At The Finishing Touches, we relish the challenge of elevating character homes so that their history shines through, but leaves no place for doubt in buyers’ minds. We also love turning impeccable new-builds into warm, inviting, elegant homes.
It was satisfying to style not one but three stunning new three-bed townhouses. Presented for the market as part of a bespoke development in Christchurch, the homes appear very similar – each with classic weatherboard façade, three bedrooms and open living. According to the client and agent, each was designed to appeal to the over-40s buyer.
Yet, through thoughtful styling, each home evokes a subtly different feeling, which is particularly apparent when you spend time in the living spaces. As we aspired to create elegant and coherent interiors in all three homes, creating this point of difference was a key objective. We would love to show you around and explain some of our creative decisions.
Number one: indoor-outdoor living
Classic modern styling is all about creating cohesion and functionality, so we paid particular attention to the layout and proportions in each home. The front home had a larger, squarer living area that led out onto a deck and garden, which meant we were able to use larger furniture, including a rectangular dining table. To complement the sleek white kitchen bench, we opted for Scandi-style tables and stools, and used oak furniture for a softer, lighter colourway. We wanted to create a bright, airy feel where everything sat harmoniously, and where the living flowed from inside to out.
Number two: moody and luxurious
Tucked in between the front and rear homes, the middle home offers a cosier feel. While we chose lighter oak furniture for the front and rear houses, we went with darker walnut tones here to augment the feeling of luxury and relaxation. The round walnut table and matching chairs and barstools punctuate the space and tie in with the bolder artwork and black joinery. It’s a striking space that’s also undeniably inviting.
Number three: private retreat
Set at the back, the rear house provides a sense of privacy and retreat that we wanted to showcase for prospective buyers. With expansive windows and doors connecting inside and out, the living area was bathed in natural light. The space lent itself to the paler tones of oak paired with light tones and patterns in the soft furnishings to enhance this refreshing feel. One challenge was that reduced wall space limited our options for organising furniture. We opted for a generous two-seater and two chairs, all on peg legs, to accentuate that feeling of fluidity and openness. The addition of a round rug creates a sense of movement, while lending softness and luxury to the space.
Each home is elegant and harmonious and undeniably part of a stunning trio. Yet, through subtle styling differences, each home stands out and each captures a slightly different feeling. Getting that emotional response from a buyer is all-important and drives our creative process – especially when we are styling perfectly constructed new builds to create dreamy homes.