where to spend
and where to save.

So construction has not even begun yet on your family home and already you’re over budget. But you’ve got your heart set on the design, finishes and fittings and can’t imagine your home without them. Where to from here?

The best way to have your cake and eat it too is by spending in certain areas that matter most but pair back on others. By tweaking the spreadsheet in these four rooms below, you can still achieve the right look and at the same time be in line with your budget.

Joinery

Areas where you can conserve your budget first and foremost begins with the amount and level of joinery detailing. Drawers cost more than standard cupboard doors, so cutting back on these across various rooms is a decent saving. Wall cabinetry up to ceiling height often rarely gets used and by simply creating a bulkhead and covering it as per the rest of the cabinetry, cleverly reduces costs but not style.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the main area where family, friends and guests are always going to be around and is truly the heartbeat of any home. This is hands down the area you can afford to splurge on and pay the most attention to. By adding considered details, good quality lighting, the best tapware you can afford or a beautiful piece of stone, this will resonate throughout the whole house.

Appliances

These can range in the thousands and is an area that needs a lot of research. Start by making a list of the staple dishes you cook and try and match various appliances so that you can do these with ease and within the quickest time. From here, if budget is an issue, start by looking at the entry level product of what you need. Often, the model will be virtually identical however may lack a certain function that you can potentially do without – such as the pyrolytic cleaning feature for ovens or fridges with the exposed crushed ice maker. By doing this on each appliances, you can literally save hundreds or potentially thousands.

Powder Room

The powder room or toilet used by guests is a small but significant space and one to definitely splurge on. The area is usually small therefore not requiring many tiles, fittings or materials, so you can afford to spend up. Ideas where you can balance the budget here would be adding an inexpensive but elegant wall light for the ultimate wow factor.