Plan your project

Published Aug 14, 2015

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Decor and design should be considered from the outset of any build, writes Omeshnie Naidoo

Nobody likes the idea of living on a construction site, which is what a house begins to feel like the moment you embark on a small “alteration”.

The amount of stress – not to mention dust – involved in just giving your old wooden floors a new sheen, upgrading bathroom fixtures or simply mounting your tv on the wall (hiding all the cords, of course) can fast feel like a mammoth task.

You may not have realised what was pre-existing behind that wall, chosen a lovely bathroom vanity without considering its height in relation to the old one and find yourself short of tiles or having to adjust your plumbing.

The whole project may be so unbearably messy that you may have to move out for a few days.

This is why seasoned interior designer Anne York says it’s time we began thinking about Anterior Design.

She says it’s important to start thinking about interior design from the architectural stage of a new build or at the outset of a renovation.

“Careful planning will save you costly future alterations, time delays, and will allow for a planned and less stressful build.

“While corroboration between architects and designers at the initial planning stages of a home will ensure the homeowners’ desires, lifestyle and living requirements are fulfilled.”

York’s advice to anyone embarking on anything from small alterations to building a new house is:

* Have a clear vision of the home and lifestyle you are trying to create. Gather images and ideas and share these with the professionals you are working with.

* When planning design layout, selecting furniture and a colour palette, take into consideration the climate of the area. Consider, too, the amount of sun the house receives at particular times of the day and year. This will impact on your interiors and the surfaces, and fabrics you select.

* Whether you are an expanding family, upsizing, or a retiree, downsizing, consider the scale of your build in relation to where you are coming from. The height of the ceiling, doorways or simply floor space can affect the way in which the old furniture you want to hold on to may look in your new home. You must also plan for additional storage you may need, and walls you therefore may want to recess for this.

* Look at all furniture in relation to the new space. A beautiful, long antique table and chairs may be ruined in a small dining room and you certainly don’t want an oversized Italian couch in a tiny tv room, or worse – obstructing the flow of traffic through the room.

* Also consider the placement of pieces and the necessary plug points or wiring that is necessary. This can be as simple as deciding where you will place the microwave or kettle in a newly designed kitchen.

* Always aim to create a feeling of space by working with natural light. Select window treatments accordingly. Test paint colours on the walls – they almost never look exactly the same as their swatches and will vary according to the amount of light in that particular room.

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Book your fun morning

Celebrate the arrival of Spring with an inspirational presentation by interior designer Anne York at Circle Café at the Durban Holocaust Centre at 44 KE Masinga (Old Fort) Road at 10am on August 26. Anne will talk about the transition in the home from winter to spring with a focus on entertaining and enhancing your lifestyle.

There is limited seating for this creative and fun morning so booking is essential. Tickets are R150 a person and available at [email protected]

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