Planning a Fall Project? Here's What You Can Do During The Summer to Prepare!

We wait for summer all year, but let’s face it, sadly it comes and goes quickly, and before we know it, we’re back into the fall routine. The fall season is a busy one as we all settle back into school, work and activities after the lazy days of summer. Fall also often brings along projects large or small, and some require more planning and foresight than others. Believe us, we’re not wishing away the summer, on the contrary! We want to give you peace of mind and comfort in being as prepared as possible so you can enjoy your summer without a looming to-do list. If you’ve got an interior design project you’re contemplating for the fall, we’ve got ideas and suggestions to set yourself up for success come September, whether a new home build, renovation, or a furniture and decor overhaul.

1. GATHER INSPIRATION

Whether through Pinterest or good old fashioned magazines, start by pinning and collecting images that resonate with you. Whether you’re building a new home, renovating an existing space, or updating your furniture and decor, this is a great place to start in the process. Peruse while you’re poolside, lakeside or traveling, adding images along the way. You’ll likely start to see a trend, or a pattern which is a great jumping off point in discerning your aesthetic.
Keep ideas digitally or in a binder, separated by room.
Make notes about what you like (or dislike!), what you gravitate towards and draws you in. You might think you’ll remember, but it’s a great idea to capture your thoughts in the moment and make notes.

Tip:

Create sections within your Pinterest board for example; ‘Lakehouse’ might be the board name, with sections such as kitchen, powder room, entry, etc. to keep your thoughts organized.

2. GET ORGANIZED & PURGE

You’ll appreciate starting your project with some semblance of order. Now is the time to dig into the nooks and crannys, and have an honest review of what should stay, and what should go. I’m not suggesting a total Marie Kondo approach, but enough to make a difference.

Go through closets, removing articles of clothing you haven’t worn in the last six months, as well as anything out of style, damaged and unrepairable, or that don’t fit anymore.
Get rid of household decor items that don’t have meaning or you feel won’t fit into your new aesthetic.
Clean up and organize paperwork.
If renovating, secure a pod or storage unit to clear out your home in preparation for work to be done. You’ll be surprised how far dust travels so you’ll want as many things out of the way as possible.
Donate or sell any unwanted items on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji, so your items can be appreciated, and loved by someone else.

3. SECURE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER & CONTRACTOR/BUILDER

You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve enlisted the expertise of a professional interior designer as well as a contractor/ builder depending on the scale of your project. The summer is a great time to peruse websites, talk to friends, colleagues, and any other referral sources to set you up for success and have a plan moving forward with your team.

While the industry isn’t quite as busy as it was a year ago, companies are still booking well in advance. Avoid disappointment by planning ahead and securing your ‘A-Team’ early on.
Securing an interior designer takes more time than you’d expect. Whether you’ve been on a company’s website, and/or follow them on Instagram already, making a phone call, or sending an email is the next step in connecting. From there, you’ll likely have at least 1-2 meetings before the project gets fully underway.
Pay deposits or retainers to secure their services and be “in the queue” for work to commence.

Tips:

Not all designers/ contractors will be available based on your expected timeline. Manage expectations by having an understanding of timing during your calls. If you can, I highly recommend waiting for the right team/ fit, even if it means waiting a little longer to get your project started.

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Interior designers bring value by streamlining your interior design project (saving money and mistakes!), and working alongside you to alleviate stress and overwhelm. You’ll rest easy knowing you have an advocate and liaison to work closely with.

4. ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCES

The financials of a project are the backbone of allowing the aesthetics to come to life. Having these in place well in advance means your project is off to a great start.

Talk to your designer and contractor/ builder about realistic budget numbers. By gaining an understanding of current industry costs, you’ll be much more prepared to plan your financials accordingly.
Apply for a loan or line of credit if need be. This is not always an easy or straightforward process, so allow time for visits to the bank, and paperwork to be completed.
Secure funds from other accounts or move money as needed.

Tips:

Having your financials in order will avoid delays as you’ll be able to provide deposits for work to be done, and orders to be placed.

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Due to supply chain issues and lead times, more money than expected may be required upfront to initiate orders, and secure product.

5. ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

With a little pre-planning, you’ll not only be ahead of the game come fall when your project gets underway, you’ll be in great shape to enjoy the rest of your summer knowing you have plans in place.

Relax, recharge, and soak up the sun!

ALSO!

Information gathering is a critical element of the design process. Inspiration gathering is also a necessary step in moving to the design development stage. If you don’t know where to start, and need a little guidance with respect to navigating the ins and outs of your pending project, we’ve put together a comprehensive workbook to get your thoughts on paper, and a have good honest look at how you live and what you love. Download your copy of our Life At Home workbook via our Understanding Your Home blog!

If you’re interested in working with Nyla Free Designs, please get in touch! We’d love to learn more about your project, location, timing, budget and of course, aesthetic.

Hello!

Welcome. We’re so happy you stopped by. Our goal is to be a leader in the interior design and lifestyle industry, known for our creativity, authenticity, professionalism and expertise, as a go to resource to learn, work with or simply be inspired. Thank you for spending time with us!