

You’ve been dreaming of a home that better facilitates the life you want for your family. Maybe it’s a more functional kitchen, a more open floor plan, closing in that once formal dining room to be a play space you can shut the door on, that spa-like primary bathroom retreat, or the added square footage of a finished basement. Whatever changes you have planned for your home to facilitate your desired lifestyle, it’s important to start your renovation the right way, with the right team and a clear plan in place … before the dust starts flying!
Step One: Get Clear on Your Goals

Before you begin a renovation project, take time to define your goals. What is your motivation for renovating? Do you want to gain function? Improve style? Prepare your home for resale? Maybe it’s a combination of these or something else altogether. Being clear on your goals and clearly communicating them to your interior designer helps them guide you in the right direction when making decisions in the renovation process.
Step Two: Choose the Right Team

At Elyse Living Interiors, we believe a successful renovation starts with the right team. One that includes (1) an experienced interior designer who can help you think creatively, practically, and strategically and (2) an experienced general contractor who is a good communicator.
Choosing the Right Interior Designer
An interior designer’s role in a renovation is to translate your goals into a livable space you love while managing the nitty-gritty details. From floor plans to finishes, sourcing to scheduling, a skilled interior designer acts as your guide and advocate through every step of your project.
When looking for the right interior designer for you and your project, ask questions like:
- Do they have experience with projects like yours?
- Can they work with your architect and contractor?
- What is their process like, from concept to completion?
And yes, whether you mesh well matters. You will be spending a lot of time with your designer, so choose someone you trust, who makes you feel comfortable, and you enjoy working with.
Choosing the Right General Contractor
Just as your relationship with your interior designer is important, so too is how you work with your general contractor (“GC”). Just like with your interior designer, you are entering a months long relationship with your general contractor. Finding just the right fit for you can be tricky. Here are some of my best tips for navigating that process:
- Create a short-list of GCs you might be interested in working with. Word-of-mouth referrals from friends, neighbors and/or your interior designer are highly valuable.
- It’s important to find a GC who understands local permitting, building codes, and your neighborhood’s quirks.
- Look for professionalism, not just price. The cheapest GC does not always provide the best value. A good general contractor will bring clarity to the process through itemized estimates, realistic timelines, thoughtful questions, and clear communication.
- Some things you may want to ask them about include:
- Licensing and insurance;
- Recent relevant experience;
- How they handle scheduling and delays;
- Who your day-to-day point of contact will be;
- How frequently they (or their project manager) visit your home to check on progress and handle any issues or questions that may arise; and
- Their preferred mode of communication.
You also want a GC who listens well to you, respects your budget, and comfortably collaborates with your interior designer and architect. A team that plays well together is one of the biggest keys to a successful and smooth renovation.
Step Three: Know Your Numbers

A home renovation in Atlanta can be a significant investment. Understanding your financial boundaries helps set realistic expectations from the beginning. At Elyse Living Interiors, we help our clients determine the amount of investment required to make their dreams for their home a reality, if they would like our help with that. Through our experience, we are able to provide an estimated investment required to furnish different spaces in your home. And we work with general contractors, sub-contractors, and trades to obtain estimates to determine the construction investment your project will require.
Another benefit to involving a good interior designer in your renovation project is that the designer can help you prioritize and allocate your investment smartly. At Elyse Living Interiors we embrace our responsibility to our clients to create solutions that align with your aesthetic and your budget.
Step Four: Know Your Timeline
Renovations take time. The timeline for your specific project depends on its scope, contractor availability, city permitting, and lead times. For example, custom cabinetry or specialty tile may need to be ordered months in advance. Communicating with and hiring your team early helps you plan properly and avoid delays further into the process.
We recommend involving your interior designer at least 3 to 6 months before you want to begin your renovation, depending on the scope of your project. The design process takes time and most design decisions will need to be communicated to your general contractor well in advance of its execution so that materials can be ordered and construction work can be done to prepare for the execution of those design decisions.
In some cases in Atlanta, at the time of the writing of this guide, the city’s permitting process alone can take 6 months.
Final Thoughts


A renovation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right team your Atlanta home renovation can be an enjoyable (dare I say, fun?!) experience. Starting your renovation the right way makes all the difference and we’re here to help you do that.