Life Magazines (Hertfordshire editions) June 2020

Fine Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits Free same day delivery in Harpenden and St Albans www.platformwines.com

FROM THE

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EDITOR

omments and questions about a major St Albans City Centre development are to be put to the project team at an online meeting open to the public. Residents, community groups and businesses which want their voice heard are invited to send in their views.

St Albans City and District Council is developing an area on the corner of Victoria Street and Bricket Road, the site of a former police station and NHS clinic. Plans that were approved in 2018 are being replaced by a new design following a pubic contest earlier this year.

Gallery 1066 one of Hertfordshire’s leading art galleries has been working hard during lock down by offering client’s virtual gallery tours and home visits. They are also proud to have helped raise over £150,000 collectively across the UK for the NHS with the new release by acclaimed artist Doug Hyde called ‘Thank You’.

Origin Leisure knows that a swimming pool can not only add value to your home but to your home life as well. Swimming remains one of the most popular activities across the country, with its physical and mental health benefits exceeding expectation. In fact, a recent Swim England study found that those who swim regularly felt on average 12 years younger than those that don’t.

Faye Manning Editor

THE TEAM PUBLISHED BY THE FISH MEDIA GROUP LTD

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Editor Faye Manning ••••• Editor Assistant Katie Miller ••••• Sub Editor Nicholas Peter ••••• business DEVELOPMENT manager Kelly Pauling ••••• Design & Production Lisa Wade ••••• SALES Lewis Casserley ••••• Accounts Kathy Manning, Andree Georgiou ••••• Directors Rory Smith, Patrick Smith

Re-opening Adding sparkle to weddings for 17th June Adding sparkle to weddings for 259 years 259 years

TEL: 01462 434 273 TEL: 01462 434 273 www.gatwardsofhitchin.co.uk www.gatwardsofhitchin.co.uk

out & about – We put fantastic local businesses and exciting events in the spotlight each month – I M AG E : H AT F I E L D H OU S E

OUT & ABOUT

National Garden Scheme launches

Chelsea Flower Show Special Collection for Virtual Garden Visits campaign

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helsea Flower Show is the most prestigious shop window for garden design in the world. Careers are launched by gaining that elusive gold medal for a show garden.

For visitors they are the big draw; fascination with the huge cost, a sense of fantasy, and admiration for the prodigious skill required to create something so accomplished in such a short time.

After Chelsea is over, often the only way people can enjoy the work of the designers is by visiting gardens they have created which open for the National Garden Scheme. With no show this year, we are celebrating these talents with virtual visits to memorable gardens designed by four of the most distinguished current designers – two of which are their own – and one garden designed for this year’s show. Together the five have amassed an impressive 29 Chelsea gold medals between them.

Tom Stuart-Smith, who lives in Hertfordshire, is one of the most admired garden designers in the world who in the early-2000s created a series of the iconic Chelsea show gardens, winning 8 gold medals and three best in show awards in the process. Tom’s career revolves around the garden he has created at his Hertfordshire home The Barn. In a gorgeous film vignette he takes us on a tour and talks about his work.

Similarly, another favourite designer, Bunny Guinness, winner of six Chelsea gold medals and popular panellist on Radio Four’s Gardener’s

10 JUNE 2020

Question Time, takes us on a tour of her Cambridgeshire garden where sustainability and self-sufficiency are the watchwords.

Julie Toll and Marcus Barnett both have similarly enjoyed Chelsea success to help boost their now international reputations as designers.

Their contrasting ability to blend modern and contemporary with a more traditional country garden style are brilliantly shown off at the Manor House, Ayot St Lawrence designed by Julie and 15 The Avenue, Cheam, designed by Marcus.

And in celebration of the National Garden Scheme’s relationship with nurses we feature what would have been one of the stars of this year’s show, the Florence Nightingale Garden: a Celebration of Modern Nursing; designed by Robert Myers, which we will now have to wait until the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show to enjoy. The film is introduced by the President of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, Baroness Watkins, who explains the link between Florence Nightingale and the National Garden Scheme, before designer Robert Myers explains the inspiration for his garden and reveals some of the key features.

The films are part of the National Garden Scheme’s Help Support Our Nurses campaign which it has been running while all its gardens are closed. The charity is sharing weekly portfolios (released each Thursday) of films made in their gardens by owners who open and inviting people to make a donation when they watch in a bid to make up the huge funding gap for nursing and health charities that the closure of the gardens has created.

OUT & ABOUT

THE 2020 VISITOR SEASON at

Hatfield House

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e hope to invite visitors back to the Park, Gardens, Woodland Walks and Old Palace soon. The team here at Hatfield House are busy reviewing the recent government guidance and taking steps to ensure both visitors and staff can maintain safe social distancing whilst still enjoying the beautiful surroundings. The safety of our staff and visitors is paramount and for this reason we will not be receiving visitors into Hatfield House itself for the remainder of this season.

Hatfield Park Farm and play area will unfortunately close and won’t be re-opening in its current form. We are taking some time to review what attractions and experiences we can offer future visitors to this area of the Estate.

Some of our forthcoming events have either

12 JUNE 2020

been postponed or cancelled. Please visit our website event listings for all the latest information.

We hope to open the Coach House Kitchen with a reduced take away menu in a form which complies with latest government guidelines.

We would like to thank all our valued team and visitors for their continued support during this time, “By supporting each other it means we can all keep playing our part in the community whilst caring for the places, collections, historic and natural environments that unite and sustain us all.

The whole team are working hard to keep it all safe and sound. When the time comes, we can’t wait to welcome you, your friends and family back to Hatfield House, Park and Gardens.”– Anthony Downs, Estate Director.

The difficult decision to close Hatfield Park Farm permanently has now been made. We are using this time to reflect on how the experiences we offer families and especially children can be improved. We will continue to develop our educational tours of our buildings and grounds, and introduce exciting new woodland trails that give everyone the chance to see the park’s stunning wildlife in its natural setting. We look forward to bringing you further news about new activities and changes to our visitor experience in due course.

We look forward to welcoming everybody back soon. www.hatfield-house.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT

Staying supportive, staying kind and standing together

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allery 1066 one of Hertfordshire’s leading art galleries has been working hard during lock down by offering client’s virtual gallery tours and home visits.

They are also proud to have helped raise over £150,000 collectively across the UK for the NHS with the new release by acclaimed artist Doug Hyde called ‘Thank You’.

This collection sold out within 2 days and was a phenomenal response by collectors.

Gallery 1066 is always looking at innovate ways to help brighten everyone’s day with inspiring works of art and have recently teamed up with local Fashion Designer & Illustrator Sarah Leete.

Sarah has been busy creating with the gallery a fabulous collection of fun and witty illustrations for people to download free of charge and to colour in.

‘The drawings are for all ages and we would love people to share with other families and just to have some fun with them!’ said Hayley Norman, Gallery Owner.

And as people are now finding more time to spruce up their walls the gallery are offering a FREE 30 minute ‘virtual interior design service’ enjoying time with clients over video calls.

With a safe door to door delivery and virtual service business is as usual. So, if you are looking for some inspiration and advice please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

‘Staying supportive, staying kind and standing together is key for us as a business and we hope to promote that message to everyone’. www.gallery1066fineart.com 01462 896164 / 07974 246389. Please go to our Facebook page: gallery1066fineart to download our colouring drawings

14 JUNE 2020

OUT & ABOUT FEATURE

Drinks on the Platform with Platform Wines

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latform Wines, a new independent retailer, launched their brand at the end of last year at two separate locations: Harpenden and Berkhamsted Train Stations. The idea behind it was simple – provide good wine and beer at affordable prices whilst being in a convenient location.

You could grab a bottle on the way home. Perfect!

Daniel Blake and James Allsop - the owners of Platform Wines – have spent many hours considering how the business could work and importantly how to connect with their customer base. Since they have launched, they have run free tasting events every few weeks in Bekhamsted, bringing their product direct to the consumer.

During “Dry January” they even provided alcoholfree beer. They began offering up a breakfast service to appeal to the morning commuters: delicious coffee, freshly made porridge and syrup, dried fruits and preserves. The business was just finding its feet and improving the service they provided by responding to customer feedback when the global pandemic hit.

Like many independent businesses, Platform Wines were hit hard by the restrictions put in place.

Much of the business is a result of footfall through the train stations, and with travel restrictions and closures in place, they had to think fast and adapt to

16 JUNE 2020

keep their business from failing so early in its lifetime.

They quickly setup an online delivery service – if the customer couldn’t come to them, they would go to the customer. Not an easy task by any means. They had to begin their days earlier to ensure that their deliveries got to the right houses, whilst making sure that each customer got exactly what they ordered – beer cans in particular can be tricky customers as they like to roll in to hard-to-find places.

Throughout all of this though, they have still been expanding their range and have just launched a 5litre keg selection. They have also partnered with BerkoBeerFest to offer online beer tasting events that customers can sign up for. A selection of beers will be delivered direct to your house for you to participate in a tasting session led by a professional.

It is clear to see how challenging the last several weeks have been, but Daniel and James insist it has been extremely rewarding. They have been touched by the support from the local community who have got behind them in the hope of seeing this new business succeed. The feedback that they have received has been nothing short of brilliant and they have been nicknamed by some as “The Beer Fairy.”

It’s not every day you start a new business venture, and it’s certainly not everyday you can say you successfully ran it during a pandemic!

Platform Wines, Harpenden Station, Platform 4 Station Approach, Harpenden, AL5 4ST www.platformwines.com

“We stared running free tasting events every two or three weeks in Berkhamsted, sometimes wine, sometimes beer, even alcohol free beer during dry January”

Specialists in Fine Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits. offering high quality drinks at affordable prices.

Free Same Day Delivery across West Hertfordshire 7 days a week when ordered before 4pm National Delivery also available

Harpenden Station, Station Approach, Harpenden AL5 4ST Berkhamsted Station, Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted, HP4 2AJ @platformwinesharpenden

www.platformwines.com

OUT & ABOUT

Turn your house into a Home

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he process of making a house a home can be a time-consuming endeavour, especially if you’re starting from scratch; a new build, a recent renovation, or whether you just haven’t got around to it – and before you know if you’ve been moved in a year! The daunting mass of blank walls can leave you feeling uninspired, which pushes the task of putting the finishing touches to your home to the bottom your to do list. This is where Gallery Rouge can help; they’re much more than an

exhibition space for you to view artwork.

They understand the nuances of each and every home and can help you identify what will suit your space and taste.

Gallery Rouge are art advisors with a difference, offering clients a wide variety of services, all of which are intended to make the process of buying beautiful fine art as relaxed, enjoyable and simple as possible.

With a wealth of experience to draw upon, a strong portfolio of internationally collected artists, and

GALLERY ROUGE ST ALBANS: 27 Chequer Street, St Albans, AL1 3YJ | stalbans@galleryrouge.co.uk | 01727 860401 GALLERY ROUGE HARPENDEN: 78 High Street, Harpenden, AL5 2SP | harpenden@galleryrouge.co.uk | 01582 760332 20 JUNE 2020

“They understand the nuances of each and every home and can help you identify what will suit your space and taste”

galleryrouge.co.uk over 13 years’ worth of happy clients, Gallery Rouge can help you identify what you need to make your house a home.

Whether you want to make a statement, introduce something to colour match your interiors, or if you’re after a more minimal aesthetic, they can take you through a consultation service to match your tastes to the perfect selection of artwork. From contemporary to classic, abstract to photorealist, landscapes, seascapes and everything in between – Gallery Rouge will have something for you.

They also provide corporate artwork, assisting businesses in the acquisition of art for their office space – particularly useful for clients who are looking to add quality art to their professional environment, whilst keeping an eye toward investment.

Their Home Consultation process is easy and must be one of their most valued services; there’s nothing like a fresh pair of eyes to see how you can reinvent your space. Simply book in with

one of their experienced consultants and together identify a selection of pieces and a time that suits you, and they’ll bring it over – at no expense – thus giving you the invaluable opportunity to see pieces in your own home before you make any decisions. It allows you to take advantage of their passion for fine art and their experience curating interiors, gives you that all important peace of mind before you invest in something that you’re going to live with for some time.

“It’s a match making service pairing the perfect piece in its forever home, and something we at Gallery Rouge take very seriously! Whatever you introduce to your space needs to create the exact right impact and balance with your unique aesthetic; no two homes are the same and we want to help you find artwork that is as individual as you are.”

