Loving Your Home - Derbyshire & Leicestershire

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

LOVINGYO U R

HOMEIN DERBYSHIRE

& LEICESTERSHIRE

BE BOLD:GO STRIPEY Why chevrons areno longer just forroad markings

SPRING PRODUCTSWe love spring products

LOVING YOUR PROPERTYWye perfection pays

...is where your home is

“Never shy away or think ooh that’ll be

too much!”Sophie Robinson

shares her tips and tricks

FrontCovers-Rev.indd 8 10/04/2014 10:55

Main image: Clarke 2 seat sofa £650 Clarke armchair £500 | Tetta wool rug £250Left hand side: Oken table £35 eachRight hand side: Knot knitted round pouf £95Rox cube footstool £65 eachDurrie floor cushion £90

www.habitat.co.uk

Tottenham Court Road, King’s Road, Finchley RoadMini Habitat stores in Homebase: Battersea, Bracknell, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Edinburgh, Ewell, Frome, Hemel Hempstead, Horsham, Leeds, Orpington, Ruislip, Solihull, Truro, Walthamstow. See website for new store openings. Details correct at time of going to print

Cool, calm and colourful

www.haart.co.uk

LOVINGY O U RH O M E

Welcome to the Spring issue of Loving Your Home, the magazine from haart estate agents. This issue is jam-packed full of great ideas to help you sell or rent your home and includes plenty of pages of properties listed with haart, as well as advice, guidance and local information on the housing market.We’re so excited to share this season’s trends with you and are sure they’ll help you to invest more love into your home.

Now the dark days of winter are behind us, it’s an ideal time to brighten up your life and home with a splash of colour. We chat to interior design expert Sophie Robinson, one of the judges of BBC 2’s The Great Interior Design Challenge, who shares some top tips in her interview on page 8.

Our décor feature is all about chevron stripes - which can add a bold colourful statement to any room. Plus we’ve come up with some

ingenious ways to put your own personal stamp on a rented property, see page 7.

With three Bank Holiday weekends approaching, why not embrace the opportunity to tackle those DIY projects you’ve been putting on hold? In our ‘Ask the Experts’

section on page 11, our team of interior designers show how to achieve vibrant looks in the home without too much effort

or expense. Don’t forget to use our handy check list on page 26 if you’re on the move!

Buying, selling or renting with haart couldn’t be easier. If you see a property that takes your fancy, just call your local haart office between 8am and 10pm seven days a week. Or for more properties and information visit haart.co.uk.

Welcome Contents

04. We love: Spring products

05. Spring trend: Lemon aid

06. High street v Highbrow

07. Decorating tips

08. Sophie Robinson

11. Ask the experts

12. Loving your property

14. Save space stop hoarding

15. Space saving solutions

16. Be bold: Go stripey

18. Loving your garden

19. Loving your kitchen

20. Apps and gadgets

22. Loving your life

23. Loving your area

24. Intelligent advice from haart

25. Local area spotlight

26. Properties for sale and rent

Inside back cover Moving checklist

Loving Your Home

Published by Mosaic Publicity on behalf of:

Spicerhaart Estate Agents Ltd (04430726) Colwyn House, Sheepen Place, Colchester C03 3LD

W: mosaicpublicity.co.uk T: 01206 841933

Jenna Gregory, Editor Philippa Green, Writer Chris Douglas, Designer Karen Ainley, Chief Executive

With thanks to: Martin Evans, Lucy Halliday, Sophie Robinson, Sven Wombwell and Mark Baumann.

Jenna Gregory,Editor

Competition rulesReaders’ letters (Love to share): Entries should be made by 31 May, 2014. The winning question, email, letter, status or tweet, submitted by readers of all editions of Loving Your Home will be picked by the editor, and its writer will receive £250 of John Lewis/Waitrose vouchers. The winner will be notified by email, post, social media or telephone call. If a reply by the winner to confirm their postal address is not received in 5 days of being selected, a new winner will be picked. Prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives. Only one entry per person; entrants must be aged 18 and over. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into.

Love to share If you try any of the ideas from this issue and would like to share them, tweet us your pics or email us at [email protected]

Our chosen tweet, photo or email will win £250 of John Lewis vouchers! So get sharing! #LovingYourHome

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www.facebook.com/haart.estate.agentswww.twitter.com/haart_uk

It’s all mellow yellow, page 5.

Sophie Robinson’s interview page 8.

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©2014 Spicerhaart Estate Agents Limited (“haart”). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying or recording, without permission. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher can take no responsibility for omissions or errors. Information contained within is for general purposes only and we will not be liable for any loss or damage arising. Please note that although the property information contained in this magazine is believed to be correct at the time of publication, the nature of the property market means that both the availability of the properties and the relevant asking prices may well change following the date of publication and no responsibility can be taken for any loss or damage arising from action taken as a result of the information in this publication. Readers should take specific steps to confirm with their local haart branch the continued accuracy of any information on which they wish to specifically rely.


April showers – Keep your hair frizz free in

the April showers with this heart umbrella,

BrolliesGalore.co.uk, £19.95

We would love to hear what you’ve been up to, send us your

questions, letters, tips and photos and you could win £250 of John Lewis vouchers. See page 3 for details.

New home? If you’ve just moved into a new place or are looking for a house-warming gift for someone then check out these…

Home and lifestyle news

We love: Spring products Transport cushions

Add some va va vroom

to your sofa with these

vintage-esque

transport cushions.

The Cadillac, Vespa

and Berlin bus designs

also come in art prints, trays and mugs so you

can mix and match to liven up your living room.

Cushions, £25 each, John Lewis.

George Home – After much anticipation

the team at George have finally launched

the George Home range coming to Asda

stores and online from 28 March. The first

Spring/Summer collection focuses on four

main trends that draw on British culture

and fashion. Our favourite is the glamorous

1950s retro ‘Riviera’ trend with its candy pop

pastel colours, seen here. Birds duvet set,

£12, round cushions £5, pin-up cushion £7,

bunting £6, lamp £25.

Sparrow keyring and key holder, £10.99, MyHaus.com

Not another bill – Still sad that Christmas and

the presents are all over? Subscribe to receive

surprise presents through your letterbox

each month with NotAnotherBill.com. The

box of surprise gifts will introduce you to

up-and-coming artists, designers and brands.

Previous presents have included art prints,

posh toiletries, wall hangers, funky aprons,

tea towels and more. Choose what categories

you prefer from home décor, art, jewellery,

ladies’ or gents’ gifts, or opt for a total surprise.

Subscription £18 a month,

NotAnotherBill.com

Sainsbury’s new ‘General Store’ furniture

range – The pallet and crate trend has

taken the blogging and Pinterest world by

storm in the past few months. But if making

furniture from disused pallets isn’t your

thing, Sainsbury’s new ‘General Store’ range

could be just the solution. All the pieces are

made from solid, reclaimed pine that are

between 60 and 80 years old and weathered,

to create that timeless ‘inheritance’ look.

Our favourite pieces are the 2-door cabinet,

£499, the bar stool, £75

(left) and the pallet

lookalike coffee table,

£179 (below).

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A warm welcome with Hello You lovely people door mat, £24.95, Amara.com

Personalised Post-code puzzle, £19.99, Firebox.com

Vintage house number, £4.95, DotComGiftShop.com

Pom Pom Cube

pouffe seat – Take

a well-earned rest

from all those Bank

Holiday weekend DIY

jobs with this funky foot

stall, which looks like a jelly bean sweet

shop with its multi-colour pom poms.

utting your feet up for five minutes never

looked so appealing. Available from

CultFurniture.com for £149.

@

@

www.haart.co.uk

Yellow is the colour of Spring and a hit for designers this year. Adding a dash of uplifting yellow is an instant way to refresh any room. Designers take a modern twist on the traditional yellow for Spring 2014 by pairing soft pastels with vivid brights to create a colorful equilibrium. Inspired by a mixture of blooming flowers and travels abroad, designers are using this colour to add refreshing brightness to rooms. No longer is yellow just mellow…


Spring trend: Lemon aid

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1. Pull the other one Bisley Glo filing cabinet -drawer in lemon yellow £245 - Paperstone.co.uk

2. Like bees to honey Le Creuset honey pot and silicone dipper £22 - LeCreuset.co.uk

3. Soft landing Jacquard knit cushion £16 - BHS

4. Hello sunshine unched metal flower bowl

£25 - Debenhams

5. On the wire Ben de Lisi, wire candlestick holder £7 - Debenhams

6. Light up your life Aerial pendant light £30 - Habitat

7. What a lovely pair! Solid oak ‘Pear’ side table, available as one pear or as a ‘pair’ £210 - ObiFurniture.co.uk

8. Yello! Wild & Wolf corded telephone £49.95 - John Lewis

9. Bright bath time Hand and bath towels £1 - £6 - George Home

10. Got your number Eames birch wood tray numbers £30 - DesignedInLondon.com

11. Just in time Make baking fun with this yellow duck-shaped kitchen timer £34 - Alessi.com

12. Drink to this Xavier Pauchard yellow stackable bar stool £65 - CultFurniture.com

13. Take a seat Eames style bright yellow plastic retro side chair £50 - FusionLiving.co.uk

14. Loved up Yellow and grey love felt cushion £12 - George Home

15. Who needs the Beatles? Seletti submarine accessories set for the bathroom £46 - MadeInDesign.com

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LOVINGY O U RH O M E Home and lifestyle news

High Street Highbrow

Ticks all the boxesNewgate Putney wall clock Heals

Just in timeHome Collectionlarge wall clock Very.co.uk

Not just a hat rack!Vitra Hang it all coat rack by Charles & Ray Eames, Heals

Etsy.com: If you haven’t got the patience to get crafty but you love the handmade look, this website is for you. It’s like the crafty version of eBay. Packed with thousands of worldwide independent sellers, the first time you visit could open up a can of worms. Be warned it’s addictive! We’ve spent many a sleepless night on this site. It’s pretty much the best thing ever!

