Budgets. The oh-so-glamorous and always fun part of being a designer. Whenever I sign on with a new client, the very first step of my design process is finalizing and understanding a budget that is appropriate in relation to the scope of work. I never want to show clients something they can’t have — that’s just a waste of time for everyone involved. However, budgets aren’t foolproof. Unforeseen issues, additions, and revisions that come with the nature of a renovation project can definitely affect how much you end up spending. Properly allocating allowances for these “hidden fees” ahead of time gives a much more realistic approach to an otherwise shoestring budget that will inevitably lead to disappointment, and potentially even a lack of funds to complete the job.