By Annamarie Amore
Just Floored
Annamarie Amore
Starting a new home project can be a bit overwhelming. Here are a few ideas to make the process helpful and enjoyable. I have been helping my clients for over 30 years and have found that these tips can make the process easy and fun.
Your project might be new flooring, a kitchen backsplash, a bathroom remodel or a home gym. It’s best to start your homework before you begin shopping.
Gather your inspiration and what you would like to see in your new space. The internet is a great space to start. There are sites like Pinterest, Houzz, Instagram and Facebook. I personally love Google searches since the range of ideas is larger. Compile all the images you like and start a file on the designs. Spending a few minutes scrolling thought these sites can help you start to notice what you like and what you don’t like. It will help narrow down the choices when you begin shopping.
Design centers like mine offer one-stop shopping so you can visualize the entire space from flooring, cabinetry, countertops, tile, hardwood and paint colors with finishes. This really helps in the selection process, so you see what everything looks like together. Try and find a retailer that offers a large selection of all the products you are considering.
Make sure you are working with a professional or designer who is knowledgeable in the area of redesign to add helpful suggestions. If budgeting allows, hiring an interior designer is a wonderful added help to the project. Most designers have sources for unique product lines that you just can’t find in any store. They also can offer suggestions from layout to constructional positioning to enhance the space.
I have learned through trial and error many key points in bathrooms, from how many electrical plugs you should have to their positioning to the sizes of niches in a shower and the tub area. My favorite enhancement in a bathroom is hiding the electrical plugs inside a medicine cabinet for toothbrushes and electric shavers. There is nothing worse than designing a beautiful bathroom with multiple bathroom necessities on the vanity top. The same goes for showers and tubs. If you do not make a niche large enough, you end up with shampoo bottles, body wash and conditioner bottles on the floor or the ledge of the tub.
When you start to narrow down your selections of products and design features, the next step would be to get estimates for your project. Calculate what your cost would be and then you can plan on making a decision to move forward.
Always remember that designing new spaces should be fun and at the end you can look back to see what you have created for your family to enjoy and love the look of your home.
Annamarie Amore is founder/owner of A.A.I. Flooring Specialist. She can be reached at amoreinteriorsllc@gmail.com.