We’ve talked about the Integrative Design Process (IDP) before; however, this time, we are going to take a microscope look at each stage of the IDP.

This microscopic dissection of each IDP stage will help us understand the importance of why IADs, and other professionals in the design and construction field, follow such a structure.

*This discussion is divided into two blogs. The first blog will focus on the Planning and Designing portion of the IDP, while the second blog will discuss Procurement and Construction.

Planning

Phase One: Pre-Schematic

Design projects always start with an idea. During this idea, we begin to investigate and research different ways how we can make our ideas a reality.

We’ll start by investigating the site, developing zones, discussing and approving ideas with other stakeholders, taking measurements to see if our ideas fit, and start researching who can be on our team to either help manage and/or construct our idea.

From there, we develop a conceptual design: a couple quick sketches, or a vision board of images picked from Pinterest that best showcase our idea. In other words, we end the Pre-Schematic Design Phase by getting our ideas on paper.

Designing

Phase Two: Schematic Design

The funds we have at this point will dictate how quickly we can get our idea moving. Many stakeholders hire an Interior Architect and Designer (IAD) to help manage, solidify, and streamline ideas during this phase. It is, also, not uncommon to have a trusted contractor ready and in the loop, assembling our integrated design team.

The Schematic Design refines our conceptual design. IADs will conduct building code analysis, explore the feasibility, study a sun report to see how natural lighting affects the interior, and develop mood and materials boards.

A lot of communication and confirmation between your IAD project manager and stakeholders will take place during this phase, finding synergies; this is the way of the IDP Design Effort: your IAD project manager will be able to help impact costs by gathering as much information as possible early in this phase to minimize spontaneous changes that can negatively impact time, costs, and waste.

Phase Three: Design Development

Once measurements; interior pictures; analyses; materials are confirmed, then we can move on to the Design Development Phase.

We are refining schematics, hand drawing interior design floor plans, or using Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) programs to develop commercial construction documents.

Stakeholders will receive a more accurate and detailed estimate of materials, and cost of construction labor if needed.

This is where the opportunity to perfect the design happens. You’ll be able to see exactly what your space will look like, especially if working with Creative Real Estate Suite LLC. You can change or tweak anything about the design, however, final designs are typically spot-on with much communication and confirmation during the Schematic Design Phase.

From here, there are two options:

1. If your design ideas mostly consist of furnishings, then only purchasing such furnishings and waiting for delivery is next. It will be easy for you to install furnishings, or hire a handyman to hang curtain rods if necessary.
2. If your design ideas contain construction to your home, then the trusted contractor you researched will be your next point of contact, and you’ll want to move forward with reading Integrative Design Process: Part Two.

A design investment on an entire home can cost $30k+ and take a couple years to finish installation.

We want to purchase furnishings that are high-quality and last for years. Typically, design investments are limiting as we tend to think what lump sum we can afford now; however, this ideology does not follow the integrative design process.

Limiting investments to what we can afford now leaves us with cheap and flimsy furnishings that do not fit our adult home. Then, we are left to “upgrade” elements in six months.

When budgets come to mind, it’s best to look at the entire cost and divide it by the number of years you’d like to keep the design.

For example, $30k total design (not including installation) divided by 10 years equals $3,000 per year; two of those years are spent implementing the design.

So let’s talk budget, or better yet, let’s not. It’s best not to have a budget for a healthy design as it impacts the mind, body, and soul. Experienced interior designers know which elements should be more expensive than others, which helps with sourcing luxury elements at affordable prices.

Furthermore, investment is different from the budget: Investment is the financial number you are comfortable spending on healthy design, and budget is the itemized list of where your investment dollars are going. Budgets tend to increase during the schematic design phase based on many factors such as quality of furnishing, the number of pieces needed, custom pieces, window treatments, sustainable features, and fabric durability. Then, there is the budget for installation.

This ideology is a part of the integrative design process; CIAs foundations come from this process.

What makes your home design sustainable? Installing solar panels and switching to LED bulbs? Sure, those installations can help with costs over time, however, homeowners have noticed that some of these new installations featured haven’t made anything “sustainable”. According to Harvard Business News, Solar panels alone are set to enter landfills by early 2030s caused by incentives and tax subsidies to trade outdated panels for newer models.

