Renovating in 2027? It’s Time to Hire Your Designer!
If a home renovation is on your 2027 wish list, October may feel a little early to start making plans. After all, you’re not ready to knock down walls just yet.
But here’s the thing: your renovation doesn’t begin on demo day.
Long before the dust starts flying, there are layouts to consider, materials to source, selections to make, budgets to navigate, and dozens of decisions that will ultimately determine how your finished space looks, feels, and functions.
That’s why one of the best things you can do for a renovation you’re hoping to tackle next year is start talking to your designer now.
Designed by Home by Hattan
Your Designer Should Be One of Your First Calls
There’s a common misconception that an interior designer comes in toward the end of a project to choose paint colors, furniture, and finishing touches.
In a renovation, their role starts much earlier.
A designer helps take the ideas floating around in your head—the inspiration photos you’ve saved, the kitchen that has never quite worked, the storage problem that drives you crazy—and turn those ideas into a cohesive plan.
Before construction begins, your designer can help think through how you use the space, what needs to change, what’s worth investing in, and how all of those individual decisions will work together.
The earlier that happens, the more opportunity there is to make thoughtful decisions rather than reactive ones.
Karen’s Thoughts 💭
“Many people think they don’t need a designer—until they do. Planning with me before construction begins gives us time to establish a clear design direction, make wise and beautiful decisions, and avoid the costly mistakes and overwhelm that can derail a renovation, ultimately creating a home my clients love.”
Good Design Takes Time
A thoughtfully designed home isn’t created in one meeting.
There’s an initial vision, but then there are layouts to consider, plans to refine, materials to compare, samples to see in the actual space, and selections that affect one another.
Cabinetry influences countertops. Countertops influence backsplash. Lighting affects how finishes and colors read. The size of the sink influences the size and spacing of cabinetry. A seemingly small change to a layout can affect electrical, plumbing, flooring, or construction - and all of it affect how you live in your home.
Your designer is looking at those decisions as pieces of one larger picture. Starting early gives you time to explore those options without feeling like every decision needs to be made by Friday because someone is waiting to install it on Monday.
Your Designer Can Help You Spend More Intentionally
Renovations are an investment, and one of the most valuable parts of working with a designer is having someone help you determine where that investment matters most.
Maybe custom cabinetry will completely change how your family uses the kitchen, while another element can be simplified. Maybe the expensive tile you fell in love with would make more impact in a smaller application. Or perhaps changing the layout is worth prioritizing over purely cosmetic updates.
A designer isn't simply selecting beautiful things. They're considering the project as a whole and helping you make decisions that support both your priorities and the finished space.
This is also why we created the Home by Hattan Investment Guide! Renovation costs can feel overwhelming when you don't know what to expect or where your budget will have the greatest impact. Our guide is designed to give you a better understanding of what goes into a thoughtfully designed renovation, how different project decisions can affect your overall investment, and what to consider as you begin planning.
It isn't about spending the most in every category. It's about investing intentionally — knowing where to prioritize, where you may be able to simplify, and how to create a home that feels worth the investment long after construction is complete.
Karen’s Thoughts 💭
“When a client has a wish list bigger than their budget, how do you help them decide where to invest?”
“Start by thinking about where your investment will make the biggest impact, not just visually, but in how you live in and enjoy your space. I love choosing one beautiful focal point and letting the rest of the room complement it. It’s all about finding that balance between timeless design and those unexpected, personality-filled details that make a space feel special.”
Early Planning Gives You More Choices
You finally find the tile…and it's backordered.
The perfect light fixture has a 12-week lead time.
Your cabinetry needs to be custom-fabricated.
These aren't unusual situations in a renovation, which is another reason designers start sourcing and making selections well before installation day.
When you start early, you have more freedom to select pieces because they're right for the project, not simply because they're the only option that can arrive in time.
And if something isn't available? There’s time to find an alternative that still supports the overall design rather than scrambling for a last-minute substitute.
Design and Construction Shouldn't Live in Separate Worlds
A beautiful design still has to be built.
At Home by Hattan, having design and construction working together allows us to consider both sides of a renovation throughout the process. Karen can develop the design vision while Mark brings the construction perspective to the table, helping connect what we're dreaming up with what it will take to bring it to life.
Instead of designing a space in a vacuum and figuring out the logistics later, those conversations can happen along the way.
That collaboration can also help identify questions and potential challenges earlier, when there is still time to adjust the plan.
Don't Wait for Demo Day to Start Designing
If you're dreaming about a renovation in 2027, you don't need to have every answer right now.
You don't need to know exactly which countertop you want. You don't need your entire Pinterest board narrowed down. You don't even need to know precisely what the finished room should look like.
That's part of what your designer is there to help you figure out.
What you can do now is start the conversation.
Because by the time demo day arrives, the goal isn't to finally start making decisions. It's to walk into construction with a thoughtful plan already in place.
One Last Thought From Karen 💭
What's the one thing you wish every homeowner knew before beginning a renovation?
“A renovation is an investment, but the return goes far beyond the value it adds to your home. It’s about how you feel in your space and the way it enhances your everyday life. A thoughtfully designed home can bring a sense of peace, comfort, and happiness to the moments that matter most. And to me, that’s what makes the investment so worthwhile.”
Bring Your Design Vision to Life with Home by Hattan
Planning a renovation in Brentwood, Franklin, or the greater Nashville area? Let our proven process and 10+ years of experience be the guide to brining your project to life.
Thoughtful | Tailored | Trustworthy
Mark & Karen Hattan
Founders, Home by Hattan Design + Build
Intentionally combining luxury and livability,
we create homes that are as beautiful as they are functional—designed for effortless elegance and meaningful connection.
Because HOME is important, and so are the people who live there.
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