Stress-Free Design?

 Sometimes design can make you feel like this.  You want to pull your hair out, you want to cry, you and your loved ones are fighting because you are living in a mess.  Well let's get real people, design is not like you see on television.  As much as I would love to believe it is, it is NOT and the expectations that we have on ourselves are unrealistic.  What you don't see is the behind the scene stuff; the already ordered cabinetry, the crew they have working twenty-four hours non-stop, the inspections they must pass (if they are obtaining permits).   Nobody wants to see all that boring stuff, they want to see the before, and the after.

Todays post is simply about making you have real expectations for your project, how to keep your stress level down to a minimum during it.  Stress adds weight, causes you to loose weight, it takes a physical toll on your body, why make this process harder than it needs to be?

#1. Functionality:
          What room are you remodeling?  Who is this room for?  How much time does that person spend in that room?  What is the main thing that they do in that room, say 75% of their time?  Whether that's bending down to get something, cooking, or just playing, think of function before you think of design.  Function helps take you on to the next step.

#2.  Research:
            Research for everything.  I am not saying to bury yourself in books and the internet but take the scope of your project into consideration.  Moving walls, repositioning walls; some might be load-bearing, some might have headers, look for a good general contractor.  One who can do all the work is easier than having to hire someone for every little thing that needs to be done.

Too many choices, feeling trapped and lost in a maze.  Select a designer, look for a good one.  Good ones typically have good referrals, if you don't know anyone who knows anyone ask if you can see their client book and if they are just starting out ask to see their student work.

If you are doing the work yourself then you definitely need to learn the difference between flooring, paint, fabrics, etc...etc...The difference of what you pick is going to be depending on who the room is for (Ha!! refer back to #1).

#4.  Time Management:
            This is the part that needs to have realistic goals set for yourself.  I know a general contractor who can complete a project within four weeks.  Four weeks, that's from tear down to completion pending permits and all.  The reason it takes four weeks is because he already has everything ordered (refer to television), NO construction or demolition starts until everything is in place.  This will save on arguments of living in a mess, discovering you have mold in your walls,etc...etc....This helps with your time people, it does! 

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT start a project when you know you are on a deadline!  You might think oh hey I can get this done within two days and it turns into a four week project.  Like I stated before and can not stress enough, most of us who are doing this work have jobs, 40 hour jobs, while the people on the t.v.; well that is their job so they have all the time in the world to get it done.

All I can say is plan, plan, plan....It will definitely help you out in the end.  Your face will be cleansed of the stresses of back-ordered materials, because you did not pull up your flooring yet, you waited....patiently.  I am so proud of you for waiting, and you will be too.  Enjoy the rest of your week everyone!

~xo~Michelle~xo~