Who is the Renovation Ready Playbook for?

It’s designed for homeowners who want to plan, design, and manage their own remodel with confidence — without hiring a full-service designer or paying for expensive design-build firms.

Do I need design or construction experience?

No. Everything is taught in simple, practical steps. If you can follow a checklist, you can follow this system.

Will this help me even if I’ve already started planning?

Yes. Whether you're just starting or already mid-project, the tools and guidance help you avoid mistakes, stay organized, and make decisions faster.

What if my project is small (like a bathroom or laundry room)?

The framework works for any remodel size — kitchen, bath, addition, basement, or whole home.

Is this a replacement for a contractor or designer?

No. It helps you know what to expect, what decisions to make, how to avoid delays, and how to communicate better with the pros you hire.

About Me

Hi, I’m Cristina.

I'm an NCIDQ-Certified Interior Designer with over 20 years of experience designing residential, commercial, and hospitality projects—and consulting on or managing many of them through construction.

Across all of those projects, one thing became very clear:

Homeowners don't need more inspiration. They need structure.

Renovations fall apart when decisions are made in the wrong order, timelines slip, and homeowners don't know what contractors actually need.

That's why I created Renovation Ready Playbook™: A complete ecosystem of tools, templates, and training to give homeowners the professional renovation process they've been missing.

Whether you need a quick checklist or the full course, you'll finally have access to the same system I use with my design clients.

How I Got Here

Like many designers, my childhood consisted of rearranging my bedroom every other week and painting anything I could get my hands on. I started out at UMass in Business Management but soon realized there was a lack of creative fulfillment in my life.

Taking a leap of faith, I moved to the Metro DC area and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Marymount University.

Early Career: Hospitality & Model Homes

I landed a job at a major hospitality firm, working on amazing resorts and hotels across the US and Caribbean. Then I launched my own firm in the DC area, securing a contract with a national builder to design their model homes.

The 2008 recession had different plans for all of us. I kept my creative juices flowing through the economic downturn by doing store sets and window displays for a major upscale fashion retailer.

Return to Massachusetts: Residential Remodeling

In 2013, I moved back to Massachusetts and worked with a Design Build firm on remodels large and small, focused on creating homeowners' dreams within their budget.

That's where I started to see the pattern.

The projects that went smoothly weren't the ones with the biggest budgets. They were the ones where homeowners understood the process, made decisions in the right order, and knew how to work with their contractor.

The homeowners who struggled? They had Pinterest boards full of inspiration but no roadmap for how to actually get there.

Why I Created Renovation Ready Playbook™

In 2019, I started Cristina DePina Interior Design to continue helping homeowners create kitchens they love. I opened my showroom in Worcester in 2020 (impeccable timing, I know).

But here's what I realized: Most homeowners don't need a full-service designer. They need the framework.

They need to know:

What decisions to make first (and which ones can wait)
How to evaluate AI design tools without wasting money on unbuildable plans
How to vet contractors so they don't hire the wrong team
What kitchens actually cost, and where to prioritize their budget
How to manage the project so it stays on track

I was teaching this process to every single client anyway.

So I built Renovation Ready Playbook™ to make it accessible to everyone, not just the homeowners who could afford full design services.

Credentials & Experience

NCIDQ Certified Interior Designer (2004)
CKBD (Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer) pending
Construction Supervisor License (active)
20+ years in interior design
200+ completed projects across residential, commercial, and hospitality
Worcester, MA showroom (C. DePina Kitchens + Interiors)

My Approach

I believe in process over perfection.

The best kitchen renovations aren't the ones that look perfect on Instagram. They're the ones that actually function for how you live, stay within your budget, and don't turn into nightmare contractor situations.

I'm honest about complexity. Some things you can absolutely DIY with the right guidance. Other things? You need a professional.

My job is to help you know the difference.

Renovation Ready Playbook™ gives you the professional planning framework without requiring you to hire a designer for every decision.

You get the system. You make the choices. You stay in control.

Ready to Start Planning Your Project the Right Way?

Take the 2-minute Renovation Readiness Quiz to find out exactly what you need right now. [TAKE THE QUIZ →]

Or explore the resources on the [Start Here] page to choose your own path.