Exterior stone addition to existing homeFlooring with stainless insert designMatching wall, floor and decor in shower area Granite possibilities for countersThe unseen forgotten yet most important part of any design comes from the foundation items. Not as feature forward perhaps as the fluff and fillers that give it personality, but none the less the base for all that is to come. (Usually for a long period of time) For many of us in the design field our most important jobs may go unseen to the general public. They don't show up on Houzz or in magazines or photo shoots but they were painstakingly plotted, watchedyou can have a ton of projects and work and yet no pics to show off but be proud anyway because you know you gave your clients a great foundation for these purchases in the future and often a future over and we were peacock proud when completed. Why they often don't show up is because when doing large builds and renovation projects it takes money. As you work on a project the client often sees the fabulous progress and adds to the details again costing more money. The end result is a wonderful base for the rest of the home. However, in this process the immediate budget can get eaten up quickly and the fluff and decorating process gets pushed back until brighter days and more finances prevail. So job down the road.What are the foundations I am speaking of? The things we don't often look for in pictures unless we are planning a renovation ourselves. Flooring - type, style, colour and patterns. This is a huge part of any décor and one that has to be thought out rationally for the client as they can get caught up in a bevy of pictorials online and may not actually pick something that works in their household. Lighting is another big ticket item. To work on a proper lighting schematic, and select the appropriate and effective amount of lights within a budget is another aspect of design that is not often thought about. Often people only look at the largest light in a picture such as a chandelier for instance. However, one chandelier in a bedroom or great room is not enough light for all purposes. Yet, if you take a look online some of the pretty rooms that have been displayed often have very little else in the way of lighting. Believe me I know as this is one of the courses I teach at a local college and finding accurate pics for my student's leaves a lot to be desired. Plumbing items - sinks, faucets, toilets, shower items and tubs. These basic necessities are all based on scale and needs and family lifestyle in order to complete the tasks required. Cabinetry, door hardware, trim, ceiling styles, exterior brick, stone and shingles all fit into that grouping as well. Security and electronic items, paint colours or wall coverings also take up a part of the foundational items. Even window coverings could be considered a part of a projects foundation. However, this can also transition into the décor "fluff" part. This needs to be taken a lot more seriously than it often is. Drapery or window blinds add not only function but décor to a space and simply putting up an inexpensive covering can take a half a million dollar home into a visual downward spiral. It is disappointing to have worked timelessly on a home and then watch someone run to an inexpensive retail outlet for unlined grommet drapery or rod pocket style. Not only does it not follow the rest of the homes finer features, they often have poor street appeal, and sun or light blocking value. When working with clients who have custom drapery or window treatments made they usually cannot get over the difference that a well-made drapery treatment can add to a room. In many cases the order gets increased to more rooms to complete the look throughout the home. These important items all should be considered based on your likes and family or company demands not on the visual impact that you intake from magazines or TV. A trained professional will help you make these costly decisions wisely. Not all wished for décor from a ripped out magazine shoot may be best suited for you. We know because we get the calls from those who have tried the DIY based on a super deal they found at a store or a buying spree for colour matching product. Then once installed, it was not installed correctly or the room has a lack luster appeal. Yet, as detailed as all these items are, if I were to take a picture of a room with a perfect floor and cabinetry, wall colour and lighting without furniture or accessories the amount of photo appeal to the general public is next to zero.Our jobs may not be as glamorous as some think. Most of my students had no idea that becoming a decorator or a designer was so much work or detail oriented. But that is why hiring a trained professional is a wise investment into building a fabulous foundation with fundamental items for the future fluff that is yet to come.