Websites we love right now

Origami style Ru ed enigma pendant The Range

All folded up Kami paper pendant shade

Habitat

V

Smooth seatingMauve Barbot velvet occasional chairDunelm Mill

Put your feet upMorrocan stitched pouffeDunelm Mill

Leather luxuryLeather Morrocan cover pouffeNotOnTheHighStreet.com

Plush perchVelvet tub chairOliverBonas.com

Hang about! Gumball coat rack DotComGiftShop.com

FromBritainWithLove.com: This website sells items crafted by British designers. Everything from cushions and cards, to office supplies and outdoor living, there’s so much to love.

£11.99

£55

£149.99

£19.99

£95

£445

£198

£90

£80

£5.95

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versus

www.haart.co.uk

Decorating tips


Spruce up your rental property When you rent a property it can be difficult to make it your own without upsetting the landlord. As a tenant you are legally allowed to make any change to a property’s décor. However, the same legislation demands at the end of the tenancy the property needs to be left as you found it, especially if you want to get your deposit back. If you’re planning something, tell your landlord first, many have preferences about what you can and can’t do so check first.

Upcycling tippdate an old chest of drawers with different

coloured door knobs. These John Lewis ones have been used to help mark each drawer differently, highlighting the different contents in each. We love this!

Cupboard knobs - left to right, from top: Bombay Duck Pattern Flower ceramic £3.95, Glass Swirl £5, small Rose Quartz £2, Bombay Duck Bonbon ceramic round £4.95, Henna with filigree silver £ . 5, eramic Vintage lower £ . 5, eramic lower osy £5.95, Small green Adventurine £12, Bombay Duck Vintage Rose ceramic £5.95 – all from John Lewis

Here are some of our decorating tips to help add personality to your rental property without leaving a permanent mark.

Hang new curtains: It’s simple to hang new fabric curtains to revive a room, which can be much easier and less permanent to fit than made-to-measure blinds. Use the existing pole and fixings and just keep the old curtains to hang back up when you move. This Spring, bloom-patterned pair are between £40-£120 from Next.

Accessorise: Bring colour to every room with accessories without too much expense. If your property is already furnished, adding cushions and throws can transform a sofa.

Stickers: Stickers are a great way to add art and colour to a wall. NotOnTheHighStreet do some fantastic ones, such as trees, city skylines and world maps. You can also add stickers to kitchen and bathroom tiles in the same way. Both can be removed without leaving a trace.

Light up a room: A lot of central pendant lamps require an electrician to fit them. They can also be harsh on a room. Consider instead adding floor and table lamps to create softer and subtle mood lighting. Try the Blake Floor Lamp, £150, or the Large Floral Globe table lamp with etched glass (left), £120, both from Next.

Use matt paint, not gloss: Gloss paint may be tempting, especially if you have kids and they tend to wipe their mucky hands on the walls, but shiny walls won’t go down well with your landlord.

Cover the floors: Don’t go to the expense of investing in new floors. Instead, disguise flooring you don’t like with large rugs, which also add colour and character.

Wallpaper panels: Paste your favourite wallpaper to MDF panels instead of the walls. This looks great as a headboard behind a bed or as a feature wall with patterned wallpaper. It can be easily changed, plus you can take it with you when you move.

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The interview

Sophie Robinson

You may have seen Sophie

Robinson as the star judge

on the new BBC 2 hit TV show The

Great Interior Design Challenge.

Here, she tells us what it was like to

be a judge on the show and shares

her tips and tricks on what you can

achieve in the home.

You were one of two judges for the BBC2 show The Great Interior Design Challenge. For those that missed it, what was it all about?

Well, the 12 episodes followed 24 amateur designers, who had never been paid to do interior design; they’d just designed their own places. Professions ranged from painters and decorators to coffee-shop owners, so we had a diverse group of contestants. ne thing they had in common was a huge amount of talent and creativity. But we put them through their paces with just 48 hours and a £1,000 budget to do up the willing homeowners’ rooms. Those who often did the best had practical skills and could make things on a tight budget. Failing that, if they were innovative and savvy with their shopping purchases they also did well. Where we saw contestants fail was if they could only deliver their own personal style, and therefore not interpret the brief for the client. However, I’m happy to say, very few clients didn’t like the end result! All in all it was a fantastic show, which you can still watch via BBC iPlayer, and proved that this country is brimming with creative design talent.

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By Jenna Gregory

www.haart.co.uk

What was it like judging amateur interior designers? It felt like a real privilege. Daniel Hopwood, the other judge on the show who is an award-winning architect and designer, and I were often inspired by the contestants’ creations. Even though we’ve been in the business for years they were showing us innovative ideas. It was very difficult when aniel and I didn’t agree on who should win. We just had to thrash it out! And there was lots of disappointment when we couldn’t put contestants through – they really wanted it so badly, so it was sad to let people go.

What impressed you the most with the amateur designers? I feel one of the hardest tasks for the designers was that they had never met the client or seen the room until the day the project started. Although they were delivered a brief a week in advance in order to prepare a design, if the client didn’t like it, it was very hard for them to make changes at such short notice. I was impressed by how much they cared about their client and wanted them to like their design. Their level of professionalism was remarkable – and amazingly there were no tantrums!

How did you first get into interior design? I was always obsessed with interior design from a young age and was constantly re-decorating my bedroom. I went on to study furniture design at university and just by luck one of my friends’ mums was an interior stylist so I became her assistant after graduating. I fell in love with doing up room sets and the whole photo-shoot process. This led to a career in magazines starting with the BBC Good Homes magazine. I now freelance for various publications and home-furnishing clients.

What is your favourite interior design-project that you have worked on in the past? This is a tricky one! There are too many to choose from. Thousands of set designs for the magazines and hundreds of home renovations. However, one project I did for the Ideal Home Show really stands out. It was with Madame Tussauds and I had to imagine and create a room set that the celebrity lived in. Ant and Dec, George Clooney and Tom Jones were just some of them. Tom Jones was my favourite – we had him singing in the shower in a very bling, Vegas-style, bathroom. Unfortunately, they were all only for wax celebs.

Do you put the same time and passion into styling your own rooms at home? Yes, I’m equally obsessed about it but my own rooms at home aren’t quite so ‘designed’. I make them a lot more relaxed and eclectic because it is our home very different to those I do for clients.

Where do you get your design inspiration from before a project? As a magazine stylist it means I receive all the press previews from manufacturers so I’m privy to new products and ideas. I also flick through all the home-style magazines so I get ideas from them. My husband, Tom, and I have recently renovated our own holiday lets, pictured here, and I took inspiration from the Brighton Pavilion, which is really eccentric and full of fantastic colour and decorative pieces. I am also influenced by art, global trends and design eras of the past.

Bold &beautiful

And how do you collect ideas? Are you a Pinterest fan? Pinterest is massive at the moment, and I love it. I used to have magazine tear out sheets and would Sellotape everything to scrap books. Now it’s more digital. If you have an idea you can just do a Google search for inspiration. I have the Pinterest app on my iPad and just pin my favourite ideas to mood boards. I do like to acknowledge where an idea came from though and always try to name the stylist or designer.

What advice would you give budding home decorators who want to take interior design further?If you want a career in interior design you need to look at training at university, colleges, design schools, or online courses. If you simply want to do more with your own home The Great Interior Design Challenge book has all the fundamentals of interior design included, as well as some great quick and affordable design ideas. So read up, start a interest board and, as Daniel always said on the show, “It’s only paint!” so experiment as you can always change it.

Do you have a favourite product, an absolute must-have for the home? It’s all very well for a room to look designed but every living room needs a really comfy sofa. Go for cosy, not posey. I hate sitting on a sofa that has all the comfort of a dry biscuit! It has to be comfy; it’s all part of making you feel good in your own home, especially after a hard day.

Are there any key trends for 2014 we should be looking out for? The main trend continuing this year is the ‘Salvage style’. So think bare bulb lighting, bare brick style, disused pallets, really industrial with copper and metal furniture, and exposed plumbing and piping.

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Sophie’s simple tips for bringing a tired room back to lifeThink neutral: If you’re starting from scratch think of neutral investment buys – carpet, sofa. Then accessorise with colours and over time add to the room when you can afford to.

Upcycle: Work out what furniture you already have and upcycle and upholster. Paint up old wooden furniture with specialist one-coat paints like Annie Sloan’s chalk collection.

Customise: Add a trim to plain curtains or cover a plain lampshade with new material.

Feature wall: To add colour to a room buy one small tin of paint for a feature wall or two rolls of patterned wallpaper.

