Ranee Gilbert Interior Design

7 Costly Mistakes Homeowners Make Before Starting a Remodel

A successful remodel begins long before demolition day. The most beautiful homes are not created by luck —they are created by informed decisions made early. Before you begin your kitchen, bath, or whole-home renovation, avoid these common (and expensive) mistakes homeowners often make.
1. Starting without a realistic budget:
Many homeowners begin collecting inspiration without understanding what their desired finishes, labor, and
scope truly cost. Establishing a working investment range early prevents disappointment and allows smarter design decisions.
2. Hiring contractors before the design plan is complete:
When construction begins before selections and drawings are finalized, costly change orders and delays usually follow. A detailed design roadmap should always come first.
3. Choosing finishes one piece at a time: Tile, cabinetry, counters, paint, lighting, plumbing, and flooring should never be selected in isolation. Without an overall vision, the home can quickly feel disjointed.
4. Underestimating lighting: Lighting is one of the most transformative — and most overlooked — elements in a home. Layered decorative, task, and ambient lighting dramatically affects comfort, mood, and function.
5. Forgetting about function: A beautiful kitchen that lacks storage or a bath that ignores daily routines will frustrate you long after the remodel is complete. Good design must work as beautifully as it looks.
6. Making rushed selections under pressure: Waiting until materials are needed on-site often forces homeowners into rushed decisions, limited inventory, and compromises they later regret.
7. Waiting too long to involve a designer: The earlier a designer is involved, the more money, time, and stress can often be saved. Designers help align the vision, the budget, and the ex*****on before mistakes are baked into the project.
If you are considering a kitchen remodel, bath renovation, new construction selections, or a complete home refresh, beginning with a strategic design plan can make all the difference.
Ranee Gilbert Interior Design offers personalized luxury residential design services throughout Middle Tennessee.
Schedule your Complimentary Luxury Remodel Planning Call

Ranee Gilbert | Murfreesboro Interior Designer Luxury Design and Decor is a full-service interior design company. The studio is located in the Murfreesboro Tn area and serves all of Middle Tennessee. The design firm offers full home remodeling, one room or the entire home updating, window treatments, bedding, wallcoverings, and home furnishings.

There are homes that impress, and then there are homes that embrace.

From the moment one steps inside this stately colonial residence, there is an unmistakable sense of warmth, permanence, and gracious Southern living. It is a home with history in its bones — rich in architectural character, timeless in proportion, and quietly elegant in a way that never asks to be noticed.

Designing this home was never about changing its identity.

It was about honoring it.

Each room was carefully layered with a thoughtful mix of traditional furnishings, inherited charm, soft textiles, classic artwork, and collected details that feel as though they have belonged here for generations. The result is not a home that feels decorated, but a home that feels deeply rooted — comfortable, welcoming, and beautifully familiar.

At the center, the kitchen was reimagined as a bright and inviting gathering place, where family can linger over morning coffee, share everyday meals, and continue the kind of simple moments that become lifelong memories.

Throughout the home, every choice was made to preserve a sense of grace — the kind of grace that cannot be purchased in a showroom, but is built slowly through warmth, intention, and a respect for timeless design.

Because the most memorable Southern homes are not the ones that simply look beautiful.

They are the ones that make you want to stay awhile.

— Ranee Gilbert Interior Design, Inc
Ranee Gilbert, ASID Practitioner

Might come in handy for somebody!

I want to offer a bit more clarity around how I approach my projects and pricing.
Each home I design is highly customized, with a focus on creating spaces that feel cohesive, intentional, and thoughtfully resolved from start to finish.
For those considering working together, the following provides a general investment guideline:
• Full kitchen design projects typically begin around $15,000
• Bathroom design projects typically begin around $10,000
We begin with an in-home consultation for $850. This allows me to fully understand your space, your goals, and how you live—so I can provide clear, meaningful direction from the very beginning. Should you choose to move forward, this investment is applied toward your overall design fee.
Because each project is unique, design fees are finalized once the full scope and selections are established and are outlined within your contract.
As projects evolve, any additional scope beyond the original agreement is addressed accordingly.
My work is thoughtful, detailed, and highly involved—and best suited for clients seeking comprehensive, full-service design experience. Designing kitchens and bathrooms or any other room in your home takes hours and hours to pull together, the investment reflects that.
If you’ve been considering working together, I would love to connect.
– Ranee Gilbert, ASID Practitioner

Ranee Gilbert | Murfreesboro Interior Designer Luxury Design and Decor is a full-service interior design company. The studio is located in the Murfreesboro Tn area and serves all of Middle Tennessee. The design firm offers full home remodeling, one room or the entire home updating, window treatments, bedding, wallcoverings, and home furnishings.

New project reveal:

Every project begins with a vision—but the most meaningful spaces are the ones that unfold with intention in every detail.

For this home, we leaned into a sense of timeless elegance layered with personality. The dining room sets the tone with a custom mural that immediately draws you in—soft, organic, and completely immersive—creating a moment that feels both refined and unexpected.

From there, the design flows effortlessly into a warm and inviting kitchen, where rich cabinetry, tailored finishes, and thoughtfully selected lighting create a space that is as functional as it is beautiful. Every element was chosen to feel cohesive, elevated, and quietly luxurious.

What I love most about this project is the balance—
✨ statement moments paired with restraint
✨ classic elements reimagined in a fresh way
✨ and a home that feels curated, not decorated

This is what I strive for in every project:
A space that not only looks beautiful—but feels intentional, personal, and completely livable.