I've been poking into several websites and forums lately where the topic of conversation is, “You did your decorating or remodel or addition – what do you regret or wish you would have done differently?”
I've touched on this in a early post, but thought it might be time for a reminder, as well as helpful for those still in the hunt. This is what people regretted the most:
Not enough time for the selection process
Sounds so easy, doesn't it? Sure, until you go through the process yourself. In the first rush of adrenaline, it is very easy to make snap choices. In a kitchen and bath remodels, there are not only the cabinets, counters, flooring, lighting and painting – it's also tile and layout and grout color and switch plate colors and trim and texture style, just off the top of my head. Is it easy to clean? Can it stand wear and tear? How long will it last? It’s a lot to think about on your own, but even within each selection, there’s still a myriad of choices.
Here are the key regrets:
- selecting products for looks only without considering the function
- not understanding how an appliance or the fancier electronics actually work
- not understanding furniture scale and having no room to move
- buying too cheaply and seeing failure on products in a short time
- overspending on items that weren’t really that necessary or important
In other words, if you're rushing to pick your faucets because the plumber needs them now, it's already too late.
Test drive the materials
It's always a good idea to test drive the surfaces, so to speak. Take a sample home: eat toast on the counter surface, see how the floor wipes up. (Disclaimer: NOT saying to ruin the sample; that’s not nice. Please return it in a reasonable order, or at least be prepare to pay for a replacement if you damage it.)
Head out to the appliance store and attend a demonstration or two – see if the oven is intuitive to use, or if you require a special license to operate all the buttons (and if you’re comfortable with that.)
Let the dog walk on the carpet sample and see if his claws snag the loops (might not be truly effective at a walk – it’s when they’re tearing around the corner, scrambling for purchase, which is sometimes hard to test), or if the pile leaves archeological prints on the surface. Understand the differences between nylon and rayon and wool and what it means to your family.
It seems so simple, doesn't it? I like to recommend to clients to take at least 3 months, for which they sometimes look at me like I've lost my design marbles. It’s hard to rein in enthusiasm with practicality.
However, we have a wonderful client now who is a referral from someone who didn't use us, and wished she had. That makes me sad.
Take your time.
