If you’re starting to plan for extensive home renovations, chances are, you’ll want to work with an interior designer. During residential renovations, the interior designer is responsible for visualizing the design of your new space which includes: sourcing materials, determining costs, working with engineers and contractor teams, and inspecting the construction as the project progresses.
If you’re starting to plan for extensive home renovations, chances are, you’ll want to work with an interior designer. During residential renovations, the interior designer is responsible for visualizing the design of your new space which includes: sourcing materials, determining costs, working with engineers and contractor teams, and inspecting the construction as the project progresses.
Often, the interior designer bridges the gap between the client and other renovation teams. At Hammerdown, we work closely with a network of trusted interior designers as part of our design-build renovation process. However, you might be wondering how you would interact with an interior designer, given that, chances are, you know little about interior design yourself. Here are some examples of questions you’ll want to consider as you start planning your home renovation project:
While each project comes with different project scope, interior designers should be able to tell you about their basic process. For instance, they should be able to provide you with an idea of what you will be receiving from them: construction drawings, 2D renderings, and/or material selections. Also, interior designers are visual people so if you can show them pictures of spaces you like, it helps them get a sense of your style and what you’re looking for. Consider using Pinterest, visit Houzz.com, or just grab a pair of scissors and cut out your favourite designs from decor magazines.
Interior designers always prefer that you’re honest with them. If you don’t like it, say so! It’s your home and you need to be happy with the result. The way to remedy this is to communicate your non-negotiable items at the beginning of the project, and be very clear about your style and what you like (and don’t like)!
Each interior designer will communicate with clients differently depending on their design process, the tools they use, and the company they work for. At Hammerdown, our interior designer uses a combination of an online platform called InVision, email, telephone, and in-person meetings to make sure you are communicating effectively.
One of the best things about working with an interior designer is that they will do all the leg work for you. Are you dreading having to visit a hundred different showrooms to pick products that you’re worried won’t go together? Fear not! Part of an interior designer’s job is to curate a selection of materials for you to choose from. Interior designers have industry connections that make this process easy and stress-free for you. They’re able to get products you may not have access to, and may also be able to secure you a good deal!
This is up to you. Interior designers want your input, but they’re also trained to be able to do the entire process themselves. This makes working with an interior designer a great investment if you lead a busy lifestyle where you don’t have a lot of time to invest in the process. Alternatively, you can be very involved. Talk to your interior designer about your desired level of involvement and go from there!
Every interior designer has a personal style just like anyone else. Asking your interior designer about their style will give you a chance to understand if they’re a good fit for you. Often people will gravitate toward interior designers that share their same design style but that isn’t always the case.
Interior designers are trained in a variety of design styles. If you’re looking for a very specific style just ask! Interior designers are creative people and they like to explore projects in different styles. From boho chic to ultra-modern, or from art deco to mid-century modern, your style can never be wrong for you. You get to choose!
This depends on a few different factors. How many projects does the interior designer have on the go right now? What is the availability of the construction team? What is the availability of products and finishes? What is the scope of your project? All these questions and many more will decide the length of the process, but generally, you should start the kitchen design process four to six months before construction and the bathroom process one to two months before. The larger the project the more time should be added to the process.
Our interior design-build team loves to discuss new projects and enjoys creative, problem-solving challenges. Time and time again, we rise above our customers’ expectations – with our leading service, design-build process, and quality craftsmanship which is visible in each renovation we complete.
If you’re looking to start a home renovation project, request a consultation on our website’s contact us page.
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