Budgets
3
HOME makeovers | Renovations
renovations | HOME makeovers
&
D
Budgets HOME Makeovers
If you’re considering renovating your home, take inspiration from these three projects The new kitchen is much lighter
1
The PROPERTY A five-bedroom detached house, Hertfordshire
Who lives here Donna Delane, her partner Richard and their son, Josh (21) and daughter, Katie (19). The PROJECT A redesign of the house to suit their big family gatherings and changing family needs. The BUDGET £125,000 Value of property before £935,000 Donna and Richard now have a large open kitchen
86 Property & Home with Phil Spencer
Value of property AFTER £1,300,000
onna and her partner, Richard, loved their home, but the layout on the ground floor was inappropriate for when they had guests or family members visiting. Donna decided to completely redesign the ground floor of her family home by opening up the kitchen, which used to be very dark, to join it with the living and dining room and create one large open kitchen, living and dining space. They also added a small extension on the back of the house, with doors that opened up onto the garden; perfect for when the summer weather arrives. Donna felt that the downstairs bathroom, an important room for guests, was also too small so they knocked down walls to enlarge the space.
“
Wallpaper has played a huge part in our redecoration for creating mood, warmth and atmosphere. I have not been afraid to use striking dark papers, which look amazing
”
The family has also made some changes upstairs. To ensure that there weren’t any long queues for the bathroom, each bedroom was provided with its own en-suite. The fourth bedroom was converted into a dressing room and the fifth bedroom became a home office and study. For the décor, Donna explains that they wanted a ‘glamorous and modern look.’ For inspiration, the family decided to look at the décor in some of their favourite hotels, including The Grove in Hertfordshire. Donna says, ‘We loved the feeling of all of the different lounging areas, it was a very glamorous look.’ She adds, ‘Wallpaper has played a huge part in our re-decoration for creating mood, warmth and atmosphere. I have not been afraid to use striking dark papers, which look amazing.’
Property & Home with Phil Spencer 87
© The Wood Works
HOME makeovers | Renovations
Richard made a lot of their new furniture himself
Donna wanted the bedroom to be modern and glamorous
Donna and Richard jointly run their own furniture business, The Wood Works, so, when it came to new furniture, they tried to do as much work on their own as possible. The family has been working on their home makeover for the past three years, doing one room at a time. Although they still have the master bedroom to do, Donna says, ‘All four of us adore our house and enjoy living there immensely; it’s a real family home now.’
DONNA’s tip Be true to what you want to achieve. If you have strong ideas, have the courage to stick with them. I see so many people changing their minds constantly because they listen to the advice of too many different people, and they end up with a watered down version of what they originally wanted. Property & Home with Phil Spencer 89
HOME makeovers | Renovations
The family took inspiration from the beach
How to repair plaster • Before you start, ensure the surface is dry, clean and free from dust, mould and grease. • To fill the holes, mix a patching plaster, such as One Coat Plaster, to a thick and creamy consistency. • Apply plaster to the wall with firm pressure in upward strokes. Build up to a maximum of 11mm thickness. • As the plaster starts to harden, smooth out for a flat finish. • Once this is finished, allow the plaster to dry for at least two hours. • When thoroughly dry, sand any minor imperfections, or alternatively apply a fine finishing filler.
