Interior Design vs Real Homes

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about "Interior Design" and what it really means to me (I live in a real home with a lovely but untidy husband, a 2 year old with boundless energy and limited concentration and a dog with paws that are magnets for mud)

I guess when we say Interior Design these types of rooms spring to mind, a luxurious boutique hotel style bedroom or a large double height living space.

        

Both of which are gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but is it really possible for the majority of us to achieve this?  Of course it is for some people but for the majority, perhaps the dream and the reality are a little different. 

            

  

                The dream      vs       The reality 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with any property that you call home, but I feel like interior design magazines and some interior designers seem to think that large rooms with lovely high ceilings and endless budgets are the norm.  I'm confident that modern housing estates, with smaller rooms, standard low ceilings and small budgets are in fact much more usual.  

We don't and can't all live in period properties or New York style loft apartments.  So the challenge is to take these amazing designs for large grand rooms and translate them to smaller rooms without being overpowering.  I wish more 'interior design' magazines used real home examples - and I mean REAL homes, homes built in the last 20 years, with smaller proportions, of people who have children and pets and can't keep them showroom perfect all the time.  

It seems to me that this is like those size 8 mannequins in shops, where dresses look beautiful and drape perfectly - and then someone with a real figure puts in on and suddenly the dress is clinging unceremoniously to all the lumps and bumps.

Take this as an example, the first picture is a real living room in a modern house, but tidied (toys removed) and styled for a photograph.  The second picture is the tidiest version of reality, including children's toys.  

With this as reality, I like to focus my designs on clever and practical uses of space.  I believe functional does not equal ugly or boring, but functional is perhaps more important than beautiful in a real family home and a balance needs to be found.  

Pinterest

It has taken me a while to get into Pinterest, but I have to say I am now totally addicted.  I just love that I can stick all the great ideas I see in one place.  I used to have to photograph or save and print them all into a book.  This is so much easier.

I divide my boards up into rooms mainly, plus one general ideas board for 'doesn't quite fit into any other category'.  I thought I would share some of my favourite finds here.  

As you can see from my examples, I mix up whole rooms with bits of ideas as well as wallpaper and paint samples.  All for future reference.  I first found this cobalt and cream bedroom image, which I loved, then I went in search of similar wallpaper and fabric (which I found at Scion).  Next time I fancy a cobalt bedroom I have all the details to hand - brilliant. 

              

  

Have a look at my Pinterest bedroom board here

Some ideas are things I have seen, some are things I would like to do and some are things I have done, like this frame, which was a quick and cheap solution when a client needed me to style a very plain bedroom.  The frame is from IKEA (£7) and the picture is actually wedding wrapping paper (50p).  I put 3 side by side and made a very simple but effective temporary focal point.

For me, the best thing about Pinterest is that I can access it on my phone or laptop and just dip in and out when I need an idea, inspiration or try to visually explain what I am talking about.  

If you want to nosy at the rest of my boards of ideas, please click here.  If you any of the images or ideas pin them to your idea boards or feel free to follow them.  I am adding new pictures and links all the time.

Follow me on Pinterest

I always get excited about flooring day

So flooring day is a misleading title, it's flooring 3 weeks on this project.  With 3 types of flooring and 3 fitters, each with their own speciality.  We are doing carpet (too boring to talk about), Amtico and Flotex to suit the needs of the different rooms. 

The Amtico is now in progress and although I have often suggested it and lusted after it, I haven't used it on a project of mine before.  It is being used in the kitchen, utility and hallway.  

The kitchen was fairly simple, large tiles with a thin trim between (more about the thin trim later), which looks great and doesn't really show the fact that the room isn't completely square.

Kitchen (before plinths replaced)

The hall is proving much more difficult, it's a square(ish) hall with one small and one large corridor continuing from it. I have gone for an oak herringbone effect in here, as the impact in the wide hall will be great.  The problem is that, as with many older buildings (and some new builds to be honest) rooms aren't always square. It turns out in this one, no two walls are square.  Needless to say the fitter isn't delighted but doing a great job anyway with lots of maths and some slight adjustments to the alignment.

Hall in progress

So back to the kitchen and the thin trims, which are very fine slices of the same oak as the hall.  Its subtle but it does bring it all together.

The carpet fitter is also working some magic, no wastage here as all the excess pieces are sewn back together to carpet inside the  cupboards and one of the bathrooms.

