It’s Going To Get Worse Before It Gets Better
A Budget-Friendly Remodel in West Asheville
My last update on our West Asheville Overhaul showed some of the demolition starting — and that was just the beginning. Since then, the entire structure has been gutted, leaving nothing but a few exterior walls to keep the home from collapsing.
Even the electrical and plumbing systems were fully removed to make way for complete upgrades. This is the part of a remodel where things look rough… but this phase is also where good interior design planning matters most.
Designing Within a Budget (Without Compromising Style)
I mentioned in my first post that the budget was a major concern for this family. So a big part of my role here as an interior designer in Asheville, NC, has been designing with intention — tracking costs closely and making sure every choice supports both the budget and the lifestyle of this family.
Yes, I have an evolving spreadsheet that I lovingly refer to as the "mercurial marvel." And yes, it has taken on a life of its own a few times. But it's worth it, because when you’re cost-conscious, you can still have a home that feels elevated, personal, and stylish.
My strategy?
Let the clients dream big
Dial back when needed by selecting cost-saving finishes like tile, lighting, and cabinets that still look high-end
Treat finishes like “jewelry” — the pieces that pull the whole space together
Design Concept: Playful, Warm, and Organic
Every project I take on starts with a style board. It keeps clients focused on the shared vision and helps me prevent Pinterest overload from derailing the design. With so many interior design ideas available online, staying anchored to the original concept is key.
For this home, the overall design direction is:
Family-focused, playful, warm, organic — with a touch of hip and urban.
Since the lower level will be a single, open living space with the kitchen as the heart, we’ve been planning this area carefully. This is where the family will spend most of their time: eating, crafting, doing homework, hanging out. So we’re designing for daily living — not just aesthetics.
Some highlights of the current kitchen plan:
Big casement windows for natural light
Open shelving for personality and storage
Graphic tile backsplash for a “wow” moment
Mixed-material island to add warmth and highlight craftsmanship
Coffee/tea bar built into the wall, adjacent to a kid-friendly reading nook under the stairs
Finish Selections That Save Money (and Still Look Amazing)
We handpicked these reasonably priced pendant lights from Cost Plus World Market and went with a hex tile in the kitchen that will feather seamlessly into the hardwood floors throughout the rest of the main level.
(Insert images and product links as available — this boosts engagement + SEO)
At the moment, the kitchen looks… well, rough. But that’s part of the process.
That corner you see below?
That’s where the coffee/tea bar will live. To the left: the kids’ reading nook. To the right: the new mudroom.
Every beautiful home project has an “ugly phase.”
And this one is unfolding exactly as expected.
I like to start with a style board for every project. It serves as a visual inspiration for the design and helps keep myself and my clients on track. Since there are so many interior design resources out there on the “interweb”, it can be easy to veer off from the original design concept.
The design concept for the project has been focused on the family, using playful, warm, and organic materials, with a kick of urban, hip.
Since the lower level is going to be one big room, with the kitchen being a focal point, I’ve concentrated heavily on that area. This will be the space where the family spends most of their time together, eating, crafting, doing homework, and enjoying each others’ company. I’ve added big casement windows to the space with lots of open shelving, and a graphic backsplash that will serve as the wow factor. The island will serve as eating space and art piece, featuring a combination of finishes. On the wall adjacent to the windows will be a coffee/tea bar and a nook under the stairs, where the kids can snuggle up and read a book, or hang out while dinner is being prepared.
We’ve also spec’d these reasonably priced pendant lights from Cost Plus World Market. We’ve also spec’d this fun hex tile for the kitchen area. It will feather into the hardwood covering the rest of the space.
In the meantime, this is what the kitchen looks like.
This corner of the kitchen will be where the coffee/tea bar is located. On one side will be a nook under the stairs, and on the other, will be a doorway into the new mudroom, included in the new addition.
It always gets worse before it gets better.
