WHERE TO SPEND & where to save
Setting a budget for a house or room redesign and keeping to it is an essential element of every interior designer’s expertise. Their clues to budget control are invaluable in explaining how and why to be decisive in making choices. “Every project involves making economies and the point is always about quality, whatever an item has cost,” says Nicky Mudie, director at Violet & George Interior Design.
FLOORS
Most interior designers opt for wood or stone when considering flooring for ground-floor rooms. Guy Goodfellow, director at Guy Goodfellow Interiors and Architectural Design, says these are worth the spend as they are both hard-wearing and long-lasting. He looks to stone from Landford Stone for his projects. Emma Deterding, founder of Kelling Designs, agrees, but also suggests Mandarin Stone for its great choice at achievable prices.
Designer Victoria Meale, who heads Victoria Meale Design, says the floor is such a large surface area in a house it needs particular consideration. “Installing sustainably sourced European timber flooring with a wet underfloor heating system throughout is expensive,” she says, “but it pays off, as it’s sustainable in terms of heating efficiency and because wood is natural, non-toxic and durable.” One of Britain’s leading interior designers, Joanna Wood also rates the present generation of excellent vinyls from companies such as Amtico and Karndean as an alternative to wood and stone for hard-working areas.
Designers agree that hard floors need