De-clutter: Too much stuff will make a room look overcrowded. Instead group collections together in box shelves or put photo frames together. Scattering them around the room will only look messy.

Think in pairs: My favourite trick! Invest in a pair of lamps rather than a single pendant lamp, this will look more designed. For example a pair of lamps either side of the sofa. A pair of paintings, a pair of cushions, a pair of chairs also gives the room a sense of balance and calming symmetry.

LOVINGLOVINGY O U RY O U RH O M EH O M E

Sophie Robinson will be hosting master classes on interior design in London, along with fellow judge, Daniel Hopwood, and the two finalists from The Great Interior Design Challenge

Visit the website for details: SophieAndDaniel.com

Have you got a designer trade secret you can share?

My general rule of thumb is to never shy away and never think “ooh that’ll be too much!” Rooms generally look better if you’re bolder in your choice, so just go for it. Often people who go for the

safe option, commonly an overdose of beige, only feel disappointed with the results. }{

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Pictures: Sophie Robinson’s holiday lets. Words: Jenna Gregory.

www.haart.co.ukHome and lifestyle news

Ask the experts Got a home and interior question?

I want to make my hallway and stairs look more appealing. Are there any good tips for doing this without repainting the whole hall?

Adding a splash of colour to your entrance hall creates drama and style. One really colourful trend that will create a wow factor is ombré stairs, pictured right. Strip your stairs back to their natural floorboards, sand them and then paint the sides in slightly different colours of the same theme. ick up five or six sample pots of paint in consecutive colours and paint two stairs in each colour. Try an angled brush for getting close to the edges. But if you prefer it soft under foot then John Lewis has launched a new olour nlimited carpet range (left), which offers a bespoke colour- dye service in their different carpet types. rovide them with a sample of the colour you want them to match and they’ll order your free hand-dyed, colour-match sample. Then if you’re happy with the colour, they can measure up and estimate.

We would love to hear from you, send us your questions and you could win £250 of John Lewis vouchers*

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*See page 3 for competition rules.

Q

Q

Q

Are there any ways I can update my bathroom without buying a whole new suite? My bathroom is currently tiled white with an enamelled standalone bath.

Sometimes just accessorising a bathroom can make it look new. Fresh coloured towels, a new bathmat, toothbrush pots and a colourful shower curtain can make a huge difference. Next at Home and M S have some great matching bathroom accessories. If you don’t fancy changing or painting your tiles then you could paint your bath tub to make a statement. B esigns.co.uk now offer a bathtub paint service for £1 8 with over 100 Farrow and Ball paint colours to choose from. A coloured bathtub will make a real statement.

Large stripy bathroom towels, (left), £32 NotOnTheHighStreet.com

Are there any affordable but stylish ways to cover ugly electric radiators without having to buy an expensive wooden frame? Most wooden radiator covers or bespoke carpentry can be

expensive. If you’re not a dab at DIY then perhaps think about moving furniture as focal points, which can take your attention away from the radiator, such as placing a sofa to obscure it or adding a desk worktop above. Alternatively, Homebase now offers some affordable radiator cover options starting at £29.99 for an 80 x 80 cover which are ready to be painted or stained to match your décor. If your budget can stretch a little further Totally-Rad.co.uk, (left), offer bespoke covers.

There are some great electric radiators available at the moment with prices starting from £80 for attractive chrome rails, (right), visit HomeSupply.co.uk.

Email us your questions to [email protected]

LOVINGY O U RH O M E Loving: Your property

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3 bedroom semi-detached

Location: Near Wye, Kent

Who lives here: Mary Anderson

Selling for: £325,000

The area: Located just outside of the countryside village of Wye, this property has staggering views across the Kent downs. Canterbury is only 15 minutes away and the fast train line to London will have you in the capital in less than 40 minutes.

The look: Simple and understated, yet elegant and chic, this gorgeous 19th century home has a mix of rustic and contemporary styles.

It is not often we come across a home such as this. The time spent making this home the very best it can be has been a labour of love for Mary. The attention to detail is staggering and shows what can be done if no corners are cut or short cuts taken, it will pass anyone’s test of quality.

Wye perfection pays

Mary’s perfectionist detailing even made her knock at someone’s house to find out what the exact colour was of the door. She said: “I loved it so much I had to ask! I had been looking for the perfect door colour and I wanted this. The lady laughed and said it was Green/Blue by Farrow & Ball. The next day I ordered a tin.”

As well as these finishing touches and new furniture, Mary has refurbished every part of this semi-detached property, from replastering to new electrics, plumbing and heating.

The main focus with the renovation was the hub of the home, the kitchen, which has brand new solid oak fitted units and a new cooker situated in the hearth where the range cooker would have once been. The engineered oak floor runs through the kitchen and beyond into the study, which takes you to the downstairs bathroom - another renovation achievement for Mary.

When she began work on the bathroom she realised the roof of the period extension could be lifted and has transformed the space with a vaulted ceiling where a contemporary chandelier now hangs. The high-quality fittings and fixtures including the natural stone tiling, rain-storm shower and under-floor heating, make bathtime feel like an escape to a 5-star hotel or spa.

As a commuter to London, Mary wanted a luxury countryside retreat that would feel like bliss when getting home. Mary said,

“I look forward to arriving back here after a long day at work. And weekends feel like an escape to the country – you wouldn’t know you’re just 40 minutes from the City. The people of Wye are so welcoming, and I love the local food markets on Saturdays. I don’t want to leave really but I want to move closer to my parents.”

the look

www.haart.co.uk

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For more information call Matthew Chivers at haart Ashford on 01233 620340 until 10pm weekdays or email [email protected]

Get the lookLiving room

Madame Coco velvet armchair, £935, SofaWorkshop.com

Branch coffee table £397 Bouf.com Lille White Stripe

Wallpaper, £34 per roll, Laura Ashley

Mirrored bedside table £139.99, Dunelm Mill

Large indoor stainless-steel lantern, £15, Matalan

Kylie Minogue bedding & cushion, £25, BHS

Five Light Pendant £34.98, B&Q

Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue

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Save space

stop hoarding

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Take advantage of the natural urge that comes this time of year to have a spring clean and get rid of items that are weighing you down. Be ruthless and throw out items you no longer need or use, especially those that are taking up valuable space, for a more streamlined minimalist lifestyle. With a clearer living space comes a clearer mind, able to focus on enjoying experiences and what’s really important in life.

Home and lifestyle

Clutter types: There are two types of clutter. The first is la y clutter, which is little more than rubbish maga ines, un-filed papers, unwanted Christmas presents, pots of paint samples, all these things need to go. It’s all superficial and it’s easier to get rid of than memory clutter. These type of nostalgic items remind us of some important person, event or achievement in the past - it’s sentimental and often hardest to part with. To tackle this, set aside some time to do it, and try the emergency test what would you grab if there was a fire Secondly, work out what makes you happy and create a memory box. You’ll then learn how to balance the possessions you want to own with the space you have. When you find this balance, you’ll learn how to keep it.

Wardrobe detox: First of all, start by whipping your wardrobe back into shape with a cleansing clothing detox. Organise your items into three piles. The must keep pile for items your wear regularly, the maybe pile for items that are needed but not worn often and finally a goodbye pile to those items you need to send packing.

Think about dressing for now, don’t keep clothes you wore five years ago or clothes you want to wear next year. Also forget about those fidget pieces. If it makes you feel tense or doesn’t let you enjoy what you’re doing there’s no point in keeping it. Once you’ve streamlined your pieces create a capsule wardrobe by categorising everything into colours or items. If your wardrobe still won’t squeeze everything in, consider packing your winter clothes away in the loft for the summer. Also invest in slim velvet hangers that take up minimal rail space.

Spare room: Bring love back to your spare room rather than making it the dumping ground for clutter. According to a recent survey, one in four households have a designated clutter room, often as well as a loft and a garden shed full of clutter. Tennis rackets, gym equipment, old books and maga ines collecting dust, and spare stuff we may need one day. Most often you won’t and it needs to go.

If your son or daughter has left home but their stuff hasn’t, warn them that you will be doing a clear-out. Give them a few chances to do it themselves and if they don’t, go for it, but warn them before you bin anything!

Under-stairs cupboard: We all need somewhere to store the vacuum cleaner and the ironing board, but when space is so valuable why not consider turning your cupboard into a downstairs toilet, a built-in dog bed or even add a few extra feet to your hall or living room by opening it up to fit a sofa or a desk workspace. Without the under-stairs cupboard to hide clutter away you’re less likely to hoard.

Useful ways to de-clutter: M&S Shwopping scheme: Simply take your unwanted clothes to any M&S store and they will pass them on to Oxfam, in return you will receive a £5 gift voucher to spend in Marks and Spencer when you spend over £35 in store. So far the scheme has raised £4 million for the charity.

Boot sales: Earn some extra pounds for your unwanted goods. It’s amazing the things people buy. Remember your trash is someone else’s treasure. If it’s too good to go for pennies, work out what it’s worth first at ValueMyStuff.com.

Up-cycle: Give old furniture a new lease of life by upholstering with new fabric or adding colour to wood with chalk paint. If you don’t do this in a year though, you never will.

