A design project — a set of collages, drawings and visualizations for a separate room or an entire apartment — is usually prepared by an interior designer. In addition to sketches, the project also includes a set of technical calculations. For example, where the electrical wiring will be laid, how much paint or wallpaper will be needed for walls, bathroom tiles, etc. In this case, the builders have a more or less clear work plan, and the apartment owner can control them and see the future result.
Making repairs on their own, the owners often do without a designer in order to save money. However, it is still worth sketching out a project or something like it: you will still have to make measurements and calculations, and visualization will help in planning. For example, even with the simplest drawing, it will be clearer how to arrange the sockets and which sofa will fit into the right niche.
Redevelopment
If redevelopment is needed, then it is done first. Usually the project is ordered by specialized companies.
Redevelopment includes not only the transfer of walls, but also the displacement of doorways between rooms, changing the position of electrical, gas and heating networks, ventilation systems and even replacing a gas stove with an electric one.
Before carrying out such work, they need to be legalized. In different regions of the Russian Federation, redevelopment can be coordinated by different authorities, as a rule, you can contact the local department of architecture, BTI or MFC. You will need an application for amendments to the cadastre, a technical plan, a certificate of ownership — the full list of documents should be clarified in a specific institution. After all the checks (in the state BTI — in seven days), the applicant is given an extract from the EGRN with a new apartment plan.
Choosing an interior design
When it is clear what kind of repairs the apartment requires, it’s time to think about how it will eventually look. It is especially important to do this “on the shore” in order not to do unnecessary work and not to buy extra materials.
Whether the apartment owner hires a designer or not, first you should decide on the references: select examples of interiors in specialized magazines, on websites or in social networks. It is better to immediately look for options with similar initial data, because when equipping a typical “Khrushchev”, it is strange to focus on a penthouse, no matter how much the picture delights. You should pay attention just to the dimensions — the total square footage, the height of the ceilings, the size and number of windows, a similar layout.
In pursuit of aesthetics, it is important not to forget that the interior should be functional. Therefore, the lifestyle, habits and opinions of family members should be taken into account.
We choose contractors or do it with our own hands
If the budget allows, it is always better to hire contractors. Experienced specialists will help to avoid the typical “beginner’s mistakes”, save both time and money of the owners, who, with self-repair, can go to alterations.
The simplest, but also the most expensive option is to hire an entire team with a foreman. You can also take on the role of the latter, involving narrow-profile teams to solve specific issues and controlling everything yourself. In any case, it is better to look for workers based on personal recommendations and reviews.
Repair with your own hands implies high time costs, but in this case you can save well. The main thing here is to follow the plan. For the most difficult jobs that require a specific skill, you will still have to invite craftsmen — for example, to replace windows or put parquet.
Selection of materials
The choice of materials depends more on the repair budget. But in any case, it is necessary to take into account the functionality of the room. For example, for the kitchen it is better to take washable vinyl wallpaper, and for the bedroom — more environmentally friendly paper or non-woven. For wet rooms, a more expensive latex paint is needed, and for the living room, the usual interior is enough. Consultants in a hardware store and specialized websites will help you figure out these subtleties.
It is worth calculating the amount of materials in advance so as not to buy too much or, conversely, not to go shopping several times. Experts advise taking materials with a margin of 10% of the total volume. As a rule, for calculations it is enough to know the basic measurements of the room — the length of each wall and the height of the ceilings.
It is inconvenient to bring tiles, wallpaper and paint into the apartment at once, especially if it is small, so it is reasonable to make a schedule for the supply of materials. If something will be brought from afar — from another region or even a country, you should place an order in advance.