Top 3 Frustrations Homeowners face while trying to manage their own Renovation.

Renovating a home can be an exciting process, but it can also be a frustrating one, particularly if you try to manage the project yourself. Here are the top three common frustrations homeowners face while trying to manage their own renovation. 

1. Design:  While some showrooms and manufacturers offer free “design” services, often they don’t take into consideration the rest of your home.  It can be difficult to achieve a cohesive design that you will be happy with years down the road.  Additionally, if you are working on your own to come up with designs, layouts AND specific products this can become overwhelming very quickly.  Did you know the average renovation requires 15,000 decisions?  A bulk of those decisions are the initial designs. 

2. Difficulty Getting a Crew Together:  Managing a renovation project can be stressful when everyone does show up, but what about getting those initial people in place to begin with?  Coordinating multiple trade professionals to come out and quote the job is time consuming.  The follow up after is often delayed as well.  Without a professional to manage this aspect it can quickly become overwhelming.   

3. Over Budget:  Another common frustration is going over budget. It's easy to underestimate the cost of materials and labor, and unexpected expenses can quickly add up.  If you don't have experience managing a project of this scale it can be easy to go over budget. 

Overall, while managing your own renovation project may seem like a good idea, it can often lead to frustration, delays, budget overruns, and stress. Hiring a professional interior design and home renovation company to manage the project from start to finish can help ensure that the designs, the work and trades are managed well and the project stays within budget.  

Schedule a call with us and leave the frustration behind!

Inviting Interiors, Home Renovation, and Interior Design in North Carolina

Located in Graham, Nc and proudly serving Greensboro, Burlington, Mebane, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Pittsboro.

The Top 5 Questions to Ask Before You Begin Your Renovation for your home in North Carolina

Undertaking a renovation project is an exciting venture, but it also demands thoughtful preparation. To ensure your renovation journey flows seamlessly and achieves the desired results, it's crucial to ask the right questions upfront.  In this blog post, we highlight the top 5 questions to consider before embarking on your renovation with Inviting Interiors.

1. What Are My Goals and Expectations?

The first question to ask is, "What do I hope to achieve with this renovation?" Whether you seek to enhance your home's aesthetics, functionality, or both, defining your goals is the foundation of a successful project. Inviting Interiors specializes in translating your vision into a tangible renovation plan, ensuring your expectations are not just met but exceeded.

My vision for this space was to create a central focal point for this small kitchen.  A bold design for the island provides interest but also superior functionality.  This 4x4 island houses the microwave, dishwasher, trash components, seating for 3 and ample drawers for additional storage. 

2. What Is My Budget?

Setting a realistic budget is essential for managing costs and expectations. Carefully evaluate your financial resources and determine how much you are willing to invest in your renovation. We provide a Cost Guide during our initial Discovery Call, so you’ll have a starting point as you consider your renovation budget. 

3. Do I Need Professional Guidance?

While some smaller projects may be DIY-friendly, many renovations benefit from professional guidance. Ask yourself whether you require the expertise of an interior designer like Inviting Interiors. Our team not only brings creative vision but also manages the intricacies of the renovation process, ensuring every detail aligns with your vision and budget. 

4. What Is the Timeline?

Consider the timeline for your renovation and whether there are any time-sensitive factors, such as upcoming events or special occasions. Inviting Interiors is dedicated to efficient project management, ensuring that your renovation is completed within the agreed-upon timeline without compromising quality.

5. How Will the Renovation Affect My Daily Life?

Renovations can be disruptive to your daily routines. Consider how the project will impact your living arrangements, and if necessary, make temporary arrangements to minimize disruption. Inviting Interiors works to ensure that the renovation process is as smooth and unobtrusive as possible, minimizing the impact on your daily life.

In conclusion, asking the right questions before starting your renovation is instrumental in setting the stage for a successful and stress-free transformation. Inviting Interiors is your partner in this journey, ready to provide the expertise, guidance and creative vision needed to turn your renovation aspirations into a stunning reality.  Renovations are not just about change but about transformation, creating spaces that resonate with your style, goals, and dreams.  We’d love to help make your renovation dreams a reality.  

We are located in Graham, North Carolina, but we also serve in Greensboro, Burlington, Mebane, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.

Schedule a call with us now!

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When to Refinish or Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets in North Carolina

This article will discuss various factors that can help determine when it’s worth refinishing or replacing your kitchen cabinets.  We’ll look at how age, aesthetics, functionality, convenience and investment amount all play a role.  Let's start with age.

