Remodeling your home is much like building new - only you get to live in the mess as it happens. Yes, there will be dust, but you will also have the benefit of watching a new version of your home unfold before your eyes.

Thousands of decisions must be made before and during a remodel. While this is nowhere near a comprehensive guide to your pre-remodel strategy, it covers the four main pieces that are most crucial to a successful remodel.

Believe it or not, these four elements are also the most forgotten, and that is why we've chosen to focus on them.

Cast Your Vision On The End Goal

Whether remodeling an existing footprint, adding an addition - or both - you must start with the end in mind. As you ponder your ideal remodel, keep in mind that functionality is key, from traffic patterns through the kitchen and living areas to the usability of each room. Creating a cohesive flow throughout your entire home is key to a successful remodel.

Keep The Functionality of Your Home in the Forefront of All Decisions

Don't remodel merely to gain more square footage. Remodel to increase your home's function, use, and accessibility. Not only will your future self be grateful, but so will any future homeowners (as will your wallet when your home sale pays you back several fold.) In the past, remodeling meant taking down walls. Today, it can also mean adding a wall to create more privacy or definition in your space. Not every home needs to feel like a cavern.

Finding The Right Team

The home renovation process can be stressful and overwhelming when you don’t work with the right team. Finding the right company to demo, prep, and remodel your home is no simple task. We suggest you start by asking for referrals from friends or family members who have recently had their homes remodeled. If nothing else, do an online search for remodeling contractors in your area and thoroughly inspect their portfolio images and reviews. Undertaking your remodeling project with a talented team of designers and builders becomes more efficient, more enjoyable, and ultimately, will result in a dream home that you will be happy to live in for years.

Contrary to popular opinion, time and money are not the most important pieces to consider when choosing a contractor, but accuracy and integrity most certainly are.

Don't sign any contracts, work orders, or installation agreements until you've read every word. While it is rare for a vendor to sneak in a clause or two that would hurt your project, homeowners are often caught off guard if their project goes south and they discover that they are responsible for much more than they had planned.

The Design Plan Must Come First

As an interior design firm, a large part of our service is acting as a liaison between the contractor and the homeowner. We can help you navigate the paperwork, timelines, budgets, and back orders with practiced ease. We believe interior design and remodeling go hand in hand, and are guided by how you’ll use your home, how to want to feel in your home and how you intend to connect with and celebrate your new space.

We design around you, not around trends, and we work within the parameters of your budget from day one. We have a knack for helping you decide where to spend your hard-earned money during a remodel for maximum impact.

If you are considering a remodel but are unsure of the process, I would love to learn more about your dreams for your home, and help you get started!

Warmly,

Audrey

P.S. Wherever you are in life, remember to make your home the best it can be.

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