Building a place or renovating or decorating is all about trade-offs. You can’t have everything you want – or at least I couldn’t.

So, what I would say is, invest in a few things that you really love and cut back in areas where you can get away with it. At least that was my overall philosophy.

I bought my BDDW mirror early on in the process. I knew if I pushed this off until the end, I’d never buy it. I had to cut back in other areas later on, but I love this mirror and it’s the first thing I see every time I walk into our place. So, yes, I spent a small fortune on a mirror, but for me this was a good trade-off. You can get knock-offs, but the lines and craftsmanship in this piece stand out.

I made a trade-off when it came to lighting. I really wanted a three (or four or five…) arm pendant by Lindsey Adelman. Her work is stunning and hand-made and I can see why each piece costs thousands and thousands of dollars. I just couldn’t do it. I went with three black Artek pendants instead. It’s a totally different look, but at a fraction of the cost, I couldn’t resist. Plus, I’ve always loved these pendants.

So – to each their own. Only you know your budget and what you really love. But if you’re anything like me, I think you’ll find that coveting a few special pieces will bring quite a bit of joy. Likewise, I love a good deal…and knowing that I saved big in certain spots makes me equally giddy!

BDDW Captain’s Mirror

Lindsey Adelman Lighting

Artek Pendants

Some of my favourites for another day:

Serge Mouille Lighting

Hiroshima Dining Chairs by Naoto Fukasawa

Hans Wegner seating

Bulthaup kitchen