Swishing events: Also known as swap shops, these events let you exchange your unwanted clothes for new ones. Items should be high-end and good quality, so anything that doesn’t make you feel great, take a deep breath and swap them to a better home. For events in your area visit Swishing.com.

Charity shops: Charity shops rely on donations from the public and some will take furniture, including British Heart Foundation stores, Bhf.org.uk. If you sign up and donate to Oxfam they will let you know how much your goods have raised. If you are a UK taxpayer you can add “Gift Aid” to your donation, meaning the charity can receive an extra 28p from the Government for every £1.

www.haart.co.ukHome and lifestyle

Space-saving beds add an extra dimensionProp up a pillow and take a look at these

latest space-saving beds, all with

superb storage solutions. With space at

a premium in most homes, these clever designs will have you packing more than a

few Zzzzzs.

Children will love their own personalised, brightly coloured Funky Bunk, great for when their friends come to stay. As well as a double-length, full-depth wardrobe, there are plenty of drawers to keep clothes and toys packed away. From £1,490. SpaceSavingBeds.co.uk

For the older child, the Harper High Sleeper has a helpful hideaway for homework. What youngster won’t want to reach for their books from these shelves, nestling under a single bed? Also available in the range is a mini wardrobe, two drawers, a desk and a pin board. From £550 (self assembly). next.co.uk

This HEMNES day bed will look fantastic in a spare room or conservatory. For just £260, this sofa doubles up as a single bed, with drawers providing ideal storage for sheets and pillow cases. Ikea.com

Amazing SpacesTo see how other people turn tiny spaces into the most incredible places to live, work and play, visit George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces on Channel 4oD online.

By day, a study; by night, a spare bed. This StudyBed comes in a choice of finishes, including real wood veneer, white and bespoke painted or stained. The single StudyBed has a full-size 3 ft single bed, with a large desk area and plenty of room to attach pin boards, pictures and posters. A double-bed option is also available. From £1,560. StudyBed.co.uk

Channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces

Fantastic in a spareroom

15


Be bold: Go stripey

Chevron stripes are no longer just for road markings

These bold zig zag stripes are now the latest dramatic trend for interior design. If you’re after a statement wall or a key piece of furniture, we show you how to create this look at home.

Chevron is the V-shaped pattern that has taken the design world by storm in the form of wallpaper, accent rugs, throw pillows and even wall art.

Many people call this classic pattern a zig zag but it is a bit bolder than that and is essentially a series of Vs laid out in a row.

The pattern is both modern and fun, but can also look completely timeless when mixed into more traditional décor. It can feel both masculine and feminine, making it incredibly versatile for family homes.

Chevron may be all the rage these days but that doesn’t mean it’s new. In fact the chevron pattern appeared on pottery and rock carvings as early as 1800 BC in Ancient Greece.

A few thousand years later it became part of parquet flooring and was first laid on the floors of the Versailles alace in rance in the 1 th

entury. The intricate chevron patterns of parquet flooring would have been an indicator of status, wealth and taste. More recently in the 1970s, the geometric bohemian pattern returned for the colourful decade.

Flash forward to now and as we look at all the accessories and fabrics coming out for spring, it’s obvious the chevron pattern isn’t going away soon and is, in fact, making more of a long-term impact in all design items around the home.

Amongst traditional décor it looks so unexpected and will add that wow factor to a room. To update your home and use this trend here’s how to re-create the look at home...

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www.haart.co.uk

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Get the look at home with these products

Statement wallOne of the boldest but easiest ways to introduce a little chevron love is to paint an accent wall - it looks especially fun in a kid’s room. Use masking tape to create the pattern (the thicker the tape the bigger the pattern will appear), paint the entire wall and then remove the tape to reveal your chevrons. The American brand of masking tape called Frogtape actually do a chevron pattern so you don’t have to cut the tape into strips. It’s available from Amazon or eBay with international postage. The same masking tape method can be used to add the pattern to a piece of upcycled furniture such as a chest of drawers or even to the edge of wooden stairs.

An alternative way to create the chevron is to cut the shape using a stencil and a sharp craft knife. Or chevron wallpaper is just as good for creating an impact without the need for tricky tape or stencil cutting!

Parquet flooring If you’re lucky enough to have parquet flooring you certainly shouldn’t be hiding it. Restore it by sanding, varnishing or even staining it with a coloured wood paint for a really vibrant chevron look.

Bedding and curtainsChevron bedding and curtains are other low-maintenance ways to add a splash of this geometric trend to a room.

CushionsIf you’re not ready to fully commit to the trend then don’t go all-out chevron just yet, instead add a dash of pattern and colour to your living room with some bright chevron cushions. Perfect for updating a sofa for spring. This one, left, is £50 from LindseyLang.co.uk

Fabrics There are some really stunning chevron fabrics available. Take a look at sellers on Etsy and then try upholstering an old chair back to life with this pattern. It adds just the right amount of playfulness to a neutral room without going too crazy! Without the need for too much sewing you could also add fabric to the dining room as a table runner or staple it to the back of a blank wooden canvas for a piece of wall art.

LampsA chevron lamp makes a quiet statement while still adding a pop of designer influence to a room. A chevron lampshade is an even easier way to commit to the trend because it’s so easy to change but while it’s on trend it adds the perfect finishing touch to a room if you want to add impact. This one, left, is £30 from NotOnTheHighStreet.com

Rugs An oversized chevron rug is the perfect way to add colour and fun to any decor. Amongst a traditional setting it makes a stark contrast and is bound to be the talking point of any room. We love this bold retro one, £69, from Urban

utfitters.

How to get the look:

Wilde shower curtain, £5, and matching laundry bin, £4, Wilko.com

Yellow and charcoal chevron French Provincial side chair, £365, ShopSpacePlace from Etsy.com

Chevron Ampersand Giclée print, £28, NotOnTheHighStreet.com

Chevron orange and natural pouf ottoman, £85, Zeldabelle from Etsy.com

Monochrome chevron knitted cushion, £22, RoseAndGrey.co.uk

Scion Dhurrie Paste the Wall Wallpaper, Topaz, £36 per roll, John Lewis

Chevron light switch cover plate, £6.25, Etsy.com

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Loving your garden

18

Veg to plant in March - AprilYou are going to be busy because March and April are the best months to plant most of your crops! These are just some of the vegetables that need to be planted:

Garden advice from Sven WombwellGarden designer and garden TV presenter. Author of garden books including Allotment Gardening for Dummies. Sven is also UK Sales Manager for Roshults, luxury Scandinavian garden furniture.

Marching to summerChelsea Flower Show Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, 20-24 May 2014

If you are looking for inspiration for your garden visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May is an absolute must.

It takes an amazing 25 days to set up the whole show and on open day there will be 550 exhibitors, some from around the globe, and some truly stunning gardens.

Just as London Fashion Week sets the trends for retailers for the forthcoming year, so does the Chelsea Flower Show for gardeners. This year we expect to see several emerging trends. The big one for 2014 is going native’ - meadow gardens with wild flowers, birds, and pollinating

plants to encourage the bee population.

Another trend will be front gardens and what you can do with a small suburban space. This is great if you’re thinking of the shop window appeal for your home. With a few hard-working, low-maintenance shrubs you can add colour and depth with not much hassle. A favourite is lavender as it looks and smells great, but we’re looking forward to seeing what the Chelsea designers have in store.

If you time your visit to arrive on the final day, Saturday 2 May, that’s your chance to buy some of the beautiful plants to stock your own garden with from 4pm. But if you are leaving by public transport, before you buy make sure it’s feasible to carry your new and beautiful plants home!

The five-day long show is open daily from 8am with the last entry at 5. 0pm. n the first two days the show is open only to RHS members and among the VIP visitors there are usually members of the Royal family who attend the opening day each year.

Ticket prices vary from £30 if you enter at 5.30pm or £58 if you are not a member and want to stay all day. For more details visit the RHS website at Rhs.org.uk

Wipe your feet on a grassy flower mat with the Daisy Garden Door Mat. £69 - Myhaus.com

If you live in a flat or

studio, or have little

garden space, consider

bringing the outside in.

broad beans, runner beans, cabbage

Brussels sprouts,

carrots, leeks, lettuce,

onions, peas, tomatoes

welove

Start a mini indoor kitchen allotment to grow your own herbs and small veg. £25.99 - Firebox.com

Window boxes add instant colour to the side of any home, we love this forget-me-not blue wooden one. £14 - Primrose.co.uk

www.haart.co.uk

Loving your kitchen

1 9

When it comes to cooking up a tasty treat, British Masterchef Mark Baumann has a new trick up his chef white’s sleeves.

He has developed an eponymous butter, which adds such a flavoursome punch that it has been snapped up by some of the UK’s major supermarkets.

Baumanns Butters come in garlic, Cheddar cheese and bacon, and caramelised red onion and balsamic vinegar flavours, ideal for everything from jacket potatoes and steaks to fine dining that will impress your friends.

2kg fresh live mussels

Drop of vegetable oil

50g garlic butter

banana shallots (easier to peel), finely sliced

1 large carrot, peeled and finely sliced

1 leek (the white part), washed and finely sliced

This recipe is so simple and really impressive when entertaining or just as a decent comforting meal when on your own with a hunk of French bread. Use Baumanns Garlic Butter or you can make your own by mixing 100g of softened unsalted butter, two crushed garlic cloves, some salt and pepper and whatever mixed herb you fancy, then roll in to a tube and refrigerate.

