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Pro Spotlight: How to Survive Your Home Remodel
A Bay Area designer shares her survival guide when renovating your home
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Who: Rhonda Lopes of S&J Properties
Where: Danville, California
In her own words: “We get so excited to learn about our clients and to create something just as special as they are.”
Disruption is inevitable when it comes to home renovation. The good news is, with proper preparation, there are several strategies that can help keep your life on track. “When changes are happening at home, it’s hard to be yourself,” says Rhonda Lopes, a designer with design and build company S&J Properties. “The right company will help you function normally so that your life isn’t completely on hold.”
Where: Danville, California
In her own words: “We get so excited to learn about our clients and to create something just as special as they are.”
Disruption is inevitable when it comes to home renovation. The good news is, with proper preparation, there are several strategies that can help keep your life on track. “When changes are happening at home, it’s hard to be yourself,” says Rhonda Lopes, a designer with design and build company S&J Properties. “The right company will help you function normally so that your life isn’t completely on hold.”
Many hands making exceptional work. Lopes has been designing practically since day one. “When I was a kid, I always said I wanted to be a designer,” she says. “Then, when I grew up, I kept buying homes that needed to be updated from start to finish.” Lopes initially joined the S&J Properties team to hone her project management skills, but the firm quickly took advantage of her structural design expertise instead. “I love that we’re a full design-build firm with a talented and dedicated team that can do absolutely everything for our clients,” Lopes says. “And the team has built such a positive reputation in our community.”
Embracing the personal over the transactional. Lopes and the S&J Properties team feel that the process of renovating your deeply personal home should be just as warm and human. “We work with the nicest people,” Lopes says. “We get so excited to meet our clients, who might have a few ideas but aren’t sure how to execute them.” Lopes and the team meet with homeowners to get their thoughts down on paper. “It comes down to the small elements that bring a design to life and give it character and personality,” she says. “What will make their lives easier and more comfortable?”
Worried about the disruption that comes with renovation? Lopes shares her best survival tips below.
Worried about the disruption that comes with renovation? Lopes shares her best survival tips below.
1. Communicate Your Timeline
Renovation schedules will vary for several reasons: permitting, project size, material availability and how quickly items get ordered. One of the most helpful steps you can take at the beginning of a renovation process is to communicate your timeline. “Be transparent with us about upcoming family events or when you’re planning to host,” Lopes says. “Then we can walk you through everything that we’ll need to make the renovation move as quickly as possible. And if your ideal timeline isn’t feasible, we’ll offer alternative solutions to help meet your needs.”
For the fastest possible renovation, it’s important to select your appliances, features and finishes in advance of demolition. “Things like doors and windows can take an extended period of time to arrive,” Lopes says. “We don’t want to start construction and disrupt your home life to then have to pause work while we wait for materials.”
Renovation schedules will vary for several reasons: permitting, project size, material availability and how quickly items get ordered. One of the most helpful steps you can take at the beginning of a renovation process is to communicate your timeline. “Be transparent with us about upcoming family events or when you’re planning to host,” Lopes says. “Then we can walk you through everything that we’ll need to make the renovation move as quickly as possible. And if your ideal timeline isn’t feasible, we’ll offer alternative solutions to help meet your needs.”
For the fastest possible renovation, it’s important to select your appliances, features and finishes in advance of demolition. “Things like doors and windows can take an extended period of time to arrive,” Lopes says. “We don’t want to start construction and disrupt your home life to then have to pause work while we wait for materials.”
2. Decide Whether You Want to Stay in Your Home
If you have the means, it’s often easier to relocate for the time it takes to renovate. “It has everything to do with a person’s capacity for living within changes to their day-to-day rhythm,” Lopes says. “And being able to decide based on questions regarding your lifestyle. Do you work from home? Do you have animals that will be upset by the commotion? Do you host meetings or gatherings in your home on a regular basis? Challenge yourself to come up with more questions that are unique to you and the way you relax and function in your home.”
If you need to continue living in your home during the renovation, there are several steps the construction team can take to make life easier. “The S&J team will put up temporary doors and seal off construction areas to mitigate noise and dust in the areas where we aren’t working,” Lopes says. “We work as hard as possible to not have our clients’ lives disrupted.”
If you have the means, it’s often easier to relocate for the time it takes to renovate. “It has everything to do with a person’s capacity for living within changes to their day-to-day rhythm,” Lopes says. “And being able to decide based on questions regarding your lifestyle. Do you work from home? Do you have animals that will be upset by the commotion? Do you host meetings or gatherings in your home on a regular basis? Challenge yourself to come up with more questions that are unique to you and the way you relax and function in your home.”
If you need to continue living in your home during the renovation, there are several steps the construction team can take to make life easier. “The S&J team will put up temporary doors and seal off construction areas to mitigate noise and dust in the areas where we aren’t working,” Lopes says. “We work as hard as possible to not have our clients’ lives disrupted.”
3. Set Up an Auxiliary Kitchen
Lopes understands the intangibles of having your routine disrupted. “Most people have certain habits: They get up at a regular time, have coffee, prep specific meals and sit in a usual spot. It is completely normal to feel off or upset when these patterns are disturbed.”
To combat this, Lopes recommends setting up an auxiliary kitchen that has everything you need, or at least as much as possible to maintain your routine. You may need to find a new favorite spot for six months, but you can get comfortable amid the change.
Lopes understands the intangibles of having your routine disrupted. “Most people have certain habits: They get up at a regular time, have coffee, prep specific meals and sit in a usual spot. It is completely normal to feel off or upset when these patterns are disturbed.”
To combat this, Lopes recommends setting up an auxiliary kitchen that has everything you need, or at least as much as possible to maintain your routine. You may need to find a new favorite spot for six months, but you can get comfortable amid the change.
4. Engage in the Process
While you may be worried about getting in the way, it’s much more helpful to actively collaborate with your design team. “Being an educated and engaged client is invaluable,” Lopes says. “Your participation will absolutely lead to meeting or exceeding your expectations.”
When S&J Properties starts a project, it doesn’t simply say, “We’ll take it from here.” “We use a CAD program where you can see our drawings and then renderings of what you can expect to see,” Lopes says. “We make sure our clients are aware of and approve every decision so that there are no surprises or disappointments.”
More: For more information on Rhonda Lopes and examples of S&J Properties’ work, visit the company’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
While you may be worried about getting in the way, it’s much more helpful to actively collaborate with your design team. “Being an educated and engaged client is invaluable,” Lopes says. “Your participation will absolutely lead to meeting or exceeding your expectations.”
When S&J Properties starts a project, it doesn’t simply say, “We’ll take it from here.” “We use a CAD program where you can see our drawings and then renderings of what you can expect to see,” Lopes says. “We make sure our clients are aware of and approve every decision so that there are no surprises or disappointments.”
More: For more information on Rhonda Lopes and examples of S&J Properties’ work, visit the company’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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