Whether you’re new to buying art or a seasoned collector, see how Gallery Rouge can help you. Give them a call or pop along to one of their impressive galleries and get the ball rolling today.

“They also provide corporate artwork, assisting businesses in the acquisition of art for their office space – particularly useful for clients who are looking to add quality art to their professional environment, whilst keeping an eye toward investment”

Art as unique as you

Bringing homes to life since 2007 JUNE 2020 21

OUT & ABOUT

Killa Waffles: Deliciously different making sure our customer’s relationship outlast coronavirus, and ensure we will still have a business to come back to when it’s all over. Firstly a huge thank you for helping us to get this far, we are totally humbled by the support we received from our fantastic community. During the lockdown we started to create new menu items such as fried chicken burgers, sandwiches etc…

We received help from the local community too, asking how they can support us during the coronavirus outbreak. They added us to local websites, promoted us on local instagram pages, The response from the community had been amazing. www.killawaffles.com

“Killa Waffles is all about making sure our customer’s relationship outlast coronavirus, and ensure we will still have a business to come back to when it’s all over”

K

illa Waffles is a fresh new look for waffles in England, with deliciously different ideas that already grab the attention of the public and to give savoury waffles a second chance. Our ethos is to serve fresh and affordable American Style Food.

Our food is unique, funky, creative and really delicious. Each item on our menu is an original masterpiece which we have trialled and developed to fuel your body and soul. Our savoury waffle are unique and made from the best ingredients possible.

Almost all our food is produced from scratch using fresh, unprocessed ingredients.

This lockdown has been tough on all of us.

We decided to be active, stay in touch with our customers and update them on our operations through the social media. Killa Waffles is all about

22 JUNE 2020

FINANCE

Jarrovian Wealth Hertfordshire

offers free financial advice calls during COVID-19 crisis

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new emergency financial advice project has been set up by regulated advisers across the country to help those aged over 50 with concerns around their pension or other personal finance matters during these difficult times.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has led to turbulence in global financial markets and dramatic falls in stock values - the FTSE 100 has fallen around 25% since the beginning of the year leaving many people worried about their finances and not knowing where to turn.

From investments to pensions, wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and other retirement planning matters there are issues that need addressing. More than 50 regulated financial advisers, including St Albans-based James Glynn from Jarrovian Wealth, have offered to give a free initial telephone conversation, without any strings attached.

James says: “The current crisis is leaving many people worried about their financial wellbeing 24 JUNE 2020

as well as their health. We wanted to do our bit to help ensure those who need it have access to vital financial advice. Pensions and investments are complex and can bamboozle many people. An initial chat with an experienced financial adviser can help to ease any concerns, and give people a better understanding and, hopefully, the confidence to move forward.“ It is hoped the initial free 30-minute call will help many people to sort out their concerns, without the need to move to regulated advice.

For those who do need further advice, normal regulatory rules will apply and advisers will use their discretion on whether to offer ‘pro bono’ advice for the vulnerable and those on low incomes or regulated financial advice for a modest fee. If an adviser cannot help, they will steer callers to the relevant organisation/agency who can. Visit emergencyfinancialadvice.org to find out more.

This initiative was launched by William Burrows of financial adviser Better Retirement who believes that everybody who is affected by the current crisis should have access to financial advice if they need it. William Burrows commented: “We wanted to find a way to reach out and help everybody who has questions or concerns about their pension or their financial wellbeing at a time of national emergency, and I have been taken aback by the support from the adviser community.”

Jarrovian Wealth in St Albans can be contacted through hello@jarrovian.co.uk or telephone 01727 228628

About Jarrovian Wealth JW was established in 2017. Our team of skilled and experienced financial planners does more than just look after the numbers for clients around pensions, investments and protection – both personal and business. We get to know and understand the deeper motivations and aspirations, so we can challenge people to think bigger. While knowing they are in a safe pair of hands building up a secure financial future. We may be one of the newer players, but we are packed with experience as our clients have been trusting our experts with their financial lives for over 30 years.

We don’t just focus on individuals we incubate businesses too helping entrepreneurs and those up and running to get ventures off the ground, stay on track and plan the perfect exit strategy, so owners can focus on the day job of running the show.

JW’s headquarters are in London. For more information visit: www.jarrovian.co.uk

“It is hoped the initial free 30-minute call will help many people to sort out their concerns, without the need to move to regulated advice”

An independently owned financial planning company dedicated to providing a different approach to help clients plan and achieve their desired lifestyle.

For a no obligation consultation with one of the Jarrovian team contact Jarrovian Wealth in St Albans at hello@jarrovian.co.uk Telephone 01727 228628

Private/Corporate Clients Trust and Charities Legal Services

www.jarrovian.co.uk

Jarrovian Wealth is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Food to Die for...

Mouth watering dishes Chicken, Burgers, Killa Mac & Cheese, Falafel Specials! And so much more

We provide a bespoke service. We listen and create menu for your special event, providing you with delicious American style food that ensures your occasion is a memorable one.

Free of charge delivery in St Albans and surrounding areas.

Book direct & you will receive 10% discount with the CODE ‘to die for’

Offer valid until December 2020. Applies to private hire only, excludes deliveries.

Open Friday – Sunday What’s app : 0759982258 • Email:thekillawaffles@gmail.com @killa_waffles • www.killawaffles.com

OUT & ABOUT

Farm Shop Is Open and Well Stocked We are very excited to be open again after temporarily closing.

THE DETAILS

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f you have not visited before, you will find the modern, rustic shelves of the farm shop are bursting with local and artisan products.

There is a strong focus on high quality and interesting food and drink from small, passionate producers, and options for those looking for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free products. Loose and organic fruit and vegetables (when possible) is available, as well as sustainable packaging options such as glass bottles for fresh milk.

Located on the site of a family-owned fresh produce nursery (Glinwell), Smallford Farm Shop and Glasshouse CafĂŠ (remaining closed until further notice) have been built from the history of the site selling produce to local customers from pallets. You can now buy the delicious home-grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and aubergines alongside a wide range of local and independent products, creating a unique offering in Hertfordshire and providing everything from store cupboard staples, daily essentials, and little luxuries.

Brands to look out for: Just William, a local Hertfordshire farmer providing all your butchery needs from sausages to joints of meat and poultry; delicious hand-made Darlish ice-cream, from Harpenden, Mrs Middleton, rapeseed oils and dressings from Bedfordshire; Twist Teas, hand

26 JUNE 2020

Smallford Farm Shop, Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0HE 01727 747340 info@smallfordfarmshop.com www.smallfordfarmshop.com @SmallfordFshop blended teas from Harpenden; The 3 Brewers and Mad Squirrel beer to name just a few.

We understand that this is a difficult time to go shopping, especially if you are vulnerable, so we have created a larger space and floor markings to allow for social distancing when shopping and queuing. Customer numbers are being managed within the shop and hand sanitiser is available at the entrance. We are encouraging customers to pay using a card or contactless and if possible, ask that only two people per household come instore.

We are looking forward to welcoming our loyal and new customers after our temporary closure and wish everyone to stay safe and well.

We are open for business as usual on an appointment only basis

OUT & ABOUT

knebworth house announces re-opening of the formal gardens and dinosaur trail F rom Wednesday 27th May Knebworth House’s Formal Gardens and Dinosaur Trail will be opening daily from 11am to 4pm, at £7 per person and £25 for a family of 4 ticket.

Pre-booking online is essential with time-slots of 11am - 1.30pm and 1.30pm - 4pm available for access to the Formal Gardens and Dinosaur Trail. Season Ticket holders are also required to book a time slot, but will not be charged. Paying ticketed visitors are welcome to use the Parkland for games and picnics outside of their allotted Garden time-slot between 11am - 4pm. The Adventure Playground remains closed until further notice.

During these difficult times the health & safety of visitors and staff will remain of utmost importance to management, who have implemented strict practices to safeguard all on site including: • Making hand sanitiser available on site for staff and visitor use.

• Displaying clear signage throughout the site advising staff and visitors to wash their hands regularly and follow the catch it, kill it, bin it guidelines.

• Enhanced cleaning regimes.

• Welcoming visitors with a smile instead of a handshake.

• Social distancing measures.

• One-way system around the Formal Gardens.

• Limited Capacity.

Knebworth House is keen to offer a safe space for families to enjoy the Summer months ahead.

28 JUNE 2020

The 28 acres of gardens including the Dinosaur Trail is a great location to watch the seasonal flowers bloom while children can follow the trail of 72 life-sized dinosaurs through the wilderness garden.

The Adventure Playground with Fort Knebworth will remain closed to all visitors at this time, updates of any changes will be available on their website.

The Covid-19 situation is being monitored daily by management and their website and social media channels will be updated as the situation changes.

The attraction does however ask visitors to follow government advice and remain at home if you have any symptoms. It will be possible to transfer prebooked tickets to another day later in the season.

Managing Director, Martha Lytton Cobbold Commented: “We are really looking forward to safely welcoming back our season ticket holders and public visitors to Knebworth House Gardens from Wednesday following the recent government directive to enable us to do so. We’ve missed our visitors and can’t wait for them to be able to enjoy the gardens again, which are looking particularly beautiful at this time of year. We like so many others had to close for the early season, but with the new directive and our enhanced health and safety system in place, we look forward to restarting now and will also look to extend later into the year.”

For more information and to book tickets visit www.knebworthhouse.com.

“During these difficult times the health & safety of visitors and staff will remain of utmost importance”

FEATURE

Questions invited on major City Centre development The winning CCOS South design.

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omments and questions about a major St Albans City Centre development are to be put to the project team at an online meeting open to the public.

Residents, community groups and businesses which want their voice heard are invited to send in their views.

St Albans City and District Council is developing an area on the corner of Victoria Street and Bricket Road, the site of a former police station and NHS clinic.

Plans that were approved in 2018 are being replaced by a new design following a pubic contest earlier this year.

The new design - which will require planning permission - features 93 homes, more than 6,000 square metres of commercial space and around 100 car parking spaces.

Its most prominent building will have a curved, glazed façade and will be separated by lush green walls from an adjacent residential block.

The development is known as the City Centre Opportunity Site South (CCOS South) and the cost has been recalculated at £65.8 million.

The plans will be discussed at a meeting of the Council’s Planning, Resources, Housing and Commercial Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 11 June at 7pm.

Anyone who wants to make a contribution to the

30 JUNE 2020

debate can do so by emailing their views to scrutiny@stalbans.gov.uk by 3pm on the day.

The Committee’s Chair, Councillor Paul Cousin, may then raise the main questions and issues that emerge at the meeting.

These will be put to Councillor Robert Donald, Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Development, and Senior Officers.

Cllr Cousin said: “The revised CCOS South plans have been called in for examination by a number of the Committee’s members.

“They have raised concerns about a variety of issues including the cost, the transparency of decision making and the housing mix.

“These, I am sure, will be raised at the meeting and I also want to hear from the public about what concerns they may have.

“This is a huge development, one of the biggest ever undertaken by the Council, and it is important that we make sure that it represents value for money and makes the best possible use of this key City Centre site.”

The meeting will be available watch live or afterwards as a webcast here: www.stalbans.public-i.tv/core/portal/home.

More information about CCOS South is available here: www.stalbans.gov.uk/major-projects-andredevelopments.

“St Albans City and District Council is developing an area on the corner of Victoria Street and Bricket Road, the site of a former police station and NHS clinic”

EDUC ATION

LEARNING IN LOCKDOWN Jo Cameron, Principal of Queenswood School in Hertfordshire, explains how teachers and pupils have adapted to the current coronavirus situation

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s the nation entered lockdown, school communities made rapid and radical transformations in order to deliver education remotely. Staff and pupils have had to master new technologies, syllabuses have had to be totally reconsidered, teachers are finding new ways to motivate students, and parents are also getting involved on a daily basis.

Independent schools such as Queenswood are fortunate to have the technology in place to be able to deliver a full timetable of online lessons, direct from teachers’ homes. Video conferencing software, collaborative documents and virtual learning environments have proved invaluable, and the positive feedback we’ve received from parents has been overwhelming.

We’ve adapted the timetable to allow pupils regular screen breaks, and ensured that girls are set work that takes them away from their desks and out into the fresh air where possible. A fabulous example of this is an English project, where pupils have been creating their own versions of the infamous Cottingley Fairies photographs in their gardens.

