Thank you... see all I want are some guidelines and tools to figure this out and I can..I know I can.. I do see beauty and get ideas daily. If I had gone to design school as you did what are the basics that helped you the most in your current design skills?

The most valuable thing an architect/designer did for me when I asked for her advice about how to approach the renovation of an old house, was to focus on the space where we would spend the most time. My first inclination had been to blow the budget on bathrooms. She talked me into doing them bare bones, and instead imagining what could be done with the heart - the entrance and living area - of the house. It's important for a client to be reassured that you can achieve powerful results with very few elements. You just choose them carefully and keep everything else low key.

also I wanted to say ..that I have asked designers etc for software tools I can use to do this exact thing...create my rooms ..and all they ever say is that is expensive and available to only designers. I know this is not true. I want to do this myself. I wont hire a designer. I would pay for tools and software and knowledge. I am not incapable or astetically unable to see what works and to see the beauty. I just need a little help . Why must everyone want to charge me money to just be a nice person and share ideas. I like this website and the help I see people giving each other and the shared ideas. I wish I found this years ago. I am determined to learn. I look at pictures and analyze them. I talk to people and read and research products etc. I may be indecisive but I will never give up my creative enjoyment and ability to create..this is what drives me.. this is my passion..I just need to educate myself more.

Wow. So many comments and information on this question. I'm sorry you had a bad experience hiring a "designer". Was this person educated in Interior Design? Licensed by your state? NCIDQ certified? How many years in practice? Did you review their portfolio? Did they come recommended by a friend? Basically, did you take a proactive approach just like you would hire a lawyer, doctor, realtor etc? You may have thought they were a designer, but perhaps they were in sales for the builder, cabinet maker etc. Check out an article I wrote to educate the general public about the profession of Interior Design. See http://otradausa.blogspot.com/search?q=Interior+stylist&m=1

As far as starting any project there is a process: programming, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, building construction administration. Each phase has key elements regarding budgets, building codes, materials, existing conditions, specifications, contractor bids, submittals, approvals etc. It's far too detailed to explain in one comment, but know a good professional will save you time and money. You will need to trust this person so take on a small project and build the rapport slowly OR choose to be self-taught and absorb all of this wonderful and free information here on the Internet.

Dear designideas4me,
Wow..to quote you..."I know this is not true. I want to do this myself. I wont hire a designer. I would pay for tools and software and knowledge. I am not incapable or astetically unable to see what works and to see the beauty. I just need a little help . Why must everyone want to charge me money to just be a nice person and share ideas."

Why must a designer charge you money and they should just be nice? Designers are professionals trained for the position and that is their livelyhood! Would you ask any other professional for free service just because they know how?

There are several free programs you can learn. Research them... And, I think you should not give up your "creative enjoyment" and "educate yourself more" for your projects and if it takes another 4 years living with a concrete floor (noted from a previous post)..so be it. I've seen professional designers HERE, for free, "give you a little needed help" with excellent designer advice and their suggestions are disregarded for one reason or another.

So, good luck with your projects and I'm sure when you finish you will love it.

I apologize for my tone but it ticks me off when professionals are not appreciated for what they do, yet people expect free advice for them from someone who doesn't even appreciate them.

And, unless you weren't listening to the above comments...your question HAS NO SHORT ANSWER!

My rant is over.

Good luck and Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year.

Darzy

Before I enrolled in Interior Design, I worked at a Designer Showroom. All of the employees would ask each other for input. Then when I went to school, it was the same thing - feedback, encouragement, and calling each other on bad ideas.
The truth is, we all need help with our own home because it is too personal. Doctors never take their own family as patients for the same reason. If you want the best design input, you must pay for it. I paid for my education and expertise with time, money, energy, and creative juices. You can either pay (in every way) to be educated at a reputable school, or pay money to hire someone to listen to you, and decipher what is important to the design.
People charge money to share ideas -- because they are worth every dollar.
I'm nice. But I do demand respect for my craft.
Really, when someone claims to take on a profession without experience or education, (because how hard could it be?) they are exposing their own naivete.
If design matters, hire a Designer.

You can't really start with ONE thing - a house is a whole, so you really need to think of it that way. But you can start with the elements you know you either already like or don't want to/can't afford to change. Sometimes gutting a house is harder than a remodel because you have a blank slate. If you are just remodeling, then there will be some things that you can't or won't change so you have to make everything work with those elements. Sounds like your cabinets are staying, right? So now you need to pick counter tops and flooring to work with your cabinets.

As you go along always check back that each decision you make fits with the overall look you are trying to achieve. That way of thinking will help keep it all part of whole.

And there is no shame in copying! Find a photo on Houzz of a space you love and then reproduce it piece by piece.

