Get Ready To Renovate

IF YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING OF A MAJOR RENOVATION, CONSIDER THIS YOUR BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS.

- Amanda Lecky

After months (or years!) of saving and dreaming, you’re ready to embark on a renovation that will put Chip and Jo to shame. You’ve taken your “before” pictures and you’re eager for the improvements to begin.

And yet you know you’re committing to a long, expensive project that will disrupt your normal routine. There’s so much to manage, and the process can be full of unknowns.

While there’s no way to avoid every single bump in the remodeling road, having the right guidance can improve the trip. We asked top design and construction pros to share their best insights into every stage of the process.

PHASE 1

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

You’ve heard the old saying “Measure twice, cut once”? Turns out it’s good advice for the renovation process: The more time you spend planning, the more smoothly the project is likely to run. So go slowly at the start, and follow these tips.

PICK THE RIGHT STARTING POINT

Not everyone can afford to remodel their whole house at once. “Start with the room you use the most, or the one that’s stealing your happiness as soon as you walk into it,” says interior designer Emily Henderson. Kitchens and bathrooms are usually good candidates to tackle first. “They’re both really important to how the house functions,” says interior designer Lauren Behfarin.