While remodeling a kitchen or bathroom can be a daunting task, a few easy steps can simplify the process. Tile and stone impresaria Margot Hampleman, owner and founder of Decorative Materials, shares her 20+ years of experience with Colorado Homes and Lifestyles.
Find Direction
One of the most important things when revamping a space is to discover what resonates with you. How? Read and rip. Grab a pile of home décor publications and rip out images that appeal to you. Look at materials, layouts, appliances, overall design, design blogs and books. Collect images that inspire you and use them to help give life to the ideas that drive you. Once you have compiled a nice collection of images, scan through them to find a theme. This will help down the road when it comes to meeting with a designer and communicating your vision.
Needs and Wants
Consider your absolute need from the space as well as what you would just love to have. Is there a certain feeling or function you would like to gain from the space that it did not previously have? Setting up budget parameters as well as the upkeep and maintenance you are willing to put into the space will also help determine exactly what can be done and what might have to give when push comes to shove.
Hire a Professional
Many people are hesitant to hire a professional kitchen designer, but trust us, we’ve seen it all, and it is worth every penny. Interview a few designers and find one who shares your ideas and taste, someone who understands the way you live and the space you are dreaming about. Many projects around your house can easily be tackled on your own, but when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms, it is best to trust a professional who can share tricks of the trade and ensure you get the space of your dreams.
When trying to discern whether or not professional help is needed consider this: The most important rooms to bring in professional help are bathrooms and kitchens. There are many technical and stylistic considerations in these rooms, and a design professional will streamline your needs and vision. A design professional will save time and more importantly, money. A designer will take into account your inspirations and needs and hone in on your style and make suggestions you might not have thought of yourself. Your designer will show you things you’ll love but may not have been able to see, find, or buy on your own.
So pull your ideas together and find a designer whose vision overlaps with yours. Visit their favorite showrooms to see the widest variety of surfaces for your home. Our design consultants know the extensive selection of inventory inside and out, and are ready to show you samples, discuss care and maintenance, budget, lead time, and design with you and your designer.
For our March issue, which is all about remodeling, we’re working up a story about glam fixtures for three rooms of your home: the living room, kitchen and bath. The pieces we’ve found are well worth the splurge; they’re the cherries on top of better functionality, smarter space planning–you know, all of the practical reasons you undertake a remodel.