Well I do appreciate all the help and advice I have received here or I wouldn't be here asking for any and I do realize that its a long hard expensive road to becoming a designer or maybe I would have done it myself. But A much as knowledge is power and you get paid for your opinions( based in creative artist theory and experience) I was just saying what hard is it to share your expertise with those who cant afford $1,000s to hire a designer. I dont have much money to work with and have to watch every dime I spend so I am scared to waste any. The woman I hired was certified and had all the credentials and was referred. I guess when someone stands there and tells me stuff I already know or doesnt lead me any closer to a solution or idea that isnt obvious etc than to me its a waste of money. Contractors will give free estimates and at least you get to hear what they can do for you and for how much before you commit but designers just like attorneys charge for there time. Although I have has at least 10 attorneys give me a free 30 min consultation and assist with very specific ideas on what ever issue I was seeking advice for , before they told me what they fee would be to hire them and what the service entailed. I did say that I liked this site and the advice many designers have offered me and the time they have spent giving free ideas so I dont know why I am getting attacked just because I am asking for specific tricks of the trade. I guess maybe those are the secretes that designers dont want the public to know and use on there own so it will seem like a mystery. if I was to say for example" what theory regarding color does a color consultant use to be able to charge 300 an hour?" I am sure there is an answer to that. None of you may wish to share the answer. Just like an attorney who charges 1000s to prepare a document that the general public can prepare at the courthouse alone for $30. In this instance I may choose to pay for them to do it because the law is very precise and so are legal documents. But I have an idea of color and design and its not as scary to me as law and they are no absolutes, no right and wrong. design is a matter of opinion and preference. I dont charge for my knowlege is simply discussing a topic I am experienced with but I understand this is how you make your money so it must be seen as something the average person cant just do on their own otherwise why would they hire a designer. A lot of my conflict I have realized today is based on myself wanting a more monochromatic modern color scheme and feel then the other people I live with who seem more comfortable with a warmer color scheme with more overall color throughout the house. This is something I need to try to resolve within myself. I see on design shows where the husband and wife have different styles and the designer puts a few choices in that the husband likes and a few the wife likes to make it work. Not sure thats the direction I want to go. I may have to continue to weigh the options and look at more samples and material before i feel positive in my selection. another thing I wondered is how , with all the trends that exist and change so often, how can people spend tons of money to commit to one extreme style which may be outdated in a few years. There are many factors to consider and perhaps I think too much but money doesnt come easy so its important to me to choose what makes sense from so many angles ( no pun intended).

I think you need an attitude adjustment. If you continue to believe that design is a matter of tricks, secrets and mysterious knowledge conferred on designers when they receive a diploma, you will never understand or value the role of a designer. Design is the visual expression of combining artistic talents with common sense. Trends and styles are decoration, not design.

Engineering and construction is the structure of a project while design is the soul, You strike me as a religious wandering spirit who is always looking for the "right" church and the latest prophet. Design is not a list of commandments or a handbook of rules and regulations. Design is a creative process like exploring a dark cave with intense flashes of light illuminating the surroundings and gradually allowing you to see the destination and find a route to get there. If you're tired of wandering around in the dark, you may either design and build your own lantern or rent one, but don't ask to borrow mine because I lend only to those I select and only when I choose.

One can not seek knowledge while flinging insult. Big hug to Darzy and the others who have offered their time.

I'm an engineer, and I'm good at sketching layouts & modifications, but when I've looked at professional-level CAD software, it's usually so complex, that the cost of my time learning how to use all the functions, is more expensive, than if I paid for a reasonable amount of design time, with someone who was already adept at a design program! A good CAD program can cost over $500 .. better to spend the money on a design professional!

If I have a watch that doesn't work, I may feel that a watchmaker's fee is steep, especially if the watch wasn't expensive to start with. But do I want to spend all my time learning how to repair a watch myself .. NO!

Design, advice, knowledge, money...they're not the real issues here. The real issue is fear. Fear of commitment, fear of disappointing mother and son, fear of regret if they don't go with what they love, fear of making a mistake, etc.

Fear can be debilitating, and it certainly is in this case. All the design and decorating advice in the world won't get rid of that fear.

It doesn't help that (although I may have missed it) there's not much positive feedback from the OP. Most of us ask questions, get advice, reply to that advice with a thank-you and "I like this idea, but not that one" which helps everyone hone in on a solution or two.

To the OP, the "good" news is that if you just keep being afraid and don't do anything long enough, your son will grow up and move out...

@orangecamera - I think it's safer if we don't start psychoanalyzing people, but stick to the practicalities of what they want to accomplish.

First, does the traffic pattern in the room work for you? Take an imaginary walk through the house - perform tasks in your mind to see if the basic room works for you. Next, start with something you LOVE! It could be a granite, a floor tile, a wood floor, a fabric or a paint color. Then find other products that look good with your inspiration piece.

Once you are inspired......

Cabinets are the hardest to move later so I would start with your cabinets. Floors stay around for a very long time so I would select them next. Countertops can be long term (stones) or short term (laminates). Furniture can come and stay or some and go. If you like change then don't spend a fortune there and just replace things as your tastes change.

Anyway - you get the idea. Select the things that are hardest to move and most likely to stay long term first. No designer should ever push you to settle for something you don't like. They should steer you away from combinations of things that don't go together. But, you have to know your own taste also - no one can TELL you what you like. The best designers help you pull together what you want to use while editing your taste now and then. They can also tell you the pros and cons of materials - every material has both.

In short go from hardest to redo to easiest - easiest is always the furniture.

Thank you astraea for your kind words and advice. would it be reasonable to offer $500 to a designer such as yourself and expect to get enough advice as well as specific products found for me along with the instillation of the material to complete the job. I guess whats hard for me is the feeling that its open ended and there is no guarantee. Having never worked with a designer I am worried he or she will spend a few hours of time talking with me but perhaps the job wont get completed due to my budget and finding products I like and people who can do the work within that budget.. So for me being realistic and trying to decide the best approach is an issue. If money was no issue I would hire the best designer in a minute and love to get the help so really it stems from my need to maximize what little I have. Many times I will spend lots of time looking for or hiring people willing to work for less so I can get more done. I also try to think of ways to replicate an idea I like in a less expensive manor. For example I created a nice media wall with a large led tv and Ikea shelving based on the Bo Concept furniture and shelving I really would have preferred.. I love the chandeliers with the hanging glass ball shaped pendents but they cost $1000 so I would love ideas on how to make a similar fixture for less. These types of things would help me. I have seen some creative ideas from lowes for example and try to find competent wood workers to build these things. I am willing to accept and be happy with items that are not all high end as long as they have a creative unique modern look. Some of the limitations are the cabinets and the flooring and countertop. All of which are very expensive. I was initially going to do stained concrete myself with my existing floor .However when the lenolium was removed it was evident that other problems (such as a large leveling compound area in the kitchen became evident) . Also as I researched more I found that in order to do this floor properly it needed to be grinded and have an overlay due to tack strips and the leveling conpound. This is an example of a low cost projest I had hoped to do that now has turned into a 10-15k expense I must face. I also tried to have the existing cabinets stained for only $1500 in the whole house but when the man I hired became busy with work outside the area he never finished the job and to be honest I wasnt that happy with how dark the cabinets looked anyway. Of course I would have prefered to replace them but with estimates of 10-15k just for cabinets again this was the issue. Money is always the issue. I know what I like but cant afford it so trying to find products I like and can afford as well as contractors or( men who can do the job for less) has always been a major issue. Perhaps I need to just choose the kitchen or the floor and than wait til I have more money but I just dont know if that will ever happen since I live on a fixed income.

