http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28521111.html

9 years ago

Hi

The floors and walls in this house are depressing. The previous owners put a dark quarry tile throughout the downstairs and a red, white and blue candy stripe crucial trading carpet throughout which goes with absolutely nothing. I really need to give this house some clean lines and make it cosy. I paid an interior designer to come out and give me some ideas but all she has given me is wishy washy wallpapers and linen fabrics.

My walls are so old I cannot have paper so what I think I need to do with this house is paint it light throughout and put a neutral carpet everywhere then choose lovely fabrics to bring each room alive with upholstery and curtains.

Could you recommend a lovely paint colour and a carpet to go throughout the house, possibly a neutral sisal? Im totally lost. I see lots of things I like but wouldn't know whether it would work everywhere, I will then build everything from there.

I hope you can help me

SImone Broadhurst

Featured Answer

boundsgreener

9 years ago

Ah-hah. You better check on what you can and can't paint and change anyway if the estate agent blurb was correct and your house is listed.

If you are allowed to, you could sandblast the beams and it would make it lighter AND you would be able to properly see the wood.

If you really want sisal to replace all the carpeting - which is great on stairs and heavy traffic areas - that colour you like looks nice. Light, colourful rugs would be good in the tiled rooms. Light coloured furniture and clever lighting (think lamps, chandeliers with lots of glass to reflect light and spot lights to highlight features in the rooms).

While you are finding out what restrictions there are, here are a few inspirational pictures to see if you like the look of any of them.

https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/17th-century-thatched-cottage-country-living-room-hampshire-phvw-vp~16268861
https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/17th-century-thatched-cottage-country-dining-room-hampshire-phvw-vp~16268854

Living Room · More Info

I like your "assistant" by the way :)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

boundsgreener
9 years ago
Hi Simone. Post your own pictures of the property by commenting on this post and adding a couple of key images as your link says the agent has removed the property from the site and thus you can only see it shaded out (so the colours aren't clear).

That said, I think the quarry tiles are beautiful. They are in-keeping with the fact this is a listed, 400 year old farmhouse. I think the previous owners have done it justice by spending the money on proper old quarry tiles. The stripey carpet is obviously not your taste and I don't think it goes with their furniture, either, but it would look really good with modern furnishings.

Sisal is hard-wearing and neutral and goes with the farmhouse feel, but it isn't formal and it isn't soft (you wouldn't want to rub your toes through it in the winter).
Crucial Trading Natural Floor Covering · More Info

I would find a beige-based carpet that has some flexs of different beiges in it - it means it goes with everything and doesn't show up stains as much. It'll have the appeal of the sisal (which isn't all one colour) but is kinder on the feet.

As for paint colour, Farrow and Ball and Little Greene do lots of appropriate heritage colours for properties of this age (we don't know your style and what colour you are after, but they will have loads to choose from). If I were you, I would move in and live with it for a while, watch how the light changes in the rooms and then see if you need to paint and carpet.
avated
Original Author
9 years ago
I have been here for 10 months the house is extremely dark and the walls are not great, I cannot lighten the beans they have been stained too much. Really need some help
Related Discussions
Kitchen off bedroom - how to fix this quirky layout?
Q
Comments (13)
I would use what is now the bedroom, as a dining room next to the kitchen and then make what is now the lounge into a bed sitting room. Even better if you can sub divide it into two parts with a wall or part wall, but if not, how about a sofa bed or a daybed that transforms at night? Is this an apartment or a house? Having the dining area next to the kitchen makes so much more sense, as does having the bedroom next to the bathroom. There are some very creative arrangements for bed that hide by day nowadays, including fitting into cupboards etc - these look contemporary rather than the old fashioned bed sitting rooms and will make the space much more usable by day as well.
...See More
Do property professionals think using a pro-photographer is important?
Q
Comments (11)
I'm a Buyer Agent (representing the buyer), which is sort of the opposite of an Estate Agent (whose job is to sell stuff). I'm constantly astounded at the poor quality of presentation and photography that I see in the market. It's worth noting though that we have been in a rising market (a "seller's market") for many years... that is starting to turn (as property prices are cyclical) and this may be a good stimulus, flushing poor stock and poor agents from the market, or at the very least forcing them to raise their game! I very often help people buy properties they intend to use for investment (buy to let) and in these case I always assist them to get the properties furnished and styled professionally, and then arrange pro photography on their behalf. I don't mind doing this, and it's a win for them as I can access trade rates for them (which I don't 'mark up'). In London and the surrounding areas I find Photoplan to be very good. For less than £500 they'll take 30 photos, draw up a pro floor plan and edit the images. Considering how affordable that is it's a bit nuts not to do it, right? (I should mention that I'm in no way affiliated with them, just approve of their work) Rules of property: 1. You can't get sales/rentals without offers 2. You won't get offers until you get people in the property, and impress them 3. You won't get them into the property if it looks crap in pictures! :) This is such a well-worn topic that there is actually a hilarious website dedicated to just this - terrible real estate photos. It's pure gold, and pros of all kinds will enjoy it! Check out http://terriblerealestateagentphotos.com/ for a bit of a giggle. And lot's of "Nooooooo!" and "Seriously though?!?!"
...See More
property peeves
Q
Comments (28)
In Letchworth, the first garden city, they’ve set up a heritage committee to keep it “special” but all it has done is create another layer of red tape. My friend wanted to change her upvc windows to newer upvc windows in her 13 year old house and she had to get approval! I can understand if it was one of the original garden city properties but it was practically a new build. The builders had also planted a cherry tree in the front garden which had grown enormous and the roots were creeping towards the house. She wasn’t allowed to change the front garden without, again, their permission. She did get the tree removed and nobody said a word.
...See More
Help with ideas to improve side extension
Q
Comments (3)
Taking water and drains a floor up looks like a horribly expensive project. And you'd lose bedroom space. So work with what's already there. The house looks finished well from what I can see on the photos (might be merely esthetic, but still a reason not to hack into it too much). So I've focussed on the extension only (and an extra doorway, so the bathroom is right under the stairs). Tear it down and rebuild. It looks like the only space that hasn't had some tlc. The grey line is where the old extension ended, so I've added about one metre. And proper rooflights, no plastic. And yes, if the roof height allows, bring up the floor, a few csm lower is good, personally I would not like a full step down. I guess fire regulations won't allow to bring the kitchen into Rec2, because of the stairs, plus a extra hallway would take up too much space.. And I merely copied the back wall, but some french doors would be nice, of course.
...See More
avated
Original Author
9 years ago
I have seen a carpet called alternative flooring sisal metallics in titanium, could I put it everywhere?
avated
Original Author
9 years ago
Assistant? I don't get it? I have no restrictions so I'll be OK to paint. Which "white" would you recommend and I like the picture of the carpet you put in as an example do you know which one it is?

