1. Order items besides windows and doors early. Windows, doors, and many appliances are hard to get right now. But so many other things I knew I wanted were backordered as well! The bathroom vanity I loved had a six month wait. The desks I loved had a four month wait. We had our house plans for months before we started building and I wish I had started researching things I wanted then, when the wait time would have been fine.
2. When thinking for items like cabinets, be sure to think for the house as a whole, not just a single room. I say this because we ordered our bathroom vanity from cabinets.com (had a great experience!), and I wish I also would have ordered drawers for our closets from there. I was thinking of the house room by room, and not as a whole. For example, if you are ordering cabinets for a kitchen, you can easily add cabinets for a bathroom.
3. Stacked tile shows more imperfections than brick-laid tile. Sadly, I don't think I would have ever learned this had we not gone for the stacked tile look. Stacked tile means the tiles are, well, stacked. In perfect lines one on top of the other. Brick-laid is your classic subway tile look, or like the bricks on a house. I love how the stacked tile looks, but if even one tile is slightly tilted or out of line it shows drastically more than brick-laid tile would. Brick laid tile hides way more imperfections because the tiles are offset from one another.
4. The moment you can do paint samples, DO THEM! Things started to pick up and we needed our paint choices pronto. Once your drywall is in place, you can start painting some samples, giving yourself extra time to decide. I waited until Frankie told me he needed my paint colors to decide my paint colors. I do not suggest this.
5. If possible, try to order fragile items locally. Sadly, we have had 4 mirrors delivered shattered. I know there are certain things you might need to order, but if you can ship to store or purchase locally, I highly suggest it.

1. Being in a rental close by was definitely the way to go! I could pop over almost daily, and I did. This allowed us to grab anything we needed from the house, drop in to answer any questions, and also catch a few mistakes that were being made. Here's the biggest thing I noticed: if I made myself available for questions, people asked me questions! I would simply drop in and say, “is there anything you need from me?” and nine times out of ten, the painter/plumber/carpenter/electrician/etc. would say, “Actually, yes. How did you want ______ done?” Even if you have no reason to go by your renovation, just go by and see if they need you to answer anything. This will save you so much headache in having to have something redone.
2. Hiring a designer was the best money I could have spent. If you are going to spend tons of money for things you have to buy anyways, by all means have someone that knows what they are doing help you! I asked my friend Jennigray if I could hire her to help me. She has moved twice and I have loved the way she styles her houses. I knew she understood my style and desires and would be a good fit. I think what people are afraid of with a designer is the extra cost, and yes, there is an extra cost involved. However, they are often good at having you spend money on what matters most to you as well as finding deals on items or a less expensive similar item. Plus, there are so many things you will have to purchase and choose: lighting, paint color, trim color, bathroom tile, closet layout. Have someone with confidence and skill help you. Without Jennigray this would have been miserable for me. I would have hated it! She made it so fun, helped me find confidence in things I loved, and steered me in the right direction to make rooms cohesive. Also, you are paying a designer for their time. It's time you don't have to spend scouring the internet for the perfect pendant light (my personal version of hell).
3. Use the notes app on your phone for a running list of things to tell/ask your contractor. I had a running checklist on my phone and anytime anything came to mind related to the house, I would write it down. Each time Nate and I met with Frankie, I would go through the list. If something was resolved, it got checked off. If the matter wasn't yet solved, it stayed unchecked. I now have a note on my phone called “punch list” that contains all the final things we need to do. Anytime I see something, it gets added to the list. Having this all on my phone meant I could add to it anytime and never leave it behind.
4. Use a Home Reno Binder. You all know my love for a Home Binder! I made a special binder specifically for the addition. In it, I kept wall paper samples, room dimensions, receipts for items purchased, inspiration photos I ripped out of magazines, etc. Having this all in one place meant I could take the binder with me when I went shopping for a specific item or to the paint store. Having each room's dimension written down took out the guesswork when ordering a rug, etc.

CURRENT READS/LISTENS/WATCHES:

*I am going to use this section to only share things I read/watched I would suggest to another person. I definitely read/listened to/watched some duds! 

1. Introduction
2. Kitchen Part 1: Fridge/Freezer 
3. Kitchen Part 2: Pantry and Cabinets
4. Bathrooms (this includes medicine cabinets and linens)
5. Bedrooms and Closets
6. Kids’ Clothes
7. Kids’ Toys
8. Laundry Room
9. Living Room
10. The Car
11. Paper
12. Garage/Shed
13. Your Mind
14. Final Pep Talk