How to put Together a Kitchen Renovation Timeline

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

There is no “standard” kitchen renovation timeline simply because every kitchen is a different size and renovation needs vary.  You have to factor in the availability of the sub-contractors (electricians, plumbers, etc). Ideally you can line them up back to back, but it rarely works out perfectly, so expect a couple days of downtime where no work is being done on your project. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

If you have all your selections made and materials ordered before demo begins, a project could be completed in as little as 6 weeks. If there are a lot of custom elements, walls torn down, plumbing moved, or hiccups in the project it could take as long as 3 months. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Typically, cabinets take 4 weeks to manufacture.  When having custom cabinets made, the timeline can increase to 12 weeks or more, depending on the workload of the carpenter.

Most materials, such as tile, take 3 weeks from order to delivery, assuming the stock is good.

Granite takes 2-3 weeks from template to installation. The template cannot take place until your cabinets have been installed.

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

When talking with your contractor about the timeline of the project, add 2 weeks to the total timeframe.  This is simply to offer a buffer in case of any surprises found along the way.  Surprises could be anything from materials being backordered, to discovering the wall you want to tear out has an HVAC vent running through it, to ripping up the floor and finding rotten floor joists. Building codes also offer challenges in the renovation process. What may have been up to code when your house was built, may now be out of date and require some changes while you are renovating (think plumbing and electrical).

Southern-ize It!

On a call with a new client the other day she said to me, “All my friends have these beautiful Southern homes.  I just don’t know how to do that. Can you help me?”  I knew exactly what she was referring to- a sense of warmth and beauty that overtakes you as soon as you walk in the door.  It’s hard to put your finger on and everyone views it a little differently.  What does having a Southern home mean to you?? 

When I think Southern, I think about the symbol of the pineapple, delicious smells of homemade meals wafting out of the kitchen, and furniture pieces with a story. I also think of Southern hospitality and how a home should support that.  A Southern home should feel complete but not overdone. Be beautiful but not stuffy.  It should envelope you while within its walls, but not suffocate you.  A Southern home should be just like a Southern woman- perfectly put together while making it look effortless.   

So that is the mission I am charged with for my client: Southern-izing her home.  We are beginning to tackle the house room by room until we have that effortless, inviting space she wants to show off to her friends.  

Does your home evoke your idea of Southern? If so, cheers to you! If not, happy Southern-izing!

A tisket, a tasket...

..I’m obsessed with baskets!  As a child my mom called me “the bag lady”.  I collected purses and totes and even grocery bags.  I would stash them in my closet and every bag would have at least one thing in it.  While I am less of a pack-rat today, I still love great storage!  Baskets and bins are my favorites when it comes to office and home organization.  I use them to hold magazines on my bookshelf, spare blankets near the sofa, and extra knick knacks in the office. Here are a few of my favorite pieces right now:

Wire Baskets, Ballard Designs

A little rustic in feel and very functional!  Mount as many as you would like to the wall to keep clutter off your desktop.  Another great use is a mudroom.  Children’s folders or homework can be neatly stowed until the next school day.

Napa Valley CD Crates

The fact that these are now considered vintage is disturbing to me.  Nevertheless, they make great catch-alls for a bookcase. 

Fabric Lined Baskets

These baskets can serve as a collection bin for spare hangers.  Just place on top of the dryer and you will always have hangers awaiting your fresh clothes.  For bathrooms short on storage, place one of these on the floor to house extra toilet paper rolls.  It will add a bit of fancy flair to your restroom. 

Whether wood, metal or woven, baskets are our friend when it comes to de-cluttering a space.  If you are looking for a deal on your baskets, check out your local Home Goods store. 

Happy basket shopping!

Create Your Own

When I’m in line at Qdoba, I can "craft" my own meal, at Panera I can pick and choose different items to create my lunch, too.  A cute little boutique down the road called Caught Ya Lookin let's me take any of their fabrics and they will create one of their bag styles for me.  Call me spoiled, but I love being able to customize things to better suit me.  That’s why I am absolutely in love with the option to create my own fabric design.  I read about it in a newsletter from a fabric vendor and it peaked my interest.  A few weeks later I saw an article about it in a Sherwin Williams publication.  That hooked me, I had to check out this Spoonflower site. 

You can upload your own photo and then play around with the layout to end up with a unique piece that no one else can duplicate.  After exploring the site and creating my own look, I held my breath when it came time for the price tag.  I was pleasantly surprised that the cost was under $40/yard.  You can be hard-pressed to find mass-produced fabrics at that price.  I see a flurry of fabric designing in my near future!  Hope you will try it, too!

Resale

A lot of people have the value of their home on the brain.  Some people are scared to make changes because they don't want to sink too much money into a project that won't help them sell the house later.  While I'm not a realtor, I can tell you that kitchens & bathrooms are where the focus should be.  If you are looking to spend some cash and update your home you want to start with those two rooms.  Be forewarned- they can also be the most expensive rooms to update.  Everything from plumbing to cabinets to lighting and floors can be in need of replacing, but you have to prioritize and have a budget in mind.  There are some common missteps people make.  Here are some tips to help you avoid them:

1. Cabinets are not easy to replace, countertops are.  Put the money into a quality cabinet so that the foundation of you kitchen is sturdy.  This may mean you can't opt for granite counters now, but that is something a future buyer can update with ease.

