design workbook

Your house is not a home until it expresses your soul”

– Gail Doby, ASID

www.HowToDesignYourPerfectInterior.com [email protected] © Copyright 2012 Design Success University Press – All Rights Reserved

Dear Dreamer …

We created How to Design Your Perfect Interior Workbook to help you gather your thoughts and organize your project. Enjoy the journey, and be sure and share your successes with us by commenting on this website, www.HowToDesignYourPerfectInterior.com.

If you would like to see new sections added to How to Design Your Perfect Interior Workbook, you may also comment on this site or write to us at [email protected]. We appreciate your suggestions and feedback.

If you haven’t read the accompanying Kindle book, How to Design Your Perfect Interior – How to Maintain Your Sanity and Budget Whether You Do It Yourself or Hire an Interior Design Professional, you can instantly download it for $9.99, just click on the title above and you can instantly download it to your Kindle reader. Even if you don’t have a Kindle device, you can download the app for it to your laptop or desktop computer.

We suggest that you purchase a 4” heavy duty “D‐Ring” binder from your favorite office supply store, purchase dividers and heavy duty plastic sleeves and the supplies listed on Your Supplies Checklist.

Express yourself!

Warm regards,

Gail Doby, ASID & Erin Weir Co‐Founders Design Success University

Erin & Gail


http://www.howtodesignyourperfectinterior.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.designsuccessuniversity.com/

1 About How to Design Your Perfect Interior Workbook 2 Exercise #1 Your Design Influences 3 Exercise #2 Why Is Your Design Project Important To You? 4 Exercise #3 What Is Your Style? 5 My Wishlist 6 My “Before” Photos For _____________Room 7 My Inspiration Photos For ______________Room 8 My Inventory For _______________Room 9 My Budget For ________________Room 10 My Drawings For ________________Room 11 My __________________Room 12 My Supplies Checklist 13 My Selections & Specifications Checklist 14 My Retail Stores 15 Contacts – Team Members & Resources 16 Websites 17 Design Blogs 18 19 Reference Checklist 20 Insurance 21 Contract(s) 22 Schedule 23 Photos 24 Miscellaneous 25 Notes 26 27


Take a few minutes and write down what you liked and didn’t like about your childhood home.

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What were your parent’s priorities for your childhood home?

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Without looking at pictures, can you visualize the textures and colors you liked? Describe them.

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What do you want to incorporate or avoid in your current home?

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Is your home a current reflection of your sense of style and if not, how would you like to change it?

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Whether you’re planning to do your project with professional guidance or not, it is a big task. The more you prepare yourself and discuss your priorities with your spouse or partner, the better. What you don’t want to do is end up in a conflict over the design or financial decisions that accompany it, and answering these questions will prevent problems later.

An interior designer will ask you most if not all of these questions so they understand your needs, desires, priorities and dreams.

Why are you doing the project?

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Why is this important now?

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What will having a redesigned space do for you?

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How will it impact your life, family, efficiency, productivity, enjoyment, etc.?

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Do you have a deadline for the project? (Wedding, graduation, baby, etc.)

______________________________________________________________________________

What would a successful project look like?

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Who is going to use the space?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is your scope of work? (See My Wish List and you can prioritize & edit it later – we created a My Wish List spreadsheet for you)

How long are you planning to live in your home? If it is a short time, you may want to invest the majority of your budget in items that you will take with you. ________________________

What changes would you most like to have happen and why?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How much are you willing to invest to accomplish those changes? _______________________

How will you pay for the project? __________________________________________________

What do you like about your space now?

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What do you want to keep? Please use My Inventory for a complete list

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How would you describe your style?

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What are your biggest concerns about doing this project? (Budget, difficulty, lack of design knowledge, finding the right team, etc.)

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Do you want to do the project yourself, or at least start it yourself? ___Yes ___No ___Maybe

Do you have time to manage your own project? ___Yes ___No ___Maybe

If not, do you want to hire someone to assist you? ___Yes ___No ___Maybe

Do you like or intend to shop? ___Yes ___No ___Maybe

Do you value service and expertise and are you willing to invest in assistance?

