Alison used a lot of clever cost-cutting tricks in her dream home

After two and a half years of searching for the perfect property to settle in with her husband and two young sons, Alison finally found her ideal family dwelling.

A six-floor Grade II listed house in central London which Alison knew instantly was perfect, ‘When I saw it I knew it was the one. It was around 4000 square foot and located just opposite Hyde Park.’ For Alison, location was everything, ‘It was critical as I wanted to be able to walk the kids to school and then walk to the office as well. My commute is now an amble across Hyde Park, which is blissful.’

With an original asking price way above her means, Alison’s offer fell far short. But luckily for her, in 2008 the credit crunch hit and property prices were quickly slashed across the housing market. ‘We paid around half the asking price after negotiating for over a year, which was very difficult for me as patience is not one of my virtues!’

The wait also left them in property no man’s land, ‘We sold our flat in SW1 and then rented a flat above a restaurant near Victoria, whilst we searched for a house. My kids say they miss the action on the street at night, I certainly don’t!’

With a modest budget of £50,000 to cover everything from paint to picture hooks on all six floors, Alison’s task seemed almost unfeasible. To keep costs as low as possible, the refurbishment focused purely on decorating, ‘We were desperate to put down roots and start living again, so I decided just to do a quick cosmetic job of painting and decorating. I slightly closed my eyes to any enhancement that was more than skin deep. The minute you start taking things out the costs start rising.’ Working alone without the help of her husband, she project managed the whole redecoration in just 14 weeks, and went just over her budget, ‘I wouldn’t dream of involving my husband Efi, who, frankly, would be just as happy pitching a tent in Hyde Park. It’s just not his thing and as long as he can retreat into his library, he’s happy. I did involve my kids though and they helped choose their furniture.’

A former presenter of ITV’s Home In The Country, 60 Minute Makeover and Don’t Move, Improve, and with five books, two websites and columns in the Evening Standard and Daily Telegraph all focused on property and interiors, Alison had more than enough inspiration for her design schemes. Though she admits to taking her influences from other sources, ‘My own designs are always a little bit theatrical, so I’m more likely to be inspired by the Harvey Nichols shop window displays than any of my television work. The overall design is a combination of an inherently “period” infrastructure, with some very modern pieces of furniture – it’s a real mix, but hopefully one which is seamless.’ Her favourite parts of the house are certainly theatrical, with bold colours and fabrics used throughout, ‘My favourite room has to be the sitting room which is a riot of green/gold washed walls which take on this incredible glow in the morning sun. I punched through this with hot pink and lime green velvet and silk accessories and the combination really sings. My favourite piece has to be my gold cocktail cabinet, with a Dalmatian face painted on the front and lacquered inside in flamingo pink!’

To save money and retain the house’s character, Alison kept all the original features, ‘I preserved everything – the barley twist banisters, carved wooden hand rails, original wooden doors, monochromatic tiled floors, servants bells and my pride and joy, the huge dolphin-shaped door knocker, after which the house was named in the 1820s.’

To furnish the house, Alison simply made over her old furniture and used a few clever cost-cutting tricks, ‘Recycling featured largely on my agenda. I took all my existing furniture and repainted, re-stained or re-upholstered it. I took the frame off a favourite painting, hung the canvas “au naturel” and then put antique mirrored glass into the frame, creating two pieces for the price of one.’ Apart from getting up a ladder to apply some of the specialist paint finishes, Alison left the rest of the work to the professionals. When employing a builder, she advises, ‘I learnt a long time ago that it pays to move out and let the builders get on with it unhampered. To get the most out of your builder you need to communicate all the way through. Express yourself clearly and then follow that up in writing. Every part of the agreement and subsequent changes should be documented.’
Alison’s top tip for redecorating on a budget is to simplify things, ‘Pare back the structural plans and create a focal point in each room – probably an item of furniture that just grabs attention and detracts from other less favourable features.’

After her success refurbishing her home, she has no plans to stop there, ‘It’s an addiction. I have my eye on another property for us to live in, but it’s a bit of a pipe dream at the moment. I’ve loved it from afar for several years.’

Cost breakdown
Kitchen - £8,000
Bathroom - £15,000
Wiring - £5,000
Furniture and Furnishings - £25,000
Total - £65,000