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Archive for June, 2010

Have a plan

Even an eclectic style needs careful planning to avoid looking busy or messy. When designing your room, know which items you need and where they will go. And when combining old and new, stick to one era from the past such as Art Deco, Edwardian or Victorian.

The secret to mixing old and new successfully is getting the balance right. For example, an antique sink will look odd if the rest of the suite is ultra-modern. However, a roll-top bath can often work well in a modern setting. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are making structural changes with the purpose of adding value, you should first find out the current market price of your property, as well as its potential value once the changes have been made. Otherwise, your hard work and cash may not reap rewards.

Additionally, think about less radical changes that can be made - partitioning walls can be knocked down or put up, and bigger windows can make a house appear more spacious. However, in order to really boost what you have, an extension may be the best option.

Extensions

If you’re feeling adventurous…
Rising property prices with a premium being put on space can make extensions a wise investment. However, this is a major project and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly: Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for a good builder but don’t know where to start, the Federation of Master Builders suggests you follow these guidelines to make sure you get the right person for the job - reports BBC Homes.

Recommendation

- Ask for references and names of previous clients. Speak to them and look at their previous work, if possible.

Deal with an established firm

- Make sure they have an office address, telephone number and use headed notepaper.
- Check they are a member of a reputable trade association, and if VAT is being charged, make sure there is a VAT number shown. Read the rest of this entry »

Does your living room need updating but you don’t know where to start? Let Britain’s doyenne of interior design Nina Campbell make it easy for you with her guide to using fabrics to pull a room together.

“You want to work hard at getting it right but the result has to look as though it’s been thrown together in five minutes.”
Step 1
“Start with a fabric you love and then worry about what to do with it.”

High street department stores, specialist haberdasheries or even markets are great places to find a good selection of materials. Or you may find an accessory, such as a rug, throw or cushion that catches your eye.

Whatever you choose, this will form the basis of your colour palette for the room and gives you something to build on.
Nina Campbell choosing fabrics Read the rest of this entry »

Do your research

Check how long the property has been up for sale. A property that’s been on the market for more than a few months suggests there isn’t a great deal of profit to be made. Find out about choosing a location in our Buying a property guide.

What should I look out for?

Ensure you’re not buying a money pit. In an older property you should be prepared for anything, right down to half the wall staying on the wallpaper when stripping or great holes behind the panelling. Don’t be afraid to make umpteen visits with every type of tradesman in order to know what you’re letting yourself in for!

Ask the experts

Roofers, timber and damp specialists and electricians will charge nothing or very little to engage their services for estimates and will be more beneficial to you than a surveyor in the initial stages.

How much work is involved?

This depends on the property, but don’t bite off more than you can chew. For a good first experience of renovating, try doing up a dated property rather than a wreck. A new kitchen, bathroom, central heating, carpets and re-decoration will miraculously transform something dark and decrepit into a ‘des res’. Read the rest of this entry »

You might not realise you’ve got bad lighting but you’ll recognise the symptoms: headaches and sore eyes, frustration in the kitchen at not being able to see what you’re doing and arguments in the bedroom over whose turn it is to get up to switch out the light. Good lighting will make your home feel spacious, clean and welcoming.

The key is to create a flexible scheme that takes you right through the day and all the different uses of your room. At the flick of a switch, you should be able to transform it from a bright, vibrant living space to the setting for a romantic dinner for two.
Natural light

It’s a fantastic asset to any home, but the quality of the light depends on the aspect of the room. Read the rest of this entry »

We recommend that you start with the basics.

* 5m tape measure
* Claw hammer
* Insulated pliers
* Set of screwdrivers
* Electrical test screw driver
* Junior hacksaw
* Stanley knife
* Spirit level
* Small adjustable spanner
* Cost - you can kit out a basic toolbox for around £60

If you want to splash out and spend an extra £45 to £55, then the following items will come in handy:

* Set of five paint brushes: 1in, 1.5in, 2in, 2.5in, 3in
* Roller and tray with three removable roller heads
* Stud detector
* Large adjustable spanner Read the rest of this entry »

Using a mood board will give you a direction for your creativity, somewhere to crystallise your thoughts and a way to share your ideas with others.

Begin by choosing your main base colour from the colour wheel. This might be a colour you particularly like. Most people are always drawn to a certain colour. Look around you, what colour do you wear the most? Is there a colour that you’d love to wear but doesn’ t suit you that you’d love on your walls instead?

It is rare we get a total free rein or start with a totally blank slate, the base colour might be dictated by something you’re stuck with such as a grey carpet or an avocado bathroom suite. However, this doesn’t have to hold you back. Use the colour wheel to look at what colours go with this colour and decide whether to go for a tonal, harmonious, or complementary scheme.
Colour schemes

For best results, choose one of the following schemes.

1. Tonal - use just one colour but varying tones of it throughout a room or use more than one colour but all with the same depth of tone.
2. Harmonious - pick colours next to each other or near each other on the wheel. These schemes generally give a look that’s easy to live with and are tranquil and restful.
3. Complementary - or ‘contrasting’ colours lie opposite each other on the colour wheel. Complementary colours generally inject some life into a scheme, are more daring and will make more of an impact but might not be so easy to live with. Read the rest of this entry »