Before starting your project

CreativeHouse checklist has been created with you in mind – we want to help make your design project go as smoothly as possible. Before you star, follow these steps to get your improvement project on the right start. Unless you plan ahead, your project can turn into a nightmare.

We hope that by using it you will be able to think about the main aims and objectives of your project and how you hope to achieve them.

Whether you are carrying out work yourself, or hiring an interior designer, if you fill out your checklist before you start it will help keep you on track.

Interior Design Checklist

Make a plan
Whatever size your project is, it’s important to think about what you want to achieve. Think of your investment in terms of various elements that work together and complement each other. Make a list of each room and write down every single change or improvement you’d like to achieve, then prioritise which ones are the most important to you.

Consider ALL aspects
This includes any structural changes (will you be knocking down walls, adding windows, building extensions?) as well as improvements to existing elements (e.g. do you have hidden floorboards that can be uncovered and re-varnished?) You can also think about your furnishings and accessories.  

Create a vision board
Look at homes and interiors magazines or websites and collect images of whatever appeals to you. Create a scrapbook or mood board or save the images online with a site like Pinterest (www.pinterest.com). As you plan, you can keep adding to it, then you can refer to it for inspiration.

Set a budget
Think about how much money you are willing to spend and work out how much your project is likely to cost. Create a list of all the equipment, materials, and labour costs and work out how much you can afford. Try to earmark a percentage of your overall budget to your project, that way if you want to spend more on curtains, for example, you can cut back on carpets. Don’t forget to allow a a contingency for any unexpected work that might arise.

Find trustworthy professionals
However much of your design project you may be carrying out yourself, you will inevitably need to hire professionals to help you with certain tasks. Get recommendations where possible and check professional qualifications. It’s also important that you feel comfortable and get along with whomever you are working with, so take time to chat to them and find out more about how they work. For reliable tradesmen, operating to Government-endorsed standards, check out http://www.trustmark.org.uk.

Get everything in writing
Get any quotes for work in writing and when you agree to work with a tradesman, ask him to provide a standard contract and work specifications. This should include how long the work is likely to take, the type of materials that will be used, who is responsible for clearing up after the work is completed, and when your payments will be due. This means that you will be covered should any problems arise. You can download a TrustMark endorsed contract from the Chartered Institute of Building by clicking the Ciob Contracts tab on their store page http://www.ciobstore.com

Investigate planning regulations
Before starting any work, you should find out if you need to comply with any planning or building regulations. You can visit the Government’s planning portal: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/.

Your project will be as good as your plan!

If you’d like to discuss any of this further, please feel free to drop me a line:
W: creative-house.co.uk
E: hello@monicafino.co.uk
M: 07565 888984