Lori Gilder is an award-winning Architectural Interior Designer known for her clean, architectural lines and comfortable California Modern style. She has been a featured guest of multiple HGTV shows and as a contributor to television, print and digital media platforms. Her award-winning firm, Interior Makeovers Inc., specializes in custom solutions for homes and vacation properties throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Thoughtful planning, creating a wish list that prioritizes which features you’d like to include in your remodel, and asking for several quotes before embarking on the project will all help you avoid any major budgetary pitfalls. Among the tasks that will make you feel confident that you’ve done your due diligence are:
Then have reputable general contractors quote the job based on your wish list. Once you have quotes in hand, you can always work backward to develop a high/low budget.
You should make sure to plan your entire bathroom design before ever starting demolition. Ask your general contractor to provide a comprehensive budget of your project – which lists out every line item. Then make certain you are absolutely clear on what is and isn’t covered before you sign on the dotted line of your contract.
However, the reality is that no matter how well prepared you are, there will be unforeseen issues lurking behind your walls. So the smart thing to do is to set aside a contingency fund of 15% to cover these unexpected costs.
In a word – don’t. My company certainly doesn’t. We purchase all of our plumbing supplies directly through local suppliers and showrooms.
Once we place the order, specifications are prepared for the general contractors, plumbers and electricians. This ensures that rough-ins (the basic lines before final connections are made) are right, and that we can address any and all service issues.
We find this type of personal service is paramount to ensure a smooth renovation process, translating into less stress for our clients.
Advanced planning when you are renovating a bathroom is imperative, but you still always have to expect the unexpected.
If you live in an older home, you will likely need to replace pipes, which can be corroded, leaking, or extremely brittle.
Obviously, if you are changing up the layout of your bathroom and relocating fixtures, recognize that you’ll need to replace the old plumbing with new lines.
Once demolition begins, you may uncover asbestos, mold, and/or lead paint. Be prepared! Once disturbed, you must deal with these toxins immediately, and have them removed by a professional remediation/abetment company.
Select a designer who sees your project as a collaborative process.
As designers, we work to assess our client’s lifestyle needs, budget constraints, and their personal style. A big part of planning a remodeled bathroom is to look at the existing floor plan. If it’s clumsy and dysfunctional, it’s our job as designers to communicate how to improve it, working with you to plan, design, and create your dream bathroom from beginning to end.
Some of the great new features that you might want to add to your bathroom remodel are:
Here are a few bathroom remodel features that I wouldn’t waste space or expense on:
If you know the pitfalls of remodeling your bathroom in advance, it’s to be hoped that your construction project will go smoothly and easily – and that you will absolutely love the end result!
In Part 2 of this interview, we’ll discuss how great design choices can enhance your life and create a terrific home spa!