Leamington and Warwick Living Jan - Feb 2023

important to sometimes step away from
external sources and find inspiration
within yourself to ensure that you are
curating something that looks and feels
truly unique and special to you. If you’re
not sure where to start, look at all the
images that inspire you and try to find
commonality amongst them -
DO prioritise necessary projects
Do the most necessary upgrades first,
and then the least over time, that way, you
can be sure the most necessary home
updates are covered in time and before
your budget runs out. Homeownership is a
marathon not a sprint.
DON’T go for style over
substance
It’s so easy to fall in love with a project
you’ve seen but overlook your needs - if
a space isn’t practical, it simply doesn’t
work. Open kitchen units are beautiful -
but not if you’ve got loads of kid’s cups
and tupperware to house. Storage is the
absolute key for family life.
DON’T renovate if your heart
isn’t in it
While design shows make renovating
look easy and glamorous, it’s not for
everyone. If you have the budget and
have fallen in love with a new, turn-key
property, it’s probably not worth all the
time, money, and energy required to
renovate your current space.
Brayer Design, brayerdesign.co.uk
Do find reasons to celebrate
every step of the way
Davey Lighting from
originalbtc.com
Even if you’re in the midst of a two-year
renovation process, it is essential to
enjoy the process and celebrate the little
victories along the way, even if it’s just
completing the demo in a bathroom or
re-tiling the kitchen floor.
If you can, it’s important to preserve at
least one room in your house—even if
you’re renting somewhere—that is clean,
well-styled, and comfortable for when
you need to spend some time meeting
with a contractor, or to simply retreat to at
the end of the day. Especially in a world
where we are still spending so much of
our days at home, creating a beautiful
haven in the midst of chaos is essential
for one’s mental health and well-being.
DON’T forget about the finishes
It’s always worth spending extra time and
sometimes money on those areas you
will see and touch everyday - practical
handles, soft close fixtures, thick carpet
underlay, good lighting - and trying to
save in other areas.
30 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk