While browsing magazines and Pinterest can be a great way to find ideas for your home renovation, the last thing you want is a cookie-cutter design that looks just like everyone else's.
Your home should reflect not only your design aesthetic, but functionally, how you use your home. Realizing those goals can yield some exciting possibilities, says Desirée Inouye, Interior Designer & Design Centre Coordinator for MAC Reno-Design-Build.
"You want to enjoy your home," Inouye emphasizes, encouraging homeowners to worry less about what buyers may or may not like a decade down the road. "Are you basing your choices on what someone may like 10 years from now, or how you're going to live in it tomorrow?"
Inouye shares a few of her top tips for personalizing your home renovation as a way to make it truly yours:
- Embrace your hobbies. If you love to bake, create a kitchen that truly supports that, whether it's a custom shelf for your stand mixer or handy storage for all your pans and cookie sheets, Inouye says. But if instead you'd love a well-organized home office in the nook, do that. Recognizing that a renovation is typically about fixing what isn't working for you in your home, don't be afraid to use it to create a space that's true to you.
- Harness the possibilities of unique nooks and spaces. Many older homes here in Oak Bay are blessed with a variety of small alcoves, cupboards or niches that on first glance you may want to remove. Instead, Inouye suggests, consider embracing them as a unique part of the home, and the chance to create something special, whether it's transforming an old phone shelf into a spice cabinet or creating a cosy reading nook from an otherwise awkward pass-though. "Because we can create semi-custom cabinets in-house, we can create these unique solutions just for you and your home," Inouye says.
Colourful subway tile creates a whole new look in a vertical format, pairing nicely with gold-tines fixtures. Courtesy MAC Reno-Design-Build - Get creative. Think plain white subway tiles are the only way to save on your backsplash or shower wall? Today's man-made tiles come in a variety of colours and textures, Inouye notes. Or, get an elevated look by placing the tiles in a different pattern, like herringbone or chevron, or straight-stacked for a more modern appearance.
- Be resourceful. Other ways to get a little glam for less include the tried-and-true paint or even wallpaper, currently enjoying a renaissance. Love natural stone but not the price-tag? Consider off-cuts – smaller pieces left over from larger projects that can often work for an island, vanity or even a small kitchen.
- Remember, you can take it with you. If that gold-coloured faucet or sleek black light fixture captured your heart, don't worry about whether the next homeowner will love it, too – you can always take it with you. These decorative pieces are typically an easy, inexpensive change, so if you love it, go for it!
To learn more about how MAC Reno-Design-Build can help your realize your dream home, visit macreno.com