What does “sustainable” really mean?

USGBC states, “An integrative process is a comprehensive approach to building systems and equipment. Project team members look for synergies among systems and components, the mutual advantages that can help achieve high levels of building performance, human comfort, and environmental benefits.” Synergies: exactly, finding synergies early in the pre-design phase helps homes become sustainable by identifying systems in the home that increases home, human, and environmental health. To find these synergies, one must not impulse shop solar panels, for example, and take a more integrative approach.

The Integrative Design Process (IDP) takes place at the very beginning of any home makeover. Thinking about design before you buy a house, and before jumping into new and sporadic home projects is when the IDP takes place. It would be even better to have a professional on hand during this time because they know to organize and plan for such event. During this time, the designer will work up preliminary plans and renders, ready for your approval, before moving on to the installation and construction phase. In other words, the right designer will help you save time, money, and waste (environmental waste from product production, wasting gas when driving around looking for whatever decor and then returning them all, and buyer’s remorse waste when final installations aren’t what was imagined).

United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Whole Building Design Guide have diagrams showing renders in the discovery and schematic phase of the Integrative Design Process (IDP). Forbes takes an additional mention by reiterating the benefits of virtual design renders and how renders can prevent expensive mistakes. What really sets the bar for sustainability is having these renders to show to your contractors (or DIY). Contractors no longer have to guess what you are trying to say about a design you want. They no longer, on a whim, construct something from a photo off Pinterest and hope it turns out right. Contractors no longer need to drive to your home, only to disappoint after not understanding a design that is so visual.

100% of Contractors agree that renders (virtual design) help communicate homeowner’s vision easily and clearly, and in turn, 100% of homeowners prefer to see their interiors before starting installation.

Furthermore, sustainability is apparent in the codes and standards, and Principles and Elements of Art in Design. Not only will you receive tangible and sustainable products when working with an enlightened designer, but you will also receive a functional design specific to your anthropometrics, which is equally sustainable! When furniture doesn’t fit, sooner or later, you are either going to purchase more furnishing and décor to “fill in the space”, causing the room to feel too busy, or return and buy a completely new piece of furniture because the one you originally bought was too big! Thus, it will become a never-ending cycle of waste that usually happens if you don’t use the IDP.

Planning for a home design, whether you are looking for something more functional and practical, needs to start at the very onset of the project. This will prevent unnecessary setbacks that can impact the health of the home, people living in and around it, and ultimately the health of the planet. Hiring an interior architect and designer is a valuable decision every homeowner, or renter should make as they help organize and guide you toward a truly sustainable future.

Have you been thinking about spicing up your interior architecture with drop down ceilings, removing or adding walls, and completely remodeling your kitchen and bath?

The first thing to do is make sure you contact your home insurance company to make sure that renovations are covered, otherwise “any damage sustained to your property or belongings during the renovation may not be covered”.

The number one goal to updating and upgrading is to increase the value of your home and the last thing we’d like to do is risk damage or loss during renovations.

It may be as easy as notifying your insurers about upcoming renovations to ensure you’re covered. From this point on, “they may tell you that you need to take out additional insurance while the renovations are taking place”.

Don’t forget about insurance coverage for the building materials and tools.

Do you plan to stay elsewhere while renovations are taking place? Ask your insurer about a vacancy permit. Typically, “home insurance policy to require you to be living in the house full time while it’s insured and if you have to move out temporarily for renovations this could be considered breaking one of the policy requirements”.

Lastly, you may need to get additional liability insurance just in case someone is injured on your property during renovations. There are a lot of risks involved with renovations and we just want to be prepared for anything.

When your renovations are complete, let your home insurance company know! You’ll need to let them know of the exact renovations as “they may change the value of your property and the amount that it would cost to replace your property and the contents.”

Are you a DIYer?

Talk to your home insurance company about builder’s insurance.

“Most home insurance policies won’t cover DIY renovations, even if you are just going to be project managing it.”

Keep in mind, insurance rates may rise due to the fact that there is an increase in value of your property from renovations and they figure the “cost to replace your property and belongings.”

This increase is okay because the benefits tremendously outweigh the risks.

Here’s to the health and happiness of your home!