Home Design Lab – your questions answered!

The response to our Home Design Lab launch has been amazing so far! So many of you are signing up to get notified when we launch our next enrolment at 8am!

I thought I’d run a quick Q&A about the online course, so if you’re considering joining us, you’re 100% prepared and ready for it!

All the details about what the course is, including the module structure can be seen on the main Home Design Lab page, so head over there if you aren’t sure what the program is or if you want to add yourself to our waiting list.

OK let’s dive in!

What is Home Design Lab?

The Home Design Lab is a completely self-paced online course to support you with your interior design plans. I teach you the same approach I give to my 1-on-1 clients, fully supporting you via videos and digital downloads to help you define your style, develop your vision, and bring cohesion through your home. We cover everything from layout to lighting to colour and it’s ideal for any level.

How is the course delivered?

You get your own login to a members area as soon as you enrol, with easy access to each module. You get lifetime access so you can join when we’re open and work on your designs/planning at your own pace. The content itself is packed with pre-recorded videos by me, informational guides and cheat sheets I’ve produced for you, as well as an innovative workbook which will record your learning and plans in a practical way. The course is super easy to digest – think of it as having me as your interior designer, showing you what to consider step by step, with access to my knowledge and insider tips every time you log in. Look at www.fifimcgee.co.uk/home-design-lab for a breakdown of the modules and what’s included.

How much does it cost?

It will be a one-time fee (price will be announced in our email at 8am) – you’ll get lifetime access to all the modules, videos, cheat sheets and course materials and we’ll be revealing an amazing offer to all those on our waitlist.

How do I enrol?

Make sure you add your name and email to our list (you can do that on the Home Design Lab page). When we open enrolment at 8am, we’ll email you a link to enrol onto the course. That’s where we’ll announce a very special discount happening too. It’ll be a great time to join the program and make a saving.

How long will enrolment be open for?

Enrolment opens for a limited time only. We don’t know when we’ll next open the Home Design Lab course. Neil and I stagger our intake of students onto our online courses so that we can focus on welcoming / onboarding (we’re a tiny team of 2 and this helps us manage our time) so if you know you’d like to join, don’t miss this one and enrol while we’re open. You get lifetime access so you can take advantage of the promotion now, and start the course when you’re ready.

I’ve seen your How to Renovate a House Course and Home Design Lab, which course shall I start with?

If you're renovating a house or about to purchase a renovation that requires structural changes (i.e a kitchen extension, loft conversion, remodel or you're adding/removing walls) and you haven’t yet started understanding your costs or the general timeline – we recommend working on the How to Renovate a House Online Course first to fast-track your renovation knowledge.

If you're a little further into your renovation and keen to deep dive into getting your design right, Home Design Lab will help you form a plan, invest in all the right pieces, and avoid rookie mistakes that can cause a mish-mash of styles. You’ll get your property finished beautifully in a way that will add value to your house (and life).

Not renovating at all? If you’re moving into a new home that doesn’t need structural work or if you want to give your existing home a facelift, Home Design Lab will be perfect for you too.

Can I get my work reviewed by you?

What makes Home Design Lab so different, is that you can choose (at any time) to submit your work to an interior designer for a 1 hour review. You can choose either myself or my trusted partner Deborah Plant, who specialises in renovations and kitchen extensions to review your plans for a small fee. We will offer you an honest opinion, suggest enhancements tailored to your home and budget, give you suggestions to push your design one step further, and recommend suppliers. The cost will be an additional £150 per session, made payable directly to the designer you work with prior to your call. To set this up, please email hello@fifimcgee.com with your Home Design Lab order number and ensure you have completed the modules to make the most of the call. You will be required to complete a pre-call questionnaire so that the designer is fully informed of your space, needs and any questions you want to cover on the call.

Should I just hire an interior designer instead?

This course is for people who believe that they can do the designs themselves but need that extra bit of structure, accountability and would value insider know-how. It’s a great way to save a lot of money in interior design fees and learn from an interior designer. You get the support of an interior designer virtually, without the usual cost.

Interior designers are incredibly skilled / well trained so please be aware that this course doesn’t profess to make you or your home ‘interior designer’ level, but it does teach you some of the concepts and skills we practice as professionals so that you can start your home design journey in the right way. I also show you some of my client work which is a real hit with our past students!

When does the online course start?

Enrolment begins the same day you enrol! You get instant access after you pay the one-time fee. All of my online courses are designed to be completely self paced which means that you can work through at a pace that suits you and your project. You can start, stop, pause and resume as and when your time and home/project require it.

Will you be on hand with any questions if I get stuck?

No, but I design each online course very carefully to ensure that you won't need to ask questions. I pour a huge amount of time and resources into each online course to make sure that they deliver results for you. If you follow each lesson carefully, implement the exercises in the order I’ve set out, give yourself time to reflect, dream and visualise and you'll find that you will achieve the results you didn’t think was possible.

I’ve taken your How to Renovate a House Course, is there any overlap?

It’s been amazing to see so many of you on the waiting list who have worked with me before on other tools and courses like the How to Renovate a House Online Course and I'm delighted because it means that so many of you really care about getting your home design right. This new program is packed with new and exclusive content and tools you're going to get a lot of value from, not featured in How to Renovate a House. There is very minimal overlap between the two courses – so don't worry on that front. Home Design Lab will help you deep dive in interior design to make sure you get a stunning finish on your renovation.

Can I just collate information online and design my house that way?

If you're thinking you might be better off just continuing to muddle through and using Pinterest and online articles to help you get by, then you could continue down this path. But remember the videos, exercises and structure Home Design Lab gives you, you won't be able to access anywhere else online. I show you industry practices and an insider’s view on how to formulate your design plans that free content won't scratch the surface on – the modules will focus your design efforts and budget into the areas of your home that will make the most impact for you and your family. I also show you my own work and approach as a designer which isn’t available anywhere else online. If you’re serious about getting your home design right, this will be well worth your investment.

Can I get a refund if it isn’t for me?

Absolutely. If you don’t feel that your home design planning has become more structured, less stressful and more inspired within 30 days of you following exercises in this course we will refund the entire cost of the course directly to your chosen payment method. I’m confident you’ll love it and get huge value. You need to put the work in though. This course won’t work its magic unless you turn up to it. It’s so much fun, it’ll be a breeze to follow.

How long will it take me to complete the course?

It completely depends on how big your home is, how complex the room is (i.e kitchens and bathrooms take longer to design than bedrooms and living rooms) and how much experience you’ve had in design before. I recommend working on one room for your first run through the course, to get a feel for the approach I set out and the tools and information. For an average sized room, it would probably take me 3 hours per module (i.e 12 hours to design each room using the exercises outlines)

Will there be a Facebook Group?

Yes, but not yet! We will be opening a private Facebook community to connect Home Design Lab students in preceding months, subject to demand. We launched our Reno Club alongside our best selling How to Renovate a House Online Course in August 2020 and it opened our eyes to just how important it is to have community alongside learning. All founding members and alumni will be emailed an (optional) invitation to join the private Facebook group when it’s set up.

I have another question, how can I contact you?

I’d be delighted to answer any questions you have. You can email hello@fifimcgee.com or DM me on Instagram – I’m @fifimcgeee