Getting something redone when you realise it doesn’t meet your needs

[Notcontent]

I am currently having some major building work done. It took quite a long time from the initial planning stages to actually getting it done and over that time I changed my mind about a few things and was able to get them changed before it was too late.

But now it’s nearly all done and it’s clear to me there is just not enough storage space. In particular, in one of the bedrooms some built in cupboards have been put in but they are really small (to save space as room is not big) and I can see that was a mistake. I know it sounds silly but I have been really stressed about it and I think in the future I will have to get them pulled out and replaced with bigger cupboards.

Has anyone else made expensive mistakes like that?

I got a brand new loft hatch moved (so new timber, plaster boarding & etc) to better suit the location of furniture. I paid the extra because it was worth it to me.
Builder didn’t say anything but was clearly bemused.
In your case can you add other storage?

Best get it fixed now whilst the builders are there. It will cost more to bring someone new later on.

Glad it’s not just me! I am really not sure what I was thinking as the cupboards that have been put in are just a big useless - look good but none of my stuff will fit!!

I had new bamboo wood flooring put down in my dining and living room and it was half done in the kitchen. The flooring guy moaned about it constantly as it splintered and was difficult to work with. But I had new mid grey kitchen units and they made the floor look really orange. I just couldn't stand it so I had him take it all up. He was furious (not sure why, I paid him to lay it and I paid him to take it up). He was crap anyway - the dining room floor buckled and I had to get another guy to take it up and relay it.

I was literally coming on to say the same thing.

We had the garage converted into a living room last year but having lived with it for a year it's just too narrow. We're waiting to do other remodelling work and I just can't come to terms with spending more money when we'll still end up with a too narrow living room. Mid terrace so no chance to extend and widen the room

@BecauseMyRingBurnsSheila could you use that room for something else and use another room as your living room? I feel your pain - very upsetting when you spend lots of money and not end up with something you love...

Annoyingly yes! But it would involve splitting it into a study and utility room. Which would mean wasting the lovely carpet. The boiler could then be relocated from DD's room and she would be delighted. But the back room would need extending and with the undoing of the conversion it tips over into too expensive 😭

We had the wrong depth worktops installed and had to be redone. £900 down the drain.

We did a whole house refurb about a year and a half ago, finished it a few months before covid. During lockdown we realised really we should have made one of the rooms a study instead of an extra bathroom. But spent £££ on the bathroom and it’s barely been used so really cannot rip it out!!

Gaaaah.

I think EVERYONE makes mistakes with a renovation... my sisters she put in features she never used. My own is just starting but I’ve already put on new skirting without sorting gaps around edge of where flooring was fitted by previous owners so a bit annoyed with myself 🙄

For this bedroom: 2 ways to do it - either sort it now, or think about why you’ve done it in this way (to save space/not overwhelm the room) and how you can maximise storage in the rest of the room: underbed etc, & store occasional use/out of season things elsewhere or get rid!

I’ve spent years being paralysed about changing things in the house in case I make mistakes.

I had to force myself through some changes, and yes, quite a few were in fact mistakes. We’ve just done a big scary renovation and now I’m looking at the rest of my shabby house realising that the biggest mistake is not doing anything!

I’m biding my time to change the floor. It’s not quite bad enough to change now when there’s better uses for our money. In a couple of years it will totally refresh the room anyway.

There will always be mistakes and compromises. In your shoes I’d bite the bullet and sort out good storage. If things end up lying around the room because they don’t fit inside the cupboards, the room will never look great and will feel uncomfortable. You can do things to minimise the impact of the cupboards like painting them a similar shade to the wall or mirroring them.

But don’t feel bad. These things happen.

Thanks everyone - I feel a bit better now. I think I will need to wait to sort it out as running out of time and money now, but at least I will have a plan!