Give your Home a Facelift...

Furniture Faux Pas
One of the most surprising differences between buying a resale property in the UK or in Spain is that a considerable proportion are available complete with all or most of the furniture. The same is true for rental properties. This might be regarded as a good thing, if you had no furniture and were looking to buy everything from new so stand to save a significant sum of money by negotiating a deal as part of the purchase price. On the other hand, it may cause you problems if you already have furniture that you were planning to take with you, or worse still, if the furniture that you are expected to buy as part of the package is simply not to your taste. So, do you pass up the chance to purchase a property that ticks all the right boxes and is otherwise your definition of a Spanish dream home? Or do you go ahead with the purchase, and learn to live with the ugly trimmings that come with it? ……

Introducing The Experts
The answer is neither, if you invest in the expertise of “Lifestyle Property Sales & Services”. Established in Las Ramblas, Orihuela Costa, in 2016, LPSS combines the professionalism and experience of two businesswomen, Lynn Fenning Robertson and Terri Hughes, who offer the ultimate Real Estate and House Doctor Service. Whether you are hoping to spruce up your home in preparation for selling, or just feel that it is time for a makeover, Lynn and Terri have a wealth of inspired ideas which will help you achieve your goals. LPSS appreciates that your home is extremely important and unique to you, so rather than giving critical comments will pose sensitive suggestions as to how you can improve its selling potential, with solutions tailored to a budget specified by you. Lynn explained that “Just a few simple touches can make a world of difference to the look and feel of any room, making it more personal, more stylish and more inspiring. Our aim is to give each room a lift and make it more inviting, whilst simultaneously allowing a prospective buyer to realize its potential.”

Revamp Your Furniture
If you are reasonably satisfied with your home, but feel that the dated or garish furniture is detracting from its beauty, LPSS are happy to put their skills to work, in creating a fresh, appealing new look without the need to replace your old items. They will assess the condition of your existing furniture, then make suitable suggestions as to how it might be refurbished in accordance with your personal taste and budget. For example, with a little bit of graft and a splash of colour, LPSS can help you to customize your own unique piece of furniture, with a distressed, contemporary “Shabby Chic” finish. Lynn explained that “Using chalk paint is one of the most simple, effective and affordable ways to reinvent a tired piece of furniture, with dramatic effect!”

Here are a few basic steps to revamping your old furniture and creating the right impression:

1) Before you can make a start on the paintwork, you will need to remove all external fixtures, such as handles and knobs.
2) Give the article a thorough clean to remove all traces of dust and dirt, then a final wipe over with a cloth soaked in alcohol.
3) Apply your chosen paint colours one at a time, using the darkest shade first. Ideal colour combinations include terracotta and grey, gold or silver. Ensure that you allow at least four hours of drying time in between coats.
4) Now it is time to apply the white wash. This should be prepared in a separate container, using three parts water to two parts paint in accordance with the instructions. Apply one to two coats covering all colour and allow to dry.
5) Now, using a damp cloth, gently wipe away streaks of white wash so that the original colours show through, until you achieve the desired effect. The streaking should be quite random, but evenly done across the entire piece. Allow to dry.
6) Wax liberally to protect the paint and give it a sleek finish.

There are a few important tips that you should note in order to achieve the perfect finish:

1) Chalk paint washes off easily so there is no need to sand.
2) Ensure that paint is completely dry before you apply the next coat to avoid smudging and striping.
3) Do not be tempted to whack on one thick coat of paint to save time, as several thinner coats will give more even coverage with a much smoother finish.
4) There is no need to varnish chalk paint. This will only spoil
the effect and give the paint a yellowish tinge.
5) Ensure that the furniture is left to dry completely, over a
period of 24 to 48 hours, then heavy usage parts (i.e tops)
should be waxed liberally. This will help to protect the paint from scratching and fading.

Lynn said that “This is just one of the techniques which we might use to help modernize your furniture. The base colors can be altered to coordinate with surrounding décor or existing soft furnishings, making this an extremely versatile method, which really compliments the Spanish style property”.

For information about the wider range of LPSS services or further ideas on how to reinvent your home, please contact them today on 670 479 568, or email enquiries to info@lpss.es.