Renovations With Paige: Part 2: The Choices I Made And Why With Caroline Goree of Madigan Schuler
The single best thing I did for myself during our renovation was hire an interior designer. I think a lot of people view designers as “nice to have” but not a necessity, and I am here to tell you they should be the first person you hire.
Yes, a designer will cost you money, but they will keep you from making poor choices, and help you get it right the first time, so later down the road, you don’t need to correct those mistakes or buy new pieces. Hiring a designer doesn’t mean everything is custom and expensive; they will actually let you know where you can cut a few corners to save money and will be able to show you choices and options you would have never found on your own. In fact, I would argue that hiring a designer may save you money in the long run. Caroline’s motto “buy once, cry once” hit hard once or twice, but I learned she is 100 percent right. The few places she urged me to splurge were counterbalanced by finding the less expensive options in areas where it wasn’t necessary to spend a ton. And in the areas we did “go big,” it made a huge impact!
The Choices I Made And Why With Caroline Goree of Madigan Schuler:
From the eyes of a designer, where should you spend your money? Where do you get the biggest bang for your buck? Instead of “biggest bang for your buck,” I think of it as what piece or selection has the most impact in the room and overall design that is worth splurging on. Every project is unique, and each client has a different “high value,” meaning what they are willing to spend good money on. For some, it can be a fabulous piece of art above the fireplace. For others, like Paige, it was a custom-sized sectional that fit the living room perfectly, allowing for her husband to watch the TV straight on. Generally speaking, custom window treatments will always have a huge impact in a room feeling finished. Although they are typically an investment, beautiful window treatments last for 10-15 years or more.
How do you design with each individual client in mind? When I start working with a new client, it’s important to ask about how their family lives, how they use their spaces, do they have pets, young kids, etc. Although one of my top priorities is to make their home look beautiful, I want each space to be comfortable (after all, what is the point of decorating a room just to walk by) and functional. A big trend I have seen among many of my clients is getting rid of their formal dining room and designing more of a “lounge” or cocktail space that actually gets used more than on the holidays.
How do you work within different clients’ tastes and budgets? As a designer, I think this is always the biggest challenge, but also what makes each project fun to work on. All three designers at Madigan Schuler pride themselves on not having a “look” and truly designing for the specific client. Generally, I find people gravitate towards colors that would look good on them if they were to wear the design as clothing. As far as budgets go, I think communication is the most important part of every job. No one likes surprises, and everyone should be able to make an educated decision on how they spend their money on their home. I think it’s a misconception that designers just like to spend, spend, spend! While that is a huge part of the job, there is no greater feeling than using our relationships and resources to score a deal on a fabulous piece of furniture for a client.
What to expect when working with a designer? I tell my clients if they do not feel a little bit uncomfortable or out of their comfort zone with the ideas I am sharing, then I am not doing my job properly. It is doing clients a disservice to only show them designs they would have thought of on their own as there is no real value being added. Having said that, I always remind clients this is their home, not mine, and they need to love the design just as much as I do.
Why hire a designer? When clients first start working with a designer, I think it is with the idea that we will help with selections and make their house beautiful. Fortunately, we do this and so much more! For example, with a project like Paige’s that included construction, architecture, space planning, kitchen design, and decorating, there needs to be one point of contact that is overseeing the entire process. It was my job to help navigate each part of the project with Paige and guide her through the selections, design details, and communicate these decisions to all parties involved. Although working with a designer is another line item in the overall budget, it can save money in costly mistakes or miscommunication between all the tradespeople working to complete the project.
My biggest piece of advice in terms of design and décor is go with what you like, do not go with trends and fads. It would have been really easy for me to fall into doing an all-white kitchen because that is the look right now, and it is beautiful! But I personally love color, and I love pattern; a plain white kitchen would not have been something I was excited about. Although blue cabinets and rattan light fixtures are definitely not everyone’s style, I love our kitchen, and it makes me happy, and that is what it should be about!
The renovation process was a huge learn-as-you-go experience for me - from hiring the right people to making sure the work is completed properly. Every step needs attention to detail that you have to be willing to give. Going through the process myself has definitely helped me give my clients insight into projects they are thinking about taking on and share advice and knowledge I wish I had been given! If you are thinking about taking on a project, let us know - we would be happy to share our thoughts with you!
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