EXPERT VIEW
KEEPING YOUR PROJECT COST-EFFICIENT
Architect Ben Ridley, founder of Architecture for London, discusses adding value to your home while being mindful of your budget
Cost-effective wow factor
There are many ways to achieve this. For example, plywood-faced units with decorative timber can be a very budget-efficient way to have a beautiful grain on kitchen and joinery doors without the expense of using solid wood. Carcasses can be simple off-the-shelf items if saving in these areas is key. Circular rooflights can create a real statement, but this shape of glass is significantly pricier than square ones. A rectangular piece of glazing can be used with the reveal formed in curved MDF, or a similar board, to achieve the round shape. Large areas of sliding glass doors can be expensive, too. A more cost-effective solution to creating a wide span of opening
panels is to have a large, fixed pane of glass, with a smaller opening section.