Planning A Remodel? The Essential Guide to Transforming Your Home
Begin Your Remodel Like A Pro
Remodeling your home can be an exciting yet daunting endeavor. Whether you're revamping your kitchen, updating a bathroom, or transforming your entire home, proper planning is crucial for a successful remodel project. Without a clear plan in place, even the most straightforward renovations can quickly go haywire. In this guide, we'll walk you through important steps and considerations to ensure that your remodel is a success.
Kristen Elizabeth Design, Photographed by Rikki Snyder
assess the project scope
Before diving into the world of design inspiration and color palettes, you’ll want to assess the scope of your remodel project. This includes, clearly defining your goals, setting a realistic budget, and establishing a feasible timeline. When defining your goals, consider what you aim to achieve with your renovation. Some examples include
Adding more space
Improving functionality
Updating aesthetics
Increasing the value of your home
At this time you’ll also want to consider your priorities. You may ideally want to overhaul your entire home, but realistically you may only be able to afford a kitchen renovation. If that’s the case then consider tackling your remodel in phases. Think about your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves and what updates you’ll need done sooner rather than later.
Once you have the project scope, objectives, and priorities defined you can start thinking about your budget. Start by ballparking costs and determining how much you can spend. Understanding these details from the outset will help you stay on course and avoid unexpected delays and expenses down the line.
gather inspiration
Next, you’ll want to find inspiration for your new space. From flipping through design magazines to browsing online platforms, like Instagram and Pinterest, exploring different design ideas will help you refine your vision and identify your unique style preferences.
During this phase consider how you want the space to feel and what styles you’re drawn towards. Unless you’re starting with a blank slate or doing a full overhaul you’ll also want to consider what will work with the existing style of your home.
The wealth of online resources available makes gathering inspiration easier than ever, allowing you to curate a collection of ideas that resonate with your taste and lifestyle.
Kristen Elizabeth Design Photographed by Rikki Snyder (Left), Kat Alves (Right)
Find the Right Professionals
Choosing the right professionals for your remodel project is crucial for its success. Whether it's selecting reputable contractors or hiring experienced designers or architects, conducting thorough research and checking references is essential. Here’s a brief overview of relevant professionals so you can hire to determine the right ones based on your needs.
Architect:
If you're making big changes to your home's structure, you'll need an architect or engineer.
They’re educated and licensed in design theory, engineering, and project management.
Architects handle design, engineering, and code requirements, while engineers focus on structural aspects.
Stamped plans from architects or engineers are necessary for city permit approval.
Interior designers focus on the details, aesthetics, and functionality of your home's design.
They handle floor plans, construction details, lighting, and all finishes and furnishings while ensuring designs meet local code requirements.
They create a cohesive design, considering both aesthetics and functionality.
General Contractor:
Contractors bring the architect and designer's ideas to life and solve construction issues.
They focus on implementing the vision while managing construction costs effectively.
Contractors handle tasks like plumbing and electrical changes and ensuring structural integrity.
At Kristen Elizabeth Design, a full-service luxury design firm, we work with a network of trusted professionals and can bring our partners to your project for the best results. We’ll liaise with all parties to ensure plans are developed and executed correctly and that any issues are swiftly resolved. With our expertise and guidance, we help streamline the entire process, ensuring that your remodel is managed with precision and efficiency.
create a design plan
A well-thought-out design plan is the cornerstone of any successful remodel project. This is where we’ll start to take the burden off your shoulders, from developing an optimal layout to carefully selecting the appropriate materials, we’ll ensure that every aspect of the plan aligns with your vision, budget, and functional requirements.
Our designs expertly balance aesthetics with functionality to create a space that is not only beautiful but also practical and comfortable. In a series of meetings, we’ll present design renderings, materials, and furniture options that culminate in a beautiful and cohesive space that represents you.
Prepare for the Remodel Process
Jessica Helgarson Interior Design, Photographed by Aaron Leitz
Once you’ve signed off on the design for your new space, you then need to prepare your home for the renovation process to facilitate a seamless transition. Clearing the area, organizing your belongings, and communicating any specific requirements to our team are essential steps in ensuring a smooth start to the remodel. Establishing practical expectations and fostering transparent communication can minimize potential challenges that may emerge.
Depending on the project scope, we may recommend moving out during construction so that you don’t have to deal with debris and noise impacting your daily life. Whether you stay with family, friends, or find a short-term rental, you’ll want to factor that into your overall timeline and budget.
During the Remodel Process
Once the remodel is underway, we’ll regularly monitor its progress. This includes addressing any issues promptly and managing changes efficiently to keep your project on track. We’ll also maintain quality control throughout the process to ensure that the result reflects the goals you initially set out to achieve.
Final Touches
As the project nears completion, adding those personal touches that make a space truly yours is the final step. Also known as styling—we’ll include decorative accents, artwork, plants, and home accessories that’ll make your new spaces feel personal, inviting, and lived-in.
Conducting final inspections and ensuring that every detail meets your standards is essential before considering the project complete.
By following the steps in this guide, you can plan your remodel with confidence. We’ll help you navigate the complexities of the process to achieve the space of your dreams—one that not only enhances the aesthetics of your home but also enriches your daily life.
Make your home your favorite place to be.
Ready to get started? Contact us today to discuss your unique project goals and needs.
