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bathroom designs

Renovation Time: How to Plan the Duration of Your Home Improvement Project

How much time should you allocate for a new home renovation?

Home renovations are each a unique project to the space and the changes you want to make. Naturally, renovating a small bathroom will take less time than the same depth of renovations in the kitchen. Repainting your cabinetry will take less time than rebuilding the whole cabinet set.  No matter how big or small your renovations, it is vital to know the real time estimate for the duration

Time Your Renovation in Stages

How long will your renovation take? This is easiest to answer in stages. Consider each state necessary, from ripping out the old features to building brand new features – each stage takes time. Roughly, you can allot 2 hours of time per day per team reliably and up to 6 hours of rotating shifts. The number of tasks, in total, that make up your renovation project will determine how long it will take to complete. 

You can also look up each type of renovation task to determine how much must be built before other features are built around it.

Example Renovation Stages 8-20 weeks

  • Planning & Design Stage – 2-4 weeks
  • Supply Delivery – 2-8 weeks
  • Tear-Out Stage – 1-2 weeks
  • Utility Line Stage – 1-2 weeks
  • Fixtures and Features – 1 week
  • Structures, Cabinets, and Countertops – 1-4 weeks
  • Paints, Finishes, and Sealcoat – 2-5 days

It can be as small as a quick bathroom renovation, to the whole gut renovation, which could be 6 months long!

Make Plans to Stay Somewhere Else

Most home renovations are less than enjoyable to live next to. Homes are often open with sheets of plastic and privacy is not guaranteed. Once you have determined how long your home renovation is likely to be, you can make plans to safely stay elsewhere. Pack up the family and catch a stay-cation at a local resort, visit relatives, or stay with a nearby friend. You can also book a vacation rental – temporarily renting a vacation-style home in the suburbs for comfort and convenience without the complexity of living in a hotel for a few weeks or months.

Causes for Home Renovation Delays

  • Design changes
  • Supplier shortages
  • Shipping delays
  • Poor weather (outdoor work)

Another serious consideration is that delays happen. Most contractors will advise you to add a few extra days to your schedule to account for delays.  Project delays can come from a variety of sources. If you have a project exposed to the outside, then weather plays a role. Lately, we’ve faced widespread manufacturing and transport shortages, leading to supply and shipping delays. If the homeowner makes a design change, this can also result in a delay as plans change.

Calculate and plan for delays so that a late shipment or poor weather doesn’t throw off your entire estimated schedule for completion.

Ordering Furniture for Your Renovated Home

When your work experiences no delays and contractors can arrive throughout the week, often deliveries are the one thing you have to plan furthest ahead. Special ordered building materials can take weeks or months to arrive.

Home renovations also tend to pair with redecoration and new furniture. Ordering new furniture for your home can take 6-8 weeks for delivery. This is part of the reason why it’s important to have a complete design plan before you begin. By ordering your furniture and building materials early, you can optimize their delivery time for when your renovation project is ready to put them to use. Ordering furniture early ensures the furniture is available when the work on your house is done and you’re ready to redecorate.

How long does a home improvement project take? It depends on the stages of home improvement and the shipment times for the materials, fixtures, and furniture your project needs. Work with your contractors (or DIY your plan) to order your goods early. You can choose to start work when your materials arrive or time their arrival as you move through the stages of your home renovation project.

Looking for trendy, beautiful furniture for your new home design? Contact us today.

4 Home Interior Design Tips for Cozy Living

Nothing is as inviting, heavenly, and comfortable as a well-decorated home with a cozy living area. Maybe it’s how the furniture is arranged or how the lighting casts a warm and welcoming glow. Whatever it is, there’s just something about a perfectly decorated home that makes you want to curl up with a good book and never leave. 

Picking a home interior design style is your thin line between an inviting and comfortable home and a cold, sterile one. It’s essential to choose a style that reflects your personality and allows you to feel comfortable in your home. 

While the process can be daunting, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you smoothen your interior design process for your home.

What to Prepare Before Meeting with Your Interior Designer

Like any other important meeting in your life, there are a few things you should do before meeting with your interior designer for the first time. Prior preparation will make the session more productive and allow you to get to know your designer and see if they’re a good fit for your project. Here are a few key things you should do before meeting with your interior designer.

1. Define your project scope

The first step is to define the scope of your project clearly. Are you renovating your whole home or just one room? What is your budget? When do you need the project to be completed? These are all important questions that need to be answered before meeting with your designer.

2. Gather inspiration boards

Inspiration boards are an excellent way to communicate your design preferences to your designer. Collect images of rooms or designs you like and compile them into a board. 

This will give your designer a better understanding of your style and help them to better cater to your needs. Pinterest is a great place to start when looking for inspiration images. Create a board and start saving images that inspire you.

3. Know your design style and aesthetic preferences

Design styles vary significantly from one person to the next. What kind of look are you going for? Classic, modern, or eclectic? Be sure to have a good understanding of your design style before meeting with your designer. 

Your aesthetic preference is also an important factor to consider. Do you prefer a minimalist look, or are you more drawn to traditional designs? Be detailed in your descriptions to ensure that your designer knows exactly what you’re looking for.

4. What’s Your Budget

How much are you willing to spend on your home interior design project? This is an important question to ask before meeting with your designer. They will be able to give you a better idea of what is possible within your budget and help you to make the most of your money. Be realistic in your expectations, and don’t be afraid to ask for discounts.

