Are you unsure of what your style is? Are you stuck on what selections to pick? Or are you just unsure if everything will look good as a whole? Your space should not only look amazing, but it should be a reflection of your personality and style, and it should function in a way that works for you.
Too often we see people get overwhelmed by the amount of work that goes into the design process and they base their choices off someone else’s home or what they think would sell better in the future. If you don’t optimise the selection process to suit your personal style, it can leave you with the same run of the mill home as everybody else, which will lead to you hating your home and feeling unsatisfied with your entire project.
So how can you be sure you are making the right choices?
Call In The Professionals
Engaging the right professionals for your project means that there are people helping you navigate the whole process so that you can create a solid plan of action and understand what direction you’re going in.
Choosing your builder first will give you a head start as you can utilise their network of contacts to create a solid team. They will make sure that every person engaged with your project is the right person for you! A custom builder will also be just as invested in your project as you are. They aren’t producing 500+ homes a year so they can truly focus on your needs. Not to mention that every project they build is an opportunity to showcase their skill set which means they’ll be focused more on quality than anything else.
Engaging an interior designer can help make your project come to fruition more seamlessly. Most people think that interior designers just assist in staging homes but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Interior designers take a holistic approach and can help you with anything including spatial planning, furniture placement, custom cabinetry designs, interior and exterior colours, materials and fixtures and more. They will work with you, get to know you, navigate your style and turn your house into a home you have always dreamed of. Essentially, you’ll be the decision maker, but you are just getting the luxury of your options being delivered to you.
So now that you know who you need, what else do you need to do?
Choose What YOU Want
Remember, this is your home! So whilst you’re flipping through house magazines and Pinterest boards, don’t get too caught up in trying to reproduce the latest trends or creating a Pinterest-worthy, unlived in home. A lot of these rooms are staged and impractical for general day to day living. Don’t let the vision for your home be blindsided by others opinions, you’re the one who will be living in this home for years to come so the finishes and selections you choose should be a reflection of you.
Of course there’s nothing wrong with wanting the typical clean cut house you see on social media but first, weigh up what your goals are. If you plan on selling the home within the next 5 years and want to maximise your return, then more subtle, modern selections will be your best bet to attract most buyers. But if you’re not planning on moving any time soon then add your own flair and enjoy the added value of an enriched lifestyle!
A perfect example of our clients implementing their own personal style is at our Rose Park project:
Bruce and Marcelle live in a beautiful 1950’s character home. They’ve always loved their home and location, but came to the conclusion that the time had come to spruce it up! With the home once housing a dental surgery, Bruce and Marcelle wanted to pay homage to this historical fact while creating a functional, well-serviced kitchen. . Along with Tania from TK Design, we were able to collaborate and put together an incredible design and construction plan for their renovation.
Bruce and Marcelle now have a stunning kitchen and laundry that perfectly captures the home’s retro style and their fun and adventurous personalities. Tania ended up winning the KBDI Small Kitchens SA Category Award for helping deliver this quirky and delightful project.
It just goes to show that with expertly executed planning and countless design details, an interior designer can create a playful, practical and joy-filled space. But if you need some help on where to begin, we spoke to Tania from TK Design who shared her tips on things you can do in preparation for your project.
Tania’s Tips
- Collect images for inspiration
Inspiration images are invaluable tools. When you show an image of what you like to an interior designer, it can tell them so much about you and what your style is.
- Be open about your budget
If you’re open and honest about your budget from the very beginning, it can provide a starting point with your designer and save a lot of time by narrowing down the type of selections they’ll present you with.
- Don’t leave it to the last minute!
Engage with an interior designer as soon as possible! By bringing in an interior designer early on in the preliminaries process, your selections will not be overlooked and you won’t get to a point where it’s too late to make any changes.
If you are still a little unsure on where to start or need some inspiration, download our FREE ZJ Building Design Guide here and let us help set your expectations for your renovation journey!
