Your house is not a home until it expresses your soul Gail Doby, ASID
Dear Dreamer We created How to Design Your Perfect Interior Workbook to help you gather your thoughts and organize your project. Enjoy the journey, and be sure and share your successes with us by commenting on this website, www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com. If you would like to see new sections added to How to Design Your Perfect Interior Workbook, you may also comment on this site or write to us at info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com. We appreciate your suggestions and feedback. If you haven t read the accompanying Kindle book, How to Design Your Perfect Interior How to Maintain Your Sanity and Budget Whether You Do It Yourself or Hire an Interior Design Professional, you can instantly download it for $9.99, just click on the title above and you can instantly download it to your Kindle reader. Even if you don t have a Kindle device, you can download the app for it to your laptop or desktop computer. We suggest that you purchase a 4 heavy duty D-Ring binder from your favorite office supply store, purchase dividers and heavy duty plastic sleeves and the supplies listed on Your Supplies Checklist. Express yourself! Warm regards, Gail Doby, ASID & Erin Weir Co-Founders Design Success University Erin & Gail
Table of Contents 1 About How to Design Your Perfect Interior Workbook 2 Exercise #1 Your Design Influences 3 Exercise #2 Why Is Your Design Project Important To You? 4 Exercise #3 What Is Your Style? 5 My Wishlist 6 My Before Photos For Room 7 My Inspiration Photos For Room 8 My Inventory For Room 9 My Budget For _Room 10 My Drawings For _Room 11 My Room 12 My Supplies Checklist 13 My Selections & Specifications Checklist 14 My Retail Stores 15 Contacts Team Members & Resources 16 Websites 17 Design Blogs 18 19 Reference Checklist 20 Insurance 21 Contract(s) 22 Schedule 23 Photos 24 Miscellaneous 25 Notes
Exercise #1 Your Design Influence Take a few minutes and write down what you liked and didn t like about your childhood home. What were your parent s priorities for your childhood home? Without looking at pictures, can you visualize the textures and colors you liked? Describe them. What do you want to incorporate or avoid in your current home? Is your home a current reflection of your sense of style and if not, how would you like to change it?
Exercise #2 Why is Your Design Project Important to You? Whether you re planning to do your project with professional guidance or not, it is a big task. The more you prepare yourself and discuss your priorities with your spouse or partner, the better. What you don t want to do is end up in a conflict over the design or financial decisions that accompany it, and answering these questions will prevent problems later. An interior designer will ask you most if not all of these questions so they understand your needs, desires, priorities and dreams. Why are you doing the project? Why is this important now? What will having a redesigned space do for you?
How will it impact your life, family, efficiency, productivity, enjoyment, etc.? Do you have a deadline for the project? (Wedding, graduation, baby, etc.) What would a successful project look like? Who is going to use the space? What is your scope of work? (See My Wish List and you can prioritize & edit it later we created a My Wish List spreadsheet for you) How long are you planning to live in your home? If it is a short time, you may want to invest the majority of your budget in items that you will take with you. What changes would you most like to have happen and why? www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
How much are you willing to invest to accomplish those changes? How will you pay for the project? What do you like about your space now? What do you want to keep? Please use My Inventory for a complete list How would you describe your style? What are your biggest concerns about doing this project? (Budget, difficulty, lack of design knowledge, finding the right team, etc.) www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
Do you want to do the project yourself, or at least start it yourself? Yes No Maybe Do you have time to manage your own project? Maybe If not, do you want to hire someone to assist you? Maybe Do you like or intend to shop? Maybe Yes No Yes No Yes No Do you value service and expertise and are you willing to invest in assistance? Maybe Yes No What are your goals in hiring someone to assist you if that is your preference? What are your concerns about hiring someone to help you? If you decide to hire someone, be sure to share it with that person. www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
What do you value most? Function Trends Beauty Your time Brand Convenience Quality All of the above Budget Do you and your spouse or significant other agree on these values? Yes No Maybe If not, how will you resolve your differences? Who else will you ask for their opinions? Your kids, friends or other family members? Where do you spend the majority of your time, and how do you feel about those spaces? www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
How do you want your guests and family to feel in your home? Why is that important to you? What do you want your home to say about your style, personality and priorities? www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
Happy Joyful Serene Calm Easy-going Quiet Nurturing Cozy Inviting Cheerful Colorful Familyoriented Loving Sleek Sophisticated Exciting Energetic Exciting Funky Unique Environmentally conscious Pet-friendly Kid-friendly Designed for a home chef Spa-like Luxurious Refined Elegant Low-key (not flashy) Decorative Casual Formal Playful Quirky Impressive Relaxed Low Maintenance Practical
Once you complete these questions, share your answers with each other if you are married or cohabitating, and resolve any disagreements between each of you before you spend a penny. You will be surprised at some of your partner s answers. www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
Exercise #3 What is Your Style? Modern/Contemporary Traditional Transitional (blend of the two previous styles) Minimal Tuscan Asian Southwestern Old World (European) Mid-Century Modern Country Arts & Crafts Cottage Beach/Tropical Eclectic Other What colors, materials or patterns do you love and want to include in your home? What colors, materials or patterns do you dislike?
