Our top five ways to make your build budget go further

In this family home in Graemesdyke Avenue we used the High/Low approach, elevating simple units with designer touches like high-end appliances, reeded glass and a bespoke worktop detail. 

If Grand Designs has taught us anything, it is how quickly your original budget can get blown to pieces. 

But it really doesn’t have to be that way: we have taken many projects through from start to completion without any budget bombshells.

Unless you have a bottomless pit of money (and who does?), it will take some careful planning and some compromises, but we see that as an opportunity to get creative. You might be amazed at what your budget can buy you with a little inside knowledge. 

So read on if you want to discover our top five ways to get the most for your money, and get to the end of your project on speaking terms with your bank manager.

1. Be rigorous in your planning 

With costs going up and up, sadly the days of achieving a side return extension on a London terrace for £50,000 are over. But you want to discover this before you start work, not halfway through your build!

To make sure you don’t start something you can’t finish, you need to be realistic and very organised, and this means pulling together a comprehensive design pack for your contractors to quote from. The more specific your detail, the more accurate your quotes will be.

Be rigorous when reviewing the contractor quotations and make sure you are comparing apples with apples – some contractors will not quote for items like windows, kitchens or sanitaryware which will skew the tenders. Make sure the cost schedule is as detailed as it can be – having a clear idea of the costs from the outset will allow you to be strategic with where your money is spent. 

Here’s an example: From our planning it was clear the budget would not allow for exposed hardwood joists at this project near Ravenscourt Park. Instead, we whitewashed regular untreated timbers which bring the desired texture to the space whilst staying within budget. 

At Bromyard Avenue untreated timber joists were whitewashed and left exposed to add texture to the space.

2. Standard products can have an outstanding finish

Whether it’s glazing, rooflights or internal doors there are a number of fantastic proprietary products out there of a very high quality; it’s how we use them that can make all the difference. Positioning, fitting or added details are opportunities to bring flair to a standard product. Where appropriate we always try this route first before proposing something bespoke at a much higher price point. 

The large picture window below cost just £663 for an acoustic aluminium framed unit. However, we designed the brickwork to partially conceal the frame on either side and give it a premium, frameless aesthetic. Compared to quotations for a fully frameless bespoke unit of over £6,000, this was an area where our client was very happy to compromise.

A simple aluminium picture window at Percy Road, where the brickwork provides the frameless look without the price tag. 

3. High/low blend, and don’t be afraid to recycle

Some of our most successful schemes have achieved a truly individual look with a unique blend of high/low products and materials. We help you work out where you want to splash out on statement pieces and balance the budget with more affordable products that take their place in the background.

We also encourage clients to recycle by using pre-loved furniture and accessories, not just for sustainability reasons, but because it’s a great way to add character and save money.  One of our most cost-efficient schemes on Eastcote Road benefited greatly from the creativity of the client who found some amazing pieces (some in local skips!), that were then incorporated into the final aesthetic.

Much of the kitchen furniture at Eastwood Road was pre-loved, the original floorboards were retained and second-hand internal doors were bought from eBay.

4. Swap open plan for broken plan

This may sound obvious, but the more walls you remove the more expensive the structural works are going to be. This often has a knock-on effect on electrics and plumbing which need to be moved. If it’s a feeling of openness you are after, it’s not always necessary to remove all the existing walls. Sometimes leaving some in and widening openings can help with zoning whilst saving you money.

For example, on this job in Chiswick the structural wall between the kitchen and the snug was retained but linked by adding an extension to the rear of the house. The result was a simple structural scheme that didn’t blow the budget. Our client was delighted with this layout which provided clearly zoned spaces whilst achieving the generous family space they wanted.

At Kingscote Road the layout of the original house was retained and linked by a new extension to achieve the sense of openness. The original structural walls help to zone the space whilst retaining the character of the original house.

5. Use a professional for smart purchasing

Many of our clients choose to use our interior specification service and our aim is always to spend their money wisely. We do this in two key ways: firstly, we have access to trade discounts - sometimes as high as 30-40% - which we pass on to our clients, offsetting our fee. This often results in a cost neutral service and sometimes even saves our client money.

But secondly, the real value we can add is our knowledge and understanding of the products on the market, and where savings can be made without compromising on quality. It’s easy to pay a premium for a well-known name but we have a little black book of fantastic, trusted suppliers, many of whom manufacture in the UK, that are priced more affordably simply because they are not a big-name brand with expensive marketing to pay for. 

For this client in Chiswick we were able to tick off all the items on the wish list for their family bathroom. We balanced high spec fittings such as the Merlyn Black crittall-style shower screen with more value elements like a vanity from The Bath Co.

A great looking family bathroom in Chiswick created using the high/low approach, and bought through our interior design purchasing service.

A final word about cost

When you are building your budget for a project, it can be hard to know what you don’t know, and therefore if anything is missing. If you need help getting an accurate plan and cost for your project, do get in touch and we can talk you through how we can help. We hope we’ve inspired you to get creative with your budget and make it go that little bit further.

Dummy glazing bars give this window the crittall-style look with much better thermal properties at a significantly lower cost.