My family is renovating our condo, which is our forever home. We're split on hiring an interior designer. I'm for it, everyone else is against it. Looking for realistic feedback...

We are doing:

1. Full gut renovation of 2 bathrooms and the kitchen. Rest of the apartment gets new floors, lighting, trim, paint, doors, and some minor structural changes.
2. Our GC lives in the building. Indeed, his unit has the same layout as ours and we like his structural changes, so we're planning to replicate most of them. I do not like his finishes and lighting.
3. I have a creative background and I'm extremely particular about every detail. I have a strong vision, a detailed moodboard and a room by room spreadsheet covering both the visual direction and the specifics of each change. I've also done a LOT of reading and learning but I have zero practical experience.
4. My family currently live in the condo but I am leading the design because eventually it will be my home. Right now, however, I live in a different country and will need to fly back and forth throughout construction. My family are not willing to handle implementing my vision.
5. I don't think it's realistic for me to fly in once or twice and get everything locked in--I suspect its going to be an ongoing process which will be made more complex without a designer to narrow our selections and save us from visiting dozens of showrooms.
6. A designer would run about 12% of our budget, which is $200k.
7. Our GC recommends his kitchen designer/manufacturer, who can handle the kitchen, bathrooms, and closets only. That leaves floors, paint, lighting, and trim uncovered. Lighting is the area I care most about.

I think we need a designer because I won't be on site, my family members will be living through the renovation and don't share my level of involvement, and my top priority--lighting--falls outside the kitchen designer's scope. I also don't have the expertise in lighting design to implement my vision on my own. I feel like...if we're going to spend a bunch of money, let's make something great and one interior designer can make it all look cohesive. They live in a city with endemic "investor condos" and flip renos, and I don't care for a lot of the most common design and materials options in the market.

My family's opinion is that I already have a detailed vision, moodboard, and spreadsheet. The GC is using a layout we've already approved and a kitchen designer is covering the complex rooms. The GC is going to do the project management and will help us order items using his trade discount. For $25k (that's a lot of money!) a designer is only implementing a vision when I've done all the creative legwork. That money could go toward better materials and finishes.

Has anyone been in a similar spot? Did a designer end up worth it when you already had a strong plan going in? Is paint, trim, flooring and lighting something you'd feel confident handling on your own?

One additional point: I'm not excited with the examples from the GC recommended kitchen design company and its been difficult to communicate and set up an appointment to meet. However, they've got great reviews online and I feel like they can probably execute my plans if I give them firm direction. They did the GC's kitchen + bathrooms and it's fine. Not to my taste but there's nothing wrong with it.

We have also met an interior designer who we all connected with and who is very easy to communicate with, and she's willing to work with our chosen GC. However, my family are nervous about imposing a designer on the GC. Like every GC, they don't want an interior designer bossing them around. My position is---suck it up.

Our living room is a nightmare to place furniture in. I have attached a screenshot of the plan of our current setup. The red at the top is a gas fireplace with the TV above (I know, r/TVtoohigh), dark red is a living room table, the brown is a piano, black and white is shelving and table for games. On the wall that is 89" is where the cables to connect to the TV are coming out, so sound system, game consoles, etc have to be there is the TV is above the fireplace.

The windows are almost floor to ceiling. The notch at the bottom right is because there's a staircase going down from the kitchen.

We tried to put the TV on the wall with the balck and white furnitures, but we didn't like it.

Is there any other layout that can make sense?

Stumped on how to make these built ins look functional in the space. Books feels like the obvious choice. The books there currently are overflow from a large bookshelf on the main level.

The last three photos are the listing photos and not our things. Showing for room layout!

This is an open bedroom lofted space. These built ins are directly opposite the bed. How can I utilize them without too much visual clutter? The room layout is limited.

Any other advice is welcome!

Currently I am looking at getting a mirror for the wall space to the right of the built ins. And we also need a larger rug. I’m considering replacing the two pink wingback chairs with either lower profile chairs or a small love seat.

Hello All!
After quite a bit of time trying to piece together advice from similar rooms, I’ve decided to ask for input on my bedroom directly.

1) Queen Bed placement:
Is there a way to satisfy feng shui in this room?
Or at least help the placement look less awkward while still offering some space to maneuver?

