Advice On Staying Put During A Renovation. Recently, local Interior Designer Shaye Ford renovated her home in Killarney Vale, without moving out and during a pandemic. Here she shares some practical advice and tips to stay sane during the process. WHERE DO I STORE EVERYTHING? I was super optimistic that I could move furniture room to room when we started, however after a month or so we moved a lot of our stuff to my parents - which made it so much easier! I would highly recommend getting you furniture out the way from the get go! So whether it be a family or friends house who have the extra room for a few months or hiring a shipping container or getting a storage shed - it’s well worth getting it all out of the way! BE PREPARED FOR THINGS TO BE CHAOTIC FOR A WHILE? For a few months we ate our dinner most nights standing up or on a trestle table that had a drop saw on it. When the floor was ripped up we smelt dirt and earth each night for a week. Also, get used to washing up your dishes in the bathroom. KEEPING SANE. Remember! it’s isn’t forever and enjoy the ride! It may be chaotic and you may be washing your greasy frying pan in the bathroom but remember it isn’t forever. Booking a night away every now and then or staying with family and friends for a night of normality always helps keep the brain sane! WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES? We worked on the reno before and after work each day and night. Demo, painting, sanding. Whatever we could do to save money and time. Living on the job site meant that we were aware of issues before things could go wrong. The biggest advantage by far was the cost savings by not paying rent somewhere else. PLAN MEALS. When you don’t have a kitchen and your tired, it is easy to get takeaway every night which is not healthy or cheap. Make up extra dinners so you can have leftovers or plan to use your BBQ a lot. SAY NO TO VISITORS. During your reno, avoid visitors and play catchup when your home is complete, organised and beautiful. Trying to have people over in a reno is stressful and not much fun.
ABOUT SHAYE Working across a range of design styles, Co Interiors is a local interior design studio that thoughtfully incorporates Shaye’s signature aesthetic, equally balancing the client’s style and the soul of the home. Shaye’s designs are mindfully curated – striking a balance between modern and traditional while maintaining a touch that never feels too on-trend, overly designed or precious.
