Spring building projects

Spring is here, and along with milder temperatures and sunny skies, the season also brings a new crop of building renovations! Our builders are working throughout London on a variety of projects. Here's a peek into a few of our developments.

(All photos are "work in progress" images. We'll update with finished photos when the projects are complete.)

1. Several of our builders are spending quite a lot of time in Barnes, working on a full home refurbishment. Below is a photo of a wet room that's nearly completed. We've also included a photo of the reception room, below, where our builders added new ceilings and installed new electrical and audio wiring, including a Lutron system.

2. In another project, our builders decorated the walls and ceiling of a communal area in Maida Vale. Work also included sanding and varnishing the woodwork along the staircase (below).

3. Other projects include tiling, plumbing, installing underfloor heating, and completing the electrical preparation for a new kitchen in Kew. And over in Twickenham, our builders are decorating and completing the structural work of a two-story Twickenham house.

We'll have plenty more photos to share in the coming months... as well as details of some exciting new building renovations that we're starting in the coming weeks. 

London property: price per square foot

(click the map to enlarge)

When we came across this map in Homes & Property, we instantly bookmarked it. The map breaks down the price per square foot of London property by area, and was accompanied by an insightful article, by David Spittles, about how to find a property deal in the current market and profit.

Here are some thoughts from the article worth noting:

- The city is a collection of micro markets where local dynamics influence property values. Qualities like good schools, conservation areas, nice shops, bars and restaurants can all lift prices in some streets.

- You don't have to leave central London to find good value. A house just a few streets away from a prime location, can be much cheaper. And it will most likely "level up" once improvements take place.

- Regeneration projects and transport upgrades are occurring through the city, which makes grabbing a property in this area a smart move, as it will only increase in value.

More from the article, right here.

(And of course, if you end up buying a property and need a professional renovation-related opinion, give us a call.)

Property Professionals: My Interior Stylist

We're back with another Property Professional Profile! This time, we interview interior designer, Zoe Brewer. Zoe is the director of My Interior Stylist, a one-stop shop for various interior design needs, including residential and business styling, home-staging and TV and event styling. Zoe will soon open a pop-up design shop in Willesden Green as well.

What is "interior styling" and what are some examples of your projects?
Interior styling covers a large area of design. The title describes all manner of styling from interior re-design to weddings, home-staging and anything that involves making a place look pretty! I started out with home-staging, show homes and residential interiors, all of which I still do, but my favouite jobs are "one-off" styling moments, i.e. events, editorial or TV.

What are the most important pieces and/or rooms you focus on when styling a home?
This varies depending on the person and the house. I think it's important to work out the person and what they want from their home before the design process begins. However, personally, I think the bedroom is very important to get right. We spend something like one-third of our life in bed, so it's worth spending as much as you can on a good quality bed and mattress. A few styling touches such as cushions and throws can quickly change a bland room into a luxury hotel bedroom!

What are your go-to interior design shops and inspiration sources?
My favourite designers at the moment are Lee Broom and Jonathan Adler. I also know I can always find something unusual from smaller designer makers such as Kissher and Lou Rota. Car boots and markets are like catnip to me — I have to restrain myself from over-purchasing! For inspiration, I always use Pinterest.

Can you share some simple styling tips for readers to implement in their own homes?
Styling a room needn't be costly. In fact, some things don't cost anything! Simply moving a sofa to a new position can change the whole feeling of a room. If you're on a tight budget, you may not be able to afford a chair re-upholstered in your favourite fabric, but you could buy a metre and make a cushion or two. Repurpose or up-cycle items that are past their best — it's cheaper, avoids waste and is better for the enivronment. Spray paint is a perfect way to give a new lease of life to old furniture, etc. Try to arrange your accessories in groups and keep items in odd numbers (3 or 5 candles rather than 2 or 4). Use different heights and shapes, but stick to one or two colours. Have the confidence to go with what looks good to you — it's your house!

Thanks for these great tips, Zoe. To learn more about My Interior Stylist and Zoe's work, click here.