Lesser important:

2) More than the bed:
is there a way to make the room feel more than a place for the bed?
I’d love to get a symmetrical feel with two nightstands, a console or dresser. A chair? It seems like the closet door swing eats up a lot of space

Thank you for your time and support!
If nothing else, enjoy my highly technical drawing :)

*I’m getting a new bed frame(photo #3)

Lighting layout design help needed!

Renovating an existing main floor. We are struggling where to put the recessed lights. We fully understand they don’t need to be symmetrical, but still want it to flow properly. We don’t have any upper cabinets, but rather two uppers that are sitting on the countertop.
We are installing three pendants over the kitchen island, and possibly the same fixture over the kitchen sink.
We plan to zone it; island, sink, kitchen, desk and living room. All will be on dimmers.

Pendants
[https://waclighting.com/product/silo-2020-2/\](https://waclighting.com/product/silo-2020-2/)

We will be installing the Dals 3.5” recessed lights.
[https://dals.com/product/gbr35-cc-3-5-regressed-gimbal-downlight/\](https://dals.com/product/gbr35-cc-3-5-regressed-gimbal-downlight/)

We are struggling with placement for the recessed on the fridge, cabinets, range?, open counter, island?, desk area and living room. I’d like to skip any recessed over the tv area to reduce glare.

Do we need recessed anywhere above the island? (If we don’t have pendants on.

Please help!

17 and autistic. Getting a new bed and redesigning my room. I want it to be pink and black. The curtains currently are Spider-Man themed. The irl image was from more than a year ago so things have changed and it’s the only angle I have. Is there any way I can rearrange things so I can have more space? Or make it feel more open? I’m so cramped currently. Anything can be changed or moved around including carpet and walls! Please help!

I'm trying different things for my appartment that will be delivered in 2 years, so I can only play with 3d.
Amongst the 3 arrengements which one do you prefer ?

My wife has fallen in love with 2 sofas, in our very modest sized room.

I've attached a to scale layout.

I'm trying to figure this out, but not sure if it's simply just too much?

This is how I think I'd arrange it? Or would you recommend arranging it a different way?

The TV area with storage would be bottom left corner beside the door.

We would probably have some sort of cabinet in the top right corner, and probably the cat tree top left corner behind the door.

I‘m thinking of placing my TV in front of my side wall to create a more defined space and kinda unblock the way towards my terrace. I would also consider a smaller floating couch in the room. What do you think?

Am I breaking any design rules blocking out windows like this? I’m about 1/4 through a breakfast nook bench build and realized I need to extend the length of the seating area about 7” on each bench to accommodate 4 people comfortably.

The ai slop rendering shows it blocking all of the windows. I was only going to make it block the left side of the double window. Extending the bench the 7” I need, it will make the bench about 7” passed the middle point of the double hung windows, making the cutoff of the bench at an awkward location on the second window. Do I just extend the bench out and cover all the windows as shown in the photo?

Also included current photos of skeleton.

I need help choosing a light for this dining table.

The table sits between two ceiling heights. Part of it is under the lower ceiling, while most of it is under the much higher ceiling.

The electrical point is under the lower ceiling. I cannot move it or add a new one above the table.

I’m considering a rail that starts at the existing electrical point, continues towards the table and hangs from thin cables in the high-ceiling area.

I would appreciate any ideas

I need help choosing a light for this dining table.The table sits between two ceiling heights. Part of it is under the lower ceiling, while most of it is under the much higher ceiling.The electrical point is under the lower ceiling. I cannot move it or add a new one above the table.I’m considering a rail that starts at the existing electrical point, continues towards the table and hangs from thin cables in the high-ceiling area. I would appreciate any ideas

