Latest project

 

 

 

See what a beautiful house we've been working on, in a village in Leicestershire.  This was a relatively inexpensive makeover, using mostly what was already in the property, and it's made a huge difference to the appeal of the house.

 

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Low Cost Home Makeovers - 11 handy tips. Number 10. Identify Trends.

I was recently invited to Grand Designs Live in Birmingham, to talk about home makeovers and how to keep costs down, whether you're selling your home or want to enjoy living in it. To follow is a summary of the suggestions I made, with lots of 'Before' and 'After' photos as illustrations.

IDENTIFY TRENDS - when should you be following fashion and when should you avoid it?
• In general, don’t follow trends too closely, they change with every season now
• More expensive items need to be timeless
If the makeover is for selling purposes...
• Remember potential buyers are comparing your property with others, and they like to see fashionable decor, so just update some accessories to fit with your scheme
• Check local Show Homes for styles and colours to use
• Check fashionable shops - eg. Next - and just add one or two pieces

Look at show homes for ideas

Before - this needed to be a guest room

After - so we made it timeless. Nothing can go out of fashion here.

Next - everyone's favourite - CLUTTER - when you're planning a makeover, deal with your clutter first!

Low Cost Home Makeovers - 11 handy tips. Number 9. Timescale.

I was recently invited to Grand Designs Live in Birmingham, to talk about home makeovers and how to keep costs down, whether you're selling your home or want to enjoy living in it. To follow is a summary of the suggestions I made, with lots of 'Before' and 'After' photos as illustrations.

TIMESCALE - if you have a short timescale, are your plans realistic?
• Consider all the trades involved and how they impact each other. Allow them the time and space to work efficiently, don't book them all to work in the same room on one day.
• Be realistic with your own time
If the makeover is for selling purposes...
• Usually have a limited timescale - the faster the better
• Try to prepare before the property goes on the market
• Consider the availability of trades, supplies and furnishings. Can you get hold of everything you need in time?

Before - for selling, I really wanted to stage this room as a dining room, but time was against us, and there was a baby grand piano in the room which would take a while to sell or move

After - a music room isn't as desirable as a dining room, but at least we were now showing the full size and potential of the room 

Before - an empty house with only a couple of days before the owners were moving in

After - everything we chose for the room had to be available for immediate purchase and delivery - ex-display sofas, readymade curtains etc.

 

 

Before - this lady had promised her daughter a room makeover before her party at the weekend, but she ran out of time and called us for emergency back-up!

Before - another angle

After - a quick declutter and tidy-up...

After - all ready for the party!

Next - IDENTIFY TRENDS - then decide if you should be following fashion or avoiding it.