The mystery behind the design process: What is the difference between a good project and a mess?
At Cody Beal Interior Design we have a favorite saying…“Great clients get great homes.”
So… what do we mean by great client? In order to get the home you want—the one that meets your functional and aesthetic goals—you need to be an integral part of the design process. It is pivotal to the success of the project and your satisfaction to be engaged at every stage of the process and to keep accurate records.
The secret is to know and understand your designer's process, how you fit into that process, and to be organized. This blog focuses on the organization.
Organizing Your Project
Organization starts after you have chosen your Interior Designer. Whether managing the project on your own or utilizing the services of an owner’s representative or general contractor to manage the project, you’ll want to follow these few tips to pave the road to success:
Use a File Management System. It is a good idea to use an online collaborative platform to manage all parties involved in the project. There are many available. We prefer Apple Numbers (Home Improvement Template), but others like Google Sheets or Excel spreadsheet templates will work as well. These templates allow you to track all aspects of your project, including budget, actual costs, products, to-do lists and the contacts of the professionals that are working on the project. Keeping all information in one spot will make the process much more efficient.
Refine the project scope. The more details you can give to your designer the better. What would you like the room to feel like? What vision do you have for the space? Scour the internet (Pinterest and other pinboards) and magazines to get ideas. Don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild! Pull out the ideas that most appeal to you and demonstrate the look and feel you want to achieve. The overall goal here is to put it all on the table and let your designer go to work.
Keep track of the project timeline. While the project timeline is fluid, representing an estimated timeframe based on everyone’s knowledge and experience, it is critical for you to be aware of deadlines. Know when you need to make choices. Keep engaged with all parties so you are aware of what’s next and what might be needed from you in terms of decisions or feedback. You can set reminders in your personal calendar (we LOVE google and Timepage by Moleskine) or use your File Management System (mentioned above) to keep a running timeline in the sheet you have created.
Your involvement in the project is crucial to its success. The more organized you are, the more satisfaction you will get from your project and the closer the results will be to your dream or vision.
Looking for an Interior Designer? We’d love to talk.
Contact Us to get started.
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