Interior design during construction

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The interior designer’s role during construction

The interior designer’s role during construction

If you’re considering a major renovation or are building a home, you may be wondering about putting together the best build team. if you have a general contractor and architect, do you still need an interior designer? or, do you only need the designer for the design aspect? once construction is underway, you’ll be off to the races. Right?

we find clients are sometimes unsure how a designer works with a contractor during a new build or renovation and why putting together the right team will ultimately save time, stress, and money. 

yes, an interior designer is able to interpret your aesthetic and style and bring it to life through beautiful finishes and furnishings. we also know a great deal about construction methods; the impact plumbing rough ins, electrical, hvac, and structural systems will have on interior components; residential building codes; performance of various finish materials; cabinetry and millwork fabrication; strategies for using light sources; and the necessary sequencing of installation for plumbing, electrical, and other building and finish systems.

still with me? 

it’s not all picking colours and going shopping.


What happens after the finishes are selected?

keep in mind, by the time your project is under construction, we already have an exhaustive knowledge of the specific details about your design. armed with that intimate knowledge of your project, when we make a visit to your construction site, we’ll be able to recognize both potential finish outcomes from how the work is completed, and critical requirements needed for work to proceed.

in other words, as your interior designer, we’ll have insight into what may affect project progression, and what issues may or have arisen that could affect the final delivery of your design. (think electrical switches where the art should be placed, or how to handle an hvac line that interfers with the lighting installation, even identifying that there is no room for the 6 inch moulding planned for the windows.)

yes, of course, your contractor and tradespeople (painters, carpenters, electricians, plumbers) have invaluable expertise in their particular trade. no one can do what they do — the trades are enormously skilled. and your general contractor brings inestimable value to the project, in cost-estimating, construction sequencing, construction site safety requirements, permitting and inspections, ordering build supplies, the nuance of how fabrication and installation of certain materials works best and much, much more.

but, a general contractor and their subcontractors won’t really know the design intent the way we do as your interior designer. not even close. does landing a grout line 2 inches left or right shift the way the eye will read the scale of another design element? if this space becomes 1 foot smaller, will it still function well? spaces under construction are very hard to gauge spatially.

we’ve seen many, many examples of installation and fabrication issues in completed homes. meaning, the design wasn’t implemented properly. the interior designer has a complete picture of how all the elements fit together, which is something the electrician or plumber does not have because it’s outside of their scope of work. how the furniture will be placed, or the junction of millwork and stone are not evident at that stage of construction.

Eight things a designer does on a construction site:

Here’s a glimpse into how we support our clients during the construction phase of a project, either while making site visits, or while continuing to monitor installation progress and coordinate details via other communication channels.

01 | we are the point person for all questions or concerns that arise regarding the design of the space. 

because we are intimately familiar with the nitty gritty aspects of everything design-related in a project, we are consulted throughout the project on anything that might impact the final outcome. think detailing how two materials connect, a cold air return where we’ve planned a custom hutch or the grid layout for the lights and speakers when the floor joist intervenes.

02 | we provide specific instructions to installers or tradespeople. 

once the design is approved by our clients, we provide thorough documentation of the design via plans, elevation drawings, detail drawings, and specification sheets. should the tile be installed vertically or horizontally? how will the pattern lay out? grout lines are how wide? 

even with these detailed documents provided, questions of interpretation or intention do still arise and across the scale of a 3,000 square foot home there will always be end cases that are unique. relying on the installers to guess is not the way to go. we want to be consulted throughout construction to make sure any changes that need to happen in field are aligned with our client’s overall vision for their home. 

03 | we answer questions installers and fabricators have about products, materials, and furnishings. 

for example, if something came up related to extended lead time on an item already approved, we are there to determine whether another choice should be made, or if this is a defining element of the design that requires us to wait. where exactly will the sofa be placed so that the floor plug lands underneath and not beside it? talk about “no turning back”!

