What Should I Do Before Hiring a Designer? (Part Two Of A Three Part Series)

When I work with a client, it is my job to LISTEN to the client & make it HAPPEN!  Each project is so different and your project should be based on your vision, style & taste!
Do Your Homework
To have the best possible experience with a designer, you must know what you like and what you are looking for.  No pressure, but your designer cannot create the perfect room for you unless you are able to communicate some sort of vision you have for the space.  I highly recommend that you begin to accumulate photos from magazines or on-line of ideas for your remodeling project.  If you are remodeling your bathroom, find pictures of bathrooms that appeal to you.  It is unlikely that you are going to find one bathroom picture that has everything you want in a bathroom.  It is okay to “mix and match” elements of several different bathrooms.  Although it is important to know what you want for your remodeling project, it is just as important to know what you don’t want!  If you do not like and know that you do not want a pedestal sink in your bathroom, your designer needs to know this information.  All of this information helps give your designer a place to start when creating design specifically tailored for you.
Describe Your Vision
Warm and cozy or more spacious – be able to explain the style or feel you want the room to have, the colors you like and the activities that will take place in the room.  Make a list of things that you feel are missing from the space right now.  For example, a place to charge cell phones and miscellaneous electronics, a kid-friendly storage option for toys, etc.  It is important for your designer to know how you and your family use the space so the designer can be sure to make the space functional for your family.
Let’s use the kitchen as an example.  Some families prepare and mainly eat their meals in the kitchen, while other families usually eat their meals in the dining room.  If you often eat your meals in the kitchen, it is important to create a functional eating area in the kitchen.  If you also use the kitchen for the kids to complete their homework everyday, it would be important to create an area that is functional for this purpose that includes a large enough work space and some storage areas for books and pencils.
Based on these things, a good designer should be able to suggest other possibilities to you for your space that may never have crossed your mind!  The more information you provide to your designer about your space and how you use the space, the better the outcome is likely to be.