Written by: Adriana Jacir • December 11, 2019• Ask the Expert Home

Budgeting Your Remodeling Project

Do you have a remodeling project in the works? Have you just closed on a great house that needs some work? Are you considering doing a DIY design or decorating project? Where do you start?

A good start is to think about the funds you would like to allocate for your project. A good excel spreadsheet with a room-by room breakdown of all the things you will have to buy (mainly fixtures and finishes: tile, flooring, countertops, cabinets, faucets, lighting, hardware etc.) will help you tremendously as you move along in your planning stage. Label your columns with “budget,” “projection” and “actual” of the pricing you are thinking for each item. These three columns will help you create a budget. Make sure to revise it as you move along so you don’t lose track of your original plan. It will also let you have a clear view of what you have invested.

If the budgeting task feels overwhelming make a call to your favorite designer. An honest conversation about your design budget is the best way to set realistic expectations on what your project will cost. At times, budget conversations can come across as uncomfortable for clients when brought up by an interior designer. Clients sometimes feel as though we want to be nosy and get into your accounting books. In all honesty, we are not out to spend your last dime, but instead want to be able to honor your vision. Having a budget conversation will permit us to properly guide and educate you on what to expect with the funds you have available for your project.

It is many times the case that there is a huge difference between what you want to spend and what the design budget is. A seasoned designer will help educate you as to what the ideal budget would be for the scope of work of your project. If you realize that what you are dreaming of is out of your reach, your designer should be able to work with you and offer advice on where to reduce expenses or propose a different layout to the design that best meets your budget. There are always creative ways to be able to execute your project and still maintain a beautiful design. Sometimes it means having a master plan for the project and doing it in phases, while maintaining a cohesive overall design that will come together over time. In other instances, it means looking for a tile that is more cost effective, or not moving fixtures around (i.e. changing the toilet location would mean trenching the underground plumbing and that would translate in an added expense in labor). A good designer will bring value to your decision process. They know what labor and materials cost, and will work with you on making decisions about what to add/remove and help you find alternatives to get closer to what you have to spend. Designers work with clients to establish a budget and guide them in the best way to utilize what funds available they have so their best wishes and expectations are met.

My recommendation to you: if you are looking to renovate a kitchen, bathroom, or any room of your home, is to sit down with a designer and be open and honest about your budget. This will allow the designer to guide you through what your budget will allow or help you to establish one. Remember to have fun while planning!

Adriana Jacir is founder and owner of 2112 Design Studio. With a master’s degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University in NYC, she offers more than 15 years of experience in the architecture and interior design business. A proud resident of the Palmetto Bay-Pinecrest area. PH: 786.732.0123 – www.2112designstudio.com – Instagram: @2112designs- Email: [email protected]

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