04 | we ensure the installation matches the design intent. 

there may be instances where something needs to be installed a certain way for the purpose of aligning with a detail of another component —a domino effect. the plumber may not realize this because he or she hasn’t seen the millwork drawings. because we have a big picture view of the project, we’re able to make sure everything progresses according to plan, and in accordance with our client’s intended design outcome. 

05 | we troubleshoot unforeseen issues that arise during construction. 

it’s inevitable that — during demolition, or even construction— something problematic will happen. maybe walls and corners are not plumb, or a mechanical chase or plumbing lines were hidden within walls in unexpected places. a material arrives and is not to spec. it happens.

one thing designers are known for, above all else, is for being excellent creative problem solvers. we work to determine the optimal course of action to deal with the issue while holding the design goal at the helm and provide our client with our recommendations so they don’t feel alone in making decisions during a stressful construction project. 

06 | we help make on-the-fly decisions when it comes to changes. 

as much as we’d love to say once the design is approved, nothing changes, that is simply untrue. in a large-scale construction project, it’s inevitable that some changes will need to be made once construction is underway. a material is damaged in shipment, the appliances are delayed four months leading to a new fridge and resulting cabinetry modifications or a client realizes once something is in physical form that a window they decided against is actually a must have after all.  

07 | we advocate for our clients to ensure everything is done with their preferences in mind. 

the plumber is installing the shower head at standard height, but the client is particularly tall. these, among many other things, are the details a designer can help ensure are executed with the client’s best interest in mind.

08 | we open our clients’ eyes to what is possible. 

when our clients are building a home or tackling a large-scale renovation, they want to make sure they’re investing their money wisely. that means, they want their choices to make sense for their current life stage and their future life stage. our clients also want their design to be timeless. yes, you can change just about anything in a home with a good construction team, but it’s much nicer to get it right the first time. 

we provide insights and ideas into what is possible - what we’ve seen done on other projects that turned out beautifully. with our years of construction experience, we’ve seen a lot, and always love when we’re brought into a project from the beginning so we can help our clients fully maximize the investment in their project. 

having an interior designer involved during the construction phase of your project ensures you won’t miss an opportunity to make your home truly unique and perfect for your needs. and, as you might guess from reading this post, we save our clients hours of time and years of stress simply by being there from start to finish. 

if you’re about to embark on a large-scale renovation or new build project and don’t want to do it alone, we’d love to chat with you. click here to transform your home

What affects the timing on a home renovation project?

What affects the timing on a home renovation project?

What affects the timing on a home renovation project?

One of the things people often find puzzling about home renovation and decor projects is the amount of time it takes to complete them. 

While there are many elements of the design and selection process that can proceed relatively efficiently there are other aspects of fabricating, storing, moving and installing the many (oftentime large) and heavy elements of a project that are much more difficult to align.

The impact of shuttered manufacturing during Covid, compounded by half capacity re-openings at factories, record demand and orders, misalignment of shipping resources and challenges staffing manufacturing facilities with trained, experienced workers and craftspeople created absolute havoc. 

Construction and manufacturing must often follow a linear path where one part of the job is completed before the next part can begin. In addition, the raw materials used are generally large, requiring a lot of space for storage and special handling in transport. There are also many humans involved who are not directly connected to the actual project. For example, the factory workers pulling parts at the warehouse, or cutting yardage for fabrics. These factors create a perfect environment for miscommunication and errors.

The best way to mitigate all of these elements is taking control of the decisions you can and doing that early on. Allow time for planning in your project schedule and make sure you have completed and priced your selections well before work begins. Check and double check the details on your orders. Ensure the direction to each trade or supplier is clear. Finally, assume there will be delays and unexpected developments along the way. 

A sense of humour and a contingency plan helps to make these delays a little easier to absorb.

Can you work with my existing furniture?

Can you work with my existing furniture?

Can you work with my existing furniture?

We are sometimes asked to work with existing items in a client’s home as part of a new design. As an experienced designer, it’s become clear to me when this is an option and when my advice is to start fresh.

If you are after a new look then bringing a lot of what you already have to the party doesn’t typically set things up for success. However, it is always nice to incorporate quality pieces that fit with the desired look-and-feel for the finished project and that create a link to the history of the family or home.

