Calling in the Experts

[Julie-Ann]

When renovating your home which tasks do you do yourself and which do you leave to the experts? The decorating shows on TV make it look so easy- but is it really?

Of course, I would suggest you call in an Interior Designer right from the beginning. They will help you to avoid costly mistakes, get discounts from suppliers and make the process much easier for you.

In Australia by law you must use an electrician for all your electrical work around the home. The same is the case for a plumber. Legally you cannot even change a washer yourself.

I am always looking for ways to save money on my projects but there are certain tasks where I believe it is cheaper for us to get the experts in than to mess around with it ourselves. I normally hire trades people to do these tasks:

Brickwork.
Plastering. (you would think it was like icing a cake- right? Wrong)
Tiling on jobs larger than a splashback.
Hanging doors if there are several.
Drilling holes in tiles to hang bathroom accessories. (Tiles crack very easy)
Hanging large mirrors.
Recovering laminate benchtops. (Laminate cracks very easy too- we’ve tried)
And because I can’t sew - a curtain maker.

What tasks do you call in the experts for?

[Elements]

A brickpaver....that is a hard heavy job......not something for this little duck or her drake.

[Julie-Ann]

Absolutely- way too heavy

[rosierose]

I too beleive it is easier to get the "look" of your house planned out from the beginning. So I consulted with two interior designers on my current project (my forever house) who were not very useful to me. In fact they just agreed with all my choices and then charged me for it...LOL

I think as my husband says I have been in training to design and decorate my whole life and just need confidence to do it. I now believe in my own design capabilities but not as confident in styling/placement but have been studying and playing about in my current house and have been learning the art of balance and grouping etc....

As a child I had a scrap book of rooms and used to try to redecorate my friend's cubby houses.

So in summary I think if you don't know your style it is useful to engage a decorater to help you hone in on the choices out there. Otherwise trust your instincts and have some fun
I still may engage a property stylist in the end though.

As for electrical...thank god hubby is a sparky....and have just locked in an easy on the eye plumber!!! LOL