Starting a Renovation Project
You might have found us and this article, about starting a renovation project, while you are hunting for ideas for how to best approach a home improvement. Or you are looking for inspirational images from designers around your area or magazines. Your journey has found you here and we propose a 5 step process in how to start a renovation. It is based upon over 300 successful projects and most of them are for renovation projects of almost every type and scale. If you have the luxury of working with a qualified designer like ourselves, 90% of the time they can achieve your inspiration in sometimes a different way, it depends upon time, budget, and the materials most suitable for your project needs. But, they will going over the same steps below before they start selecting materials and finishes for your “Scandi Modern Farmhouse” Open Concept Space and adjacent Laundry room. My recommendation is to get the practical concerns out of the way that also need to be addressed too.
The other article will drill down into costs as a separate article for detached dwellings and and then the costs for a condo renovation will be another linked article
1. Inspiration
The unorthodox approach is to first define your project parameters then look for inspiration. Sometimes an inspiration is not appropriate for the size of the project space and this can add months of time wasted only trying to make a room or support space into something it can never be.
Finding inspiration
2. Scope of work: define which space you are wanting to improve and other adjacent spaces that might be affected by the both the construction process and the end result or goal. By defining the space you are stating your functional goals for the space.
For example lets use the Scandi Modern Farm House Laundry room.
Are you changing the appliances and would like recommendations for your choices and the layout they will be in or are you keeping the existing and would like a layout change that is more efficient for your household.
Maybe the finishes in the space are not durable and are failing so you want finishes that are wear resistant, bleach clean-able, and will fit in the style you are looking for.
Or maybe you have a partially finished basement that is desperately in need of an improvement and not exposed concrete flooring. Each of these these scenarios is from a past project and each will need different approaches from our design team.
What we do best is improve the function of a space for you and your household. We want to know what your goals are and what are the factors that will be at play to affect your project’s success. When we start with a client we have an intake process that asks questions like these but it is good idea to give yourself a head start like the top 3 reasons for this Laundry room update.
3 . Are there any limitations or restrictions that will affect the project. Like structural concerns or building code issues, and municipal bylaws?
If this home improvement project is in a strata type property like a condo or co-op there will be different limitations than if you were renovating a detached timber framed residence. There will be laws and protocols in place to protect you and your fellow strata members and their investment.
Another example is whether the improvements involve moving a load bearing wall or structural support. Significant changes like these might need the assistance of an engineer or qualified design professional (which will can add to your budget)
* keep in mind that when you work with a qualified interior designer, they can provide alternatives based their expertise. You are paying for them to approach your project with an independant eye and to be a second opinion. Sometimes there is an alternative that is unexpected.
If your home improvement project is in a strata managed property there are a few resources we created just for condo renovations to give you some tips and great inspirations from our past projects. You will find them all in one place: Renovation Design Guide: Condo Edition
4 Your House Your rules : Define how you want to approach this reno with your team. How are you going to manage with the renovation in your home. some people leave for vacation and other live onsite. it will always take more time than you think to renovate and the trade and our team do not want to inconvenience you and your household any more than they already are so we need to state what those rules are. like no work on the weekends or a specific time limit for when work will start or stop. Qualified and experienced contractors and building trades ideally work well as a choreographed ballet. They can usually accomodate you they just need to know what you want.
5. Budget This topic is sometimes the most challenging point of discussion because Set up Budget Parameters - I don't care what anyone else says or writes about this point, but the simple fact of the matter is that without a budget I am stalled. I can work without a budget, don't worry about that, but I really don't believe that there is an endless source of cash in your bank account that the last thing I want to do is make anyone house poor. So, here are links to articles that will better help you understand kitchen and bathroom renovation budgets.
What are the next 3 steps coming up
6 Hire your professionals and building trades We recommend licensed insured trades with a proven track record. They might be more expensive, but there is a very good chance they will be efficient with their time and do the job right the first time.
link to integrated design, hiring the best design professionals
7. GIve your project the advanced time and planning to design the work : Sometimes we get a call from a person who is mid construction on a new build or renovation or they are leaving on vacation in two months and they want the work done while they are away. Our very real challenge is that kitchen and bathroom design is detailed work and your average kitchen needs. and then custom cabinets take on average 12-16 weeks to be made to the order. There will be a back and forth happening between you and our design team regarding material selections and the design details like solving your lack of a functional laundry space in an unfinished basement.
8 Choose your journey: Will your project need a permit? Choosing to work without a permit when you might be required to do so will come with risks. The city can do a stop work order and require you to apply for a permit, and you then wait months while the permit is being processed. Time will also be needed to produce the drawings the municipality needs for the permit application. The unpermitted work might be required to be removed and replaced with something code compliant built in its place. This is intended to be realistic because in our decades of experience we have both seen and heard about a variety of scenarios you might not expect. The unintended consequences of this will affect your budget and timeline. We want you to have a successful and positive experience. WE also
Why should you trust our advice:
Authority
Awards
Tour through a kitchen renovation Matterport scan in two different phases of its construction.
YOUR HOUSE, YOUR RULES. There. I said it. Finally a designer that can let you have your way.
Now that we're off to a good start, let's look at some first steps that you can take to make your project go smoothly. Time, money, and stress levels are all in the mix in every project. I once had a client tell me that the renovation was the worst experience of his entire life, and I recently completed a project that a client was so overwhelmed with work that anything was stressful except her project - so it's not easy for some but easy for others. Life happens, so what part of a project can we control?
Here are some first steps that you can control when working on any project:
1. Find Inspiration - The most difficult part of the initial design process is determining your wants, needs, and style. Most designers do not do this for you anymore because you likely will not want to pay for this service. As designers, it can take is well over a few hours and that's a part of the design budget we would rather save for your project. So, please help us help you, as they say, and gather your inspiration on a Houzz Ideabook, a Pinterest board, or with magazine clippings. A key point is that you'll need to tell us what you like about the images you're seeing because we still can not read minds yet.
2. Set up Budget Parameters - I don't care what anyone else says or writes about this point, but the simple fact of the matter is that without a budget I am stalled. I can work without a budget, don't worry about that, but I really don't believe that there is an endless source of cash in your bank account that the last thing I want to do is make anyone house poor. So, here are images that will better help you understand kitchen and bathroom renovation budgets.
Kitchens budgets by homeowner involvement and by size. The numbers add up quick so it's important to understand what it's going to take to accomplish the project.
Bathroom Budgets broken down again by homeowner and by project size. Yes, bathrooms are more expensive than you'd think because there's more stuff behind the walls.
3. Scope of Work - Alright, now you know how much you want to spend but how much work do you want to do as a homeowner? We need to understand this and this document is called a Scope of Work. What is my role in your project? What should I expect from you? We can accomplish this a couple of ways and, again, designers can do this for you but I'm not sure you want to pay for it completely. Why not entertain completing the Client Intake Form on your own? If you want one, just ask me for it.
4. Hire a Professional - Once we understand what makes you tick, your budget, and the scope of the budget, I can move ahead with your project quickly and easily. Most kitchens take 3-4 weeks to design, bathrooms take a bit longer, but all projects take 6-12 weeks from the start date... this is where I come in with all that amazing goodness and products, finishes, materials, and renderings so that you can visualize your space before it's completed because THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY! Right? Right. You need someone who does this professionally, with experience, and connections to make things happen. A little known fact is that I have the similar amount of education as a family doctor... so... yeah... lots of information in my head.
So, if all this suits your fancy, head over to my contact page and let's get started because if I do nothing else for you, I will save you money.
