Amy McGeachy has been professionally designing interiors for nearly 20 years. The founder of , McGeachy is also the host of Trend and House Guests on CHEK. Her new show, “I Bought a House!” premiers on April 1, 2023 on CHEK.
McGeachy’s new show follows her journey renovating a University Woods area home. Here, she shares her top tips for undertaking a complete property redesign in her own words.
Location, location, location
The most important part of a complete redesign is finding the right property.
With this , we looked for five or six months to find a mature, quiet, and prestigious location. It’s so close to amenities, whether it’s five minutes to the grocery store or a short walk to the beach. Even though it’s so central, there is no through traffic.
This Oak Bay lot is a beautiful, maintenance-free property, but because it is situated upon a rock bluff and sits overtop of the neighbourhood, it has an incredible view and faces the sunset.
Take the original house into consideration
It’s more cost-efficient to work within the existing framework of a house.
This house was perfect because it already had the modern lines to it. We wanted to make it look like a brand new house inspired by the West Coast Contemporary style. By completely redesigning the interior and exterior without touching the existing walls, it reads like a brand new house without the additional cost.
Project scope and budget
Just how much do you want to take on? A common project management adage is, “good, fast, or cheap – pick two.” It’s important to decide what your priorities are ahead of time to dictate the outcome of your project by making a list of all the things you would like to do on the inside and outside of the building and prioritize as necessary.
This particular property was a great fit because we didn’t need to add anything. We wanted to stay within 2,400 square feet to keep it perfect for a luxury executive buyer who is drawn to penthouse living, without the hassle of a shared building, strata and common property. Concentrating on a smaller space allowed us to add those higher-end finishes.
Setting a budget ahead of time is so important. It helps you set your priorities and determine what you can accomplish. Make sure to get multiple quotes and have a contingency budget for unexpected surprises.
Be a courteous neighbour
Remember, the people around you are the people you are hoping to have as neighbours for a long time. It’s best to work with them and plan ahead of time to keep their headaches at a minimum.
If there’s going to be a day that’s noisy, let people know what to expect so they can plan to be away if they’d prefer. Keep your garbage at a minimum and work to solve problems together.
McGeachy’s executive-living University Woods property is now for sale. See the listing online at .
