Category: Lifestyle

  • Interior Designers to follow on Instagram

    We get our inspiration from many sources but day to day we like to follow our favourite Interior Designers on Instagram. If you’re thinking of freshening up your home or have a blank canvas to work with we recommend you start following!

    The first and our favourite is Marie Flanigan. She’s based in Texas so her designs are influenced by American design but we think they are timeless and in many cases transferable. She’s often our inspiration for our schemes. Why it works? Marie plays with texture and neutral tones to create interiors that you won’t get bored of.

    Coming in second is a designer a little closer to home. Helen Green is based in London and although her designs are slightly more luxury we’re still influenced by her style. We’re wary of strong patterns but Helen manages to weave these into her designs elegantly. Why it works? Touches of gold and silver and subdued colours blend with a beautiful neutral backdrops.

    Utah based Interior Designers with a love for softer schemes is husband and wife team Syd and Shea McGee. They have a fantastic story from humble beginnings to interior design powerhouse. Why it works? Neutral palettes with blend soft detailing.

    We’ve featured bedrooms in this post however you’ll get inspiration for every room in your house by following these designers. We’ve included the links for you within the story so you can easily follow them.What are you waiting for. Get inspired!

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  • Style secrets: Spring Mills

    Our most recent Show Home is at Spring Mills. The development is located in Fence in the Pennines in Lancashire. Since we were styling a two bedroom home we wanted to create a home that felt warm and cosy, a creative use of space was also key.

    The window seating

    The Show Home is located in the Brearley, which features an open plan layout to the ground floor. We had an L-shaped couch made by our upholsterer in a deep blue velvet. We were pleasantly surprised when we realised the space fit a sofa that could accommodate four or five people. Behind the sofa we have installed a fitted bench to the bay window which has some handy storage underneath – a great place for the children toys or extra kitchen items. We installed a four seater dining table which we had made by Cosywood. What really makes this area is the industrial style lighting which you can find here. In the kitchen we chose a grey/green colour for the doors, complemented by a simple white quartz.

    The kitchen with AEG appliances

    Upstairs the Brearley has two double bedrooms. In the master bedroom we added a large king size bed from Gilmore Space. The side tables are from a regular favourite of ours – Maison Du Monde. We bought a few things from Swoon Editions including the desk in the master bedroom (pictured below) and the bedsides in bedroom two. We will add a small warning when ordering from Swoon – they only offer a two week return window.

    The bed in bedroom two we absolutely love. The studding adds a touch of glamour to any bedroom. You can find the bed and similar styles on Made.com.

    If you’ve not been to Spring Mills yet and would like to see the styling in the flesh you can visit Friday, Sunday and Monday 11am – 4pm. For more details please click here.

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  • Are you a property investor?

    Are you a property investor? Someone who may benefit from a little advice? Possibly worried what the new budget might mean for you?

    We recently found a great property podcast we’d like to share with you. It is by self proclaimed property geeks Robert Fence and Robert Dix. Each episode is less than 30 minutes so it shouldn’t eat up too much of your time.

    In their recent episodes they have debated what the latest government changes may mean for investors and if you should be worried about interest rates. At the start of the year they predicted the rise in capital growth in Manchester which the latest data has confirmed to be true. Their podcasts are easily digestible and fun to listen to. They have over 100,000 listeners each month and have recently won an award for audience appreciation. They certainly brighten up our car journeys…

    This is not an advertisement on their behalf, we just wanted to share it with you… If you’d like to give their podcast a whirl you can find out more by clicking this link.

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  • Tour de Yorkshire 2017

    On Sunday 30th April the Tour de Yorkshire will be rolling out of Bradford over a 195.4km route to Fox Valley in Sheffield. There are 8 climbs along the route, which will visit the towns and villages of Haworth, Grassington and Silsden to name a few. You can view the full route here.

    Our residents at Harwal Waterside will get a great view of the race as it comes directly past the development. If you haven’t received the letter advising you that you will need to move your car (if parked on Elliot Street) please speak to our Sales Advisor who will be able to advise you of the details.

    We wish the riders good luck. Let’s hope they get some great weather.

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  • UK Cities House Price Index

    House Price GrowthThe latest data from HomeTrack UK on house price growth was released last month. We’re extremely pleased to see that cities in the North are making the tables. Manchester tops the list with 8.8%, proof that the Greater Manchester City Region strategies have paid off. Leeds also makes the top ten with a growth rate of 5%. Indicating that both cities and their surrounding regions are great investments.