2. Poor quality work means more work later.  Selecting your contractor based on the lowest bid or trying to do a project yourself will usually result in re-doing the job down the road.  Nothing is worse than a bad inspection report scaring your buyers away.  Get the job done right the first time and you'll benefit from it in the end!

3.  Research products & homes in your area.  Before you splurge for that top-of-the-line stove, be sure other homes in your price range have them.  Instead of blindly going into the bathroom fixture store to buy those massaging body sprays for the shower, research which brand has the best reviews.  The more you know about what you're spending and what you can sell for, the happier you will be at the closing table.

Happy resale!!

Look for Less: Rustic Lantern Chandelier

I ran across this gorgeous lantern cluster in Pottery Barn’s newest catalog and thought it would make a great “Look for Less” subject:

Anytime something rustic and unusual can be used indoors, I get excited.  This dramatic vignette has potential to be used over top a dining table to give a formal space a down-to-earth feel.  I also envision this scene look fabulous in a gazebo.  You could hang the rope from the high beams and make an intimate setting for your next social gathering.  How precious would this be at an outdoor wedding or family reunion?!??!!   Okay enough blabbering, onto the “how to”…..

The rope is simple enough to get- simply go to a hardware store and pick it up.  The ladder options depend on your resources.  If (like me) you have access to a barn or old tool shed, you can dig out an old ratty ladder to use on this project.  Be sure to remove any flakes of paint or loose wood so nothing breaks off and falls onto the tablescape once it’s installed. Of course, if they ladder is too long, saw off the un-needed length to reach your desirable size.   Another choice is to purchase a ladder at Ace Hardware and rough it up a bit to look aged or you can buy this at Worldmarket.com for $60. 

Easy enough so far!  Onto the lanterns.  Again, we have some options:  You might have access to some old, beat up lanterns that with a little soap & water would fit the bill perfectly.  If not, I’ve seen some fun lanterns at Pier One, Florist shops and Ikea (pictured here; priced at $15).

Be sure to buy various sizes (ranging between 12 and 36 inches) to get that visual interest like the PB mag.  If you find a style of lantern you like, but not the right finish don’t be afraid to use a little spray paint to achieve a patina that compliments the rustic wood and rope.  

Once your lanterns are selected, you’re ready to hang everything.  You’ll need 4 sections of rope (one for each corner).  Tie one end of the ropes to the ladder first.  Then determine your placement on the ceiling or gazebo beams and secure the other end of your ropes to the hooks or beams.  Once your ladder is placed and secure, add the lanterns (using metal hooks or more rope).  The final touch is adding the pillar candles.  Voila!  You achieved the look for less!

 

Happy creating!

Trading Misery

I used to be an avid watcher of TLC’s “Trading Spaces” when it was on TV 10+ years ago.  I drew a lot of inspiration from those designers, but I was always disheartened when the homeowner would specify the ONE thing they did not want to see in the room and yet that was exactly what they received as the finished product.  Yes, I am aware that shock factor and TV ratings played into what was done on the show.  However, my opinion of the design profession is that they should remain true to the client’s needs, likes and wants.  I can’t tell you how many people I’ve chatted with who were scared to employ a designer because they feared she (or he) would not listen to them.  They were afraid their home would turn into the next outrageous magazine spread and no longer reflect who they are.  While that is discouraging to hear about some of my colleagues, I can say that not everyone works that way.  There are professionals who listen more than they speak; who spin a room around you, not themselves; and who desire no more accolades than the ones their client’s smiles provide.  Seek those people and you will love the results!

What’s your number?

What’s your number?

No, I don’t want your phone number.  And I’m not asking your age.  Before an idea can be hatched, before plans can be drawn a client has to know their number.   I’m talking about the starting point for all design projects- the budget.  Some like to refer to it as their investment range.  Whatever your term of choice, you have to know the number.  AND you have to share it with those you involve in your project.  

I know it is scary to tell someone how much you are wanting to spend on that kitchen re-do because you’d like to get away with spending as little as possible.  Keep in mind that if you don’t share the information, a design will be created and you will fall in love with it only to discover the final cost is $10,000 over your price range.  Yikes!  Now you and the cabinet designer are heartbroken and must pick the concept apart piece by piece to bring down costs.  A simple way to avoid that situation is to share your number.

On the flipside, I was speaking with a lady who desired the finer things in life and who could afford them.  She told a story of hiring a decorator to help with recovering furniture.  The lady did not share her budget and yet was appalled when the decorator brought her fabric options that weren’t up to snuff.  The lady later relayed to me, “she just didn’t have the kind of quality fabrics I wanted”.  Another situation that could have turned out better had the budget been verbalized.  

In most scenarios, a decorator who has been working for any length of time knows what questions to ask a client so their design preferences can be pinpointed.  But when people remain tight lipped about their investment range, things can take a turn for the worse.  Don’t let this happen to you!