Make Sure Your Remodel Fits Into the Bigger Picture

Too often, demolition precedes design, according to a designer who routinely sees home improvers tiptoe their way to results that are skillfully done but short on aesthetics.

Homeowners should copy the “user base” approach taken by professional designers, said Melissa Birdsong, director of trend forecasting and design for Lowe’s, a national chain of home centers. This process examines the relationship of design to who will use the room and how they will use it.

“People need to begin, always, with the purpose of the project,” Birdsong said. “They must decide if the project will increase value, livability, function or their happiness and well-being.”

Everyone with a stake in the project must be on board to avoid post-improvement finger pointing. “The purpose for making home improvements should be driven by family needs and wants,” Birdsong said.

In the case of bath remodeling, design should revolve around the family’s daily routines and cleanup habits--if users are right- or left-handed, how many will use the bathroom, or if it is a child or guest bath.

“Only after the old vanity is removed and the great new pedestal lavatory is installed do [people] realize they forgot to think about where towels will be stored,” Birdsong said. “Then they have the reaction, ‘Oh, I didn’t think about that.’ Despite perfect workmanship, the results can be less than hoped for.”

She suggests homeowners retreat to the three Rs--reading, research and reconnaissance. Check out what’s new in magazines. Ask questions of friends and contractors. Go online. Visit stores and explore, not just for tools for but the latest materials to lend beauty, continuity and function to the final product.

A common pattern, Birdsong said, is for do-it-yourselfers to cram too much task into too little time. The sprint to the finish and the temptation for immediate gratification often rule, and design time gets scant consideration.

Projects create a domino effect of sorts. Birdsong said if you change a kitchen counter top, for example, the ripple effect impacts floors, back splash, sink and faucets, walls, cabinets and appliances. But if homeowners consider only matching items by color, Birdsong said, they don’t open themselves to the larger possibilities.

“We tend to treat rooms in certain ways,” Birdsong said, “but it doesn’t mean we have to stay with how they are. We need to see how rooms can be.”

Take time to think through your projects and consider your budget, your time and your ability.

Consider the sequence of the work at hand, and plot the order of events on paper. Factor in lead times for special-order items to make sure you have all products on hand when you need them.

And be realistic about your available time and personal skills. Don’t overestimate your abilities. Do work you’re capable of, but subcontract elements out of your comfort zone.

Common Mistakes

Common home improvement missteps:

* The sledge hammer syndrome: tearing out the old before you know what to do next.

* Not planning up front or incomplete planning up front.

* Not understanding all the steps or sequencing of events involved from start to finish.

* Not having the right materials and tools to do the job.

* Missed opportunities for new possibilities in room design.