INSPIRATION | Home renovation
A handy how-to
Want your very own under-stairs cubby? Handy Scandy’s Bjorn Fagerlind has these top tips
“Make sure you plan your electrical sockets in advance, as it would be a pain (and an additional expense) to add them afterwards”
STYLING THE SPACE Esmée Prexus, a photographer, took charge of styling the space, drawing on some easy and affordable fixes to transform it into a cosy nook… 1 The shelving is from IKEA (ikea. com). Flisat wall storage, Dhs69, and Flisat doll’s house/wall shelf, Dhs125.
MAKE A PLAN: When planning a renovation project, it helps to compile a mini dossier that details what you are hoping to achieve, to hand to your contractor. Pinterest pictures or sketches are always helpful in communicating your vision. CHECK YOUR CONTRACTOR’S CREDENTIALS: Before employing a contractor, you should always check out their previous work and whether they’ve carried out any similar projects. It’s important that they have the correct licence to carry out the work – if in doubt, ask to see their trade licence. Any reputable contractor will be happy to show you. This will also confirm that they have the required insurance in the event that anyone is injured on the job. ENSURE YOU HAVE PERMISSION: In the planning stages, you’ll need to check with your developer if a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required. Removing internal walls is usually straightforward, as long as the surrounding area affected is structurally sound. CHECK THE PROJECT PLAN: This should detail the timeline and
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payment terms so you know exactly what to expect at every stage. COMMUNICATE: Start a WhatsApp group between you and your contractor so you can easily stay up to speed on what’s happening, as well as flag and respond to issues quickly and easily. NAIL THE FLOORING: For many residences in Dubai, you can request the details for the exact floor tiles that have been used throughout simply by contacting your developer. It should be mentioned in the homeowner’s handbook. In more established developments, like Arabian Ranches, you may find that the standard tiles used have been discontinued. If this is the case, ask your contractor for advice on finding something similar – RAK Ceramics (rakceramics.com) is your best bet – or simply opt for a different shade for a point of difference. INVEST IN GOOD MATERIALS: Further to the above, it’s important to buy the best materials your budget will allow. We have refused to work with materials that are substandard before as it can significantly affect the end result.
2 The stylish grey ball pit is from Scandinavian brand Misioo, brought over from Denmark. You can find a similar style at Mumzworld (mumzworld.com): the Meow Ball Pit in bright pink, Dhs341.25 3 The play kitchen was also bought from IKEA and fitted with wireless LED lights to help illuminate the space. IKEA Duktig play kitchen, Dhs395.
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