Do you know how to make a good repair in conditionscrisis without being left without pants? Today, the talented Russian designer Alena Timofeeva will give you ten tips that will help you save not only money, but also nerves. still make repairs in our difficult time, and is it worth starting at all? Alena always answers confidently: "it's worth it, but you need to approach it wisely." And now the designer is ready to give step-by-step tips and advice. We watch and listen. Alena Timofeeva A graduate of the design faculty of the Moscow State Art University named after S.G. Stroganov, Alena Timofeeva has been designing private and public spaces since 2006. Behind the designer-architect are dozens of interiors: private apartments, cottages and townhouses, offices, offices, exhibition premises. Alena has her own studio - Studio FD. studiofd.ru Advice number 1: a clear plan At the time of the start of renovation work, you should have in your hands a well-developed plan of an apartment or house, this plan should suit all family members and not change during construction. This eliminates the risk of paying twice: for the erection of partitions, displacement of openings and similar "fixes". 
Tip # 2:location of electrics In addition to breading solutions, it is necessary to have a clear plan for the placement of electrics (sockets, switches, lamps, TV and telephone sockets). If you change or determine the location of devices during construction, then you will have to re-stretch the cable, lay new grooves, close up old ones, which means there will be extra costs. For example, the cost of a cable for an area of 150 sq. m is about 50,000 rubles. Editorial opinion: - For a competent planning of the location of an electrician in your house, it is better to contact an architectural bureau. Professionals will do it better, faster and safer. 
Tip # 3:arrangement of plumbing and equipment selection It is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the room, the methods of laying pipes and the type of intended plumbing in advance. There are also flush-mounted systems - although they are more expensive. And when choosing plumbing, you should focus on quality, not design "rulers". Better not to buy plumbing fixtures from the market or chain stores. All self-respecting salons have budget options, and most importantly - quality. An example of such a salon is "Hogarth", where you can find quite budget models of famous designer brands. 
Tip # 4:walls and partitions The material from which it is better to erect interior partitions is tongue-and-groove blocks - they are cheaper than bricks, and their sizes vary. However, these blocks have a small disadvantage: they need to be plastered. However, if you build a brick partition, the material and work will cost more than using tongue-and-groove blocks (they are shown in the photo below). However, brick has an advantage over blocks - it can be beautifully fit into the interior in its natural or painted form. Another option for the construction of partitions is gypsum board. Its undoubted advantages are quick installation along the guides, it does not need to be plastered, only putty. However, there are also disadvantages: it is necessary to clearly know where furniture and interior items will be mounted, especially heavy ones, such as a TV, and provide for plywood mortgages there. 
Tip # 5: Finish There are several basic types of finishes:
- decorative plaster - the most expensive material;
- wallpaper is the "golden mean", and now there are many different options, and they are sometimes difficult to distinguish from textiles;
- textile wallpaper - quite expensive, and for their use you need a serious experience in pasting;
- The painting of walls will cost less and it will lookacceptable if you choose a good brand, for example, in stores of English decor (Manders). By the way, it often happens that in the stores of this network there remains a tinted paint (which either did not fit the customer, or simply remained after the project was realized) - it is sold much cheaper.
There is also a way to save on the decoration of the walls: buy a couple of rolls of wallpaper (this is enough for the accent panel), and leave the rest of the wall under the painting. By the way: in the company "Empire Decor" for more than a year selling anti-crisis wallpaper collection - believe me, there is something to choose from. 
Tip # 6:flooring Natural materials are always more pleasant - they are environmentally friendly and look prettier than their artificial counterparts. Many factories periodically organize promotions and seriously reduce prices for their products. (For example, on the parquet floor of the SWP factory). Also, the direct manufacturer has scraps of a good board, which is subsequently calibrated and brought to a single size. The cost of such material is lower than that of full-size boards, and by taking short boards, you can assemble an interesting author's drawing - such a floor will look no worse than a modular parquet. There are a couple of tricks to save on tiles:
- in the center of the room, for example, kitchen, laid out "carpet" of accent tiles (more expensive), and for the background used Russian tiles like KERAMA MARAZZI or Atlas Concorde (pictured below).
Tip # 7:walls in the bathroom Often, budget or just "background" tiles with a calm texture look no worse than their expensive counterparts with a tasteless layout and an abundance of decor. Several tricks to reduce the cost of tiles in the bathroom:
- choose the "background" tile of Russian orforeign companies (we add a vertical strip in the most prominent place to it); it is not necessary to spread out the walls with a tile all the way to the ceiling - it will be enough to lay out the tile to a height of 2,200-2,300 mm, and leave the rest for painting;
- in the toilet and at all you can paint the walls with a washable paint, and for the mood to hang a few posters in the passepartout.
In the bathroom, tiles are only needed in wet areas (sink, bathtub or shower). 
Tip # 8:furniture Do not rush to throw away old furniture, especially those inherited from grandparents: restoration will cost much less than new counterparts. Modern wooden furniture that has served for a couple of decades can also be "freshened up" with paint. 
Tip # 9:kitchen Kitchen is a capital investment, you shouldn't save on it. But it should be remembered that you are buying it for a long time, so we advise you to consider the products of German manufacturers. For example, Leicht kitchens now have big discounts and all kinds of promotions on components. The choice of facades also affects the cost of the kitchen: wood will be expensive, and similar options for laminated facades will cost significantly less. Modern production is now at a high level, and sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish natural facades from artificial ones. The same applies to materials for the countertop: lamination will save you from 100,000 rubles. There are many other ways to manage your budget wisely. The company "Kitchen Interiors", for example, offers a kind of know-how: professionals assemble kitchens from elements of various European factories. You get a one-piece unique headset from quality components, and at an affordable price. 
pictured kitchen - leicht Advice number 10:textiles By the time of choice of fabrics, as a rule, strength, imagination, and the budget runs out. Inexpensive polyester will help you out of this situation. It's no secret that this material costs half the price of natural counterparts, and it is easier to take care of it. And if you want to add solidity to the interior, you can make an edging from an expensive material with an inexpensive background and sew several pillows for coloristic harmony. 
And the most important thing:hire a professional for work - this will significantly save your money, effort and the most precious thing we have - time. Everyone must do their job. Architects and designers have extensive experience working with salons and suppliers and can help you get big discounts, thereby both recouping your work and saving your budget. Alena Timofeeva, designer 
