That’s a wrap on Summer 2020! It was definitely a little different for everyone but one thing is for sure, it made us focus on things closer to the heart. Our families, our friends, and our homes! Now that we are all back into a bit of a routine we are realizing that we are going to be once again spending a lot more time in our homes and perhaps we are feeling nudged to make a change.

If you’ve been dreaming about your perfect home for a while and now you are ready to take that big leap into a new build or renovation. It’s exciting, thrilling and scary all at the same time! With so many things to consider it can be overwhelming. You want it to be perfect and exactly how you envision….here are a few tips to prepare you to get the end results you’ve always wanted.

1. Make a plan.

First things first, you need to make a plan. Don’t tackle this on your own! Sit down with a professional designer and throw all of your ideas at them. Their job is to take all of your ideas and assess your personality, taste, and lifestyle and bring it all together.

A designer may be an extra expense that you think you can skip, but know that they are equipped with the knowledge and attention to details that you may overlook. A designer will stay focused on the finished vision, if you are on your own you may easily stray from that vision. At the end of the day they ultimately will save you money, time, and most importantly….disappointment.

2. Meet with your builder.

Surrounding yourself with a solid team of professionals is critical to getting what you want in the end. As soon as you have your plan with your designer nailed down set up that meeting with your builder to discuss the process. Make sure you are all on the same page with your expectations, budget and timeline and have your entire team of builder(s) and designer(s) working together!

3. Stay one (or two) steps ahead of your builder.

There is nothing worse then a project being held up because your builder is waiting for you to make a decision. Your builder gets frustrated and you get flustered resulting in you making quick and desperate choices that are most likely not in line with your desired end result. Your designer can definitely keep you on top of this, but don’t skip out or delay those meetings with them either! There are a lot of moving pieces that can affect and delay the process….don’t let one of them be you!

4. Focus on the “bones”

When I’m talking “bones” I don’t mean the structure of the building. To me the “bones” are the core elements of your home that need to stand the test of time. Your flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, etc. These are the toughest decisions you will have to make, not only are they the biggest investment, they are the biggest design commitment. They make the biggest impact to your final look and are the most expensive things to change out if you end of not liking them.

Lean on your designer to help you choose what is going to work best. They will guide you in the direction that meshes your style and personality with a look you will love and be able to live with for many years to come.

Now that you have some direction it’s time to get to work! It’s never too early to start putting together ideas and inspiration for your project. Peruse the stores and gather up floor samples, fabric samples, tile samples and anything else that suits your style. Keep in mind that this process takes time, having a few things done ahead of time will definitely help ease the stress and allow you to maybe even enjoy the journey!