I’ve been asked to create an entirely new space, but to reuse all the existing furniture and not to paint. Unfortunately, that will not result in an entirely new space. As the saying goes, if you want to bake a cake, you’ll have to break a few eggs.

However, if a client is open to relocating, updating, or modifying a piece then it is often possible to find a new home or purpose for it. A caveat is that it is sometimes as costly as purchasing a new item so there are several factors to weigh.

One of the first things I will assess is the structure and lines of the item for their fit with the stated goal for the finished home. It is also important to review the materials an item is crafted with and how they might respond to “re-imagining work”. Are they solid enough to warrant the effort required? Then we consider the colour and scale relative to other items that will be part of the new design plan.

Once I know the background on the request, it is possible to develop ideas around how something might fit into a new space. Maybe we can salvage some of the fabric and incorporate it somewhere in the new design, or update the upholstery on a piece. I’ve had metal tables powder-coated to fit a new colour scheme, re-finished furniture pieces with new upholstery and details and reframed art to better fit a specific design style.

What pieces in your home are you most committed to keeping? 

Design Consultations

Design Consultations

Design Consultations

I love going out to see clients for an in-home design consultation.

Your space is so personal it can be tough to get an objective view of the options that exist, or where to start. (Ask any designer about tackling their own homes -- shoemaker's child syndrome, for sure!)

We find our in-home sessions, or in-studio sessions for new builds, provide homeowners with a customized plan to advance their projects whether they hire us to do them or not.

Past consultations have resulted in homeowners gathering three pages of notes, sketches of key details, paint colours to sample, a finish sample palette to guide their shopping, a phased project plan, or a clear action list of next steps.

How awesome is that?

If you’ve been thinking of tackling a renovation project in your home or building a new one, please get in touch.

We’d love to help you organize your goals.

BOLD CHOICES

BOLD CHOICES

BOLD CHOICES

Committing to a bold choice for an element in your home is always tough. It’s natural to wonder: Will I always love it like I do right now? Will it date? These concerns are valid, but here is the thing. A room full of average is always destined to be, well … average.

You can’t add up average and get outstanding — even with the new math.

Our recent decor project in Aspen Heights is set in a beautiful new build. The client had selected a neutral, classic palette of grey, white and warm wood tones and they were looking for a little energy and fun while still holding the line on a sophisticated and contemporary space.

We recovered their sofa in an iris fabric that is both unexpected, and the perfect complement to their art collection. Plus, it’s a colour the homeowner loves. Simply changing up the cushion colour wasn’t going to do that work in this home. In fact, we left those cushions exactly as they were because they were great.

How do you know if a bold choice is the right choice? Here are key questions to ask yourself while you consider that architecturally unique piece or bold colour.

- What role is this furniture playing in the room? Is it a feature or a supporting piece?
- Are there key sightlines to consider? From where? What else is going on around the space?
- If I did want to change it down the road, is it relatively easy, or am I making a choice related to the home’s structure?

Working out the answer to these questions will guide you on whether a bold choice is the right choice. And, if you want a second opinion, we are pretty good at those.

Install Day

Install Day

What happens on an Install? We recently completed two back-to-back Install days. It’s unusual for them to fall so close together and I thought, more than once, how little people likely know about what it takes to pull everything together for a client reveal.

Scheduling

After months of planning, deciding, ordering and expediting all those fabulous interior selections in a custom home it is finally time to bring in the furniture and accessories that complete a space. An installation requires the organization of the movers, window covering installer, art installer, design crew and often a photographer. There can be upwards of 15 - 20 people to move in and through a home on installation day and they cannot all descend at one time, or nothing would be done.

Unpacking

All the goods that are coming in need to be brought off a truck into the home and unpacked. There is a lot of cardboard, styrofoam (although vendors are doing better with protecting items with more sustainable materials all the time) and plastic. Our team separates all of this material so that everything that can be recycled is directed to the appropriate facility. Each item of furniture, lamp, custom cushion, etc.. is individually wrapped to protect it during transportation to the site. All of this needs to be removed so the homeowners are not left with a massive project after they return home.

