Penny Andrews
Renovation planning is about reducing uncertainty, not just choosing cabinets
Last updated: August 10, 2026
One thing building Reno has taught us is that renovation planning goes far beyond what we ever imagined. Before we wrote a single line of code, we already had a roadmap containing hundreds of features we knew we'd eventually need - more room types, a bigger item library, visualisations, quantity calculations, quoting, layout tips and nudging.
Of course we knew the roadmap would evolve. But every now and then, a feature request would land in our inbox, or we'd notice a customer using Reno in a way we'd never really planned for, and it would change how we thought about the product altogether.
Requests that had nothing to do with space planning
One example is the ever-growing 'alternative layout' slots - we're at six so far. People wanted to save multiple versions of the same plan to compare layouts, configurations and décor schemes before committing to the 'best' option. Another is the millimetre-level tile alignment controls being released this week, because "left", "centre" and "right" simply weren't flexible enough to ensure the tiles line up perfectly with the fixtures and fittings.
Then we started getting requests that had almost nothing to do with furniture or space planning:
- Folded and unfolded buggies
- Ironing boards
- Mug racks
- Vacuum cleaners
- Very specific computer equipment
Not because people wanted prettier plans, but because they were working out how everyday life would fit once the renovation was finished. Not to mention boilers, hot water cylinders, MVHR units and underfloor heating manifolds that needed to fit amongst the built-in cabinetry in a boot room or utility.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the level of detail people wanted to plan. We expected lights, sockets and switches. Instead we found ourselves supporting different upward and downward wall lights, directional spotlights, LED strips and under-cabinet lighting - because the details really do matter. None of those things were on our original roadmap, because we thought we were building a space-planning tool and a better way to brief builders and installers.
The real question behind every request
What was really happening is that every one of those requests was revealing another question homeowners were trying to answer before work started:
- Where will everything live?
- Is there enough storage?
- Will this layout still work when we have children?
- What happens if we move that wall instead?
- Is it all actually going to work the way we're imagining?
They needed to reduce uncertainty before committing to decisions that would cost huge sums of money and shape how they'd live for years.
Turns out, renovation planning is a much bigger challenge than choosing kitchen cabinets or working out whether there's space for both a shower and a bath. It's about reducing uncertainty and risk before the money starts flowing and the dust starts flying. And I think that's a much more valuable problem to solve.
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