As far as the comment about my son. I see nothing wrong with being unselfish and taking my sons opinions into account when deciding how to decorate or what products to use for flooring. He is smart and I love him and value his ideas. I guess most parents just do what they want and the kids just live with it but I feel better knowing that he is happy with the floor and the colors and the fabrics etc instead of just doing what I want regardless. Hopefully he will stay and go to college and live here and help with the mortgage but thats his choice. while he is living here I want his life to be as happy as possible.

designideas4me, I do sincerely apologize for my comment about your son, especially since it apparently didn't come off as I intended. Of course there is nothing wrong with you taking your son's opinions into account. What I meant, and said poorly, was that he will only be with you a short time (even if he lives with you during college). So, since you are (rightfully) taking his thoughts into account, do it now before he moves out. Please accept my apology, it is heartfelt.

linda.. your comment I just read was so off base its funny. " You strike me as a religious wandering spirit who is always looking for the "right" church and the latest prophet. Design is not a list of commandments or a handbook of rules and regulations". I am totally non religious. I dont look for the lastest anything. I follow my own rules in life and yes I am a free spirit. I trust my own feelings and sense of style and in most cases dont even care what others think. So I have no idea where that came from. As far as design . I am not stupid or unaware what design is. I took any art classes in H.S. and some in college. I have good taste and could put a room together in minutes if I had to. that doesnt mean it would suit my needs and desire for high end style but it might appeal to the majority of people who are less picky and just want a room that is functional and contains the basic elements. Many of the rooms I see on here are not of the level of quality I would desire. Now on the other hand some of the rooms are gorgeous and the houses are stunning and far beyond what I can afford. I just happen to be picky and not have the budget to express what I find desirable. This does create a conflict in my because I must settle or go without.

I'm not a design profession, so I have no clue what designers cost today, or how much time you'd need with someone. However, as a homeowner like yourself, I'd like to be able to at least "put my ideas on paper", and try different layouts .. so I've looked into design software, and been less than impressed with how user-friendly it was.

I do think that you can get a fairly good level of comfort, before signing a contract with a designer, by chatting with the person for a while, to see if you're on the same wavelength, and how their pricing works. Tell them a little about your family, then select a single room, and ask if they can give you some basic ideas of layout .. or color schemes, and see if you're comfortable with how they weave your needs into their suggestions. Ask if they have a portfolio of their work, and see if some of it is close to your style .. or not. Ask for referrals, then make a few phone calls to their other clients.

Years ago when I first moved out on my own into a condo, I thought I'd get a decorator to help with the layout. One person wanted to use a Chinese motif .. because it was trendy; I said that wasn't my style & she was miffed that I didn't care about the trends. That's a good sign she wasn't the right person for me. You may have to talk to a bunch of designers to find someone who understands you.

When it comes to lighting (and almost anything), I wind up looking thru all the large lighting stores in my area, to become familiar with what's out there, and how the prices range. If there are a few things you see online & like, print pictures out & bring them with you to the lighting showroom .. and ask if they have anything similar, perhaps a little smaller and/or less expensive.

Simpkins & Associates, Inc.... Thank you. very practical and wise advice. So given a budget at the moment of 20k with cabinets that are functional yet undesirable( I have oak in a builder grade and non full overlay) would you say I should just buy all new cabinets and upgrade the kitchen to a wall oven and cook top? Than do as little as possible with the floor. I guess I want balance. I bought an expensive leather couch and so I feel it needs to go with an equally well made rug etc. I want consistency with the quality of the products. Do I put in a 14k gorgeous wood floor and keep these ugly cabinets? Do I put in a cheap laminate and spend 18k on the kitchen. I struggle with where to spend the money. Unfortunately I did purchase a lot of nice new furniture because we needed stuff to sleep on and sit on and eat on etc. So I already have furniture to coordinate with.The furniture is neutral and modern so not too much of an issue. When your clients do a remodel do they have to keep in a budget or have they saved enough to get what they like? Do they think in terms of this being a one time thing or do they expect to have money in the future to revise and upgrade more? Do they ever just do part of the project due to financial concerns? The main fear I have stems from money and having enough to remodel and still pay the bills and have emergency money etc etc. So for me finding lower cost quality products is really key. Finding people to do quality lower cost work is top on my list as well.

I've read all the comments and there are many valid points here. I was truly thinking about how would I break down what I do for someone and I can to some extent (research, planning, design, drawings, etc) but trying to translate all that into a checklist for someone feels impossible. One of my first classes when I started my ID degree had me doing a series of drawings, 1 week all triangles, 1 weeks circles plus one color, 1 week circles and squares 3 colors. I was learning about positive and negative space, size, shape and proportion. Design from the ground up. Fast forward a few years, with a shiny new diploma and guess what? There's a whole lot more that I didn't know that I did. Designers learn like you learn many things in life, by doing, experience, trial and error. But the basis of design is ingrained and this is what you are paying for.

