Renovating: both thrilling and daunting, but, if all goes well, the glorious realisation of a long-held vision. Whether it's delays, panic-buying, or unreliable contractors, renovations challenges (and they are never without challenges) are notoriously hard on finances. Beforehand and along the way, we absorb as much advice as we can about contingencies and yet, despite planning for that inevitable overspend, where the costs skyrocket can take even the most meticulous budget planners by surprise. We spoke to interior designers and home renovators who experienced the shock of an unexpectedly expensive renovation cost and shared how they adjusted course to bring their renovation plans to fruition.
Tanya Burr
For actress and influencer Tanya Burr, who embarked on an ambitious renovation project on her Victorian house in north London, costs skyrocketed when she wanted to swap out the modern windows to honour the heritage of the building.
‘On paper, it felt like a simple aesthetic choice,’ says Tanya. ‘But once we started sourcing quality timber frames that matched the period details, the costs really escalated.’ New to renovating, Tanya admits initially feeling that windows were considered ‘background details’, that wouldn't, therefore, incur significant costs. But despite getting a shock from the quotes, she was determined to go ahead with replacing the PVC windows with paned glass. ‘Deep down I knew they’d completely change the way the house felt, inside and out.’ To adapt, she split the renovation into phases, accepting she would have to cut costs elsewhere, and tackle other parts of the renovation much more gradually. In the end, it gave the budget breathing room.
Her advice for those taking on a similar renovation? ‘Choose your splurges carefully. If something is going to bring you long-term joy and strengthen the spirit of the house, it’s often worth it. But also be strategic – phasing things or mixing in more accessible elements can give you the best of both worlds. And always, always leave part of your budget for the unexpected costs - it’s almost always part of the process.’
Leanne Kilroy
Leanne Kilroy of Goodbones London is still in the process of renovating her London house, having split the project into phases and tackled two extensions and a bathroom conversion first. While many things in such an extensive renovation inevitably turned out to be more expensive than planned, Leanne was particularly surprised by the cost of the kitchen glazing.
‘We planned to have a lot of custom-made glass doors and windows connecting the new extensions to the garden. We received quotes from numerous companies that varied wildly and went with the least expensive option. Over the course of the 8-month renovation, the company we'd chosen kept increasing the costs of constructing and installing the doors and windows – blaming Brexit, the rising cost of materials, etc., until the cost ended up being around 50 per cent more than we'd agreed to .’
Like Tanya, Leanne saw the windows and doors as vital to get right. So she pushed ahead with the original plan despite the financial stress. The result was the immediate swallowing up of their contingency money and the delay of the conversion of a second-floor kitchen into a much-needed family bathroom. ‘It taught us to always add a generous percentage for unknowns onto a renovation budget and that it's important to make sure the bones of the space – the windows, doors, glazing, and flooring – are good; the rest can be added down the line.’
Rachel Bottomley
When artist Rachel Bottomley began decorating the two original bedrooms in her 17th century cottage on the Surrey-Hampshire border, the goal was a relatively inexpensive cosmetic change, patching up the ceilings and repainting. However, when the work began, she noticed the low ceilings were disintegrating and needed to come down. 'To my complete surprise, and delight, this revealed high ceilings full of beautiful original beams,’ says Rachel. ‘We decided to keep them exposed, which completely transformed the character of the rooms. However, this also meant several extra weeks of labour that we hadn’t budgeted for.'
While they were happy about these beautiful original features, and willing to change focus to enhance and preserve the character of property, it was not an easy decision to tackle a much more extensive renovation that was initially planned. ‘It caused some serious debate! My husband was keen to keep the low ceilings and stick to the original plan to avoid the extra cost. But I felt strongly that we had to think of the long-term benefits,’ Rachel recalls. ‘In the end, we decided to stretch the budget and go for it, even if it meant delaying other parts of the renovation to cover the costs of the additional hours that the builders were working. It was an emotional decision as much as a practical one – I knew these rooms could be really special if we got it right.’
In light of her discovery, Rachel now advises anyone undergoing a renovation to ‘expect the unexpected, and allow your plans to evolve as you uncover the history of the home. If it’s your forever home, you can justify taking the slower, more thoughtful route, because you’ll be the one who benefits from the quality of the work in the long run.’
Polly Ashman
Interior designer and seasoned renovator Polly Ashman tackled a huge project when she and her husband bought a Victorian house in West London that was little more than a shell.
While she had years of experience renovating and selling houses with her husband, she was still taken aback by the cost of installing underfloor heating. ‘We were all set for it throughout the ground floor of our Victorian terrace, says Polly, ‘but after a chunky quote, we settled on underfloor heating in the kitchen extension area only.’
So they compromised, opting for traditional cast iron radiators in the reception rooms and the hall and appreciating the character they lent to the spaces in a property where only the outer walls were original. ‘Plus, I now have somewhere to dry little soggy football boots.’
Underfloor heating may be a popular choice, but Polly advises people to think carefully about how they want to use it. ‘It is not the most exciting part of a renovation, but still a chunky cost,’ she notes. ‘I think a lot of contractors presume clients will go for underfloor heating, but it’s worth doing the maths.’
Olive Haller @thisnorthcotehome
‘The details you don’t see often cost more than the one you do,’ says Olive Haller, a building contractor and home influencer, who has been documenting the renovation of her ex-council house in south west London on Instagram. She knew that the kitchen cabinetry would be a big investment but was not prepared for how far the price of bespoke details would push the budget. ‘I underestimated just how much the custom design, internal hardware and finish choices would add up. Every drawer, hidden bin system, or integrated handle came with a price tag and they added up fast.’
Often considered the hardest working room in the home, the kitchen can claim the lion’s share of any renovation budget. ‘There was a definite “wait, what?!” moment when the quotes came in,’ Olive recalls. Alongside her husband Mejd, she initially considered scaling the project back but instead decided to take a route that provided them with more advantages than they could’ve anticipated.
They kept the high-spec cabinetry but chose more budget-friendly options for the internal hardware and carcass finishes. Not only did this bring them back within the budget, the project wasn’t even delayed, and they found the search for alternatives gave them greater control over the overall design. ‘It also led us to explore other options and door makers who offered beautiful craftsmanship at more accessible prices, a win we wouldn’t have found if we hadn’t been pushed to rethink,’ says Olive.
‘The kitchen is such a high-use space - invest where it matters (like solid drawer boxes or good-quality finishes), but don’t be afraid to simplify the elements that won’t impact function or aesthetics,’ advises Olive. ‘Get super clear on how you live in your kitchen, and let that guide your spend.’
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