Of course, remote learning is not without its challenges. For instance, many of our boarders live overseas in different time zones; for those in the Americas, the school day now begins at 4.00am, while girls in the Far East could be burning the midnight oil. Teachers have found that audio-video recording of lessons allows international students to access the work at a time that suits them.

The cancellation of GCSE and A-Level exams brought a sudden and dramatic end to two years of preparation for our Year 11 and 13 students.

However, at Queenswood we have always firmly believed that education is about so much more than narrow exam syllabuses, and teachers have relished 32 JUNE 2020

the opportunity to devise a stimulating alternative curriculum for girls in Year 11 and 13, providing stepping stones to the next stage of their education.

Geographers are taking an online course with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Drama students are writing plays; physicists are studying nuclear fusion in depth.

We’re also able to offer a varied and stimulating virtual co-curricular programme. From knitting to netball; from morning meditation to movie-making; from art history to hockey; from cookery to creative writing – girls are able to expand their horizons (metaphorically, if not literally) and learn new skills.

Now more than ever, young people need the support of communities, and at Queenswood, we’re making every effort to continue the pastoral care for which we are renowned. There are daily catch-up sessions with tutors, video podcast-style chapel services, and even a live-streamed assembly every Friday, in which I explore our beautiful campus and share the joys of spring with girls, parents and alumnae.

This is schooling unlike anything we have ever experienced, and all of us are of course eager to return to familiar structures and practices. But lockdown has taught us new ways of working, shown us new ways of thinking about education, and reaffirmed our values.

Jo Cameron, Principal, Queenswood School www.queenswood.org

Queenswood girls using their spare time to make PPE for local care workers

“Now more than ever, young people need the support of communities, and at Queenswood, we’re making every effort to continue the pastoral care for which we are renowned”

OUT &ATION EDUC ABOUT

New Approach to Learning at St. Francis’ College I

t’s the best of worlds and the worst of worlds!

Life in lockdown has been a real challenge for schools. St. Francis’ College has embraced that challenge determined to continue opening the hearts and minds of our students and engendering a sense of community spirit even though separated remotely by screens.

We have felt it is important to ensure continuity of learning, encouragement and personal development during this time. To this end, we made sure we provided a very high quality provision offering a selection of approaches to teaching and learning including face to face teaching which reflects the variety used in the classroom. Staff have been committed to ensuring each pupil’s learning needs are being met by answering individual queries from pupils and responding to parental questions

34 JUNE 2020

via e mail. The College has continued to provide pastoral support and care through form times, assemblies and individual teacher attention.

We have delivered a full timetable including PE workouts, Individual needs support, even music lessons as well as addressing issues of screen time and workload to ensure personal well-being in this new environment. The College is providing the highest possible standard of education under these extraordinary conditions and whilst we cannot provide the daily social interaction and hubbub of friendship groups, we are delivering all other aspects of the curriculum spiritually, intellectually, pastoraly and morally.

To help our families feel connected and supported, we invite parents to our weekly assemblies, provide daily briefings and encouragement and share information promptly.

Daily challenges and quizzes support our enrichment programme and provide stimulation.

Our Science Department has donated PPE locally in order to support the wider community.

So many of our parents send daily messages of support, thanks and encouragement to us.

St. Francis’ College has stayed true to our motto ‘one heart , one soul ‘ and remains a community unified in its commitment to the education and development of the young women in our care.

We are looking forward to seeing our students back in school very soon.

Please contact our Admissions Office for more information about St. Francis’ College.

St Francis College, Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 3PJ Tel. +44 (0) 1462 670511

“We have felt it is important to ensure continuity of learning, encouragement and personal development during this time. To this end, we made sure we provided a very high quality provision offering a selection of approaches to teaching and learning”

FEATURE

Have you got the space in your home and heart to foster a child?

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here are approximately 950 children and young people in care in Hertfordshire and many of these children need the love and support of a foster family.

Many residents decide to become foster carers when their own children have grown older or left home. One such couple is Keith and Nicky Gower who became foster carers a year ago and have found fostering to be “life-changing”.

The couple from Hemel Hempstead are currently fostering three young brothers, aged four, five and six. Keith said: “We decided it was the right time to foster when our own children left home. Only our 17-year-old remained at home, so we felt we’d have

36 JUNE 2020

more time to devote to foster children.

“Fostering has certainly been life-changing. It has been very demanding and a lot of hard work but it has also been extremely worthwhile and enjoyable.

We are positive, can-do and flexible people, which I think really helps.”

He added: “Our lives are very busy again. We take the boys to so many activities and events that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do previously and it’s great to see their appreciation.

It’s been so rewarding to see them grow and meet challenges that they couldn’t have achieved when they first came to live with us.”

Foster carers in Hertfordshire must be over 21 years old and have at least one spare room in their home. There are many different types of fostering and foster carers can choose what is right for them and their family.

Anyone who fosters with Hertfordshire County Council can expect a generous allowance, full training and unrivalled local support, guiding new foster carers through the process, every step of the way.

For more information visit www.hertfordshire. gov.uk/fostering or call our recruitment team on 0800 917 0925.

“We decided it was the right time to foster when our own children left home”

FEATURE

FOSTERING IN HERTFORDSHIRE F

oster carers in Hertfordshire have been using their time in isolation to highlight the desperate need for fostering.

Since the pandemic started, many foster carers for Hertfordshire County Council have been highlighting on social media the difference fostering has made to their lives and showing how they have kept their foster children occupied during isolation.

Some have been building dens, creating artwork on sheets, baking, setting up an outdoor cinema, designing a top celebrating the NHS and making a patchwork blanket, among other activities.

your heart, feel like something is missing in your life, then maybe fostering is for you.”

During these challenging times, children in Hertfordshire still need the love and support of a foster carer, and in the county, there are over 950 children and young people in care.

Any residents wanting to transform a child’s life and become a foster carer in Hertfordshire, must be over 21 years old, and have at least one spare room at home. There are many different types of fostering and foster carers can choose what is right for them and their family.

Anyone who fosters with Hertfordshire County Council will receive unrivalled 24/7 support, local training, and generous pay and allowances. To find out more, ring 0800 917 0925 or visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/fostering

Foster carer Kathy and her foster daughter have even been making masks and scrub bags for the Lister Hospital and local care homes.

A few foster carers have also been publishing their own vlogs, to speak about what fostering means to them and to encourage other people to take the first step.

One such couple is Ed Gibson and Jools Newman who have been foster carers for seven years. During this time, they have fostered 14 children and are currently serving as Mockingbird hub foster carers, providing support to eight foster families.

Ed said: “This is a very tough time for all of us at the moment but the need for foster carers is greater than ever. If you have a spare room, have love in 38 JUNE 2020

Hertfordshire Fostering and Adoption: Twitter @hccfosteradopt

“This is a very tough time for all of us at the moment but the need for foster carers is greater than ever”

FEATURE

8 Reasons to Choose an Exclusive Use Venue for your Wedding

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hether you’re newly engaged or have been thinking about booking a wedding venue for some time now, you’ve no doubt done some venue research. As you’ll realise, there are several unique styles of wedding venues out there, all offering couples a different experience when it comes to their actual wedding day. The difference between non-exclusive and exclusive use venues may seem trivial during the wedding planning stages but, on your big day, it could add that little bit of extra something which every couple deserves. Exclusive use guarantees you your privacy for the duration of your wedding day. You’ll generally receive sole exclusivity of a wedding venue, the grounds, the staff and anything else you require. It means you can be sure that you’re not going to bump into anyone on the day that isn’t a guest, or a member of staff, at your wedding.

Some exclusive wedding venues will differ in terms of what they will provide within their exclusivity package. Hiring a blank canvas wedding

venue could mean that you need to bring in every wedding supplier yourself; from the tables, chairs, linen, catering team and more. Booking to have sole use of a wedding venue means that you and your guests will have the use of the whole property for the duration of the wedding. Feel like royalty for the day with a complete exclusivity where the only guests are the ones you have specially invited. Find a venue that has accommodation on-site too, and your wedding venue will be transformed into a special retreat for the duration of your celebrations.

If you’re unsure about how hiring an exclusive use wedding venue can enhance your wedding day, here are eight reasons which might just convince you to go for that exclusive use venue.

Privacy A wedding is a personal occasion for your family and friends, so it’s natural to want complete privacy to enjoy the day with only ‘your people’. There won’t be any strangers roaming around the venue staring while you’re all in your finery and you won’t find any strangers in the background when you’re flicking through your wedding photo album.

You will be able to choose exactly who you’ll be spending your day in the company of, giving your wedding the ultimate sense of intimacy.

Security Exclusive use venues tend to be a lot more secure and, with just your party on-site, it’s a lot safer and 40 JUNE 2020

“You will be able to choose exactly who you’ll be spending your day in the company of, giving your wedding the ultimate sense of intimacy”

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After sitting down with us for a free initial consultation they heard about a few options that let them retain access to their money and eradicate the £176,000 tax bill.

Call us now on 01923 909339 and arrange your FREE, no obligation consultation with our expert.

Future Start Independent Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England under number 09048509 and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority www.fca.org.uk under number 736240. Inheritance tax (IHT) planning is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Everyone’s circumstances are different and IHT may or may not be payable at the levels mentioned in the example above. Tax rules and legislation can also change. Calculations based on 2020/21 tax year.

FEATURE

you won’t have the fear of strangers gate-crashing your wedding reception.

Staff Exclusive wedding venues tend to lend themselves to better service because all of the staff at the venue are there to serve your party alone. That means you won’t have to queue up with strangers at the bar and you and your party will receive the undivided attention of the venue’s staff. It’s likely that the experienced staff will have seen every possible wedding-related mishap there is to see and they’ll know exactly how to rectify it; so you can feel safe in the knowledge that the happiest day of your life is being handled by the experts.

Travel From getting ready in the morning, to saying “I do” and have the last dance of the night, choosing exclusive venue hire means you don’t have to travel anywhere during your big day. Not needing to worry about travel makes everyone more relaxed. It also means there’s no need for taxis or designated drivers. You can keep the party going as long as you like, stay over and have breakfast together in the morning.

Attention When opting for an exclusive use venue, you can rest assured that you and your partner will be the centre of attention all day, without having to compete with other couples.

No Hidden Extras Exclusive use venues and all of their bonuses usually come as a package, so there are no hidden costs involved.

Location Some of the most beautiful venues in the country can be exclusively yours, but it’s not just the stunning barn or grand country house you’ll have, but the grounds and gardens too. Can you imagine celebrating in acres of rolling parkland, as Lord and Lady of the Estate? Amazing outdoor space could take your wedding to the next level.

More Quality Time Being in the same venue for the duration of your wedding gives you more time with your guests and loved ones. It means the celebrations can last a lot longer too, as everyone can stay until it’s time to leave the following day. Since you’ll be at the venue for the duration of your celebrations, you can also build in extra time to capture more happy moments on camera too.

As you can see, there’s much more to selecting a venue than simply price and location. The benefits of having exclusive use of a wedding venue are genuinely compelling, so make sure you explore it as an option. Choosing an exclusive use wedding venue could add the perfect touch to your big day, 42 JUNE 2020

“Few properties in England can claim to have been the home to two prime ministers, played host to George IV, Queen Victoria and the infamous Lady Caroline Lamb who introduced the Waltz to England in the Ballroom”

with a homely feel and endless privacy and security for an intimate atmosphere. It could just give you a wedding day that exceeds expectations and is unforgettable.

Set in 543 acres of idyllic Hertfordshire countryside, Brocket Hall has played host to a variety of special and important events. The elegant and romantic setting is the perfect location for your special day. The Brocket Hall Estate, designed by Richard Woods, with the meandering Broadwater Lake and charming Paine Bridge offers the perfect backdrop for your wedding photographs.

Few properties in England can claim to have been the home to two prime ministers, played host to George IV, Queen Victoria and the infamous Lady Caroline Lamb who introduced the Waltz to England in the Ballroom – which can seat from 50 – 150 guests for your wedding breakfast. The Ballroom is sumptuously decorated with fine paintings, including the stunning ceiling painted by Sir Francis Wheatley.

Your special day includes the traditional butler service, with our Head Butler and his team catering to your every need. There are 30 luxurious double bedrooms within Brocket Hall and a further 16 bedrooms in the Melbourne Lodge, sleeping a maximum of 88 guests on the estate.

