Are you addicted to the big reno reveals?
Don’t be. It’s a much bigger buzz if you reveal as you go!
I’m absolutely addicted to any TV show that involves a big reveal at the end, and many clients of interior designers crave exactly that when starting their renovation. But I’ve got to tell you, I think mini reveals along the journey are way more fun!
For a recent long-awaited laundry reno, we had waited a long time before starting, as locking in some busy tradies took more time than the client and I wanted. But it’s just a laundry, right? No big deal? Well, according to a study by LG, they estimate that most Australians over the course of their lifetime will spend over a year (384 days) completing laundry. So, we were beyond ready to get started on turning this space into something the client could really enjoy.
3 reasons why we like our reno buzz to be savoured:
The original thrill – demolition!
· Who doesn’t like legally smashing up some stuff? It signals to us the start of something new, something amazing. Sure there’s a few nerves seeing the old sink limp out, with nothing to immediately replace it – but it adds to the heightened sense of drama and heady anticipation of what’s to come.
Savouring each step
· We chose to paint the ceiling early in the job and the difference was incredible. We stared at it, and oohed and ahhed. We even took our cuppa into the room afterwards and just admired it.
· Cleaning the grout in the floor. STUNNING. And oops, seems we made a mistake: we don’t need to renovate anymore – just needed to clean the grout! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
· The new light arrives. And you’d think it was Christmas. Oh, how we exclaimed as we opened the box, the client anticipating this reveal like a 5 year old expecting a new kitten. And it did not disappoint! The client loved it! And just think, this small intense thrill would have been glossed over if we waited for just one reveal at completion.
· And when we finally painted the rest of the room, we admired the creaminess of the colour (just good ol’ antique white USA), stroked the walls and turned the light on and off to view the difference. What fun! Ok, that might have just been me.
Allowing for things to go wrong
· Not heartbreaking, millions of dollars wrong, just need-different-screws sort of wrong. And where part-of-the-job takes-longer-than-planned, sort of wrong. If you have a resilience mindset ‘The capacity to continue to develop despite disruption, then the slight delay adds to the satisfaction of a properly completed job. A thrill only second to the demolition process.
· And when the client added her carefully selected indoor plants and helped style the shelf for gorgeous form as well as function – she was so proud. And so was I.
The big reveal had occurred incrementally over some weeks, and we had savoured each and every step. With joy and celebration that lasted weeks, not just one moment.
So, celebrate the many mini reveals in your next renovation and let the process spark joy, not just the finished product.And if it’s all a bit overwhelming, then give me a call for a quick chat.