Now there's a second half of design that I don't believe every designer possesses as strongly as others, which is people skills. Genuine interest in your client, willing to work with them, dealing with some of the emotional issues that come with it, and in the end putting them first. There are designers who chose to approach this process by asking homeowners to relinqish control, because they don't have the emotional attachment it is very easy to create a magnificent space in a vacuum. This arrangement works for some, but not all.

If you like, put together a thoughtful wishlist, compile an ideabook, square footage and photos of the spaces and email. I will take a look and give you my opinion about what you have, some options, try to help you decide where to put your money. ct design studio ctillotsondesigns@yahoo.com

You may be confusing expensive with good design. They are not necessarily connected. My decorating philosophy is to buy only what I love, but to buy inexpensively if necessary. For example, many of Ikea things are well-designed and not expensive. Another example, the "headboard" for our beds in the master bedroom is just a rectangle of contrasting paint. It looks great and used left-over paint from the adjoining bathroom so it coordinates. On the other hand, I have custom-made draperies in our living room because anything less would not flatter the room. That said, empty space is better than ill-designed space. The best solution is to look and look at photographs and become firm in your ideas. Then you will see knock-offs that satisfy your aesthetic and your pocketbook.

If you can't see that the use of the term "religion" is metaphorical, then further discussion of the analogy is pointless.

Dear Designidea, I've seen your other threads/topics. You have your furniture now you are down to the nuts and bolts - the big stuff! The PERMANENT stuff. Flooring and cabinetry. Hard stuff with big price tags. Your frustration with the "process" is clear (and I for one would ask those who do not respect the voice that is speaking to please refrain from making back-biting comments). Your quest for quality is admirable. Please take this as a sincere and honest suggestion (nothing meant but good intentions) - choose a permanent fixture to purchase. The "extras" can be added (I mean things like throw rugs, etc) when the budget has been replenished. I believe the floor might be the next step. It might be the ONE thing that is getting in the way of your inner eye's dream scape. Once it is "taken care of" (ie. you know the cost and can then settle on a "what's left" amount) you might find that a large amount of the design distress disappears. It would be a shame to put in a tremendous amount of money into a kitchen and be unable to afford the floor that would be the perfect match. Besides, you will need to find out if the floor runs UNDER the cabinets or if it floats just underneath the cabinet toe kicks. That may just be a smaller question that can be answered easier than a very large, ambiguous "what next?". If in doubt, answer the small questions first. If you answer enough of them, you might just find that you've managed to answer a few of the tuffer ones along the way.

orangecamera... thank you. Really with all the pain and anger and terrible news in the world right now. decorating a house is minimal in comparison to what matters so I think its best for all of us to be as kind as possible to each other. the events of the past week have made me so sad.

ct design studio... thank you so much for your offer and I will do that today. I do have a quick question.. I sent an email to a contractor I met with a year ago who offered me a good price to do the work and put in a glue down engineered wood floor. However recently it was brought to my attention by people who sell flooring that its possible to float an engineered floor with an underlayment. Is this called a click lock floated floor? This can be done correct? why would this contractor who I just emailed write back and say this "Hardwood floors can not be free floating. They must be installed with glue for concrete sub-floors.
Only laminate floors can be free floating.



I am confused. this guy seemed really good with design and color and quality of work and gave me a good price.

why would he say this. This isnt true is it?

Oh dear, Designideas. I'm sorry to say, but he is both right and wrong. It depends on the product. I know a hardwood flooring installer who will do both (Vancouver, BC, Canada). It depends on the type of hardwood, the thickness, the finish, etc. Perhaps I should point out that ENGINEERED hardwood can be floated (with the correct type of click system), it can be glued down, stapled, nailed and screwed into place. This is the MOST COMMON form of floating styles when it comes to wood and floating. It all depends on the product and the SYSTEM the product is to use. He is correct, in the sense, that he works only with glue down/nail down systems. He may not have worked with certain types of flooring made by other floor manufacturers. Again, it comes down to his own experiences. I suggest you contact your states "Floor Coverings Association" to find an installer looking to work with the system YOU CHOOSE. There are so many types of floors that can be floated (my company is about to release a STONE floating floor - yep, click together...etc). Laminates are the most common floating floors, vinyl planks, luxury vinyl, etc. (BTW some vinyl planks are more expensive than Icork's floating flooring). If you find a professional that seems a bit "out' of touch with what you are reading/hearing, you may want to "cut the strings" with that professional. He may be able to "do it for a good price" but WHAT is he offering? Is he offering a good price on a GLUE DOWN hardwood install? Or is he offering you a "good price" for any floor you are looking to work with. Glue downs take a lot of time (more time than a floating floor), the hardwood requires underlayment, and the concrete must be tested and possibly sealed if there are moisture migration problems. A floating floor can be put down over a vapour barrier (6mil poly sheeting = $0.08 - $0.12/sf) and then an underlay (you may not need it if your floating floor has an integrated cork backing) and then the floor can be click together right over top the vapour barrier. A glue down install can take much more time/effort/money if problems arise that you didn't anticipate - it can be done but ALL the precautions MUST BE DONE before you can begin laying the floor.
I don't mean to add to your plate of "worries", but if you ask 10 professionals their opinions on a single item, you will get 10 different and often conflicting responses. It is just the way it goes in North America. In Germany, the standards for working in the industry is SO HIGH it takes 6 years to make it to "professional". It takes another year - plus exams - to make it to Meister or "Master Craftsman". Here, you can be a high school drop out and call yourself a "handyman".
No offense to those who have spent a long time in the industry working to make it a much safer place to do business, but I've come across more of the "dumb and dumber" types then I have the UPSTANDING craftsman we all wish to hire!

