10 Tips for home renovators

Written By Frans Weber

There are so many places to start with your home renovation, that it may be daunting.  Here are 10 tips that can provide you with a starting point, or a potential brief to your designer:  [South Africa] 

  1. MAXIMISE WHAT YOU HAVE:  Joinery solutions such as Murphy beds; storage in zone between cupboards and ceilings; folding and stacking furniture solutions; can free us space to either create a more luxurious feeling, or enable new uses.  These options can be costly by themselves, but still much cheaper than adding space.  [Examples … ]

  2. Create MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACES to maximise the usage of your property. For example, we often use our garages as ‘spill-over’ space, but seldom modify them for these uses.  Ask yourself if you would use such a space more often for say a big party, if it had better a floor finish, storage units, soft lighting, fireplace? Better access to the main house?  [See article/case study]

  3. MINIMISE NEW BRICKWORK The essence of the solution above is to first explore practical interior design solutions, before embarking on larger architectural / construction solutions.  Case study -

  4. Maximise EXTERIOR SPACES, and landscape elements: For example, a cable pergola with a deciduous creeper can create a wonderful outdoor dining space, and provide better thermal performance of the adjoining room. [10 Tips for EXTERIOR SPACES].

  5. MONEY SHOTS is a very effective way to maximise your budget.  Install a premium feature, or finish, to one of your high visibility areas.  It will create the aura of a high quality space, even if the other finishes in your home are modest. Items such as printed vinyl table or door finish; wall paper; or artworks work well.  Examples

  6. Can you adapt your behaviour?  If we say moved overseas to a new city, we would change the way we use space if there were different practices due to financial or cultural considerations.  For example, many South. African houses have 3x dining room tables: kitchen; dining room; and patio.  Repurposing one of them can create additional space. Why not try it here?

  7. Self expression is such an integral part of a renovation.  As designers our explicit, or implicit brief, almost always includes reflecting the client’s identity, or personality.  If working on your own, find good references on social media and implement them to the best of your ability.  There is no such thing as the right design solution, so just express yourself (with or without a designer’s help).

These may not be easy to realise yourself, but are definitely worth a discussion with your designer.  In addition we have some examples for all of these suggestions to assist.

# 10 Tips for working with DESIGNERS.

# Here is a BRIEF FOR WORKING WITH DESIGNERS.

Frans Weber