Buyers Guide to Decorative Furniture
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Why move when you can improve? There are lots of reasons to extend, whether you want to create more space, add value to your home or just love the area in which you live.
'The increasing cost and hassle of moving combined with uncertainty in the property market makes staying put an attractive prospect,' says Hugo Tugman, co-founder of Architect Your Home.
'Many properties have untapped potential, and renovations can make a home more enjoyable to live in as well as adding to its market value.
' BE AREA AWARE Before you plan that extravagant extension or costly conversion, it's crucial to talk to a local estate agent to find out what renovations are popular in your area.
Every street has a ceiling value so don't over develop if you want to see a good return on your investment.
RESEARCH FIRST 'If your area is full of young professionals, family-friendly extensions are not the way to go,' says Michael O'Flynn of Find a Property 'Ask agents for examples of extended properties they've sold and how much they went for.
' FindaProperty.
com has access to the Land Registry's sold prices info, plus properties currently on the market.
'Plan wisely and you'll add more value than the amount spent,' adds Tugman Decorative Storage in a kitchen diner How you arrange your storage has a lot to do with the hierarchy of your possessions,' says Mark Garside.
'Some things are worth showing off; others should be tucked away.
' The right shelving or cupboards can help make a feature of their contents, and, while you may not want to keep your cornflakes on view, there's plenty of kitchen paraphernalia that deserves to be displayed.
' Grouping objects of the same type makes more of an impact than when they're on their own,' says Lori Pinkerton-Rolet, chair of the British Interior Design Association.
'Think piles of crockery, whether vintage or modern, and even the simplest glassware seems to sparkle more when arranged en masse.
' Although fitted units tend to be the norm, freestanding furniture, such as a bombe chest or antique armoire, add glamour to an otherwise sleek kitchen.
'For a homespun feel, use vintage or wooden crates as shelving,' suggests interior designer Suzy Hoodless.
'They're easy to move and add to, making them very versatile.
' Decorative Storage in Living Spaces Media storage is the main requirement in most living spaces and, while CDs and DVDs are best tucked behind closed doors, books in all their forms can become part of your overall scheme.
Line an entire wall with a built-in bookcase as, not only will this keep books neat, their colourful spines create a quirky display, too.
Add even more impact by extending the shelving around door frames.
'How you place your reading material on shelves makes a big difference, too,' says Maria Speake, interior designer and co-owner of architectural salvage and design business Retrouvius.
'Colour-coding spines is a great way to calm the potentially messy appearance of a library.
Start with darker shades at the bottom and fade the colours up.
Another idea is to let them breathe by breaking up the rows with a painting or vase.
' Alternatively, pile books high to create a striking, as well as space-saving display.
To keep a tall stack stable, invest in Minottiitalia's classic Ptolomeo shelf, which supports your tower of tomes invisibly.
'At home, we've adapted one to go from floor to ceiling,' says Polly Dickens, creative director of The Conran Shop.
'It looks like the stack of books is holding the ceiling up!' Decorative storage in bedrooms and bathrooms Bespoke storage comes into its own in bedrooms and bathrooms, where space is often limited, yet there are dozens of items that need to be stashed away.
Add interest to built-in cupboards by leaving some shelves open, and paint or illuminate the insides to highlight pretty bottles and jars.
Glam up doors with a coloured lacquer finish, revamp them with wallpaper or, as Maria Speake suggests, wrap them in beautiful fabric for a chic alternative to a feature wall.
'For a really personal touch, get a printing company to transfer your own image onto MDF, then lacquer it,' says interior designer and design consultant Shaun Clarkson.
You can get this done at Concorde Graphics.
Vintage finds are also ideally suited to these spaces.
Sidestep the expected by choosing interesting pieces and using them in unusual places.
A stack of battered suitcases or school-style trunks are roomy enough for piles of spare linen, and if you're neater than a Benetton shop assistant when it comes to folding up your jumpers, glass-fronted vintage shop fittings are a great way of storing clothes.
A second-hand filing cabinet is ideal for stashing bathroom necessities, or line the drawers with pretty paper and use it to keep lingerie in order.
You can also get old furniture sprayed at a car body shop.
'Spray-painting a cabinet or Louis-style piece with a high-gloss finish will immediately update it,' says Karen Murray, head of merchandising at Selfridges.
'Changing handles is an easy way to make a piece individual.
' And why not reincarnate reclaimed luggage racks as towel rails? Mount high above a bathroom door and stack bath sheets in the otherwise redundant space, or fix lower and hang hand towels on it.
