‘Tis the Season: 25 Steps to Make Your House a Home
Welcome to this year’s countdown to Christmas! Last year we took you through the 25 steps to building a custom home starting from the empty plot of land. This year, we are walking you through every step of interior design and finishes! You can join us every day until the 25th to learn a little about each stage and help prepare yourself for your future design project.
1. Design Consultation
On the first day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “You need to start with this, I guarantee!”
The first step you must take before designing your home is scheduling a consultation! During the consultation, it is the contractor’s job to fully understand exactly what your vision is and what your goals are, as well as get a feel for your lifestyle. This will ensure that you get the best insight and results for your home!
2. Space Planning
On the second day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Utilize this room functionally!”
After the consultation, and now that the contractor knows your vision, it is time to do some space planning! This means knowing which room is which and what you will require in said room, from built-ins in the office or a wine cooler in the kitchen!
3. Architectural Harmony
On the third day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Make it all look cohesively!”
Architectural Harmony is yet another planning stage where the contractor makes sure that architectural finishes blend seamlessly around your home. An example of this is arched entryways and certain crown molding all throughout the home to keep a theme.
4. Customized Color Palette
On the fourth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “What will your color palette be?”
Choosing a customized color palette is an important but fun task! Similar to architectural harmony, clients typically want to make sure there is cohesiveness in color choices as well. Once you have selected a color palette, future selections for your home should become much easier to choose.
5. Flooring
On the fifth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Make a statement with the main thing you see!”
Flooring is one of, if not the most, important selections for your home. It is one of the first things that guests will see when they enter your home and can make a big statement if chosen properly! Discuss flooring options with your contractor for extra guidance and insight!
6. Lighting
On the sixth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Light it up like a Christmas tree!”
It’s time to choose lighting! For this step, the contractor will talk to you about recessed lighting, chandeliers, sconces, accent lighting, etc. It’s pivotal to communicate all of your wants and needs for lighting in your home for the contractor to execute. And keep in mind– lighting can be a very important finish to your home that can help cultivate a theme or mood!
7. Smart Home
On the seventh day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “How smart will it be?”
A smart home is a house equipped with lighting, heating, and electronic devices that can all be controlled by a phone or computer. Smart homes are on the rise because of the energy and money that is saved as well as the extra security and convenience! If you are interested, make sure to tell your contractor.
8. Kitchen
On the eighth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Make it elegant with cabinetry!”
People often reference the kitchen as the heart of the home and we agree! The kitchen is an important room and therefore it deserves its own special attention. During this step, everything will be selected such as the cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances, etc.
9. Bathroom
On the ninth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Think spa-like definitely!”
Bathrooms are another room that deserves its own attention! Just like kitchens, they are an important part of a home. We recommend to our clients that they spend some extra time planning their bathroom to transform it into a place they love! There are simple but very effective ways to achieve the spa-like effect that we can touch on in a future post.
10. Furniture Selection
On the tenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Make sure Santa’s comfy!”
Step ten is furniture selection! This is where your house will start feeling like a home. With furniture, you can add your personality and solidify a theme throughout your home. This is usually our client’s favorite part and we’re sure it will be yours!
11. Window Treatments
On the eleventh day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Try some drapery!”
Although installing windows is not a part of the interior process, window treatments are! This means choosing whether you would like Roman or solar shades, blinds, curtains/drapes, plantation shutters, etc. Adding window treatments can enrich your home with a simple touch of elegance that takes your look to the next level!
12. Artwork and Decor
On the twelfth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Show us your personality!”
We are moving into interior design on the twelfth day and it is time to let your personality truly shine through your artwork and decor! Make sure that each piece of decor chosen resonates with your taste and do not forget to add some personal, meaningful touches as well!
13. Accent Features
On the thirteenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Accent features are like accessories!”
Accent features are categorized by anything unique you would like to add to your home! Whether that be a textured wall, a pop of color, shiplap, a mural, or a paneled ceiling. Try to think of something interesting to add to make your home stand out from the rest!
14. Multi-Functional Spaces
On the fourteenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “There’s always room for adaptability!”
Day 14 is a part two to the space planning process. In this step, we’re looking for ways to create muti-functional spaces that can adapt to your various activities– from work to leisure! Whether that means the family room needs to also work as a play room or the guest bedroom needs to convert into an office, we are here to help adjust your space into whatever you need.
15. Entryway
On the fifteenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Make it welcoming!”
The entryway is a very significant part of the home because it is where friends and family are welcomed! They often frame the first impression and can set the tone for the rest of your design decisions. Try to make your entryway as welcoming as you would like your guests to feel!
16. Storage Solutions
On the sixteenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Keep your home clutter-free!”
Storage solutions are the perfect way to guarantee that everything in your home has a place. From adding more cabinetry in your kitchen, storage racks in the garage, or built-ins in any room, we can help you ensure that your home stays clutter-free!
17. Bedrooms
On the seventeenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Sweet Dreams!”
Bedrooms– the sacred rooms of your home! Of course, we pay extra attention to the master bedroom as we want to make sure it is the perfect escape for our clients to be able to forget their everyday troubles and simply relax!
18. Family Room
On the eighteenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Perfect for entertaining!”
The family room is the entertaining room! Since family rooms are typically considered more casual than a living room, we suggest a big comfy couch, a nice TV with surround sound, and everything cozy to create the perfect space to gather and host your holiday parties.
19. Sustainable Design Elements
On the nineteenth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Go for eco-friendly!”
When we say sustainable design elements, we mean the integration of eco-friendly materials and sustainable design practices for a responsible approach to luxury living. Recycling materials and incorporating different woods, stones, energy-efficient appliances, and non-toxic/low-VOC paint can help reduce the negative impact on the environment and help preserve natural resources!
20. Outdoor Integration
On the twentieth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “It helps emotionally and physically!”
A common term to describe this step is Biophilic Design, which means bringing the outdoors inside. It is an essential component of interior design as it roots your home in the surrounding landscape and helps promote overall wellness!
21. Plumbing and Electrical
On the twenty-first day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “You need these!”
The next step is setting up your plumbing and electricity which are both essential for you to be able to live in your home! While the house is habitable at this point, we are still not done but coming very close to the finish line!
22. Appliances and Fixtures
On the twenty-second day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Make living easy!”
They provide convenience by simplifying tasks and we all love them! Appliances and fixtures include all of your easy living essentials such as a washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, and more.
23. Carpentry
On the twenty-third day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Everything is better after carpentry!”
Carpentry is a crucial step to finishing the interior of your home and truly brings everything together in our final steps! Carpentry is anything from trim, framing, finishing the rough carpentry that had been done in the beginning, and so much more. The finishing carpentry is very important to your design!
24. Quality Check and Punch-Outs
On the twenty-fourth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “We’re looking for quality!”
We are almost to the end and we want to make sure everything is up to standards! At this step, it is the Contractor’s and Project Manager’s job to do some quality control and look for any small things that have not been finished or need fixing which we refer to as Punch-Outs!
25. Final Walkthrough and Approval
On the twenty-fifth day of designing, my Contractor said to me: “Approval is what we need!”
We have made it to the finish line! The very last step is the final walkthrough with the client and the client’s approval! All of the designing is done and the home is move-in ready.
That’s a wrap! Thank you for tuning in to our 25 days of Christmas countdown and don’t forget to join us again next year to see what we have in store. As always, if you or someone you know is looking to hire a Contractor for your building and/or designing needs, reach out to our team at Bartley Builder Group. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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