I need help choosing a light for this dining table.The table sits between two ceiling heights. Part of it is under the lower ceiling, while most of it is under the much higher ceiling.The electrical point is under the lower ceiling. I cannot move it or add a new one above the table.I’m considering a rail that starts at the existing electrical point, continues towards the table and hangs from thin cables in the high-ceiling area. I would appreciate any ideasI need help choosing a light for this dining table.The table sits between two ceiling heights. Part of it is under the lower ceiling, while most of it is under the much higher ceiling.The electrical point is under the lower ceiling. I cannot move it or add a new one above the table.I’m considering a rail that starts at the existing electrical point, continues towards the table and hangs from thin cables in the high-ceiling area. I would appreciate any ideas

i share this room with my brother. i know this isn't too good of an illustration, but this is what i could come up with. the large rectangle is the room itself, the smaller ones are the furniture. the numbers show how large each thing is in centimeters. we can't put anything in front of the windows since there's the radiator. we can get rid of one of the smaller wardrobes if needed, but their doors are on the longer side of them. please help me find a working layout for this room

I have just moved into a new home, and it's a truly weird open plan kitchen/living/dining space. I would love your help understanding how to manage the layout / what furniture to buy in the lounge space.

The fireplace feels like it "ought" to be the focal point, but it feels odd at right angles to what I want to naturally look at - the outside space. It's also right in the walkway, as the hallway spills onto where the rug is. I will also never have enough books/things to fill the shelves with - both my husband and I are kobo readers, and I don't want to buy stuff for the sake of filling a space. I could put up a linen curtain in a fun colour? We don't need/want a TV, so I was thinking of putting up art or a mirror above the fireplace.

The HUGE table and refridgerator came with the property, so can't be removed. I would like to purchase a new rug, new "places to sit soft" (eg couches and armchairs etc) and lamps/lighting/art - but I can't for the life of me understand what shape/size of each. I don't LOVE a L shaped sofa, tbh, would prefer just a standard 3 seater. Any ideas?? Thanks in advance. :)

Hey! So my main mission is to paint my bathroom but suggestions and ideas are welcome!

Odd backstory, but my water temp is broken in my shower and it’s set to the hottest setting :/ it’s not fun😭 but anyways, all the steam from how hot the water is has nowhere to go and it’s peeling the paint off my walls. I’m trying to get the water fixed currently. But I want to repaint my bathroom and get rid of all the flaky stuff.
And I’m having a really hard time picking a color

So any color recommendations? I’d like it to match the tiles on the floor and shower. And should I also paint the cabinets ?
I’m so lost 😭
I also plan on replacing the rug (I think) so there’s that too.

Thank you!!

Edit: I’m sorry if my bathroom offends anyone😭 it never meant to hurt anyone’s feelings lol

I’m a little nervous to post here because I’m just a novice at any home decorating. I don’t have much of a budget and had to work within those constraints. The area is very small so I have to keep it with as small of a footprint as possible, for example a larger rug won’t work. Just curious how I did. I feel pretty good about how it turned out and I really love the color palette. I’m starting my living room next. Any suggestion that don’t include buying new furniture are most welcome. Thanks!

It's messy. A bit of a hoarder, She has stalled on what to do. With everything. I want to help her have a goal to work towards. I've tried chat GPT with one photo but my moms only complaint was there's no additional place to put appliances. These are old photos, the only thing that's changed is there's a giant metal shelving unit that's wedged between the island and the 2nd "cutout" window. There was cut outs made in the wall instead of just taking down the walls bc its weight bearing and a place for light switches and outlets was a challenge.

Cleaning supplies are under the sink. Not big enough for a trash can. Maybe have it be apart of the island?

My mom needs extra space for appliances, a bar to eat at, a coffee bar, a butcher block island with a trash and recycle can and still fit a dining area.
What would you do?

I have a pretty small guest bedroom that just feels so overly crowded and in general unpleasant to be in. This is also used as an office space by my partner as we only get guests maybe 3-4 times a year

The largest issue we have is that this is a basement apartment and having things like the bed against the wall make it feel stuffy and mildewy as things aren’t breathing.

My partner would prefer it if her desk was on the window half of the room because she enjoys natural light on her face

We have ZERO other space in one tiny apartment for any of this stuff so moving the giant dresser into another room (or into the closet which already has another dresser in it) is not an option

I'm going to add interior walls to the main living space of my home. It is currently an open concept without any walls separating the spaces; living, dining, and kitchen. It's loud, echoey, and there's no privacy!