Cancork Floor Inc.
Let me ask you since I am just baffled why a licenced contractor would not be familiar with a glueless instillation of bamboo or engineered wood when information on such floors is all over. See this kind of thing makes me so confused especially when it comes to choices for wood flooring. Even on this site alone in the discussions you have so many conflicting views on flooring that its hard to know the facts and what to expect. Right now home depot has a deal where they will do a whole house install for 400 dollars on any engineered wood or laminate product. Its not glued down so it does have transition strips which I dont like but suppose i could live with. Do you think this is a good option to save money?

Having come into this discussion rather late, I, as a professional interior designer, would say that "Design Dilemmas" is meant to answer specific design questions. What you seemed to want in your original question, was an entire book written by whatever number of professional designers would care to answer. There are any number of books on how to design your home that you could find at the bookstore or your public library.

I happily answer many questions per day on specific design problems, and I hope to continue to do so. I do not wish to write a book for you.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Easy, for an open palette, choose your floors first. You can't put anything anywhere until you have a floor to put it on. Wood, tile, stone, cork, concrete? What do you want? I like a stone floor with radiant heat. If you continue to beat the dead horse, you will be 100 yrs old, and so will we :>), before you accomplish anything. Pick something and then come back on a new thread and build/coordinate from there.

The answer to your question is that a Design Professional always has a PLAN. Before any work is started, you need a comprehensive design plan that serves as a road map for where you want to end up. Starting a project and selecting items by the seat of your pants is a recipe for disaster. To prepare a good plan, you need to be educated about space planning, colors, patterns, materials, proportion and scale. In addition, if you are doing kitchens or baths there is an infinite number of technical details that need to be considered, and you really do need to consult with someone who is certified by the NKBA or similar organization. Once you have a plan, you gather samples of all your materials and look at them as a cohesive whole in the room you are designing. Asking color questions online is not helpful because computer monitors do not reflect color accurately. Once you have your plan and samples you then need to implement your vision--ordering and purchasing, taking delivery, and installing in your space.

You may be perfectly capable of doing all this yourself--you can read books and magazines, do research on line, and maybe take a few courses at your local community college. In fact, that's the way I started my career in interior design. However, it did not happen overnight--I spent years taking college courses and developing my skills first on my own home and then working gratis for friends before taking on paying clients.

I agree with whoever said that Designers are professionals who do what they love, but also need to make a living. Expecting to receive free advice is a bit arrogant and demeaning to the work we do. You know the old saying, "you get what you pay for."

Regarding your comments about what you see on HGTV, you need to realize that the final show you see is the result of many months of preparation. It doesn't happen quite as quickly as it seems on TV. Most of the shows are pure entertainment, and the quality of the workmanship can be downright shoddy. The prices quoted on the shows usually include donated materials and they totally disregard any labor costs, which are at least half of the job, and possibly more. The "designers" are often little more than actors who host the shows and have no more experience than you do.

I hope the above is helpful to you in going forward with your home design.

Good luck with your project!

If I put in the floor now and wait on new cabinets then what type of floor would make the most sense? Would it be a click lock floating floor where its possible to add more floor if the kitchen footprint is changed in the future? I guess some of you choose the cabinets first and some put in the flooring first. I guess I just have to pick one. I guess in an ideal situation I should have planned better and saved more but thats not what happened and so I have to go from here. How does that plan sound. Put in a floor that can be altered in the future when and if I get new cabinets. Since it seems at this point that I will not do the concrete flooring .Then if I do the floating floor with t moldings which is not really my desire but seems needed in order to transition to tile in the bath area I can maybe glue down this floor if it turns out to be noisy. I was told by a customer who was buying flooring that this is possible. Of would it be just as easy to put in a glue down floor now in the kitchen and bath and be able to modify and add planks if I get new cabinets. I think if I can figure this out than I can focus on which exact floor to get and maybe just do a cheap remodel in the kitchen for now with paint and a cheap counter until I can figure out a way to do the kitchen renovation I really want. Does this seem like a good plan. I really need a floor and some money to paint . I cant see spending 15k on the kitchen and having no decent floor in the entire house. I just dont want to spend 5k on granite or quarts til I like the cabinets so I will have to do some temporary low cost counter(other than the gross plywood with tile samples) that I have been using. Maybe a few hundred for that ikea laminate counter even though it will have some seems but I guess its better than what I have. Do you guys think this is a good plan?

If I were on a limited budget, I'd put in a sheet vinyl floor and laminate countertops. Both are very cost effective and will last quite a while. You can find very nice patterns and colors in both products and have enough funds available for other projects. Spending money on granite/quartz and tile is foolish if you then can't finish the room--the installation costs on both these is very high.

Designideas, people in the trades do not necessarily "read". I have worked with many who either (A) don't care (more common than you can imagine); (B) don't have TIME to read about new product/installs (again, more than you can imagine); (C) CHOOSE NOT to enlighten themselves because "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude has them working from dusk til dawn x20 years. A "license" doesn't mean "well educated". Sadly, this is all too true when it comes to our construction industry. It is LOOSELY organized and it is HIGHLY dependant on "owners" doing "due diligence" to work with the flooring contractors. This means, the "site supervisor" is the HOME OWNER. But NO ONE tells the owners this. If you had a "head contractor" S/HE would be the "site supervisor" and the supervisor takes FULL RESPONSIBILITY for ALL CONDITIONS found on the work site. If you are confused by your contact, then DUMP HIM. He can only do a floor "his way". It's like asking why a high school graduate can't find the USA on the world globe! It is all up to the individual doing the learning and the person who hires said person.
Let me know your square footage, and I can give you a "basic" flooring cost for a floating cork floor (which is ALLOWED in kitchens, BTW). A Forna cork floating floor is quite happy in a kitchen. Simply apply two coats of water based polyurethane over the surface and you have a water resistant floor (good for large spills, will offer minor protection if your dishwasher blows up).

