13 Key Pre-Renovation Considerations
To make sure you get exactly what you want from your home renovation, here are some crucial questions to ask yourself before you begin
affectingspaces
23 February 2016
The better you communicate with your interior designer, architect or contractor before you start your renovation, the easier the process will be. If you take the time to consider what you truly want from your reno before the demolition begins, it will end up saving you time and money. Ask yourself the following questions for a smoother process, and for results that are more likely to meet your vision.
1. What rooms do you want renovated?
This one seems like a no-brainer, but bear in mind that renovating one space will affect the adjoining spaces as well. If you renovate only your open kitchen, for example, will the dining or living area connected to it feel dated afterwards? Even if your budget or schedule demands a one-room-at-a-time approach, it’s important to consider how one renovated space will affect the next, and to plan accordingly.
This one seems like a no-brainer, but bear in mind that renovating one space will affect the adjoining spaces as well. If you renovate only your open kitchen, for example, will the dining or living area connected to it feel dated afterwards? Even if your budget or schedule demands a one-room-at-a-time approach, it’s important to consider how one renovated space will affect the next, and to plan accordingly.
2. How much can you realistically afford to spend?
Does your budget include tax and consultant fees? Does it include accommodation for you if you need to move out for a few months? Does this number include appliances, lighting fixtures and furniture? There are costs outside of your construction budget that you won’t see from your contractor. You need to let your designer know if the budget you’ve given them is inclusive of all these expenses.
Does your budget include tax and consultant fees? Does it include accommodation for you if you need to move out for a few months? Does this number include appliances, lighting fixtures and furniture? There are costs outside of your construction budget that you won’t see from your contractor. You need to let your designer know if the budget you’ve given them is inclusive of all these expenses.
3. How will you use the room you’re renovating?
For example, will your living room be a place for entertaining guests, or entertaining yourself with a large flat-screen television? Do you consider the kitchen a shared living space for the entire family, or a space where the chef has the run of the land? These decisions will dramatically change the design, look and function of the room.
For example, will your living room be a place for entertaining guests, or entertaining yourself with a large flat-screen television? Do you consider the kitchen a shared living space for the entire family, or a space where the chef has the run of the land? These decisions will dramatically change the design, look and function of the room.
4. What’s your design style?
Do you like modern, transitional, contemporary or traditional? Peruse Houzz photos to get an idea of the type of design style that speaks most to you. All of the photos on Houzz are categorised by style. Discover your favourite.
Discover your personal decorating style
Do you like modern, transitional, contemporary or traditional? Peruse Houzz photos to get an idea of the type of design style that speaks most to you. All of the photos on Houzz are categorised by style. Discover your favourite.
Discover your personal decorating style
5. What are your accessibility considerations?
Does anyone in the family have a disability, or do you envisage staying in the house for a long enough time that mobility issues might one day come into play? If so, it might be better to factor this into your renovation now, rather than have to deal with it later.
Does anyone in the family have a disability, or do you envisage staying in the house for a long enough time that mobility issues might one day come into play? If so, it might be better to factor this into your renovation now, rather than have to deal with it later.
6. How important is sustainable design to you?
Sustainable development and increased energy efficiency are great for the environment, and in the long run can be great for your wallet too. It’s important to understand any possible trade-offs and costs of sustainable design before you begin the renovation process.
Sustainable development and increased energy efficiency are great for the environment, and in the long run can be great for your wallet too. It’s important to understand any possible trade-offs and costs of sustainable design before you begin the renovation process.
7. What’s your colour preference?
Let your designer know about your colour preferences right off the bat. What colours do you like best? Do you prefer bold and bright tones, or are you more comfortable with warm and muted tones? Do you like to see lots of colour on every surface, or do you prefer your furniture and art to speak louder than your walls? Colour has been shown to affect people’s moods, so know how it affects you.
Key colours for 2016
Let your designer know about your colour preferences right off the bat. What colours do you like best? Do you prefer bold and bright tones, or are you more comfortable with warm and muted tones? Do you like to see lots of colour on every surface, or do you prefer your furniture and art to speak louder than your walls? Colour has been shown to affect people’s moods, so know how it affects you.
Key colours for 2016
8. What’s your flooring preference?
Like a good pair of shoes to an outfit, the flooring underneath your feet is vital to the look and feel of your home. There are so many options these days; how you use your space will dictate which is the best one for you. Do you prefer hardwood, engineered wood, stone, porcelain tile, laminate or carpet? Let your designer know your floor preferences, because it will be easier to select other finishes once the flooring is determined.