Affixing

Often it’s easiest to install the window coverings, and items like shelves and hooks before the larger pieces of furniture arrive. This gives the installers a little more room to maneuver ladders and other tools without the encumbrance of the larger furniture. This work also often leaves drywall dust and minor dust behind so it’s best to clean it up before the beautiful new rugs and furniture come into the space.

Assembly

Very few pieces of furniture arrive fully assembled, even high end furnishings. There are several reasons for this and a key one is the ability to move it around inside a home, where hallways are often 3 to 4 feet wide, and door clearances can be less. Trying to get a fully assembled sectional, or table into a residence, not to mention the intended room is physically challenging for the crews and nearly impossible if it’s fully assembled while that is happening. This means there is a good deal of work to be done putting items together and ensuring they are in perfect condition once they arrive at a client’s home

Adjustments

As great as the crews we use are, they don’t know what the intended furniture layout looks like and need direction to ensure everything is placed correctly. Once everything is in place, it is usually necessary to adjust the position a bit to ensure key sightlines line up correctly. A couple of inches really does make a tremendous difference to the overall look and balance of the room. So yes, I really can be heard directing the crew to bring that over a ½” to the left.

Styling

I am devoted to delivering a fully styled room. I’ve even written entire blog posts on the importance of styling. Completing a reno and furnishing a new home without doing the final styling is kind of like going camping and stopping 1 km before the destination. You kind of appreciate where you’re going, but miss out on finishing the journey.

Artwork

Original artwork is essential to a custom home. Studying a client’s collection  is often the first step in beginning a project. There are important cues here in terms of what resonates for them in terms of style, colour and line. Client’s who don’t have any original works are typically not a good fit for our firm. Usually there will be one or two spaces that need art work once our interior work is done and we schedule gallery preview days with clients to look at pieces that might suit their aesthetic and home.

Reveal

That moment when -- after all the work -- the client comes home to find a fully styled and completed space. Bliss.

CONTEXT

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Context

Context

Lately we’ve been talking a lot about context at the studio. It makes all the difference for how you evaluate what goes into a space.

When considering an item for a space, clients can get overly focused on one item. They begin to consider it absent from the items around it. Not considering an item in its context is always a mistake. A table, light fixture, sofa or rug all need to fill a specific role in the overall design.

Here is an example drawn from the film industry. In a movie there are roles that each actor will play in telling the story. It does not work if everyone is a lead actor. You need a supporting cast. By extension, if every item in a space is competing for the lead role, it will very quickly become difficult to follow the plot. The eye does not know where to land. Understanding this is essential to putting together a space that works and allocating your budget wisely.

Much of design is leading the eye and focusing the gaze where you want to place it. You would make a different selection of backsplash tiles in a space where there is a stunning view out the window versus a place where the backsplash is the view.

If you are ever struggling to narrow down design directions for a project, take a step back and consider the context. How does this item you are selecting fit in the overall design? Where are you trying to direct the eye? It will answer everything you need to know.

SUPPLY CHAIN BLUES

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SUPPLY CHAIN BLUES

Navigating the COVID supply chain

A few years ago, the rug from our Springbank project (pictured above) was delayed. Very delayed. 

The angst surrounding the delays in receiving this custom rug seem quaint now in the face of the supply chain issues the home design and renovation business is facing. Clients are waiting and waiting (and w.a.i.t.i.n.g…) for items to arrive.

At the time this custom, hand-knotted rug was delayed, there was a strike in Jaipur, India and the weavers had walked off the job. No goods were being completed. No orders were moving through the system and it created a backlog and long delays. That piece of information was slow to percolate through the vendor leaving us with no information about why the expected production and delivery schedule had been abandoned and no timeline could be given.

What is happening right now in the home goods industry is system-wide disruption meeting massive demand meeting raw material shortages. It makes it very difficult to plan and deliver a project. The things you’ve always been able to count on: suppliers who can predict their lead times with confidence, availability of raw materials to make the goods, and trained artisans to shape the products. None of these are available on any kind of reliable or timely schedule.

