Get Your Dream Space by Talking About Your Budget
by Kenneth Ho
You sit down with your travel agent to book your dream vacation. There
are two key things that he or she needs to know from you: the destination
& your budget. You’ve always dreamed of visiting the vineyards
of Bordeaux in France, but your budget may only get you a trip to
the wineries of the Niagara region. If your travel agent knows
that you want to visit the vineyards of France and you’ve
been open about how much money you want to spend, then there is
often a package that your travel agent can recommend that suits
your wants and needs. You may not be drinking wine at the wineries
of Bordeaux, but wine tasting on a tour to the French Basque Country
may be just as good.
It’s a similar concept in interior design. In most cases,
homeowners start renovations by hiring a design or architect to
draw up plans. They then call contractors and hope that their estimates
are in line with what they can afford. Most people are hesitant
to tell their designer what they can afford to spend on their project.
When it comes to the budget question, some homeowners tell their
designer a budget that is less than what they really have in mind
with hopes of getting a better deal or out of fear that they may
end up splurging and using up the full budget. The fact is that
your designer can design to your budget, balancing what you want
with what you can afford.
It is important to understand that “budget” and “life
savings” are two different things and that you should never
get confused with these two words. Your budget is a realistic amount
that you are happy and comfortable to spend to make your dream space
a reality. That’s why it’s very important for you as
a client to have a clear idea about your budget before you start
looking for a designer. Remember, interior design is a two-way process
and not a poker game; it requires honest inputs from both parties
in for the best outcome.
A trusted designer knowing your budget, wants, and needs often means
that they are able to make better decisions on choosing the right
materials and fixtures to effectively create your dream space. On
the other hand if your designer doesn’t know your budget and
is forced to guess, it may mean that their recommendations are above
and beyond your reach and as a result you may not be satisfied with
his or her work. Inversely, you may not get the quality that you want
and expect out of materials and design. You should always give specific
information and instruction to your designer so that they can fulfill
all of your requirements. Vagueness will result in many assumptions,
and that brews disaster, unless a surprise is what you really want,
then you should say ‘surprise me!’ Your designer
is also there to help you allocate your budget to different parts
of the scope such as carpentry, flooring, cabinets, electronics,
and so on. For example, if having European faucets in your kitchen
is important to you, then you should definitely inform your designer
so that he or she could allocate and manage your budget accordingly.
Their experience in construction and value-added home improvements
often means that they know a diverse range of suppliers that carry
the perfect product for your project for the right price. When you
hire a designer, you are paying for their design expertise, ability
to source materials and fixtures, as well as their ability to administer
a project to save you from having to find, research, coordinate,
and supervise trades people. Some design firms also have specialized
project managers that can oversee your project and that is a plus
if your project has got numerous elements or is complex in nature.
Clear budget information is a real time saver for both you and
your designer. It is also the key to getting exactly what you want
out of your project. Depending on the scope of your project, budget
information is also a helpful way for designers to allocate a percentage
for any surprises that may pop up. When the project progresses smoothly
and on budget, you should definitely celebrate your dream space
with a bottle of French wine!
Kenneth Ho is a partner at the design and construction firm Biglar
Kinyan Design Partnership. For more information about the work of
BKDP, please visit their website at www.BKDP.ca
Article Submitted by:
Biglar Kinyan Design Partners
Click
here to view their profile
<<--Back
to Home Improvement Tips and Articles Main Index |
HandyCanadian Tools