    Sales in regional cities have been up 40% over the past three years owing to their relative affordability in relation to London and the South East. These results certainly add more oomph to the term Northern Powerhouse…

    Like to see the full report from HomeTrack, please click here.

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  • Style secrets: Harwal Waterside


    Are you buying a new home or needing some ideas for your own home? Did you like our Show Apartment at Harwal Waterside in Silsden, West Yorkshire? If the answer is yes, read on…we’d like to share our sources with you.

    When Caroline (our Creative Director) briefed our interior designers at Eye Candy Interior Design she asked for a scheme that would reflect the developments close proximity to the canal. She wanted a focus on natural materials with neutral tones and hints of blue.

    At Harwal Waterside, where we have high ceilings and a large living area, it was important to get a light and airy feel. Whilst brainstorming this space Caroline looked to apartments in New York that tend to have these types of high ceilings for some ideas on how to design the kitchens and create areas within the space for different uses.

    If you’re nervous about colour, which Caroline often is, our first recommendation is to start with a neutral palette – ensure your furniture cream, light grey or beige and add touches of colour by using items that can easily be replaced such as cushions or flowers. As you can see in the image above this is exactly what we have done at Harwal Waterside. Some of the cushions used on the sofas are watercolour prints which work perfectly when considering the developments proximity to the canal. The sofas pictured were made by our upholsterer however you will find the coffee table here.

    When you have a lot of room to play with it is advisable to create a little office corner as we have. If you don’t have enough space in your living area but have a nook under your stairs create it here instead. The desk we used can be found here.

    A dining table should not only be beautiful but functional. When purchasing a dining table consider where the table legs will go, the last thing you want is a table leg in the way when dining! We found this dining table on Made.com. We use Made a lot on our schemes – they make pieces that are design led yet affordable.

    Every bedroom needs a great chest of drawers, we found ours at Atkin and Thyme. We love the industrial yet delicate design of this piece. A studded bed adds a touch of glamour in the bedroom and can be found here.

    We hope the above has been helpful, we’ll be back next week with the details of our Show Home at Spring Mills in Fence.

     

     

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  • Mortgage Affordability

    Mortgage

    The National Mortgage Index shows that mortgage affordability is improving. Whilst house price growth remains moderate in the majority of areas, key indicators of affordability show improvement. What are these indicators? 1) Loan sizes are reducing, indicating that those remortgaging or landlords have benefited from house price growth and thus have more capital when obtaining a new mortgage 2) Salaries. Those obtaining new mortgages or remortgaging have higher salaries than a year ago and 3) First time buyers are younger.

    Brian Murphy, Head of Lending for Mortgage Advice Bureau comments, “According to recent data from the Halifax, mortgage payments now represent 30% of earnings in Q4 2016 vs 48% in Q3 2007. This reflects the fact that borrower’s debt servicing costs are significantly lower due to the current low-interest rate environment. This has counterbalanced house price growth over the last two or three years and has enabled those people who otherwise might have found it hard, if not impossible, to buy if interest rates were higher to either get on or trade up the property ladder.

    If we look at typical mortgage rates in 2007, around the 6% level for a 2 year fixed rate product versus where we are now, with a typical 2-year fix costing around 2% and many significantly below this ultra-low level, we can see how mortgage affordability is improving.”

    Interesting facts from the National Mortgage Index:

    • More people are opting for fixed rate products, 96% to be exact up from 94% in in Feb 16
    • Average applicant age is now 36
    • LTVs have increased slightly
    • The average age of a first time buyer is now 29, down from 32

     

    Like to find out more about the mortgage market? Read the full report here.

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  • Apartment living

    It’s not often we build apartments but when we do, we do what we always do and create a design that goes that little bit further. Our apartments at Harwal Waterside in Silden, West Yorkshire are built out of natural regular coursed stone and feature large, high quality, aluminium windows. Inside we’ve installed large glass entry doors to give you the feeling of luxury as soon as you step into the building. Each apartment has high ceilings which further enhance the natural light.. Kitchens are as modern or traditional as you’d like to make them and bathrooms are spacious. The design aside, what are the benefits of apartment living?

