Buying a property is usually just the first hurdle in a long journey, putting your own stamp on the place you live in can be a real challenge.
In our Where I Live series, the ECHO will explore one house from across the region each week, with the owner giving us an insight into how they've made their house a home. Carl Giles had bought his first house in Liverpool and had a vision for how he wanted it to look but was struggling with how to go about achieving the end result.
After searching online, he reached out to Jennifer Kay, who started The Mini Interior Design Company in 2018 to offer affordable interior design services.
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Clients send the business photos of their homes via WhatsApp, along with a description of their vision. They then complete a customer questionnaire to give further details on style preferences, room measurements and budgets.
Carl said communicating via WhatsApp "made life a lot easier when sharing ideas and making decisions about design concepts". He initially only wanted to remodel the living and dining room, but was "so impressed" Jennifer ended up redesigning every room in the house.
The house opens up into a stylish hallway with herringbone flooring throughout. There are accents of brass, navy and teal, with quirky artwork, ornaments and modern lighting. Even the front has had a revamp with a fresh lick of blue paint.
Speaking of the project, Jennifer said: "I was really excited to help Carl as he was my ideal customer - the type of person I was aiming my business at. It was clear he was a career person, with little spare time. My WhatsApp service is ideal for slotting in with busy lives."
She added: "He had bought his first house and wanted it to be perfect. I loved his enthusiasm for wanting to make his house a home. Carl knew how he wanted it to look and feel, so it was really rewarding helping him achieve this vision in a stylish and affordable way."
Carl added: "I had a lack of spare time and ideas to achieve the result I wanted. It was a busy time for me, working extended and unsociable hours.
"For someone who works long hours there's no better way to finish a busy day by going home to a nice, stylish, comfortable house. My house is now a place where I like to host and entertain friends and family. From a financial point of view, the renovation project has increased the value of the property."
Would you like to be included in the ECHO's Where I Live feature?
We'll be taking a look inside a different property each week. If you're splurging on a renovation, trying your hand at DIY to save money, or have a passion for interiors, let us know.
Please email your name and details to storm.newton@reachplc.com
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