from the publisher This issue ends one year and begins the next, which is perfect because it’s time to start planning your next home projects. A good place to start is to establish a wish list of all the things you’d like to do, and then decide which projects are necessary and which are not as urgent. Establish a budget and decide the projects that could be DIY and which will require professionals. When considering DIY, though, it’s important to make a realistic assessment about your abilities; otherwise, you could end up spending more time and money to fix or redo a job than you would have had you worked with a professional from the beginning. Start setting up appointments as soon as possible, as it’s common for designers and tradespeople to be booked out months in advance. Find the best fit as soon as possible to make it onto their schedule. Whether an indoor or outdoor project, a professional will take you through the process and ensure no part or potential difficulties are overlooked. For DIY projects, determine the most effective and efficient time schedule. Does a DIY project need to coordinate with a professional job? What supplies do you need and how quickly can you get them? Do you need to research projects plans? There are also seasonal logistics. Whether your project is DIY or professional, weather is something to contend with, especially in Wisconsin. If you have inside and outside painting projects, spread them out by working outdoors in the spring, summer, and fall, and indoors in the winter. And if you’re working on your landscape, from planting flower beds to putting in a patio, there are things best done in certain seasons. I hope you’ll find this year’s planning to be exhilarating. It’s a great time to make your space perfect for you. And, of course, Home Elements & Concepts will continue to present a range of practical and luxury ideas from talented professionals to make your plans a reality. Previous issues are archived at homeelementsandconcepts.com, so you can always refer back to them. Happy planning!
Amy Johnson
4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
