Decorating and Remodelling Costs?

Question

Hi there!

I'll be moving into a new 3 bedroom home with a lounge kitchen. I have nothing, meaning no furniture, beds, kitchen stuff, carpets curtains and it will need to decorated too. I really am starting from scratch.

So my questiom is this. How much will it cost to make it livable? I won't be doing the decorating or carpeting, I'll have to pay some one to do that. So all together with labour and material costs, also I'm keeping in mind that I won't buy the cheapest carpets and wallpaper. So a reasonable cost would be great if someone could give me some ideas. I'll be living on the Gold Coast by the way.

Cheers!

Answer 1

Figure $100k conservatively. You could pull it off for $10k, but really, do you want people to think you're indigent? Appearances count. When you have your house warming party every single thing in that living room had better be SOMETHING. "Oh that? It's a little something fun that Mies Van Der Roh threw together for Richard Nixon's guest cottage...". "I wanted to make a statement, and when I saw this Charles Rohlfs dining room set, I knew it was the right thing for the house. Yes, those are real rabbit skin back splats on the chairs". Go cheap and you will have a lifetime of regrets. Buy quality, and it will be quality until you drop dead. Do you know what people would say if they walked in and saw one of those awful Ikea sofas? I'd be mortified. I'd go for an exciting mix of big names from NY, but spanning the decades. Don't overdo it with the Eames stuff, its a bit specific and we wouldn't want you lapsing into some retro sixties furniture fugue state. Regardless, do it with style and whatever your decorator recommends (I DO hope you are using one), don't be afraid of the cost. It's always worth it if you get to live in an environment filled with beauty and art, function and form. Trust me. I know.

Answer 2

Figure a Budget per Room Or What you want in each and do some on line shopping make a list for each room.

And watch HGTV and other Fix up shows like that so you don't get ripped off.

Depending how fast you want each room done start with the kitchen, then one bedroom at a time then Living room, dining room, family or entertaining room...

Good Luck Shopping....