Living with the Dust - Tips on Remodels
Remodels can be tough. There are so many decisions to make, so many people to hire, and your life gets turned upside down for an extended period of time. Not knowing where to start can keep you up at night. I’m sure I haven’t thought of everything, but hopefully this will help get you started on your adventure that will result in a beautiful new space!
First off - what is a remodel?
A remodel usually means you are changing a space in structure or form - you are creating some legit drywall dust. This takes planning, usually a contractor, and patience.
On the flip side, a renovation is an update - paint, lighting, refacing cabinets, etc. You are revising not remaking.
Most people usually land on the renovation side of things, which is great! These are projects you can typically do yourself that might take a long weekend or so to complete. Congratulations if this is where you land! You have your handy YouTube and Instagram videos pulled up and you are going to do the thing.
For the rest of you, a remodel is much more difficult - please know this going in.
You are going to get an amazing end product and you’ll be thrilled with the result! I promise - just might take a few months after construction is complete for this realization to set in.
A few things to know…
It takes time and you’ll get uncomfortable living in the dust. If you have the means to consider a short term rental, it’ll make life so much easier if you are able to budget accordingly. If you are like me and only have the budget to do the work and not to stay elsewhere - plan on how and where you’ll be living. If your kitchen is going to be out of commission, budget in take out and relocate a microwave and mini refrigerator to another room. If your bedroom and main bathroom will be plastic draped, where will you be sleeping and showering for the next couple of months - stock up and be prepared.
Pro Tip: if you are going to be staying in your guest room for the time being, think about doing a quick renovation in there prior to your extended stay - you’ll feel much better about your situation if you do! Make it extra cozy!
When budgeting for the remodel, consider adding 15% to 20% to the overall cost. It’ll come down to overnight freight, cost of goods going up, unforeseen plumbing or electrical trips. When you are in the middle of a remodel, there is always one or two things that would be better done now than later. Just be ready for it!
Follow trends mindfully. If you have always loved a classic white kitchen, great - do it! Now, if you are wanting to create a kitchen that looks just like that influencer or your friend down the street - think on why this is resonating with you, and sit with the idea for a few weeks. Not saying anything bad about a white kitchen, its classic, just using this since it’s a popular example.
Use trends or focal pieces in ways that can be modified down the road - rugs, art, countertop accessories, even light fixtures are great ways to infuse something you love now and in 5 to 10 years can be changed out with ease.
Cabinet colors, flooring and counters are not places to experiment unless you have multiple homes - then please do!
Trust the process.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the little things when you are living in construction. Most trades will do a final pass before calling the work complete. Bring up any issues during walk throughs and not though-out the process. By all means if something is out of wack - say something… but if there is some paste that needs cleaned or a chip that needs filled, if you trust your trades they’ll handle the issue for you without saying a word.
Flooring can be hard to visualize, especially wood flooring. There are so many beautiful quirks to Mother Nature that you may find yourself fixating on one right in the middle of your living room. That knot is amazing and proves it came from a tree and once your furniture, rugs and lighting are all in - it’ll feel like a holistic space with layers of texture.
As your designer is selecting and installing the wonderful things they’ve procured for you - let them complete their process. If every single piece was a statement or carried all the visual weight in the space, your eye would be so tired and confused. Let all the goods find their final placement, then speak to the designer if you don’t love something. You might find yourself changing your mind about a few things as you see the work unfold.
Think ahead and do it now! The dust is happening anyway - think about the outlets, architectural lighting, adding dimmers, that spot on the wall that has needed repaired for years, etc.
You’ll have a crew at your disposal, so by all means - add in all the dimmer switches!
Lastly, your relationship with your team is golden. I can not stress this enough!
Interview contractors, designers and trades for their portfolios just as much as their personalities. You’ll be in this relationship for months, so you need to have a good feeling with these craftsmen. Some projects take years, don’t rush into a decisions. Wait for the right team, it’ll be worth it!
Once you have started down your remodel road, come back to this article if you need to hear this…
It’s going to turn out beautifully, the dust will settle and your home will be an even stronger reflection of you and your family - just might take a few months before you can see that come to light.