3 Important Details Home Renovation TV Shows Don’t Share
We've all seen it. The glorious moment a newly renovated home is revealed to the home owner for the first time on our favorite Interior Design TV show. Hugs, tears and disbelief that everything came together so beautifully....and quickly. And affordably. And seamlessly. Hmmmmm, really?
Today, I’m sharing a few important details left out of our favorite renovation TV shows.
Detail #1: The Design is in Place Before Demo Day
The TV shows depict demo day happening before the homeowner even picks out any finishes. That stage of the process absolutely does NOT happen like this. In reality, a contractor can't even begin to think about demolition until the finishes are selected, the fixtures are on site (plumbing, tile, etc.), and the cabinets are nearly completed and close to installation.
In our firm, the work-before-the-work can take several weeks to several months of planning (including selections, drawings, and specifications) depending on the scope of a project. Renovating a bathroom? Allow for several weeks. A large kitchen? Allow much longer. An entire home? We are looking at months of preparation prior to demo.
Detail #2: The Timeline is Planned and Reasonable
While TV shows portray massive crews working around the clock to meet unrealistic deadlines, that is simply not reality. Actual projects involve real people working hard for you during normal business hours.
Detail #3: The Investment Includes Materials & Labor Costs
The "budgets" that are discussed on TV are terribly inaccurate and misleading. They depict fully designed spaces with minimal investments, and the construction costs don't reflect realistic budgets. In real life, labor and furnishings are not donated or sponsored, and quality matters!
Gathering Information from Professionals
The best thing to do if you are unsure about your upcoming renovation is to reach out to a professional Interior Designer early to understand the process, timeline and investment based on the scope of your project. For an additional peek into the reality of Interior Design, be sure to read our answers to our most frequently asked questions.
If you would like some expert guidance designing and building your home, we would love to help. Reach out and let's get to know each other.
Warmly,
Kelly
