Budget-friendly design advice

Bringing a design in on budget

By Chris Crowell, Associate Editor

Design trends come and go, but one trait that’s essential in a time like this and is often hard to come by, is bringing a project in on budget. It’s not so much a certain theme, fad or strategy, but an overall plan that will serve a property and a designer well.

Sandy Blake, principal for Blake Designs, prides herself on guiding every project in on the budget she presents to an owner or developer.

“Most designers get lavish stuff and always go over budget and then engineer it to get [the cost] down,” Blake says. “And sometimes you lose the whole look if you can’t supply what you originally designed.” In 40 years, she’s never gone over budget.

For Blake, staying on budget starts with the initial plan of any design. A true budget needs to be established that figures in accurate numbers for each expense.

Other designers often “give the best presentation and select all these wonderful things and don’t have a clue what they cost. They make a presentation of what they can’t really provide,” Blake says. “That’s the major mistake. I take longer to make a presentation and check all of the prices before I make the presentation. I make sure those items fall within the budget. If I show three styles, I will budget out each one of those.”

She starts with the budget number that has been established and then subtracts her fee from it. Then she documents the types of items she’ll be purchasing and divides those into the amount of money she is budgeted. This way, she can see how much money she can equally allocate to each item.

“Then I know throw pillows are not going to take $1,000, so I save money there and allocate [the leftover throw pillow money] to what’s going to need it,” she says. “I use the budget sheet as an ongoing bank sheet and work it just like a checkbook.”

After divvying her budgeted money as needed to each item, she figures out what she can buy wholesale, directly from the manufacturer.

“I call them and say this was what I’m going for and send me what you’ve got,” she says. “And they [often] are reasonably enough priced so I can stay within budget.” The catch here is you need to buy a minimum amount, which is usually 200 yards of custom prints and 100 pieces for casegoods.

“If you shop your fabrics at a showroom you’re paying twice as much,” she says.

Some wholesalers she identified as easy to deal direct with are Richloom Fabric, U.S. Vinyl, American of Martinsville, Thomasville Furniture and Templeton Hospitality Carpet to name a few. But many of the deals you can get dealing direct are a product of the relationship you foster with the dealer. She also recommends buying as locally as possible, as the cost of a long haul may push the price too high.

A potential pitfall to even the most well thought out budget, Blake says, is the contractor.

“I’ve gone out to as many as six contractors and every one will be different,” she says. A part of her budget research is to nail the contractor down for the price to make one cabinet. “If I know that’s $200, I can have a guestimate price on the whole bathroom.”

Other small-scale tips to become more frugal and practical, according to Blake, are:
• An armless lounge chair is less expensive than a chair with arms.
• Upholstered headboards are less expensive than manufactured headboards.
• A throw comforter that doesn’t have pillow tuck costs less than one that does.
• Polyester fabric, which retains color, is less expensive than cotton.
• Hardwood floor is not practical in a hotel.
• For a renovation, if something is still good—wallcoverings, carpet, etc.—keep it.
• You’re better off paying for quality carpet.

“You have to learn to design within a budget and not just give the sun, moon and stars and keep the cost of materials down on each item,” she says.

ccrowell@questex.com

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The designer and purchaser--allies, not adversaries, part 2
 

By Alan Benjamin, President, Benjamin West

Part 2 of this discussion of designers and purchasers gives key info the designer can bring to the table for successful relationships. Read part 1 here.

Ways the designer can bring success to the relationship
•    The designer makes selections that are within the owner’s budget parameters. Items presented to owner are within budget from the beginning.
•    The designer’s budget allows for fabric finishes (e.g. flame retardancy, stain resistance, acrylic backing), overages, and other “extra” costs to be considered.
•    Designer has obtained brand (if applicable) and client approvals before issuing the spec package. Any pending information or approval is clearly identified as such and monitored to keep the project on schedule.
•    Once the spec package has been issued to the purchaser, the designer does not continue to fine-tune the design.
•    Comprehensive spec numbering system. For example, can the purchaser easily identify fabrics associated with fabricated products such as seating and bed treatments?
•    Spec package includes a comprehensive room matrix, keyed furniture plans, finish and fabric samples large enough to view design intent and full pattern repeats, images of what has been specified. Window treatments and other custom item specs include dimensioned and detailed drawings.
•    When possible, selects one vendor for multiple products. For instance, the designer might select one vendor for all guestroom art and mirrors.
•    Unless for a model room, the designer requires samples on custom items only and has already reviewed samples for standard product before issuing the spec package.
•    The designer should be organized and meet deadlines. Delays in spec packages and responses, along with incomplete/inconsistent information, create the “snowball effect,” causing potential delivery delays.
•    Designer has clear documentation from vendors, so if a vendor bid is higher than the designer’s cost, the purchaser and designer may collaborate about the discrepancy.
•    In the interest of the client’s needs, the designer should be receptive to the consideration of alternate vendors and alternate products.

What else helps make a successful project?
•    Hire the purchaser early in the design process to work closely with the designer on manufacturer sourcing decisions.
•    All parties should clearly define the scope and adhere to the schedule.
•    Professional, timely and open communication between all parties with regard to budgets, vendor concerns, project issues and proposed alternatives helps achieve a successful collaborative project.
•    Fund projects in a timely manner to not only maintain integrity with payees, but also to keep the schedule on target.
•    Document lessons learned in a post-project review between designer, purchaser and client.
 
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Product spotlight: NOVA illuminated screens

Part of NOVA’s Jon Gilmore Collection, these illuminated screens bring hand-brushed metal design elements together with rich finishes and soft light to offer casual, contemporary accents. The Paradise Illuminated Screen Art design pictured has a warm, rich root beer tone that provides the perfect frame for the bronze and brushed aluminum leaves, creating a soft tropical touch. For a more Asian-inspired look, the Bamboo Silhouette Screen is an option.
www.novalamps.com
 

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