Like a good pair of shoes to an outfit, the flooring underneath your feet is vital to the look and feel of your home. There are so many options these days; how you use your space will dictate which is the best one for you. Do you prefer hardwood, engineered wood, stone, porcelain tile, laminate or carpet? Let your designer know your floor preferences, because it will be easier to select other finishes once the flooring is determined.
9. What are your storage requirements?
Decisions about storage will likely stem from other questions you have to ask yourself. Such as, how much stuff do you already have? How much stuff are you planning to buy? And how much stuff are you willing to get rid off? Storage requirements are important to consider at the start of any renovation, since it can be difficult (requiring a lot of reconfiguration) and expensive to add storage solutions at the end of a project.
Storage dos and don’ts for your home
Decisions about storage will likely stem from other questions you have to ask yourself. Such as, how much stuff do you already have? How much stuff are you planning to buy? And how much stuff are you willing to get rid off? Storage requirements are important to consider at the start of any renovation, since it can be difficult (requiring a lot of reconfiguration) and expensive to add storage solutions at the end of a project.
Storage dos and don’ts for your home
10. What type of materials do you love?
Whether you prefer sleek and shiny surfaces such as lacquer and glass, or are more attuned to subtle matt finishes, your taste will affect just about all the material and finish selections throughout your home. Benchtops, floors, doors, walls, you name it – all of these items come in a variety of materials, so discover which ones fit your personality and style best.
Whether you prefer sleek and shiny surfaces such as lacquer and glass, or are more attuned to subtle matt finishes, your taste will affect just about all the material and finish selections throughout your home. Benchtops, floors, doors, walls, you name it – all of these items come in a variety of materials, so discover which ones fit your personality and style best.
11. What type of benchtop is right for you?
If you’re renovating your kitchen or bathroom, ask yourself what benchtop material best suits your style. Do you like engineered quartz, which is a manmade material? Or do you prefer granite, which is a durable stone that can be graphic and beautiful? Have you considered a butcher’s block, which adds warmth and interest? Or perhaps marble, which is classic and always in style, but requires a lot of maintenance. The type of stone, composite stone or other material you select can set the tone for your entire kitchen or bathroom remodel, so make sure to familiarise yourself with all the options.
The history of the butcher’s block
If you’re renovating your kitchen or bathroom, ask yourself what benchtop material best suits your style. Do you like engineered quartz, which is a manmade material? Or do you prefer granite, which is a durable stone that can be graphic and beautiful? Have you considered a butcher’s block, which adds warmth and interest? Or perhaps marble, which is classic and always in style, but requires a lot of maintenance. The type of stone, composite stone or other material you select can set the tone for your entire kitchen or bathroom remodel, so make sure to familiarise yourself with all the options.
The history of the butcher’s block
12. What’s your cabinet door style?
Do you like the look of clean slab doors, glass doors, Shaker-style doors or French-style doors, just to name a few? Your door type preference will help direct the design of all of your millwork in your kitchen and your bathrooms, and of built-ins in any other places that you may be adding.
Do you like the look of clean slab doors, glass doors, Shaker-style doors or French-style doors, just to name a few? Your door type preference will help direct the design of all of your millwork in your kitchen and your bathrooms, and of built-ins in any other places that you may be adding.
13. What are your appliance preferences?
Gas or electric, commercial or standard, high-tech or manual, single oven or double? Appliances can be some of the most expensive purchases in a renovation, so you want to ensure you make the right selection that meets your needs and desires.
TELL US
Have you had any other important considerations when doing a renovation that you’d like to add to this list? Let us know in the Comments section below.
MORE
How to Renovate Right … by a ‘Serial Renovator’
5 Reasons Renovating Costs More Than Building From Scratch
Design Dilemma: Decorate Now or Renovate Later?
Gas or electric, commercial or standard, high-tech or manual, single oven or double? Appliances can be some of the most expensive purchases in a renovation, so you want to ensure you make the right selection that meets your needs and desires.
TELL US
Have you had any other important considerations when doing a renovation that you’d like to add to this list? Let us know in the Comments section below.
MORE
How to Renovate Right … by a ‘Serial Renovator’
5 Reasons Renovating Costs More Than Building From Scratch
Design Dilemma: Decorate Now or Renovate Later?
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I hope we will be satisfied with the job and are not overspending.
Thanks.
At the outset of my kitchen renovation I spent $100 on a kitchen designer and would say this was best spend. She showed was was possible as I had already purchased double oven free standing cooker. Check out kitchens on the Internet to decide what style speaks to you is also a huge step you can take yourself.
Great Article!!!
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