How design and remodeling projects actually work — what to plan for, what things cost, what goes wrong, and how to avoid it. Every guide is written and reviewed by Jan Revels, ASID, from nearly three decades of Dallas and Park Cities projects.
Most people arrive with one of three questions: do I even need a designer?, what will this cost?, or how long will my house be a construction site? Those three are answered in what an interior designer actually does, how designers charge, and what a remodel timeline really looks like.
The difference between a designer and a decorator, what the fee actually buys, and when hiring one is worth it.
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Where the designer/builder split goes wrong, what one point of responsibility changes, and which model fits your project.
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Layout and clearances, the right order to make decisions in, and the errors that only show up after the tile is set.
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Clearances, waterproofing, ventilation, tile and storage — and the invisible work that decides whether it lasts.
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Flat fee, hourly, cost-plus, percentage and retail — what each rewards, and what to ask before signing.
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Realistic durations, the sequence trades work in, and how to actually live in the house while it happens.
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How to read the two drawings that decide a remodel, and what they catch before anything is built.
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When custom is worth it, when stock will do, how to specify it, and how to judge a cabinetmaker's quality.
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The major styles defined, how to read your own saved images, and how to brief a designer properly.
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What tends to be behind the walls, how to budget for it, and how to modernize without losing the character.
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The master plan, what order to tackle rooms in, and the decisions you must make before phase one begins.
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The clearances and sizes that decide whether a room works — living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.
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The three layers, correct hanging heights, color temperature, and the switching you must decide before drywall.
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Why paint comes last, how orientation changes a color, undertones and sheen, and how to sample properly.
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Which treatment suits which room, correct hanging height and width, lining, and what Texas sun demands.
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Performance fabrics, rub counts, cushion fill and frames — how to specify seating that lasts.
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Sizes for every room, materials that survive traffic, pile and construction, layering and pads.
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Shelf composition, mantels, coffee tables, gallery walls, and the hanging heights that are always right.
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What needs a permit, how the three jurisdictions differ, what inspectors check, and how trades are sequenced.
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Why budgets drift, what a change order must contain, allowances, contingency and payment schedules.
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Where the television belongs, designing built-ins around a fireplace, cable planning and acoustics.
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Layout and flow, the bed wall, lighting and sound, the bathroom relationship, and closet planning.
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The inventory method, hanging and shelf dimensions, mudrooms, pantries, and whole-house storage planning.
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Codes and accessibility, contract-grade specification, landlord approvals, and phasing around an open business.
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Booking timelines, tree scale, garlands and mantels, tablescapes, lighting, storage and takedown.
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Shade and orientation, cooling, materials that survive sun and rain, outdoor kitchens and lighting.
9 min read →Try a broader word — kitchen, bathroom, budget, lighting, storage — or clear the filters to see every guide. If you can’t find what you need, ask Jan directly.
Bring them to a consultation — Jan will give you straight answers about your rooms, your budget and your timeline.
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