Self Improvement

In the realm of home ownership and in the relentless attempt to maintain and improve your abode in order to meet your own requirements and tastes but also to try to maintain demand, value and saleability it is likely that you will have subscribed to at least one of a succession of trends and fads over the last four to five decades.

These may originate from being featured on a TV programme, either fictional or fact or in the pages of a style magazine. Celebrity figures may have had the interior designers in and a certain theme or feature has caught the imagination and fascination of those who should have more sense.

I remember my parents buying a brand new house in the early 1970's and a major selling point was a 23 foot long through lounge. In many ways those having a weekend trip out to a new housing estate in the 1970's, and it was seen as a valid form of free day out, may have been seduced by such a revolution in living created by a through lounge or a lounge/diner combined. Many homeowners aspired to this attribute for their own places but if living in an old pre-war built terraced house the creation of such would be problematic because the dividing wall between a typical two room ground floor arrangement would be substantial and load bearing.

The cost quoted by a time served builder may have caused such plans for alteration to be shelved but in the minds of the masses what could be easier than knocking a hole through as long as a good bit of the wall was left above head height. The old parts of town where the densely packed terraced houses were found were soon shrouded in a mist of plaster and brick dust, a reddish layer, all pervading as though the Martians had landed and spread their choking, red mist everywhere.

The vast amounts of debris, transported by a human chain of family members using hand held buckets found its way to the street to be deposited in a skip, in the back of a hired flat bed truck or just into the boot of the trusty saloon car to be ferried in multiple journeys to the local tip, or failing that into the ditch on the nearest, quite country lane.

The fashioned often off rectangular hole would be framed in an architrave and left as a flat arch opening or as the position for a pair of doors, hinged full, sliding or those wild west saloon style half doors in louvred pine. It would not be too long before the doors (if fitted) became incapable of closing as the wall above slowly strained and sagged in the absence of any loadbearing support.

The through lounge had arrived as a mainstay in UK lifestyles. In a couple of decades everyone would be keen to reinstate the wall and restore the two rooms as separate identities.

The next big things were a joint assault by Yorkstone and timber panelling. These were rustic type materials and were in demand where homeowners sought to turn their modest houses into cottages, manor houses or Ye old Vicarage although many soon resembled the inside of a medieval themed public house.

The Yorkstone bricks could be made into expansive shelving and display areas along a full inside wall and then sweep around almost to the centre of the room as a TV plinth. I did see a few examples that actually took up half of a room. The weight of the stone where built directly off the original floorboards would soon cause the floors to buckle and sag.

Panelling, either in tongued and grooved Wainscot style or large pre-formed sheets was able to cover up and conceal flaws, irregularities, blemishes, old plaster and that terrible damp and mould which afflicted many older solid wall built properties. A firm thump on the panelling gave a good clue as to the condition of the wall behind as following this physical impact a steady cascade of powder and lumps of masonry would be heard.

Polystyrene products were also popular. Being light, easily handled and requiring only dollops of adhesive to fix to a ceiling or wall their use was well within the amateur DIY capabilities of most. The square ceiling tiles had become established in the 1960's and 70's being a combined decorative finish and also with professed insulation benefits. What the manufacturers and suppliers failed to state was that in the unfortunate occurrence of a domestic fire the melting polystyrene just dripped down onto the helpless occupants to cause additional peril.

The mock Manorial theme was reinforced by the availability of polystyrene ceiling beams and ancillary attachments. Some of these were wholly realistic with a distressed texture, grain effect surface, knotting and even down to woodworm holes or trails. At a distance these wonders of man made materials could easily fool most and it was only through actual touching that the warm and artificial composition was evident.

We may think that we, in the 21st century are more discerning and sophisticated in home décor and styling. We are for sure better informed with dedicated Good Home publications and a many hours of TV broadcasting, daily, being dedicated to house improvements and betterment.

The current top five "must have's" are rooted, again in the often aggressive marketing ploys by new house builders who are the trend setters or where championed by the likes of Beeney, Spencer, Allsop and Barker amongst many.

In fifth place is the bid to buy and mount up the largest flat screen television at a height on an inside wall that can be seen by those passing by on the public pavement or on the bus. It is a tangible sign of being civilised  although I would be interested to see the statistics for strained necks from what is a totally uncomfortable elevation and angle for viewing.

Fourth place goes to one wall in a habitable room being decorated in a very plush and exotic patterned wall paper and in as much contrast as possible to the remaining décor.

In third place, although not always apparent is underfloor heating. It is a given in any new house project or even in the decision to relay or tile a floor in any age of house. Of course, the Romans were keen on it in a hypercaustic system if the slaves could be motivated to keep the furnace going but modern systems are complex and technical. Padding about in bare or stockinged feet may be the ultimate in a casual lifestyle but the same effect can be had with a good pair of slippers at a fraction of the cost.

Runner up goes to bi-fold doors. This is where the whole of the rear gound floor external wall can be concertinaed open like the cheap vinyl folding doors of the 1960's but in a pleasing calm swishing sound. This allows the outdoors to become an extension to the main living space, a bit like a fancy awning on a touring caravan.

King of the pile is the use of Travertine tiling on every surface in a bathroom, kitchen or hallway. In its authentic form it is, granted, a beautifully warm grained material with hues and tone, rough and worn textures and a uniqueness in each slab. The B&Q or cheaper versions are just khaki coloured squares, cold and uninviting.

The Travertinees must be laughing all the way to the Bank.