Present2Sell - Devon Today July 2007
For many of us, this is a great time of year to re-decorate. Fine dry weather and long evenings gives us all the time and space we need.
Popular at the moment are monochromes, with softer, stony whites. This is a good summer scheme because inexpensive white sheers suffice as window dressing and exposed floorboards can just be painted black or black check with no other cover needed. Three white walls, one papered with a monochrome print plus a few splashes of accent colour create space and drama, and can easily be warmed up for the winter months. Use a monochrome scheme for sophisticated outdoors dining - a darkly textured cloth, gloss black seating with gold or silver accents, the simplest of white and silver cutlery and crockery, sparkling glassware and clear bowls of seasonal blooms or fresh green sprigs- looks great and is so easy to change colour to reflect the changing hues in the garden.
40's blue/pink chintz also looks fabulous teamed up with crisp whites and is another combination that readily cosys up for winter. The newly opened Interior House on Tudor Street (open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) not only has a gorgeous selection of accessories for such a scheme, but houses it in delightful surroundings. There is the option here to accentuate either of the main shades through accessories from the red or blue side of the colour wheel. Avoid in-betweens though - this scheme's impact is achieved through contrast, not blending.
If you're going beyond re-colouring this summer, rather than buy new furniture for your scheme, consider having some painted. Favourite or functional pieces can be blended into a better fit for your new look. See www.heritagemurals.com/gal3.htm for a good local artist.
For those of us on the move this summer, from 1st August, technical requirements in the Home Information Pack will determine how we improve our homes in the future because buyers can demand certificates for completed work (see www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk). Most home-owners place any home re-design decisions in the context of one day moving house, hopefully with a good return on investment. When the time comes to sell though, it's hard to see our own homes in purely economic terms. How can we suddenly become objective, take account of the tastes of others and see our homes through the eyes of buyers?
Helping clients disengage emotionally from their property is a professional home-stager's biggest challenge, and the more successfully this is done, the more successful the presentation of the property - which will translate as full price offers and less time on the market.
