One of the most common calls we receive is from clients who already have their services installed and are now ready to order furniture — only to discover the layout doesn’t quite work. In truth, we would rather be part of the project from a much earlier stage – as soon as the architect’s plans have been drawn up. Bringing a designer into the project early can make the planning stage feel longer, but it ultimately results in spaces that function beautifully for you and your family. It ensures services are positioned correctly the first time (your tradesmen will thank you for this), allows you to understand the pros and cons of different ideas, budget accurately, and order products within lead times to secure your first choices.

A common mistake is installing services before the space has been fully designed. Let’s start with electrical supply; socket/switch locations can impact appliance and furniture positioning and often need relocating because they sit above where a hob is positioned, do not provide the correct amount of clearance or may not be the correct power rating for your chosen appliance. Alternatively, you end up having to adjust your appliance models or positions here and there to accommodate the supply that has already been installed, which isn’t ideal when you are creating your dream home. Accent lighting is another important factor when considering electrical supply, this can make such a huge difference to the look and feel of a room and is an extremely popular choice for clients. This can include anything from under-cabinet lighting, plinth lighting or decorative pendant lights in a kitchen, a light up mirror or wall lights in the bathroom or functional strip lights in your wardrobe or dressing room. After all, it’s always going to be easier to have all areas of lighting supply installed at the same time, rather than calling your electrician back because the finer details had not yet been considered in initial planning – which is highly likely at such a busy time!

Plumbing and waste locations are equally important, and ideally, these need to be finalised before the floor is screeded, to avoid having to chase the floor out to move it or again, allowing this to dictate where you put your furniture. Where do you want your dishwasher, sink and washing machine? Do you want refrigeration that includes a plumbed-in water dispenser? What if your designer shows some new ideas that you fall in love with? Maybe you thought you wanted your sink on your island, until your design consultant encouraged you to think about the real-life practicalities of stacking your dishes right in the centre of your kitchen. In bathrooms you often see boxing running along a wall which houses the soil pipe for the toilet, this takes up floor space and becomes another surface to collect dust! This can be avoided by ensuring the position of the pipe is directly behind your toilet location. There has even been an increase in washing machines and tumble dryers being located in bathrooms or dressing rooms, which when you think about it, does seem more logical than keeping them in your kitchen space. However, this may not be an idea you would even think about without hearing ideas from a designer, who has extensive experience in planning a multitude of different rooms and styles every day. 

Renovating or building a home (or even a single room), no matter how big or small the project, should never be rushed! Engaging a designer at the earliest possible stage gives you the time to make considered decisions and ensure your budget and wish-list aligns — without unnecessary stress. A well-planned project should feel exciting and rewarding, not rushed, so don’t leave the design until last.

If you’re planning a build or renovation and would like guidance from the earliest stages, we’d be delighted to support you. Get in touch to discuss your project and ensure your home is thoughtfully designed from the very beginning.