Real Talk

A realist’s guide to renovating

Words by Sian MacPherson

Photography by Cathy Schusler

Having seen my fair share of renovations from both the client and designer side, there’s a handful of common problems that crop up time and time again in the renovation process. If you’re planning a project of your own or just wondering how your budget blew so out of proportion, here’s five things I think are pivotal to any successful project.

1. Make friends with your tradies (and keep them accountable)

Understanding your trades and how they work is arguably the most important time you’ll spend in the renovation process. Get clear on what trades happen first—this can vary depending on the project, so let them tell you the order before you lock anything in. Knowing how your tradies fit together is crucial for keeping projects on time and on budget, and respecting your tradies’ time and experience will go a long way in keeping them on your side.

With that said, be prepared to hold your tradies accountable! It might be making sure your tradies are mitring the tiles as opposed to running a plastic covering strip on the edges to create a seamless finish, or budgeting the extra time and money to install floating cabinetry—but if you can check these things as you go and ensure any issues are raised as they happen you’ll ensure everyone’s vision of ‘quality finish’ is the same.

2. Be driven by your personality for fixtures and fittings

When it comes to picking out your fixtures and fittings, it’s time to get brutally honest with yourself. What drives you nuts about your current home, and what can you live with? For instance, if you’re a neat freak, will you be able to cope with bits of white fluff and debris constantly making themselves known on your charcoal carpet? Do you think a bit of wear and tear to bench tops adds character or do you like things to look shiny and new? It might be the deciding factor between the marble bench top you’ve coveted (which is notorious for showing up stains) or choosing a hardier, man-made stone instead. Being realistic about what you love and hate about your everyday living should inform every decision you make for your home, but particularly in the details—we often get caught up by trend or taste (more on that later) but these are the little touches that can have a huge effect on how we experience the home day-to-day in the future.

3. Choose your flooring wisely

Flooring lays the entire foundation of your home; so if there’s one element you don’t want to skimp on time and detail for, it’s what you put underfoot. The visual aesthetic set by your flooring will determine your entire look, so go for hardwearing materials that won’t show up every mark. While dark colours can hide a myriad of problems on vertical surfaces, they’re not so great when used horizontally— in fact a paler shade will likely help hide wear and tear better. Adding a subtle visual dynamic — such as a slight variation of textile or colour in a rug or grain in wood — can also help disguise the everyday activity your floors have to weather.

4. Storage is more than space

You’ve probably heard that everyone underestimates the amount of storage they need— and while that’s true, knowing both what you need to store and how you want to store it is another matter entirely. First off, be realistic about how much you’ve got to fit—this could be going all the way to counting out your shoes or blocking out all the components of a walk-in robe to ensure it does actually fit everything. I would always recommend having doors on walk-in robes to protect your clothes from the dust that materialises from seemingly nowhere—or invest in dust bags for your precious or delicate items. Once you know what you need to fit, work out whether you want to conceal it or display it; do you want to show something off, or grab it easily? While open shelving can be a great way to display your treasures, be honest with yourself and work out if having your pieces on show really compliments your tendency to dump and run. Of course if you’re meticulous on folding and ensuring everything is in its rightful place then go for it and let those pieces shine.

5. Invest in longevity over trends

While it’s easy to be taken with the latest ‘on-trend’ colours, or a item of furniture to covet (we all need a distraction from the gritty reality of a renovation, after all!) investing in the less sexy stuff will add far more value in the long run. Insulation and sound proofing between levels is invaluable in a multiple storey house, and good heating and cooling is not only going to make you feel more comfortable at home but can potentially save you a lot in energy efficiency. Even something like water pressure is worth taking the time to evaluate — it’s these details that you’ll experience every day, and it’s worth getting right from the get go.