10 QUESTIONS I ASK MY CLIENTS BEFORE STARTING A PROJECT
Starting a home renovation project can be a daunting process so it can be really helpful to ask some key initial questions.
In this blog post I aim not only to share with you the questions I like to ask but also share with you some key questions to ask yourself that will help you gather your overall thoughts and aspirations to get a clear overview on what it is you would like to achieve.
Getting to know my clients before their project starts is absolutely paramount for a successful completion. You can not design a home based on assumption therefore a lot of time is spent in the beginning gathering the all important information which will form the basis of the overall design and completion.
The following series of questions are used to gather information and understand your preferences, needs, your lifestyle and expectations so that I can create a tailored design plan that reflects your style and meets your functional requirements.
01. Who is this project for and who lives or will be living in the property?
The very initial question is perhaps an obvious one but a full list of who lives in the property is very important. Here it is good to know not only your names and ages, but whether there are any kids or grandparents living at the property too. Are there any disability to take into account when designing? Do you have any pets? This may not appear important but I can assure you that even the smallest of pets can have an impact on aspects of the overall design.
02. What is your project? Tell me about your aspirations and what you need help with?
Is it a full house renovation, an extension, one room refurbishment, improving your layout, light and storage? It is useful to know whether there are parts of your home you are not willing to change, those that you love. Are you willing and open to design ideas out of your initial brief? Some clients like the idea of seeing what they perhaps haven’t thought of but others may have a concrete idea of what they would like to achieve.
03. Is your property your forever home or do you intend to sell or rent the property once the work is completed?
This information could be vital for the choices made on various aspects of the whole design. If it is your forever home it’ll be key to source long standing materials that will stand the test of time, choices will be made to suite every family member and be as functional and aesthetically pleasing. However if your intention is purely aesthetics to make it look appealing for a sale then we can work on making the best choices and getting the best prices to make this happen without emptying the bank. For rented properties we would aim for choices that would be suitable for a varied costumers interns of colour choices, easy clean surfaces to robust materials that can take high usage.
04. Have you already got architectural drawings and planning approval?
Don’t worry if your answer is no. Not all projects require them. If you are planning an extension or full house renovation previous drawings can be very useful in assessing the history of the property, what works have previously been done to the property or whether you already have a planning approval to work with. One of the initial stages of designing is looking at your floor plan. Sometimes clients have architectural floor plans but these may change slightly once we delve into your aspirations in order to make the best possible use of your spaces. If you do not have any plans this is of course not a problem as we can get these made for you. For any internal alterations you may not need any architectural drawings or planning permission we can discuss this once we get going.
05. What is your style or what style are you drawn too?
The question, ‘what is your style?’ can often sound like a tricky one, but all I ask here is a general idea of what you like. Have you got any ideas or inspirational images you can share? Is there a particular style you like? Do you have a colour palette you like? Perhaps you have seen a movie lately where you thought wow I love that house. Anything at all that can help me understand what you are drawn to is great help.
06. What is the lifestyle of all those living at the property?
Who uses each space? How often is it used? What is currently not working in specific areas? Do you like to entertain, cook or are certain areas to become a quiet sanctuary? Does anyone work from home and what’s the most used room?
07. What are your priorities?
For some it is light or storage, for others it’s flow or the final touches & aesthetics. Whatever it is, defining this early on is key to the success of your project. Here are a few questions to help define your priorities for your project:
Space: Do you lack space, are you wanting to increase your existing floor plan? What is more important to you, extending the existing footprint of your home or keeping within a budget you have set yourself?
Time: Are you short of time or are you willing to take time getting your floor plan absolutely spot on before any works start?
Love it or List it: Are you planning to love your home forever or planning to sell it? Is your priority to spend money on quality materials or make affordable choices so that more of the budget can be spent on the build?
Natural Light: Do you find that some areas in your home are too dark? Is it more important to you to have separate rooms for example a dining room and a living room or would you be open to form an open plan space for the two. How do you feel about sky lights?
08. What is your budget / estimate ?
You don’t have to disclose this information but it is very helpful to gauge the scope of your project and the choices we make. A rough estimate can help understand your goals and will later be useful to balance the overall budget to ensure you get everything you dreamed of. What does your budget include? Some will have a budget for the building works but not for furnishing or design fees. The more specific you can be from the start the easier it is for me to assess the overall project costs.
09. Have you ever done a renovation before and did you work with an interior designer on that project?
If your answer is no, don’t to worry as I will be with you throughout the whole project from start to completion. If you have then please tell me all about it. Did the project run smoothly and was the end result exactly as you had imagined?
10. Where did you hear about me and my business?
I ask this only out of interest and as an entrepreneur it is a valuable source of information. If I was recommended by someone I’d really like to show them my appreciation and thanks.
Conclusion:
As you can see, it is very important for myself or any other Interior designer to gather as much information as possible from you before your project starts.
Successful projects are built on strong communication and a deep understanding of clients’ needs and desires.
Thanks for visiting!
Christina x
Hi! I’m Christina, an interior designer & project manager based in Manchester (uk). My blogs are all about answering questions through sharing my design tips, advice, knowledge and inspiration.
Transforming unique homes through space planning, problem-solving and details.
I focus on two main elements whilst planning the transformation of your unique space……..
YOUR LIFE STYLE
S · P · A · C · E.
P · L · A · N · N · I · N · G
How do you walk through your house? What is the most used room or location? Where do you sit and what view do you get? Can you communicate with others in the house easily and how can you increase natural elements such as light?
YOUR PERSONALITY
D · E · S · I · G · N
D · E · T · A · I · L · S
Who lives at the property, is there a unique space for everyone, what do you love, what do you want, dream to have, is there a talking point? How do all spaces communicate with each other. What will you and your guests love?
WORK WITH ME….
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