2
t
he Swanne family bought the cottage in December 2007 as a second home so that they had somewhere to escape with the children at weekends. Unfortunately they found that they weren’t able to get down to Devon as much as they had anticipated, so they decided to give the cottage a makeover so that it was suitable to rent to other families visiting the area (roccamlife.co.uk). The cottage is close to Devon’s picturesque coastline so the family took a lot of inspiration from the local scenery. Julian explains that they used a mood board to help them establish their colour scheme; warm and soft blues from the sea mixed with the grays of the driftwood. Julian says, ‘We wanted a seaside cottage without the chintz, contemporary but cosy with modern technology incorporated into every aspect.’ On the ground floor they created a driftwood effect on the flooring. To achieve this look they chose a French engineered oak material, which was then whitewashed and finished using specialist paint. Julian explains that, with three young boys, a wooden floor is perfect as it’s virtually indestructible. In the kitchen, the family employed a freelance designer to help with redesigning the room. Julian says, ‘He came up with the genius idea to put the oven above the boiler by moving
For more information and advice, visit www.artexeasifix.co.uk
The PROPERTY A TWO-BEDROOM, 250-YEAR-OLD COTTAGE, Devon
Who lives here The cottage is a second home for Julian Swanne, his wife, Lou and their three children Rory (4), Jack (21 months), Will (6 months) and their dog, Tilly. The PROJECT The family renovated and furnished the property, while being sympathetic to the age of the cottage, to make it suitable to rent out to families visiting the area. The BUDGET £18,960 Value of property before £280,000 Value of property AFTER £365,000 some pipes, then allowing us to add the most important appliance, the dishwasher.’ Julian explains that the biggest dilemma was what to use as a kitchen worktop but eventually they found a local slate supplier who was able to
provide exactly what they wanted. The 50mm thick slate that they picked was then aged to create a more worn look. When it was time to bring the slate home, Julian explains, ‘It nearly killed us carrying it in and placing it in position.’ After several trips down to the beach, they were able to find a fantastic piece of driftwood, which was creatively used as a utensil hanger. Other rooms to also get a makeover included the two bedrooms, bathroom, dining room and sitting room. To get the best deal for the work that needed doing, Julian and his family did a lot of hunting around to find local suppliers. ‘Ask around for recommendations as chances are [that] someone nearby has had similar work carried out before.’ Although the changes took Julian and his family a year and a half to complete, they now have a place that they can both rent out and also come and visit themselves from time to time.
Julian’s tip If you are planning on redecorating an older property, Julian advises that you shouldn’t underestimate how much work it will take. For every bit of wallpaper you remove there’s likely to be a lot of plaster attached. Property & Home with Phil Spencer 91
renovations | HOME makeovers
3
W
hen Jonathan and his wife, Tina moved into their home in May 2011, Tina immediately identified that the kitchen needed to be redecorated as the appliances, such as the washing machine, were badly positioned and the décor was outdated. Jonathan says, ‘[Tina] only agreed to buy the house if I agreed to us getting it done as soon as possible.’ The Weinberg’s wanted to create a kitchen where they could sit and eat, while also ensuring everything was conveniently placed. Jonathan explains that he Tina were keen to create a fresh but retro feel to the kitchen and had the idea of recreating a 50s style American diner. As they were unsure how to approach creating this look, the couple decided to get help from Ikea, who helped bring their ideas to life. ‘We looked at various pictures of diners and picked out the main themes, such as the colours and having a checkerboard floor and a large Range cooker,’ Jonathan says. To start, they had to totally gut out the kitchen, which meant that they had to turn their dining room into a make shift kitchen, complete with a microwave, kettle and toaster, while the work was being completed. The floor in the kitchen was then pulled up to enable an American style black and cream checkerboard floor to be laid, and the plumbing had to be readapted
92 Property & Home with Phil Spencer
Jonathan and Tina’s kitchen now has an American diner style
The property
A FOUR-bedroom detached house, Essex Who lives here Jonathan and Tina Weinberg The PROJECT Updating the kitchen, which was outdated and did not meet the couple’s needs The BUDGET £12,000 to add the dishwasher and a large American-style fridge freezer. Continuing with the colour scheme from the floor, the couple decided to use cream on the walls and a mix of red and cream coloured cupboards. ‘This gave us a bold look with the red but mixing in the cream ensured it was not overpowering,’ Jonathan explains. The finishing touch to their American-style kitchen came when they installed the breakfast bar into the kitchen, something that the couple desperately wanted. The breakfast bar was set up by the window, which allowed the couple to look out onto the garden. Retro stalls were also added to complete the look. From start to finish, it took the couple 10 weeks to create their dream
kitchen. Jonathan explains, ‘Despite all the effort, cost and aggravation of living without a kitchen for so long, it’s been well worth it.’