I am going to find a shot blaster but I think the whole house will suffer from the mess!

Love the pics thank you

SImone
boundsgreener
9 years ago
I meant your cute dog that snuck into a couple of your photos....

Sandblasting is VERY messy - you need an empty house or properly sealed off rooms to do it - but the results are worth it in the long run.

That carpet looks like it is a tight weave sisal or coir, but I don't know for sure. You can click on the link and then ask them a question to see if they answer and tell you the maker of the carpet.

There are so many whites! It depends on the light in your rooms, which direction the rooms face and what you like....have a look on here for pictures and then see which whites appeal: http://inspiration.farrow-ball.com/. And then you have to test them. I've used Lime White in a low ceilinged, north facing kitchen before.
avated thanked boundsgreener
avated
Original Author
9 years ago
I have called the sandblasting people they want £1000, the problem is I have that church seat running the length of the wall, a seat in the fireplace to match, 3 doors, surrounds and a staircase running in the corner, where do I stop? or shoudl I just live with it. By the way, this is going to be my dining room, have you seen a table and chairs that would look nice in there? I really need to warmi it up.

Many thanks

Simone (My assistant is Toby Le Rone, useless but lovely)
boundsgreener
9 years ago
Honestly, £1,000 isn't that bad for the laborious and hideous work they have to do, but get a couple of quotes. I wouldn't do the stairs - sandblasting is too strong for them anyway and I think you can still see the nice wood grain in them. Perhaps you can put a runner up them. Do the ceiling beams, the lintel over the fireplace and all the dark beams imbedded in the wall. I can't really see the church seat, the seat in the fireplace or the doors, but the door in the Somerset Cottage photo with the carpet you like looks good, doesn't it? Show me more photos of the church seat and the seat in the fireplace, but you could paint the church seat the same colour as the walls, or the same as the trim in eggshell or a slightly darker shade of the wall paint..... That would lighten it up.

I still don't know what your style is! Do any of these appeal? We can find the actual products once you give an indication of what you like! (I've tried to choose some that have similar elements to what you have to work with).
Pool House · More Info

La Maisonnette - Beynac-et-Cazenac, France · More Info

Santa Fe Historical Remodel · More Info

Hollywood Hills Spanish Colonial · More Info

Arlington Bachelor Dining Room · More Info

https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/17th-century-thatched-cottage-country-dining-room-hampshire-phvw-vp~16268858
boundsgreener
9 years ago
As for ceiling lighting, you'll want something that bounces light around the room. Don't hang it until your dining table is in place so you ensure it is the correct height, but any of these would work.
Domestic Bliss. Bespoke glass waterfall style chandeliers · More Info

Vintage Chandeliers · More Info

Drop One Pendant Lamp Group Of 11 · More Info

String LED pendant · More Info

Madeleine Chandelier · More Info

Can you put uplighters in your fireplace nook? Some of the photos I've already posted show how this makes a big difference. Otherwise, a table with a lamp on the right of the fireplace against the wall with some beams and another one around the corner against the wall on the other side of the fireplace where there is a little trolley or something at the moment.
avated thanked boundsgreener
avated
Original Author
9 years ago
Right, the sandblasters have been out, the guy was very honest and said that because of the age of the property he thinks the finish would look very odd as every bit of wood around the house is dark in keeping with the property, where would you stop?

I cannot have a sisal carpet because of the floor being original quarry, the glue and underlay will make the carpet sweat and damp will come through and make the carpet smell, my only option is to have a wool carpet with a sisal finish, have you seen anything like this?

would you like to help me with my music room?
boundsgreener
9 years ago
Well, it is refreshing to find someone who is honest.

I wouldn't try and cover all of the original quarry tiles. The alternative flooring company that you mentioned before seems to make rugs out of any of their carpets. Have a look: http://www.alternativeflooring.com/rugsrunners/rug_bestsellers
You could get a large rug made for each of your rooms with the quarry tiles. If you change your mind from the sisal, their range that is called "wool bouce" looks similar to a tight weave sisal.

As Toby Le Rone won't be of any assistance, I would love to help with your music room. You have to give me a hint about the style that you like, though :) Also, I really really hope that you learn to love the features of your house. It is really beautiful and many would be envious and I'm confident that it can bring you much happiness with the right touches.
PRO
Balearic Living
7 years ago
I am thrilled to read a blog post about the importance of blogging for PROPERTY in mallorca! Blogging is an outstanding way to get useful information for properties., We offer some of the widest range of rental properties in Pollensa and Mallorca. From Luxury Villas In Mallorca to exceptional family apartments.. http://www.balearic-living.com/ Your blog post did a great job.