On the Estate, we also have alternative venues to the Hall including our exclusive-use fine dining restaurant, Auberge du Lac (pictured above), and The Oak Room which is room-hire only.

For more information or to enquire about available dates please contact; weddings@brocket-hall.co.uk. 01707 368897

NEW AND EXCITING WAYS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF A GREAT GOLF CLUB More and more people would love to join a golf club but are unable to commit to playing every week or can only play some weekends.

For weekday or weekend golFers we have solutions to Fit with your busy schedules.

New Member options include: 30 rounds of golf a year with our lifestyle 30 Membership weekend golf only with our lifestyle weekend Membership both only £899 and there are superb discounts for two or more players* For those who play weekdays we have also re-opened our 5-day Membership for the over 70s Why Mid Herts Golf Club?

• No Joining Fee • Four Starting Points • No tee booking times (in normal circumstances) • Gentle walk with a challenging course • Course remains in excellent condition with no winter greens • Completely refurbished with improved bunkers and tees • Great swindle/roll up options • Fun social events *Terms and conditions apply

email: gm@midhertsgolfclub.co.uk Mid herts golf club, lower gustard wood, lamer lane, wheathampstead, hertfordshire, al4 8rs For more information please contact Joy Pickard general Manager on 01582 832242

fashion, HEALTH

& beauty – Fashion, health and beauty news to keep you looking and feeling your best – i mag e : A UDR E Y H E P BURN

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

[NEWS]

FASHION & BEAUTY IN THE BAG These gorgeous market baskets are perfect for a picnic, shopping at the farmers market, or storing crafts supplies or toys. Handwoven with love by female weaving cooperative in Bolgatanga area, Northern Ghana. All the baskets are fair trade. www.lolaandmawu.com

a ring to it wearable art Elisabeth Riveiro is a passionate jeweller who hand makes her pieces in her studio in France using ancient and traditional techniques such as lost wax casting, planishing, chiselling and enamelling. She has been working for more than thirty years translating the designs of Enesto Riveiro inspired by ancient civilisations with an emphasis on geometric, zoomorphic or symbolic patterns. They are small wearable sculptures made from bronze and then gold gilded or silver plated. www.nataliawillmott.co.uk

The band of this ring is cast from the grooved stems of the cow parsley plant found in our hedgerows throughout spring and summer. The ring is set with a round rainbow moonstone. www.lucysylvester.com

summer scarves This beautiful silk scarf is by designer GuanAnAn - London. Inspired by a fantasy of characters from ancient oriental literature The Classic of Mountains and Seas. In the book, He Luo Fish and Ran Yi Fish were described as real existed mythical creatures who lives in the rivers. www.charltonisland.com

ENVIRO-STYLE HEADING IT UP Beat any unexpected weather chills with this stylish turn up beanie. Available in three colours: Orange; Light Blue; Light Grey and Dark Grey. With the unique Budeful logo, wear this beach style brand when out and about this season. www.budeful.com 46 JUNE 2020

These contemporary cactus swim shorts are made from recycled plastic bottles, keeping them out of landfill and most importantly out of our oceans. Stylish emerald green sustainable men’s swim shorts featuring a fun orange cactus print with navy and gold drawstrings. www.wearthlondon.com

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

The easing of lockdown and the opportunity to appraise

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ovid 19 has made a difference to most people’s lives and returning to the ‘new normal’ may be difficult for some as we try to adjust to life after lockdown.

Whilst we adapt, considering our psychological wellbeing should be paramount. This is a great life opportunity to appraise and make positive adjustments to our lifestyles.

You might want to consider doing some of the following: • Reassessing and improving relationships • Easing anxiety • Dealing with depression • Building confidence and self esteem • Reducing irritation and anger • Tackling stress • Striving to better yourself through self-development

48 JUNE 2020

Wherever you are and whatever your emotional issues you can access help.

At Emotionalskills we are offering online therapy nationwide using Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp and FaceTime to help those who are struggling with low mood, worry, anger, irritability, low esteem, and relationship issues.

Talking to a professional listener, a therapist, and receiving counselling or coaching can really help people feel reassured and less despondent, less uncertain, less stressed and anxious, and move towards a better place psychologically.

Shane Lutkin is lead Therapist at counselling and psychotherapy practice, Emotionalskills. Call 07986 488690 or email info@emotionalskills.uk.

Visit www.emotionalskills.uk

“This is a great life opportunity to appraise and make positive adjustments to our lifestyles”

Boutique Spa

We are re-opening for treatments on 4th July Our waiting List is now open Please email with your treatment/s choice and telephone number.

AlumierMD & Environ products delivered to your door.

Email your order to the address below info@eve-and-adam.com www.eve-and-adam.com 01727 854483 | @eveandadamboutiquespa

A Hidden Gem of Beauty Beauty specialist Beauty By Rosie coming back bigger and better than ever with 25 new colours and a freshly new refurbished cabin! Opening from the 4th July for all your beauty needs, lashes, gel nails - specialising in biosculpture which is the leading gel system, LVL lashes, tinting, waxing, spray tanning, luxury manicures and pedicures.

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Book in now and recieve 10% off for all new clients booked until the end of July

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

Coronavirus – how to stay safe With the horror stories coming from Italy and the loo roll shortage in the supermarkets, Coronavirus (the infection) and COVID-19 (the disease it causes) are uppermost in the nation’s psyche.

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ost people (95%) make an uneventful recovery but around 5% get seriously ill and the death rate is estimated to be 1-2% (10 or 20 times higher than seasonal flu). Catching COVID-19 at some point seems inevitable, so how can we minimise our risk of a serious infection?

In a word? “immunity”. The better your immune system, the lower your chance of getting COVID-19 and the higher your chance of making an uneventful recovery. So here are our top tips to help you beat the bug SLEEP: its free, no need for a prescription, but totally ignored. Getting your 8-hours sleep religiously is the best way to prep your immune system and its effective within a day or two. See our blog for more: www.prolongevity.co.uk/blog/sleep EXERCISE: also free! With all this isolation we need to keep moving for the sake of our sanity as well as physical wellbeing. Walking is healthy and helps with immunity. If you can do a few minutes of brisk walking (get properly puffed) so-much the better DIET: Eat the Rainbow! Key to our immunity is the microbiome – the bugs in our gut which do so much for us, including manufacturing our vitamins as well as helping control our weight and blood sugar. Look after your bugs and they’ll look after you! So no more McDonalds, PizzaHut and Doritos… Instead aim for lots of colours and lots of variety. A rich and varied diet will support a diverse and varied, and therefore resilient, microbiome. Aim to eat 30-40 different plants (veg/ salad/fruit) each week

We are what we eat - so ditch the sugars, carbs and processed foods. Remember in combination these foods conspire to raise your blood sugar which forces your body to raise insulin in an attempt to maintain normal levels. Raised insulin is the root cause of type2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension and much more besides. More here: https://www. prolongevity.co.uk/blog/everything-prediabetes STRESS: It has been shown that dog owners live longer! In part because they walk more but equally because our canine friends are great stressbusters. Stress raises cortisol which in turn raises blood sugar and blood pressure. None of this helps our immunity or general wellbeing. Humans are 50 JUNE 2020

social species yet we’re been told to isolate to avoid infection. Don’t’ ignore stress – focus on whatever stressbuster works best for you VITAMINS: Supplements are no substitute for a healthy diet. We are not believers in expensive supplements which end up as expensive urine! That said we believe almost anyone will benefit from supplementing VitaminD and Vitamin C in high doses. Both Magnesium and Selenium and worth considering. Drop us a line if you have any queries KEEP TAKING the TABLETS: Ignore the social media scare-stories about paracetamol, ibuprofen and some blood-pressure medicines. In particular if your GP prescribes medication for a long-term condition don’t miss doses. Do discuss any concerns with your pharmacist And finally: The whole point of our ProLongevity programme is to help you to “Live Healthy for Longer”. That has never been more relevant than now. Those at highest risk are the elderly and those with long-term conditions (especially diabetes and hypertension) If you are interested in knowing more and reducing your own risk we offer a free, no-obligation consultation.

Just fill out our risk calculator here and we’ll be in touch. www.prolongevity.co.uk/diabetes-riskassessment

“With all this isolation we need to keep moving for the sake of our sanity as well as physical wellbeing”

Live Your LiFe To The FuLL GOOD HEALTH IS

20% GENETIC AND 80% LIFESTYLE

Our philosophy is that good health isn’t about taking pills…prevention is better than a cure.

Our clinically tested, 8 week ProLongevity programme helps people to lose weight, improve wellbeing and avoid or reverse diabetes. We use new technology to monitor real-time blood sugar levels. We provide personalised advice based on your body’s unique data. We then combine these to help you make changes to your diet and lifestyle.

There’s no drugs, no hunger, and no calorie-counting. We avoid traditional approaches that treat symptoms after the damage has been done.

Live your life to the full. Find out how at: www.prolongevity.co.uk To find ouT how iT works Web: www.prolongevity.co.uk • Phone: 01727 834365 Mobile & WhatsApp: 07768-275802 E-mail: graham.phillips@manorpharmacygroup.co.uk

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

Daisy First Aid Mid & West Hertfordshire, Enfield & Barnet

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hoking is a hugely common concern for parents, and is one of the top reasons that parents book onto our first aid courses. The good news is that by following these simple steps, and by sharing these with everyone including any kids in your household, you will all be able to help in those first few minutes.

Recognition of choking may begin if you see a child grab their chest or neck. Ask them to cough or speak and if they are choking, they will not be able to make a sound. For a child over 1, proceed to give them up to 5 back blows, by hitting them very firmly in between their shoulder blades on their back. Keep an eye out for the object dislodging; you should be able to hear them make a sound again! If these 5 back blows haven’t dislodged it then follow up with up to 5 abdominal thrusts, by holding the child around the waist and pulling inwards and upwards with a clenched fist over the belly button.

If the object still hasn’t dislodged after these 5 abdominal thrusts, call 999 whilst repeating the sequence of 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts until it has dislodged, help arrives or the child loses consciousness.

In our family first aid classes, you are able to practise this technique along with many other first aid skills for both babies and children, and we also explain and demonstrate the adjustments you can make for adults, thus ensuring the care of everyone in your family. Our standard baby and child first aid class is 2 hours but if you are tight for time, we run 1 hour courses for Baby Basics and Toddler Essentials too.

We also provide paediatric first aid classes for professionals and your kids can come along and learn at a workshop designed just for them.

Whilst social distancing applies, you can still book onto one of our live courses through Zoom,

52 JUNE 2020

but we are hoping to resume family face to face courses very soon. We miss teaching in person!

Professionals in the childcare industry can make sure their certificates are up to date with one of our courses that are resuming from June.

We look forward to having you on one of our courses soon.

– Hannah, Daisy First Aid Mid & West Hertfordshire, Enfield & Barnet

“We also provide paediatric first aid classes for professionals”

THE DETAILS hannah.allsop@daisyfirstaid.com www.daisyfirstaid.com/first-aid-mid-hertfordshire www.instagram.com/hannah_daisyfirstaid/ www.facebook.com/DaisyFirstAidMidandWestHertfordshireEnfieldBarnet

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

Polish my skin with rose petals?

Yes, Please!’

I

ntroducing Hello Glow Rose Dust: a magical 100% natural, preservative free facial cleansing polish containing pure rose petals. An antiaging product, it shows an instant result, by lifting dead cells and leaving the skin soft and glowing. Continued use minimises fine lines and evens pigmentation.

The story of how Hello Glow Rose Dust was created is like a true fairy tale.

Once upon a time there was a girl (let’s call her Ma) who was born to wealthy landowners in rural India. As she grew up, her interest in skin care deepened, and she would often be found hunting in the land for nature’s bounty to beautify her skin.

After she was married, the young couple moved to the city, Mumbai then called Bombay. The maid she employed also happened to work for a very well known Bollywood actress. Being the early 1940s,

54 4 june J U N E 22 00 22 00 5

filming was crude, and the harsh lighting played havoc with the complexion of the actress. Being in great demand, the actress consulted leading skin doctors and apothecaries to access the best formulae nature has to offer.

The maid observed her actress mistress applying the products with amazing results, and would share this with Ma, who painstakingly wrote down in her diary the ingredients and the meticulous method of blending them together.

Fast forward many, many years and just before her death, Ma decided to use the invaluable information recorded in the diary, to empower and support the welfare of women. The magical formulae have been used to create Hello Glow products, and Hello Glow Rose Dust has begun its journey to provide women all over the globe a beautiful way of keeping their complexion smooth and radiant.

