Restoration Week: Hip Or Hype?

Posted on April 21, 2010 by editor
Posted in Guest Bloggers, Restoring Property Tagged guest blog, helen silver, Hip, restoration, Restoration Week

Today’s blogger is Helen Silver from the Property Styling Company.

Restoration – Hip Or Hype?-A practical view

Restoration is the new buzz word. Possibly heightened by our interest in recycling, ‘up-cycling’, vintage and all things eco, restoring properties is particularly hip and fashionable at the moment.

How many of us I wonder, have whiled away an afternoon flicking through the property pages or searching online for a dream property enterprise to get our teeth into?
Whether restoration conjures up pictures of period properties in desperate need of TLC, complete wrecks that require an almost total rebuild or, smaller more modest refurbishment projects, restoring a property isn’t for the faint hearted.

Why Buy?

Charmed by a sense of history and the possibility of being able to leave their own mark, buyers are often seduced by the romantic vision of purchasing a restoration project, with little thought of the long and often arduous time ahead of them. The thought of bagging a bargain and making a pile of money is another main reason buyers end up owning a property they could wait many months to move into.

What do you need?

If you decide restoration is for you, along with an architect you really connect with and a reliable building team; time, effort, patience and decent pot of money are just some of the attributes you’ll need. A second opinion and a clear head are others!

Remember…

Try not to get sucked into the hype about making loads of money when you sell. Restoring anything requires dedication and professional advice. If you decide to take on a building that requires more than a quick lick of paint, one of the most important things is to keep a sense of balance. Don’t wipe out all the history to start from scratch, maintain a feeling of the property by creating a fusion of old and new rather than a completely blank canvas.

Where to find them

Many suitable properties can be found at Auction, look at www.UKauctionlist.com for details of properties in your desired location. Talk to locals, keep an eye out when driving around, do your research.

Styling

This is the fun bit. A restored property allows you to create a truly unique home. Don’t become a slave to the period (if it is a period property) but consider mixing styles; vintage with contemporary, up-cycled and eco, an eclectic mix is often the best way to go. Above all, allow yourself time to get a feel of the place before you make any expensive mistakes.

The End Result

Assuming you’ve taken the plunge, a properly restored building will give you an enormous sense of satisfaction. The thrill of being able to preserve a piece of history or personalise a space that has lain untouched for years is very hard to beat!

Helen Silver is a property styler. You can find her on Twitter here, or on her web site here.