Building a new home or renovating your current space are both exciting projects to undertake for any homeowner. You’ve been collecting inspiration from Pinterest, reading all the shelter magazines and obsessively watching HGTV in preparation. What surprises a lot of first time renovators is that there’s a less shiny side to design work. We don’t often consider this and we sure aren’t seeing any of it outlined on any of our beloved HGTV programs.

It’s the planning phase. I know it can be boring for you creatives who love fabric and colour but it’s so necessary. In order to end up with your dream home a lot of time needs to be spent on plans and planning. You can’t skip to the sourcing of all the beautiful furniture, light fixtures and cabinetry until we’ve absolutely nailed the planning stage.

The upside to careful and methodical planning is that during this period we make sure that errors are caught. It can save so much time and money to catch mistakes now and not during construction.

The Hidden Benefits of Space Planning

If I could give you just one tip regarding a successful design project it would be to bring your designer onboard early. One of the most important roles I undertake during the design process is to review the house or renovation plans with clients.

Your architect and contractor have designed a structurally sound space but your designer will ensure that your future home is functional and provides everything on your wish list. Since most architects are using CAD technology it’s easy to get a copy of those files and review them with you in detail. 

Here are the 3 ways I can help you with your space planning before your renovation or build begins:

1/ Space Planning for Your Existing Furniture

Floor plans and even 3D models can be confusing and overwhelming for homeowners to review. Even when you can see that the rooms are adequately sized you’ve likely overlooked the entryways or hallways. A door is a door, right? Not when it comes to space planning.

I consider every dimension on a floor plan. My goal is to make sure there are no surprises when your furniture arrives at your new home. Are you bringing your current furniture? We need to measure and document the dimensions of all of those pieces to ensure they work in the new space. Nobody wants to wrap up a renovation by discovering their furniture won’t fit through a doorway.

I recently had a call from a potential client. They were referred to me through a flooring supplier but they weren’t convinced that they needed help. We met for a 2-Hour Design Work Session and I reviewed plans for their upcoming build. 

Almost immediately I could see that this client’s custom bedroom furniture wouldn’t fit in the bedroom with the current design. And while that discovery saved a tremendous amount of heartache later, it wasn’t an easy fix. In adding more space to the bedroom it caused a ripple effect with all of the adjoining rooms. It did take some effort to fix the error but the time upfront was miniscule in comparison to the pain these homeowners would have felt after the build was complete.

Throughout this session I was also able to show them that their lower level didn’t have enough storage, particularly for linens. The flow of the space was awkward and with just a few tweaks to the plan, the architect was able to make some changes. Now these clients have more than enough storage along with a floor plan that flows better and functions well for their life.

It’s easy to think that a designer comes in after the construction phase and fills the space with beautiful couches and pillows (thank you HGTV). It’s definitely true that some designers prefer these aspects of a project but a lot of us are specialists in space planning and construction. 

In this case, my clients were genuinely surprised with my knowledge of space planning and the hidden benefits to them. At the end of our 2-hour Work Session I was brought on as part of the team for the duration of the build. 

2/ SPACE PLANNING FOR FURNITURE PURCHASES

Maybe you’re not bringing your furniture and want a clean slate to design with brand new pieces. Did you know that most furniture manufacturers offer one piece in multiple sizes? How will you know which pieces fit into your space to maximize the room’s potential? Same thing discussed above applies to new purchases. We’ll look at the room dimensions and I can recommend furniture sizes that will work best. 

Outstanding design gives you a room where your furniture takes advantage of the space without being crowded. It’s not uncommon for a sofa to be offered in widths of 80”, 87”, 92” and 99”. Without proper space planning, which size would you pick? You don’t want to be guessing and find out after the sofa is delivered that you picked wrong.

If you’ve ever walked into a room and felt something was off but couldn’t exactly put your finger on it, it may have been due to improperly sized furniture. Too small furniture looks like it’s floating while too-large pieces can create traffic flow issues, particularly for those with mobility issues.

Retailers will almost always have a no-return policy. If there were any custom selections made (fabric, leg stain, etc) you won’t be able to change your mind because this was made specifically for you. Even standard case goods like coffee tables and floor lamps are usually purchased as a final sale. Some simple space planning before you order anything can save you frustration and money later.

3/ ELECTRICAL PLANNING FOR YOUR SPACE

There’s not a lot of talk in design editorials around the importance of creating functional electrical plans. It’s not glamorous but having a great plan means you have optimal lighting in all of your spaces.

I include 2 meetings with every client and our electrical contractor to make sure we get this right. During our first session we do a careful review of what type of electrical is required and in what areas. This attention to detail is going to give you the best case scenario for both indoors and outdoors when it comes to lighting your space. 

We can start with recessed lighting but the real stars in a room will always be the pendants and wall sconces. I want to ensure that you have multiple layers of lighting in each room so that you have both functionality and ambience covered. When you sneak into the kitchen for a late night snack, having under counter lighting means you don’t smash into the counter on your way to the fridge. It’s little decisions like these that make your home such a joy to live in later.

Lighting is only the first part of a great electrical plan. We also look at in-floor heating and heated towel bars in bathrooms. We’ll even spend some time making sure your hot tub and outdoor lighting are exactly where you need them and with the right specifications.

The second meeting focuses on light switches and outlets. I’ve seen way too many homes with cords stretched across the floor. Aside from looking ugly it’s a massive tripping hazard. Are you a reader? Let’s make sure you have a floor plug for your lamp situated right beside your reading chair. If you spend a lot of time with your laptop on the sofa we can make sure there are outlets neatly tucked away where they aren’t on full display but offer you all the functionality you need.

And the last, but equally important, part of the electrical planning is the switches. You want to make sure that when you head off to bed at night that you aren’t stumbling in the dark trying to get there. The switches need to be considered thoroughly. Can you turn off one set of lights while still having a pathway illuminated to your destination. Most of us haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about the importance of switch placement. When it’s done well, we don’t consider it but when it’s off, it can be an annoyance at least and a safety issue at worst.

It’s usually surprising for my clients to learn that these planning aspects are all part of the design process. Yes, I’ll make your home look amazing but equally important, I’ll make it function exactly how I’d want my own home to operate. 

Warm regards,

Adrienne

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