How to Design a Successful Project: Understanding Your Goals

Welcome to our new series entitled, “How to Design a Successful Project,” where we provide some insider perspective on what makes a remodel or new build run smoothly and successfully! As designers, we often get brought into the process later on… after much of the groundwork has already been laid. This series is our effort to help you start off on the right foot with your project, hopefully avoiding common pitfalls, and better understanding how the process works.

A great first step towards a successful project is Understanding Your Goals. And, it can be trickier than it sounds! Let’s break it down into three important questions to consider:

1.      What are your priorities and values in this potential project?

2.      How do you develop a realistic budget that is in line with your goals?

3.      What can you expect for a general project timeline?

Let’s start with number one – what are your priorities and values. Before you hire anyone or make a single selection, it’s important to understand your “why” for doing the project. Ask yourself (and your partner) questions like:

• What is it about your existing home that isn’t working?

• Are there things your current home prevents you from doing?

• How would you ideally like to live in your space?

• If you imagine your perfect home, what qualities does it have?

Once you identify the “why,” try to define your top few priorities in executing the remodel or build. Maybe it’s more storage and room for the family to grow. Perhaps it’s finding a layout with better connection to the outdoors. Whatever your top priorities are, write them down!

Before you hire anyone or make a single selection, it’s important to understand your “why” for doing the project.

Defining what you want out of the project itself is valuable, but it’s also vital to think about what you want out of the project experience. You might ask yourself:

• Am I willing to invest my own time, or would I rather pay for a higher level of service?

• What is most important – return on investment or improving my current quality of life?

• When would I ideally like to start the project? Is there flexibility?

• List the following in order of importance, regarding the execution of your project:

  • High Quality

  • Ideal Timing

  • Good Communication

  • Firm Budget

  • High Level of Service

  • Personalized Design

Your answers to these questions (and your partner’s!) will shed light on your values for the project and will ensure you’re on the same page from the beginning.

Question number two is a tough one but so important – budget! The question: “How do you develop a realistic budget that is in line with your goals?” There are so many layers to any remodel and the costs inevitably add up quickly. It can be overwhelming to try to pin down the investment involved. A good first step is educating yourself.

Is the investment a game-changer? If you look back on the priorities and values you outlined… does it align?

Need some ideas on where to start? Try any (or all!) of the following:

• Connect with your real estate agent to better understand the home values in your area.

• Call a contractor you’d be interested in working with to ask some general questions on costs associated with a remodel.

• Ask a designer (Hint: Schedule a complimentary Meet and Greet with us!) about potential costs of design and what a similar project might cost.

• Check out Remodeler Magazine’s yearly Cost vs. Value report for average costs of remodels locally and nationwide.

Another useful exercise is thinking about decisions that might affect the budget, such as moving a toilet in a bathroom remodel, or removing a load-bearing wall. Consider what is the cost versus benefit? Is the investment a game-changer? If you look back on the priorities and values you outlined… does it align?

The third question to consider is “What can you expect for a general project timeline?”. Here, in our experience, are some realistic expectations:

Design & Planning Process = 4+ months for a kitchen - 12+ months for a new build home

Pricing, Ordering Products, Developing Construction Schedule = 1+ month for a kitchen - 6+ months for a new home

Construction = 4+ months for a kitchen – 1 year+ for a new build home

Of course, these time frames are dependent on size of the project, overall level of customization, and contractor’s schedule and availability.

We have found that careful planning and a detailed design upfront results in a more efficient, smooth construction process.

While this might sound like a lot longer than you’d expect, we have found that careful planning and a detailed design upfront results in a more efficient, smooth construction process. It also provides a better understanding of cost and a more realistic timeline – because decisions have been made, products have been ordered, lead times are worked into the overall timeline.

It is certainly possible to complete a project faster. If that’s the case, just know that you may need to compromise in other ways.

To recap… here are the steps to understanding your project goals:

1.      Define your PRIORITIES & VALUES for the project

2.      Develop a REALISTIC BUDGET that is in line with your goals

3.      Have an understanding of your POTENTIAL TIMELINE

If you have more questions on this topic, we can be a resource! Sign up below for a complimentary Meet and Greet virtual call to talk more about your project, budget, design options, and more! We’d love to meet you.