What Files and Documents Do You Need?  

You’ll need to have a few key documents and files before your interior designer can start working on your project. These include:

  • A floor plan of your home (or the room you’re renovating)
  • Measurements of all the rooms in your home
  • Photos of your home (or the room you’re renovating)
  • Samples of materials you’d like to use in your project (e.g., paint, flooring, color scheme, furniture, etc.)
  • Any design preferences or inspiration boards you’ve created
  • Any sketches or ideas you have for the project

Ensure to have all of these documents ready and organized before meeting with your designer. This will help them better understand your project and make the design process much smoother.

The Value of Good Interior Design

A well-designed home looks good and reflects your personality, allowing you to feel comfortable in your home. Investing in quality interior design can also increase the value of your home, making it a wise investment for the future. 

While choosing an interior designer can be daunting, it’s important to remember that their job is to make your dreams a reality. You can rest assured that they will deliver a stunning finished product by providing them with a clear vision and all the necessary information.

How Working with a Designer will Save You Money

Interior design can be a costly affair – especially if you’re not familiar with the process. Besides the many benefits of working with an experienced interior designer, they can help you save money in the long run. How do they do this? You may ask.

  • They will help you avoid bad contractors who can do more harm than good, resulting in more costs for repairing and fixing stuff.
  • Interior designers know where to find quality materials at a fraction price as they are well connected with suppliers.
  • An interior designer can also be a great asset in helping you stay on budget. They will work with you to choose finishes and materials that fit your budget and meet your needs.
  • Designers also have a keen eye for detail and can spot potential problems before they become costly.

Let OPENUU Help You Design Your Next Project

Partnering with a reliable and experienced interior designer will help you create a beautiful and functional space that you will love for years to come. They will help you stay on budget, navigate the design process, and avoid costly mistakes. 

At OPENUU, we understand that each project is unique and take the time to get to know our clients so that we can create a space that reflects their individual styles. With us, you’re guaranteed a finished product that is stylish and practical.

Contact us for a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you with your next project!

8 Bathroom Designs to Create a Relaxing Bath Time Escape

There is nothing quite like a long hot bath to relax at the end of the day. Soaking in hot water releases tension in your muscles and the quiet escape can ease the stress from your mind. Every private bathroom should be a peaceful oasis. You can always redesign your bathroom to be more relaxing with just a few thoughtful design changes. A little bit of decoration, new shelves, and soft lighting can help to transform your bathroom into a private steamy retreat from the outside world.

Adults today rarely bathe partly because our bathrooms aren’t designed for a comfortable soak. Tubs are too small and cramped in by walls on three sides. The edge of the bathtub may be too sharp or slippery for comfortable lounging. There may be nowhere to put your drink, and the only lights are brilliant vanity bulbs. A bathroom with steps leading to a comfortable soaking tub will naturally inspire you to take more baths, and to make the most of each bath you take. 

DIY Bathroom Decorations for Bath Ambiance

Decorate with Jars of Candles, Oils, and Bath Salts

Make the space around your bathtub beautiful and relaxing. One of the best ways is to decorate with your bath supplies. Bath oils and salts are often lovely in jars and will look perfect next to your scented candles and votives. Some bath candles melt into bath oil you can add to your bath.  

Relax Into a Bath Neck Pillow

Change the shape of your tub with inflatable pillows and pads. The right neck pillow or bath insert can transform your bath experience. You can make it both easy and safer to doze off in the warm water.

Set the Lights to Your Favorite Color

Swap out a few bulbs for smart light bulbs and take control of your bathroom color. It’s easy to turn a standard light fixture (but not a specialty-size fixture) into a smart light. Then dim the lights and set them to your favorite color at voice command when it’s time to take a relaxing soak.

Place a Smart Speaker for Relaxing Music

Mount a smart speaker on the wall of your bathroom. You can set it to play you anything from relaxing spa music to news and podcasts, as well as setting your smart lights from the path without lifting a finger.

Bathroom Renovations for the Bath Experience

Install a Soaker Tub

The single biggest bath obstacle for most adults is an enclosed 5-foot tub. That’s just not enough space to soak. If you are taking on a major bathroom renovation, consider installing a soaker tub, maybe even spaced out from the wall so you have room to soak or to sprawl.

Install Shelves or Niches Near Your Bathtub

Baths are so much better when you can set down a drink and tip in bath oils at your leisure.  A few extra shelves or an installed bath niche can give you that extra space you need to stretch out and relax.

Design Layered Lighting

Give yourself more than bright vanity lighting or a shadowy overhead light. Layered lighting is ideal in the bathroom to give you both full illumination coverage and relaxing mood lighting options.

Install a Towel Warming Rack for Toasty Warm Towels

Towel warming is a simple yet luxurious bathroom upgrade. These lightly powered towel bars warm your towels while you are in the bath or shower. When you step out, a toasty towel or two await you.

Top-Up With an On-Demand Heater

One powerful bathroom upgrade is an on-demand heater. This is an enclosed set of heating coils that warm water as it passes through the pipes. You can take a long hot shower. For longer bathing, you can top up your hot water without the extra seconds of cold water clearing the tap, or taxing your tank water heater.

A bathroom designed for bathing is helpful for stress, muscle recovery, medical soaking, and private escape. Fill the tub, dim the lights, and enjoy a truly relaxing soak. For more bathroom renovation ideas and a great selection of beautiful decoration pieces, shop with us today.