THE DETAILS Hello Glow Rose Dust comes in eco friendly packaging, costs £5.99 (with FREE UK delivery) and is available from www.roselinkuk.com

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

STYLE ICONS

WHO DEFINED

THE FASHION OF A DECADE

From Audrey Hepburn in the Fifties to Kim Kardashian in the 2010s, these are the women whose style summed up an era.

W

hether it’s the swinging Sixties or the minimalism of the Nineties, every decade has a distinctive style, each championed by certain celebrities.

Style icons help encapsulate everything that is fashionable from their time, while not necessarily being the celebrities who had the most out-there or unique style. Instead, they’re individuals who captured the feel and fashion of a specific era, set trends everyone wanted to follow, and are still today associated with the style of a particular decade.

These are some of the most stand-out icons from the 1950s to today...

1950s: Audrey Hepburn With her sleek black Givenchy dresses, strings of pearls and big sunglasses, Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s is still one of the most fashionable characters in film.

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“There’s no doubt Twiggy’s aesthetic sums up the 1960s: super slight, with a pixie crop and voluminous lashes”

By its release in 1961 though, Hepburn was already a style icon in her own right, known for sleek silhouettes with nipped in waists, strapless dresses and a love of preppy collars. It’s an aesthetic that has proved timeless, and endlessly inspiring.

1960s: Twiggy There’s no doubt Twiggy’s aesthetic sums up the 1960s: super slight, with a pixie crop and voluminous lashes.

Twiggy - real name Lesley Lawson - was everything you’d want from a supermodel of the time, dressed head-to-toe in mod outfits from stripy dresses to the ever-present miniskirt (Mary Quant reigned supreme).

1990s: Kate Moss The fashion of the Seventies and Eighties was all about maximalism, but this all changed in the Nineties.

Supermodel Kate Moss represented a more low-key, grungy kind of glamour, wearing a slew of jeans, spaghetti straps and barely-there slip dresses.

This wasn’t an era of sparkles and sequins - instead, Moss become synonymous with the so-called ‘heroin chic’ trend: being super skinny and having that ‘just got out of bed’ look.

2000s: Rihanna Nowadays, we know Rihanna as a red carpet powerhouse, and as the creative director of Fenty, making her the first black woman to run a major luxury house under LVMH. Back in the 2000s, Rihanna was still a fashion icon, but in a very different way to today. Instead of forging her own path, she pretty much wore every trend of the decade. Red carpet events appeared to be an exercise in Noughties fashion box-checking, from low-rise jeans to babydoll dresses and lots of ruched satin.

This was before Rihanna found her fashion ‘voice’, but in the Noughties, we were all copying her.

1970s: Bianca Jagger Bianca Jagger was a Seventies it-girl, known for her association with the New York club, Studio 54, which was frequented by the likes of Andy Warhol and Elton John.

Jagger was often seen in perfectly tailored suits with flared trousers, showing suiting wasn’t just for men, but also played with sequins, feathers and excellent hats.

Born in Nicaragua, she shot to fame after marrying Mick Jagger and was known for her glamorous, party-girl life. Arguably Jagger’s most iconic moment came in 1977, when she mounted a white horse in Studio 54 on her 34th birthday. She did so in classic style: with blown-out hair and a slinky, off-the-shoulder dress.

1980s: Diana Ross In all honesty, Diana Ross was a defining icon of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.

She’s such a style chameleon she’s managed to adapt to each era, championing trends while keeping her own signature brand of glamour.

Ross is arguably best known for her Eighties fashion though, which was full of shoulder pads, glitter and big hair.

“Back in the 2000s, Rihanna was still a fashion icon, but in a very different way to today”

2010s: Kim Kardashian Love her or hate her, you can’t deny the impact Kim Kardashian has had on fashion. There are so many trends we can thank the Kardashian/Jenner clan for, spearheaded by Kim. She helped bring bicycle shorts to the fore, along with fancy athleisure wear, skintight dresses and an obsession with neutral tones and colour blocking.

Whatever she wears is watched by eagle-eyed fans and retailers - so much so, Kardashian won a lawsuit against fast fashion brand Missguided USA last year, arguing it was “notorious” for “knocking off ” the designer clothes she wore.

We’re now in a new decade, which begs the question: is there space for a new style star to emerge and dominate the 2010s?

Only time will tell.

JUNE 2020 57

AFTER

BEFORE

Sun awnings and blinds Recovering existing outside awnings and blinds Roller shutter garage doors Social distancing in operation

Tel: 01708 755667 • www.drathmore.co.uk

HOME &

PROPERTY SPONSORED BY

Expert property solicitors for all aspects of residential conveyancing. www.slatergordon.co.uk/property

– Keep it local for everything house and home – I M AG E : ORIGIN L E I S UR E

H OME & PROPERTY

[NEWS]

INTERIORS

CONTEMPORARY CORNERS

A contemporary corner sofa is perfect for open-plan living and relaxed spaces. Designer sofa specialists Darlings of Chelsea have a selection of new corner sofas available in a variety of styles, fabrics and colourways to suit your dĂŠcor.

The Norton Corner Sofa offers a wide range of fabrics and allows you customize your inclusive scatter cushions in complimentary fabrics if you wish to make this chair truly your own. Style with minimal accessories and soft hues to inject class and comfort into your living room. www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk

unique & striking

MY Furniture’s striking new Papillon range takes inspiration from the highly collectable, bespoke American furniture of the 1960s. Each piece is unique and has its own individual character, designed using eyecatching Macassar Ebony veneer applied to solid ash. www.my-furniture.com

fun & functional

London based Mint & May puts the fun into functional with its range of unique and funky homewares.

From decorative items to home bar accessories, the Mint & May website is packed with gift ideas. www.mintandmay.co.uk 60 JUNE 2020

FRENCH FANCY

LUXE STYLE

Tap into luxe style with the Helena range from Living it Up. A classic yet unique design, ideal for contemporary and glamorous interior spaces. The Helena sofa is a classically Art Deco designed sofa. Featuring a large back and narrow arms, there will be plenty of space for all the family to enjoy a big night in. www.livingitup.co.uk

The French Bedroom Company collections of French furniture, contemporary lighting and quirky accessories are for those who want a bit of sassy French style in their bedroom. Born out of a fascination of French designs, textures, craftsmanship, heritage, and history, the collections are fun and feminine - with quality at the core. Beautifully made French designs combine with quirky and contemporary lighting and accessories to create interiors that are eye-catching, elegant, inspiring, chic and most importantly, unique! www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

The drivewayS and paTio company www.hertfordshiredriveways.com

Come home to quality...

driveway inSTallaTion

Thinking about a new driveway, modernising or improving your front of house? Our experienced team can provide you with a complete service from the initial design through to finished article.

Driveway anD patio Design anD installation!

Free surveys anD quotations!

The block paving, reSign bound and naTural STone SpecialiST Having over 25 years of experience within our home improvement sector, we have built an unrivalled reputation for the quality of our installations and the care and the service provided to our customers.

As well as experienced and professional driveway and patio installers, we also work alongside leading governing bodies within our industry. Being approved installers of Marshalls, Bradstone and Brett landscaping, we are able to give all our customers the peace of mind that carrying these accreditation’s deliver. Our approved status allows us to proudly and confidently service Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and North London with decades of design ideas. We can offer a vast range of product choices and solutions to all size and manner of installation requirements.

The approved specialist

paTio and garden ServiceS

Being more than just professional hard landscapers, we provide a complete service that offers garden and patio design. With a free consultation backed by skilled craftsman, we can create the outdoor space that you have always dreamed of.

oTher ServiceS

We can also add the finishing touches to your new garden or driveway project, including services such as raised kerbing, steps, sleeper walls, Landscaping for natural or artificial lawns, and also a range of quality fencing products, to name but a few.

Call today without obligation to arrange a free survey and written quotation

Tel: 0800 112 3920 / 0333 577 3920 Caxton Point, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 2XU

H OME & PROPERTY

The value of swimming Finding your best self with Origin

O

rigin knows that a swimming pool can not only add value to your home but to your home life as well. Swimming remains one of the most popular activities across the country, with its physical and mental health benefits exceeding expectation.

In fact, a recent SwimEngland study found that those who swim regularly felt on average 12 years younger than those that don’t. The movement of water over your body creates a massaging sensation which encourages you to relax, just being in water increases blood flow to the brain, boosting your brain health, releasing endorphins and increasing your overall mood. For anyone wanting to take the plunge with the ultimate home life improvement, there are some key points to consider.

What are the benefits?

“Health is a state of body, wellness is a state of mind” Swimming has many benefits, as well as the obvious it improves quality of sleep and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Origin believes owning a pool is about more than the pool 62 JUNE 2020

“Health is a state of body, wellness is a state of mind”

itself, by adding a spa, sauna or yoga room your swimming pool and pool house could be a centre of wellness. If you’re looking to increase family time, your pool house could become a new social hub for everyone to enjoy by adding a gym, lounge area or even a bar. Whilst jumping in can seem daunting, making the decision can bring measurable benefits.

A new pool from Origin provides new ways of having fun, spending precious time together as a family, even making a staycation more appealing.

Can it be eco friendly?

If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of the pool or simply want to lower running costs, eco models are available. The ‘Eco-Swim’ range incorporates the very latest building materials for energy efficiency and provides you with a host of options to lessen your carbon footprint. There are plenty of small changes you can make that can have a big impact, many of them saving you money in the future. Whether you want to add an insulated pool cover or air source heat pumps, Origin will work with you to create the pool that you want.

THE DETAILS

Why Origin?

It’s simple, Origin does it all. Building pools is a specialised field, it’s unlike any other building project and requires a holistic approach with all the key elements working together from the beginning.

Origin has all the design and engineering expertise necessary and manage the whole building process for you, from initial concept, planning and design to completion and beyond, eliminating the need for you to employ separate companies. Access to a pool right on your doorstep means it’s easy to swim everyday in the privacy of your own home, either to maintain a healthy lifestyle or simply as a space to relax. Origin have been building award winning swimming pools for over 40 years and in that time have successfully completed thousands of pools and pool houses to a wide range of specifications.

Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor, wellness or fun, Origin has experienced it all and are available to help you create your home pool managing every stage from start to finish, giving you the confidence and freedom to enjoy finally swimming in your own home.

To speak to the experts at Origin Leisure call 01895 823366 now or visit www.originpools.co.uk for more information and to subscribe to our newsletter.

JUNE 2020 63

H OME & PROPERTY

Tye Architects : Case study S

ettled in the open countryside in Buckinghamshire this house is nestled in a secluded rural location, reflecting its surroundings of mature woodland. The setting and elegant simplicity were paramount to the design of this house.

The brief was to provide a dwelling which responds to its context in materiality. A simple palette of carefully selected materials includes the use of stone from the earth on the lower level and timber on the floating box of the upper level, enhanced by a green tinted series of panels to provide transparency and reflect the surrounding plot-scape.

With clean geometric lines, the floating first floor cantilevers and balances on the ground floor, providing long reaching views from the master bedroom and several short distance views of the plot from the other bedrooms. This architectural element pulls you into the site and allows you to marvel at its geometry and weightlessness.

The lower floor is grounded by the strong stone element; the roofing detail of the first floor floats, gliding with the frameless glazing.

Approaching the house, the glass enhances the large open spaces. The open plan ground floor connects from the front entrance area through to the rear garden and a horizontal expanse of glazing connects the rear living spaces to the garden-scape to the rear.

Vertical electronically controlled louvres to the windows provide solar shading and privacy shading to the bedrooms. Wooden sliding door panels, some recessed and hidden in the walls allow for

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areas to be discretely closed off. The house is fully equipped with a home cinema room and an outdoor amphitheatre. A sunroom in the garden provides an area for outdoor living where you can sit outside in a sheltered area at different times of the day and enjoy the views of the house and the landscaped garden.

This project is energy efficient and environmentally friendly with ground source heat pumps providing the heating and hot water. To further reduce the carbon footprint, the house is also equipped with solar panels and low energy lighting.

This dwelling was designed to create an elegant, contemporary family home with an open plan layout that is an environmentally sustainable, contextually relevant and timeless concept.

H OME & PROPERTY

Tap into Interiors Inspiration There are still lots of ways to get creative with your decor, as interior designer Penny Ann Johnson tells Sam Wylie-Harris.

