Read this before you break ground...
Choose a designer/contractor who is highly recommended by someone you trust and ask for a work schedule with reasonable penalty clauses.
View samples of works completed by your contractor beforehand and decide if you are comfortable with their quality.
Payment terms should be precise and clear, and payments made on time to avoid excuses for delays.
Give clear and decisive instructions and take minutes of every meeting so no misunderstandings can occur. Final selection of finishes should be listed and signed.
Choose good quality fixtures to avoid problems later.
Select bathroom fixtures early in order for plumbers to familiarise themselves with your selection and plumbing can be correctly installed.
Allocate larger portions of the budget to more important permanent items such as flooring, lighting, power outlets, bathroom fixtures, doors, windows and main pieces of furniture such as sofas, the dining setting and beds.
Kitchens and bathrooms are usually the most frequently used rooms. Pay more attention to their planning.
Check the traffic flow of the house. Imagine going about your daily routine to ensure frequently used items are within easy reach, that there's enough workspace and that nothing is in the way.
Plan sufficient storage in each room.
Avoid too many permanent details that catch the eye; you may get tired of them in the long term. Instead, replaceable items can be scattered around the house to create the style you like.
Lighting and power outlets are one of the most important necessities that tend to be neglected until it's too late. Make sure they are located where you need them. Light switches should be located in convenient and sensible locations; dimmers are always useful. Imagine walking around the house to turn on lights in each room and indicate the exact locations for these items. Never assume the contractor will know where they should be located.
Check the capacity of your water heater is sufficient for your consumption, particularly if you have a bathtub, and that both hot and cold water are supplied to your laundry area; some washing machines require both. The dryer should be vented to the exterior of the house to prevent moisture and lint accumulation within the house.
Before purchasing a standing WC, take note of the distance from the centre of the hole in the ground to the back wall. The distance can vary with each model.
Audrey Lee Interiors