Flotex is a product I hadn't come across before, if you've never heard of it before either I can only really describe it as furry vinyl, it actually reminds me of fuzzy felt (although that probably ages me). It's a really practical flooring, it is treated as carpet for cleaning so can be vacuumed as a regular carpet, or with a wet carpet cleaner (specific advice regarding detergents applies)as it's vinyl base make it waterproof.  I chose to use it because the room in question was cold, so the flotex was laid over a layer of insulated board.

How to unify 3 different doors along one wall

While renovating a property, I was faced with a bedroom with 3 doors along one wall; a very narrow door to the ensuite, a floor to ceiling cupboard door and the entrance to the room.  All 3 were different sizes and looked very inconsistent.  

I decided that I needed to bring some uniformity to this row of doors, so I searched for doors which came in multiple widths (and also a glazed option for elsewhere in the property) which was a challenge on a tight budget but eventually found a range in B&Q which had the standard 762 width for the main door and 610 widths for the ensuite and the cupboard.  The current ensuite and cupboard doors weren't quite the right sizes so my joiner slightly widened the ensuite door and boarded the top of the cupboard door to create a standard door height and made the door slightly narrower.  As you can see below, the cupboard is actually only strange access to the rear of the ensuite shower with about 3 inches of storage space so losing a small amount of the access to this was no problem.

Once the new frames were in place and the surrounding wall plastered the new doors were hung, creating a much more unified feel to the room.  It would have been nicer to have extended the two narrower doors but it just wasn't possible, so I feel this was the next best option.

Would you sacrifice a bedroom for a utility room?

Controversial question isn't it?  Inside I am screaming, "don't do that!! Bedrooms add value" but this particular project isn't an investment property, so the rules of investment don't really apply.

A client of mine bought a large bungalow as their "downsize" home, they have recently retired and no longer have any children living at home.  The bungalow as they bought it had 3 bedrooms, lounge, dining room, small kitchen, pantry, plus large garage, attached utility room (about the size of a garage) and conservatory.

The kitchen had a tricky layout with 3 doors and a large window and was lacking storage, which was compensated for using the utility room and pantry.

My clients wanted to use the existing utility room as a home office, so it wasn't practical to have the washing machine, etc in there.  With the washer and dryer moved into the kitchen, there wasn't much room for anything else.  So to make the most of the kitchen, the first step was to take the room back to brick and assess the space, I decided to move one of the doors as it was only 25cm from the adjacent wall meaning that the space to one side was wasted.  

The new position of the door

Once the door was moved, it happened to be across the hall from the third bedroom, an average size single bedroom sandwiched between a bathroom and ensuite, which gave us the idea to change it from a bedroom to a utility room.

Normally I would do everything to save a bedroom but this wasn't a money making project, this is a home, and although the change from a 3 bed to a 2 bed will most likely decrease the value and saleability, my clients didn't buy to make money, they wanted a home that worked for them, and a small kitchen without utility simply wouldn't work.

Will the pressure taken off the kitchen with the pantry and the new utility room, the kitchen was designed to make the best use of the space without being overcrowded.  

(These photos will be updated once works are 100% complete)

The utility houses all the usual appliances, plus an additional freezer and cupboards for storage.

The most important thing is that the clients love it and it will work for them in their "forever" home.  It might be tricky to sell, but they hope that won't be for another 20 years, by which time it will more than likely need another renovation anyway so everything can change again.  

So I guess the moral to my story is that while there are rules for investment, if it is your home and you don't have to worry about short term return, then make your home work for you and your circumstances.  

Interiors and Gadgets

As a child of the 80's, I should probably love technology, and I do, in a way.  What I hate though is the use of technology for the sake of it in properties.

I am married to a self-confessed geek so my own house does have a few non-essential gadgets, like smartphone controlled plugs, but these are brilliantly useful for turning lights on and off randomly when we are away, or for turning an outside light on and off without the need for wiring a switch which would be more costly and messy than the smartphone controlled plug. (Belkin WeMo switches - they are amazing!) 

I have been away for a short stay in a cottage where my hatred for technology for the sake of it was pushed into overdrive.  The cottage has 3 bedrooms, which were all ensuite.  The ensuites were nice, with soft closing toilet seats, contemporary shower, and automatic light and extractor. The automatic light and extractor were brilliant, until you want to go in the middle of the night which wakes everyone else up!!  It was clear that this must have seemed a brilliant idea to the owner, who doesn't live there and hadn't thought about the practicalities but told us with great pride about these "automatic" bathrooms. 

I guess I'm trying to say that technology can be great, and can make our lives easier, dare I say, better.  Beware of the gimmicks, and think if the gadget really helps.  My other advice is that if you do decide to include gadgets, think about the back up plan.  Can it be easily overridden? The automatic bathroom couldn't, which is why it drove us mad, had there been a switch to turn it off I would have probably loved the convenience throughout the day.  

