Decorating made easy…
7 Create a clean canvas.
Once the wiring and pipework is complete, you need to get everything closed up. This entails getting plasterboard and plaster on the walls and putting down sub-floors. ‘Once everything is contained you build out from there,’ explains Eaton. It’s also at this point that any new windows, doors, cupboards, shelves and wardrobes, plus the kitchen and bathroom, get their final measure up.
8 Lay the groundwork.
By this we mean laying any hard flooring (timber boards and tiles), but also tiling the bathroom and kitchen, and getting the decorating ( painting and wallpapering) 90 per cent complete. ‘ You want all of this work out of the way as much as possible before you start bringing in expensive elements such as custom-made joinery, because you don’t want these getting damaged,’ explains Eaton.
9 Speaking of painting, this is the order in which to work.
If your wall is raw plaster, we suggest applying two mist coats (watered-down emulsion) that will prevent later coats of paint from peeling off the wall. Then, you’re ready to apply your chosen shades. Joa Studholme, international colour consultant at Farrow & Ball, advises: ‘Start at the top – whether that’s of the house or the room. So paint the ceiling, then do any plaster detailing, such as ceiling roses and cornicing, followed by the walls.’ You will need to do at least two coats on everything. But be aware: ‘If you have chosen a light colour to paint over a dark one, it might take another coat to get proper coverage.’ The final space you decorate should always be the hallway.
10 Install the big additions.
This includes any new radiators, as well as your bathroom and kitchen. ‘ We recommend that the kitchen is installed at the end of a project to ensure that the builders are not still doing work that could damage it,’ says Parker.
11 Now for the final sweep.
This is all about the finishing touches. ‘Remember decorative items like carpets, light fittings and furniture can vary in lead times from the standard six weeks to 18 or more,’ warns Oldham. Be aware that things can still need tweaking at this stage, so have your builder on-hand to do any final touch-ups. The last job is carpets. As with painting, ‘ homes should be carpeted top to bottom – starting with the upper floor,’ says Heather Taylor, floorcoverings buyer at John Lewis. ‘Finally you do the halls, stairs and landings.’
12 Et voila! Move your furniture into place, sit back, relax, enjoy.
Hopefully you will have come in on budget and to the timetable you set out with at the start. But most importantly, you should have a truly individual home that you will cherish.