One thing that goes hand-in-hand with interior design is the work renovation. We have clients call us all the time for remodel design...typically in their kitchen or bathroom. We walk into so many homes and see dated finishes, poorly configured workspaces, and unhappy clients who just want it to be right. The hard part is...that's just the beginning. Many people live in their homes for a very long time before they decide to remodel so they're already frustrated and they want to see instant results. And if there's one thing we CAN promise you when it comes to home renovations...there are never instant result. It is always a process. A long, tedious process. The end is always worth it. But sometimes, it's hard to remember that while they're living in construction. We found this article on Houzz and wanted to share it with you because everything in it is so true. Renovations are hard. Really hard. If you're ready for it, great! You'll be happy in the end, but there are some things you need to be prepared for BEFORE you get started.

Get ready to live outside of your "norm" for a while. Renovations...or any kind of home construction will leave you with unusable areas of your own home. This will disrupt life for you as you know it. Some people can roll with the punches and go with the flow while others need their routines to function. So it's important to ask yourself what kind of person are you and how will you deal. Think of what you need to do to function if your garage is occupied for months or if you can't plug your coffee maker in for a few weeks. You may think, oh, I won't care! That's no big deal... But trust us. It wears on you after a while and the more prepared you are for it, the happier you'll be in the end.

Say goodbye to that clean house loved so much. Construction = dust. Construction = contractors = dirt. Many reputable contractors try to be as clean as possible while they're in your home but some dirt is just unavoidable. Not to mention that disturbing things causes dust to rise.... and the worst part...it takes much longer to settle than it does to spread. So be prepared for dirt for a while. Even a few months after construction ends, be prepared for it.

Throw that timeline out the window. Many clients ask us how long we estimate that work will take once construction has begun. Full disclosure. We have NO idea. We can guess...or tell you how long it SHOULD take, but that doesn't always translate into reality. There are so many variables with construction including vendors, shipping, product, contractors, your schedule, other jobs that people may be juggling...it's a lot of give and take and there are often delays. This can be hard and we get it, but it's pretty much uncontrollable. Tell yourself, you've got all the time in the world once demo begins and then be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't take that long. :)

Overall, living through home renovations is a complete emotional rollercoaster. You will be out of your comfort zone and you will wonder if you ever should've done this to yourself. The answer is yes. The product is always worth the pain and we're sure you'll love your new home once everything is done!

The Truth About | Home Renovations