Help please on where to start ...

[piccalilli123]

OK, fingers crossed we are going to get the repossession we have put an offer in on. It is well proportioned but needs, at the minimum, to have all of the carpets stripped out and be painted before we move in.

DH suggested before we move in we get painters in and paint the whole house white. Then we can see what we want when we live there. I was in agreement with this but then wondered if we will feel like painting again soon after when/if we decide on colour. Especially as this is our first house and neither of us have decorated before. Also, I have rather scared myself by reading on here all of the different whites there are (who knew?!) How on earth do you choose?

Also, I need to find a new bathroom suite and sort floor tiles etc for both the bathroom and downstairs loo before we can move in.

I have spent the past 2 days googling (and managed to find a kitchen design I like, which is great but we can do that later ...) and am none the wiser. We have rented for 10 years and had a house full of ikea furniture (which was identical to friends stuff!) and I don't want to do the same with the bathrooms, etc. I am worried about Homesbase, B&Q etc. but have no idea where I should be looking.

Please can someone take me by the hand and lead me in the right direction? I am feeling clueless ...

Thanks

OK. Painting white is not a bad start - but you may want to go a hint of.....more creamy than white if you see what I mean. Hopefully someone will be along later to help with this.

As far as bathrooms - try and get a couple of interior mags (get one specifying they have bathroom makeovers in particular) and browse - see what you like/don't like look wise. Then go to a couple of tile/posh bathroom showrooms. Do not get sucked into thinking you need to pay these kind of prices - just get a feel for the look you want (for example I have decided to go for a 1930s bricked white tile with black border for our main bathroom - to go in our 1930s house. The Ensuite I just found a lovely tile I liked and went from there)

You may be surprised at having more likes/dislikes than you thought. And try and go together - I was surprised at the strength of view my DH had about baths and taps!.
Hope this will help start you on your journey! And ignore, ignore, ignore the kitchen stuff.....do it later!

I agree with fishfingers...it is not a bad idea to give yourselves a blank canvas to go from.

There are loads and loads of discount retailers where you can find very good quality bathroom stuff at a fraction of the price of the fancy shops. You just need to have an idea of the style you want and then you can take it from there. You can find some OK stuff at homebase, B&Q etc., but it's probably not the best place to start if you don't know what you are looking for yet.

How big is the house? Realistically if it is a first house, say two bed, you may as well just get on and decorate it otherwise it will be white for years because you wont want to do it all again. We Re on house number four and have indeed whitewashed a few rooms rather than stare at the god awful wallpaper!

Check out screwfix for well priced taps, traps and wastes etc. I prefer pop up and swivel wastes to avoid plugs & chains. They are reasonable prices from there as well as all sorts of bits and bobs. Fast delivery too.

Start a scrap book and put in there anything you come across that you like. I had no idea I had such specific taste until I did this, and then could break it down a bit and copy some looks. Painting the whole place white can be lovely and you can then accessorise with bright colours eg curtains cushions tiles (if you like bright colour) etc. Dulux white is fine! Enjoy!!

We got our bathroom from b&q- it was just the basic white one but we dressed it up with nice taps, tiles and a decent shower. We are really pleased with the result. Best thing to do is get magazines and think about what you like. Seeings them in the flesh helps, I become overwhelmed looking online. Good luck.

Thanks all.

The house is a 4 bed (we lived abroad for a number of years and have rented since!) so it's all the more daunting!

OK, will make moodboards for each room. Good idea!

discrete - how do you find out about the discount retailers? Google? Really think I need to read through more old threads on here.

Thanks again :) Feeling a bit less stressed about it all today!

piccalilli123 we are trying to bu a 4 bed at the moment and are getting decorators in to paint the whole house white before we move in and make a decision on colours. This is the fourth house I will have owned and I like the idea of being able to add colour with accessories such as curtains, etc instead of on the wall.

Thanks financial wizard. Are you just going for a standard white or a shade? I know it's all personal preference but I vere between liking a magnolia type colour (i.e. plain but not white) and hating it!

When I first moved in (years and years ago) I had very bold colours. Over the years by accident I have noticed that I have turned those 'arty' colours to cream and I really prefer it. The house is more tasteful and I actually notice the beautiful artwork/paintings I have. Before it was lost with my bold choice of colour.

There is a lot to be said for cream!

Find the actual thing you want to buy (brand and model) and then have a google - you should be able to find some bargains. Make sure you check out reviews etc. on any places you don't know.

I have been out of the UK for many years now, so don't remember which ones we used when we last did a bathroom there, but I remember the price difference was enormous. Purchase did involve a drive to a slightly out of town type place and I would have been completely overwhelmed and unable to buy anything if I had gone there without knowing exactly what I was looking for though (huge, warehousy type retail space is not something I cope with easily).

I have yet to find the equivalent where I now live sadly....

Thanks discrete :)