blog:proleno

Bring a burst of Springtime in Japan to your living room… Breathe new life into your living space by creating some lovely Japanese Cherry Blossom cushions to brighten up your sofa. Place a Japanese screen behind your sofa or a vase of cherry blossom on your coffee table. Add some cherry blossom room fragrance perfume sticks and you’ll evoke the heady scent of a Japanese Spring.

Step One
Cut out blossom (flower) shapes from organza fabric using a Versatip with a soldering tip.

Step Two
To create the individual blossoms, place three organza flowers together, then pinch them all together in the centre and touch the point on the back of the flowers with the Versatip and the soldering tip to fuse them into one blossom.

Step Three
Use a Glue Gun to glue the strung brown sequins onto the cushion cover to form the branches, planning the design carefully first if you want it to run across a number of cushions.

Step Four
Cut out leaf shapes from green fabric and use a Glue Gun to glue the leaves and blossom in place. (Alternatively, you could create leaves using lime green sequins). Add some sparkle to your cushions by using the Versatip to apply the hot fix gems to suggest blossom buds or more blossoms.

Materials required:
White and pink organza fabric (note that fabric must be man-made fibre only)
Brown strung sequins
Green non-fray fabric such as faux suede or felt or green sequins
Clear hot fix gems
Cushion pads with silk covers
Dremel Versatip with soldering tip attachment
Dremel Glue Gun

More information at www.dremel.co.uk

According to mental health charity, Mind, a third of us feel under pressure to provide the perfect Christmas for our friends and family.

Marketing Manager Rowena Howell at furniture manufacturer Halo, the home of Beautifully Real Living, has devised a Christmas count down to ensure we enjoy a ‘Beautifully Real’ Christmas.

“We want it all! The beautifully decorated tree, the immaculate house, home-cooked food worthy of Nigella and all our family on their best behaviour,” says Rowena. “We put too much pressure on ourselves and we don’t always appreciate what the season is really about. At Halo we don’t just make furniture, we help make treasured memories and we hope our top tips make this Christmas the best yet.”

1^st December: The average shopper spends £384 on presents but you don’t need to break the bank to warm the hearts of those you love -personalised gifts often mean more. Turn your dining table into Santa’s workshop and make your own.

3^rd December: Really appreciate your living room. Light the fire and cosy up on the sofa for a relaxing afternoon with mince pies and mulled wine to wrap your handmade gifts and write your Christmas cards.

5^th December: Do you always use you dining room to its full potential? Clear out the clutter and invite your friends to a dinner party. Encourage guests to bring a different course each so you don’t spend the evening in the kitchen.

12^th December: Spend quality time with the children in the magical season – sit round the table to make decorations and write letters to Santa for the whole afternoon.

15^th December: According to Mind, half of British adults just want to feel relaxed and loved at Christmas but romance is easy to forget in the whirlwind of to-do lists and preparations. Make time for each other. Leave the TV off, cook your favourite meal, sit at the table and talk about your treasured Christmas memories.

24^th December: Read the children Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ with milk and cookies before bed to savour the last few hours of the seasonal build up as a treat for you and the kids. Don’t forget to leave some for Santa!

25^th December: Enjoy your Christmas day! Ensure everyone helps with the day’s chores so that you’re not burdened with it all. Remember to take a moment to sit in your favourite armchair and take in the magical feeling of the day.

27^th December: After Christmas day make use of the left overs and go all Bridget Jones! Invite family round for a post Christmas gathering and host a ‘turkey curry buffet’.

31^st December: Top the season off by holding a night to remember on New Year’s Eve. Make a statement with a champagne reception and hire a personal chef to cook an elegant five-course meal in your own home.

For further information on Halo, please visit www.haloliving.co.uk or call 0161 923 0500.

Two brand new show apartments at Crest Nicholson’s Harbourside development are opening their doors to house hunters.

Located in the Ensign phase of The Crescent, the two spacious, two-bedroom apartments will showcase why the development has proved so popular to discerning house hunters wanting to live next to the water on Bristol’s historic floating harbour.

The first features one of the stunning bay-fronted apartments that offers spectacular views across the water and is what sets this particular phase apart from any other development in the city.

All the main living areas are accessed from the hall which also includes a handy linen cupboard. The master bedroom is en suite and benefits from a French door that leads out onto a separate balcony. The second bedroom is served by a separate bathroom.

