5 Steps to Successfully Renovate Your Home
There’s something special about reviving the original charm of an older home and transforming it into a comfortable, modern space that feels fresh and inviting. If you’ve been living in your home for a while, or perhaps you purchased it with the intention of renovating, thoughtfully updating your home is a great way to keep the original character while adding value.
It’s no secret that planning a renovation comes along with sooo many decisions. Overwhelm can creep in when you realize you don’t have the expertise (or space on your calendar) to take on the full-time job of creating a beautiful home. The good news?
That’s what I’m here for. It’s my job to provide clear guidance through each phase, from the initial design concepts all the way to that glorious final reveal. Whether you work with an interior designer or not, the 5 essential renovation steps I’m sharing with you today will give insight into the order of operations for achieving refined, liveable, and lasting results without the overwhelm.
Are you ready? Come take a look…
Step 1: Discovery & Goal-Setting
At the very beginning of the process, it’s essential to get clear about your ultimate home goals. After all, we can’t get you to your destination if we don’t know what it is. There are two sides to this: the functional aspect of how your home works and aesthetic, the way it looks and feels.
On the functional side, it’s important to think clearly about each space and how it works for your lifestyle, and how you and your family live in your home. Then, take a look at your daily routines and evaluate where there is room for improvement. To help us understand these nuances, we’ll ask you questions like.
What does your morning routine look like? Is there a better way to streamline the process so that the kids have all of their belongings in one organized area?
Does your family cluster in the kitchen? If so, does the layout seem crowded or awkward?
Are there any rooms that lack purpose or feel like wasted space at the moment?
Is there enough space for comfortably gathering and entertaining guests? What do those special events look like?
And more.
To get a headstart (and give yourself time to formulate great answers), I suggest asking yourself these questions before we even meet. Your “vision casting” is the foundation for results that feel so aligned with your life that you won’t believe living at home could be so easy. So give your goals the time they deserve.
On the aesthetic side of your goals, start to collect inspiration that will give you (and us) a feel for your sense of style. Inspiration can strike anywhere: Pinterest, Instagram, magazines, your favorite vacation spot, nature, or believe it or not…your closet. Yep, it’s true. Your wardrobe can say a lot about your personal style. Are there colors you wear more often? Is your style tailored and classic, or colorful and bohemian? Do you gravitate towards patterns or textures? Take notice if there is a common theme.
Gathering inspiration from various sources will provide an excellent foundation for building a design style and color palette personal to you.
Step 2: Planning Your Home Renovation
A successful home renovation is one that starts with a solid and well thought-out plan. The plan should define the scope of your project, project your timeline, understand the trades involved, set your overall investment, and roughly map out how that investment will be allocated to various aspects of the project (permitting, labor, materials, furnishings, etc.).
Tip: Whether you will be working with an interior designer during your project or not, it is essential that you create a plan for your renovation. Without a solid plan in place, your project can lead to wasted funds, costly mistakes, an unfinished project, or one that doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. I can’t recommend this enough.
Step 3: Developing the Design
Floor Plan
Once we know your vision and we have an overall renovation plan, it’s time to start the design. This is where your vision begins to come to life…
We start with the furniture layout and floor plan for the home. This is essential to creating a home that fits your lifestyle. Even if your walls will be staying where they are, imagine bringing in your new dining table and then not having electrical wiring for a beautiful chandelier over it! Not ideal. Plan first, whether you’re doing this on your own or with a professional.
Important Note: During this part of the process, we will include elevations and lighting plans, in case any alterations need to be made. It’s much easier to make changes now, on paper, rather than later when construction is underway. We also use official construction documents to illustrate these plans and have them over to your build team when the construction begins.
From our Wyncote Kitchen Project… Coming Soon
Materials & Furnishings
Once the floor plan is complete, it’s time to dig into the details and start sourcing the exact materials, furnishings, and fixtures that will be going into your home. By creating an intentional plan at the beginning, all of your sourcing choices will be made through the lens of design, producing a cohesive and professional-level end result that is tailored just to you. All of the design decisions we make on your behalf are based on initial conversations we have at the beginning of the process, so all of that preparation pays off when we work through the details of your design plan. You won’t see a lot happening at this stage of the design, but believe me, it’s busy behind the scenes. And the end result will be welllll worth the wait. Then…
We present our design concept to you with a beautiful mood board, all samples, elevations, floorplans and renderings. This way, you can clearly visualize how each element we have selected will look together in your space. Mood boards are also great to keep on hand and help with project endurance…reminding you of the worthwhile result that’s coming at the end of the tunnel.
The design selections will also come with quotes (another reason it takes time to produce behind the scenes) so you can see how they strategically fit with your overall investment. Once these are all approved, we’ll move into the action phase…
Step 4: Construction & Procurement
Now it’s time for the construction team to start the renovation. To keep everyone on the same page, we provide your contractors with detailed drawings, electrical plans, elevations and specific notes that serve as a tidy and helpful reference manual during the project. Everything from floorplans and tile patterns to installation instructions will be laid out precisely, so no guesswork is involved. We will also communicate with them during the project (as your liaison), check-in with site visits and be available for any issues that arise during construction, saving you time and making sure everything is going according to our plan.
For your own comfort, it’s also best to arrange to prepare for your own endurance during the project. Renovating a whole home often requires moving out (or waiting to move in) to the space, so be sure that you have a plan for this. We’ve had clients book long-stay rentals, stay with family, or wait to sell their previous home while the new one is being renovated. If you plan to stay in your home, make sure you have space for a kitchen and dining area and to get away from the work after a long day.
While construction is underway, we will also start ordering and procuring your new furnishings. This time-intensive and detail-oriented task requires coordinating lead times, tracking shipments, and inspecting deliveries, and storing your furnishings until the home is ready to receive them. Having construction and furnishings in motion at the same time is efficient. (If you’re ordering your own furnishings, I suggest doing the same.)
Important Note: It’s important to set realistic expectations and plan for at least a few challenges to arise. Renovations are notoriously complex, and there will always be hiccups to handle. (TV got one thing right!) Having a trusted expert to bring you solutions is worth the time, stress, and money you will save when compared to trying to manage a project yourself.
Step 5: Installation & Reveal
We’ve made it to the last and possibly most important part of the process: the furnishings and accessories. After all, could you imagine enduring the renovation process only to bring your old furniture back into your fresh, newly designed space? That would be a bummer — all that work and your new home feels just like your old one.
The furnishings that really add the finishing touches, bringing the entire space to life. Don’t skip it, and be sure to plan for it from the beginning so you have it included in your renovation investment. We will oversee the installation of all those items we ordered, and sure, some of your favorite family pieces too. We’ll style it with accessories that make it feel personal, layered, and meaningful, and then…
We’ll invite you home for the grand reveal. Pop the champagne, and make yourself at home!
Working with a designer from the start will ensure that your renovation will progress smoothly, peacefully, and efficiently. With our well-organized and thoughtful process, we prioritize your needs during the project and deliver a beautifully elevated, functional space you’ll enjoy every day.
Looking to assemble your renovation dream team? I’d love to help. Reach out here to schedule a discovery call. We’ll talk about your project, see if we’re a good fit, and help you forward with confidence.
Talk soon,
Libby