Home designers, whatever their title, have to get inside your head and find out what you like and why, how you use your space and how you will probably use it in the future, and whether you’re the kind of person who decides as you go or the kind that has given a lot of thought to what you’re sharing with them. They have to understand your quality standards and your budget, your tastes and your lifestyle, and they have to be able to draw something for you that you’ll love – on a deadline. No easy job.

The designer performs three services for you, only one of which may be evident if you don’t understand what goes on behind the scenes.

ADDING CHARM, GRACE AND POLISH

They polish up your tentative ideas and turn them into graceful spaces that blend nicely with the remainder of your home. "I designed it myself" spaces can actually lower the value of your property, while you may increase your property value by as much ast $1,000 for every $100 you pay your designer. Design fees are actually a great investment!

DEFINING YOUR WORK FOR THE CONTRACTOR

Designers prepare drawings that describe in minute detail everything the contractor must do to make you happy and to get paid. The designer will determine which circuit in your panel will feed electricity to your new light fixtures, how large a duct has to be in order to get sufficient air into the new finished attic space and how to create the feeling of space where there is little space to be had – and all of that translates into the curve of an arch, the edge on the countertop, the hinge on the bi-fold doors, the placement of the new water heater, etc. All those details have to be spelled out for the contractor.

PROVIDING AN INFORMED AND INDEPENDENT VOICE

And they are bilingual. They speak both English and Contractor. I know those two languages often sound alike, but they’re not. Suppose your contractor came to you with a look of alarm on his face, and said "I’m sorry Mrs. Smith, but your roof substrate is not code-compliant." Not to worry. Call your designer. Have a short meeting and the designer will ask technical questions and then translate the whole thing into English for you.

Remodeling a house without the services of an experienced, professional designer is like cooking your first meal without using a recipe.

MORE INFORMATION

You’ll find lots more information about the home remodeling process in Managing a Renovation: Staying in Charge and Out of Trouble, our friendly and comprehensive homeowner’s guide to remodeling project management. Download the table of contents and a sample chapter, or go to the order form to purchase it.

We offer ready-to-use construction forms, including a complete remodeling contract, in our Bookstore, as well. Have a look.

And, you may want to look at our list of More Resources for some great design ideas.

  Site design by: Lee Ann Obringer, Marketing Communications and Design