My Wishlist 04+036My Wishlist Photo # Item # Room Item Description Color Width Height Depth Estimated Cost Notes www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
My Before Photos Place Photo Here Place Photo Here
My Inspiration Photos Place Photo Here Place Photo Here
My Inventory Photo # Item # Room Item Description Color Width Height Depth Use Donate Reupholster Move Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A B C D E F G H I J My Budget Photo # Item # Room Item Description/# Color/# Width Height Depth Budget Notes
My Drawings As-Built (means the existing footprint of the space ) Floor Plans New Furniture Plans Reflected Ceiling Plans Electrical Plans Elevations (vertical surfaces or walls) Sections (detailed drawings - molding details, how things intersect, etc.) Millwork (built-in cabinetry and trim generally created by the millwork shop because they know how to engineer the construction) Kitchen Cabinet Layout (this includes fillers to allow doors and drawers to open, toe-kicks, moldings, applied details, cabinet fronts for appliances, location of hardware, inserts in drawers and cabinets, etc.) Tile Layouts (these include all trim pieces and grout details such as color, thickness, sanded, unsanded, bullnose, corners, listelles, etc.) Window Treatments (includes rods, stack, overlaps, hem details, trim, etc.) Other
My Room List Foyer Kitchen Family Room Living Room Dining Room Butler's Pantry Library Office 1 Office 2 Game Room Loft Hallway Mud Room Utility Room Powder Room Master Bedroom Master Bathroom Master Sitting Room Master Closet Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom 5 Bathroom 1 Bathroom 2 Bathroom 3 Bathroom 4 Bathroom 5 Basement Craft Room Garage
My Supplies Checklist Camera 25 Tape Measure ¼ Graph Paper Ruler Architect s Scale to Measure Scaled Drawings Furniture Templates Your Favorite Shelter Magazines for Ideas Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Dwell, Veranda, etc. Magazine Picture Cutter or Exacto Knife Glue Stick Scissors White Cover Stock Paper to Adhere Your Samples If You Aren t Inserting in Sleeves Notebook Divider 24 Sections 4 D-Ring Heavy-Duty White Notebook with Sleeves to Insert Your Customized Cover & Spine Heavy Duty Sheet Protectors (Plastic Sleeves) Computer With a Spreadsheet Program Like Excel Paint Deck (Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, etc.) Sticky Notes (Two Colors) For the Tech-Savvy - Apps: Icovia, Homestyler or Magic Plan for Creating and Revising Your Floor Plans; Houzz for Digital Ideas; OlioBoard for Creating Your Own Digital Mood Boards
My Selections & Specifications Checklist Accessories Appliances Artwork Automation A/V Equipment Backsplash Bedding Cabinets Carpeting (pad type, thickness) Countertops Electrical (switches, dimmers, outlet covers, fire detectors, CO2 detectors, etc.) Fabric Fabric Trim, Tassels, etc. Flooring Frames Glass Shower Enclosure Hardware Bathroom Accessories Hardware Cabinets Hardware Doors Hardware - Drapery Hardware Shower Door Lamps Light Fixtures (chandeliers, sconces, recessed lights, under cabinet lights, step lights, ceiling fans, bath fans, exhaust fans, etc.) Medicine Cabinet Mirrors Miscellaneous Moldings & Trim Palette Plumbing Fixtures Rug(s) Specialty Wall Finishes Specialty Glass Ventilation (range, bathrooms, attic fans, etc.) Wallpaper Window Treatments
My Favorite Retail Stores Company Name Telephone # Email Website Address Notes
My Team Members Appliance Installer Appliance Store Artist(s) Architect Audio/Visual Company Cabinet Installer Cabinet Shop Carpenter Carpet Installer Countertop Showroom (granite, solid surface, etc.) Drapery Installer Drapery Workroom Fabric Store(s) Electrician Engineer (if moving walls and you have concern about loadbearing issues) Flooring Installer Furniture Store(s) General Contractor Glass Vendor (shower enclosures, mirror, cabinet glass, etc.) Handyman (install miscellaneous hardware and specialty items) Hardware Showroom HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Cooling) Vendor Insurance Agent Interior Designer or Decorator Kitchen & Bath Designer Lighting Designer (especially if your art collection is extensive) Lighting Store Millwork Shop Organizer Paint Store Painter Painter Specialty Finishes Plumber Plumbing Showroom Realtor (if consulting about the value of remodeling vs. moving) Receiver (accepts freight from vendors) Rug Store Tile Setter Tile Showroom Wallpaper Installer Wallpaper Store www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com info@howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com
04+037My Websites My Websites Company Name Category Telephone # Email Website Notes
Reference Checklist Here are questions you can ask the references: How satisfied were you with the project you did with? Were there any surprises? Was respectful of your budget? Was the project finished on time? Was accessible, responsive and responsible? Were the details handled to your satisfaction? What did you like most about working with? What did you like least about working with? Would you use again? Is there anything else I should know? Notes:
Insurance Checklist Insurance coverage your interior designer, contractor, or subcontractors may carry Business Owner s Package Worker s Compensation Professional Liability or Errors and Omissions Insurance Inland Marine Insurance Umbrella Policy Liability Insurance Notes:
Contracts Or Letters Of Agreement Checklist Scope of work Job site address Compensation details - fees and mark-ups Miscellaneous expenses Payment terms and conditions including due dates and what happens when bills are not paid on time Retainer Copyright and ownership of drawings, designs, samples, etc. One time use of design Right to photograph work normally requested Warranties or guarantees Insurance Mediation or arbitration
My Schedule Month: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Miscellaneous
Notes