Why use a designer on your rental refurbishment project?

July 1, 2016
5 Bathroom Plants

I’m sometimes asked by landlords  ‘what’s the benefit of using a designer? isn’t it going to take my project over budget? what’s wrong with managing the builders and sourcing myself?’  Recently a client who has a portfolio of properties was very busy and asked me to take over the refurbishment of one of their flats.

Usually they let the builder choose the bathroom fittings and flooring as they want to keep the costs down and although they know what they like when they see it, like many people they have trouble actually finding the things they want, so to save time the builders generally tended to end up taking over.

On this occasion I was involved in all of the sourcing and procurement for the flat, and my client was delighted to find that the overall colour scheme and finish was more than they could have hoped for.

As a designer I’m continually sourcing and keeping up with design trends, its my passion and I thoroughly enjoy it! When I walk into a property I can immediately see what needs to be done to elevate the interior.  I will also look at the interior as a whole and make sure the design theme is cohesive throughout.

For this client I made them a mood board with samples, such as colour swatches, tiles and flooring, which they loved.  I utilised the original kitchen and with the right shade of paint the cabinets were immediately updated.  The bathrooms and flooring needed to be completely replaced, so I found a fantastic quality pale laminate flooring to fit with their budget.  As a designer I also think of the the small  details which set off a design, such as door handles and cabinet knobs, the right colour of grout for tiles and the perfect finish on the paintwork.

The overall effect is full transformation from tired magnolia to a very modern chic flat, without bursting the budget.

Before:  Very tired and magnolia.  The client initially was going to replace like for like with the fittings.

After: A mixture of pale grey shades from Little Green, new worktops and a metro tile easily brought this property up to date.

 

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Buying Alone? What Solo Buyers Need to Know Before Making an Offer on a House

Figures show that solo buyers accounted for 36.9% of Barclays’ mortgage completions in June 2026, as more people chose to step onto the property ladder without a partner beside them. Choosing independence over waiting for a joint purchase has doubled over the last 50+ years, with solo first-time buyers doubling from 15% before 1980 to…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How to Make a New-Build Living Room Feel Less Like a Show Home

An empty new-build living room can be surprisingly difficult to furnish. The walls are freshly painted, the sockets are in place, and there is nothing to remove before decorating begins. Yet once the sofa arrives, the room can still feel unsettled: too bare in some places, awkwardly crowded in others. The answer rarely involves buying…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mortgage Borrowing Dip

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals decreased to £3.9 billion in September, from £4.2 billion in August, below the previous 6-month average of £4.9 billion. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases decreased to 53,400 in September, below an average of around 58,800 over the previous 6-months. Approvals for remortgaging increased to 42,600…
Read More →
Breaking News

Autumn Budget 2026: Property industry reaction

Following today’s Autumn Budget, reaction from property industry experts on six key areas for the property market. First-time buyer support: The £4.7bn Your First Home equity loan scheme, supporting 70,000 buyers, alongside the introduction of a new First Time Buyer ISA. Inflation and borrowing costs: The extension of the fuel duty freeze, household energy support…
Read More →
Breaking News

Can you legally BAN Halloween Trick or Treaters?

People who dread the annual knock of trick-or-treaters may have more power to keep Halloween callers away than they realise. As millions of children prepare to take to the streets on October 31, a property law expert has explained what homeowners can do if they do not want strangers walking up their path or knocking…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What the sector need to do differently to give first time buyers a chance

By Peter Hawley, Director, SOWN (part of LRG) The mortgage and property sector needs to stop assuming that younger buyers are either ready to buy outright or not ready at all. For many, the reality is somewhere in between. They may have stable employment, a deposit and a strong desire to own, but still find…
Read More →