The real estate market may have cooled, but home renovations and decorating are still moving at a busy pace. After homeowners purchase their homes, whether upsizing or downsizing, there”™s plenty of work to be done ”“ especially when the previous owner has not updated the space in 20 or more years. Floors, paint jobs, kitchen cabinetry, bathroom tiles and fixtures can all get worn out over time and need a refresh.
When it comes to the actual renovation, two things factor in ”“ budget and time. It”™s often difficult to get past TV shows that make everything happen in the blink of an eye. Or prices so astonishingly low that it seems to cost only the price of a dinner to renovate your entire house. So almost everyone wants the project completed yesterday for a lowball figure. Bringing in professionals can save you time and headaches while helping with unrealistic expectations. Yes, there are places where you can save money. But in other areas, spending money on better finishes, hardware and appliances is the prudent way to go for the long haul.
The items I often recommend splurging on are good appliances ”“ the workhorses of your home. They keep everything running smoothly. Do you really want to be late for work because your washing machine or refrigerator is on the fritz? I also recommend good cabinetry. Cheaper cabinetry often has hardware that will not hold up to everyday use, and the cabinet paint or stain is often poor quality and can easily rub off. You don”™t want to spend a lot of money on cabinetry and then have it look worn out in a couple of years.
One area to save money on in a kitchen or bathroom renovation is on machine-made tiles. There are many beautiful machine-made tiles that will update your home and not break the bank.
If a tight budget is hindering your ability to do everything at once, I recommend getting the messiest work done first. That would be the floors. If your floors need to be refinished, do them before moving in. Then paint all the rooms that you are able to. If you can”™t decide on colors, paint the rooms a neutral color. You can easily go back in and paint the room”™s walls a different color or wallpaper later. At that point, only the walls will need to be done.
This gets the dustiest and messiest work out of the way. If you have small children, complete their rooms first. Children like to feel settled, often to the point where they donӪt like having their rooms redecorated until they are practically getting their driverӪs licenses. Although everyone loves adorable wallpaper or pastel colors for kidsӪ rooms, they do grow out of that phase so quickly. Use paint or wallpapers that will give your childrenӪs room d̩cor some longevity and that will save you money in the long run.
Beautifully made furniture can stand up to years of use. I am always amazed that some clients think they can just toss out inexpensive poorly made furniture in a couple of years and purchase new furnishings again. I love beautifully made furniture and fabrics and refurbish or replace them only after years of use. It”™s also better for the environment. My sofa is on its third or fourth reupholstering. The frame and workmanship have given us years of use and comfort. I chose a classic shape, and it moves easily between traditional and transitional styles. I still love it after 15 years of use.
When doing renovations, stick with a timeless style, knowing that you can easily update your look. In the end, you will save both time and money because you will not be doing projects over and over again. Definitely do some research on the finishes, for example, that you are planning to use in your home and how to care for them.
Ultimately, use what can stand up to your lifestyle and enjoy living in your new ”“ or newly remade ”“ home.
For more, call Cami at 914-447-6904 or email Cami@camidesigns.com.
