One of the keys to a great renovation is knowing what to draw attention to and what to conceal.
When renovating your home, there is always a tension between splurging on statement pieces and saving money by cutting back on items that won’t be the centre of attention. It’s the hidden heroes that home renovators and budget hunters love the most. Here’s what our experts have to say about where you should spend your hard earned cash, and where you should cut costs when renovating.
KITCHEN
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“Aim for a well-designed kitchen and spend the money where it works best for you,” advises interior designer Stewart Horton of Horton & Co Design. “If you are a keen chef, you’re better off buying the best and most up-to-the-minute appliances. If you’re not a big cook, you could devote a larger chunk of the budget to beautiful finishes, such as stone benchtops or splashbacks.”
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Don’t scrimp on your kitchen layout to squeeze in luxe fittings, says architect Amelia Lee of Undercover Architect. “Plan the size and layout you want, knowing that you can upgrade the benchtops and doors down the track.”
LIGHTING
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Access to natural light should never be compromised, says Lee. Ideally, your home’s design should take into account how the sun moves across the property, with window locations and glazing to suit the location and climate. “Make the most of the light naturally available so that your home looks and feels great,” she says.
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Splurge on one top-quality decorative pendant light in an area with maximum exposure, such as a dining room. The other lights can be affordable, standard designs.
FLOORS
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Flooring has a huge influenceon the look of a home, and it’s not easily changed. Whether you’re looking at tiles, timber or carpet, choose the best option you can afford. “A durable, good-quality floor will not only wear well, it will alsostand the test of time and, hopefully, remain beautiful forever,” says Horton.
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When selecting flooring, choose readily available sizes and colourways. Anything outside of the box will almost always cost more, and could also prove harder to match if you need more later.
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
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The right combination of wall mouldings, such as architraves, cornices and skirting boards can potentially elevate even the simplest of spaces into something special. “If you’re doing a traditional renovation, invest in quality timber mouldings or cornices outside of the standard ranges,” says Horton. “For modern homes, invest in elegant shadowline details. Minimalism is more detailed than you think.”
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To keep costs down, choose narrow but decorative architraves and wider but plain skirting boards. Using timber or painted panelling on a wall is also an effective way to create more interest in a room.
STORAGE
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It’s true that you can never have too much storage capacity, so take care at the planning stage to build in seamless solutions for every member of your family. Consider, for example, a butler’s pantry to hide the less pretty kitchen paraphernalia, perhaps a space for schoolbags and sports gear in the laundry, and drawers for each child’s homework. “It’s about building in easeto make daily tasks happen conveniently because everyone knows where things are kept when they need them,” says Lee.
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Rather than paying for bespoke interior fittings, the insides of custom built-in wardrobes, cupboards and pantries can be easily kitted out with affordable pieces from hardware stores.
APPLIANCES
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Domestic kitchens used to be dominated by boxy refrigerators and dishwashers. Today, however, integration is firmly in fashion so you should consider spending a little more to tuck those hardworking appliances behind joinery. You could even go the extra mile and supplement disguised appliances with a pop-up rangehood that’s built into the benchtop.
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Integration isn’t cheap, but you can go some way to achieving the look with an inexpensive feature such as pop-up power points, which are cleverly concealed when not in use.
ELECTRONICS
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Considering the tech needs of your family, now and into the future, is important. So before you start renovating, look into the latest wireless technologies and integrated sound and security systems as well as ways to hide cables, antennas and the like. And ensure the modem is in a spot where your whole house has wi-fi coverage.
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All-in-one systems means fewer cables. For example, you could watch TV and movies, or stream music services, through a games console. A Google Home or Chromecast device can also reduce the amount of cords required to access music-video content, slideshows and games.
INSULATION
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Planning your home’s layout to suit its climate, location and orientation through passive design will save you money in the long run, says interior designer Kristy McGregor. Figure out the insulation requirements of your home, take advantage of any cross-ventilation, and keep your power consumption and bills in check.
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Plant shady trees on the northern and western boundaries of your property. If you’re in a warmer climate, opt for a lighter roof colour, to reflect more of the sun and save energy on cooling.
BEWARE OF HIDDEN RENO COSTS
Experts concur: you should set aside a contingency of at least 15 per cent of your renovation budget for unwelcome surprises such as termites or asbestos. Other things to consider:
- Consultant and approval costs – Surveyors, draftspeople, engineers, designers, certifiers, council fees and pest control.
- Land restrictions Homes – in bushfire and flood zones, those on steep blocks or properties with stormwater drains will probably have restrictions on what can be done to them. Complying with these is likely to affect your bottom line.
- Window furnishings – Custom-sized or unusually shaped windows and glass doors will call for custom dressings.
- Equipment hire Specialist equipment – concrete cutters, cranes and diggers, for example – may incur an extra cost, and you might also be charged to store them.
article by: homestolove.com.au/