Getting the house you’ve “always wanted.”

Clients usually ask me to develop a custom home design or home remodeling design with a specific “look.”

They’ve been wanting to embark on this exciting renovation process for many years, but they didn’t have the funds to do so until now. So when they finally get the opportunity to get the home they’ve always wanted, they tend to gravitate toward a style they “fell in love with” long ago.

But over time, styles have evolved and improved.

It may be unwise to build something that was trendy 20 or 30 years ago, because the newly finished project may lack appeal, longevity, and value. But more importantly, if the homeowners hold too tightly to their original vision of a style, they may minimize their opportunity for better utility and function of the space – and the home won’t fulfill its great potential.

But don’t skip the creative process.

At Keystone Creative, we take the time to do a “deep dive” into your needs and desires to make sure your new home is the best it can be.

When I meet with a new client, I ask them lots of questions, but the most important one is this: “What are the problems you’re trying to solve?”

They might say, “We need a new kitchen.”

So I investigate further by asking, “Why do you need a new kitchen?”

So they start listing their reasons:

“We only have one way in and out of the kitchen, so there’s always a traffic jam.”
“There’s a tiny peninsula, so we don’t have enough workspace to prepare big meals.”
“We host lots of events, and everyone ends up crowded into the kitchen. There’s just not enough room.”

I find the reason for the redesign is not usually style. It’s most often function.

Gather information and inspiration.

We learn a lot from that first meeting. I then ask them to spend some time in the coming days browsing through website sites such as Pinterest, Houzz, and Google Images. They should send me images of everything they like (and things they dislike) with a comment about what they like (or dislike).

I don’t lead them into a particular style – I want it to happen naturally.

The more images and comments they send me, the more I can see a pattern of things that really matter to them. Often, it’s different from what they initially described to me.

What they see online today may be an evolved version of what they liked many years ago. Plus, they tend to discover many new potential features.

How to avoid being overwhelmed by the home design process.

Now that we’ve gathered a lot of ideas, we need to curate those concepts into a workable design. That’s where a seasoned professional comes in handy.

It’s important for a designer with many years of home building experience to reel it all in and “trim the fat” a little bit. We have to make sure the ideas align with the problems we’re trying to solve.

You get to own every decision.

As I consider the conversations I have with my clients, and I look through all of the images and comments they send me, I’m able to develop a custom home design that really fits their needs and personal style.

My clients connect personally with the layout choices, the material selections, and all of the other ideas incorporated into the design, because I base the concept on their ideas.

That’s why we go through the process of investigating their needs and wants. I want their input because I want them to own every decision. I want them to be satisfied with the final result for years to come.

Some people are dead set on a certain design style, such as “modern farmhouse.” That’s fine, but we still need to go through a similar process to make sure the design has optimal functionality. Through proper research, we may also discover emerging ideas within that design trend. That way, the homeowners get a house that will stand the test of time.

Let’s start the conversation.

Have you always wanted to design your own high-end home, but don’t know where to start? Schedule a free two-hour consultation. I’ll listen to your needs and wants. Then I’ll put the puzzle pieces together.

Keystone Creative is an award-winning residential design firm, specializing in whole-house transformations and new-home designs. The team reimagines kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, and even laundry rooms to fulfill homeowners’ dreams and increase the value of homes. Keystone Creative can handle the entire process, from the initial concept and detailed blueprints, to interior design and material selection, to construction and quality control management.

Schedule a free consultation today