As for gluing down a floating floor - NOT ADVISABLE. The whole point of a floating floor is to allow it to expand and contract. If you glue it, you loose ALL the advantages and gain ALL the disadvantages (extra cost; repairing/sealing concrete/future floor failure, etc).

Home Depot "sounds good" but the question becomes how much do you have to pay for the floor that goes with the offer? Remember, these guys may offer a great deal on install, but you WILL pay for it some other way.

A floating floor has limits - usually requires expansion gaps over long stretches (25 - 30 linear feet is longest stretch these floors can handle). Feel free to contact me directly through the link for Cancork's Houzz write-up. I would be happy to explain more through email or over the phone. This thread is getting unmanageble with the length.

ok well my house is 2000 sq ft and about 1600 of that is not a bathroom and a laundry room so I am assuming wood tile or cork priced at maybe 4 bux a sq ft for a tolal of 8,ooo plus install which I have been told is $400 at home depot and maybe $1.25 with another floor installer and that would include the baseboard. Do you think I should have the measure done with home depot? they want $50 . The deal they have now is to but a special order floor which they have like 30 or so to choose from and get at least a certain amount , which I will need more than that amount anyway.I dont know who or what to believe regarding the need to level the floor. I am sure they will tell me if I need it or not since the carpet is out and they can see the floor. I dont want to pay for whats not needed. I am still unsure if the glue down is needed. I know it would look better since I can have tile and wood meet without a transition strip. I cant promise I will get cork. I looked at a few and wasnt crazy about it but the house in the discussion with the vineyard farmhouse remodel and the ikea kitchen is really nice and maybe you can tell me what kind of cork that is since I would like to do an ikea kitchen in the future if I cant find other cabinets in my price range. Thank you for your help.

OK designideas4me, cool down and let us get back to basics. I think you are trying to do too much in one hit and I can understand how confused you are getting. I am presently doing a full renovation to my home, and I am doing it by myself because #1 I enjoy design and #2 I can't afford to employ professionals.

Firstly sit down, go through each room and consider that you want. I don't feel you have established that yet. As has been suggested, use photos from houzz to decide what style, finish and colour you want. Then do a plan of action, deciding the order of rooms to be done, are there rooms needing urgent attention for functional purposes? This will help you decide the priorities as to flooring, cabinetry, etc. It would be false economy to do a floor in a room and then have to redo part of it because of a future change you would be making.

Let me give you an example of how I approached my house. I had leaking shower recesses in both bathrooms and as they were going to be the messiest rooms to demolish, they had to be done first. I did the ensuite first, while we used the main bathroom. This involved removing everything from the master bedroom and wardrobe too but I set that up in other rooms keeping only the minimum of clothing accessible. When that was finished, the main bathroom was demolished while we used the ensuite and started painting the wardrobe and bedroom, and the lounge and dining room. The bathroom is almost finished but the "dirty" work is done so we have had new carpet laid to the bedroom, lounge and dining room (all well away from the main bathroom) and new furniture delivered for the lounge. We have the carpet on hand for the rest of the house but it will not be laid until the rest of the house is painted, which we are doing ourselves. My kitchen will be last on the list so I have my entrance, hall, family room and kitchen flooring is on hold until the kitchen renovation is finished.

It has taken a lot of careful planning to move and store things for work to be done and now I am in the process of putting things back, cleaning out and reorganising as I go.

Planning the rooms as far as colour schemes, furnishing ideas, etc I gained by spending literally months going through Houzz for ideas, and from there I went shopping, firstly for an overview of what was available as this did dictate final colour schemes and then I finalized my choices.

It is a long slow process and one only you can determine as you know your home and needs.

You are concerned about things you have already purchased such as your leather lounge - a good leather lounge will always look good but you don't have to put expensive around it. If you choose colours and styles wisely no one will be any the wiser. I have said before that a $10 lamp from a $2 shop will look just as good as a $200 one if the proportions and colour is right for the room. Once the price tag is off, no one knows the difference and that is the secret to good design. There is nothing wrong with Ikea furniture it is smart and practical - it isn't the furniture that is cheap, it is how you use it and it sounds like you have enough nouse to get that right. Remember too it is your home and you want it to look as you want within your budget. Don't worry about other people and what they think, if you really like it and are happy, no one will think twice about it.

By all means, once you have organised your priorities and plan of attack come back with individual rooms if you are unsure of anything.

I will ignore your little outburst as I feel you just overwhelmed yourself and took too big a bite of the apple. Think baby steps and hasten slowly. Things you aren't sure about, such as your flooring, I would spend time visiting local suppliers and getting opinions, ideas and prices - the more people you talk to the more you learn. Sometimes there is just too much choice.

By the way I do not recommend cork flooring to anyone, it is very soft and damages easily.

Dear Designideas4me,
Before you decide on materials. analyse your house space by making a rough plan. observe the flow of the circulation and try to fit the existing furnitures that you would like to keep. Your wall, curtain, floor color should coexist with old furnitures that you r planning to keep. choice of the materials for flooring and how much you need to buy will depend on how you want to decorate the floor. if you r going to use carpet, there is no use of laying expensive granite under it nor use of timber board. but block board or cement board would suffice the purpose. if you are planning to have few expansive persian carpets than you may have to cover whole floor with material of your choice. If you need intensive heating during winter, i suggest to go for timber flooring as its R value is much better then granite or marble.
The most important factor out here is coming up with a design that balances your wish and size of the pocket. If you plan to get a designer take him around the house and explain to him the existing function. don't ask his opinion at tjhis point-put forward your thoughts of how you wish to change. Don't shower him with alternatives thoughts. its his job to come up with alternative proposal and concepts. if you are non technical ask for 3D sketches with rendering in color. This will give you the true picture how your house will look when its finished. don't pay on hourly basis. try to negotiate on lumpsum cost or cost per plinth area. some they charge you some percentage of the total estimate of the renovation.
As suggested by some of the collegues here get books and magazines on interior house design to help you to interpet your thoughts. Designers don't like when requested to refer other designers works directly. find a way of addressing it.
If you plan to do the renovation and decide to purchase the materials. Do this. get a graph book and draw the room by measuring it with tape. don't worry too much on small triangular areas. play with it to decide the floor design. you can easily work out the quantity of material you need. BTW add 10% wastage for tilles and granite. 20% on timber flooring. Other substructure materials-your skill worker would be able to determine it.
I hope i can be some help in finding your path to a good renovation.

designideas4me - "How does that plan sound. Put in a floor that can be altered in the future when and if I get new cabinets." If it were my house, I would not put in a floor with the idea it would be changed when the cabinets get done.

