property
We’re finally leaving winter behind, yet our homes can look as though
they’re still suffering from its effects. Thankfully, a few changes, small
but significant, can help spruce things up.
A
manda Fox, creative director of homeware and gift specialists,
The Handpicked Collection offers a few tips of where to begin:
“First go outside, then walk back through your front door with fresh eyes
to identify things that could be tidier or more cheerful.” she suggests. “Once
you open your eyes to new possibilities, there are all sorts of little extras you
could consider adding that don’t mean huge decorating bills or a visit to a local
home furnishers.
“Have fun by investing in a set of colourful pegs for hanging coats, or identify
something you can paint a bright colour. Do you fancy bright yellow banisters
or perhaps an emerald green door frame? If it’s a small job, you’ll probably only
need a few tester pots, rather than a whole litre can of paint, but just spots of extra
colour can dramatically alter the look and feel of a room.”
It’s all too easy to get used to cluttered surfaces, especially in the kitchen, so
Amanda suggests making a clean sweep and storing away all but the essentials
and allowing attractive items, like quirky mismatched crockery or sleek designer
gadgets, to star. These are the things that make your living space personal.
Take a similar approach in living areas, by collecting decorative items in one
place, deciding which work well together, and then redistributing them in different
arrangements throughout the house. “Try to mix-match heights, sizes, textures and
colours to make them visually appealing and they’ll look new and different,” says
Fox. “Similarly, take down pictures and try each one in a different position. You’ll
be surprised how fresh existing artworks can look with different light on them and
a change of surrounding environment.”
“
Round white finial (two pack) £3
Fleur de lis Hogtidlig finial (two pack) £6
Blast finial in black (two pack) £5
All from Ikea.
Most of these changes won’t cost
a thing but they’ll have the effect of
putting a spring in your step every
time you go indoors!
Finally, plump up sofa cushions, fling windows wide open for at least 30 minutes a
day, and drape a colourful cloth over a table and make fruit a centrepiece. “A glass
vase filled with zesty, colourful lemons and limes whose aroma will scent the room
is a stylist’s favourite trick,” she says.
So in time for the a rriva l of the new season.
Check out the ex perts’ suggestions for
spring room projects...
Fusion glass stairset, prices start from
£600, Richard Burbidge.
Deakin extending table £68, Deakin Pop chair
£115, BB1 pendant £162, Bones rug £995
All from Barker & Stonehouse.
Stairway to heaven .
Stairs can be taken for granted when it comes to redecorating and may merely get
routinely repainted. Yet a complete replacement staircase, or even simply replacing the
spindles, stair baluster and newel posts, can be hugely effective and transform a hallway.
Neville Johnson is one specialist company who will completely replace a staircase, from
£2,000 (www.nevillejohnson.co.uk). Richard Burbidge has a wide variety of stair-part
systems, rails, pots and spindles, including contemporary versions in glass and metal.
A basic kit starts from £300 for an average staircase of 13 treads. In many cases this is
a DIY project which can be completed in under a weekend (www.stairproject.co.uk).
Window on the world .
Sitting in a comfy chair basking in glorious spring sunshine pouring through an
adjacent window is an easy way to relax.
“Rejuvenate your window space with textiles, plants, vases and lamps, then pull up a
chair, have a good book handy and you’ve got your very own sunshine haven,” says
Aisha Gibson at Ikea. “Sheer curtains allow sunlight to filter evenly through a room, and
if you add layers of textiles in different patterns and materials you can give your space a
textured, layered look.
“Like jewellery, curtain finials complete your window dressing and make it even more
elegant, playful and personal. The best part is that you can easily change them whenever
you feel you want some variation. Make your own tassel with a length of leftover fabric.
Fold it, cut into strips, then roll and bind with decorative ribbon and use the ribbon to act
as a tie back.”
Conjure up a field of spring flowers with Ingmarie Curtains, £35 a pair. Gulsporre Sheer Curtains £10,
Myrten Sheer Patterned Curtains £12 a pair. Curtain Finials from £3 for a pack of two. Skurar Plant Pot £2.
All from Ikea (www.ikea.com)
www.lifebeginsmagazine.com
Life Begins 7