Design Hints

Experts when it comes to restoration, Linda and Joe Harris renovated their historic Albany, Oregon, abode from top to bottom. Here are a few of their tips for getting the look you want without breaking the bank or emptying your gas tank.

1. Become an eagle eye. By keeping a look out for home-center flyers, Linda and Joe took advantage of several sale items. Their granite countertops were a new item being offered at a special promotional price.

2. Have it your way. N.O.W. Builders' Tony Nova and Larry Olson, the Harrises' contractors, advised the couple to order custom kitchen cabinets instead of buying premade ones. Because stock cabinets must be fitted to your kitchen, you often get a better deal when you have them made to fit from the start.

3. Weigh your funds. Before the process began, Linda divided her wish list into essential and non-essential items so she could divert the bulk of her funds to high-priority purchases, such as light fixtures and the fire-clay apron sink in her kitchen.

4. Buy in bulk. Because the home required a floor-to-ceiling restoration, the Harrises needed to purchase new appliances. To get a break on the price, they chose one store and ordered all of the items at once, saving both time and money.

5. Always ask. Whether asking for a discount or requesting a special order, it's important to be vocal. Linda and Joe fell in love with a particular type of wood flooring, but the store they preferred to work with did not carry it. After explaining their dilemma, the store special-ordered the flooring, and the Harrises got what they wanted without searching all over town.