New construction projects are some of our favourites. We love being part of the journey from day one and watching the joy when our clients see the home of their dreams come together!
Many of our new build or renovation projects involve the selection of hard finishes. If you're curious about what exactly goes into the selecting of hard finishes or would like some help on these long-lasting decisions for your own build, read on!
Yes, we know it’s another ‘designer’ term, but what do we mean? With my clients, I often refer to hard finishes as thinking about picking the house up, turning it upside down and anything that doesn’t fall out is usually a hard finish! Or, simply put anything that is fixed in place! for example the flooring, wall panelling, and paint, but also fireplaces, cabinetry, countertops, and even drawer handles. These are the “permanent” aspects of the interior design, as opposed to “non-permanent” things like furniture or soft goods. Hard finishes can also include external materials such as bricks, roofing, and driveway finishes.
I often find that my clients become most overwhelmed in the hard finish selection process, and it’s because its probability one of the most important parts of designing your home. I like to think of hard finishes as the canvas of a space of which you can design everything else around.
Because a tile choice can make or break the look of a bathroom, a light fixture can transform a space, and a worktop can alter an entire kitchen. These choices make up the character of the building and ultimately, elevate what is just another house into a home that is uniquely yours.
I love this part of the design process the most because it creates the foundations that determines the textures, colours, and materials, expressed through cabinetry colours, a fireplace finish, or a material that relates to the building’s heritage.
To help my clients overcome the overwhelm of endless choices here’s the three main things I like to keep in mind when it comes to selections:
Budget – Probably the most important, I need to make sure that the materials we put forward are within budget not just in cost but also in installation. We also need to consider the value of each material to ensure there is long term durability, after all these choices are there to stay!
Functionality – It’s all well and good choosing selections and materials that look amazing but if they are impractical for a given purpose then they just won’t work. For me that means that different materials need to react to their environments and purpose of use, and it's crucial to think about accessibility and how this materials use may change over time.
Timelessness – This is something I always strive for. Hard finishes need to work as the people who use them age. Children’s spaces are relevant here, what may work now may not be sophisticated enough as they age into them. When working with my own clients I set the design direction and intent before we even get to choosing colours, sizing, or textures. I start by selecting a palette of materials in styles and colours that fit with the direction we agreed.
And the key principle in mind here is simplicity, why? Because homes are meant to be lived in and if the hard finishes are too ornate or too fancy then they may not be right.
Are you about to embark on a ground up project? As daunting and exciting as it may be hiring an interior designer not only simplifies the experience, it also gives you access to our suppliers, and experts of whom we have trusted relationships with. At Styled, we regularly attend trade shows and visit our suppliers to keep up to date with the latest trends and materials available, but most importantly, we make sure we listen to your vision and work with you to bring that to life, with as little stress or worry as possible!
Get in touch to have a chat about how we can work together to select the perfect hard finishes for your home.
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