jonathan’s tip It will be a nightmare, you will pull your hair out, you will wish at times you hadn’t started but stick with it because, when the final specks of dust are swept away, and the first meal is cooked, it’ll be like a whole new beginning. P&H
MakING your life easier Artex Easifix repair kits are designed to make DIY jobs quicker and easier to complete. The eight DIY repair kits include Plaster, Plasterboard, Texture and Exterior Render. Each kit contains everything you need to get the job done including the materials, tools and “how to” instructions. Other products in the range include, fillers, plasters, tools and accessories. www.artexeasifix.co.uk
HOME makeovers | Renovations
renovations | HOME makeovers
&
D
Budgets HOME Makeovers
If you’re considering renovating your home, take inspiration from these three projects The new kitchen is much lighter
1
The PROPERTY A five-bedroom detached house, Hertfordshire
Who lives here Donna Delane, her partner Richard and their son, Josh (21) and daughter, Katie (19). The PROJECT A redesign of the house to suit their big family gatherings and changing family needs. The BUDGET £125,000 Value of property before £935,000 Donna and Richard now have a large open kitchen
86 Property & Home with Phil Spencer
Value of property AFTER £1,300,000
onna and her partner, Richard, loved their home, but the layout on the ground floor was inappropriate for when they had guests or family members visiting. Donna decided to completely redesign the ground floor of her family home by opening up the kitchen, which used to be very dark, to join it with the living and dining room and create one large open kitchen, living and dining space. They also added a small extension on the back of the house, with doors that opened up onto the garden; perfect for when the summer weather arrives. Donna felt that the downstairs bathroom, an important room for guests, was also too small so they knocked down walls to enlarge the space.
“
Wallpaper has played a huge part in our redecoration for creating mood, warmth and atmosphere. I have not been afraid to use striking dark papers, which look amazing
”
The family has also made some changes upstairs. To ensure that there weren’t any long queues for the bathroom, each bedroom was provided with its own en-suite. The fourth bedroom was converted into a dressing room and the fifth bedroom became a home office and study. For the décor, Donna explains that they wanted a ‘glamorous and modern look.’ For inspiration, the family decided to look at the décor in some of their favourite hotels, including The Grove in Hertfordshire. Donna says, ‘We loved the feeling of all of the different lounging areas, it was a very glamorous look.’ She adds, ‘Wallpaper has played a huge part in our re-decoration for creating mood, warmth and atmosphere. I have not been afraid to use striking dark papers, which look amazing.’
Property & Home with Phil Spencer 87
© The Wood Works
HOME makeovers | Renovations
Richard made a lot of their new furniture himself
Donna wanted the bedroom to be modern and glamorous
Donna and Richard jointly run their own furniture business, The Wood Works, so, when it came to new furniture, they tried to do as much work on their own as possible. The family has been working on their home makeover for the past three years, doing one room at a time. Although they still have the master bedroom to do, Donna says, ‘All four of us adore our house and enjoy living there immensely; it’s a real family home now.’
DONNA’s tip Be true to what you want to achieve. If you have strong ideas, have the courage to stick with them. I see so many people changing their minds constantly because they listen to the advice of too many different people, and they end up with a watered down version of what they originally wanted. Property & Home with Phil Spencer 89
HOME makeovers | Renovations
The family took inspiration from the beach
How to repair plaster • Before you start, ensure the surface is dry, clean and free from dust, mould and grease. • To fill the holes, mix a patching plaster, such as One Coat Plaster, to a thick and creamy consistency. • Apply plaster to the wall with firm pressure in upward strokes. Build up to a maximum of 11mm thickness. • As the plaster starts to harden, smooth out for a flat finish. • Once this is finished, allow the plaster to dry for at least two hours. • When thoroughly dry, sand any minor imperfections, or alternatively apply a fine finishing filler.