T

he decor, pattern and colour we bring into our homes is often influenced by the things we see beyond our own four walls, when we’re out and about.

Statement pieces that catch our eye, or simple style fixes like a new sofa or display cabinet to set the scene. It’s much easier to imagine how these things will sit and take shape when someone else has done the groundwork, and put all the bits and bobs together in a lovely showroom.

So what does interiors inspiration look like during the #stayhomestaysafe era?

Things may be very different right now, but tapping into our creative side can bring a host of benefits - for our wellbeing as well as breathing new life into our living spaces (where we’re spending a lot more time than usual!).

And there’s still a realm of possibilities to explore, especially when you play around with existing household items, pick up a paintbrush, or

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introduce a few key pieces available online.

Here, interior designer Penny Ann Johnson of Penny Ann Interiors, who will be appearing at Grand Designs Live 2020, shows how to get creative with your interiors while in isolation...

“What have you been doing with your time while we’re all confined to our own four walls? I’d imagine if you’re anything like me, you’re sat on your sofa staring at a bare wall wondering how to improve it, or thinking about how you can complete that spare bedroom you’ve been ignoring for a year,” says Johnson. “But lockdown, means limitations, things aren’t so readily available as retailers are abiding by government regulations. So here’s a few clever tips on how to have some fun with your interiors.”

Play with panelling “Panelling is a thing. It’s everywhere at the moment; Insta-worthy 3D wall panelling is a modern version of period architecture. At first it seems a little ‘off

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H OME & PROPERTY

“To kill some time in isolation, bring all your styling pieces together in one place, regroup them into three’s and redistribute them around your room. And then sit back and relax with a feeling of having a revived space with little effort.”

Check out swoonworthy.co.uk for inspiration.

Style up your space with statement art

the wall’ but in the right room, it can add great character without a lot of work.

“Firstly play around with the width, pattern, orientation and height of the wall to come up with a design. Get yourself online to B&Q Homebase (use their click and car park collect service if available) and purchase some simple lengths of baton to help you create your masterpiece.

“Measure your design out on the wall and secure the baton either with grab adhesive or screws.

Once it’s secured, choose a beautiful colour to help emphasis the statement. Sit back and watch the shadows cast their shade and your wall come to life.”

Check out angelarosehome.com for inspiration.

Create a picture wall “Picture walls are all the rage these days, a great way to fill that empty wall, show some self expression and make that space more homely.

“Visit Amazon and search ‘Picture Gallery Frames’. There are some fab sets of 10-plus frames of varying sizes too, to help you create your picture wall. Have a think about what you’d like to put in your frames.

“Pinterest is a great source for frame-able quotes, and these are a fab way to make the design feel more personal. Include some family photos - get them printed either via your home printer or a company like Snapfish, delivered to your door. Then get them hung, stand back and revel in the pride from seeing those important moments and people displayed beautifully in your home.”

Check out posterstore.co.uk for inspiration.

Group decos and homewares “They say three is a crowd... not in the case of interior styling it’s not! Think about the styling around your home, and think odd numbers. There’s something about grouping things in threes that leads the eye to move around the display.

“Some people do prefer a symmetrical look but this needs to be done expertly and with sharp precision. Where as designing with odd numbers in mind allows a little more freedom,” she adds.

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“Think smart with some statement art. In this uncertain world we’re all living in at the moment, support the little independent companies. Check out Etsy and search ‘Prints’. There are some fantastic artists, illustrators and designers, who are still working away to help you make your homes beautiful,” she suggests.

“Artwork can be one of the most important parts to a room. It’s a talking point, and offers both the purchaser and onlooker the opportunity to think and express creatively. Find something that speaks to you, and look forward to that little package arriving from the outside world.”

“Picture walls are all the rage these days, a great way to fill that empty wall, show some self expression and make that space more homely”

Consider wall murals “Get out the paint! We’re seeing a huge revival in wall murals. The idea offers such versatility to add character and personality to a room, you’d be mad not to devote at least one wall in your home to an idea,” says Johnson.

“So while we’re all getting in touch with our creative sides, delve into your garage and see what old paint pots you have stashed away. Companies like Mylands can still send you sample pots of their fantastic paints (I’m a big fan) to add to your colour library, while you’re searching for inspiration.

“Whether it’s a geometrical or floral design, an abstract creation or ombre fade, that wall can be anything you want it to be. Let loose and go wild, it could be the most liberating thing you do during lockdown.”

Check out lilitartstore.com for inpiration.

Do you ever dream of owning your own pool or spa to enjoy on hot summer days?

At Crystal Leisure Pools in Bedfordshire we make it a reality for homeowners every day!

Based in Shefford, we work across most of England installing pools and supplying spas and hot tubs to private homes, we also carry out commercial swimming pool installations to health clubs and sports centres. We provide a comprehensive service helping design and plan your new pool with you. As well as carrying out a complete installation to the highest quality standard including extras like lighting, solar covers and supply of pool chemicals.

Please call for latest information regarding opening times due to the ever changing covid-19 situation

Crystal leisure Pools ltd 1C St Francis Way, Shefford Industrial Estate, Shefford, Beds, SG17 5DZ Tel: 01462 819003 Fax: 01462 819001 Email: enquiries@crystalleisurepools.com www.crystalleisurepools.com

H OME & PROPERTY

Love Life Outdoors E

nhance, protect and prolong the use of your terrace with a patio awning from Caribbean Blinds for sun, shade and rain shelter allowing you to enjoy the continental alfresco lifestyle all year round and make the most of your outdoor terrace space come shine or rain.

Practical and stylish their folding arm patio awnings outstretch to provide a welcome roof to the outdoor area, offering protection from the ever changing ambient conditions. Shade is provided from the suns intense heat to keep you cool on even the hottest summer days whilst shelter is offered from those unexpected and often persistent rain showers. Damaging ultraviolet rays are blocked providing optimum protection to the skin whilst harsh light is filtered to stop unwanted glare.

The adjoining internal room also benefits as Caribbean Blinds patio awnings stop the suns heat rays reaching the glass – upto 96% solar heat block, reducing solar heat gain and naturally cooling the indoor space along with protecting furnishings from bleaching by the sun – minimum 95% UV block, all whilst maintaining the view out.

Optional ambient accessories including LED strip lighting built onto the underside of their patio awnings and low glare infra-red heating, where the heat doesn’t blow away allow you to continue to use your patio awning and terrace long into the evening.

Caribbean Blinds have been proudly UK manufacturing the finest Patio Awnings since 1987 for discerning homeowners.

Using extruded aluminium for the frameworks which is both corrosion resistant and highly durable, along with powerful spring load folded arms to

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CARIBBEAN BLINDS PATIO AWNINGS ON PRESENTATION OF THIS ARTICLE

ensure optimum fabric tension and wind resistance, their patio awnings are strong and resilient, built to withstand the British climate.

Fabrics are woven using premium solution dyed acrylic fibres that do not stretch, warp or fade. An exclusive TEXgard coating impregnated on all their fabrics prevent dirt and water from clinging to the surface generating a self clean effect along with stopping the growth of microorganisms.

Motorised operation via remote control allows you to effortlessly extend and retract their patio awnings or opt for convenient app control from your smartphone, which includes additional features such as scenarios and scheduling. Clever ambient sensors including light and wind detectors can automatically position their patio awnings dependent on the climatic conditions for true smart hands free operation.

Cassette headboxes protect the operating mechanism and fabric when retracted, minimising maintenance and neatly hiding their patio awnings away. Little details and finishing touches make all the difference, such as concealed fixing brackets and colour co-ordinated stitching. There is an array of hardware finishes and fabric designs to choose from, to suit all styles and tastes, including exclusive 3D textured fabrics and metallic coatings.

For re-assurance and peace of mind all patio awnings from Caribbean Blinds are extensively and rigorously tested to withstand everything that is thrown at them, certified to stringent European quality and safety standards and come backed with a fully comprehensive 5 year guarantee.

Caribbean Blinds UK Ltd 0344 800 1947 www.cbsolarshading.co.uk

H OME & PROPERTY

In Safe Hands ‘A

Creation from Isolation’ Reminding our NHS & Key Workers that we appreciate their hard work - & even more during these uncertain times!

Whilst in isolation British Sculptor Charles Elliott wanted to create a sculpture that could go on show outside the Elliott of London studio. He wanted to help raise awareness for the NHS & Emergency service efforts during the Covid-19 panademic, but also to remind key workers on their travels to keep up the hard work looking after the world.

Elliott of London was founded by British Sculptor Charles Elliott, he has helped the brand to earn themselves national and international recognition already. With their sculptures shown at various locations including at the prestigious Royal Ascot Racecourse, Hatfield House, Royal Chelsea Hospital, Bolesworth Castle, Hickstead Showground, Kings Rd Chelsea, Various Shooting Grounds and Ashridge Estate .

Each piece is initially designed & handmade

by Charles & his devoted team, in their sculpture studio on the border of Buckinghamshire & Hertfordshire. Each of their sculptures shows the real movement, energy and grace of their subjects, Charles wanted each piece to see and feel life. Elliott of London always go in with a hands-on approach using various traditional and modern techniques.

The 65cm sphere sculpture symbolises the love and care presented by our health workers, not only in the NHS but worldwide in all the different sectors.

The hands represent the true love volunteers, health workers & many others have shown throughout this recent international crisis, carrying the world through the epidemic.

Designed and Handcrafted by Elliott of London from mild steel. This piece is hot zinc galvanised initially to secure and protect the piece from nature and rust for over 30 years. “Each sail piece individually textured and finished by hand!”

Designer Charles.

Our inspired sculpture is now show in Berkhamsted,Hertfordshire alongside the A41 at the Elliott of London Studio, you can see ‘In Safe Hands’ 65cm sphere illuminated blue.

We hope the key workers travelling to and from work can be reminded that we fully appreciate their

72 JUNE 2020

support and hard work.

‘Creation from Isolation’ Reminding our NHS & Key Workers that we appreciate their hard work - & even more during these uncertain times!

Whilst in isolation British Sculptor Charles Elliott wanted to create a sculpture that could go on show outside the Elliott of London studio. He wanted to help raise awareness for the NHS & Emergency service efforts during the Covid-19 panademic, but also to remind key workers on their travels to keep up the hard work looking after the world.

‘Creation from Isolation’ Reminding our NHS & Key Workers that we appreciate all of their hard work - & even more during these uncertain times!

Whilst in isolation International Renown British Sculptor Charles Elliott wanted to create a sculpture that could go on show outside the Elliott of London studio. He wanted to help raise awareness for the NHS & Emergency service efforts during the Covid-19 panademic, but also to remind key workers on their travels to keep up the hard work looking after the world.

MORE INFORMATION £3,950 was raised at auction, won

by Enterprise skip hire - we also raised a further £120 on donations from those people who didn’t want to bid in the auction.

It’s now on show @ Chiltern View Nursery in stoke mandeville - until they decide which hospital it will be gifted to.

CALL FREE: 0808 301 9552

homecountiesloftladders.co.uk

H OME & PROPERTY

THE GREAT ESCAPE Studio Azur - a new photo collection by Desenio

D

esenio offers a wide range of stylish posters and prints showcasing the latest interior design trends – and always with great prices and high quality. With a wide assortment of primarily Scandinavian art designs, they understand the effect good wall art can have on a home. Their posters let you show who lives there and let you convey the feeling you wish your home to impart with very simple means. Art should be for everyone, and by offering thousands of different designs and art

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posters, Desenio hope you will find those that are perfect for you. You will always find inspiration for your interior style, whether you want to decorate a bedroom, a small hallway, an office or an entire home! They have affordable wall art for all rooms and occasions, and naturally offer equally stylish frames and other high-quality accessories at great prices. Desenio is launching Studio Azur, a new photo collection embodying our innate need to be human. With everyday life becoming more data-driven and result-oriented, a lot of people are yearning for emotional connections and experiences rooted in reality. This modern longing for a simpler life inspired this photo art collection, shot in beautiful locations along Mexico’s Caribbean coast by a creative team from Desenio’s Design Studio.

With the new collection, Desenio wanted to capture what it means to be truly present. Azur reflects a lifestyle trend where we feel a need to ground ourselves and appreciate the little things. We want to feel connected to, and be, our true selves, says Executive Creative Director Annica Wallin.

