Idea for Free Inspiration for decorating/refurbishing

bargainquest

As I am going to buy a house in need of doing up I was tempted to buy a couple of ideal home type mags for inspiration. Then, as I was looking online at houses for sale I realised that viewing pictures of other houses is quite useful - particularly houses in higher price ranges. Saves on the £3 a time mags and much bigger range. I suppose it will be easier to look at similar house types too.

timscott

Why not go one step further and visit local showhomes - they often have some good ideas and you get a better impression of how it looks than you can from pictures.

Avoriaz

How much are you planning to spend on the house? £150K?

How much are you planning to spend on refurbishment? £30k

And you are quibbling over £6 for a few magazines that might give you ideas that will add £10k in value to your house.

Do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar.

babyangel10

I get where your coming from Avoriaz, but then, I suppose this site is all about moneysaving

Just for the record bargainquest, the 'Your Home' magazine is only about £1.80 and is pretty good for ideas.

What about the library for some 'housey' books?

Love the 'nosey round other peoples houses', or showhomes idea though

Tracyk_2

How about asking on Freecycle for used magazines? I regularly offer mine to a new home.
But I tend to buy a good upmarket magazine every couple of months to keep up with fresh ideas and I still need to refer back to them as my requirements change over the years.
ie need a new staircase - they don't change much over the years - so refer back for ideas of styles.
ie need new front door - refer back.
So I would be looking for different things for different projects.
Also - go for coffee on a Sun. morning and read the Sunday Times in a cafe - they have decent photos of houses for sale and show homes.

Debt_Free_Chick

bargainquest wrote:

Then, as I was looking online at houses for sale I realised that viewing pictures of other houses is quite useful - particularly houses in higher price ranges.

Try the "upmarket" EAs too - some of them have spectacular PDF brochures online for the more expensive properties. A few to start you off ....

Strutt & Parker

Cluttons

Hamptons

Lane Fox

Jackson Stops & Staff

Savills

The weekend property sections of the broadsheets - or better still, Country Life - feature the "upmarket" EAs