#LasPulgasBuild Sneak Peak: A look at the Design Process

Have you wondered how design shows, or interiors on your Instagram feed get from point A to B? There seems to be a lot of mystery surrounding the end product, which can make design seem overly simplified and easy. This is false advertising.

Using my own in-progress remodel, I thought I’d give a peak into the process and show you why all of those Architectural Digest featured designers deserve all the praise.

Context: my husband Stew and I made the decision to uproot from San Francisco and move to Los Angels a couple of months ago. We are currently renting as we completely overhaul a misfit midcentury and turn it into the modern Spanish home of ~~our~~ my dreams. Below is a breakdown of how I went from daydreaming to developing.

STEP 1: Conceptualizing

I become a detective to uncover all the needs, requirements, and design preferences of clients (or in this case Stew). Then its hours and hours of brainstorming, daydreaming, and conceptualizing. I think about projects constantly: in the shower, while I’m sleeping, on a walk, while I’m feeding Henrik. My brain never shuts off. Usually this ends up as a notebook full of unattractive chicken scratch ideas like this…

It’s not pretty. And it doesn’t have to be, because, with the exception of right now, these sketches never see the day of light. Thankfully.

STEP 2: Schematic Design

After I’ve picked the Client’s brain until there is nothing left to pick and have gotten all my loose thoughts on paper, I begin pulling together moods. I start by creating detailed Pinterest Boards where I pull furniture, fabric, fixture, and finish options. This could be several color palettes or maybe its just one very well thought out design — just depends on the project. Below are the finishes and mood for our Powder, Laundry, and Jack & Jill bathroom.

STEP 3: Design Development

This is more than just researching products. It is understanding the dimensions and quirks of a space and translating those ideas into a system like AutoCAD for accurate to-scale designs. This is also the SUPER FUN part because I get to bring those finishes to life and create renderings to visualize our plans. And YES, I even create these for my current client, Stew. Is this necessary? No. But it’s just as helpful for me as it is for him since he generally (like most Clients) can’t visualize half the things I say… and it’s insurance that he won’t disown me once the house is built.

STEP 4: Specifications & Drawings

This takes phase 3 next level. It is incredibly time consuming, detail crucial and brain bursting. It’s where design ideas become solidified and turned into construction or design intent documents that spell out every aspect of the project. These documents can then be used by contractors, architects, or fabricators to bring exactly what I envision to life. It’s also when the Client gets to spend tons of time looking over super busy, confusing documents like these Kitchen design intent drawings…

STEP 5: Admin + Installation

And we are done! Just kidding, not even close. The last phase is heavy on logistics. At this point we are putting our plans into action which entails ordering finishes, fabrics, and furniture. Heavy communication between vendors, fabricators, and contractors is all part of the game to ensure what we put on paper actually comes to life. This is a very time consuming, often stressful period because every decision is crucial and could impact the final product. Those end of project images are a good 2 years away for our house, so you’ll have to hold tight for the final product.

Want to see more of the #LasPulgasBuild design development? Check out renderings of my favorite spaces.