Blog
Home is where the heart is
Friday, February 12, 2016
If you are mid-property search for your ideal home and not finding your perfect property, its worth looking at things afresh and remembering that home is where the heart is, and with a little love and inspiration you may just find it’s closer than you think. Look again at the properties you’ve viewed. What did you love or hate about them? Could you keep the part you love and change the bits you hated? Is your best option not to move but to stay and improve? Here’s some great ways to rediscover the heart in your home.
For many people the heart of the home is the kitchen; warm, welcoming and the perfect place to add value if you are updating your home. Whether you’re an amazing chef or a “needs must” cook a well- designed kitchen can be a great asset. And whatever your budget, planning is all important to make your investment worthwhile. A good kitchen can last decades so it’s vital to get it right. Consider storage, light and workspace in the final layout. As well as the practical aspects, keep in mind the final look you want to achieve and prepare a mood board for inspiration.
If your heart is set on relaxing rather than cooking, think about a new colour scheme for the living room or bedroom with accessories for a cosy contemporary look. The main 2016 interiors theme is 'Looking Both Ways', celebrating contrast – the difference between pale and dark, organisation and chaos. Dulux Colour of the Year 2016 “Cherished Gold” ties into the ongoing trend of using metallic tones in the home. Warm and subtle, it works in new-build or period homes. Rebecca Williamson, Senior Colour Design & Content Manager at Dulux, comments “As metallics continue to add that feel good factor into our homes, this earthy gold inspired hue will offer that little touch of glamour in an authentic and personal way.” Try to ensure that colour schemes for individual rooms work together throughout your home for a harmonious feel.
With Spring just over the horizon, it’s time to start showing your garden some love so that as warmer days arrive it can firmly plant itself in your affections. Put up a bird box out of prevailing winds and strong sunlight, 1-3m above the ground, ideally on a tree trunk. Clear leaves from early snowdrops and bulbs so you can see flowers emerging and dig over borders, adding organic matter to prepare the soil for spring. Although temperatures should be rising, there are still frosts and even snow so insulate vulnerable plants, pots and taps with garden fleece. Create new beds and borders to give your garden a new look marking out shapes with sand trickled from a bottle and when it is warm enough, treat sheds, fences and trellis with wood preservative or paint for protection and colour.
If you need advice on anything property related, whether moving or improving, talk to your local Frost office. We offer a full current appraisal free of charge which may clarify your options.