This collection of 32 photo art prints portrays a dreamlike world where today is all that matters.

- Since the production of Studio Azur took place, a lot has changed due to the current global health crisis. Right now, a lot of people are being challenged to really live in the moment and appreciate life’s little joys, says Annica Wallin.

The longing for a calmer-paced lifestyle is also influencing how we decorate our homes. – When you look at the interior trends of the season, a big one is creating a calm and relaxing space that is free from clutter. Making conscious choices regarding materials and furniture is more important than ever right now. We believe this art collection really conveys the feeling of being present and enjoying the moment you are in. www.desenio.com

“With the new collection, Desenio wanted to capture what it means to be truly present. Azur reflects a lifestyle trend where we feel a need to ground ourselves and appreciate the little things”

N New display opening July

Nordikka Interiors, Blinding Bifolds Showroom, The Dutch Nursery, The Great North Rd, Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 6ND

www.nordikka.co

H OME & PROPERTY

[NEWS]

OUTDOOR LIVING ENGLISH BEAUTY

In the glow of the soft summer sunshine, the spread of a blanket is an invitation to be outdoors, and as we get accustomed to living our life within close proximity to our home, the back garden has become a refuge and this picnic blanket, a place of retreat and comfort.

We love “The English Garden” collection of picnic blankets from Heating & Plumbing London. www.heating-and-plumbing.com

Give your garden a luxe makeover

Give your garden that makeover it deserves with a variety of products from luxury lifestyle emporium Cuckooland.

As summer is fast approaching, you may be thinking about turning your back garden into a holiday home for the season.

The unique shape of the Garden Wheel Bench offers plenty of shade and shelter in your garden. Fabulously designed by Ornate Garden, this garden bench is truly one of a kind - ideally place it against a wall, fence or as a stand alone picnic bench, it is sure to make a statement wherever it is. www.cuckooland.com

unique & striking

Stone Globe Lights are decorative stone-like spheres that light up at night, offering a unique lighting solution for garden walls and terraces, paths and flower beds. Now, in time for summer 2020, they are available with a simple cable pack and transformer that can be plugged into a standard weatherproof outdoor socket meaning anyone can install them at home – no electrician, no fuss! www.stoneglobelights.co.uk

Halo, not Halogen

Ditch your halogen flood lights and give your garden some drama with these Halo miniature tier lights from LuxR. Precision machined in marine grade 316 stainless steel, copper or powdercoated aluminium, they produce a downward 360 degree wash without any glare. Perfect for shrubs, paths and planters. www.brand-designs.com 76 JUNE 2020

fire up the bbq

Annabel James is an on line boutique selling home and garden accessories and gorgeous gifts, beautifully wrapped and delivered.

We love this gorgeously presented in a chic khaki canvas carrying case with handles. The set includes a two-pronged fork, a spatula, basting brush and tongs to enjoy the perfect party with friends and family.

Stainless steel and wood. www.annabeljames.co.uk

@The Dutch Marketplace, Great North Road, Hatfield AL9 6ND

www.homebyrachel.co.uk

ch w ec w k w o .h ut om o en ur yr o ac nli he ne l. sh co o .u P k

Home by Rachel London

SPRINGTIME SCENTS

For those of you looking for the calm breeze of the sea, with its salty crisp notes and fresh touch of water lillies, settled on a bed of driftwood. Restful rock salt and water lily is the fragrance for you.

Light fresh and beautiful perfect touch for your home this spring time.

Candle, diffuser and room spray available.

Please come in with this 10% discount voucher which you can use when purchasing from our 6 signature bespoke range of fragrances, when visiting our beautiful warm and friendly boutique.

H OME & PROPERTY

Bridgman

Shop Small, Shop Local

F

or over 40 years, Bridgman has been designing, creating, and supplying beautiful, quality furniture that offers the perfect balance of traditional and contemporary designs with unrivalled innovation, all whilst retaining their core family values.

Since their beginnings in 1977, the family-run business has created handmade British luxury crafted from the best materials. Bridgman’s home & garden furniture convey timeless elegance with uncompromising comfort.

They believe that luxury furniture goes far beyond aesthetics as a well-crafted piece of furniture can transform a space and allow people to maximise the time spent relaxing and entertaining.

This year, we have introduced an array of beautiful additions. New 2020 collections feature all weather dining and lounging sets with the industry’s only fully waterproof cushions that are also virtually stain-proof, even against red wine and coffee spills, offering stress-free relaxation during unpredictable English Summers.

New for 2020 is the addition of dining to the hugely popular Cliveden modular collection which was launched last year in collaboration with the National Trust. Taking inspiration from the many breathtaking locales the National Trust has to offer, this collection features dining tables to seat 4 - 8 people which are handmade with the best quality rattan, unique fully waterproof cushions and a 10 year guarantee.

The ‘In & Out’ Dining Collection is another new addition which features tables and chairs that are durable enough to be used in the garden, but stylish enough to be used indoors. Featuring a selection of mix and match table frames in aluminium or teak and tops in glass, ceramic slate, ceramic marble or HPL paired with a selection of chairs. Choose from fully upholstered with aluminium or teak legs, resin and rattan chairs for a perfect match.

Curved seating additions to the All Seasons Pure Kingston modular collection for 2020 enables the highest quality seating to fit any shape of patio or

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deck. With sumptuous thick seat and back cushions, this collection is the ultimate in style and comfort.

Featuring the Bridgman unique fully waterproof and virtually stain-proof cushions, even the odd wine spill will not cause an issue.

Minimalistic and versatile, the aluminium Florence collection is sure to suit a variety of outdoor settings. Featuring gunmetal grey aluminium frames for a lightweight feel it comes in 3 dining table sizes with matching stacking armchairs, and for those who love a bit of lounging in the garden, a comfortable stacking sun lounger or relaxer.

To complete the picture, Bridgman also sells a full range of garden accessories from cantilever parasols to storage boxes and garden planters.

With large stocks of furniture in our Enfield warehouse, Bridgman can offer delivery in mere days. So pop into the 8000 sq ft showroom at 88 Lockfield Avenue, Brimsdown, whilst the sun is still shining to have the ultimate holiday in the garden this summer. Visit www.bridgman.co.uk/showrooms/bridgmanshowroom-london for opening hours.

“Minimalistic and versatile, the aluminium Florence collection is sure to suit a variety of outdoor settings”

H OME & PROPERTY

Enhance the value and beauty of your home

W

ith lockdown measures now easing, our showrooms are as keen to see you as we imagine you are to start your exciting home projects. To celebrate a return to trading and the summer months being in full swing, we are offering a 10% discount off all our timber windows and doors throughout July.

As one of the most important decisions you will make for your home, choosing the most appropriate windows and doors is likely to take both time and quite possibly, a fair bit of research. Walk down any street in England and you can tell, almost instinctively whether the doors and windows of a home really suit the structure of the building. When the windows are wrong, it is blindingly obvious, but when they have been chosen well, or the original style preserved, the effect is often simply beautiful.

For many homeowners, restoring the integrity of the original structure is paramount, whether the home is a country cottage, a Victorian semi, 80 JUNE 2020

a modern townhouse or a converted barn, we are dedicated to the supply and installation of beautiful timber windows and doors. We’re passionate about wood, with our suite of products leading the market in the breadth of application, uniqueness of design, quality of construction and performance in use.

Our collection has been carefully and sensitively tailored to complement the English home, with attention to detail at the centre of everything we do. Unlike timber windows and doors of old, our products will not twist, will not rot, require minimal maintenance, and have high levels of security and insulation to ensure there is no need to sacrifice beauty for comfort.

From authentic sash windows and casement windows to front doors, stable doors, French doors, smooth gliding patio doors and folding sliding bi-folding doors, our range has it covered in both traditional and contemporary styles.

We have stunning showrooms in St Albans, Amersham and Olney, where you’ll be greeted by friendly staff, offered expert advice and experience a perfectly relaxed, unpressured environment. Pay us a visit to see and experience the beautiful products on display; we look forward to welcoming you. www.timberwindows.com

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“Our collection has been carefully and sensitively tailored to complement the English home, with attention to detail at the centre of everything we do”

H OME & PROPERTY

Beautiful bedrooms Ever Wondered What’s Inside the World’s Most-Liked Instagram Bedrooms?

2. Windows It might then come as no surprise that windows ranked as the second most popular feature. Just under half (46%) of the bedrooms pictured had plenty of natural light helping to lift the mood while giving your body a much-needed boost of vitamin D. To get the most out of your bedroom’s natural light, keep windows unblocked by furniture, accessories or overly heavy curtains.

S

oak&Sleep, the online bedding and bathware retailer, has analyzed thousands of Instagram images to find what features most regularly in the most popular bedroom shots.

With more than 10.7 million #bedroom and 3 million #bedroomdecor hashtags appearing on Instagram, it’s clear many people’s private bedrooms have become very public. And with millions of people having recently lived under strict stay-athome orders, a lot of us have turned our attention to updating our bedrooms and sharing the results online.

Topping the list as the most popular feature is the humble white bedsheet. In fact, more than half (54%) of the featured beds were fitted with crisp white bed linen, helping give rooms a light-filled, spacious and open feel. Also featured in the top ten were queen-sized beds, wooden floors and beautiful headboards.

Pink and grey were the most popular colours, with gold finishes also making it into the top 30. Plants, rattan and faux-fur were also popular additions to many of the bedrooms analyzed.

Around 80 million photos are shared on Instagram every day - which is why the popular platform has become a source for interior design inspiration to transform bedrooms into #bedroomgoals.

Interestingly, not one of the most popular images were of hotels, with people choosing light, bright, personalised bedrooms over hotel rooms we could only dream of spending a night in!

Soak&Sleep’s Guide to The Top 5 Insta-Worthy Necessities 1. White Bed Linen Topping the list as the most popular feature is the humble white bedsheet. In fact, more than half (54%) of the featured beds were fitted with crisp white bed linen, helping give rooms a light-filled, spacious and open feel. By opting for a timeless colour scheme, you can rest easy knowing your sheets will never go out of date!

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3. Queen Bed They say that size doesn’t matter but when it comes to beds, it certainly does. A significant amount (43%) of the most loved Instagram bedrooms are furnished with a double size mattress or larger. With a larger bed, there’s more room to stretch out and have a good amount of duvet cover, which means less chance of disturbing a sleeping person next to you (or have them disturb you!) throughout the night.

The Runners Up If you embrace a “less is more” outlook in life and believe simple spaces are calming, you’ll love the minimalist decorating style. 39% of bedrooms featured traded busy patterns and wild colour schemes for clear, uncluttered spaces.

We also found rugs and throws adorning a huge 35% and 37% of pictures respectively - both not only add texture and colour to a room but also add practical value to those cosy nights in.

4. Decorative Cushions They’re small but adding a few decorative pillows can have a big impact. 41% of bedrooms featured pillows of all varieties, from small to large to bright and neutral colourings. Adding cushions can help create a cosy aesthetic feel making the room seem more inviting.

Standout characteristics such as headboards and striking feature walls came in at 10th and 11th place, with still over a quarter of all Instagram posts in our data boasting beautiful headboards and accented walls.

5. Wooden Floors The age-old debate - carpet, tiles or wooden floors?

According to Instagram, wooden floors are our most loved flooring with a huge 41% of bedrooms donning those timeless rustic features.

Seeing as a large mattress and headboards make the top 10, it probably comes as no surprise that a big bed frame rounds out our list of the top commonalities the most liked bedrooms have. Just over 30% of featured bedrooms had beds with big bed frames because let’s face it - if you have a big mattress, you’re going to need a big bed frame to go with it!

Read the blog: www.soakandsleep.com/blog/ post/most-instagrammedbedrooms The shortlist for the most Instagrammed ‘Quarantine’ bedrooms is based on data retrieved from Instagram. We analysed the top 5 bedroom related hashtags and reviewed likes, comments and locations of these posts that were analysed over a period of time during the UK’s lockdown in April and May 2020.

H OME & PROPERTY

Kitchen Transformations Transform your tired kitchen in as little as 2 days from start to finish...

AFTER

before

I

t’s so easy… Swapping the doors and drawer fronts will dramatically change the look of your kitchen, giving you an amazing transformation without the stress, upheaval and mess that comes with a traditional refit.

Dream Doors offers you a one stop shop for all your kitchen needs with a huge choice of doors worktops, sinks, taps, appliances and accessories.