The kitchen and main living area combine to provide a spacious room that’s perfect for entertaining or for relaxing while enjoying the views across Bristol’s historic harbour. The large bay window floods the room with plenty of natural light and is why the sales team has already received a lot of interest in this particular phase.

The second two-bedroom show apartment, also benefits from spectacular view that includes the ss Great Britain and the countryside surrounding Bristol.

Including a fully appointed en-suite to the master bedroom, large open plan living room and kitchen as well as separate bathroom to serve the second bedroom, it will show house hunters a different style to what’s available.

All fittings are of the highest standard including built-in appliances in the kitchen and Villeroy and Boch sanitary ware in the bathrooms.

Vicky Dudbridge from selling agent King Sturge said:

“We’re delighted to open these two new show apartments and both demonstrate the fabulous lifestyle opportunities on offer.

Ensign has already attracted a lot of interest with a high number of reservations already taken. Once house hunters take a look around these two new show apartments I’m convinced the number of reservations will increase so anyone thinking about buying needs to seriously consider their options quickly!”

For further information on apartments for sale please call 0117 908 8888 or visit www.harbourside.co.uk . Alternatively you can visit the marketing suite on Cathedral Walk which is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Shrewd property investors are turning to Crest Nicholson’s Harbourside development in advance of Hargreaves Lansdown opening its new head quarters.

With occupancy of the new office due to take place later in the year, the number of potential new tenants the office could bring will provide those willing to buy at the development with a steady flow of occupants and good rental income returns.

Since the New Year there has been an upturn in activity from private investors as well as repeat purchase from previous customers. As a result the sales team at the development are saying this is a good sign that confidence in the property sector has returned and now is the time to buy.

Occupying 100,000 sq ft with frontage on Anchor Road, the new Hargreaves Lansdown HQ will provide room for up to 700 staff.

With 1,500 staff already working in the HBOS building and 50,000 sq ft of space yet to be developed at 2 College Square, the number of workers in close proximity to the development is set to rise further.

Vicky Dudbridge from selling agents King Sturge said:

“Occupancy of 1 College Square will mark a significant milestone. The influx of people to the area will see demand for rental properties rise. Because of this our advice to anyone thinking of investing in property is to take a look at Harbourside and see for themselves what we have on offer.

The fact that we’re getting more enquiries from investors is a clear indication that the property market is showing signs of recovery.

If those looking to property as an investment weren’t confident they would get a return then we certainly wouldn’t be getting as many enquiries and reservations as we are.

To see previous buyers come back is welcome news and we expect this to continue over the coming months.”

With demand remaining robust, Crest Nicholson has just launched its latest phase.

Called Ensign, it comprises 27, one and two-bedroom apartments, including a selection of spacious, bay-fronted properties that boast stunning views directly across Bristol’s historic floating harbour.

Located right in the heart of Bristol, those living at Harbourside not only enjoy the benefits of a stunning new waterside development but all the trappings city centre living brings.

The centre is only a few minutes walk away and there are numerous restaurants and bars close by including The Living Room, Chinese restaurant Zen and Pizza Express.

For further information regarding these exclusive apartments please call 0117 908 8888 or visit www.harbourside.co.uk . Alternatively please visit the marketing suite on Cathedral Walk which is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Ross Lovegrove has designed a watch for Issey Miyake. The Hu is made of titanium and silicon, and features a face that is easier to read when tilted 25 degrees to the right.

Do heated towel rails function as radiators or do I need to install additional heating in my bathroom?

Yes, you can use a heated towel rail as the only heat source in your bathroom, provided it gives out enough heat.

Towel rails fall into two categories: those used solely to warm towels (where a separate radiator is used to heat the bathroom) and those used to both warm towels and heat the bathroom.

All too often, people swap their bathroom radiator for a towel rail, without taking account of heat output. This can result in warm towels in an otherwise cold and miserable bathroom – especially in winter! With a bit of expert advice, this scenario can be avoided. Once you know what heat output your bathroom needs (your plumber or radiator specialist can work it out for you) then it’s a case of matching this to the right heat output.

