Once your home is out of the permit phase and heading toward the building phase, it is important to begin to have your finishes (tile, paint, flooring, final window types, etc.), appliances, hardware and fixtures picked out. Make sure you or your builder has the scheduled deliveries in a timely manner so that your project does not get slowed down. It is ideal to order and catalogue your selections as well as to have a place to store them so that your builder has access to them when the appropriate phase of construction requires them. Some big box stores, local hardware stores, builder referrals, and on-line resources are great places to look for your final selections.
Below are some ideas to get you to start thinking about how to select your finishes / fixtures / appliances:
- Look at homes locally, on-line or in magazines that reflect the style you are after and show your ideal images to the builder so that they know the trims and finishes you desire.
- Check out Lowe’s. Home Depot, and local hardware stores as well as on-line stores like com or lampplus.com for fixtures and finishes. For tile, go to local tile suppliers. Where I live there is Arizona Tile and Bedrosians. For paint, Benjamin Moore is the go-to for picking out color, but your painter will likely have his/ her favorite brand of paint.
- Make a list of all the items you need to select. Here are some examples: doors and windows, flooring (tile, wood, carpet, etc.), paint color and type, lighting fixtures, door and cabinet hardware, toilet, sinks, vanities, dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, dish disposal, tub, etc.…
- Additional details you would like such as: spice rack, medicine cabinet, and built-ins are ideal to have on the drawings during the design phase.
Once you have decided to build a project, it is never too soon to begin cataloging all the materials, finishes and appliances you would like to incorporate into your space. At that point, access, price and scheduling become crucial. Ultimately though, finish, fixture and material selection can be the most exciting part of the building process – because it is this aspect of the project that will make it unique to you.
FOXLEY DESIGN 