Planning a “home renovation” is a crucial stage that lays the foundation for the entire project. Regina Rogers can take on the overall design and management of your home renovation, ideally coming onboard at the initial stage, this enables her to build an alliance with your contractor which leads to an integrated team that are more efficient throughout the project.
There are lots of decisions to be made when taking on a “home renovation” or “self build”, so investing time at this stage of the design process is vital, Regina says, ‘my priority is to realise your requirements’, in order to build a concept, and the priority is to focus primarily on the functionality of the space.
Taking on a “design and build” project can be quite overwhelming, and before thinking about furniture and fittings a realistic approach is important, the initial considerations should be windows, roofing, insulation, electrics, plumbing, heating, energy efficiency, doors and floors, do you need to hire an Architect etc, and are you entitled to a renovation or energy efficiency grant ?
It is important to accumulate numerous quotes from building contractors, and that all professionals will work well together. Coming onboard at the planning stage also allows Regina to liaise with your Architect, plan a timeline and manage your interior budget from the outset, the colour of your windows may influence the design of your interior, so before the construction phase of the renovation starts it is important to have an “interior strategy”.
One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners making when taking on a “design and build” project is the lack of initial planning, so I advise you to start making decisions well in advance of the build and be aware of the timeline during the project. Always be a step ahead of your building contractor.
Smart home technologies are the future, so consider future proofing your home early, as it is more economical to implement these technologies during a home renovation than to readdress them later.
During a renovation, the interior becomes a blank canvas, there are an abundance of decisions to be made that tend to overwhelm clients. Kick off the downstairs of the house with the kitchen design, as it is the most significant room in every Irish home.
You should also consider how your needs will change within your home over time, and how the house will evolve as your family grows. Simple considerations like having sufficient power points in each room.
If your budget is restricted, prioritise, and invest in quality where you can, when it comes to the fixed items like your kitchen and bathroom design, these are the spaces that should be designed with longevity in mind, a kitchen is the heart of every home, and your bathrooms, fireplace and flooring should be at the top of your priority list.
Don’t be afraid to customise furniture, especially your sofa and storage units, with quality you get longevity.
Consider the lighting design from the start of the project, and the influence of natural light on the building, if you analyse your light requirements from the offset this will allow you to create the perfect counterbalance of light and purchase the perfect light fittings.
And when you finally come to considering the “soft furnishings” and “paint colour” this will be the most enjoyable and final part of the design process.
Hiring an interior designer with project management experience for your renovation ensures that a professional approach is implemented throughout the project. They will oversee the planning and contractors for the duration of the project, scheduling regular site meetings which are vital for updates and troubleshooting, and when they reiterate everything discussed at each meeting to the team by email – this is also vital for referencing and implements additional assurance.
It is difficult for an Interior Designer to give an estimate of cost for their services without meeting a client to get an overview of the project.
Book an initial design consultation with Regina today and she will do a site visit, analyse your plans, get an overview of the project and then put together a “design proposal” which will also clarify the cost of her services.
Regina can tailor her service to suit every client, and she also offers a “one-off consultation” that will assist you in creating a “strategy” and “priority list” before undertaking your “renovation or self build”.