If your bathroom is compact and well insulated, you shouldn’t have a problem in finding a towel rail that will heat your bathroom adequately. If your bathroom is large and not well insulated, most towel rails will not have the capacity to keep your bathroom warm, or may need to be ridiculously big in order to give out enough heat. The good news is that the radiator industry is finally responding to this problem. There are now several stylish and compact towel rails on the market, designed to maximize heat output with integral hanging rails.

Recently mentioned Feature Radiators has been voted as one of Channel 4’s “5 fave things” from the National Homebuilding and Renovating show.

On the Channel 4 website, design expert Rich Payne says:

“This stand caught my eye for their show-stopping collection of contemporary radiators. They had seemingly limitless desirable designs, and their staff informed me they provided heating devices for the Big Brother house.”

A quick Q & A session with Phil Jackson, Managing Director of Feature Radiators.

Q: I am looking for cast iron radiators for my Victorian property but don’t know whether to go for reproduction models or reclaimed. What would you suggest?

A: There are pros and cons for buying both reproduction and reclaimed cast iron radiators.
I have set out below the main points to be aware of.

Reproduction Radiators:-

§ should come with manufacturer’s guarantee

§ should be tested to European standard EN442 (this provides assurance that the product has passed rigorous testing and is deemed fit for purpose. EN442 is also verification that the heat outputs stated are accurate).

§ can be built to order so:-

i. you can specify the right size radiator for your room, in terms of both heat output and dimensions.

ii. you can easily obtain matching radiators in the correct sizes for use throughout the house (achieving this using reclaimed radiators would need a lot of good luck and patience).

§ are the easier choice – radiators arrive on site (in primer or painted finish), ready to plumb in.

Reclaimed Radiators:-

§ can be picked up at low cost – but be aware of the extra costs (money and time) involved in renovating and transporting.

§ can be found in interesting and unique designs and can have a history (it is worth checking the recent history in particular; make sure reclaimed radiators have come off a working system and be sure they’ve been stored indoors to avoid frost damage).

§ do not usually come with a manufacturer’s guarantee.

Warning – do not power coat cast iron radiators, reclaimed or reproduction, as the process can damage the seals between radiator sections.

More information can be found about radiators in all shapes and sizes at www.featureradiators.co.uk.

I stumbled across this great website, Oak Furniture Warehouse, last night. It has recently been given a makeover by a web design team that I have worked with previously so I wanted to give it the once over, so to speak.

Design-wise its really got a lot going for it. Its bright and cheery, easy to navigate and with clear, good quality, fast loading images that really do enhance the products and services on offer.

What really surprised me, once I got past the webby stuff, was just what a great company this is! Based in the East Sussex countryside at Cripps Corner (if you are a local) they offer all of the customer service that you would expect if you visited their showroom, but from the comfort of your armchair.

The furniture quality looks outstanding and at an average of 20-30% below high street prices its bargain shopping at its best!

One product among many that took my eye is the Brooklyn – Oak Square Dining Table. Rustic and full of character, it is made using reclaimed oak.

Another unusual piece that would certainly appeal to anyone with a large bathroom is the Wealden Oak Tall Laundry Chest. And, if you don’t have large bathroom then its attractive enough to sit comfortably on a landing or even in a bedroom.

So, whether its a dresser or a dining table, a bed or a bookcase, if you are looking for oak at a great price then take a look at their website. I don’t think you will be disappointed!

I was intrigued, although not totally surprised, to discover this little gem of fun – rooms in a hotel in the Netherlands created entirely from salvaged wine casks!

Ever fallen asleep alongside a good glass of French wine? How about “inside” a cask of good French wine? The De Vrouwe van Stavoren Hotel in the Netherlands salvaged four wine casks from Switzerland and converted them into rooms. Formerly filled with 14,500 litres of Beaujolais, each now holds a modest two-person room with standard amenities and even an attached bathroom and sitting room. Visitors from all around the world have traveled to the quaint northern port town of Stavoren to stay in one of these recycled rooms.

After fulfilling their duty of adding flavour, colour, and tannin to thousands of bottles of wine, the barrels were mounted on trucks and moved to Stavoren. The old oak casks make excellent rooms considering their strength and airtight seals, and also offer a great oneupmanship opportunity!

General rates for a cask room are from 74-119 Euros a night with discounts of up to 75% off depending on season. If you go in the wintertime, a wine cask room can be as low as 18 Euros a night, cheaper than most hostels! Breakfast is included and you can even take along your dog!