Ask a Remodeler

Everyone experiences architecture and design daily, but it can become intimidating when it's time to remodel your own space. Below are a few tips from our designers and architects that will help ensure your tastes are properly reflected in your next renovation.

The first step in communicating likes and dislikes for your home renovation is to collect imagery. Nowadays, you have more options than just sifting through magazines and ripping out the pages. Websites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Houzz provide easy ways to collect what you like online in a shareable format. Showing designers and architects your online collections will help them understand your tastes. Equally important, is sharing your dislikes. Creating a collection of specific images, details, furnishings, and materials that you don't like can also help to streamline the process and avoid awkward conversations.

Highlight Your Favorite Personal Items

If you're attached to a piece of art, furniture, or interior design items like a wallpaper or fabric, make it known to your designers. When they know in advance, they can design spaces to specifically highlight or accommodate those objects. If you appreciate the aesthetic of something, even a piece of jewelry, your designer can use that as inspiration in your bedroom, bath, or other room. If you plan to include a special piece of furniture, particularly a large item, be sure to share that as well so the appropriate space for and around it is included in your design. Of course, art can become the beautiful centerpiece of a room, but it sometimes calls for additional structural support or lighting to be at its best. Letting your designers know about these items in advance, is a wonderful way to bring your own personal style to your renovation.

Be Vocal and Stay Engaged

From experience, we know that many homeowners tend to be reserved during the design process. Stay engaged, have an opinion, and don't be afraid to speak up when discussing ideas with your designer. By being active in the process you will ensure that the renovation isn't only a product of the designer or architect's vision, but yours as well.

Be Open About Budget

Budget is often a difficult conversation for people. We've found that homeowners often have a "want to spend" amount and a "can spend" amount, and sometimes believe that understating their budget will be an advantage. By openly sharing your budget range, priorities, likes and dislikes, your professional designer should have all the tools necessary to piece together your dream renovation in a more streamlined manner.

A renovation should ultimately be a representation of your personal style and should improve the way that you and your family use and enjoy the new spaces. We hope that with these tips you can guide your designer and/or architect in the style direction you want.

Please feel free to email askbowa@bowa.com or call me with any questions you may have on your home design and renovation.

Tim Burch is a Vice President of BOWA, an award-winning design, and construction firm specializing in renovations ranging from master suites and kitchens to whole-house remodels. A Northern Virginia native and third-generation builder, Tim enjoys calling on his 30 years of design-build experience to solve clients' home-related challenges. He is the Construction Advisor for The Mosby Heritage Area Association and sits on the Board of Building Appeals for Fauquier County. Prior to joining BOWA, Tim was the Lead Project Manager of Construction for the Emmy Award-winning construction reality television show, Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC Television. For more information on Tim and the BOWA team, visit bowa.com or call 540-687-6771.