I would put in a floor I liked that was sturdy enough to last a long time, and make sure I had enough material to fill behind and under the cabinets if/when they get replaced. I would live with the cabinets, maybe paint them.

But the fastest way to waste money is to try to get it all done as cheaply as possible.

I think there are several issues at play here. First - if you are worried about future changes then use either wood or random colored, patterned stone floors that can always be matched or blended. Stone and wood are never discontinued and if you blend stones you can always add to that. Keep in mind that nothing is perfect so just decide which shortcomings you can live with. You will NOT find a perfect floor.

You also don't seem to be very visual. You have to trust the process. For instance, a strong paint color in a totally vacant room is going to look VERY strong. Once you get the furniture, artwork, window treatments and accessories in it will tone down tremendously. Nothing will look right until it is all together.

If you hate your cabinets paint them. In my opinion it is hard to go wrong with a soft white for cabinets -pretty timeless and - even if white is not your favorite - very few people hate white cabinets. Otherwise pick a neutral gray or tan or one of the colors from your granite and spice it up with your details.

Do one thing at a time and don't worry so much about whether you got the best price in town. Some designers will give you an initial 1/2 hour or hour to sort out if you are a good fit. Otherwise invest in an hour with 2 or 3 and see who you like best. But, bear in mind that you are on a bit of a slippery slope when you ask someone who makes their living doing something to tell you how to do it without them!

You ARE going to make some mistakes. Even the best of us make them! Trust what you love and do one thing at a time keeping in mind that it is not going to look right until it is all pulled together. If you are uncertain if silver, gold, bronze, etc. will look good then buy one of each - live with them for a few days and return the ones you decide against.

I think your very best bet is going to be to find a picture you like and try to copy the essence of it. For the permanent stuff just select what you love. Paint is cheap so it shouldn't be scarey either. You have your furniture.....doesn't sound like there is really so far to go.

designideas4me - May I make a suggestion?

During this season of giving and celebration, give yourself and your family the gift of time.

It is highly unlikely that you will be able to complete any project between now and the end of this year. So, for now, let it go, step away from this discussion. Stop worrying about the house or the floor or the cabinets or.... I'm sure you have made it as comfortable and inviting as you can. Take some time to celebrate and appreciate what you have already accomplished.

So, for now, enjoy your home and your family and spend some time enjoying the season. The season will be over and gone in only 12 days.

You will probably find that in the new year you can review your projects with a refreshed eye.

I wish you and your family abundant Joy, Peace, Laughter and Comfort for the holiday and the new year.

Elyn

Darzy, "no good deed goes unpunished" nor vulgar language go unnoticed. Keep up all your wonderful design advice :>)

Ditto, darzy!

Elyn... as you stated During this season of giving and celebration.... yes and during this time I find it incredible given all the hate and violence in the world and the tragedy we have witnessed this past week.........................that there are still so many insensitive nasty rude pompous vulgar people who stick their nose in to other peoples business and try to hurt and cause pain to those who simply want to understand a process that is new to them and the many aspects that influence making the proper decision for them (me)when spending what accounts for the bulk of their life savings. Perhaps those with more discretionary income or who use money provided by their spouse or who have high paying jobs and know if they take a chance and dont make the right decision they can replace it later in a few years, dont have the same factors in their lives that I do. Nobody knows someone else s life or level of comprehension or should be here to JUDGE others on this site or IN REAL LIFE. It is this type of hostility and judgement and acting as if they are SUPERIOR that creates and perpetuates the bias and hypocritical nature that exists in our society. People such as this have no place in my life and if I were to witness the grotesque behavior of such people in real life interaction, I would definitely stand up for the person being insulted and judged and put down. If there were more kind and caring people in the world who took the time to care about one another without making everything about money then perhaps we would have a more loving caring world. However I guess I am the exception to have such an outlook on life, to donate to the poor, to take the time to help others and not expect anything in return. Apparently there are just too many people who choose to seek attention by acting superior and trying to gain control by inserting opinions that serve no purpose other than to inflame insult and aggravate those they are aimed at. This to me shows the lack of human empathy and kindness and is remarkable that in a week of such tragedy their are NRA members who laugh and call for more guns just as there are people out there who will continue to insult those who are disabled and those who may see life differently than they do and those who live in financial hardship and are in need. I know I am a good person and my intentions may have been misinterpreted by asking very direct questions but thats how I speak. It is not up to anyone but the people who own and run this site to comment on how long a discussion can be and where or where it should end and when one should make a decision or stop asking reliant questions that to them require clarification. I believe that if the moderators found issue with my words they would let me know and I would or will modify them. I find it incredibly insulting that some housewife who is not even a licensed professional in this industry sees it appropriate to appoint herself to the role of moderator and has the NERVE to make such rude comments to another member. I certainly hope that the moderators of Houzz will see my point and I truely believe they will as we are both educated adults and they will take the proper action in this instance so others rights are not stepped on and others are not made to feel out of line by simply seeking advice on their project. I can only assume that some people have nothing better to do with their lives than to seek out people whom they them choose to create an argument with or insult so as to make themselves feel superior !!!!!!!!

