A doctor once asked me during an appointment when she figured out what I do for a living if I watched a lot of design shows on HGTV. When I said no, she laughed and said, “Of course you don’t. I don’t even know why I asked you that. That’s like someone asking me if I watch Grey’s Anatomy.” And we both had a nice {borderline hysterical} laugh. This little story pretty much sums it up for us.
We’ve lived in a world of “Move That Bus” for some time now, entranced by sparkle transitions and scripted reality TV. America has been brainwashed when it comes to all things home. We’re here to tell you that if you’re a fan, that’s so great, but that’s not really how it goes. {It can be a red flag for us when we show up for an initial design meeting, and someone is donning a “Magnolia” hat.} Renovations are never easy. They’re actually a mix of design, budgets, organization, communication, unpredictable situations and lots of psychology. We want to help you move through it smoothly, and that’s our role from beginning to end.
We launched a series called “Things Your Designer Wants You To Know” on our site a year ago. Today, we thought it would be good to highlight it again for anyone ready to dive into a renovation of their own. We’re covering everything from that initial meeting to the finishing touches. We thought it might help bring a little awareness to the process and possibly help anyone avoid a few of the pitfalls that come with working with various professionals. So here it is!
Things Your Designer Wants You to Know.
Our FAQ’s post, {where we’ve outlined a little of our company}
Here we’ll cover why you should stop apologizing for your space, because we promise we’ve been there. And we might not always tell you what you want to hear because we’re not going to lie to you so that you hire us. Also, we’re not like the other girls: why we’re a little different.
There’s no such thing as a small job, and design is not a one size fits all. {Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.} Also, why trust is a MUST, because overthinking can sabotage a project quickly. And project fatigue is real. {AKA, you’ll probably fixate on something in the process.}
Why the design process is fluid and collaborative, too many cooks in the kitchen {why boundaries are good} and the client always comes first. 85% of our job is communication and organization. {Probably more, that’s just a guess.} And a few housekeeping notes.
Why some of the horror stories are real, and how we can help you avoid them. From main character vibes to money up front, unrealistic timelines, and communication issues, these are just a few things to avoid.
Scary red flags for designers to look out for, {we didn’t just cover the contractors}. Change orders, please stop going rogue; no house is perfect, let the creatives do their thing…and more.
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We hope this helps give you an idea of the process and working with us {and others!} Be sure to check out more of what we do here + our own house, here!
Got any questions? Be sure to shoot them our way! We’d love to hear. Have an inspired day!
Cindy says
We built a house and having a designer saved us time and money. We called her “our marriage counselor”. She was so good at helping us embrace the style of the home (modern) but keeping it warm with finishes and colors. I was overwhelmed by tile selections and she helped narrow down the selections. She was worth every cent!!
ashley @ the handmade home says
It’s so refreshing to hear someone appreciate good work! Thank you for your comment, Cindy.