House Staging - what is it all about?

While selling a home can be difficult, making the decision to sell is often harder.  No matter how much you love your home, there will always be things that aren't perfect for someone else.  But it isn't always easy to see or accept.

At the moment, people are stretching themselves so far financially that they can't afford to buy a property and make many changes. Which means that neutral contemporary properties are selling quickly, houses with lots of work required (but priced accordingly) are the next most popular and there are the majority of properties in the middle left hanging on the market.

If you are stuck in this middle ground, there are options;

1.  Reduce the asking price (the estate agents usual first suggestion). This is a tricky one, its never my first option, but there are cases where purely due to the local market, for example if a few larger properties come on the market for less, when this must be seriously considered.

2.  House staging - DIY, chances are if you are looking to sell you are also looking to buy, so get into your buying mindset and have a good look at your own property.  What would you love, what might put you off? Look online at similar properties that you are competing with, what makes yours better or worse? Are there any unfinished DIY jobs?  

You may notice I use the word property, not home; people don't want to buy your home, they want to buy your property to create their home. 

3.  House staging - professional, I can't speak for all stagers, so I will explain what I do.  My main aim is to help sell your property quickly for the highest possible amount.  I work out the the highest price that the property could reasonably achieve then list the changes that are required. Depending on budget, this can be a DIY list or a list that I project manage. These can be from simple decoration changes to more major layout changes and everything in between. I can also loan accessories and sometimes furniture to save the client buying temporary furniture.

Last week I staged a bedroom as a child's bedroom despite the owners not having children living there at the time, but the house is ideally located for top rated schools, so it will help buyers imagine their children in the room.

 

The Rise of the Property Tourist

They say Easter Weekend is the ultimate weekend for viewing/selling property, I'm not sure what makes this weekend so magical, but the extra 2 days holiday do seem to encourage people to get out and see houses.  It does make me wonder though, are these serious buyers or is viewing property the new cheap day out?

I know people view new build show homes out of curiosity and perhaps boredom, but have we reached a time where they view 'used' homes too?  I fear this might be the case, having wasted a lot of time on "property tourists" over the years, I advise my clients to be cautious about who views their property.  

I once came across as estate agent who wouldn't allow anyone to view without seeing (and copying) documents of either available cash, proof of mortgage or sale in progress of their current home, this was a little much and ended up putting buyers off.

I personally go for the middle ground, asking sensible questions about their position, but wouldn't demand proof until they wanted to put an offer forward.  My experience is that if someone is serious about viewing a property, they will tell you how fantastic their position is, and silence tells a different story.  There are also a few checks that can be done, the internet is a fantastic tool for finding out all sorts of things, for example, take their current address and a quick check on rightmove will tell you if it is on the market, under offer or not on at all. You will also see the value of their home and although it isn't exact, this will give a good guide as to whether your property is the next logical step on the ladder for them.  This is really why I advise using an agent, its easier for them to ask these questions and do the checks without putting you in an awkward position.  

Etiquette for viewing a house (UK)

After a particularly unpleasant viewing, I have been thinking about the etiquette of viewing a house.  At the moment it might be argued that most buyers are just grateful for an offer and how the buyer behaves doesn't matter, but this won't always be the case.  Sometimes, 2 or more similar offers are made and the behaviour is the only factor that separates the winning offer and the losing bid.

I am not claiming to be an etiquette expert by any means, but I have done many many viewings, as buyer and vendor over the years.

The lady viewing recently did many things to annoy me, (probably unintentionally) starting with being late, yes sometimes it can't be helped, but apologise, it diffuses the negative feelings someone may be harbouring.  I've given up my time to be there too.

Within 3 steps inside the door, she asked how long it had been on the market, a good thing to know, but ask the agent, all it told me immediately was that she was looking for reasons to reduce the price.  She then asked me which direction it was facing and 'tutted' when she found out it didn't have a south facing garden.  Allow me to introduce maps, you can work out the direction of the property.  Especially on google maps where you can learn all sorts of other things about the location.  I'd even advise driving past before making an appointment to view, which I always do.

From my point of view as a vendor, if she puts in an acceptable offer, I have to think to myself, if the viewing was this difficult, what will the conveyancing process be like? Will she find more things to pick at, demand insurance for, and potentially pull out at the last minute having had my property off the market from genuine buyers for months?  My answer is probably and so I very much doubt I would accept an offer even without others in the immediate picture.

So my advice for viewing property...