So Elyn in summary.. Happy holidays to you as well. The gift of completing this renovation is one I choose to give my family as it is what they want most. I have already showered my son mother and friends with many gifts and seen to it that all of their needs are met despite living on a fixed income. Now for us it is time to have a floor and a kitchen which we can all enjoy.

Considerate, indulgent understanding of the client creates the process of material choices and the order of importance. Many clients only know what they know. I present photos and other items for them to feel their reaction. Do they respond with deep pleasure to environments of: bold & dynamic; whimsy; earthy treasures; classic elegance; peaceful and soothing, etc. Depending on their learned preference, it gives me the area to begin their design.

I am sorry I have so much trouble deciding. Its alot of money to me . Heres the thing. I really felt after weighing all the pros and cons that the concrete overlay in a light gray or light color would be the way to go. It would be seamless and keep a light open feel which I want. The issue became that my son wants wood and feels its the better investment and fits the style of the house better. My previous contractor agrees and things based on my color scheme I should be the black maple he showed me many months ago. But he did say it shows dirt and scratches. Plus I have these Blk appliances that were expensive and dont want to spend another 8k for new stainless steal. Can you please just tell me what color scheme for the wood and the cabinets will fit the existing items I just bought ( furniture and appliances and fabrics) . If necessary I can change the color of the coffee table with paint or veneer. I can sell the stools and get white ones. I can replace the ikea shelves on the wall with walnut or white or whatever. I can get new curtains( they came with the house). I dont want to change the large sectional and the large rug. Its almost a blank canvas. The walls are not painted except one wall with silver metalic. My vision was to do an accent wall in each room with a different color metalic paint. However the paint is hard to apply and left streeks even when done by a painter. It may need to be sprayed. I have 500 bux worth of it sitting here. I can spend up to 20k for the entire house to be completed. I do not expect to ever have another 20k saved to add to this. If I get more money I am buying a jaccuzi. So if anyone is willing to give specific advice on a color scheme that is ideal for this house I can try my best to focus on the type of floor and price more cabinets. Thank you again. I am going to add as many pics as I can now to give you a feel for what I like and who I am. I love animals and nature. I love plants and water. I love art and the abstract design and the unique. I love the sun and being outside. Except for now when its cold I am always outside. I may walk in with wet feet or dirty hands from one side of the house to the other. I like to be barefoot. This is one reason I felt the concrete was good. easy to clean and ok with water. My beautiful Babybear has clipped nails but does shed a little and on occasion with throw up or pee when excited. I try to clean it asap.

more pics.... colors and patters I like.. Although I am feeling more that a solid counter top and not a patterned granite may be best to coordinate with art and other pattern in the room. also I love photography . I could t of framing some pics of the outdoors and bringing in the feeling to make the house flow. The roses bloom all year. I also want to add more plants inside. I also have many natural objects that can be used on the wall or tables. I can maybe paint something in the colors of the room to try to make it more cohesive. I mean a framed canvas painted with art in the colors of the room. Just throwing out ideas. I am posting the outdoor pics because this is where I started. I liked the color of the chairs and painted the table silver and hung silver gray curtains . I like the gray silver black and white colors. I have a dark brown leather cough which I cant afford to replace right now. The gray rug can be changed to cream or white if I go with a black floor but I do see this being hard to keep clean. I know I need more glass. Maybe a glass coffee table and plan to get this ikea glass table with lucite looking chairs for the dinette spot. Ok so when you walk in from the pool this is what you see. I removed all the tile and for now painted that fireplace to the ceiling. This too is a feature that needs to be addressed in the budget. I can maybe do glass tile or other tile options or what else to use the fireplace as a focal point and tie it into the kitchen and outdoors?

ok more pics. This is what you see on the opposite side of the wall from the brown couch (outside) . Its a gray sectional with tables and curtains for sun and shade. Again its based on my color scheme for the outside. Across from the couch you see my stereo and media area. what to put on the wall above it? what to do with the fireplace wall? Do I need a coffee table? I should have maybe bought the matching chair to the couch but at the time bought 2 matching Ottoman. I really dont know the best arrangement for them. I am worried that a black floor in here will be too dark. I also cant figure out what other color floor will work if not a gray or cream or light color. My son again wants a reddish wood but I feel it will bring too many colors into the space. I have these ugly vertical blinds as you see. I removed all the old fashioned valences but new blinds are expensive and so just trying to make these work. Should I put curtains in this room? Since there are curtains visible from the outside. I am posting a picture of the pool because the white gazebo I put around the end of the pool is again visible from the kitchen and den. I feel that I want these rooms to tie into the feel and look or the outside. One idea I have but again cant seem to decide on is to create a panel or trellis with vines as a focal point next to the fence since this is VERY visible from the kitchen window and must be addressed. You almost see this area as soon as you walk in the front door do to the very open floor plan.

I have to admit, I like the cement coloring. The idea of a light, neutral finish in the colour of concrete is perhaps one of your best options. Everything you've done works with the color of the concrete. I wouldn't go much darker than a pale "wood".

See this is why I am in so much conflict. I guess I decorated around my lovely gray concrete kind of unknowingly ( since I do everything backwards) and now I am stuck finding a color that works. Why don't we do this................ you make me a grayish colored cork floor that looks like concrete and than I can have my cake and eat it too............lol.........................can you do it?

when you say pale wood , do you mean a white oak? what color wood are you thinking? From a distance the cork looks like concrete.

Start with the feel you want, then lock in the biggest visual anchors first — flooring, cabinetry, and major finishes. These set the tone for metal, wood, glass, and décor to follow. Work in layers, not chaos. And if you need expert eyes, ServiceTasker is great for finding local designers and stylists.