The Property Presenters 2020 top five
As the strange year that has been 2020 comes to a close, we wanted to share some of our favourite staging pieces from the past twelve months, with images of how we used them and explain why they have been amongst our staging stars this year.
We have selected five different items, which we and - more importantly - our clients have loved in 2020. We’d love to hear your comments, and from our fellow stagers, your own top picks for 2020 and in to the New Year.
Black dining table
This round black dining table with brass tipped legs featured in two of our favourite 2020 projects. Two apartments with very different looks, the table worked brilliantly in both. In the top photo, from one of our show homes at Centurion Gate in Sunbury on Thames, we teamed it with black Masters chairs for additional texture and shape, in a scheme which the client brief had specified to be neutral throughout. We are great believers in every room having something black, so the table and chairs were perfect to bring some impact and definition to the otherwise neutral interior.
The lower picture shows the table in a beautifully refurbished period apartment in the West End of London. There are more pops of black in this room, and we used gorgeous Filmore dining chairs from Eichholtz with it for this project. The round table and curved chairs were an ideal pairing.
Two really different looks, and one super-versatile table.
Green velvet sofa
We loved these sofas when we bought them for staging stock, and used them in a large new-build show home in the summer. The rich colour and modern twist on a classic Chesterfield shape made these sofas a great choice in this open-plan space leading to the garden, and the buyer of the show home obviously agreed, as she bought all the furniture when she moved in to her new home.
They were obvious choices to make it on the list of our 2020 staging stars, but they have actually become almost famous in their own right; the new owner of the property is a model and former Love Island contestant, and the sofas have featured quite regularly on her social media in the past few months!
Black and brass floor lamp
Our most-used lighting item in 2020 has been this lovely floor lamp, which seems to work wherever we put it. With its retro style and three adjustable shades, it’s great for directionally lighting a reading spot, dining table or key accessory. We have no doubt that it will feature in our work again in the coming months.
Black and wood desk
Who didn’t want a new desk in 2020? A home office desk has perhaps become the most sought-after item of furniture this year, and wherever we have been able to, we’ve incorporated a work space in to our designs. This black metal and wood desk with marquetry drawers and brass touches (actually sold as a console table) looked beautiful in our central London interior design commission, and demonstrates that a functional piece can also add style and elegance to a room. We love it!
Grey and mustard-gold rug
We found this stunning rug on an inspiration-seeking shopping trip for our Ware show home, and immediately knew it was the starting point for our design. In an open-plan space we all know it’s important to zone, and the large scale of this rug worked perfectly to create a defined living room area and to anchor the sofa, armchair and coffee table. It also added warmth and colour to the pale wood flooring, and we reflected the gold tones in the soft furnishings. Rugs are true interior multi-taskers, and this is one of all time favourites.
There have been so many fabulous items featured in our work this year, that it was difficult to narrow this list down to just five, but we hope you like our choices. In the meantime, The Property Presenters wish you a Happy New Year - lets hope 2021 brings us all good news, good fortune and good health.