Get the colours right

This house needed to be prepared for sale. All the curtains were made from one fabric, which was a golden colour. Similarly, the carpets were golden. There was no reason to change these expensive items, so this set the scheme for the entire house. Some of the grey-based purple paint in a couple of rooms clashed with the gold, so I recommended re-painting the bedroom and hallway. It's vital that the colour scheme flows through the house.

 Before

 After

Moving in to first home

This lovely couple were moving in to their first home. It was fun discovering the right style and colours for them. They didn't want to change any of the wall colours yet, so I added warmth in the accessories.

Shopping...

I've been shopping for this house today - I'm staging it next week. (Don't worry, the homeowners have been working on it since these photos were taken!!)  Looking forward to the challenge!!!

What's causing all the clutter - part 5

My fifth and final new de-clutter client last week had nothing to really worry about.  She isn't a hoarder, she doesn't have terrible clutter problems, she's just had a series of events happen over the last few years that have caused her to be surrounded by "stuff".  Caring for poorly family members has taken a higher priority than sorting the house out, and now that she has time to think about the house again, it will all come together quickly.

Lots of boxes were packed for charity, and lots of treasures were re-discovered during the day - I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Once someone is ready and committed to de-cluttering a space, it isn't a difficult process, and the rewards are incredible.  Emotions often run high, and everyone's energy runs out by late afternoon, but the excitement at seeing the space cleared has a much longer-lasting effect.  Well done L! A great job done.

What's causing all the clutter -Part one...

Part one - one of five new de-clutter clients this week.

Main cause of clutter - open shelving units for storage.

In the shops they look like this:

In reality they look like this, or worse:

Open shelves are for display items only - not storage!!

Position the bed correctly

Try not to position beds up against a wall. The extra floor space doesn't make the room look larger, as most people imagine. The photographs are much more appealing if the bed is a focal point in the room, in the centre. 

Estate Agents want bedrooms

I'm being told more and more by Estate Agents to set all upstairs rooms up as bedrooms when you're selling your home.  I usually examine the local market before deciding whether one of the bedrooms should be shown as a study or not, but I'm happy to take the agents opinion on this - they know their buyers best!

Before - a large bedroom used as a study

After, a simple transformation into a bedroom - made even easier as there was a suitable space downstairs for the study.

SOLD! With two buyers to choose from..

I've just had one of those lovely emails from a client - "WE'VE SOLD!"

Two potential buyers, so they had a choice!  Brilliant.

Here's the full house:    http://www.homemakeoverservice.co.uk/e17.php

Don't pretend the bed looks right if it really doesn't...

I often find beds in strange places! Double beds pushed up against walls, or floating around a chimney breast.  My rule is... double beds are made for two people, and they should have equal rights!! Space around each side of the bed... a bedside table each ... a lamp each...

Here's a few simple furniture re-arrangements that made all of the difference.

Before - no sensible place for bedside tables and lamps

After - plenty of space now

Before - two singles and a large chest competing for space



After - the room looked huge 



Before - difficult for a second person to use



After - space on each side. 
Could be improved more with two smaller tables.

Remove old fixtures - tatty bedroom overhead cupboards can really take over a room

 

Before - These old, broken cupboards were all that you noticed when you entered the room

After - We removed them, repaired the wall, and added a headboard

Before - even in a larger property, the overhead cupboards were dated and overpowering

After - wow this room looked huge!!

Don't be scared or reluctant to remove old cupboards like this when you're selling your home.  You have to remove everything from them when you're packing anyway, so why not do it first, and double the appeal of the room.  No-one else will want old, broken units, and they may not realise how easy it is to remove them.  

SOLD! After 6 days on the market!

               "Duck House" has sold! A fraction under the asking price, within six days.  We're all delighted.  It was marketed as "Excellently presented" and had lots of interest from other buyers too.

See the 'Before' and 'After' photos here... http://www.homemakeoverservice.co.uk/e18.php

Less is more... another full house ONE-DAY makeover

This bedroom was transformed as part of a one day makeover ... of the entire house.

Before - known as the "spare" room

After - now known as the "Guest bedroom"

Before

After

One Day Makeover - whole house!

This bedroom was part of a one-day makeover, staging the home for sale. With the help of the homeowners, every room was tidied, re-arranged, cleaned and accessorised ready for the Estate Agent's visit the next day.  See some more of the house here...
http://www.homemakeoverservice.co.uk/e16.php

Before

After - fresh bedding, curtains hung, furniture re-arranged

Before

After - Re-arranged furniture, changed artwork! 

Why did I make these changes?

Before

After

How did I change this room, and why?

1) Painted the walls a warmer, deeper colour.
Firstly, the dark patches were obvious on the walls, and secondly, in this north-facing room, even the magnolia appeared grey.
2) Added furniture.
When empty, this room appeared very small for a Master Bedroom, and showing a double bed with space to spare alleviates this worry.
3) Replaced the curtain track for a pole.
Curtain track is cheap - and it looks it! Adding a more luxurious pole upgrades the appearance of the room.
4) Hung full-length curtains.
They appear much more luxurious than short ones.
5) Upgraded the ceiling light.
A Master Bedroom deserves more than a small pendant shade - add some crystals!
6) Dressed the bed.
These soft touches often appeal to the female viewers - notice how they are more likely to comment on the gorgeous cushion than on the fact that only one of the side windows will open!

We are selling a lifestyle, not just a house, so make it a more luxurious one.

Declutter your dreams

Whether you're trying to sell your home, or just want to enjoy it more - calm your bedroom down. Remove cluttered patterns, use soft co-ordinating colours...and breathe!