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From the pros who’ve learned the hard way
Navigating renovation projects is all part of a day’s work for most design pros. But with so many potential pitfalls, remodeling jobs can spiral out of control, creating a huge headache for those responsible for keeping the clients happy and the budget on track. Below, 12 designers get real about common renovation mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Relying on verbal cues alone
There’s no such thing as over communication when it comes to visual references, says Victoria Nady, the senior designer for the San Francisco–based team at Jay Jeffers. “Pictures and drawings really speak louder than words,” she says. “You can’t assume that everyone hears the same thing. A detail by the same name often means different things to different people.”
Additionally, Clara Jung of San Francisco’s Banner Day Interiors advises setting up an onsite meeting with the building team, the contractor, and any subcontractors to head off any gaps in messaging. “Despite your best efforts, there will always be questions,” she says. “We had an incident where the general contractor didn’t share the necessary documents with the tile subcontractor, who laid out the tile pattern incorrectly. Luckily, we happened to do an unscheduled site visit and caught the mistake. But with such high stakes, over communication is preferred, if not required.”
Following too many trends
Every designer knows that trends come and go. “Designing a space with what’s ‘in’ at the moment means that it may look dated in a shorter period of time,” says Jennifer Janus, president of Detroit interior design studio Pophouse. “No one wants to spend time and money on their home just to have to renovate again in a few years,” adds Wendy Yates, creative director and founder of Colorado-based Abigail-Elise Design Studio. “Create a design plan that will be relevant for 10 to 15 years and explain to your clients that it is in their best interests.”
Expecting the project to go flawlessly
Even with careful planning, projects can go over budget and take longer than expected, says Janus. “Not preparing a contingency plan can lead to unnecessary stress and frustration,” she says. “Now more than ever, material costs have increased and furniture orders are taking longer, so it’s important to pad your budget and timeline, and make long lead time selections as early as possible.” Always set aside a percentage to pay for miscellaneous expenses, adds Yates. “Redirections can cost dearly, such as discovering that the subfloor needs to be fully replaced before a new floor goes in,” she says.
Ignoring potential limitations
It can be easy to get carried away by your creative vision, especially with willing and eager clients. But when you’re making additions, it’s important to be aware of property lines and setbacks from the start. “If you’re not diligent, you may find out later that something you really want to do is not possible because of zoning,” says Leslie Benson, an architect in Portland, Maine. “That realization can be very disappointing for both client and architect alike. Or so I’ve heard!”