1.  Do your research before booking a viewing, ask the agent questions. (I will write another post about how to research)

2.  If the agent is accompanying the viewing, you can be slightly more honest, but don't forget that anything you say may be fed back to the vendor.

3.  Remember if the vendor is showing you round, that they will be listening to everything you say, so save your negatives for the journey home. 

4.  It is either someones home, with their taste and things they love, or the result of hard work of a developer, so they will have feelings, and probably be easily insulted.  Be polite, even if it isn't your taste or style.

5.  The sorts of questions to ask a vendor are, council tax band, freehold or leasehold, ground rent, service charge and any other details commonly missed from the brochure.  They are never going to tell you that its a bad area or the neighbours are terrible, so don't waste time asking.  Also avoid security questions at this point, you may have no intention of committing a crime, but you can unintentionally make the vendor feel very nervous!

6.  On a second viewing, when you are showing a more serious interest, it is acceptable to ask more detailed questions about cost of energy bills, any warranties that will be transferred and security.  

7.  Be on time, or call to let them know that you are running a few minutes late and that you are sorry.

My final point is a huge pet hate of mine....

When talking about purchasing a house, the term CASH BUYER means that you have the money in your pocket (ok, the bank) and can certainly be available for completion in 4-6 weeks.  For CASH BUYER read CHAIN FREE AND CASH IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE - which could include a mortgage you have already agreed.  

I have had many people tell me they are a cash buyer when what they really mean is once they sell their house they will use the equity to buy this one, but their house might not sell for months or years.  

Cowboy Builders

I love a good stereotype, I love playing up to a stereotype and I love to break a stereotype.

I have to confess that looking nothing like a stereotypical property developer has its good points.  I have what I call the 'Honesty Test' with potential tradespeople, where I play dumb and see if they give me a sensible quote and explanation of the job or try to take advantage of the 'dumb blonde'.  Its also quite good fun!!

I recently came across a shining example of 'the dumb blonde won't know that we are cutting corners' by a flooring company I was using for the first time.  I had spoken to various people at the company and was quite happy with them initially as they had a fair price and good knowledge, that was until the fitters turned up.  

They arrived to screed the concrete floor in the utility, their method was to pour a tub of "self levelling" screed near the middle and leave it for the weekend.  

So when they returned on Monday morning, I explained that they would be sorting it out immediately.....the responses...."thats how it should look", followed by "our trowels can't reach the sides", "you don't really need it to go to the edges" and something along the lines of "its level enough".  

"our trowels can't reach the sides"

"its level enough" 

- perhaps this photo doesn't quite do it justice but it really did resemble a solid model of a rough sea.

Funny how saving themselves about 30 minutes and £20 cost them a lot of potential future work.  I will always try my best to buy locally, but sometimes, local businesses just don't help themselves.

I'll never know if this was because they thought they could get away with it or because they genuinely thought it was acceptable, I can't help thinking it was because the 'dumb blonde' wouldn't notice and it meant getting home earlier on a Friday.

So the morals of this story are:

I'm blonde, not stupid

Support local, but only if they deserve your support

And avoid letting anyone do work on a Friday afternoon

Just a lick of paint

Well its been a busy couple of months, this bungalow renovation was finished last year but it's taken me until now to update the blog!

This has been a very frustrating project for a number of reasons, the main frustration is that it looks like its just had 'a lick of paint' not a lot of time, money and effort put in! A prime example of this 'lick of paint' is the lounge.

  

This is the lounge before and after, and I agree, on the surface it looks like not much has happened, but most of the walls have been back to brick, before being re-plastered, rewired, the radiator repositioned, decorated and a new fire and surround installed. Also, a new light fitting and new carpet (with underlay - no idea why people think its ok to lay a carpet without - but thats a rant for another time)

When this went on the market I had a couple come round to view it, pretending to be interested, who after about 5 minutes told me very bluntly that they knew how much I'd paid and were just looking for ideas so they could do the same "without the developer profit".  

Now I'm not a charity, but I'm also not, or likely to be, a millionaire!  I do a proper job, I don't cut corners and I will spend the money necessary to  do the job properly.  My properties won't start to fall apart in 6 months or a year, and I know that because I only buy quality materials and have professional tradesmen and that all comes at a price.  

I blame Homes Under the Hammer, now I love that show, but £5000 for a whole renovation?

 Buying a whole kitchen including appliances for £500? Really? Did it fall off the back of a lorry? Will it last longer than 10 minutes?

Thats before I start on legal fees, stamp duty, estate agent fees to sell it on, utilities, skips, insurance, the list goes on and on and amounts to thousands.