Following our transformation for an owner-occupier in the same South West London building (which focused on long-term comfort and personal style), the landlord of this project needed to extract maximum rental value and fast. Working in the same building had many advantages and enabled us to demonstrate how we can pivot from a homeowner brief to an investor brief with our flexible, tailored solutions. Although different, these solutions share the hallmark quality associated with our refurbishment and interior design service that lends itself to repeat business amongst homeowners, landlords, developers and the commercial industry.

The Challenge

• Combating negative first impressions: Tired mahogany furniture, mismatched, wardrobes, and scuffed paintwork stripped the property of rental appeal.
• Potentially-expensive replacements: Original panel doors rattled and squeaked, but complete replacement would come at a high cost as well as add downtime, increasing the void period.
• Time pressure to decrease void: The void period had to be kept to a minimum ahead of the busy summer lettings window.

Our Approach

1. Joinery revival for the doors

Instead of replacing the doors, our team sanded and re-lacquered the panels, installed new, high-quality brass hinges and reeded handles, then framed each doorway with elegant mouldings. This gave a classical character and extended the otherwise suitable door’s life for another decade while significantly reducing costs.

2. Wardrobe & storage upgrade

We replaced bulky cupboards with floor-to-ceiling, matt-lacquer wardrobes featuring elegant, slim brass pulls. This solution enabled us to utilise the valuable floor space while delivering design-led, seamless storage that SW7 tenants expect to see in this prestigious postcode.

3. Light-lifting decoration

We decided to introduce a warm, neutral paint palette and satin woodwork, paired with slimline brass pendants and large mirrors to bounce daylight across the living area, instantly brightening the entire space.

4. Curated FF&E

We replaced the outdated furniture with a high-end glass-topped dining set, sage green chairs and a textured contemporary sofa. We finished by layering in artwork, cushions and rugs that promised both durability and style, which are essential for a rental property.

5. Turn-key delivery

Decorating, installation, and professional photography to promote the rental were completed in just five days, allowing the landlord to make an impressive return on investment of over 40%.

The Outcome

• £1,400 rental increase: From £3,400 to £4,800, rented to the very first viewer.
• Minimal void period: The entire work was executed in under a week between the tenancies. The newly decorated and furnished apartment was off the market in under seven days.
• Impressive returns: Reviving joinery instead of replacing it entirely avoided significant expenditure, proving that knowing where to save and where to spend can have a substantial impact.

Long-Term Impact

Full-height bespoke wardrobes and revived doors gave character oozing from the brass detailing and extending to every new feature, we were able to help the landlord offer the market a highly desirable rental home with an inviting warm, neutral palette and curated contemporary furnishings. The uplift in the same building as the owner-occupier apartment we furnished just before this clearly demonstrates how we adapt and create the appropriate approach depending on the client and end user. The work and the results has sparked conversation throughout the entire building of homeowners and landlords alike realising their properties’ potential.

The success stories in this building are a perfect example of InStyle Direct’s ability to tailor design-led solutions to very different goals: creating a personal, timeless home for homeowners and maximising yield for landlords. Both apartments boast a coherent, elevated finish, setting a high benchmark for the entire building. This case study demonstrates that the quickest route to unlocking hidden value is efficient and educated decisions that centre around the consumer.