Home Renovation New York
Considerations for your Residential Interior Design Project
In this article, we address four major issues inherent to a residential renovation:
Anyone considering a residential interior design project in New York City should arm themselves with as much information as possible, even when working with an interior designer. We’ve already walked you through the steps of how the process works and what to expect in our blog post, “What to Expect During the Design Process for a Home or Office Renovation.”
Brooklyn apartment interior design by Mammoth Projects
The Aesthetics of Your Residential Project
The interior design concept and end result of your project should represent a balance between aesthetics and function. Function is the capability of serving a purpose well, while aesthetics focuses on beauty and taste.
Once you’ve selected the New York interior design studio you want to work with, your residential project will start with a discovery stage, which may be combined with a walk-through of your space. During this meeting, your interior designer will get a sense of your tastes and the style you are looking for, as well as your lifestyle, desires, and goals.
Some people may know what they like, but are unable define the actual style. There are scores of extraordinary design styles ranging from A - Z, starting with art deco, ending with Zen, and difficult to choose between. But while you may not technically understand the difference between “contemporary design” and “modern,” or “Bauhaus” and “mid-century,” you probably already have an interior design style that appeals to you.
If you are unsure, you can gather ideas and be inspired by searching for images in publications such as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Decor Aid, House Beautiful, Luxury Living, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times -- or even taking inspiration from the innovative design of New York spaces you may frequent. You can even take an “Interior Design Style Quiz” on the internet to help you identify which one of many interior design styles is your cup of tea.
Your interior design service may put together a “mood board” based on your discovery session. Sometimes called an “inspiration board,” it is a collage of images and material samples that presents color schemes, textures, furniture and accessories. It can be physical or digital, or a combination of both. Your interior designer may present several mood boards so you can choose the one that they prefer. This technique, which occurs early on in interior design projects, gives you an idea of whether your design company has understood the look you are seeking.
Bedroom design for one of our projects in Brooklyn NY
Timeline
Whether you live in New York City or elsewhere, be realistic about the timeline of your residential design project and plan for it, considering whether you will be staying in your space during renovations or will have to move out. The construction timeline is established by the general contractor, and will be broken down into stages that are completed by specific dates. Add some wiggle room because interior design projects may take longer than planned, especially if your co-op or condo has restrictions on when work can be done, or if some of the items specified have a particularly long lead time. Your project can also be delayed if you amend its scope or make any major changes after work has already begun.
Each phase of your residential project goes through its natural life cycle. Here’s what you can expect:
Design Phase Timeline
A thorough residential design process generally takes between two and six months, depending on the size of the space. During this time, your New York interior designer will contact relevant New York City departments regarding building codes; consult with expert such as an architect or architecture firm; create mood boards and presentations; and shop for materials, furniture, and finishes.
Construction Phase Timeline
Some products and a lot of designer furniture have lengthy lead times, especially if they are shipped from overseas. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an array of supply-chain problems and shortages, especially in big cities like New York. In addition, your contractor or subcontractor of choice may be booked for months ahead.
Delivery of products and designer furniture can take between one and six months, the same amount of time needed for the actual construction. While these time frames may overlap, some work can’t begin until items such as plumbing fixtures or flooring are delivered.
As a result, make sure you add buffer time of two months to your project to take into consideration emergencies, holidays and other delays.
Brooklyn apartment interior design by Mammoth Projects
Budget
Establishing a realistic budget is a critical step in interior design projects. Whether you are renovating your entire space, or giving a facelift to a kitchen or bathroom, an accurate and well-thought-out budget will help your interior design firm or decorator know exactly what do work with.
You and your interior designer should talk about budget at the beginning of the process, ideally in person and during one of your first meeting. By knowing approximately what you would like to spend, your interior designer will be able to shop for products, materials, and designer furniture in the appropriate price range. Obviously you don’t want to waste your time considering items that do not work with your budget and neither should your interior decorator or design firm.
But keep in mind that your project budget is more than just its construction costs. Here are additional items that may be included based on the scope of work:
Demolition and proper disposal of items
Contractor’s profit
Site development costs
Engineering, architecture, or design studio fees
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E)
Administrative costs
Moving and storage costs
Shipping, freight and installation costs
Sales tax
Construction contingency
Design fees can be included in the budget, but they also may be billed separately.
There are various formulas that an interior design firm applies to give clients a sense of what their budget for a residential design project should be. Some estimate the cost of furniture and home decor for an entire home ranges from 7 to 10% of the home’s overall value. But that figure doesn’t include renovation costs such as construction expenses, which can be as much as 10 to 20% of the overall cost. A typical formula is 15 to 20% of the overall budget for accessories, 8.5% for sales tax and 12 to15% for freight and delivery.
You should plan for going over budget by as much as 20%, by establishing a contingency fund.
Architecture Constraints
Defined as “a condition, agency or force that impedes progress towards an objective or goal,” any limitations on the work being done must be considered from the outset of the project. Design or architecture constraints are factors that limit the range of possible design solutions. Some may be obvious from the beginning of the project, while other may become apparent only as the job progresses. The constraints may be inherent, New York-specific, or caused by third parties, such as the DOB or building rules. These obstacles can be difficult to surpass without an accredited New York interior designer.
Here are examples of constraints that can affect a residential renovation project, making it necessary to find an alternate solution:
Technical
Economic
Management
Legal
Time
Environmental
Third party
For example, a legal constraint pertains to the regulations that the activities of a residential project must comply with, ranging from employment law to safety requirements. Compliance can be time-consuming and expensive. Your building’s co-op or condo board may not allow you to work during certain times, including weekends, or make certain structural changes, such as combining apartments on two different floors. A technical constraint may be that your contractor cannot remove a wall according to the design plan because of structural, plumbing or electrical considerations.
By doing your research, you should be able to uncover at least some existing constraints before your residential project begins, saving you time, money and unnecessary headaches. But other constraints will be easier to navigate with the help of an interior designer or interior design firm.
We’re a New York interior design studio specializing in residential and commercial interior renovations. If you’d like to connect with us to discuss the scope of your interior design or architecture project, please give us a call or book a complimentary consultation here.