply mean that is what is being highlighted as the desired style of the day. But trend can be classic as well. For example, you will see reeded front cabinets and hood in some of the images above. Reeding is a huge trend right now, but one that is a classic detail that has been updated a bit.
So, if you find yourself in the midst of a renovation, don't go it alone if it is something that causes you overwhelm, grief and pain. We are here to help.
Explore the options we have available in our Curated Materials Service.
If you prefer to schedule a Discovery Call first, you can do that below
An in case you are not aware, we have an online store with some of our favorite products that we have curated for you.
One of our best sellers.
Wishing You Beauty And Inspiration!
Veronica
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