Planning an extension or refurbishment? Sometimes the best inspiration comes from getting out and having a look around.
Magda and I recently visited SONA Studio in Cheshire, and what a fabulous place! Beautiful interiors, clever lighting, hidden technology and even a rather impressive private cinema.
It reminded us why we always encourage our clients at Pride Road Architects to visit showrooms before making decisions about their homes.
Pinterest and Instagram are great for gathering ideas, but there’s nothing quite like seeing materials, trying out doors, sitting on furniture and experiencing lighting in person.
Dream Big, But Remember Your Budget!
Of course, there’s a difference between being inspired by a £30,000 home cinema and actually having £30,000 to spend on one!
The reality of extending or renovating is that you can easily spend £30,000 on things you barely see. Foundations, piling, structural alterations, cranes, scaffolding, site preliminaries, professional fees, VAT and unexpected problems can swallow up a huge chunk of your budget.
That’s the less glamorous side of building work!
So where would you rather spend your money? On a fabulous kitchen, beautiful glazing opening onto the garden, bespoke furniture or perhaps that cinema room you’ve always dreamed of?
You probably can’t have everything, but visiting showrooms helps you work out what really matters to you and where it’s worth investing.
Four Places to Visit for Design Inspiration
Here are some fantastic places to explore, whether you’re planning a major refurbishment or simply fancy a day out looking at beautiful design.
1. SONA Studio, Cheshire
Magda and I loved our recent visit. SONA specialises in architectural lighting, smart home technology, integrated sound systems and home cinemas. It’s particularly interesting to see how lighting changes the atmosphere of a room and how technology can almost disappear into the design.
2. Style Matters, Pickmere, Cheshire
A huge showroom specialising in beautifully crafted bespoke furniture, upholstery and woodwork for residential, commercial and hospitality interiors. Very much at the luxury end of the market, but a brilliant place for aspirational ideas, beautiful fabrics, finishes and furniture detailing.
3. Express Bi-Folding Doors, Leeds
Well worth a trip if you’re considering new glazing. Their enormous showroom has full-size displays of bifold doors, sliding doors, windows, rooflights and entrance doors. You can see how the different systems operate and compare frame sizes and finishes before making a decision.
Visit Express Bi-Folding Doors
4. IKEA
And while you’re out getting inspiration, don’t overlook IKEA! Their room settings are brilliant for seeing how furniture, storage and lighting work together, particularly in smaller spaces. It’s also a useful reality check on what you can achieve with a more modest budget.
Make a Day of It!
You don’t need to be ready to buy anything. Go and explore, take photographs, collect ideas and work out what you love.
I’d recommend contacting the specialist showrooms in advance to arrange a visit, particularly SONA, which operates by appointment.
At Pride Road Architects, our design workshops are all about exploring possibilities and helping you decide where to focus your budget.
After all, good design isn’t necessarily about spending the most money. It’s about spending it on the things that will make the biggest difference to how you live.
Thinking about extending or refurbishing your home? Pride Road Architects can help you turn that inspiration into a practical design that works for your home and your budget.
