Something new for me - interior design, anyone?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Today I put in an option contract for a townhome. The deal’s going to reach easy agreement, so unless I get an extreme case of the queasies and decide to torture my real estate agent for another few months, I’m likely buying this place.

So it’s a newly constructed place, yet to be finished out. This Friday or Saturday I have to go pick out stuff like countertops, flooring, cabinets, paint, etc.

Gaahhh! I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve lived in quite a few places, including some that were actually kinda good lookin’ (one of my favorite Van Halen lines). But I’ve historically taken’em as they’ve come.

My banker said, "Oooh! you get to pick out blah, blah, blah, blah… and I thought. “Crap! yet another set of decisions to make!”

Well, where do ya start? Lime-green appliances with black slate flooring, yellow walls and a magenta ceiling? I’m kidding, of course. IRL, I’m more of a black, white, red, grey, chrome sort, and I realize that a.) I have no aptitude for this, but whatever decisions are taken will likely affect the future resale value of the place and b.) I could probably live with yellow walls and a magenta ceiling as well as I could with beige walls and a white ceiling. Cherry cabinets? Can I get maraschino?

I’ve gotta get through this. Perhaps I should just go with the defaults they use in their model home.

I’m not completely neutral - I actually do, for some unknown reason, prefer the darker granite countertops.

Thoughts?

2

How much info do you have regarding the possible choices, and can you view samples over the web? (Although I’d be wary of the color fidelity, etc.) Could you pick up samples of colors & textures from their office during the week, or do you have to make your decisions based on limited viewing time and access in person? Do you even know what paint brand(s) are available? (This is significant – different paint manufacturers offer different, unique colors. I bet an expert could take one glance at a home and know if it was Sherwin-Williams or whatever.)

The light exposure and size of the rooms also should influence your choice. A bright, funky color might work well in a small foyer area or kitchen, but not the living room with the northern/eastern exposure, say.

Do you have any friends whose taste and judgement you trust, and are they available for a free consult, with dinner and a movie afterwards? :slight_smile:

Good luck!

3

That’s the angle I’m working right now. The choices are my best friend’s wife (who’ll jump at the chance to shop for me, if she’s available), his sister (who is, in fact, an interior decorator - she’ll cost me, but - whoohoo - she’s a babe) or my cuz/l’il sis, who’s in town all week because she had to flee New Orleans (where she has a gorgeous condo - which did survive).

4

Oh maaaannnn. I wish I were closer. I’d love to spend someone else’s money on decorating for a change.

I only have one general consideration. When it comes to stuff that you’d normally leave behind when you move, (ie. paint, flooring, countertops) be fairly conservative. You’ll improve your resale value if the next buyer can “see” themselves in the home.

Use your personality to choose things that you can take with you. You can make a statement with your accessories and if/when you get tired of them, you don’t have to take out another mortgage to change up.