Gathering the Facts for your Project- Patterns & Colors

Post 5/5 in the series Gathering the Facts for your Project

Well, we've come to the end of our line of questioning.  After you answer today's questions, you should have a clear picture of your project's parameters.

What patterns and colors appeal to you?  Which ones don’t?

Making a note of the colors and patterns you enjoy seeing within your space like will be helpful in keeping you focused while shopping.  The list of what you don’t like really is more important than what you do like.  This list of “don’ts” is the key to  how to avoid buying furnishings that just aren’t your style.

We’ve all done it- bought that CUTE top because the print looked so good on a friend.  But, ever since getting that shirt home and hanging it in the closet, it hasn’t seen the light of day.  The tags still hang from the sleeve, and likely always will.  Do you know why?  It’s because you bought a piece of clothing based on how it looked on someone else, not on you.    Do not make this kind of mistake when it comes to the pieces for your space.  Don’t get blinded by the way items look in a showroom.  Treat your color and pattern preference as guidelines, and you won’t make a purchasing mistake.

Remember, your home serves as the backdrop to your daily life.  It’s not the star of the show, don’t become a slave to it.  Make the pieces within your home work for you while making the space look good!

Having the answers to the questions we've discussed in the last month makes it easier to move forward with selecting the pieces for your project.  Every time you make a selection for the space, make sure it stacks up against your answers  before purchasing.  If it doesn’t, don’t force it, move on to find something else. You’ll be disappointed if you settle, so don’t!

I would love to hear from you on if these questions were helpful for you when planning your project.  Feel free to comment here OR email me liz@pdr-interiors.com.

-Liz

Gathering the Facts for your Project- How is the space used?

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Post 4/5 in the series Gathering the Facts for your Project

Before you begin a project, you need to think about the space's use:

-How do you currently use this space?

-Is that the same way you plan to use it after completing the makeover?

-What are you hoping to accomplish? (ie- changing the space from a guest bedroom to a home office, updating the finishes to make the house more marketable when you choose to sell it, rearranging to make the area more useable, etc)

-Will children (yours or other people’s) be using this space? The fabrics and furnishings in this room will need to be durable and cleanable.  Your home is meant to be used and lived-in, not kept as a museum.  There are plenty of family-friendly furnishings available.  I’ve known of several clients over the years who purchase economically priced furnishings while their children are younger, and then once the kids are of high school or college age, they upgrade to higher quality pieces.  You know your family and what is right for them, choose your furnishings accordingly.

-Will pets use the space? Again, you’ll want to make sure the items within the room are durable and cleanable so no cat claws or dog treats damage your new purchases.

After answering these questions, a spinoff set of questions usually comes up, relating to your plans for the room.  For example- if you are converting a bedroom to a home office- do you have organizational needs? Is the lighting adequate?, etc.  Follow the line of questioning as far as you need to in order to clearly determine the function of the room.  

Join me next week when I talk about determining patterns and colors for your project.

-Liz

Gathering the facts for your Project- Timeline

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Post 3/5 in the series Gathering the Facts for your Project 

Now that you've moved past the pain of determining your budget, let's determine your desired timeline. 

THIS IS A DOOZY!  

Can you imagine ordering a bridesmaid’s dress for your best friend’s wedding and discovering it won’t arrive in time for her big day?!  You must be sure there is ample time to accomplish your home project from start to finish.  Nothing is worse than deciding to update your dining room before the holidays so you can host your family, only to discover your new table can’t be delivered until the Monday after Thanksgiving.  

Furniture can take anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks to arrive after ordering.  The variable in time has to do with stock levels and whether or not you are customizing the piece.  Be sure to research the manufacturer you are buying from so you know exactly how long of a lead-time to expect.  Just like with budgets, it is best to give yourself a buffer.  Factor in an extra week or two in case any delays occur in manufacturing or shipping.  

Extra Tip- A few timing factors to consider:

-Furniture manufacturers get a rush of business leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas

-These manufacturers also close the week surrounding 4th of July

Be prepared for deliveries to take a little longer than normal around these times of year.

Next week's question focus will be: How is the space used?

-Liz

Gathering the facts for your project- The Questions that Serve as your Guide

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Post 1/5 in the series Gathering the Facts for your Project 

Before beginning a new project in your home, you have to understand the parameters of the project.  Giving forethought to your project allows your decision- making through the process to be a little easier.  When my team meets with clients for the first time, we ask a myriad of questions.  Their answers to these questions shape how the project will move forward.  We learn so much about a client through their answers, and then are able to use that information to help them in the best way.   Over the course of the next month, we are going to delve into these questions so you are prepared for your next home project.  Each week we will focus on a different question and how to answer it. 

Here's a high level overview of what we will cover:

-What is the budget?

-What is your timeline?

-How is the space used?

-What patterns and colors appeal to you?  

On the surface, these seem like easy questions to answer.  But, when you sit down and start to think them over, they become more difficult.  A lot of factors can weigh into your decision. This can be especially true if you share your home with someone.  Couples often have a hard time agreeing on budget, and style.   My goal is to help you answer these questions so you can use them as your guide for your project.

Check back next week as we jump into everyone's favorite topic: BUDGET!

-Liz

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