It’s week 2 of our remodel project.  Now that demo is underway and permits are being filed, it’s time to finalize the overall look and feel of the design –  color palate, fixture choices, flooring, cabinet style and color.  You know, the fun stuff that will keep you going until all the mess is gone and your new home is DONE!  These decisions need to be made early to ensure each one of these design elements are ordered in time for installation, making sure your remodel project continues to run as smooth as possible and not on hold because you forgot to order that one shower fixture that’s needed for plumbing “rough in” – that’s next week.  (“Rough in” literally means to rough in or lay out the basic lines for plumbing and electrical without making the final connections. Walls are still open and the drywall is not yet installed.)

The first item on the list is the floor plan.  Before you started demo, you should have been working with your designer or architect, or both sometimes, to create a good draft of your floor plan.  If you are moving any walls, making that perfect open and airy space for your new kitchen or expanding that tiniest of bathrooms to make your dream spa bathroom, the floor plan is a crucial piece  of the plan!  Understand the flow of the space, function, aesthetics.  Now’s the time to make your last-minute changes as changes later will increase costs and time.

Next is your design board.  A design board will give you a visual of all the pieces you’ve selected together to ensure the feel of the space is consistent throughout and they look as beautiful as you imagined…just on paper this time, not just in your head!   Now the exact pieces of furniture and some of the finish elements like bathroom tile don’t need to be 100% decided now, just the general color, size and number.

There’s lots of options when it comes to furniture, tile, and lighting fixtures so if you are still shopping around for that perfect couch, no worries, you just want to make sure the styles mesh together.  You know make sure your industrial style kitchen is still “jiving” with that ultra modern sofa you suddenly must have (maybe not so much?).  So take the time now to really visualize and understand how you want to live in your new home, what pieces are a must for you to love it and what will make you and your family happy for years to come!