You want a beautiful bathroom, and you want it now! & who could blame you? A distressed vanity (not in the good way), chipped paint, a color palette that feels tired, and so little storage that your counters are cluttered… sigh. 

These daily eyesores don’t put you in a good mood. But how long does a bathroom reno really take? What can you expect? How can you make it go faster? 

To answer these questions, I’m sharing the 3 phases of a bathroom renovation, what each entails, along with some tips for making them as smooth and efficient as possible. Let’s go…

Phase 1: Conceptual Design

What it is: This phase nails down the design of your future bathroom, from selecting the exact tile you will use to picking out your vanity, lighting, color palette, tub/shower, etc. Before a GC can demo or install anything (or give you a bid for the scope of work), they have to know what will be going into the new space.

How long does it take: If you’re working 1-on-1 with an interior designer, this phase will take 4-8 weeks, and you will get a totally custom design concept with every detail planned and ready to be seamlessly executed.

If you’re doing this with a Sourced Design Kit, you can nail down your design concept in 1-2 days (or more, if you want more time). This is done by simply picking your favorite materials and product options from our curated Shopping List, all of which are designed to look great together and give you professional quality results!. 

What can you do to expedite it: Select a Sourced Design Kit that speaks to your desired aesthetic and skip the 2-month planning phase. For real. 

Pro tip: When your design is complete, this is a great time to vet any GCs you might want to work with, especially considering that many will not be able to start right away and you’ll have to wait for product shipments to arrive anyway. Which brings us to…

Meet Meira (left) and Hudson (right), two Design Kits from our 2021 Fall Collection.

Phase 2: Procurement

What it is: This phase involves ordering your materials and items (like tile, your vanity, light fixtures, towel bars, that new tub, etc. It’s important to do this step before your GC gets on-site. If your GC is available, but you don’t yet have the materials they need to do the work — errrrt! 

That’s the sound of your project coming to a halt. Your GC will simply move on to their next client while they wait for you (time is money!), which means you will now have to wait for them to be available again.

How long does it take: Product shipment times and product availability vary depending on the source and the item. You could get your vanity in as little as a couple weeks, or you could be waiting several months for that one item alone. Luckily, we have a solution for this, too…

What can you do to expedite it: Broken record over here, but our Sourced Design Kits will help speed up BOTH product ordering and delivery. First, because you will already have a very precise Shopping List with dimensions and colors already specified. Second, because we only include items and materials we’re confident are available to you now. 

This is also why we suggest ordering as soon as possible after purchasing a Design Kits to ensure availability.

Phase 3: Build, Install + Style

What is it: This phase will involve any demolition, building, installation (for tile, vanities, lighting, etc.), and of course, the final styling, like hanging art on the wall or decorating your shelves.

How long does it take: A cosmetic bathroom renovation can take anywhere from 2-4 months, while a bathroom remodel (moving plumbing, the floor plan, or electrical) can take several months longer.

The longest part of this phase is the building and installation, which is conducted by your GC according to their schedule. Styling, on the other hand, is all you! You can make your bathroom pretty in a couple of dedicated hours or spread it out over a few days to keep the fun going. 😉

What can you do to expedite it: When vetting your GC initially, be sure to ask them about timing. This may not expedite the process as much as you want, but it does give you the option to choose a GC whose calendar is open when you want it to be. Having your materials on-site well in advance (see Phase 2) also helps expedite Phase 3.

That’s a wrap! You’re now fluent in a renovation’s phases and ready to confidently lead your renovation to success. Head over to the Shop, select your Design Kit, and watch yourself LEAP ahead of the typical timeline — with effortlessly stunning results.

Xoxo,

Shawna 

SOURCED is the take-charge woman’s fail-safe resource for leading a home renovation to success. Created by Interior Designer Shawna Percival of Styleberry Creative Interiors, each Design Kit serves up fresh yet timeless style, quality material selections, and an easy-to-follow renovation guide. Say hello to your new weekend plans.