Renovation woes

My parents talked about renovating our kitchen in New Delhi for years. Yes…years.

We spend so much of our time indoors that there is always one or another space at home or at work to which we would like to add a little something. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint in a new color or a complete remodel, a lot of us have an “in progress” design project on our minds. Many times, as in my parents’ case it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the choices out there, decisions to be made and of course budget constraints! Fortunately they finally managed to pull off the renovation last year (with help from an Italian kitchen manufacturer/supplier)!  In case you’re wondering where was I in all this and why I wasn’t the designer on the job…unfortunately I could only help remotely as I was a good 8000 miles away in sunny California trying to settle into a new apartment after my wedding!

Well, I’m happy to announce that I’ve come across some neat little tools for all you design enthusiasts who are overwhelmed, not making any progress and waiting for that little design(er) miracle! These online services are geared towards making design more accessible and affordable for anyone with the desire to upgrade! Although these are all based in the US, I’d love to know of any such services in other countries…especially India!

Design services:

•  Houzz is a community of home design enthusiasts and design professionals which allows you to create online visual boards or “Ideabooks” (much like Pinterest) out of images which inspire you. You can also connect with other design enthusiasts and professionals from the design and construction industry for advice, discussions or even to hire them! It’s a great tool for anyone looking for advice on DIY projects, product information and renovating any part of the house. Check out this article for further details.

•  Launched in August this year, Tastemaker is for homeowners who are looking for advice from a professional decorator at a flat-rate price and don’t mind shopping and installing the recommended products themselves or through their own contractors. My favorite part is the exciting little “design box” which clients receive from their decorator containing floor plans, selected paint colors, and a shopping list of what to buy and where to put it! Shop, install and voila!  However, do note that stores such as Pottery Barn, Ethan Allen, Restoration Hardware and many others offer such professional design advice too. The only downside – they design using products from their respective stores only.

‍

‍

•  iMatchDesigners is a referral/match-making service which helps clients connect with interior designers, architects and landscape designers based on their specific project needs, budget and timeline. Homeowners can browse through the website’s selection of designer portfolios before contacting iMatchDesigners with the project details. Subsequently, you as the client will have the opportunity to connect and interview designers/firms before selecting one who can see your project through! Check out Lloyd Princeton, the creator explaining this process in a video.

‍

‍

Let me know if you've used these or any other such services in the comments!