Wash and de-beard the mussels to remove any grit and throw away any that are opened or damaged. Shred up the carrots, the leeks and shallots. Heat up a little oil in a pan; when the oil is warm add the clean mussels and stir with a wooden spoon. As they start to open, add the vegetables and shallots, pour in a glug of wine and bring to the boil, add the garlic butter then the cream and season with salt and pepper. Boil gently for a couple of minutes, finally, throw in the ripped parsley and serve in a bowl. Mop up the juices with your delicious French bread.

Mark Baumann’s moules marinières - Serves 4

150ml white wine, you could use sherry or cider

200ml of double cream

Salt and black pepper, freshly ground

Flat leaf parsley, roughly shredded (table spoon)

To watch our video of Mark preparing the mussels visit: www.youtube.com/LovingYourHome

Kitchen products We love:

Grate Stuff - If you have to peel carrots for the Easter bunny, or for Mark’s recipe, make it less tedious with this fun Karoto sharpener, £10.90, MadeInDesign.co.uk

Mark, the owner of Baumanns Brasserie in Coggeshall, Essex, features in the International Who’s Who of

hefs he is a guest presenter of TV ood’s flagship programme, Great Food Live and has starred in his own ITV series ‘Baumann goes to market’. He is soon to launch a new upmarket chain of restaurants, Bourgee, aimed at guests with a palate for a decadent dining experience. www.BaumannsBrasserie.co.uk

Meet the mussel man

Egg-static – rustic egg trug. We don’t have our own chickens to lay eggs to fill this but we still love it. It would look particularly good with chocolate Easter eggs in, too! £35, SparrowAndFinch.co.uk

You crack me up extra thick Easter egg, £28, HotelChocolat.com

Classic crème egg, 60p each

Lindt limited edition Easter egg, £8, ChocolateTradingCo.com

Easter Eggs decoration kit, £19.90, NotOnTheHighStreet.com

Claridge’s Easter Egg, £45, Claridges.co.uk

NotOnTheHighStreet.com

Claridge’s Easter Egg, Claridges.co.uk

It’s egg-citing! With Easter just around the corner we’ve picked our favourite of this year’s hatch of chocolate eggs.

Butterfly and ooty Easter eggs, £3 each, Thornton’s

Best apps & gadgets

Colour inspector - £0.69 for iPhone

This app transforms your iPhone into a colour

detector. So if you find a product that you love

the colour of, you can now co-ordinate the rest of your room to match. It uses the

camera of your device to provide the exact ‘RGB’ values and the common name of the colour. The RGB number

can then be used to get the exact same paint colour, or used in digital

design materials on the computer.

Houzz - Free

You can spend hours on Houzz. Dubbed as the encyclopaedia of interior

and exterior design this popular American

app and website has over 2 million design photos and over 90,000

inspirational ideas to browse through. You can also add favourite photos to your idea books,

join discussions and ask the experts for DIY advice.

Houzz.com

Pinterest - Free

This is the social media platform that lets you create mood boards or ‘pinboards’ with pin-teresting ideas from anything on the web. You can also pin your own

pictures or share others’ ‘pins’. There are millions of photos and boards to provide inspiration for your home, plus thousands of experts you can follow for ideas.

Pinterest.com

Sun Seeker - Free

Full version £4.99 on iPhone, £3.79 on Android

This may be an essential app for any budding meteorologist but it’s also very handy if you’re looking

for a new property. It uses the GPS in your phone to find the sun position and sun facing for your current location. So, if it’s cloudy when viewing a potential property you’ll know exactly how much sunlight the garden will get, for how long and at what times depending on the time of year. This also becomes very useful for gardeners who want to know what to plant where.

It also helps if you’re thinking about how to decorate a room. One tip is to avoid a lot of blue in north facing darker rooms, it can make the room feel very cold.

iHandy Carpenter - Free

Full version £1.49 on iPhone, £1.24 on Android

The iHandy’s five essentialcarpenter tools include a plumb bob, surface level, spirit level, protractor and ruler.

We’ve opted for the simplified free version which is quite simply a spirit level on your phone. Ingenious. Never will a picture frame go on the wonk again. Easy to use as well as aesthetically pleasing.

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haart - Free for iPhone and iPad

Our fantastic haart app will help you view property for sale or let while you’re on the move. Search from our extensive database of properties and save your favourites. There is also a handy list of local property facts as well as a map highlighting the locations of each property.

To download the app go to www.haart.co.uk

Rightmove & Zoopla - Free

If you’re searching for a property, these two apps are essential for your phone and your property search. Hunt for properties by favourite locations on a map, by postcode, by price or by estate agency group, and add filters such as preferred property types to your search. You can save your favourites and if you find one you like you’re able to call or email the agent by the hit of a button

Both apps are simplified versions of the websites but they allow for quick and easy lunchtime search sessions. Plus Zoopla gives the added bonus of telling you what your neighbours sold for, and a current estimated valuation of the property if you’re thinking of selling.

Rightmove.co.uk | Zoopla.co.uk

Bestapps&sites


www.haart.co.ukBest apps & gadgets

iKettleFirebox.com £99.99Imagine a world where there wasn’t a tiresome wait for the kettle to boil. Well, the tea-gods have spoken and that time has arrived in the shape of iKettle. This clever and stylish gadget connects wirelessly to an app on your smartphone and will prompt you when it’s time for tea. At the touch of a button you can set the kettle to boil, then keep warm until you’re ready to use the water. The best part is you can set it as your alarm and it will gently wake you up with, “Good Morning! Would you like me to pop the kettle on?” How did we ever survive without it? We may even purchase a second one for the office to avoid that time consuming tea round.

Lumen BulbFirebox.com £49.99Another find from Firebox (yes, it is one of our favourite websites!) is the Lumen Bulb and app. This bluetooth LED bulb screws in to your light fitting like a normal bulb and connects to the app on your smartphone so you can turn the light on or off without leaving the comfort of your sofa. It has a number of different feature modes: dim the lights for a romantic setting, change the colours in time to the music for a party, flash for incoming calls, or mimic a sunrise for a gradual wake up. Similar in size to a regular screw-fit bulb, Lumen says it will produce over 30,000 hours of 40w light. It also gets the green energy tick of approval, using five times less power than a standard bulb.

SugruSugru.com £6.50This is a strange one to explain but basically Plasticine just got crazy. Making and mending things will never be the same again. This new moulding rubber compound is genius and could revolutionise the DIY and craft world.

When you open a sachet of Sugru it begins to self-set on contact with air but you have 30 minutes to mould it to the shape you want. It will stick to loads of materials including steel, ceramics, glass, wood, fabric and most plastics.

What’s even better is it’s soft, durable, bendy, waterproof, weatherproof, will withstand temperatures of -50°c to +180°c and it comes in different colours. So you can now fix the handle on a saucepan, cover broken cables, make cameras drop-proof and add waterproof elbow and knee patches to kids’ clothes. And if you change your mind it’s removable.

The makers have added tons of other creative ideas to the website at Sugru.com.

One to watch: WristifyWristifyMe.comEver struggled with getting the temperature right in your house? You’re too hot while the other half is layered up in blankets and slippers? Well the clever kids at MIT University in America thought outside the thermostat box and have invented the air-con wristband. Wristify, a thermoelectric device, can alter the wearer’s body temperature at a rate of 0.4 degrees per second by sending either hot or cold pulses, depending on what’s needed, to the person’s wrist. This sends signals, essentially overriding the brain and, consequently, helping buildings conserve energy. The Wristify prototype won the first prize of $10,000 at the MIT annual science fair but, unfortunately, it’s still 1-2 years away from the first retail product.

21

GadgetsBenQ W1080ST ProjectorProjectorShop24.co.uk £790For movie fans, gamers and gadget geeks alike, this is one investment you need to make this year. True film aficionados need a wall-sized screen and with the BenQ W1080ST Projector you can create this in HD and 3D. The ST part of the name stands for ‘Short Throw’, which means you can project on to the wall of a very small room. Gone are the days when you needed a mansion with a cinema room and custom- made leather recliners, now you can create the home-cinema experience with one of these bad boys, a packet of popcorn and some 3D glasses (which come provided as part of the pack).

www.haart.co.uk


Gym craze: Metafit: If you want to lose those excess pounds fast and get fit in the process check out Metafit™ the latest exercise regime that is really NOW.

This metabolic workout, unlike typical circuits, lasts for only 30 minutes but targets the largest muscle groups in the body so that you achieve a better and quicker effect.

To find a local trainer, Visit: Metafit-training.com

Get running: It’s too late to apply for the 2014 Virgin London Marathon but why not soak up the atmosphere by cheering the runners on and spectating on 13 April. You can also still sign up to other running events around the country, check out MarathonRunnersDiary.com, or for a shorter 5km sprint why not do a Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research this June. Visit: RaceForLifeBlog.org

Sports day social: Find your team spirit with this year’s Rugby Rocks tournament, now renamed The Summer Social, which encompasses sport by day and bands and DJs by night. This year, groups can enter teams for rugby 7’s, netball, hockey and volleyball, or spectators can simply sit and enjoy a drink in the Pimms tent.