If made with durable material, such as hardwood, the age of your cabinets may not matter.  A fresh coat of paint and new pulls may be all that’s needed to bring your cabinets up to date.  Age may be more of a factor if your cabinets are worn out.  It’s not to say that a good craftsman may not have some tricks up his/her sleeve that could adequately address your concerns, but often the investment of such renovations can outweigh the benefits of purchasing new cabinets.  

Aesthetics is an easy one!  Just ask yourself the following questions: Do I like looking at it?  How does it make me feel (also impacted by functionality, discussed below)? Is it something I’m proud to bring guests into?  Is it even my style? Simply put, aesthetics equate to your preferred look.  So when determining the best option, refinishing or replacing your cabinets, consider which is more or less likely to bring about that WOW factor!

Now that we’ve considered age and aesthetics let's talk about functionality.  Maybe this is your chance to finally make it your own, including colors, style and functionality.  In this case, cabinet organizers could help.  But what if you are ready to make it YOURS?  Kitchens are a place to “make it happen,” whatever it is!  There’s nothing more annoying than having a poor layout, broken drawers and doors and barriers to organization.  Comfort and time are valuable.  Smooth transitions and operational features = functionality.  So, replacing your cabinets may be your only viable option to get the functionality you need.  

Convenience, time and disruption to the home environment should also be considered when choosing between refinishing or replacing kitchen cabinets. Which approach would take less time? But you may be surprised to learn that it’s a tossup!  Due to the prep work and possible repairs mentioned above (including multiple coats of primer and paint - which take time to dry), refinishing cabinets could take several weeks.  On the other hand, tearing out and replacing cabinets (should rerouting plumbing or electrical be necessary) could take the same amount of time.  Replacing cabinets is often a part of a full kitchen remodel, which usually requires more time than a refinish.  

Age, aesthetics, functionality, convenience and investment amount are all factors to consider when refinishing or replacing kitchen cabinets.  After reading this article, if you are still having difficulty deciding between a cabinet refinish or replacement, or if you are ready to move forward in designing or building your dream kitchen.

We are located in Graham, North Carolina, but we also serve in Greensboro, Burlington, Mebane, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.

Please click here to schedule a Discovery Call.  

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Major Renovations and Home Investments in the North Carolina area

Major renovations can be daunting and overwhelming. I've experienced this firsthand, as have many of my clients. It's easy to feel a sense of regret when considering the investment of money, the mess that comes with renovations, and the disruption of daily life, especially if you're living in the space being renovated. It's a lot to manage mentally and emotionally, especially if you are attempting to take on a large project by yourself.  

Part of our approach as an Interior Design + General Contractor team is to step into our client’s shoes and find solutions that work best for them. 

At the end of the day we are Real People, designing for Real Life. 

As professionals in the industry, we offer design and management expertise to help ease your mind during the renovation process. We have the tools to help you envision the "big picture" and provide clear communication to alleviate any pain points along the way. With our assistance, you can feel confident in the final outcome of your renovation.

Every project has its imperfections. However, it's essential to trust the process, the big picture, the investment, and the time and energy you put into it. Even though "after" may come at a cost, the memories you'll create as a result of completing your project will make you grateful to have been part of the process. 

Have you ever regretted a design decision or wall color?  See mine in the comments below…it happens to the best of us!  

Here is your chance to trust the process!  

Schedule a call with us now, and let’s make your dream kitchen a reality. 

Artwork made by: https://www.davidnanceart.com/

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Interior Changes

Happy Monday!  I hope you gave yourself one day this weekend to chill.  We had a packed Friday and Saturday, so Sunday was a nice change of pace.  Pancakes, fishing, naps, 4-wheeler rides and of course finger nail painting and catching frogs. :o)

More on the progress of the tile floor soon, but I wanted to show you a few things that have happened INSIDE the cabin.  

One of the first projects we tackled was removing the cedar post in the middle of our living room, a trial and error project.  Initially, Jon wanted to see if just the metal bracket could hold the weight of the floor and support the beams.  That did not end up going so well…. ;o)  BUT I LOVE the result.  Breaks up the wood and gives the room an industrial feel.  Jon designed it, and the guys at Lowe’s Welding had it fabricated in no time.  Shout out to my dad, who helped Jon alllll day as they measured and jacked up the ceiling/floor over and over, trying their best to keep things level and safe.  Ultimately we replaced the cedar post and cement block with a custom piece of wormy maple.  I love how clean it turned out! Sometimes projects don’t go as planned, but there is always a lesson learned and experience gained from the process. Enjoy the pictures!

BEFORE - Cedar post on concrete block

BEFORE

Hoisting the HEAVY bracket

AFTER

12 bolts = here to stay :)