___Yes ___No ___Maybe


What are your goals in hiring someone to assist you if that is your preference?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are your concerns about hiring someone to help you? If you decide to hire someone, be sure to share it with that person.

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What do you value most?

Function

Beauty

Brand

Quality

Budget

Trends

Your time

Convenience

All of the above

Do you and your spouse or significant other agree on these values? ___Yes ___No ___Maybe

If not, how will you resolve your differences?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Who else will you ask for their opinions? Your kids, friends or other family members?

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Where do you spend the majority of your time, and how do you feel about those spaces?

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How do you want your guests and family to feel in your home?

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Why is that important to you?

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What do you want your home to say about your style, personality and priorities?

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Happy

Joyful

Serene

Calm

Easy‐going

Quiet

Nurturing

Cozy

Inviting

Cheerful

Colorful

Family‐oriented

Loving

Sleek

Sophisticated

Exciting

Energetic

Exciting

Funky

Unique

Environmentally conscious

Pet‐friendly

Kid‐friendly

Designed for a home chef

Spa‐like

Luxurious

Refined

Elegant

Low‐key (not flashy)

Decorative

Casual

Formal

Playful

Quirky

Impressive

Relaxed

Low Maintenance

Practical


Once you complete these questions, share your answers with each other if you are married or cohabitating, and resolve any disagreements between each of you before you spend a penny. You will be surprised at some of your partner’s answers.

Modern/Contemporary Traditional Transitional (blend of the two previous styles)

Minimal Tuscan Asian Southwestern

Old World (European) Mid‐Century Modern Country Arts & Crafts Cottage Beach/Tropical Eclectic

Other __________________________________________________________________

What colors, materials or patterns do you love and want to include in your home?

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What colors, materials or patterns do you dislike?

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04+036My Wishlist

Photo # Item # Room Item Description Color Width Height Depth Estimated Cost Notes

www.HowToDesignYourPerfectInterior.com [email protected]© Copyright 2012 Design Success University Press – All Rights Reserved

Place Photo Here

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Place Photo Here_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Place Photo Here ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Place Photo Here

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Photo # Item # Room Item Description Color Width Height Depth Use Donate Reupholster Move Notes

A B C D E F G H I J

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627

Photo # Item # Room Item Description/# Color/# Width Height Depth Budget Notes


“As‐Built” (means the existing footprint of the space )

Floor Plans – New

Furniture Plans

Reflected Ceiling Plans

Electrical Plans

Elevations (vertical surfaces or walls)

Sections (detailed drawings ‐ molding details, how things intersect, etc.)

Millwork (built‐in cabinetry and trim – generally created by the millwork shop because

they know how to engineer the construction)

Kitchen Cabinet Layout (this includes fillers to allow doors and drawers to open, toe‐

kicks, moldings, applied details, cabinet fronts for appliances, location of hardware,

inserts in drawers and cabinets, etc.)

Tile Layouts (these include all trim pieces and grout details such as color, thickness,

sanded, unsanded, bullnose, corners, listelles, etc.)

Window Treatments (includes rods, stack, overlaps, hem details, trim, etc.)

Other __________________________________________________________________

Foyer


Kitchen

Family Room

Living Room

Dining Room

Butler's Pantry

Library

Office 1

Office 2

Game Room

Loft

Hallway

Mud Room

Utility Room

Powder Room

Master

Bedroom

Master

Bathroom

Master Sitting

Room

Master Closet

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 5

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Bathroom 5

Basement

Craft Room

Garage

___________

___________

___________

___________

Camera

25’ Tape Measure

¼” Graph Paper

Ruler

Architect’s Scale to Measure Scaled Drawings

Furniture Templates

Your Favorite Shelter Magazines for Ideas – Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Dwell,

Veranda, etc.

Magazine Picture Cutter or Exacto™ Knife

Glue Stick™

Scissors

White Cover Stock Paper to Adhere Your Samples If You Aren’t Inserting in Sleeves

Notebook Divider – 24 Sections

4” D‐Ring Heavy‐Duty White Notebook with Sleeves to Insert Your Customized Cover & Spine

Heavy Duty Sheet Protectors (Plastic Sleeves)

Computer With a Spreadsheet Program Like Excel™

Paint Deck (Benjamin Moore®, Sherwin‐Williams®, etc.)

