Walk through your house and make a list of the things you don’t like. Prioritize them into what you can live with and those that absolutely must be changed. This narrows the scope of what you really want to accomplish with your redo and makes it easier to trim items during final planning to stay on budget.
Don’t forget about furnishings when planning. The most successful, livable remodels take into consideration the placement of furnishings, appliances, even paintings.
If there’s more than one person involved in the decision-making, it’s imperative that both people are present at the initial design meeting. Each of you will bring different wants to the table and these wants should all be considered from the very beginning, not introduced midstream through the project.
By creating a dream file prior to meeting with your design professional and prioritizing your wish list, you will help your designer to work with you in establishing both the scope and style of your project. This will ultimately maximize your design investment and give you plans that truly represent your vision.