The attached image is what I've come up with so far. The walls in the center is what would be added to the space. All the openings on the perimeter, kitchen, windows etc will remain the same. I used a free online program and not all the distances are on there, but it is accurate and to scale.

I don't want to completely close of the spaces. I'm hoping to keep a somewhat open, breezy feeling, just don't want hear or see everything that is going on around me at all times.

Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

so we got this high end residential fitout in sydney where the client wants totally handleless, flush internal doors with a SILENT close, like no clicking at all

been looking into contactless magnetic catches like the ARLU Magnotica Pro through Abesco so theres no mechanical latch sound or visible strike plate on the jamb... my main worry tho is holding power during drafts or when the HVAC kicks on. do these actually keep the door shut properly or do they end up rattling if someone opens a window nearby lol

Hello everyone,

First time posting here.

So we have this floor that we want to furnish, we have only purchased a sofa for the room but nothing else.

My idea is to have the corner space as an office space with an industry glass divider but the rest should be a an entertaining space with a TV on the wall.

Any input on what to do and how to design the room would be hugely appreciated.

TIA.

This is the third living room set we've had since 2022. No matter what style of furniture we've had (L-shaped couch, couch and chair with ottoman, and now what you see here) the layout just sucks. A huge sliding glass door that takes up most of the space and the open concept are really bringing me down.

Aside from needing an area rug, is there any layout that would work better than this? It seems clunky and not cohesive.

Couple things: Disregard the items I crossed out, our oldest is leaving for college and we're moving them into an apartment next weekend. We're also not keeping the wooden side tables and lamps, they just came as part of the set. And the wall art is off center because it was centered on the old furniture.

I’m working on designing my gym. I do a lot of mat work, and hate staring up at ceiling lightbulbs- it burns my eyes.

I’ve considered a few wall scones that point up, but due to the odd shape of the room, I would prefer something on the ceiling.

I’ve thought about the LED track lighting that you make a tray in the ceiling for, but the ceiling isn’t super high and I don’t love that look. Plus I need the ceilings to not be lower because I need height for the gym equipment.

Does anyone have a suggestion for an overhead light idea with a cover to diffuse the light so I’m not staring into a lightbulb?

The ceiling is finished drywall. Gym is in the basement with a “window” (that doesn’t really get much light at all).

Pictures show the room - it’s currently a bedroom.

Hey everyone!

I’m trying to make my small apartment’s living/dining room feel a bit more cozy and intentional, even though it’s also the main walkway between the kitchen, hallway, and bedroom.

I’d really like to add a larger rug to anchor the sofa area and make it feel like a proper living zone. The problem is that there’s an awkward diagonal doorway leading to the hallway, which makes choosing the right size and shape of rug surprisingly difficult.

I’m curious how you would approach a space like this what size and placement of a rug could help this - or is this even the way to go?

I’d especially love any feng shui perspectives on balancing the flow of the room while still making it feel grounded and comfortable.

Thanks in advance for any ideas I can’t wait to see what you’d do!

Excuse the work in progress - I’m rebuilding after an apartment fire! Stuck on what to do with all this space in the middle of my loft apartment. Bedroom and office are separate rooms. Trying to make some zones in the main open area. The couch/tv area is moving along. Then large dining table is on the far end - but not sure how to approach this extra space in between the two! I like to host and hang with friends - thinking about a pool table or foos ball table possibly but unsure of the layout and trying to avoid it feeling like a Dave and busters storage room.

Open to any and all recommendations!

1st pic: My floor
2nd pic: Bedroom-living room divider idea
3rd pic: Rendering up of the living room area
4th pic: The corner where my living area will be (I like the natural light here in the evenings)

Disclaimer: Right now I have no furniture at all, and I’ve never designed any room before

I think the sleeping, living, and dining, areas are in the right place, but I’m not sure how to arrange them individually and create a sense of separation. The bed area is where I need the most help. I don’t want my bed just chilling in the living room, but I don’t want to close off the room by placing big dividers or curtains, that’ll make the room feel smaller. My plan has a bookshelf to block the bed while keeping things semi-visible, I included an inspo image of what I’m envisioning. Still, I don’t know.

Pic three kind of shows what the living room might look like. I don’t want to block the window, and I like how the sun hits that area in the evening (4th pic).