Cosmetic touch

When the owners bought this house it was in dire need of renovation. Since they spend much of the year outside the country, they wanted a house that could be a home base. The designer, seeing the size of the budget, realised that all changes to this home would need to be decorative rather than structural.

Interior designer Jean Foster of Foster Burke says although the house was poorly appointed and old-fashioned, it was structurally sound.

"I could see that with care we could improve the home without the need to move walls, which was lucky, because structural alterations substantially increase your costs," she says.

The owners wanted an expensive stained oak floor, so costs were saved in other areas. An existing built-in gas fireplace was cleaned up and the brass trim replaced with a black and chrome fascia to give it a modern appearance. To make the fireplace more of a focus in the room, it now sits on a raised hearth, and a chimney breast was built above it. This is covered with imitation stingray skin wallpaper.

Foster sourced off-cuts of good quality carpet which, trimmed with leather, form carpet squares to add warmth to the living areas. Narrow skirtings were replaced with wide boards, making a dramatic difference.

Because the home is close to ski resorts, Foster wanted to create a cosy ambience, so the living room walls were painted in a rich, warm chamois colour. Aluminium curtain rods were then spray-painted to match the walls.

Dismantling and relacquering kitchen cabinetry and adding new handles, skirting boards and lights, transformed it at minimal cost.

"With a cosmetic renovation like this, you need to look at what is there and make the most of it," says Foster.

Story by: Trendsideas