Emilia Interior Design & Decor | Who To Hire First?

So you decide that you want to remodel your kitchen and/or bathroom.

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I'm guessing it all started when you moved in. You thought, "This kitchen doesn't make sense." Or, "I hate my bathroom, the caulk is peeling and it always feels dirty."

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Your next step is Pinterest. You collect a million ideas. You're inspired! You have a fight with your significant other other cost and reality and design taste.

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And then you decide. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT!

You find a way to make it work financially.

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Then you Google, "Contractors in Portland, Oregon." You read reviews. You make phone calls. You schedule site visit with contractors. You show them your inspiration photos and floor plan ideas.

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They submit their bids and estimates. And then you decide on who you're going to hire.

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And then this is where the stress starts to pile up.

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Your contractor writes you this email-- and it says something like this:

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Dear Client,

We're happy to move forward. We can start in 4 weeks.

Please have all of the materials and finishes on-site in 4 weeks before we start demo.

I will need to know what paint color and sheen you want in 1 week and where the tile should stop.

I need to know how much grout to order.

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Insert record scratch sound--WAIT WHATTTTTT--I thought that was your job! I showed you pictures of what I wanted!

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And I showed you what I wanted? So your bid didn't even include material costs?

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This is how I like to explain it. A contractor is like a baker. Imagine if you walked into a bakery and you showed a baker a picture of a cake. You told the baker, "I want you to make me a cake that kinda looks like this one."

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The baker would respond with a dozen questions:

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"What flavor of cake?"

"How thick do you want the frosting?"

"Are there any allergies to keep in mind?"

"Do you want the high-end local sprinkles?"

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A general contractor is a builder. They're trained to execute a vision, not create one.

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I recommend always speaking with a contractor after you have your design plan nailed down.

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What's a design plan? The design plan answers all of the questions. It nails down the vision, outlines the exact materials being used, the quantities of materials, the colors, textures, sheens, etc.

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A general contractor will be able to take a look at the design plan and give you a detailed estimate that includes labor and materials.

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The design plan will also help inform the timeline of the project. If you're set on a certain stone for your bathroom floor, but you know that the lead time is 6 months, that knowledge will help guide the order that things should go in.

Trust me, you don't want to start, only to find out that the item you love is on a shipping container in LA with a 3 month delay. Living with a bathroom that has been half-gutted for 3 months is no easy living.

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Soooo....the next time you decide to embark on a remodel project in your home and you DON'T want to play project manager or designer, try Googling, "Interior Designers in Portland, Oregon" FIRST!

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For tips on working with an interior designer, check-out my post on my 5 Tips for Working with an Interior Designer.

Who To Hire First?

An Interior Designer or Contractor?

A general contractor is a builder. They're trained to execute a vision, not create one.

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