Fixing a decor disaster

The Changing Rooms star was in Swindon to help remedy the ugliest room in town.

But for Kim Harz it was the moment she had been waiting for since winning a £10,000 lounge makeover in a competition run by the Evening Advertiser and Greenbridge Retail Park.

More than 100 people entered our competition last month to win a luxury lounge facelift. And it was part-time teacher Kim, 30, and her two-year-old son Orion, of Wagtail Close, Coleview, who had the notoriety of living in Swindon's most unpleasant lounge.

But after enlisting the help of one of the country's foremost home fashion gurus Kim should have a dream lounge by the weekend.

Linda, wearing a fringed David Crocket leather jacket, swept through Kim's front door like something out of a Wild West saloon.

And after a brief introduction with the competition winner she shot straight from the hip, striding around Kim's L-shaped lounge mentally stripping it bare as a young assistant feverishly made notes.

Travelling the length and breadth of the country adding a magic touch to the most dour and dirge-like rooms has made Linda a household name, but surely the thousands of front rooms all blend into one.

"No, I love what I do," said Linda, "I'm on the road all the time, but that's my life. When I walk into someone's living room I can see very quickly what needs to be done and whether a room has a lot of potential.

"Changing Rooms has been running for seven years now and it's a winning formula it's entertaining, very funny and people can learn a lot from watching it.

"It gives people ideas on how they would like their homes to look. Every-one likes doing a bit of DIY and the programme shows people that interior design is not just for the rich and famous it's for regular, everyday people."

But Linda had her work cut out when she saw Kim's lounge. Kim, 30, moved to her semi-detached house in July and every day since has been sick of the sight of the dark blue shag pile carpet and cramped living quarters.

The room is strewn with building blocks, toy cars, jigsaw puzzles and assorted other essentials belonging to Orion.

Linda added: "Space is most definitely the key problem in Kim's lounge.

"I like the room I think it is quite smart, but Kim has only just moved in and wants to add her own influence.

"I've thought about it and we don't want anything too big or bold because of the awkward stairs. Gutsy creams, caramels and biscuit colours will blend well with a rich aubergine.

"It's every woman's dream to win such a large amount of money to spend on one room. In Changing Rooms contestants only get £500 to spend, so this is a really big deal. But the redesign should be personality driven. It's not going to work if other people force Kim into doing something she doesn't want to.

"Immediately I saw there was potential for a lot more light in the room. It's very dark at the moment, but adding fresh colours will make a big difference.

"Essentially we want to give Kim three things; a space for her work, a space for eating and living room space."

AFTER a rapid living room consultation and spot of lunch, where the topics of conversation included Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's flowing mane, it was down to serious business.

It was the stuff of fantasy. Kim Harz had £10,000 in her back pocket and she intended to spend every last penny.

Since winning the ugliest room competition Kim, who works as a behaviour support teacher at the Stratton Education Centre, has been daydreaming about exactly what to spend the money on.

She said: "This is really someone else's front room at the moment. It's definitely not how I would choose to have a lounge.

"It's very dark in here anyway, but with dark shutters over the French windows and a blue carpet it's like a dungeon sometimes.

"My mum saw the competition in the Advertiser and suggested I entered, but I never thought I would get anywhere.

"I'd just like to thank all the family and friends who voted for me I dread to think what their phone bills will be like when they arrive.

"The lounge is always cluttered up with toys and there is never much space for me.

"I can't eat at a table or do any of my schoolwork because there's not enough room for a work table."

Add two cats, Clio and Sky, into the equation and it is clear to see that space is at a premium.

Kim visited Argos, Curry's, Carpet Right and Roseby's at Greenbridge Retail Park to choose her fixtures and fittings.

Among the luxury items she bought for her lounge included a new television, video and stereo system.

Then it was the mundane matter of choosing a new carpet, shelving units, paint, lights and skirting boards.

Kim was dreading the onset of winter, but now cannot wait.

She said: "The lounge is by far the worst room, being so dark and depressing. We find it hard to relax there, so often entertain ourselves in the garden.

"If I had had the money before I would have ordered a bright coloured carpet immediately."

Kim and Linda agreed to replace the rippled glass on the porch window, change the door handles to chrome and replace the wallpaper with light, natural colours.

The cupboard under the stairs is to be demolished to make way for a workstation and dining table, while Kim will splash out on a new sofa and easy chair to relax in comfort.

The dank blue carpet will be ripped up and replaced with a wooden floor, surrounded by a deeper skirting board.

Workers will start the renovation today by ripping out the existing lights and replacing them with something more modern.

The finishing touch will be a large and colourful rug in the middle of the floor.

Kim is hopeful the work will be complete by the weekend.