You’ve been thinking about this for so long! And now you have waited so long to get into our schedule. And now…well, now you are nervous! A design consultation can be kind of scary because, well…frankly, most of you haven’t done this before and you have no idea what to expect.
Your home isn’t the the way you would like it to be, a stranger is coming into your home and oh my goodness the kids made a mess at breakfast! You have so many questions to ask and things you want to remember to mention and you aren’t sure when is the right time to bring it up!
Don’t worry, this is supposed to fun and, guess what? My team and I are pretty easy to work with. First, rest assured, we have seen it all! And let’s face it; if your home was in perfect condition, you wouldn’t need me and my team. In fact, don’t touch a thing! Keep the backpacks out and the shoes piled high — let us see how you live so we can help solve your challenges with a design that makes your life easier! Let’s create your dream home!
But, just in case I haven’t put your mind at ease here are 3 ways that you can prepare for you Consultation to make the most of our time together
Clear your schedule for two hours. While most consults will only take one hour we don’t like to rush you. This is the beginning of a new relationship, one that requires a lot of trust and we want you to be able to ask us everything and anything!
It is best if all decision makers are present so we can get a sense of everyones hopes and challenges.
Our consultations are broken into five sections:
- Introductions: General pleasantries, getting to know you better, introductions, information about the team including credentials, about their business and themselves, etc.
- Contact: Gathering general information such as project address (if different), best ways to contact you, appointment availability, etc.
- Project: Scope of work to be complete, rooms to incorporate, what purpose each room will serve, how it will be used, people who use the space and style of those rooms, etc.
- Design: Your vision, specifics of design style, formality, favorable colors, colors not to be used, preference of patterns, where to source from, furniture staying/purchasing, etc.
- Space: Walking through the space, point things out of notice, taking pictures and potentially measurements of the space, etc.
You can’t go wrong having a list or many at that! Take a few days, walk through your space and note the changes you would like to make. Be sure you write down what you like and what you don’t like about the space as it exists.
If you have ideas about certain things that you would like to see incorporated, write them down too. And probably one of the most important things to note are your list of questions!
It’s a lot of homework, I know, but I can guarantee you that any designer will ask you all of these questions and having them prepared ahead of time will do you both wonders!
If your design project is an addition, renovation or new build and you’ve already begun the process, bring a copy of your floor plans, as well as your Contractor or Architects contact information.
IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE, DO THIS!
Pinterest is our best friend, I promise you. Create a separate board and pin away! Tear through magazines and put sticky notes e v e r y w h e r e! You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words? Well that applies in the design world too.
I always tell clients that I’m a little bit of a mind reader, and I am. But the more prepared you are and the we will be able to speak the same language. I am very good at seeing the commonalities amongst several pictures. I can see 5 pictures or 500 and know what finish of wood you like, color palettes, design style, window treatments, patterns, subtly or boldness, your personality and so much more! Searching through images will show you, as a homeowner, what you like and what you don’t like if you’re struggling for the words or uncertain of your design style.
THAT’S IT!
If you follow these three simple steps you feel prepared for our Initial Consult and everything will run smoothly and on time!
