Present2Sell - Devon Today Jun 2007

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Bring the outside in

The longest hours of sunshine beckon and for those of us tied to school holidays, it's time to enjoy that sunshine at home.

Contemporay home design pursues a seamless blending of all the spaces in the home, and none more so than the transition between interior and exterior space. To achieve that, there is huge choice these days but how can we find a scheme that suits our space, rather than one that just looks good in a stylised retail environment?

From the area to be designed, take a detailed look at the colours and shapes visible. Is there a balance of pale and dark foliage? Create impact by choosing objects in the opposite hue, (but be sure to get the balance right - a little yellow/orange goes a surprisingly long way with its oppposites, purple/blue).

What colours are the flowers? Echo these in your tableware, seat cushions, rugs and painted furniture. (see illustration of swing seat)

Arrange planters and other objects in vertical triangles; avoid placing same-height objects together.

For outdoor dining, think lightweight, waterproof and readily de-mountable. Permanent fixtures such as a weatherproof dining table can team up with portable chairs and accessories. Store cushions, throws and rugs in small wicker trunks (available at IKEA) which can double up as seating.

Those of us intending to move house at this popular time of year will be conscious of the 1st June deadline for new home-sellers to produce a Home Information Pack. Good estate agencies are flagging this to their clients, but canny home-sellers are already aware that the benefits of preparing their homes prior to sale include attracting fast, full-value offers.

Professional home-staging goes beyond just tidying up - it's all too easy to render a room bland and without welcome by excessive de-cluttering. The trick is to highlight attractive elements of the home while minimising any less-than-delightful features. At this time of the year especially, drawing attention to all the touching points with your outdoor space is bound to inspire buyers. Ensure access to the outdoors is as visually direct as possible; create visual echoes between house and garden by repeating colours or shapes in both.

If you have drapes around patio doors, join them in the middle and raise the height of the tie-backs, inviting them into your garden.