When you go into a travel agency to book a holiday there are two things the agent needs to know from you. First, which part of the world do you want to visit? Second, what’s your budget? You may have fallen in love with the idea of spending August in a Tuscan villa, complete with vineyard and pool, but your budget may suggest a trip to the English Riviera in April as being more realistic.

But if the travel agent knows you want to travel Italy, and you’ve honest about how much money you can afford to spend, then a suitable can usually be found. You may not get the Tuscan villa, but a few nights in some modest hotels in Venice and Florence may fit your bill, and give you pocket money to make the most out of your holiday.

Why is it, then, that many people are so hesitant to tell their interior designer what they can afford to spend on their interiors project? Some people seem to treat the subject of ‘the budget’ like a game of poker. If the interior designer thinks I’ve got less than I have I’ll get the whole thing done more cheaply. Or worse; if the designer knows how much I’ve got they’ll make sure they spend every penny. (photo credit by: bluemoon)