The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home. Not only does it serve as the most functional room in the house but it is usually the most social one too, but whatever your lifestyle is it any wonder so many of us spend time planning our dream kitchen?

AFTER

before

“A new kitchen is said to add an average of between two to five per cent to the value of your home” We offer a personal service to help you realise your dream from start to finish.

A new kitchen is said to add an average of between two to five per cent to the value of your home and with Dream Doors you can change as little or as much as you want. From a simple facelift - replacement doors, a new worktop and perhaps a sink we can transform a kitchen in just a couple of days! Everything is installed by our local skilled tradesmen, the rubbish removed, and a new kitchen ready to use in the blink of an eye.

We can also provide a completely new bespoke kitchen should you prefer, and to help you visualise your dream create a computer aided design for you to see it come to life.

So whether you are looking for a quick transformation or a total redesign, Dream Doors has it all. For ideas and inspiration give Dream Doors a call and let them bring your dream to life.

Call 020 8429 3556 and speak to Tohid or Marek to arrange for your free no obligation quote.

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“From the first meeting I was very impressed with his knowledge.

The fitter was very polite and professional. I am over the moon with finished result.”

– Customer base in Ruislip

“This was a big job changing worktops/ door fronts / tiles and a new floor. Guys where polite and where good workers.

Job was finished to a high standard.”

– Customer in Stanmore (Customer feedback from Checkatrade, score 9.7 out of 10)

QUALITY KITCHEN MAKEOVERS FROM

DREAM DOORS

Simply replace the doors and worktops!

Our showroom is open now. Visits by appointments only.

20% discount

until 30/06/2020

DO yOu DREAM Of A nEw kitchEn?

*On new orders only. Valid on doors and laminate worktops. Valid on orders more than £3500 including VAT

H OME & PROPERTY

An Oakfields design is an enduring tribute to its owner’s good taste, uncompromising standards, and zest for life.

The Oakfields Group are committed to excellence.

Never have our homes been more important to us. During these very challenging times our homes and gardens have become a safe haven for all of us and the vast majority of us have been using our time to get around to those unfinished DIY jobs and for some this means looking at larger projects, to make our home just how we want it.

Architectural Glass For the Finest of Homes

T

he Oakfields Group specialise in extending the home with their impressive and very modern Winter Garden glass extensions, as well as a continuing heritage in stylish period conservatories and orangeries. They create almost everything in glass that you need; bespoke bi-folding and slim frame sliding doors, flat glass rooflights - that open, or very minimal roof lanterns.

The current trend in home renovations is to add a bespoke Winter Garden. Most people are confused as to the difference between a winter garden and normal conservatory. But there is a distinct difference – comfort. A winter garden creates a bio-climatic environment - a natural space cooled in summer by air flow, shaded by stunning

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THE OAKFIELDS GROUP has a lineage going back two generations • A heritage based upon accurate period design and artisanship in traditional conservatories • A reputation for delivering unique designs and creating very special buildings and structures • A new journey taking this expertise and knowledge to explore modern leading-edge products and designs • A group unique in the UK that delivers both the traditional and the modern

Many of us are looking at how to create more living space as we continue to adapt how we live and work. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is by adding a stunning Winter Garden, conservatory, or orangery. Or, if you simply want to extend your space to enjoy the garden more, then the latest in louvred pergolas and atrium glass rooms may be your answer.

“These stunning glass and aluminium designs certainly add the wow factor” in-built canopies, and then warmed in winter by the sun’s rays and the latest in high performance glass really keeps the heat in! A perfect glass room that really can be used all year round.

These stunning glass and aluminium designs certainly add the wow factor and suit all styles of home, whether it’s a modern or period property.

Their glass designs can also act as a link-way to different parts of your home, providing a light and airy room which can be used for any purpose, as a kitchen extension which we all know is now the hub of the home, a separate office space, or an entertainment room for the whole family.

Not only do winter gardens add a luxurious addition to any home, but the extra room and unique design will also add value to your property.

THE DETAILS Oakfields work throughout the UK and can also undertake international projects.

To find out how to transform your home contact The Oakfields Group. Their showroom is based in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside near Harrogate, and they also offer an remote design consultation that you can book online.

To see their product range visit; www.theoakfieldsgroup.co.uk Or call today to arrange a no obligation consultation, 0113 3873118

JUNE 2020 87 june

H OME & PROPERTY PROPERTY

Please contact our Barnet Office on 020 8449 3383

H OME & PROPERTY

CONTEMPORARY NEW HOMES AVAILABLE NOW IN MILL HILL

T

he Project is a new development of contemporary apartments in the highlysought after residential area of Mill Hill, North London. Situated in the heart of this popular community, the development has great views of the surrounding area and is ideal for commuters offering close proximity into central London.

Built by award-winning developers Heronslea Group, The Project, which is available via Help To Buy, is a collection of just nine one and two bedroom apartments offering lateral modern living in a popular location, ideally located close to a range of shops, parks and transport links.

Jason Rishover, CEO for Heronslea Group comments: “Each home at The Project has been thoughtfully designed. We have blended exceptional attention to detail, with the latest technology and bespoke interior design to create timeless stylish living.”

Set within a modern building extending over four floors the development provides a high level of

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security with video entry and alarm system fitted to each home, as well as gated parking. There is a lift to all floors. Internally homes are spacious and crafted to an extremely high standard, with homes on the ground floor benefiting from private gardens.

Offering the very best in North London living, The Project is tucked away on a quiet residential culde-sac in the super suburb of Mill Hill, renowned for its stylish shopping, amenities and green open spaces.

First class transport links ensure The Project is ideal for getting around with Mill Hill Broadway mainline station a 10 minute walk away providing connections to Kings Cross St Pancras in 20 minutes. The North Circular A406, M1 and M25 motorways provide direct access to Greater London and the rest of the country while Heathrow is just a 35 minute drive away.

Prices start at £395,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. For further information contact Preston Bennett on 0208 954 8626 or visit www.heronslea.net.

“We have blended exceptional attention to detail, with the latest technology and bespoke interior design to create timeless stylish living”

hOLden Avenue, wOOdside PArk, n12 An incredibly secluded six bedroom semi-detached family home arranged over three floors.

Asking Price £1,500,000, FreehOLd

The Owners LOve… ‘’Being so close to the underground station and the high street, but still being quiet and having space to park our cars off the street’’ ‘’Our really secluded garden, which is not overlooked from any direction and gets the sun all through the afternoon’’ “The conservatory, which we use as a playroom and can shut off all of the kids toys in the evening’’ we’ve nOTiced…

The house is gated, giving maximum seclusion from Holden Road itself.

The property’s master bedroom benefits from an en suite and walk in wardrobe.

EPC Rating - D

Contact Craig Thompkins, at our North Finchley office on 020 8445 2222 martyngerrard.co.uk

wiLkes cLOse, MiLL hiLL, nw7 A modern, three bedroom Linden built family home arranged over three floors, located in Millbrook Park in Mill Hill.

Asking Price £775,000, FreehOLd

The Owners LOve… “The amazing, south-facing views across London - you can see for miles!”

“It’s only a five-minute walk to the tube station” “There is plenty of built-in storage on every floor” we’ve nOTiced…

The property is still covered by the NHBC Warranty.

EPC Rating - B

Contact Gregg Cruder, at our Mill Hill office on 020 8906 0660 martyngerrard.co.uk

H OME & PROPERTY

Orchid Court:

Watford’s iconic new development – Stamp Duty Paid during June 2020*

O

rchid Court is a selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments situated in the heart of Watford brought to you by Imagine Land & New Homes.

Whether you’re a first time buyer, second stepper or simply looking for a home that offers flexibility, you’ll find what you are looking for here.

The development; built by renowned and awardwinning developers Signia, is situated within a prime location being only 320 metres from Watford Junction Station where fast trains run direct to London Euston in just 19 minutes making it perfect for your commute into work.

If you need some downtime you can pop down to the INTU Shopping Centre which is under a mile away and take your time to peruse a host of new shops and eateries in the Cafe Quarter. For something a bit more luxurious you can treat yourself and take a trip to the 5 Star Grove Hotel Golf and Spa which is just minutes away and set within 300 acres of stunning Hertfordshire countryside.

Watford itself is seeing over £1 billion of investment which will create a bright and modern 21st century town and a major business, retail and cultural destination. The regeneration includes a host of new public spaces that will set the stage for outdoor music, arts and entertainment.

Orchid Court is an innovative and future-focused urban living for today. If you need to get around it’s easy with secure bike storage on site and also with

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the Mayors future plans for on-street cycles and docking stations. There are plans for an on-demand bus service using an app allowing you to book in advance so you know you can get to your chosen destination on time.

The 79 private apartments are finished to a high specification and are designed to maximise light and space. They benefit from having secure underground gated parking, three lifts giving access to all floors (including the car park), grand communal entrance, large garden and recreational area, contemporary kitchens with quartz worktops, integrated Teka appliances such as fridge freezers and provisions for a dishwasher. Each apartment has a utility cupboard housing a washer-dryer, video entry phone systems, fully tiled bathrooms featuring Hansgrohe brassware and towel rails, full 10 year LABC Warranty and selected apartments also have balconies or terraces. The apartments including the one beds are all larger than your average size so viewings are highly recommended.

The show apartment is now available for viewings by appointment only. Prices available from £299,950, with anticipated move in dates from July 2020. To secure your appointment at the iconic Orchid Court please contact; Imagine New Homes in advance on 01923 608373 or email newhomes@imagine-group.co.uk. *T&C’s apply

“The 79 private apartments are finished to a high specification and are designed to maximise light and space”

H OME & PROPERTY

The work-life balance

readdressed

How do you find the right partner to create the living spaces you want? Jane Milton spoke to architect, interior & landscape designers HollandGreen to find out their approach.

Interactive 3D Design HollandGreen use 3D digital design and the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) - an immersive virtual environment that allows their clients to see the proposed design long before any work starts on site. “We’re able to put our clients ‘inside’ and ‘walk around’ their homes on their tablet, smartphone or with VR headsets” says Alex. “It means they’re fully immersed and collaborative in the process and can potentially save thousands of pounds in the build as this refines ideas in a way that traditional 2D design just can’t do.”

O

ne of the many things we’ve all learned from lockdown is that, with an internet connection and PC, most people with office-based jobs can work perfectly well from home. This opens up opportunities; the possibility of living elsewhere or moving out of Town to have more family, office, outdoor and entertaining spaces.

But how do you find or create your ideal home?

Alex Moss, HollandGreen’s Client Relationship Manager says the key is to really understand the clients’ needs. “Creating wonderful living spaces is more than just the bricks and mortar, it’s about really listening to people. By doing so, we create inspirational, insightful designs that are perfectly tailored to their lifestyle and aspirations”.

A friendly, dynamic team of 30, HollandGreen are formed of 3 complementary divisions across architecture, interior design and landscape design.

Their passion is to generate contemporary new build houses, renovate and extend large family homes, restore period properties and convert and transform barns. They offer an exceptional client experience throughout, endorsed last year by winning ‘Most Innovative High End Residential Architectural Practice in England’.

Alex says: “We offer an end-to-end service, from initial design work through planning, building regulations and tendering to contractors. We also handle the contract administration throughout the build whilst offering up our network of quality contractors, builders and specialists such as joiners, pool and spa companies, wine cellar, smart home and sustainability experts.”

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Interior & Landscape Design

“Creating wonderful living spaces is more than just the bricks and mortar, it’s about really listening to people”

Their in-house interior and landscape teams work closely with the architects and are regularly involved from the outset - from mood board inspirations to specifying fittings and planting designs - as much as the client chooses. Alex says: “Busy clients often like a fully integrated service; it’s less overwhelming knowing you have a talented team supporting you and undertaking the legwork. Across our 3 divisions we can think about all aspects from the very start to produce beautifully coherent solutions.”

She adds, “By leveraging our experience on international projects, we’re fully set up to start or run projects virtually in the UK via our digital services. We’re supporting our clients now as well as ever.”.

For further information visit hollandgreen.co.uk or call 020 8099 6112.

bathrooms of distinction

The art of bathrooms: from inspiration to installation

Beautiful Bathrooms, Unbeatable Prices Europe’s Leading Manufacturers on Display

SHOWROOM 020 8440 1106 18-19 Green Hill Parade, Great North Road, Barnet, Herts EN5 1EU email: Neil@aquarooms.co.uk