Developing the Master Plan

by Terry Ellis, ASID
Room Service Interior Design

1. Site Visit to the Client's Home

Before you and your designer can start working towards the development of a 'master plan' for your project, it's imperative that your designer does a site visit. During this step, your designer performs somewhat of a personal interview to determine your goals and usage of the space.

In addition to discussing the overall look you are hoping to achieve, your designer will also want to discuss lifestyle issues that will affect the final design, such as who uses the rooms and what the primary and secondary functions of the space are.

Your designer will also take field measurements of the room(s) that will be worked on as well as numerous photographs so that she has them to refer back to throughout the planning process. This initial site visit is also a good time for clients to share any magazine photos or clippings they've kept as inspiration photos for their new room(s).

2. Preparation of Drawings

After the site visit, your designer is ready to get to work to develop initial floor plans of the space that will highlight suggested layouts of furniture. In addition to the floor plan, your designer will provide you with 3-D sketches of the room as well as detailed sketches for draperies, custom built ins or tile installation suggestions (if applicable).

    

3. Selection of Samples

After finalizing your floor plan, your designer will assemble a sampling of suggested furnishings for you to review. In addition to providing you tear sheets of the actual furniture pieces that correspond to your floor plan, your designer will also pull paint chips, wood finish samples, carpet samples, fabric swatches, etc that will highlight the actual selections she suggests you use in your project. These will correspond to the sketches and floor plans that were developed in step two.

4. Presentation Meeting with Client

After your designer finishes steps 2 & 3, she will call you to set up a meeting so she can present her ideas to you. At this meeting, she will share the floor plans and sketches and will review all of the corresponding items (fabrics for sofas and ottomans, wood finishes for tables, paint chips for walls, carpet suggestions, fabrics & trims for draperies, etc). This meeting will often times take place at Michigan Design Center so that you may see many of the actual pieces she's chosen for you in person.

After the initial presentation, you can discuss your likes and dislikes and determine if any alternative selections need to be made. At this point, your designer will also provide detailed cost estimates for the various components of the project and will work with you to develop an overall implementation plan for the project (do all pieces at once, prioritize in stages, etc.)

5. Ordering

Upon finalizing the overall plan, your designer will begin to order approved furniture pieces and corresponding fabrics, etc. and will stay on top their production and scheduled delivery dates.

6. Preparing the Backgrounds

While waiting for your furniture orders to arrive, your designer will be busy getting the 'backdrop' ready for their welcome home by ensuring that all of the other components of your project are ready and waiting on the delivery date. Your designer will assist you in scheduling the trades for the various components of your project (tile contractors, carpet installers, painters, drapery fabrication, electricians, custom cabinetry, etc.) and will also handle the details so that each step runs smoothly.

7. Delivery and Installation

When your furnishing and drapery orders are complete, your designer will set up the final delivery and installation. At that point, you can discuss finishing touches that will add a unique touch to the room and make it feel like home.

8. Room Completion

All of your hard work has paid off. Now it's time to schedule a party to celebrate your new living space!

The finished room is warm and inviting—well worth the effort that went into it!

<< Return to Tips