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.
