OK, so our economic future is uncertain, energy costs keep rising and the Visa bills are already mounting from pre-holiday spending. Add to that the construction of a new home or pricey renovation and the bank account is sure to run dry.Not so fast.
Designer Ulya Jensen says with careful planning, selective choices and an eye to the future, you can stretch your budget without compromising on good style.
But the owner of Ulya Jensen Interiors admits the process can be daunting. What fixtures to choose? Hardwood or carpet on the floors? And what about the colours?
With so many decisions to make, she says buyers can get mired in "analysis paralysis," setting themselves up for costly design mistakes.
Earlier this year, Jensen moved into a new home in Ottawa's Westboro neighbourhood - a home she and her boyfriend bought while it was still under construction and tailored to their needs while it was being built.
Fresh from that experience, she offers these tips to help buyers get the most bang for their buck when buying a new home or renovating an existing one:
Have a vision: As a designer, Jensen is trained to have a vision - a good idea of what she expects the house to look like when she's done. And as soon as she saw the 2,200-square-foot semi-detached under construction last spring, she knew how she wanted to tweak it.
Jensen wanted an open-concept main floor, which includes a living room, a kitchen and a dining area. Builder Frank Curcio of Bedrock Developments Inc. had planned to put up a wall between the kitchen and the dining area. Jensen worked with him to do away with the wall and make other changes.
"You don't want to make mistakes," said Jensen. "It's good to get in early, but you do need someone to keep you in check."
Which is why she suggests working with a designer if you don't have a vision.
"It's very difficult for the average person to envisage the finished product," she said.
"If you can't see where you are going, you aren't going to be able to know where you need to go."
Upgrade wisely: "We didn't go crazy on the upgrades," she said, adding that while she might not have chosen the builder's oak floors, they decided it wasn't worth changing.
They decided to put the extra money into upgraded vanities and quartz countertops.
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