'The increasing cost and hassle of moving combined with uncertainty in the property market makes staying put an attractive prospect,' says Hugo Tugman, co-founder of Architect Your Home.
'Many properties have untapped potential, and renovations can make a home more enjoyable to live in as well as adding to its market value.
' BE AREA AWARE Before you plan that extravagant extension or costly conversion, it's crucial to talk to a local estate agent to find out what renovations are popular in your area.
Every street has a ceiling value so don't over develop if you want to see a good return on your investment.
RESEARCH FIRST 'If your area is full of young professionals, family-friendly extensions are not the way to go,' says Michael O'Flynn of Find a Property 'Ask agents for examples of extended properties they've sold and how much they went for.
' FindaProperty.
com has access to the Land Registry's sold prices info, plus properties currently on the market.
'Plan wisely and you'll add more value than the amount spent,' adds Tugman Decorative Storage in a kitchen diner How you arrange your storage has a lot to do with the hierarchy of your possessions,' says Mark Garside.
'Some things are worth showing off; others should be tucked away.
' The right shelving or cupboards can help make a feature of their contents, and, while you may not want to keep your cornflakes on view, there's plenty of kitchen paraphernalia that deserves to be displayed.
' Grouping objects of the same type makes more of an impact than when they're on their own,' says Lori Pinkerton-Rolet, chair of the British Interior Design Association.
'Think piles of crockery, whether vintage or modern, and even the simplest glassware seems to sparkle more when arranged en masse.
' Although fitted units tend to be the norm, freestanding furniture, such as a bombe chest or antique armoire, add glamour to an otherwise sleek kitchen.
'For a homespun feel, use vintage or wooden crates as shelving,' suggests interior designer Suzy Hoodless.
'They're easy to move and add to, making them very versatile.
' Decorative Storage in Living Spaces Media storage is the main requirement in most living spaces and, while CDs and DVDs are best tucked behind closed doors, books in all their forms can become part of your overall scheme.
Line an entire wall with a built-in bookcase as, not only will this keep books neat, their colourful spines create a quirky display, too.
Add even more impact by extending the shelving around door frames.
'How you place your reading material on shelves makes a big difference, too,' says Maria Speake, interior designer and co-owner of architectural salvage and design business Retrouvius.
'Colour-coding spines is a great way to calm the potentially messy appearance of a library.
Start with darker shades at the bottom and fade the colours up.
Another idea is to let them breathe by breaking up the rows with a painting or vase.
' Alternatively, pile books high to create a striking, as well as space-saving display.
To keep a tall stack stable, invest in Minottiitalia's classic Ptolomeo shelf, which supports your tower of tomes invisibly.
'At home, we've adapted one to go from floor to ceiling,' says Polly Dickens, creative director of The Conran Shop.
'It looks like the stack of books is holding the ceiling up!' Decorative storage in bedrooms and bathrooms Bespoke storage comes into its own in bedrooms and bathrooms, where space is often limited, yet there are dozens of items that need to be stashed away.
Add interest to built-in cupboards by leaving some shelves open, and paint or illuminate the insides to highlight pretty bottles and jars.
Glam up doors with a coloured lacquer finish, revamp them with wallpaper or, as Maria Speake suggests, wrap them in beautiful fabric for a chic alternative to a feature wall.
'For a really personal touch, get a printing company to transfer your own image onto MDF, then lacquer it,' says interior designer and design consultant Shaun Clarkson.
You can get this done at Concorde Graphics.
Vintage finds are also ideally suited to these spaces.
Sidestep the expected by choosing interesting pieces and using them in unusual places.
A stack of battered suitcases or school-style trunks are roomy enough for piles of spare linen, and if you're neater than a Benetton shop assistant when it comes to folding up your jumpers, glass-fronted vintage shop fittings are a great way of storing clothes.
A second-hand filing cabinet is ideal for stashing bathroom necessities, or line the drawers with pretty paper and use it to keep lingerie in order.
You can also get old furniture sprayed at a car body shop.
'Spray-painting a cabinet or Louis-style piece with a high-gloss finish will immediately update it,' says Karen Murray, head of merchandising at Selfridges.
'Changing handles is an easy way to make a piece individual.
' And why not reincarnate reclaimed luggage racks as towel rails? Mount high above a bathroom door and stack bath sheets in the otherwise redundant space, or fix lower and hang hand towels on it.