25 May (Leeds), 31 May (London), 7 June (Edinburgh), £6-£40 per person/ £50-£200 per team, Visit: SummerSocial.co.uk

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New cinema releasesMuppets Most Wanted (PG)

(in cinemas 28 March)

Kids and grown-ups alike will be looking forward to the next musical Muppets adventure. Ricky Gervais joins Kermit and friends for a globe-trotting adventure that takes on evil doppelgangers, master criminals and an abundance of big star cameos, not to mention some toe-tapping tunes.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (in cinemas 18 April)

Everyone’s favourite neighbourhood Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) is back for an action-packed comic-book adventure that looks even bigger than the first instalment. New powerful enemies will test the hero to his very limits, all while he tries to maintain his relationship with girlfriend Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone).

Films and DVDsNew DVD/Blu-Ray releasesGravity (PG-13) (released 4 March)

Award-winning thriller Gravity allows us to chillingly explore space with two stranded astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) after their space station is destroyed and their new mission is to get home. This technically ground-breaking and visually stunning film will leave you gripping your seats and gasping for breath until the very end.

Saving Mr Banks (PG-13) (released 24 March)

Delightful drama Saving Mr Banks reveals the touching true story behind Mary Poppins. We watch the charming Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) attempt to persuade difficult author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) into selling the rights, but we soon start to understand why she is so reluctant to give Mary Poppins up.

Loving your life

IDEAL HOME SHOWIf you haven’t got your home fix by reading this issue then get yourself tickets to Britain’s biggest and most loved home show for property ideas and inspiration. The Ideal Home Show will tour the country between March and June with hundreds of interior, garden and technology exhibitors. Our favourite part is always the model show homes and, new for this year, is the multi-generation home showing how families can live together today, with multiple generations using the same space for different needs. 14 – 30 March (London), 23 – 26 May (Glasgow), 6 – 8 June (Manchester)

Reviews by Martin Evans and Lucy Halliday - Martymcfly88.wordpress.com

Get fit

Clooney) after their space station is destroyed

seats and gasping for breath until the very end.

the touching true story behind Mary Poppins.

Hanks) attempt to persuade difficult author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) into selling the rights, but we soon start to understand why she is so reluctant to give Mary Poppins up.

23

Loving your area

Night at the Museum The Museums at Night event returns to venues across the country this May. Celebrate national history month by sipping a cocktail whilst browsing an exhibition late at night or simply just wander around, soaking in some history after dark. The exhibits might not come to life as they do in the film, but museums across the country are hoping the event will help exhibitions come alive. If this is all way past your bedtime, then The Big Power Nap, which is basically one giant sleepover, may appeal to you. We like the sound of the illuminating light displays, the ghost hunt and the toy treasure hunt, but there are tons of activities to go and see. Visit: MuseumsAtNight.org

50 things to do before you are 11¾ Get the children out and about with the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you are 11 ¾’ challenge. There are events all over the country throughout the year but spring is a great time to start getting outdoors, getting fresh air, exercise and generally getting mucky! If all 50 tasks are completed each child can collect an explorer badge plus there are certificates and secret challenges to unlock along the way. At Kedleston Hall, a spectacular 18th-century mansion and parkland, near Derby, they are hosting a range of activities such as exploring inside a tree, building dens and making wild nature art. Visit: 50things.org.uk and Nationaltrust.org.uk/Kedleston-Hall

Splendour Festival

The largest UK attraction dedicated to space, basically the UK’s equivalent of NASA, the National Space Centre in Leicester is a must for any wannabe astronaut. The centre is both educational and fun for all the family, a place to entertain the kids no matter what the weather. Explore the universe, take part in interactive challenges, rocket out of this world on stimulating space missions and watch award-winning shows. Also on 28 March for the tiniest of explorers, under-five’s can enjoy the Small Space Toddler Day by dressing up in alien, astronaut or scientist costumes and explore the centre with the help of Astronaut George and the Mission Commanders. For adult space fans there’s hundreds of rockets, satellites, Martian surfaces and other amazing artefacts to look at.

Small Space Toddler Day, 28 March 2014. Visit: SpaceCentre.co.uk

It’s out of this world!

The largest outdoor music event in Nottingham, the popular Splendour festival, attracts over 20,000 people of all ages each year. Set in the stunning grounds of Wollaton Hall & Deer Park it features music from internationally-acclaimed artists. Line up to be announced but past performers have included Pet Shop Boys, Scissor Sisters, Calvin Harris and local boy Jake Bugg.Saturday 26 July 2014 Visit: SplendourFestival.com

Ring my bell A hidden gem in Loughborough, the John Taylor Bellfoundry Museum showcases good old-fashioned craftsmanship – bell-making – at its best. It has an extensive range of exhibits and memorabilia, which tell the story of one of the oldest manufacturing industries in the world. Learn the historical method of casting and tuning, and ring the big bell on site. Tours around the main works can be arranged for groups - and if you are lucky you can witness the spectacular process of a bell being cast. Visit: TaylorBells.co.uk

100 Years of The Great War As part of Nottinghamshire’s Trent to Trenches event, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the irst World War, Rufford Abbey will be hosting a living history event. The weekend of festivities will feature many aspects of military and civilian life of the time including song and dance, period re-enactments, vehicles, static displays, children’s activities and much more. Entry is free but car parking costs £5. Events in the county will also include the Fields of Battle open air exhibition, located in Nottingham city centre, making its first public appearance outside London.

une ufford Abbey Visit: Trent-to-trenches.co.uk

Discover Lincolnshire Weekend Many of Lincoln’s attractions will be open free of charge during Discover Lincolnshire Weekend from 22 to 23 March. Visitors and residents alike can explore some of Lincolnshire’s most fascinating attractions absolutely free of charge. We think visiting Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle are absolute musts, whilst taking a tour on the sightseeing bus. Also the castle will play host to living history shows, birds of prey displays and entertainment from the Lincoln Waites medieval music group. Visit: Lincoln.com

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LOVINGY O U RH O M E Intelligent advice from haart

Move on up with help from haart

With the housing market thriving, you may be wondering whether you should hang on to

your property and wait a little longer until prices have risen further before you sell it.

Our advice is you should sell now – because the next property up the ladder will also be rising in value too, making it harder for you to buy.

There are some great new schemes around to help people get on or move up the housing ladder, by making it a lot easier to obtain a mortgage.

Help to Buy Mortgage GuaranteeIn October 2013, the Government extended its Help to Buy scheme for buyers of both new-build and older properties up to £600,000. The Government underwrites the lender’s risk by being a guarantor for up to 15% of the loan.

24

We were one of the first agencies to respond to the Government’s change in legislation by having Help to Buy advisers in all our branches. So if you are interested in finding out more, please call your local haart branch between 8am and 10pm or visit haart.co.uk.

Help to Buy Equity LoanThe Equity Loan, introduced in April 2013, is for new-build homes only up to £600,000, where the Government provides a loan of 20% of the property’s cost and the buyer finds the deposit plus the mortgage for the remaining 75%. The loan is interest free for the first five years.

What you needIn all cases, the purchaser will need a minimum deposit of 5% of the purchase price and funds are also required to cover stamp duty, legal fees and moving costs.

Paul Smith established the haart group 25 years ago and his regular ‘Intelligent Advice from haart’ blog and videos can be seen on the haart.co.uk website.

By Paul Smith Chief Executive of haart

Borrowers will have to meet each scheme’s various requirements. Properties bought for investment purposes are excluded.

Other schemes worth considering are NewBuy or Shared Ownership. Details of all these schemes can be found at:

Gov.uk/affordable-home-ownership-schemes.

High demand for propertyAccording to our own data, people now need to find around £ ,000 on average to obtain a mortgage, compared to almost five times as much previously.

As a result, we have nine people on average chasing every property on our books, we are achieving 98.9 per cent of the asking price and prices for a three-bed property have increased on average by 6.7 per cent over the past year.

Dream home

3-bed Cambridgeshire historic detached property

This historic detached property is set in an acre of its own grounds in a rural Cambridgeshire location and has been extended by the current owner. Its exposed beams and me anine layout offers an abundance of character and country charm. Located just outside Wisbech and only a short drive to nearby Peterborough, this former pumping station has accommodation comprising porch, hall, shower room, utility, lounge, dining room, a walk-in storage cupboard, sun room, office/bedroom and a kitchen. Upstairs continues with three bedrooms and a bathroom.

£340,000

Call David Cummings at haart of Wisbech on 01945 590015 for more details

Milton Keynes£160,118

Cambridge£219,388

Wisbech£119,743

Chelmsford£261,425

East Ham£235,475

Maidstone£236,819

Fleet£293,747

Bristol£214,268

Cardiff£230,092

Ipswich£163,379

Norwich£167,806

Derby£133,373

Sheffield£158,163

Leicester£149,997

West Bridgford£140,068

Local area spotlightIntelligent advice from haart

25

Client testimonialBlaby, Leicestershire

Derby“There is a significant shortage of property for sale in Derby, which means it really is a great time to sell.

Property which is sensibly priced is selling literally within days. We’re also finding that homes which didn’t find a buyer at the end of 2013 are being snapped up now.”

