Are you thinking of tackling the task of furnishing your new home? We’ve previously covered when it makes sense to hire an interior designer, and furnishing a home – either with new or existing pieces – is one of those instances when having an interior designer on hand is a must. When working with a full-service firm like Vertical Arts, interior designers are instrumental in selecting furniture from the get-go to help homeowners get inspired and narrow down the design themes of each room.
“We ask our clients how they will live in each space,” said Vertical Arts Partner Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien. “How often will they clean a glass coffee table, and does their couch need extra protection from kids, dogs or spills?”
To dive deeper on this aspect of interior design, we’re exploring the do’s and don’ts of furniture selection during the home building or remodeling process.
Do: Keep Budget in Mind
Oftentimes furniture is not included in overall cost-per-square-foot estimates, meaning homeowners will need to set aside a separate budget. Custom, American-made pieces are more costly as are pieces made from sturdy fabrics or materials that can stand up to wear and tear. It’s the interior designer’s job to manage expectations based on budget and find acceptable quality pieces for specific price points.
“We begin our process by understanding what our clients care about and value,” said Retail & Procurement Manager Gina Silveri. “We allocate the budget to whichever space the client wants us to prioritize.”
For example, clients may have a lower budget in mind but are willing to splurge on certain items, like a rug or custom dining table. From there, an interior designer can mix lower and higher end pieces in a cohesive way, inserting designer moments that bring everything up to the next level.
Do: Find Your Style
During our proprietary Envisioning Process, we create a personalized vision of the home and aim to capture the personality of each client to showcase their taste. We lean toward tailored, staple pieces that can evolve over time so it’s easier to change up the look at a later time. The Vertical Arts and Stel House + Home designers all have different styles to collaborate with each homeowners’ and are able to find items you won’t see in a catalog to create an eclectic style that lives longer.
“We know which designer lines mix well together and can layer in specialty moments or conversation pieces,” said Gina.
For example, local art or statement wood and steel furnishings from Twenty1Five can be blended with more affordable pieces throughout the home.
Do: Think it Through
Did you know an entire room can be built around a specific piece of furniture? If there’s a specific item a client is obsessed with, we can design the room around that item, such as a new sofa or a piece of art from the owner’s previous home. In fact, it’s vital the furnishing process takes place early on in the design of the home because there could be construction implications. Does the mirror fit under the light fixtures in the bathroom? Are there studs in place for a custom cantilever desk or floating credenza? Our team is intricately involved in the architecture and construction process to ensure the design is implemented in the right way.
“We are involved in every step because we want to ensure that if architectural details change, it doesn’t affect the furniture layout of the home,” said Sarah. “If a duct has to be moved and the bedroom becomes narrower, we take that into consideration when ordering the end tables for the space.”
Don’t: Forget About the Timeline
Finding all the furniture you might need can be time consuming itself, before you add on working with vendors, shipping times and construction schedules. Interior designers handle all of those logistics, ordering pieces from multiple vendors, sending fabric to manufacturers if needed and coordinating where to store the items before they are installed in your home. A procurement manager like Gina can successfully install an 8,000-square-foot home in one day, with hundreds of items from 50 different vendors. And if you have existing pieces of furniture from your previous home, we can make sure it arrives to be moved in on the same day.
Don’t: Overdo It
Bringing in an interior designer means each piece of furniture is planned to fit and flow in a specific space, maximizing functionality for a curated, collected and organized look. Multi-functional pieces like sleeper sofas and extra storage under beds can make a home feel modern while optimizing space. Interior designers can also determine how best to use an existing piece of furniture in a new space for a fully cohesive look that’s ready for you to enjoy.
This is the fifth article in our educational series meant to guide readers through the process of designing a mountain home. See our first, second, third and fourth entries for more information. Be sure to follow the latest Vertical Arts updates on our website, Houzz, Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about how we can help you design your dream mountain home, contact us.