2
t
he Swanne family bought the cottage in December 2007 as a second home so that they had somewhere to escape with the children at weekends. Unfortunately they found that they weren’t able to get down to Devon as much as they had anticipated, so they decided to give the cottage a makeover so that it was suitable to rent to other families visiting the area (roccamlife.co.uk). The cottage is close to Devon’s picturesque coastline so the family took a lot of inspiration from the local scenery. Julian explains that they used a mood board to help them establish their colour scheme; warm and soft blues from the sea mixed with the grays of the driftwood. Julian says, ‘We wanted a seaside cottage without the chintz, contemporary but cosy with modern technology incorporated into every aspect.’ On the ground floor they created a driftwood effect on the flooring. To achieve this look they chose a French engineered oak material, which was then whitewashed and finished using specialist paint. Julian explains that, with three young boys, a wooden floor is perfect as it’s virtually indestructible. In the kitchen, the family employed a freelance designer to help with redesigning the room. Julian says, ‘He came up with the genius idea to put the oven above the boiler by moving
For more information and advice, visit www.artexeasifix.co.uk
The PROPERTY A TWO-BEDROOM, 250-YEAR-OLD COTTAGE, Devon
Who lives here The cottage is a second home for Julian Swanne, his wife, Lou and their three children Rory (4), Jack (21 months), Will (6 months) and their dog, Tilly. The PROJECT The family renovated and furnished the property, while being sympathetic to the age of the cottage, to make it suitable to rent out to families visiting the area. The BUDGET £18,960 Value of property before £280,000 Value of property AFTER £365,000 some pipes, then allowing us to add the most important appliance, the dishwasher.’ Julian explains that the biggest dilemma was what to use as a kitchen worktop but eventually they found a local slate supplier who was able to
provide exactly what they wanted. The 50mm thick slate that they picked was then aged to create a more worn look. When it was time to bring the slate home, Julian explains, ‘It nearly killed us carrying it in and placing it in position.’ After several trips down to the beach, they were able to find a fantastic piece of driftwood, which was creatively used as a utensil hanger. Other rooms to also get a makeover included the two bedrooms, bathroom, dining room and sitting room. To get the best deal for the work that needed doing, Julian and his family did a lot of hunting around to find local suppliers. ‘Ask around for recommendations as chances are [that] someone nearby has had similar work carried out before.’ Although the changes took Julian and his family a year and a half to complete, they now have a place that they can both rent out and also come and visit themselves from time to time.
Julian’s tip If you are planning on redecorating an older property, Julian advises that you shouldn’t underestimate how much work it will take. For every bit of wallpaper you remove there’s likely to be a lot of plaster attached. Property & Home with Phil Spencer 91
renovations | HOME makeovers
3
W
hen Jonathan and his wife, Tina moved into their home in May 2011, Tina immediately identified that the kitchen needed to be redecorated as the appliances, such as the washing machine, were badly positioned and the décor was outdated. Jonathan says, ‘[Tina] only agreed to buy the house if I agreed to us getting it done as soon as possible.’ The Weinberg’s wanted to create a kitchen where they could sit and eat, while also ensuring everything was conveniently placed. Jonathan explains that he Tina were keen to create a fresh but retro feel to the kitchen and had the idea of recreating a 50s style American diner. As they were unsure how to approach creating this look, the couple decided to get help from Ikea, who helped bring their ideas to life. ‘We looked at various pictures of diners and picked out the main themes, such as the colours and having a checkerboard floor and a large Range cooker,’ Jonathan says. To start, they had to totally gut out the kitchen, which meant that they had to turn their dining room into a make shift kitchen, complete with a microwave, kettle and toaster, while the work was being completed. The floor in the kitchen was then pulled up to enable an American style black and cream checkerboard floor to be laid, and the plumbing had to be readapted
92 Property & Home with Phil Spencer
Jonathan and Tina’s kitchen now has an American diner style
The property
A FOUR-bedroom detached house, Essex Who lives here Jonathan and Tina Weinberg The PROJECT Updating the kitchen, which was outdated and did not meet the couple’s needs The BUDGET £12,000 to add the dishwasher and a large American-style fridge freezer. Continuing with the colour scheme from the floor, the couple decided to use cream on the walls and a mix of red and cream coloured cupboards. ‘This gave us a bold look with the red but mixing in the cream ensured it was not overpowering,’ Jonathan explains. The finishing touch to their American-style kitchen came when they installed the breakfast bar into the kitchen, something that the couple desperately wanted. The breakfast bar was set up by the window, which allowed the couple to look out onto the garden. Retro stalls were also added to complete the look. From start to finish, it took the couple 10 weeks to create their dream
kitchen. Jonathan explains, ‘Despite all the effort, cost and aggravation of living without a kitchen for so long, it’s been well worth it.’
jonathan’s tip It will be a nightmare, you will pull your hair out, you will wish at times you hadn’t started but stick with it because, when the final specks of dust are swept away, and the first meal is cooked, it’ll be like a whole new beginning. P&H
MakING your life easier Artex Easifix repair kits are designed to make DIY jobs quicker and easier to complete. The eight DIY repair kits include Plaster, Plasterboard, Texture and Exterior Render. Each kit contains everything you need to get the job done including the materials, tools and “how to” instructions. Other products in the range include, fillers, plasters, tools and accessories. www.artexeasifix.co.uk
