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Hey Friends!  I’m back today with our second installment of “The Evolution of A Room.”  The point of this series is to help you see the process I go through when designing a space.  My hope is that you will follow along and take on that space you’ve been dying to redo!  Last time we talked about creating your  basic needs/wants list.  Today we are going to cover the process of accessing your space, time, & budget.

So, lets cover accessing your space first. If possible, it’s a great idea to move things out of the room, essentially starting with a clean slate.  This was easy at B’s home because they had just bought their house and had not moved much in yet. If you can’t move everything out, do your best to look at the space and focus only the items that are immovable (walls, fireplace, doors, windows, ect). Of course if you are open to renovations anything can be changed, but for the purpose of this series and the fact that renovations overwhelm most people- we are going to focus on working with the space you have at hand. This is what I saw when I walked into B’s living room for the first time. . .

The very first thing I wanted to do was decide what features we wanted to highlight.  So, we made a list of the things that we loved in the space.  The list included these things:

– Love the Fireplace
– Love the height of the space
– Love the wood beams
– Love the light
– Love the wood floors
– Love the openness of the space to the kitchen and dining area

As you can see, there were plenty of elements that we already loved in the space.  By creating our list, we can keep these features in mind and decide how we can best highlight them once we get to the “Creating a Plan” point.  This is a great time to take measurements of the room as well.

Measurement photo found here

The next thing to do in this step is to figure out what you already have to work with. Since B had just moved into a new house, she wanted to start fresh and only asked that we keep the couch and media center (since they were fairly new and in good condition).  You, on the other hand, may have a number of pieces that could be used in the space.  During this stage, I like to take photos of everything that I could possibly use in the space.  Being able to lay it all out in front of you will help when you start putting a plan together.

Here’s what B had to work with. . .

The last thing to do in this stage is to figure out and decide on the budget you have for the space.  This can largely be determined by the amount of time you have to complete the look.  Generally the more time you have, the smaller your budget can be because you have the opportunity to wait on sales, time to find treasures, and the possibility to DIY some different projects.  The reality is if you want your space to be ready by next week for a party you’re planning, you will probably have to spend more money to get the job done or you may have to compromise on the design.

Picture found here

Here are some other things to consider when planning a budget:

– Do you need to buy staple pieces of furniture? (sofa, upholstered chairs, rug, media center, ect)  When buying these pieces that you will use all the time, I encourage clients to increase their budget and get something that is very well made and that will hold up over the years.  A cheap couch might look great for a little while, but will you love it when the cushions lose their shape or the frame breaks down?  A great couch is a great investment.

– What is your skill level?  Will you be able to do DIY projects effeciently and enjoy the process or would it be better to buy things that are already put together.

– What do you already have to work with?  If you stockpile great deals and go to garage sales all the time, you may already have everything you need to create a great space.  If you’re just starting out or rarely purchase things without having a plan for them, you will have to spend more money to gather the necessary pieces to complete your room.

Only you can decide what sort of budget you are comfortable spending in a certain room.  But clarifying that number before you get started creating a design plan will be very important.

So, here’s your homework for the week:

pic found here

– Clear out your room and take measurements of the space.
– Make a list of things you love about the room and want to highlight.
– Make a list and take pictures of things you already have to work with.
– Decide on a budget keeping your timeline, staple furniture pieces, and stockpiled items in mind.

Next week, we’ll talk about implementing your passion and personality into the space!