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Maison Atelier

Process

What to Expect in a Renovation

An honest guide to timelines, budgets and the dusty middle bit, from the team who manage builds every week.

By Oliver Grant 6 min read

Room mid-renovation with ladders, exposed walls and building materials

Renovation is exciting, exhausting and almost always longer than you think. Knowing the shape of the journey makes it much easier to enjoy.

Budget for the unknown

We advise holding a contingency of 10–15% of the build cost. Older homes hide surprises behind every wall, and it's far better to have the money and not need it.

The order of things

  • Strip-out and structural works
  • First fix: plumbing, electrics, heating
  • Plastering and drying time (don't rush this)
  • Second fix, joinery and decoration
  • Furniture, styling and the reveal

Decisions made early are cheap. Decisions made on site are expensive.

Finished white kitchen with a stone island and leather stools
The Marlowe Kitchen: six months from strip-out to first dinner party.

Most of all, choose a team you trust and talk to them often. A weekly check-in solves more problems than any contract clause.

Thinking about your own space?

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