Renewing the home A CHANGE, they say, is as good as a holiday. Which is probably why most people have the urge every now and then to change things in their homes. Perhaps a new coat of paint to brighten rooms. Or a funky sofa to change the look of the living room. But where do you start? There are TV shows and magazines galore in the increasingly popular field of interior decor but all those pretty pictures can turn decision-making into a daunting task. You want that great-looking kitchen, and that elegant living room, oh, and those cool bathroom fittings.... So, where to start? Celebrity interior designer Eric Leong has this sobering but eminently practical bit of advice about that: “It’s about the dollar signs.” Yes, the best place to start, according to Leong, is with a budget. “A different budget will give you a different finished product. Your budget will dictate how much you can do in your quest to make your home look better. “On average, you should budget somewhere between RM20,000 and RM50,000 for a home makeover. The actual amount will depend on the finishing you are looking for. This cost will include work like re-painting your walls, changing the light fittings, changing the floor finishing, changing the furniture and soft furnishing like curtains, rugs, throws, cushions and more, and adding wall décor like paintings and decorative items.” Something as simple as changing a sofa can do wonders for a room. The solid black sofa anchors this light, breezy space. Inset: Practical advice from interior designer Eric Leong – plan your budget first. – Photos courtesy of HSBC Or course, if you want to upgrade your TV to a wide screen plasma unit and air-condition your living room, those would add on to your costs. After you’ve decided on a budget, the next step is to consider the style of interior you’re looking for, like English, Zen, country, traditional or, an increasingly popular option nowadays, a fusion of styles. If you’re planning a major makeover, it’s always a good idea to use an interior designer. “If your budget allows, it is always better to hire an interior designer for any size of interior makeover as a professional can always give you better ideas and solutions. Plus, a good interior designer can help you to source the best pieces and negotiate a good price as well.” And how do you find a good interior designer? “Always check out their previous job references before you engage them,” advises Leong. If you hire him, he’d start by asking questions about budget, the style you’re looking for, favourite colours or colours you dislike; he would also go through the floor plan with you. “Next, I’d do a site measurement, select the colour scheme, source for the furniture, lighting, soft furnishing, wall décor and decorative items. “I can also source for electrical and electronic appliances if required. “Once I have done that and the customer is agreeable to everything I have chosen, we go in and do the installation,” he says. If you’re on a tight budget, Leong advises against a total makeover. “You can concentrate on certain areas and do a partial makeover like re-painting only one feature wall or changing the curtains or changing the main light fittings.” Other things you could do include adding wall decorations, one or two oversized décor items in the room or throw cushions to your sofa. Finally, if you only have the budget to make over one room in your home, Leong suggests doing the living room. Why? “The living room gives the first impression of the house and the owner. So it is important to make this room look good.” Upgrade your life contest HSBC Bank (M) Bhd is offering its credit cardholders a chance to win home makeovers! Every RM50 spent on your HSBC credit card from now until Aug 31, 2007, gives you one chance to win a makeover worth up to RM30,000 and the help of celebrity interior designer Eric Leong. There’s more for homeowners using HSBC credit cards: get great discounts of up to 50% on home furnishings at participating outlets. Don’t have a credit card? Apply for one and, upon approval of your application, receive 10 automatic entries. Next month, credit cardholders will have the chance to win a car upgrade and, in October, you could win a style makeover – both worth up to RM30,000. Be the daily “Top Spender” from now until Oct 31, 2007, and you could win more goodies! If you are a gold credit cardholder daily Top Spender, you could win an LG Prada mobile phone while the HSBC classic credit cardholder daily Top Spender will win an LG Shine mobile phone. Additionally, sign up for an HSBC gold credit card today and receive a limited edition HSBC 2008 daily planner upon approval. For more information, visit hsbc.com.my. Article, Lifestyle @ The Star ... 'Sunday August 19th, 2007