Just as building a unit correctly is important , the interior is equally important – and an affordable interior doesn ’ t necessarily mean that it must be cheap or uninspired .
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Affordable interiors : the finishing touches
Just as building a unit correctly is important , the interior is equally important – and an affordable interior doesn ’ t necessarily mean that it must be cheap or uninspired .
By Ntsako Khosa
IMAGE COURTESY OF NTSAKO KHOSA
Affordable interior design is about more than pieces chosen for a unit but rather the collaborative functionality of the pieces .
Although interiors come in only at the end of the project , Nhlamulo Maluleke from Nhlamulo Luxury Interiors insists that they should be considered right from the start of the project .
“ Whoever designs the house must have the picture of what is required and must be able to interpret it ,” she says .
A developer and an interior designer are two different things , so it is essential for the designer to work together with the contractor or developer to ensure that all aspects of the project marry well together . When going affordable , space is a critical aspect therefore the design must be functional for the end user .
“ Affordable homes are by nature smaller homes which means cupboard space is critical – people have things and you need spaces and places to store these things ,” says Ania Mullholland from Ania Interior Design .
MAXIMISING YOUR SPACE
First things first , the developer should know what they want and communicate this properly with the designer . “ You need to know exactly what you want from the start ; we [ the designer ] checks the plans and then you tell us what you want ,” says Maluleke .
“ Of course , you need the basics in place like the kitchen and bathroom / s , and for these rooms go for durable standard white off the shelf products . That doesn ’ t mean that the bathroom must be boring – adding a small strip of bright tiles and combining it with a complimentary paint job can create a great base to which you can add personal touches ,” says Mulholland .
Aspects like this include ornaments , wall pictures or paintings which lighten up a room . “ Although these are things you can live without , they finish off the house ,” says Maluleke . Adding these items to an interior doesn ’ t have to happen all at once . “ As long as you have a picture of what the finished product will look like you can add on later . Start with what you need such as beds , seating and so on ; additional items can be selected one by one later ,” she advises . Mulholland maintains that it is not necessarily the cost of the items that should be looked at , it is how you put them together that matters . “ Create a plain and basic ‘ shell ’ focusing on durability . Add the flair from small touches in each room such as scatter cushions , curtains and ornaments . These can also be purchased second hand ,” she says .
18
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018
AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING