Remodels, Furnishing Projects & New Builds: How Long Do They Take?

If y’all are long-time readers, this topic probably looks familiar to you. I shared it last year, comparing pre-Covid timelines with what we were seeing in 2020 and 2021. Well, we’re back for round two y’all, because 2022 has been just as full of surprises. But before we dive in…

A Quick Note on Expectations Set By “Reality” TV

Even before supply chain issues, most people were in the dark about what renovations, new builds, and home furnishings really cost! Now, that goes double. This is thanks to “reality” shows painting an inaccurate picture of what this process is really like.

That full-home renovation you saw completed in “6 weeks” on your favorite show? There is NO way your home can be completed that quickly! (And definitely not for that price.)

And honestly, you don’t want a renovation or new build completed that quickly — if you’re prioritizing speed, 95% of the time you’ll be sacrificing quality. So if a General Contractor tells you he/she can do it twice as fast as the estimates I’m giving you today (or the others you’ve collected from professionals in your area), run the other direction fast!!

So, what do these timelines really look like?

Estimated Timelines By Project Type

First, it depends on the type of project and the people involved: 

1. Projects with construction only (renovations, remodels, new builds)
2. Projects that include construction and furnishing the home afterward with furniture and decor.

Right now, you might be thinking that an interior designer is only necessary for furnishing your home, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. If I could give you one suggestion, it would be to work with an interior designer at the very beginning of your construction project. This adds time, but it also SAVES time down the road.

You’re probably thinking, “But if my space isn’t built yet, why do I need someone to design the interior?”

Well, imagine that your builder puts together a floor plan for your home. It looks fabulous. You can’t see anything wrong with it at all. So the house is built. You start bringing furniture in, including your King-sized bed for the master bedroom. But wait… now there isn’t any room for your nightstands. The wall isn’t long enough! 

Or maybe you wanted beautiful pendants over the island, but all you have are recessed can lights. There’s no electrical wiring for pendants over the kitchen. No wiring for lighting over your breakfast table. You get the idea. If you’re investing in updating or building a home, of course you want the final result you’ve been dreaming of — and you don’t want after-thoughts you have to fix later. 

Working with a designer from the beginning helps achieve this by avoiding problems and strategically planning ahead. We can design for your lifestyle and for how the home will look, feel, and function when it’s done. And then we work backward to create the floor plan and electrical plan that gets you there. 

So whether you need your home furnished or not, I highly recommend working with a designer and a General Contractor for any home renovation, remodel, or new build… which is exactly why we have interior designers AND a GC on staff! So we can do things right for y’all. 

What are some factors that impact a design-build timeline?

Those timelines are coming soon, I promise! I’ve put several estimates below, and I want you to know that those numbers can still vary. There are several factors that can still impact your timeline once you’ve gotten started:

1. Availability of trades

In general, you will want to get in touch with the professionals you’d like to work with at least a couple months in advance. Because so many designers and contractors are busy right now, most are scheduling project start dates for 2+ months out.

2. Product availability

Before Covid, we ordered products as we started. Now, we order everything first, and we don’t start one minute of renovating until everything is on the ground in Nashville. This is the result of global supply chain issues making MANY materials and appliances difficult to get our hands on. 

Note: If you’re open to being flexible about your product selections, your project will go faster than if we decide to wait on something specific. If you choose to wait (more than okay!), you’ll just get some more practice with that most difficult of virtues… patience. 

Case in point: Our client had fallen in love with the original buffet we ordered for the kitchen area. But while everything else had arrived by October, the buffet wasn’t set to arrive until November. Then December. Then January. Then February. We finally made the decision to find an alternative, and it was worth the wait. In fact, we all love it even more than the original! 

3. Homeowner Decisiveness

Twenty years ago, this wasn’t such a big deal, but now that we have social media constantly distracting us with the “latest and greatest” thing, I’ve noticed that people are more likely to have a change of heart about their design halfway through their project. 

But remember, design is SUPER interconnected. Changing one element can have a domino effect on everything else in the room. Your new idea may change a couple things, or it may move the entire room into another direction. 

This isn’t the worst thing in the world (if you love it, you love it), but every time you deviate from the initially established design plan, you will impact your timeline. And your budget, too. 

The solution is having a design plan you believe in. This means that when we design your home, we are going to talk about how you (not your neighbor or favorite celebrity) are going to use the space. We’ll talk about your family, any memories you want to weave into the design, the colors that bring you joy and peace, etc. 

In other words, when the home is designed just for your style and lifestyle, well… I highly doubt y’all will be tempted by anything else you might see on Pinterest. Believe in the design, and you’ll be golden.

4. Unforeseen Issues 

Last but not least, it’s important to remember that unforeseen issues always, always pop up during a renovation. It is 100% normal, and we’ve seen them all before. You can rest assured that we have a solution for anything your home can throw at us, and we’ll guide you in the most time- and cost-effective course of action.

These types of things can impact timing, so go ahead and add an extra couple weeks to your project timeline, just to be safe. Happiness is all about expectations, so if you expect it to take a little longer and it’s done sooner (or right on par), you’ll be thrilled.

Chart of Estimated Renovation & Furnishing Timelines 

Alright, we’ve made it to the numbers I promised y’all. Grab your calculator (or a calendar), keep ALL of the above considerations in mind, and build yourself a ballpark timeline.

So, what’s your projected timeline? Is it higher or lower than you expected? If you’re thinking, “I need to start right away!” go ahead and contact us here and let’s get started.

Or maybe you’re in the other camp… thinking, “I’ll just do a quick refresh this year and renovate in a couple years instead!” If that’s okay with you, then these 9 decorating updates can help, or book us for a color consultation. A bit of fresh color goes a long way!

Until next time,

E

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