Why you should include an interior designer early in your Reno or New Build project.
Time to build that dream home!
Getting a designer involved in the early stages of your new build / renovation, will ensure the smoothest, best designed, custom build for your home. We love when a homeowner brings us in on the design prior to starting plans. When your builder and designer work together from the beginning, they can ensure that aesthetics are taken into consideration with the home plans - making them easier to execute during the build. You’ll save money by doing things right the first time and you’ll make sure your home functions specifically for you and your family.
Bring your Designer in Early
Hiring a Designer early in the process will allow your designer to collaborate with your architect and builder and ensure all the details are addressed!
When I look at the design of your home, my first questions will pertain to your lifestyle. I’ll ask you about how your spaces will be used. For instance:
Do you entertain a lot?
Is anyone in your family a gourmet cook?
Do you like to spend a lot of time outside?
Do you love or hate an open floor plan?
How many kids do you have and what kind of activities are they involved in?
I’m really going to dig deep and spend time learning about your family’s lifestyle and how it relates to the home.
After we get the broad questions done, we’ll start narrowing in on how you want your rooms to function and are they laid out in a way for this to happen:
Are rooms large enough for how you want live? For example, do you crave a sectional and lots of comfy seating? How many people do you need to fit around your dining room table?
Are rooms too large? Does a room take up too much space and instead could be redesigned so that extra space goes to a larger kitchen or a bigger closet etc.
Where are you outlets going? This seems like a simple question but I am going to ensure your outlets fall in places where your cords won’t be unsightly. Your hair dryer, coffee maker, computer, and lamps all have outlets that make sense.
Plumbing fittings will be right the first time and not need to be redone. For example, if you have a free standing tub in your design - the design will show where the faucet originates - is it coming out of the wall? out of the floor? is it part of the tub? These different options have different plumbing fitting and if the design is done prior to the build starting – you’ll avoid costly and time-consuming changes.
Through working with a designer prior to any building starting, the contractor knew this faucet was going to be a wall mount and plumbed it accordingly the first time around!
Also on the subject of finances, I can help the builder determine generous allowances for your selections that will stand the test of time – I’ll also communicate to you where you should splurge vs where you can get away with a lower priced option. As your builder presents your allowances in your contract I’ll look them over and make sure they’ll cover the type of ascetic you are hoping to achieve.
If you are in the early stages of budgeting for your project, let me pass along some of the pricing we are running into with new builds and renovations. We all know the cost of labor and supplies have taken a significant leap over the past six months. With these increases, we are finding that building costs are running between $285 and $350 per square foot. On the $285 end you’ll be looking at not moving around a lot of plumbing (for a renovation), doing Quartz instead of a natural stone, etc - if you are moving a lot of plumbing and doing an elevated, more designer look, you’ll be closer to that $350 cost.
For your design fee, you’ll want to budget an additional $25 per square foot.
So if you are embarking on a new build or renovation - let’s set up a time to chat! I’d love to help make your dream home a reality. Book A Discovery Call
