Present2Sell - By The Dart March 2010
Spring into summer
First shoots
For me, the first signs of Spring seem to conjure memories of alfresco entertaining and candlelit evenings on the deck, savouring the Chardonnay against the fading aroma of the barbecue. However, while we wait hopefully for temperatures to rise and the rain to stop, there's a multitude of tasks to complete on a property to make that day dream come true, whether it's our own holiday home, or one we let out.
Work outside in
Trim back hedges and bushes soon so that all the spring green will look really fresh and full but do check first that you have no nesting birds. Use the chilly weather as the time do all those aerobic maintenance tasks such as scrubbing mould and algae off walls and paved areas, cleaning out gutters, re-painting flakey woodwork and re-applying preservative to decked areas. If we wait til the sun starts shining, we may find motivation lacking. And then it's too easy to suddenly find that nature's green invasion has taken over and it's all more trouble than it's worth!
In-spiration
It's fun to create the escapism of summer in our interiors. Window dressings offer several options to emphasise the impact of the stronger daylight - shutters create sharp shadows and a sense of cool against the heat; voiles billowing against open windows echo wind in the sails. Keep your curtains if they're needed for privacy, but do replace heavy winter drapes in the lounge with lighter and brighter fabrics to give the room lift. Choose colours that relate to the surroundings. If your property is near the beach, echo this with creams and turquoises, with scarlet or coral as accents. If you apply these colours to portable elements, such as lampshades, rugs, cushions etc, it saves on decorating costs, and you can then re-style for other seasons with relative ease. Don't forget the impact that artwork on the walls can make. Your own photographs of local scenes can easily be made into canvas or framed prints which will reinforce an emotional connection with the place. If you're expecting high numbers of other people to share your space, there's clearly a need for robust materials and products. Striped or patterned textiles on beds, curtains and furniture will enliven any room, and will also withstand heavy traffic better than plains.
To enjoy grown-up evening-time better, it's worth investing in a few good-sized trunks inside which outdoor and play items can be effortlessly stowed - and they make great coffee tables too. If you let your property, also invest in plenty of shelf storage too, to minimise things getting left behind in drawers and under beds.
Transition
A seamless transition between inside and outside is the ultimate holiday experience, which we can approximate by working with nature and engaging all our senses. Observe the path that the sun tracks around your property and make a note of where in the garden the sun is hottest. If you like a shady refuge, install a covered swing seat, an awning or a planted arbour and furnish it with rugs and cushions, a hammock, pouffes and blankets - all stored in a weatherproof box. Note the direction of the prevailing winds, too, when seeking other areas to tailor into comfortable outdoor spots. Arrange bells and wind chimes in semi-sheltered areas so they only occasionally sound, and choose plants near the house that become fragrant at different times of the day. Soft, dense textiles, such as chunky chenilles, are best for lolling around on - take a look at www.shrutidesigns.co.uk for a great selection of pretty throws, rugs and storage.
Realism
We have to be realistic and plan for wet weather too. It's still possible to enjoy the outdoors from inside by ensuring that what we see outside is varied and engaging. Lighting is a great way to do this. There's a huge online range of outdoor fittings, coloured tube lights, LEDs and fairy lights to complement the usual pillar and wall lights - and now is the time to install them, while the soil is still bare. If your view includes planters, avoid uniformity at all costs. Use three to five shades of one colour, have differing heights and arrange them into pyramidal clumps. Avoid rows and symmetry, unless your outdoor space is vast enough to carry that sort of formality.
Fruition
And with all that hard work done, when you go there on holiday - you can really be on holiday!
