So you have an idea for a home renovation project or something that urgently needs doing in your home, but where to start?

You have probably seen things you like on Instagram or Pinterest and maybe you have saved them or maybe you didn’t and now you can’t find them again! If you like physical media then you might even have started cutting things out from interior design magazines or keeping catalogues, but these ideas can seem so far away from the reality you are faced with.

It is good to collect ideas but unless you do something they won’t ever become a reality.

Not as easy or exciting as creating mood boards or saving pins but very essential to creating the basis of a successful project is working out your initial brief.

1. What do you want to do? This could be something like creating a new walk-in wardrobe or renovating your kitchen. You can go into quite a lot of detail but for now just start with the headline.
2. What do you want it to cost? You need a budget and even if you don’t know if it is realistic, you probably have an idea of what you want to spend. This might be based on what you have available or what you think it is worth but having a number in mind and being willing to share it will really help you in the long run.
3. When do you want it to be finished? Working out a rough idea of timescale will be helpful when selecting contractors and choosing which items to purchase, you don’t want to centre your design around a beautiful feature item, and then find it has a six month lead time when you have the contractors booked next week!
4. Anything else? Work out if there are any other important constraints on the project, for example do you need a temporary kitchen or bathroom while yours is renovated? Are you envisioning moving out so the work can be completed as quickly as possible? Are you dreaming of a beautiful bit of bespoke joinery that you want to include in the project?

If you need help forming your brief or discussing your ideas then my design deepdive package could be the perfect way to get started. Find out more here.

Now you have an outline brief for your project and a clear idea of what you are asking for, it is time to work out who can help you.

If your project involves planning permission, listed building consent or conservation area consent then you need to prioritise getting some plans drawn up as soon as possible.

Depending on the scale of the work you might need an architect or architectural designer, structural engineer or an interior designer. I would always tell a client if a project was outside my area of expertise and other professionals should as well, so reach out to people you want to work with and see if your project is a good match for their skills.

If it is a more complex exterior alteration or extension, then you might need a building survey, but your designer can organise that for you.

Even if you don’t need any formal permissions, it is always a good idea to work with a designer to develop a set of plans and work through your ideas in more detail. A designer will work with you to expand your outline brief into a full project specification, which will be very helpful for contractors when it comes to accurately pricing your project.

At this stage in the project I would spend time getting to know you and your home, and ensuring that we collaborate to communicate all your ideas in an easy to understand format. A good designer should listen to you and respond well to your feedback.

If you want to develop your ideas and concepts yourself, you could create more detailed mood boards with notes and explanations for contractors to help them understand what you want to achieve. If you have any plans from when you brought the property you could also get some tracing paper and copy over them, amending rooms as you want or adding on an extension.

You could even give the free version of Sketch Up a go and spend some time learning a new skill, then you can produce some basic sketches and layouts. The more detail you can develop then the more prepared you will be for the next stage of the project.

If you have worked through your brief and have a clear project in mind, then my starter package will help you move it onto the next stage. From £1200 per room, you could have a beautiful design document to take to contractors for pricing and a clear plan for your next steps.

My starter package includes a half day meeting, plans, mood boards and 3D views.

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To keep your project moving it is a good idea to set some goals for what you want to achieve each week or each month. How will you achieve these goals and who can help you? If you are doing a very large refurbishment, it would be good to break these goals down into manageable chunks, so you don’t feel too overwhelmed!

If you were planning a new kitchen for 2025 then your January goals might be:

1. Set up a Pinterest board to save inspiration images
2. Go shopping! Get out and about to get inspiration from showrooms, shops, family, friends and restaurants.
3. Write a brief; what do I want, what do I want it to cost and when do I want it to be a reality?
4. Find a kitchen designer who aligns with your vision.
5. Seek advice on any permissions you might need, for example if you live in a listed house then you might need listed building consent to change the interior.

If you need help getting your project off the ground, then I can offer support in a few different ways.

1. If you have worked through the boring bits and have a clear project in mind, then my starter package will help you move it onto the tendering stage. From £1200 per room, you will have a beautiful design document to take to contractors for pricing and a clear plan for your next steps.
2. If you know you want to do something, but you aren’t sure or you just want someone to talk it over with in detail then my design deepdive could be right for you. It costs £480 and we will spend half a day collaborating on ideas in your home and then you will get a follow up email of the next steps to take.
3. If you aren’t sure what you need right now then fill out the enquiry form on my website and book a free discovery call.

Don’t be afraid for asking for help, it is often the best way to ensure a project gets started and there are no nasty surprises further down the line! Renovating your home or designing a new room should be exciting and fun, collaborating with others, asking questions and sharing any concerns will reduce that project overwhelm and ensure you feel supported.