Independent renovation help, planning a renovation, help with my architectural plans, project management for my renovation, renovation review

Planning a £150k+ renovation?



Get clear before you commit.



The Renovation Review is for homeowners who want confidence in their layout, decisions, and next steps.



You have plans, layouts, or ideas in place or you’re close to finalising them.

Builder pricing is underway or about to begin. You want to move forward knowing everything has been thought through.



You may be wondering:

  • Does this layout genuinely support how we want to live?

  • Is everything clearly defined before pricing is finalised?

  • What might be missing?

  • What needs to happen first?

  • How do we avoid expensive changes later?

A short call helps us confirm whether this is the right fit before moving forward.

 

How The Renovation Review works

The review is structured in three stages, each focused on helping you move forward with clarity before anything is finalised.


Phase 1: Does the layout actually work in real life?

Before you start your renovation, we review your plans, drawings, and/or ideas in detail.

We work through the layout carefully on plan, placing furniture and checking how the space will function day to day. At this stage I often spot details that haven’t been drawn yet but will matter once the space is actually being lived in.

This includes:

  • Reviewing the drawings and ideas together, with your lifestyle and priorities in mind

  • Exploring different furniture layouts and circulation options

  • Checking room proportions with storage needs

  • Identifying layout decisions that could cause frustration later

  • Working through the practical details before anything is fixed


The goal is to bridge the gap between what’s been drawn or imagined with how you actually want to live before those decisions are final.


Phase 2: Do the quotes align with your plans?

Is everything clearly defined before pricing or signing?*

We look for:

  • Gaps or vague descriptions in the quote

  • Assumptions that haven’t been clearly discussed

  • Areas that could lead to unexpected costs

  • Decisions that need to happen earlier than expected

  • Key points to discuss with your architect or builder

*If builder pricing has not yet been received, we focus on refining the layout and outlining next steps before quotes are requested.

The aim is to reduce grey areas before the renovation starts.


Phase 3: What happens next

At the end of this process, you receive a straight forward summary of everything we’ve covered, including:

  • Your refined 2D layout and furniture plan

  • Key observations about how the space will function

  • A short list of priority decisions

  • Guidance on when kitchens, bathrooms and finishes typically need to be selected and ordered

  • Specific questions to raise with your builder or project manager

During these reviews I often uncover things such as:

  • Living room layouts that won’t comfortably sit the amount of people you want to entertain.

  • A bedroom that technically fits a king-size bed but maybe not enough room for a super king-sized bed.

  • Bathroom layouts where the door or vanity placement will feel awkward in daily use.

  • Storage that hasn’t yet been accounted for.

  • Small layout adjustments that make the space flow more naturally for your daily activities.

About this review

After years working on renovation projects alongside homeowners, architects and builders, I’ve seen how quickly renovation projects move once building works begin.

Builders build what’s drawn or described.

But no one is responsible for testing how the space will actually feel and function once you’re living in it.

That gap between what’s been drawn and how you genuinely want to live is often where important details are overlooked.

This review offers an independent perspective at an important stage helping you understand where things stand and what needs to happen next.

Not to replace your architect or builder, but to ensure your layout works, your quotes make sense, and your decisions are properly considered before anything is finalised.

If this feels relevant to your project, request a call below.

Who this is for


Renovations move quickly once drawings and ideas finalise and building works start. This review is most helpful for homeowners who:

  • Have plans, drawings, or well-developed ideas already in place

  • Are preparing for or reviewing builder quotes

  • Are planning a renovation of roughly £150k or more

  • Want to ensure the layout truly works before building begins

  • Would value an experienced second perspective before committing

  • Want to feel confident in your decisions before committing

This review is most valuable just before decisions are finalised or building begins. If your project is still at a very early stage, I’m happy to point you in the right direction during a call.

Investment

The Renovation Review typically starts at £3,500, depending on project scale and complexity. As part of the review, I often redraw or adapt your layout and place furniture within the plan so we can properly test how the space will function day to day.


If you are preparing to move forward with your renovation, request a call using the link below.

A short call allows us to confirm whether this is the right fit and outline the next steps.