1-GET INSPIRED!

Dear Reader,
Let me give you a solution that is time consuming but effective. Get a Pinterest account!

What is Pinterest?
Pinterest got its name from a combination of two words: “pin” and “interest”. The platform’s software will allow you to publish visual fragments of websites in one place and segregate them thematically. Other users can pin your photos to their virtual boards by adding their comments.

Although the platform was founded in 2010 by Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra and Evan Sharp, it was only in December 2013 that the Polish version of the website was made available.

Pin to the boards photos of furniture, interior designs, functional solutions, ideas for similar spaces to the ones you will face. And I’m not talking about 5 boards with 3 written inspirations. What I mean is at least 3 evenings (with wine / coffee ) spent in front of the monitor “working hard” on your inspirations. The effect may surprise you.

At the end, when you decide that you already have enough “pins”, find what they have in common, maybe they all feature the theme of white bricks, or stucco or wooden ceilings … Pay attention to what Pinterest will offer you next, the algorithm of this (and basically all search engines) will work in your favor in choosing the interior style you like based on previous information. I believe that it is worth looking for your interior design style and learning something new about yourself 🙂

To be clear, I have no interest in promoting Pinterest. If you don’t like spending a lot of time in front of the computer then the alternative is to cut photos from design and architecture magazines. Making mind maps on cork boards etc. This is what I did in art high school when I was starting a new project. In those (ancient and distant) times I did not have a handy tool like Pinterest yet. Below is a link to my board, maybe something will inspire you? 🙂

One of my favorite architects, I.M. Pei -the source of the photo is Pinterest.

2-BUDGET, the sooner you set it, the better.

My advice – make a paper list of every element of the interior that you will need  (or in a computer program, I personally like Google documents very much). Example? Below is a photo with an example table that I created for my clients.

Thanks to the prepared list, you will always be able to compare prices from different stores, prices from contractors, carpenters, metalworkers, etc.

Thanks to lists like that, you will know how much financial resources you need to make your dreams come true. And now we face the next question, do you have any? Interior design dreams, I mean. If you do not, then analyze what you care about the most, whether it is a wooden floor, or maybe you can have laminated floors, but you prefer to do a recuperation system instead, etc.

Option 2 is to postpone the purchase of certain items. For example, the floor is now essential, so we invest in it, but we can buy those lamps we chose in six months.

In Summary, to start planning, you have to define your expectations, needs and financial possibilities.

3-INVENTORY

The basis for starting work in a given space is a well-measured architecture to work on. If you have a project from an architect / developer or a previous owner, that’s very good. It is still worth checking on the construction site whether the dimensions match. If they do- that’s great, you can start planning, and you can skip the rest of this point as well.

SPACE INVENTORY- how to prepare for it? 

What you might need: 

• wooden ruler (the foldable one). It will be useful for measuring, for example, large heights to which the rolled up tape could bend.
• measuring tape
• flashlight (if, for example, there is no lighting / electricity in windowless bathrooms).
• laser rangefinder (if you have it)
• it is an invaluable tool that speeds up your work very much. Handle it carefully, remember to point the “laser arrows” straight to the measured point, any deviation may distort the dimension reading.

Ok, we already have the equipment, we arrive at the construction site … and the question is, where to start?

Take it easy, contrary to appearances, it’s a simple and pleasant job if you are well prepared. It’s helpful if you prepare a floor plan and some photos on large sheets before measuring.

What is left is to measure the dimensions of the walls and their thickness, as well as the width and height of door and window openings. Check all heights from the floor to, for example, a window sill or lintel. Write it down on the photos or, if you prefer, on the building sections that can be made on the spot, while looking at a given wall.

Rule no. 1 for the inventory: “DO NOT Rush”.

Rule no. 2: “REMEMBER EVERYTHING – the doors, windows, wall thicknesses, the distance between the floor and the ceiling are important, the arrangement of connectors, sockets, drains … there’s a lot of it, you need to carefully look around.

Rule no. 3 “DEFINE THE MATERIALS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE”. It is mainly about what the walls are made of, will we face brick, plasterboard, silicate …? The ceiling will be important, because, for example, in old tenement houses we can find wood and straw filling. You have to be careful not to overload such ceilings, e.g. with a stone floor or a fireplace. This is a difficult matter when taking an inventory, because we often can’t see what is happening under the plaster, or under the floor, only to discover it when a constructor comes along.

4-CONTEXT

This point I am a little afraid to publish, but what the hell 🙂 Please note, that everything I write here is my subjective opinion.

If we are to start work on an existing architecture in which we will plan the interior, then it is worth asking: what kind of architecture is it? Is it a block of concrete slabs, a tenement house from the beginning of the century with Art Nouveau decorations, or maybe a rural house. 

Every building gives us a history and a stylistic, cultural and material context that it carries. It is worth remembering to avoid… kitsch. I am very open to mixing styles and materials, but let’s do it wisely, with a coherent idea and, above all, with awareness.

I believe that before we break some rules, it is worth knowing them first. 🙂

The devil is in the details 😉 Image source Pinterest.

5-FUNCTION

Function should be treated equally with form, but function planning is what we should start with. Think about how you live, what you do at home, how you like to spend time in the bedroom, on the balcony, in the kitchen. Do you have frequent guests, are you a messy person… It is all very important. 

In summary, you are a very important part of the home you are planning. It is best to think about how you experience the given space from the very entrance.

A comment is probably unnecessary. Pinterest photo source.

6-FORM

Here I suggest going back to points 1 and 2. They define a style and aesthetic direction which you would like to follow. It is also important that the form, i.e. colors, furniture, lighting, result from the function (point 5), i.e. if you have a lot of shoes and a small foyer, it may be worth considering, apart from a wardrobe, a bench with compartments at the bottom.

7-VISUALIZATION

It is not essential, but it is definitely useful. Currently there’s a lot of free planning/design software available. Personally, I recommend SketchUp – for students- a test version, for “normal” people- a test version or a limited but well-functioning basic version 🙂 Personally, I have been using this program for years. Previously I worked on Archicad (which I still like) but Sketch Up won me over with its intuitiveness and simplicity 🙂

8-TALK

I know, I know, it was supposed to be 7 points, but the 8th is a bonus 🙂 This is a point for everyone who will share the house with anyone- their husband / wife / children / dog / cat. Anyone who is lucky enough to be single and does not have to take into consideration the opinion of a second party may skip this point.

While working with clients I’m often faced with a dominating attitude of one of them.

I have heard more than once:

• it’s not you who cooks, I will decide about the kitchen … (no wonder why this poor guy is afraid to even step into the kitchen)
• my wife is the one that decides about the colors, I don’t see them … (this freedom often ends when the walls are already painted 🙂

I’m not saying it’s bad when someone decides for two, it’s about loving your home and feeling safe, comfortable and luxurious in it as in your own kingdom. I think this can only be achieved by planning together.

Picture of an idyllic quarrel found on Pinterest.