Kate Hill Derby branch manager

“Rabinder has been excellent advising me on my new mortgage; she was very knowledgeable during what was a very complex mortgage application. She was committed and kept me informed at every stage of the process.

I was made to feel that I was an individual rather just another customer. I will, and have already recommended her to friends and family. It was a pleasure to have met such a professional individual who I knew had my best interests at heart.”

- Paul Bennett

9:1

3.74%

64.41%

www.haart.co.uk

“I was made to feel that I was an individual rather just another customer”

Map shows average price for semi-detached properties in 2013 in areas covered by the branches shown of haart, Darlows and Haybrook.

Average price data obtained from the Land Registry. Average house price comparison covers branch postcodes. Buyers registered means applicants who have registered with the branch in the last 6 months and are still looking for a property. Properties available means properties registered with the branch which are either (i) for sale or (ii) sold subject to contract but which the branch is still marketing. Data collated February 2014.

Derby haart branch

% Average price change (2013 v 2012)

First time buyer applicants (Jan 2014 v Jan 2013)

Ratio of buyers registered to number of properties available (Jan 2014)

NEWSBlaby

If you want my help to sell your home, call in or phone me

Stephen McDonald Branch Manager*source: haart data for 3 months ended 28th February 2014

We have 747 people on our bookslooking for homes in this area*

We achieved 98.12 % of finalasking prices on properties we have sold in the last 3 months*

- 06 - For more properties in your area visit haart.co.uk

8am - 10pm everyday

YOU CAN'T TOP THIS

HRT010508179

SALES

ONE OF A KIND

HRT010508135

Blaby

Call us now on: 0116 277 9898

Greendale Road, GlenParvaOIRO £325,000An extended, four bedroom detached family home with beautiful conservatory. This house has so much to offer including open plan kitchen/diner, en suite to master and welll maintained rear garden.

• Detached Family Home• Four Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms• Utility Room• Off Road Parking• EPC Rating: D

The Drive, CountesthorpeOIRO £425,000Located on a private drive in sought after Countesthorpe is this Grade II listed family home. The accommodation is vast and must be viewed to by fully appreciated.

• Detached Home• Five Bedrooms• Four Reception Rooms• Off Road Parking• Set On Large Plot• EPC Rating: F


8am - 10pm everyday

HRT010508154

ROOM TO GROW

HRT010508147

E-X-T-E-N-D-E-D

SALES

Blaby

Call us now on: 0116 277 9898

Mill Hill Close, WhetstoneOIRO £150,000We are sure you will be impressed by this five bedroom, extended, semi detached house with garage. The property offers a sizeable through lounge/diner and ground floor WC.

• Semi Detached• Five Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms

• Ground Floor WC• Garage• EPC Rating: E

Alexander Avenue, Earl ShiltonOIRO £150,000Located close to local amenities is this three bedroom, link detached family home offering driveway, garage and a secluded rear garden.

• Detached House• Three Bedrooms• Lounge/Diner• Utility With WC• Garage• EPC Rating: C


8am - 10pm everyday

VILLAGE LIFE

HRT010508181

HRT010508163

MOVING ON UP

SALES

Blaby

Call us now on: 0116 277 9898

Lutterworth Road, Blaby£160,000 - £170,000You will be impressed with what this three bedroom, semi detached house has to offer. Set in the sought after village of Blaby, this property is ideally located close to all amenities.

• Semi Detached• Three Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms

• Driveway• Garage• EPC Rating: E

Woodbank, Glen ParvaOIRO £280,000Recently refurbished, this lovely three bedroom bungalow with conservatory, located in a quiet cul de sac, down a private secluded road will make the pefect home for any family.

• Bungalow• Three Bedrooms• Two Receptions

• Conservatory• Garage• EPC Rating: D


8am - 10pm everyday

SHOW HOME CONDITION

HRT010508156

SALES

Blaby

Call us now on: 0116 277 9898

Queens Close, Countesthorpe£260,000 - £270,000 Ideally located in the Redrow Estate Development, is this beautiful four bedroom detached home with over 9 years NHBC guarantee still in place. The property offers lounge, kitchen/diner, utility room, front and rear gardens, en suite to master and a family bathroom.

• Detached Home• Four Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms

• Utility Room• Garage• EPC Rating: B


8am - 10pm everyday

WELCOME HOME

HRT010508167

SALES

Blaby

Call us now on: 0116 277 9898

Rosebank Road, Countesthorpe£170,000 - £180,000Located close to local schools and amenities is this extended three bedroom detached house. This spacious home comprises open plan living room, kitchen/diner, sun room, off road parking, a garage and is available with no chain.

• Detached Home• Three Bedrooms• Kitchen/Diner

• Ground Floor WC• Garage• EPC Rating: E

NEWSDerby


Kate Hill Branch Manager*source: haart data for 3 months ended 28th February 2014




8am - 10pm everyday

Derby

A REAL GEM

HRT013312558

WARMTH - STYLE - CHARM

SALES

HRT013312667

Call us now on: 01332 361621

Doles Lane, Findern£299,950A truly stunning and deceptively spacious cottage within the popular village of Findern. The versatile accommodation spans two floors and offers an abundance of character throughout.

• CharacterCottage• Two/ThreeBedrooms• Garden

• Two/ThreeReception Rooms• OriginalFeatures• EPC Rating: D

Hospital Lane, Mickleover£270,000A stunning three bedroom home in this prime position overlooking open fields to the front. This property would be ideal for a growing family, so don't miss out on the opportunity to be the envy of your friends and family.

• Semi Detached• Three Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms

• Utility• Field Views• EPC Rating: E


8am - 10pm everyday

IDEAL FAMILY HOME

HRT013312415

SALES

A HOME FOR ALL REASONS

HRT013312564

Derby

Call us now on: 01332 361621

Palmerson Street, DerbyOIEO £250,000A stunning detached property close to local amenities and well regarded schools. The property offers spacious and well presented accommodation throughout and is perfect for all your family needs.

• Detached Home• Three Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms• Sun Room• Garage• EPC Rating: D

Orchard Street, Mickleover£295,000A rare opportunity to acquire an individual detached home situated at the end of Orchard Street, within close walking distance to excellent road links and Mickleover shops. The property is offered for sale with no chain.

• Detached Cottage• Three Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms• En Suite To Master• Corner Plot• EPC Rating: E


8am - 10pm everyday

CHARM AND TRADITION

SALES

Derby

HRT013311642 HRT013312131

WELCOME TO PARADISE

ROOM FOR THE FAMILY

HRT013312567 HRT013312185

PERIOD PROPERTY

Call us now on: 01332 361621

Normanton Lane, LittleoverOIEO £285,000Situated within walking distance of Littleover Village Centre, offering a wealth of amenities and local shops and within close proximity of well regarded schools. A real "wow factor" for this property is the mature and attractive rear garden.

• Detached House• Four Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms

• Well Presented• Utility Room• EPC Rating: E

Green Avenue, ChellastonOIO £225,000A truly stunning three bedroom detached family home situated within the affluent suburb of Chellaston, close to local shops and well regarded schools. Great road links provide access to the A50 and East Midlands Airport

• Detached Home• Three Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms

• Garage• Off Road Parking• EPC Rating: F

Colwell Drive, Boulton MoorOIEO £169,950A modern four bedroom detached home that would be ideal for the growing family. This well presented home is close to excellent road links and available with no chain.

• Detached Home• Four Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms

• En Suite To Master• Garage• EPC Rating: D

Vicarage Avenue, DerbyOIEO £249,950A stunning period property situated on this sought after tree lined street within walking distance of Derby City Centre. The property boasts six/seven bedrooms over three floors in addition to three spacious reception rooms and kitchen.

• Semi Detached Home• Six/Seven Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms

• Outside Wetroom/WC• Mature Garden• EPC Rating: D

NEWSLeicester


Karl O’Flynn Branch Manager*source: haart data for 3 months ended 28th February 2014

We have 1647 people on ourbooks looking for homes in this area*



8am - 10pm everyday

NO CHAIN

HRT017115355

HRT017114380

IT TICKS ALL THE RIGHT BOXES

SALES

Leicester

Call us now on: 0116 262 9913

Hogarth Road Near Thurcaston£200,000A four bedroom, detached property offering spacious accommodation including en suite to master bedroom, downstairs cloakroom, conservatory and integral garage.

• Detached Home• Four Bedrooms• Kitchen/Diner

• Conservatory• En Suite• EPC Rating: D

Midhurst Avenue, Narborough RoadSouth£125,000Situated in a quiet cul de sac position close to the Kingsway in the Narborough Road South area, is this well maintained, spacious semi detached bungalow. Offered for sale with no chain.

• DetachedBungalow• Two Bedrooms• Car Port

• LowMaintenance Garden• Off Road Parking• EPC Rating: D


8am - 10pm everyday

HRT017115009

ALL THE I WANTS

HRT017115288

WHAT A HOME

SALES

Leicester

Call us now on: 0116 262 9913

Oakwood Road, Leicester£170,000Attractive three storey, three bedroom property with the added benefits of a converted garage to office, utility room and en suite to off master bedroom. Surprisingly spacious for what the front seems to offer. That old saying never judge a book.........