    • Security – living in an apartment building, especially for those buying on the upper floors, gives added security. If you’re a lover of travel this is added peace of mind when you are away.
    • Garden – not everyone loves a garden. The hassle of maintaining one can sometimes be more of a burden than a joy.
    • Community – it is said that neighbours in apartment buildings are often more neighbourly than those living in houses so if you’re wanting community an apartment might be the right purchase for you.
    • Sustainability – apartments are on the whole more sustainable with lower utility bills. Good for the environment and good for your wallet.
    • Design – apartments, being smaller than a traditional home, are much easier to interior design. Buy one accent piece and you’ve made your whole room. It also means you are much more selection about what you buy and consider every inch. It’s also much easier to update the style of your home if you wish.
    • Clutter – those who own apartments tend to own less and thus clutter us kept to a minimum! You also spend less money on the things you don’t really need!
    • Family – smaller spaces bring people together!

     

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  • Functional and stylish kitchen design

    Fence Show Home Kitchen

    Kitchens should be functional, stylish and safe. We put a lot of thought into the designs of each of our kitchens, which change as trends change. We spoke to Karen, one of our Kitchen Designers, to help you create the perfect kitchen.

    How have kitchens changed?

    Over the years the kitchen has increasingly become a multi use space where families gather, prepare and cook meals, eat and entertain. In short they are the hub of the home!

    What is the process when designing kitchens for us?

    Each house’s size and style is carefully considered to create a layout  which makes the best possible use of space, that maximises storage and is complementary to the style of house. The number of  people who are likely to live in the home is considered, could it be a young family looking to increase their living space, someone starting out on the property ladder or a someone looking to downsize/retire?

    A kitchen in Skipton

    What do you consider when designing the layout?

    The layout should allow for the free flow of movement and be safe and practical for more than one person to be in the kitchen preparing food/cooking at the same time. The key questions I ask myself – is it practical, functional and does it look good?  Is there a way to make a feature in the kitchen by including a range cooker, would an island or peninsular unit provide extra workspace and a sociable casual dining feature? Is there enough worktop space for the essential basic small appliances – such as a kettle and toaster, is there enough space to prepare food? I find it helpful to zone the kitchen for various basic processes, such as a cooking zone, a food preparation/wet zone and a storage zone e.g. a pantry cupboard.

    What is the most important thing to consider in terms of function?

    Storage! There should be sufficient storage not only for food but also pots, pans, crockery and tableware. I then consider if  there is a way to make them more accessible by the using clever storage solutions such as pull outs and cutlery trays to create a clutter free work surface.

    A kitchen in Rossendale

    What is the most important thing to consider in terms of style?

    The sight lines from entrances and key views should be kept as clear as possible to allow the room to feel spacious and open. Appropriate lighting is essential; the last thing you want is any dark corners. All kitchens I design for Skipton Properties will include under cabinet lighting and in many cases over cabinet lighting to enhance our kitchens further.

    What are the trends in kitchen design for 2017?

    Expect an eclectic mix of styles including:

    • Industrial with a Scandinavian influence using exposed bricks and rustic woods
    • Softer monochromatic palettes with greys and whites and coffee and creams
    • Darker, dramatic kitchens accented with natural woods
    • Two tones kitchens with metallic accents trims and cookware
    • Increasing amounts of open shelving to help achieve a greater feeling of space
    • Large islands with breakfast bars remain popular
    • Integrated handleless kitchens continue their rise

     

    Need some more inspiration? We’d highly recommend a flick through the interior design site, Houzz.

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  • Squirrel: save for your new home

    We came across a new app called Squirrel this week that helps you budget to save for the things you really want.

    Squirrel is very hands on with your monthly budget in that it acts like a secondary bank account and only releases your wage on a weekly basis. It shows you what you can spend that week and won’t let you overspend so by the end of the month you’re not dipping into your savings.

    How does it work?

    It does take a little work from you to set it up. You’ll need to sit down and tap in your monthly expenses and saving goals, but once that’s done it is quite easy to use. Once these are set the app then pays out what you need for your monthly expenses into your usual bank account and keeps the rest.

    The downside?

    Of course, if your savings are in another place you will not earn interest on them, however with interest rates as low as they are at the moment we aren’t earning very much on them anyway! That said, you could also squirrel your money away in an ISA.

    The upside?

    It’s only £3.99 a month and it is a really easy way to work out your outgoings. If there is an emergency and you need that money you put aside they will send it to you the next day.

    For more detail on Squirrel click here!

    Disclaimer

    We’re not a financial adviser – this news post is not to advertise a service we have any financial interest in, we just like to show our customers what’s new and noteworthy! If you would like to speak to a financial advisor we can recommend one. A financial advisor will be able to discuss your ability to buy a home in detail. If you would like to be put in touch please let one of our Sales Advisors know.

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