A Bird’s Guide To Feathering The Nest
Source: Kelli McClintock on Unsplash.
So you’ve bought your forever house – it’s a piece of crap, but it’s your very own piece to call home.
When you first buy a family home, unless you have cash to burn, you’ll have to live among the dated fixtures and insufficient storage solutions for at least a couple of years before you can renovate.
But this provides you the perfect opportunity to properly plan for when you finally come to do a makeover.
“And what if you suddenly find out you’re pregnant and have to do a rush remodel?”
I was where you are back in 2017. I had been living in my home in Sydney’s north for four years, in a small ‘60s cottage that hadn’t seen a facelift since the ‘80s. So many, and I mean so many, corners were cut from owner builders over the years, I was surprised any corners were left in the joint.
Yet unlike most novice renovators out there, I had dreamt of owning my own home since I could remember. It also helped that in the course of my five-year career in magazines, I worked for several different homes and renovation titles. So when asked, “Do you have your dream kitchen, bathroom or home design in mind?” My answer was always a quick “duh!” followed by boring the enquirer with a 10-point presentation. I was overly prepared!
But most people don’t have that luxury of forethought and don’t quite know where to begin. And what if you suddenly find out you’re pregnant and have to do a rush remodel? When it comes to crunch time, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed if renovating is something that’s never been considered before.
Well, worry yourself no more! Here are the top five things I’ve learned that every renovator needs to know before embarking on this life-changing milestone.
Enlisting the help of bespoke Interior Designer Elise Cooper from Happy Nest Designs, let us take some of the guess work out of it all in this uncertain time of change.
Elise joined forces with us to talk all things interior design. Source: Supplied.
1 Choose Wisely
There are some key people in the early stages of renovation who are invaluable and will make your time as stress-free as possible.
Sure, you can try and manage the whole project yourself and hire contractors when needed, but while renovating for the first time it’s strongly advised you choose trusted, reputable companies and contractors who can carry most of the weight for you.
If you’re building an extension, you might want to research and get quotes from designers, architects and building companies – or in my case, I went with a building firm that had the architect and builder in the one place; a one-stop shop.
If you have to get plans drawn up an architect is invaluable, and the building company, with the designer, will bring your dream to life. So be sure everyone comes to the table and has a long conversation about expectations, budget and structural design. A local building company will also most likely know your council restrictions and building permits required, and may even take care of all of that for you at a cost.
Shop around, get a few quotes and ultimately go with your gut feeling about who is right for you.
If you’re simply making over your home and not altering the external structure, the only people you may need to employ are a licensed builder (and a licensed electrician and plumber when needed, of course) and an interior designer.
You can handle the design side of things yourself, but as a first-timer you may need some direction when planning things like style, colour choices, functionality or spatial planning, and advice on the best fixtures and fittings. A designer will help you conceptualise your space for the best possible results and even help project manage with your builder for peace of mind.
“I very much like to design with practically in mind,” says designer Elise, who has five years’ experience and a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration at Sydney Design School under her belt.
“Of course, I want my client's homes to be beautiful, but we don't live in the pages of a magazine so I believe functionality is key for a calm lifestyle.”
Get planning! Source: Daniel McCullough on Unsplash.
2 Plan, Plan, Plan
To know how to improve the layout or functionality of your home, it’s recommended that you live in the space first (pre-renovation) to understand the ways in which you live and how your home could be better improved to suit that lifestyle.
Have a clear purpose for your renovation, otherwise budgets will blowout and you’ll end up in a nightmare. Plus, a plan also helps you future-proof your renovation to ensure you get the most use out of it for the longest possible time.
For example, you might want better storage in the kitchen or an open layout for your foodie lifestyle, so you can cook while entertaining.
“I love open-plan living spaces that encourage family members to be together no matter what they are doing... cooking, reading, listening to music. Each person can be enjoying their own free time, while chatting about their day or even just in companionable silence,” suggests Elise.
“These spaces can be broken into zones with different furniture pieces, rugs, lamps and functional pieces, but still within the same area to encourage togetherness.”
You may need an extra bedroom for a home office, or simply have space added with expanding your family down the track in mind.
“Each person in the family unit should have a place they can retreat to when they wish to be alone, to regroup and recharge. Secondary living spaces that are smaller and cosier are a great idea when possible, or this can be achieved in individual bedrooms designed to suit each person,” advises Elise.
You might want to simply update your abode to suit you or improve functionality, such as boosting the efficiency of your home.
“For overall design decisions, practical things like double-glazed glass, capturing the sun, efficient heating systems and thick drapery, are all designed to capture and retain warmth,” considers Elise.