• Mid Terrace• Three Bedrooms• Lounge/Diner

• Utility• En Suite To Master• EPC Rating: C

Oliver Road, Leicester£250,000 - £260,000This stunning three storey, five bedroom property offers a wealth of living accommodation with three reception rooms, two bathrooms and also an en suite off master bedroom, you are definitely spoilt for space.

• Semi Detached• Five Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms• Three Bathrooms• Off Road Parking• EPC Rating: C


8am - 10pm everyday

E-X-T-E-N-D-E-D

HRT017115017

SALES

INVEST IN HAPPINESS

HRT017115132

Leicester

Call us now on: 0116 262 9913

Meredith Road, RowleyFields£190,000 - 200,000Extremely attractive and extended three bedroom semi detached property close to amenities and local schools. Ready to be moved into straight away, this property also has plans to be extended even further.

• Semi Detached• Three Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms• Extended Kitchen• Driveway• EPC Rating: E

Princess Road West,Leicester£300,000A four bedroom, three storey, period property situated within the city centre and having views overlooking Museum Square and New Walk. This spacious property would make a fabulous family home and benefits from having a garage, parking and no chain.

• Mid Terrace• Four Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms• Two Bathrooms• Period Features• EPC Rating: D

*source: haart data, dated 18th February 2014

NEWSLeicester

If you want my help to let your home, call in or phone me

Minderpal Virdee Branch manager

We have 45 tenants registeredlooking for the right property*

Of the Lets we agreed in January, we achieved 99% of the final rental asking prices*


8am - 10pm everyday

Leicester

VILLAGE LIFE

HRT047002475

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK

LETTINGS

HRT047002468

Call us now on: 0116 262 6593

Rose Cottage, Stoughton£895 PPMA fantastic, spacious, four bedroom property in the desirable, rural, location of Stoughton, Leicester. This terrific home backs onto open fields and has lovely scenic views from the front and rear aspect as well as offering great access for Leicester Airport.

• Cottage• FourBedrooms• Conservatory

• Garage• TwoReception Rooms• EPC Rating: G

Seine Lane, Enderby£1,995 PPMLocated on the edge of the village but still close to shops, schools, pubs and restaurants is this detached, six bedroom house. Ideal for the busy professional, the home is appointed to a very high standard throughout and offers excellent commuter links via the M1/M69.

• Detached House• Six Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms

• Three Bathooms• Garage• EPC Rating: B

NEWSLoughborough


Bradley Thompson Branch Manager*source: haart data for 3 months ended 28th February 2014




8am - 10pm everyday

A HOME TO CHERISH

HRT017408670

HRT017408941

DECEPTIVELY SPACIOUS

SALES

Loughborough

Call us now on: 01509 235555

De Verdun Avenue, Belton£189,995Ideally set in a village location, this three double bedroom detached property has everything you will need for a family home. With integral garage, off road parking, lounge/diner and refitted bathroom.

• Detached Home• Three Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms

• Integral Garage• Off Street Parking• EPC Rating: D

Paradise Close, Shepshed£230,000 - £250,000A stunning and deceptively spacious, five bedroom family home. Having been upgraded throughout and extended to a second floor giving two further double bedrooms and another en suite, this type of property is rare to market.

• Semi Detached• Five Bedrooms• Two Receptions

• Utility Room• Two En Suites• EPC Rating: C


8am - 10pm everyday

GENEROUS PLOT

HRT017408824

SALES

Loughborough

Call us now on: 01509 235555

Landcroft Lane, Sutton Bonnington£400,000 - £425,000Spacious, detached family home on a very generous plot having been upgraded throughout to the highest standard and offering a double garage, plenty of off road parking, private rear gardens and four bedrooms with master en suite.

• Detached Home• Four Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms

• Refitted Kitchen/Diner• En Suite To Master• EPC Rating: D


8am - 10pm everyday

A PIECE OF PARADISE

HRT017408791

SALES

NO PAIN OF THE CHAIN

HRT017409037

Loughborough

Call us now on: 01509 235555

Hall Drive,Burton-on-the-Wolds£450,000A beautiful four bedroom detached bungalow on a sought after private road with off road parking, three reception rooms, and four double bedrooms. Upgraded throughout to the highest standard.

• Detached Bungalow• Four Bedrooms• Three Reception Rooms• Off Road Parking• Integral Garage• EPC Rating: D

Chapel Bar, Wymeswold,Loughborough£380,000 - £400,000Ideally located in the quiet and well thought of village of Wymeswold, giving easy access to surrounding major cities, as well as fantastic local facilities, this four bedroom link detached property will make the perfect family home. No chain.

• Link Detached• Four Bedrooms• Two Reception Rooms• En Suite To Master• Garage• EPC Rating: B


8am - 10pm everyday

BE QUICK!

HRT063100100

HRT063100086

QUALITY AND STYLE IN ABUNDANCE

LETTINGS

Loughborough

Call us now on: 01509 262897

Ravensthorpe Drive, Loughborough£1,350 PPMA five bedroom, detached house located close to the engineering site for Loughborough university. This property is modern and finished very well, with a modern kitchen and spacious living room the property also has a downstairs cloakroom.

• Detached House• Five Bedrooms• Modern Kitchen

• En Suite• Garage• EPC Rating: E

The Grange, Fowke Street£1200 PPMA stunning, two bedroom apartment in the desirable village of Rothley. This spacious ground floor flat offers beautiful views of the communal grounds and provides excellent access for the motorway and A6.

• Ground FloorApartment• Two DoubleBedrooms• Modern Kitchen

• En Suite ToMaster• AllocatedParking• EPC Rating: B


8am - 10pm everyday

ROOM TO GROW

LETTINGS

Loughborough

HRT063100085 HRT063100099

BE QUICK

LOCATION - LOCATION - LOCATION

HRT063100104 HRT063100014

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Call us now on: 01509 262897

Sycamore Way, Loughborough£625 PPMA modern, three bedroom home situated on a cul de sac. The property is finished beautifully throughout and offers a spacious lounge and conservatory.

• Semi Detached House• Three Bedrooms• Conservatory

• En Suite To Master• Private Rear Garden• EPC Rating: D

Ravensthorpe Drive£1350 PPMClose to the engineering site of Loughborough University, this five bedroom, modern home benefits from a downstairs WC, en suite to master and off street parking.

• Detached House• Five Bedrooms• En Suite To Master

• Off Street Parking• Garage• EPC Rating: E

Holland Close, Loughborough£500 PPMA great, one bedroom apartment located on the top floor of a three storey modern complex, with allocated parking and ideally located just moments from the town centre, train station and transport links.

• Apartment• One Double Bedroom• Lounge/Diner

• Allocated Parking• Integrated Kitchen• EPC Rating: B

Ashby Grove, Loughborough£600 PPMA modern, two bedroom apartment sited in this sought after development close to Loughborough Town Centre. With a balcony overlooking the grounds and plenty of storage space, this is not to be missed.

• Apartment• Two Bedrooms• Open Plan Living

• Balcony• Allocated Parking• EPC Rating: B

e ffer rt a e r t e e ar et

a u r t u at u t rt a e u

u ta

H0135054

(call charges will vary)

LOVINGY O U RH O M E Helping you move

haart moving checklistA month before you move

Book time off work if necessary.

If you are living in rented accommodation give notice to your landlord.

Have a clear out. Anything that you don’t need should be recycled, sold at a boot sale or given to charity.

Get quotes from removal firms from the British Association of Removers by visiting Bar.co.uk or get quotes for hiring a van if you plan to move furniture yourself.

btain packing materials such as newspapers, tissue paper, boxes, cardboard, wrapping, padding and parcel tape.

ontact your telephone and utility providers and tell them you’re moving.

Two weeks before you moveontact the removal firm with the final details.

Start packing things you rarely use.

hone the telephone company and ask them to connect the phone in your new home.

Arrange building insurance and contents insurance for your new home.

Tell the local authority that you’re moving.

One week before you moveack everything except things that you will need between now

and your move.

Re-direct your mail.

ay any outstanding bills.

ut important and valuable items such as passports, birth certificates and jewellery in a safe place.

btain a TV licence for your new home.

The day before you moveinalise last-minute packing.

efrost the fridge and free er.

isconnect appliances.

heck your utility suppliers have switched on your gas, electricity and phone in your new home.

lean the house.

Leave a welcome’ card for the people who have bought your house, along with a few local takeaway menus and any instructions they may need.

Get a good night’s rest

Your moving dayEnsure you take electricity, gas and water meter readings.

heck all appliances are disconnected.

Secure all windows and doors before heading to your new home.

To find out about buying and selling from haart call 0845 899 9999 8am - 10pm everyday

Mark fragile

items clearly

Moving into a new home can be a stressful experience. However, a little bit of forward planning can go a long way towards making your move as smooth as possible. Use our haart checklist to make the process easier.

Label which

boxes are for

which rooms

Don’t overload

your boxes


If you need more information, call us on 0845 899 9999 or visit haart.co.uk

Result!

Call us 0845 899 9999 to see how we can help you.

The haart way gets better results. For some that means more money in the bank. For others, it

ans a i k o o fin ing a nan fas in which case we speed things along.

One thing we know for sure: a happy client, is a happy client.

HRT | Corp ad | Love your Home

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Loving Your Home - Derbyshire & Leicestershire

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