Planning Checklist for Apartment Design and Renovation

Design and Renovation Planning Checklist

Once you’ve made the decision to re-design and renovate your apartment, there are a few important steps you need to take to properly plan your renovation process:

1. Develop a clear understanding of what exactly you want to change in your apartment and lay out specific goals of your project.
2. Determine your priorities – which renovation items are nice-to-have if the budget allows, and which ones are an absolute must.
3. Do your research to find the right architect and interior designer to turn your vision into reality.
4. Discuss all the details with the designer to make sure that the work flows smoothly.

Let us go over each of the steps in more detail.

1. Developing Your Plans

There are a variety of reasons you may want to renovate. You may need to replace or repair something, or you may want to give your outdated kitchen or bathroom a more modern look.

Changes in your personal life, such as an addition of a new family member, or the need for a home office, may also ask for some alterations. To lay out your renovation plans, you need to think what exactly you want to change and with what purpose:

Take an inventory. Write down all the details in your home that you wish to change. This could include “must-have” maintenance, repair, and remodelling, as well as “nice-to-have” changes if the budget allows. You can also make a list of things you love about your home and want to keep as-is.

Describe each item on your list in terms of your everyday leaving experience. For example, not having sufficient space to set up a home office, which makes it difficult to work from home.

Get an opinion of all the family members. Make sure that everyone living in the home participates. Many times, one person may overlook inconvenient aspects of the home, simply because they are used to it. Take some time to gather input from several people.

Think about the seasons. If you are doing your renovation in the summer, don’t forget about how you felt in the winter. For example, it is easy to overlook the fact that there was insufficient storage space for boots and coats. On the other hand, if you are planning the renovation project in winter, think about your lifestyle during the warmer months.

2. Defining Goals and Setting Priorities

Beyond required replacements and repairs, your home design and renovation should provide you with improved comfort, convenience, and functionality. It is important to set goals for your project and define your priorities.

When setting your goals, there are three main aspects you need to pay attention to:

Light and brightness. Are there certain light needs for the activities performed in each room? Is there enough sunlight coming from the windows? Do the rooms feel spacious enough? Will the room be used mostly during the day or evening?

Use of space. The functionality of each room will determine the amount of space needed and how closed or open this space should be relative to the other areas of your home.

Movement of people. How do people move through each area of your home? Do you have to walk through the room to access other frequently used spaces, such as the kitchen or bathroom?

3. Choosing the Right Architect and Interior Designer

An interior designer and architect can assist you with renovations, help you redesign any space in your home, and create a custom layout for you to fit your lifestyle. From expert advice to implementation, an interior designer provides a range of services.

Hiring both an interior designer and an architect is crucial for large custom renovation projects. There are countless decisions to be made, which can become very stressful without somebody who can truly understand your vision, provide design guidance, and systematically tackle the process. ALT can provide everything you need.

ALT cover every type of project and any size of budget. Even if you are tight on budget, you can get a few hours of consultation or assistance with your accents for a reasonable price.

The first step in choosing an interior designer is identifying your inspiration and the style you want to achieve. Define what you want, what your budget is, and the available time for the project. Here are a few tips on how to find your perfect interior designer:

Research track record. Their portfolio, their projects, and their client references.

Cost. Choose a consultant that is cost effective and who will put your needs at the forefront.

Design Quality. Awards, and seeing the style that you like.

Someone who has a track record delivering projects, and not just pretty pictures.

4. Working with Your Interior Designer: Things to Consider

Once you’ve made your choice, there are a few things you should discuss with your designer right away to avoid the confusion and to make sure that you are a good fit for each other:

Budget. The first thing you need to clear out is the budget. Some designers will not work on smaller projects, so it is important to let them know how much you are planning to spend before starting the work.

Fee structure. Find out about the fee structure. A design and renovation firm may charge an hourly rate, a flat rate for the project, or cost plus.

Communication. Determine how the designer is planning to schedule meetings and communicate, and make sure that works for you.

Preferences. Let the designer know if there are certain furniture pieces or specific materials that you would like to include. However, be open-minded and consider the designer’s suggestions.