Whatever the reason for renovating, have it as your mission statement and stick to it. Know where you’re going at all times. It may be the reason you take down a wall or improve lighting in a space. It may dictate the use of certain fixtures and fittings that suit a style throughout and may influence your colour scheme.
If this nitty-gritty part of the project has you wincing, turn to the help of your contractors! Your designer will know the answers, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice and do your research.
“The function of a space is especially important when considering any design concept or furniture selection – how is the space used and by whom? Really think about how the space will be lived in and design accordingly,” says Elise.
“When designing a space or selecting pieces, I ask my clients how they live in this area, who does what and where do you need storage. I believe if you have a ‘place for everything and everything in it's place’ approach then clutter can be avoided. Clever storage solutions are key to achieving this.
“My favourite way to design for most clients is with the larger pieces to be in a warm, neutral colour palette with a variety of textures and patterns to create interest. Colour and personality can come with artwork and soft furnishings that can be changed easily to suit season or mood.”
Once the entire design – including home layout, functionality, lighting, powerpoint location, plumbing, colour scheme, fittings and fixtures, storage, and style – is set in stone and agreed upon by all parties, you’re ready to talk dollars and cents.
Don’t break the bank! Source: Fabian Blank on Unsplash.
3 Know Your Limits
Depending on your scope of works, have a clear idea about your financial situation and whether you have a healthy budget for the work required.
Having your mission statement and plan will help you here, as it will minimise the things you don’t need and only budget for things you do. Your designer will also keep you on the straight and narrow here.
For instance, I expanded my home to fit in an extra bedroom and bathroom, and I also opened up the living spaces into an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge room. The reason was to improve functionality in the living spaces for cooking, socialising and my lifestyle, and I added the extra rooms so the home would be more marketable in my area (three bedrooms, two bathrooms is the standard). It also opened up space for a home office, since I work from home, without taking up the extra bedroom for guests.
I borrowed down on equity to do this and set that monetary amount as my budget. When talking to my architect and building company, I made them aware of this figure and they designed everything around that. This made monetary expectations a breeze.
Have a clear defined limit and communicate this to your trades. If your designer is managing your project, they will most likely have this covered, but keep in contact with them as things change.
Asbestos removal was one expensive contingency in my home! Source: Supplied.
You’ll also need to budget for contingencies. My home was a dated ‘60s structure that was once fibro before being retrofitted with hardiplank cladding… you can probably see where this is going – asbestos!
My roof line was also not level so the roof had to be jacked up and beams put in, which both ate $10,000 into my budget.
Always have some savings stashed for this very reason, as it’s not uncommon to go over budget due to contingencies by about 5 to 10k.
What did I do to account for my 10k budget blowout?
Instead of the building company sourcing my furniture, fittings and fixtures, I let them source the big stuff like floorboards and cladding, but I took over shopping for everything else and looked out for the best prices without compromising quality or style too much. I sourced my carpet, tiles, taps, shower head, vanity… you name it. I researched for months and was able to save about 5k! A blowout is not the end if you’re smart, and your designer can help you with these adjustments too.
And don’t forget to budget a little leftover for your garden. I can guarantee it will need to be revived after being trampled during the reno!
4 Full Steam Ahead
Your job doesn’t stop while your tradies are at work, keep in contact with your designer or tradesmen to make sure everything is to schedule and budget. Make sure your expectations are being met and they have everything they need to give you the best possible outcome.
This is also the time you may need to go shopping alone or with your designer! This is the fun part when colour scheme and styling comes into it. Be smart, do your research, ask for help and you’ll go far.
Something that worked for me during this time was keeping a folder of the entire project so I knew where everything was at, I could see the design coming together on paper and I could give a tradie the specs they needed at a moment’s notice. Alternatively, your designer will most likely be doing this for you.
My DIY paint job in Dulux Winnipeg Fog came up a treat! Source: Supplied.
5 Don’t Be Scared To DIY
By the end of your build you might really be stressing, because this is usually the time you’re the most out of cash. But this is also the time you can do the most work for yourself to save some money to get you over the finish line.
One of the bigger costs during renovation is painting. Painters are going to be at least 5 to 8k for a small three-bedroom house like mine, but up to 10k for a multi-storey family home.
If you’re savvy with a roller and a brush, get yourself down to Bunnings and DIY it. By now you’ll already know your colours and staff can help you with the rest. I only spent a couple of grand on paintwork in the end, so it’s well worth considering. Plus, there’s the added benefit of being actively involved in the process of turning your house into a home.
So, good luck and happy renovating!
What would be your tips for first-time renovators?
You can follow Elise and find out more about Happy Nest Designs via her website or Instagram.
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