A Designer’s Guide on Where To Spend and Save in a High-End Renovation
Willoughby home renovation project.
When working on a high-end renovation project, one of the first questions we are often asked by clients is, “Where should we invest our budget, and where can we save without compromising the end result?”
The truth is, creating a beautiful home is often the result of making intentional decisions and understanding which elements have the greatest impact on how your home looks, feels and functions, rather than simply choosing the most expensive option.
In this article, interior designer Laura Pittaway shares where to spend and save in a high-end renovation.
Where to spend
The following areas are where we recommend prioritising your renovation budget to achieve the greatest long-term impact.
Avalon home renovation project.
Layout and function
A well-designed floor plan influences how you live in your home every day. Prioritising good spatial planning, natural light, storage and functionality will deliver far more long-term value than an expensive finish that doesn’t improve the way your home works.
When the fundamentals are right from the beginning, the home feels effortless to live in for years to come.
Custom cabinetry at our Willoughby project.
Joinery
Custom joinery is one of the most difficult elements to change later, making it a worthwhile early investment. High-quality cabinetry offers exceptional practicality, maximising storage while enhancing the overall experience of the home.
When joinery is well designed, the internal functionality and quality of hardware continue to be appreciated long after the project is complete.
Flooring at our Mona Vale project.
Flooring
Flooring is one of the largest surface areas in a home and sets the tone for every space. Whether it’s timber, polished concrete or natural stone, this is an area where superior materials generally deliver better longevity and age more gracefully.
Good flooring is always worth the investment as it looks beautiful on completion and continues to perform well for years.
Bathroom from our Avalon project.
Tapware
Tapware is something you interact with daily. A quality tap feels better to use, generally performs more reliably and can elevate the entire look of the kitchen or bathroom.
This doesn’t necessarily mean selecting the most expensive option, but we do encourage clients to invest in reputable brands with good warranties and timeless finishes.
Where to save
Not every element of a renovation requires the same level of investment. Understanding where to scale back is just as important as knowing where to spend, which is why being upfront about your budget and brief from the beginning is so important.
When your builder and designer understand where you want to invest and where you're comfortable simplifying, they can help guide those decisions.
The hallway from our Avalon project.
Decorative lighting
Lighting will have a significant impact on the mood of a space, but not every fitting needs to be a statement piece. We often recommend identifying one or two areas where you'd love to make an impact and allocating your budget accordingly.
Perhaps it's a beautiful pendant over the dining table that you've always dreamed of, and in turn you pull back on the wall lights in the bathrooms. Or maybe the bathroom lighting is a priority, and you opt for more understated pendants elsewhere.
There is no right or wrong approach. A thoughtfully layered lighting plan will always create more depth than selecting high-impact fittings in every room.
Tiles from our Mona Vale project.
Tiles that aren’t feature areas
Natural stone and handmade tiles are incredibly beautiful, but they don’t need to be used everywhere. Consider reserving these finishes for areas where they will have the most visual impact, such as a kitchen splashback, shower walls or fireplace surrounds.
In bathrooms, limiting premium tiles to wet areas and pairing them with large-format tiles or painted finishes elsewhere creates a more balanced and cost-effective result, while still feeling warm, inviting and less commercial.
The laundry at our Willougbhy project.
Secondary spaces
Areas such as laundries, powder rooms, butler’s pantries and secondary bathrooms can often be approached with a simpler material palette without compromising the overall feel of the home.
These spaces still deserve thoughtful design, but a more restrained approach allows budget to be allocated to the areas of the home used most often.
That said, every project is different. For some clients, the laundry is a highly used, highly valued space, and in those cases it may be worth prioritising investment there.
Bedroom design elements at our Avalon project.
Changeable design elements
Furniture, styling, artwork and soft furnishings can evolve over time. Trying to finalise every detail at once can quickly stretch a budget.
We often encourage clients to focus on getting the permanent elements right first, then allow the finishing touches to be introduced gradually. This way, the home feels far more personal and collected over time.
In our opinion, the most beautiful homes rarely feel like a catalogue. They tell the story of the people who live there. Allowing pieces to be added organically means your home can grow with you and develop a sense of character and authenticity that can't be achieved overnight.
Two important questions
When making decisions, we encourage clients to ask themselves:
Will I use this every day?
Would this be difficult or costly to change later?
If the answer is yes, it’s usually worth investing in.
At Stony Creek Construction, we believe successful renovations require intentional spending. By investing in the bones of your home and being strategic about where you simplify, you can create the home of your dreams.
Great planning, quality craftsmanship and thoughtful detailing will always outlast trends and deliver the greatest long-term value.
The kitchen from our Avalon renovation.
Our approach to spending and saving in a high-end renovation
Our strongest recommendation is to be honest about your budget and clear about your priorities. The more your team understands what you love, where you want to invest and where you're comfortable simplifying, the better equipped they are to help you create a home that feels considered, personal and right for the way you live.
Are you planning to renovate?
We welcome your enquiry.
Project credits: The Avalon and Willoughby projects featured in this article were completed in collaboration with Sunday Homes and Action Plans.