It's going to be fine! In a few years you'll remember this day!

Did you catch this ideabook? And be sure to watch the movie "The Money Pit"! https://www.houzz.com/magazine/6-must-know-lessons-from-a-serial-renovator-stsetivw-vs~9162941

olldbobbi! Don't try to scare them! They're already anxious!

Go ahead and make all of your selections and decisions up front so you are not running around making decisions on the fly and things don't come together well. Plan, plan and plan some more up front and the process will be a breeze. Just be prepared for some inconvenience, some dust and some issues will come up. Keep it all in perspective. Take a lot of pictures along the way. Most people forget what their house looked like before the remodel.

Awesome advice, all around. Any recommendations for picking a general contractor? # of estimates, any other thoughts or lessons learned?

Talk to past clients and get an opportunity to tour a past project of a similar scope. Talk..talk..talk..and talk some more! If it feels too good to be true it usually is! Don't fall for a yes-yes person....just had a meeting with an architect and she was bummed because the contractor engaged early to hold the budget line turned into a noodle and yessed his way out of the job...but then the job had to go back for redesign....because it was so far over budget!

If you did not hire the architect to do all the specifications, then get the important details worked out before bids. Doesn't mean you can't change things as the process moves forward - it means the the bids you get will all be more in line as you have already closed up some of the holes. More than 3 bids is just too confusing to deal with. Ask people you trust for recommendations, ask contractors for references - and then really check them, most people don't. Most people also assume that everyone is bidding the same quality materials and workmanship - that is NOT true. Dig for details.