newsletter-new-02

Home building and remodeling is about things, all of the products you choose to reflect your personal style and taste. You want to purchase the right products to achieve a certain look and feel. Do you know where to find those products? Are you sure that the products you select will be compatible with your home, and with each other? Where does each product fit in your budget priorities? How many mistakes can you afford to make?

For the past six months, "Shirley" and "Michael" have been shopping, to furnish their new home, purchasing furniture and accessories that appealed to them. After everything was delivered and positioned, they didn't like the result. The sofa and coffee table were too large, and didn't coordinate with the chairs or the area rug. Their new bed dominated the master bedroom. They returned what could be returned, and sold the rest at consignment stores for considerably less than they had paid.

At the same time, "Becky" and "Robert" went shopping every Saturday for all of the products to create their new kitchen. They visited dozens of tile, countertop and cabinet showrooms within 50 miles of their home, getting more confused every week until they decided to put their project on hold.

Both examples are not uncommon, because most homeowners don't understand that professional designers can save them frustration, time, and money. Here is what I believe a professional designer should do to help you:

Establish a reasonable budget, with allowances for each item

Design a space plan that's safe and functional

Recommend products, suppliers, and contractors

Guide final product choices that fit the home, budget, and lifestyle

Prepare detailed floor plans and elevations to:

Get accurate product and labor estimates

Define the scope of the work

Guard against change orders

Ensure that you get what you expect

Work with you, your contractors, and suppliers to achieve the best results possible

The most important benefit that a professional designer brings to your project is creative visualization -- the ability to see the finished room (or home) down to the smallest details. Real creativity is not the same thing as copying ideas from a magazine or book, but being inspired by others' work, and nature, to solve specific challenges unique to your project.

If "Shirley" and "Michael" had hired a designer, they would be inviting friends over to see their new home, completely furnished and accessorized. If "Becky" and "Robert" had hired a professional kitchen designer, all of their product decisions would be behind them, and their remodeling project would be underway. Professional designers can and do make a positive difference. To read more about working with a designer, order my whitepaper report, "How to Qualify A Design Professional," available for the special price of $7.95 until July 15 -- only two more days left!

"Plesset's Principles for Today is Home" is YOUR personal information service, to help you make informed decisions about every aspect of your building or remodeling project. Send an e-mail today with your questions to: Q@dp-design.com

IN THIS ISSUE: DESIGNERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE			Dear [dear] Why do challenges and setbacks always seem worse when there's a deadline involved? We've been working on an entry for design competition, with plenty of time to meet the deadline, when my computer's power supply went up in smoke. I'm feeling gratitude for Jay's superior computer skills, which allowed me to finish the entry just in time, despite the setback. The most important deadline is finishing a new-home project for a wonderful couple -- final inspection is supposed to be the end of this week. There have been several challenges and setbacks, which I'm including in a blog that will be posted later on Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, and my website (see links). I'm grateful for everyone involved in the project. We all want the homeowners to be happy with the results, which is the driving force for the whole team, including the project manager, cabinet maker, electrician, plumber, tile setter, and various suppliers. Challenges, aka opportunities. Without them, life would be boring, achievements wouldn't have meaning, and gratitude would be just a word not a feeling. With Inspired Ideas for Your Home, P.S. A question came up this week, "Why do you call yourself a homeowner advocate?" Read the answer(s) in my blog!
QUICK LINKS:
dp-design.com
Diane's MySpace
Diane's FaceBook
Diane on Twitter
Q@dp-design.com
orders@dp-design.com
Send to a Friend

		Plesset's Principles for Today's Home® DESIGNERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE Home building and remodeling is about things, all of the products you choose to reflect your personal style and taste. You want to purchase the right products to achieve a certain look and feel. Do you know where to find those products? Are you sure that the products you select will be compatible with your home, and with each other? Where does each product fit in your budget priorities? How many mistakes can you afford to make? For the past six months, "Shirley" and "Michael" have been shopping, to furnish their new home, purchasing furniture and accessories that appealed to them. After everything was delivered and positioned, they didn't like the result. The sofa and coffee table were too large, and didn't coordinate with the chairs or the area rug. Their new bed dominated the master bedroom. They returned what could be returned, and sold the rest at consignment stores for considerably less than they had paid. At the same time, "Becky" and "Robert" went shopping every Saturday for all of the products to create their new kitchen. They visited dozens of tile, countertop and cabinet showrooms within 50 miles of their home, getting more confused every week until they decided to put their project on hold. Both examples are not uncommon, because most homeowners don't understand that professional designers can save them frustration, time, and money. Here is what I believe a professional designer should do to help you: Establish a reasonable budget, with allowances for each item Design a space plan that's safe and functional Recommend products, suppliers, and contractors Guide final product choices that fit the home, budget, and lifestyle Prepare detailed floor plans and elevations to: Get accurate product and labor estimates Define the scope of the work Guard against change orders Ensure that you get what you expect Work with you, your contractors, and suppliers to achieve the best results possible The most important benefit that a professional designer brings to your project is creative visualization -- the ability to see the finished room (or home) down to the smallest details. Real creativity is not the same thing as copying ideas from a magazine or book, but being inspired by others' work, and nature, to solve specific challenges unique to your project. If "Shirley" and "Michael" had hired a designer, they would be inviting friends over to see their new home, completely furnished and accessorized. If "Becky" and "Robert" had hired a professional kitchen designer, all of their product decisions would be behind them, and their remodeling project would be underway. Professional designers can and do make a positive difference. To read more about working with a designer, order my whitepaper report, "How to Qualify A Design Professional," available for the special price of $7.95 until July 15 -- only two more days left! "Plesset's Principles for Today is Home" is YOUR personal information service, to help you make informed decisions about every aspect of your building or remodeling project. Send an e-mail today with your questions to: Q@dp-design.com

		ABOUT DIANE Diane established D. P. Design in April of 1984, to help homeowners, like you, achieve the best building and remodeling experience with her personalized consulting, design services, seminars, articles, and books. She is a homeowner advocate, an award-winning designer and author, and former co-host of a weekly radio program. "Plesset's Principles for Today's Home®" is another avenue for Diane to express her passion for helping people, using her God-given talents, education, and experience to provide "Inspired Ideas for Your Home®". She is one of about 150 designers in the United States with multiple certifications as a Master Kitchen-Bath Designer, Interior Designer, and Aging-in-Place Specialist. She can help you achieve your building or remodeling goals. To request more information, visit Diane's website, or send an e-mail to Diane: Q@dp-design.com. You are welcome to share this newsletter. We request that you copy and paste it in its entirety, including Diane's bio.

		DIANE PLESSET, CMKBD, NCIDQ #13029, C.A.P.S. D. P. DESIGN P.O. Box 1132 Oregon City, OR. 97045 IF YOU WISH TO STOP RECEIVING THESE E-MAILS, REPLY WITH "UNSUBSCRIBE" IN THE SUBJECT LINE © 2009 D. P. Design - All Rights Reserved