Surrey Homes | SH79 | August 2021 | Adding value to your property supplement inside

Adding Value to your Property Supplement
Luxe for Less
Jules Haines, founder of Haines Collection, the waste-reducing surplus high-end interiors
fabric company, explains how to make thrify savings without comprimising on aesthetics
How can I get a luxe interior
look without a hefty price tag?
Be ready to hunt! I would always
recommend second hand shopping
to get your best bargains for textiles,
furniture and antiques. There is so
much available and people are getting
much better at reselling or donating
their unwanted items. In person search
your local auction or charity shop. Great
online options for second hand are ebay
and Facebook Marketplace. For luxury
waste, head to the Haines Collection
(of course!) for textiles, wallpaper, lights
and accessories. But, as always with
second hand, your search could take you
a while. Be patient and it’s best not to
be totally set on one exact item – if you
can be flexible it helps and you are more
likely to find what you are looking for.
What type of fabrics should I
choose for my soft furnishings?
I would always try and opt for something
100% natural when it comes to choosing
fabrics. Linens drape particularly well
and so are perfect for curtains. When
choosing your fabric think about
where they are going to go and how
much use they will get – a cushion on
a busy kitchen bench will see a lot of
wear (and no doubt washing) so an
expensive silk velvet wouldn’t be your
best option! It’s also worth considering
if it’s going to be in direct sunlight, as
the power of the sun can damage light
weight fabric such as silk very quickly.
Sunlight will nearly always fade the
fabric too, sadly you can’t get around it.
Are there any colours or
patterns I should avoid?
I don’t think there are any colours or
patterns to strictly avoid, but think about
their use and the other patterns and
colours in a room. I think all decisions
are totally up to you really, you are the
one who is going to have to live with it!
Some of the top designers will come up
with schemes that make you think ‘oh
goodness, I wouldn’t have done that’ but
your home is a reflection of you and your
personality – dress it the way you dress
yourself, wearing exactly what you like.
Also, like your clothes, try it on in the
room – obtain a swatch and leave in place
in the space and see how you like living
with it. If it’s got a large repeat see if you
can borrow a returnable (a larger piece)
from the retailer so you can hang or pin
it in the space and see how it catches your
eye in situ. This trial and test method
isn’t so much of an option if you are
buying second hand, just be prepared to
re-sell it if it doesn’t work in your home.
Ultimately follow your gut, and I
would say that generally when you step
slightly out of your comfort zone with
interiors you don’t regret it. Everyone
will compliment the strong apple
green curtains, but are unlikely to
take notice of the plain cream ones.
How can I express my personality
without going overboard if I’m
doing up my home to sell it?
If it’s for a home to sell I would try not
to put too much of your personality in
it – mainly because you don’t want to
feel personally rejected if they don’t buy
it or find the decor off putting. If it’s not
going to be yours soon, I would be smart
about what you choose to make sure you
invest in items that you can take with you.
Perhaps some bright cushions so it pops
in the photos, but the main bones and
expensive items in the room (like curtains)
to be more plain and then the next person
might take them on as part of the sale.
Which rooms should I pay
close attention to?
I would choose the rooms you use the
most, probably the bedroom and the
kitchen, followed by the sitting room.
Keep asking yourself ‘how do I want
this room to make me feel’ that’s so
important. The bedroom for me should
be restful and calm, and a place to
switch off and relax. The kitchen for us
is a busy bustling space for the family
to gather so it’s brighter and bolder!
hainescollection.co.uk
priceless-magazines.com