Home Renovation and Extension Planning: What questions should you ask?

Renovating or extending your home is an exciting venture, but it can come with many challenges. You may find yourself wondering where to start with your home renovation, or how to plan a home extension. We believe that from design concept to project completion, a well-thought-out approach is essential for success. In this guide, we'll explore key considerations and potential pitfalls, shedding light on aspects that clients often find confusing

 1. Do I need an Architect or an Interior Designer?

Many clients ask us ‘What is the difference between an Architect and an Interior Designer?’

Architects and Interior Designers bring distinct skills to the table. While Architects focus on structural and the external aspects of your home, Interior Designers craft functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.

The expertise of an Architect ensures the integrity of your space; covering everything from structural soundness to external design. By considering factors like house orientation, surroundings, and the intended purpose of each space, Architects lay the groundwork for a home that endures. They design the structural elements of your space, ensuring a seamless integration with the refined interiors crafted by Interior Designers.

Interior Designers play a vital role in project success, leveraging a unique skill set to shape the look and feel of your home. Considering factors like positioning, natural light, and intended use, they craft interiors that align seamlessly with your lifestyle, ensuring both visual appeal and convenient utility. Their expertise extends to lighting design, selecting colour schemes, and balancing materials and textures.

In essence, Architects lay the structural foundation of your space, and Interior Designers elevate the living experience with visually appealing, purpose-driven design. Collaboration between your Architect and your Interior Designer ensures a cohesive look, with Architects laying the foundation and Interior Designers adding finishing touches. The result is a comprehensive home design that blends structural integrity with refined interiors.

2. Should I consult an Interior Designer for my Kitchen or Bathroom project?

When it comes to essential spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, meticulous planning and choosing the right professionals is key. An Interior Designer can help you to visualise your final space before it's built, considering factors like workflow, storage, appliance placement, utilities, and budget implications. The positioning of your electrical outlets for appliances and plumbing are important design choices, and need to be considered before your build commences. Engaging an Interior Designer early in the project prevents costly mistakes; ensuring a seamless integration of design elements and a future-proof investment. The look and feel of your kitchen and bathroom also needs to marry up with the rest of the design choices made in your home, creating a harmonious space that flows naturally from room to toom. Your Interior Designer will work with your Plumber, Builder, Joiner and Architect to ensure consistency is reached, and the final look aligns with your tastes and preferences.

3. What should I consider with my lighting and electrical plans?

Overlooking lighting and electrical plans can lead to clunky, frustrating spaces to live in. Balanced lighting will positively impact the atmosphere and functionality of a space, adding finesse and luxury to your design. Creating a comprehensive lighting plan, including natural and artificial light sources, is often underestimated but crucial for a well-balanced environment. Collaborating with your Interior Designer to align these plans with functionality and household needs will avoid last-minute changes, ensuring a well-lit, functional, and aesthetically pleasing environment. Not only will your Interior Designer consider the flow and functionality of the space, they will make recommendations that layer lighting in a beautiful and considered way.

4. How to budget for a renovation or extension project

Embarking on a home extension or renovation project requires a strategic approach to budgeting. When creating your budget, consider the priorities within your project, from material choices to long-term durability. It is always advisable to reserve a 20% contingency fund above your project budget. There will likely be unexpected costs, such as unforeseen structural issues, that will arise throughout, and it is best to be prepared for this before your build begins. This is why your inspection is such an important phase of your project, as itwill allow you to foresee and prevent unexpected challenges as your build commences.

Your Interior Designer will provide valuable insight into optimising your budget, preventing unnecessary expenses, and ensuring your vision aligns with your financial plan.

5. How to choose the right Builder: Quality vs Cost

Selecting a trusted and experienced Builder is critical, as they will be central to the execution of your vision. Collaboration between your Interior Designer and Builder ensures a well-coordinated project, with streamlined timelines and informed decisions. Working closely together, they contribute to a smoother, stress-free process, aligning with your vision and ensuring a result that exceeds expectations. As with most things in life, quality service naturally commands a higher price, but experience shows that cutting corners with the experts you rely on in your project can lead to unexpected and unpredictable costs. While there are many fantastic ways to save money throughout your project, opting for cheaper materials or contractors may not be the solution; with replacement and maintenance creating costs in future and detracting from your final result. The synergy between a skilled Builder and an Interior Designer is key to transforming your project into a seamless and successful reality.

6. Should I create a timeline for my home extension project?

Establishing a realistic timeline when planning your home renovation or extension is crucial, but it can be challenging to know when you start. It is often unavoidable that timelines change as projects progress, and there can be elements that are difficult to control - especially in a project that has several trades and moving pieces and dependencies. It is important to remain flexible and realistic where possible, and allow the time (and budget!) for unforeseen changes, such as structural work. It is advisable to realistically assess the time needed for each phase of the project, considering potential delays due to weather, material availability, or unforeseen complications.

Interior Designers are experts in creating a project plan and timeline, ensuring timely decision-making to avoid delays and reduce stress. This collaboration enhances communication with Builders and tradespeople, streamlining your entire project from start to finish.

7. How do I plan a furniture layout for my new space?

When shopping for your new space, it is important to avoid the mistake of buying furniture without a clear plan. Interior Designers assist in spatial planning, ensuring furniture fits seamlessly into the overall scheme, and balances well. This prevents the inconvenience of fitting everything around one ill-fitting piece. Their expertise considers the entire space cohesively, avoiding the common pitfall of mismatched elements and ensuring a visually pleasing and functional environment.

While it might be tempting to purchase items impulsively, an Interior Designer strategically plans the arrangement of furniture to achieve a harmonious scheme. By taking into account the proportions, flow, and aesthetic of the entire room, they ensure that each piece complements the others, creating a visually pleasing and functional environment.

In summary, embarking on a home renovation or extension can be thrilling adventure, especially when working with a team of professionals you can trust. By delving into these important considerations, you have the opportunity to transform your vision into a luxurious reality, while steering clear of any unnecessary pain points.

For those embarking on an exciting new renovation or extension project, we offer a free client discovery call. We will get to know you and your project, and explore the best Interior Design support options for your spaces. For more information and to book, contact us today and we can begin your renovation or extension journey together.