Add to this a tripling in the costs to secure container space for transportation and the near daily notices of cost increases.

At this point, it is unclear how long it will take to get the systems sorted and working reliably again and so planning well in advance and expecting delays is prudent for any new interior design projects on the horizon. 

All of these challenges are magnified by the reality that many of the steps for constructing fine furniture and custom items are linear in nature. You can’t move on to step two until step one is done and if there is a delay in the chain, well, the whole thing bogs down.

The good news is that we have been challenged with thinking outside the box and changing the way we think about projects. We have all learned to change our perspective and stress a little less about the things we can’t control. It also means being actively in control of everything that you can.

We use a proven project management approach to keep the details of a project advancing and visible well into the future. And, as for that custom rug? We laugh at how cute we were thinking it was an issue.



BEST LAID PLANS

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BEST LAID PLANS

Interior design solutions by Form Interiors

BEST LAID PLANS

You know what they say about the best-laid plans? You can consider every detail, cover every angle and still. Curveball. 

I had a claim to resolve with a vendor from a recent install. The furniture piece they sent had a cracked drawer box. It’s unfortunate, but it happens and this vendor is excellent at resolving these issues, when they occasionally come up, which is why I love working with them.

Our team made the arrangements among the client, warehouse, delivery company, and our office to have the replacement piece delivered. Even though it’s a very straightforward swap, I always insist that I, or someone from my team, be there to supervise deliveries. 

The delivery company agreed to call a half-hour before their planned arrival so I could pop over to meet them.

They didn’t.

About an hour before the expected delivery window the client called to say the delivery company was there. They were going to swap the piece and use the existing drawer as they didn’t like the new one. Was that okay…? 

I raced over, discovered they had replaced a perfectly good piece, left the broken part there, and departed with the new replacement drawer. To be fair, they were trying to be conscientious and the intent was to do a great delivery. 

We managed to call them back. They replaced the drawer with the new one, which was perfect, and the claim was resolved.

Best laid plans. Right?

FIRST REEL

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First Reel

Interior design solutions by form interiors

Form published its first reel earlier this week. You can see it here if you like.

The content is a bit of a celebration of completing a project — because completing a project is feeling hard these days. It’s little things that seem to gum up the works. The global supply chain is out of sync, manufacturing is struggling beneath the triple whammy of shutdowns, re-inventing operations to allow for distancing and record orders. Vendors are tired. Trades are tired. In this environment getting one across the finish line is a win to be celebrated and enjoyed.

I’m looking forward to sharing the results here in near future, so stay tuned. Huge thanks to Catalyst Builders, who were excellent partners in the work.

I feel incredibly lucky to have patient, thoughtful clients who are focused on the long game and who appreciate that things are not normal right now. Still, I’d be lying if I didn’t say the delays and uncertainty aren’t fraying me a bit. I like to have answers and sometimes they are hard to pin down.

Your feedback on the reel would be great. It’s a new form of content and ideas from the readers are always welcome.

Here’s to wrapping up many more projects and the celebrations to come!

Blog Intentions

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Blog Intentions

Blog Intentions

I’ve set an intention for myself to do more blogging. 

More than once over this past week I’ve commented to people on what a terrible “Instagrammer” I am. I overthink the shots. Analyze the composition. End up making weird, or hard to follow posts.

Will this client feel too exposed if I share this image? Will the viewer understand this is progress, which is often messy, and reach judgement without enough information? Am I happy with this angle? Lighting? Does this shot really tell the story? You see the issue…

However, I do think it’s important to share. I just honestly believe people don’t need to be reminded on a daily or multiple times daily basis that I exist and am working away. It feels narcissistic.

Except, people ask. Then I wonder if not sharing more gives the wrong impression as well. Tough call.

So, I will assume if people ask, it means they truly are interested and I need to work a little harder at opening the doors a bit wider. Hence this goal to post here on the blog more frequently.

Who knows, some of these might even make it onto my Instagram.