When kitchen and bathroom designer Laurie Lehrich moved to Atlanta, her first home was a cute 1910 bungalow that had been remodeled by an investor, most likely without the help of an interior designer. While several features were attractive, what should have been an equally adorable kitchen was filled with maple cathedral door cabinets that in no way matched the architecture of the house. Fortunately, Lehrich, who works for Design Galleria Kitchen & Bath Studio, did not have to live long with the kitchen that would have been more at home in a suburban two-story house—she moved after only six months.

Lehrich’s story reveals one of the hazards of do-it-yourself remodeling projects. In worse scenarios, homeowners can be stuck with entire rooms that don’t fit with the house, misplaced windows or even a budget that is spent before the completion of the project.

One way to avoid these and other disasters is to hire an interior designer at the beginning stages of the project. Throughout the remodel, the designer can work closely with the rest of the remodeling team—contractor, architect, kitchen/closet/bath designer—to make sure that the new addition maintains structural integrity, stays within budget, considers lifestyle needs and works with the rest of the home. “You need all of these elements together to pull off a successful project,” Lehrich says.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
When deciding when to bring in an interior designer, experts agree: the sooner the better. Together with the homeowner and the rest of the team, the designer can help put together a plan for the project. This plan should be followed closely until the end to make sure the project stays on track and in budget.

“The best approach is to consult with a designer first about the overall objective of the project,” says interior designer Muriel Sackey of sakInteriors. “The designer can assist the client in refining design ideas and also developing a budget before the project is executed.” Working this out up front will help you have a concrete idea about function of the space, furniture choices for the room, color palette, lighting and flooring options, and the total cost of the project. And knowing where you are going with these elements should help you visualize the project.

THE BIG PICTURE
“One of the most common mistakes is avoiding the design process altogether,” says Jesse Morado, CR, of Renovation Coach. Many homeowners don’t realize the value of design and see it as an unnecessary cost. However, “skipping this step is one of the reasons many owners will have a negative experience during the remodeling process,” he says.

For designers who are brought in at the end of a project, the challenges can be many. For example, Sackey recalls a situation in which a homeowner came to her after managing the remodel herself. She had borrowed money to put on an addition but didn’t plan out the entire project, and in the end she was stuck with an empty shell lacking even light fixtures.

Another situation that can be avoided with the help of an interior designer during the planning stages is furniture placement. While this might not seem like an unsolvable problem, it can cause setbacks at the finale. “For example, when working with traditional dining room chandeliers, most builders will place them in the center of the room,” says Jeff Flowers of JP Flowers Enterprises. “This is great, but if there is a China hutch going into the room, the table is now off center, thus resulting in the chandelier not being directly over the table.” To fix the placement, an electrician and contractor will have to come back to the house, reposition the chandelier and repair the ceiling.

PERFECT PLANNING
Although the designers all agree that they prefer to come in at the beginning of a project, there are a few things that you should do before finding one. First, make sure you can provide the answers to basic questions about your intention for the space. Why do you need the space? How will the space be utilized? What challenges do you have with your current space? Who will use the space?

You also should be ready to talk about what styles and products interest you. Interior designer Mary Ellen Badger of Design Trilogy Inc. recommends creating a love/hate file. Buy five magazines and tear out pictures that can go in your “love” pile and some that can go in your “hate” pile. “A good designer will be able to see a thread running through the pictures,” she says.

Finally, a skilled interior designer will not only be able to work with the remodeling team, but also will make sure that the project ends as expected. Next to not bringing in a designer in time, Badger says the biggest mistake a homeowner can make is to watch too many home-makeover TV shows. Twelve designers on television might be able to redo a room for $1,000, but that is not enough to redo one in the real world. She often encounters a conflict between budget and expectation. In all cases, be realistic. “If something doesn’t work or is not functional, it does not matter how beautiful it is, it will not make the client happy in the end,” she says.

With an interior designer on board from the beginning to the end, a home remodel or addition can be a team effort that makes everyone happy, remains within a budget and maintains the architectural style of the home. “I think it makes the project more layered and richer,” Lehrich says. And hopefully, the designer will insist on keeping cathedral cabinets out of bungalows, too!