Sticky Notes™ – (Two Colors)

For the Tech‐Savvy ‐ Apps: Icovia®, Homestyler® or Magic Plan for Creating and Revising Your

Floor Plans; Houzz for Digital Ideas; OlioBoard for Creating Your Own Digital Mood Boards

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

www.HowToDesignYourPerfectInterior.com [email protected]

© Copyright 2012 Design Success University Press – All Rights Reserved

Accessories

Appliances

Artwork

Automation

A/V Equipment

Backsplash

Bedding

Cabinets

Carpeting (pad type, thickness)

Countertops

Electrical (switches, dimmers, outlet covers, fire detectors, CO2 detectors, etc.)

Fabric

Fabric Trim, Tassels, etc.

Flooring

Frames

Glass Shower Enclosure

Hardware – Bathroom Accessories

Hardware – Cabinets

Hardware – Doors

Hardware ‐ Drapery

Hardware – Shower Door

Lamps

Light Fixtures (chandeliers, sconces, recessed lights, under cabinet lights, step lights, ceiling fans, bath fans, exhaust fans, etc.)

Medicine Cabinet

Mirrors

Miscellaneous

Moldings & Trim

Palette

Plumbing Fixtures

Rug(s)

Specialty Wall Finishes

Specialty Glass

Ventilation (range, bathrooms, attic fans, etc.)

Wallpaper

Window Treatments

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________


04+037My Websites

Company Name Telephone # Email Website Address Notes

Appliance Installer

Appliance Store

Artist(s)

Architect

Audio/Visual Company

Cabinet Installer

Cabinet Shop

Carpenter

Carpet Installer

Countertop Showroom (granite, solid surface, etc.)

Drapery Installer

Drapery Workroom

Fabric Store(s)

Electrician

Engineer (if moving walls and you have concern about load‐bearing issues)

Flooring Installer

Furniture Store(s)

General Contractor

Glass Vendor (shower enclosures, mirror, cabinet glass, etc.)

Handyman (install miscellaneous hardware and specialty items)

Hardware Showroom

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Cooling) Vendor

Insurance Agent

Interior Designer or Decorator

Kitchen & Bath Designer

Lighting Designer (especially if your art collection is extensive)

Lighting Store

Millwork Shop

Organizer

Paint Store

Painter

Painter – Specialty Finishes

Plumber

Plumbing Showroom

Realtor (if consulting about the value of remodeling vs. moving)

Receiver (accepts freight from vendors)

Rug Store

Tile Setter

Tile Showroom

Wallpaper Installer

Wallpaper Store

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________


Name Company Category Telephone # Cell # Email Website Notes

04+037My Websites

Company Name Category Telephone # Email Website Notes

04+037My Websites

Company Name Telephone # Email Website Notes

Here are questions you can ask the references:

How satisfied were you with the project you did with ___________________?

Were there any surprises?

Was ____________________________respectful of your budget?

Was the project finished on time?

Was ________________________accessible, responsive and responsible?

Were the details handled to your satisfaction?

What did you like most about working with _____________________?

What did you like least about working with _____________________?

Would you use ______________________ again?

Is there anything else I should know?

Notes:


Insurance coverage your interior designer, contractor, or subcontractors may carry

Business Owner’s Package

Worker’s Compensation

Professional Liability or Errors and Omissions Insurance

Inland Marine Insurance

Umbrella Policy

Liability Insurance

Notes:


Contracts Or Letters Of Agreement Checklist

Scope of work

Job site address

Compensation details ‐ fees and mark‐ups

Miscellaneous expenses

Payment terms and conditions including due dates and what happens when

bills are not paid on time

Retainer

Copyright and ownership of drawings, designs, samples, etc.

One time use of design

Right to photograph work normally requested

Warranties or guarantees

Insurance

Mediation or arbitration


Place Photo Here ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Place Photo Here

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