Winter Lifestyle magazine 2021

Winter 2021

Our house Your home

Welcome to Our house Your home Welcome to our winter edition of our lifestyle magazine, packed with Christmassy ideas to make your decor look amazing, plus find out all about the sweet smelling success of Harrogate-based Dome candles,

We’ve just opened a fabulous new show home at Spencer Grange in Skipton, and instead of just one Christmas show home, we’ve got four this year! Our sales advisor Donna has been out and about to give you guided tours of some of our show homes.

We‘ve got Christmas advice on setting the perfect dining table, and what’s hot in Christmas trees and decorations.

There’s also an update on how our community fund has helped local organisations.

So put the kettle on (or pour a glass of fizz - it is nearly Christmas after all) and settle down for a thoroughly festive read. ENJOY!

CONTENTS:

Page 4-5 Welcome to Spencer Grange show home Page 6-7 Get the Christmas show home look

Page 8-9 Style ideas for your Christmas home

Page 10-11 Christmas trees and what’s hot this year Page 12 Sales adviser Ben’s 100th sale

Page 13 Out and about with our sales advisers!

Page 14 Supporting local property entrepreneurs Page 15 Luxury, local candles made in Harrogate Page 16 Apple, allspice and sumac cake recipe Page 17 Update on our community fund Page 18 Charities and fund raising

Page 19 All about our developments

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

Introducing...

Our stunning new show home at Spencer Grange, Skipton is now open

Interior stylist, Suzanne Webster, has designed our lovely show home at our Spencer Grange development in Skipton WWW.SWDESIGNGROUP.CO.UK/

WITH A LOVELY PALETTE OF GREENS, SUZY HAS INCORPORATED PANELLING TO ACHIEVE AN ON-TREND LOOK IN THIS BEAUTIFUL 4-BEDROOM DETACHED ‘WESTON’ HOME

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS “Using Christmas greenery such as holly, mistletoe and ferns will really bring your decor to life”

WE’VE GONE BIG WITH OUR CHRISTMAS SHOW HOMES THIS YEAR - THERE’S 4 IN ALL!

Christmas is going to be big this year!

We say baubles to Christmas 2020!

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN SEEING A SHOW HOME IN PERSON, AND YOU CAN VIEW THEM AT: THE WILLOWS, HARROGATE (2 SHOW HOMES), HAWTHORN GRANGE, MENSTON AND KINGSLEY FARM, HARROGATE.

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

Christmas dining how to get the show home look

If you want your Christmas table to have a real impact, begin with the centrepiece.

A table runner or garland is a good place to start and acts as a base to build up your decorations.

Battery operated lights will certainly help to make your table feel special, especially if you’re dining later in the day. Flowers and greenery are your friend here - holly berries, fir cones, sprigs of ivy and baby’s breath (gypsophilia) look fabulous on a table (or anywhere around the home!) There are some great artificial options too so you don’t need to necessarily choose fresh options. Use

Make your whole house Christmassy.... with wreaths, candles & gingerbread houses!

different heights of candles to add interest (make sure they’re safe around your decorations and, when lit, are not left unattended).

Pretty tableware can really make or break a scheme. White is a classic and elegant choice, but greys and blacks can add drama. Make sure your glasses are sparkly and clean. Place mats, napkin holders (cloth napkins will add elegance too), create that luxury element, and place names will ensure that your guests feel extra special.

Christmas crackers are available in recycled options and further dress your table.

BEAUTIFUL BAKED GOODIES LIKE GINGERBREAD HOUSES AND ICED BISCUITS @bramper_biscuits, FESTIVE WREATHS, CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS AND DECADENTLY WRAPPED PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE - FILL YOUR HOUSE WITH THOUGHTFUL DETAILS - AND MAKE CHRISTMAS 2021 THE BEST EVER!

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

And presents under the tree...

The traditional Christmas tree plays an important part in our home during the festive season and the Nordmann Fir is still very popular for homes across the UK. However, LED twig trees and asymmetrical, sparse trees are gaining in popularity too.

and accessories as metallics continue to lead the way this festive season. Gold – the colour of 2020 – adds warmth and after the last two years, home decorators are seeing this move towards adding warmer elements into your decor.

And this year many of us are planning on having more than one Christmas tree in our homes - some are even saying three or more is an option! We’ve put one in the snug as well as in the lounge at our Hawthorn Grange show home in Menston.

All shades of blue work well with metallics and it is an elegant choice for Christmas (we’ve used this colour palette in our Turnberry show home at The Willows in Harrogate). Add in some co-ordinating candles and reindeer’s and you’ve got a beautiful scheme that works perfectly with darker colour schemes.

Silver and gold remain popular colours for baubles

Cheers everyone!

Glitz, glamour & opulence that ’s Christmas 2021!

As has been the trend in 2020, sustainability remains a focus for many and retailers are offering many options from recycled decorations to reusable crackers. With thousands of artisan makers out there making hand crafted, bespoke pieces from wood, glass and papier-mâché in fabulous colours and textures, you won’t be missing out on impact either. Many councils will offer to recycle your Christmas tree too.

GLITZ, GLAMOUR AND OPULENCE ARE DEFINITELY THE BUZZ WORDS FOR CHRISTMAS 2021!

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

SALES ADVISOR BEN REACHES A BIG MILESTONE

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

Let Donna show you around our fabulous show homes Click here to go straight to our tours

https://stonebridgehomes.co.uk/virtual-tours/

WE’RE ALWAYS ADDING TO OUR VIDEOS SO PLEASE CHECK BACK REGULARLY TO SEE WHAT’S NEW. ON OUR VIRTUAL TOURS PAGE YOU’LL ALSO FIND TOURS OF OUR HAMILTON, ST. ANDREW’S AND LYTHAM HOUSE TYPES.

5-bed Aston house type

5-bed Turnberry house type

5-bed Sandringham house type

The Grange, Wakefield fly through (not with Donna!)

Cocktail making - Stonebridge style

with the amazing Donna and Ben! https://youtu.be/qFmWhQLvPU8 https://youtu.be/aCd8ZzwWh4A

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

We’re proud to support Young Entrepreneurs in Property (YEP)

OUR VERY OWN TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNER, KATIE PURDAM, TALKS ABOUT HER PASSION FOR STONEBRIDGE HOMES AND WHY SHE LOVES WORKING HERE!

The Harrogate Candle Co. Fragrances with a difference “We wanted to create something a little different. Something that would challenge the status quo. Something that would look, feel and smell luxurious but without the heavy price tag.

We wanted to create a product that we would have in our own homes, and we think we have achieved that”.

Congrats to:

Jane McGee from Wakefield who won our Christmas candle comp!

FIONA AND DEBORAH, HARROGATE CANDLE COMPANY

As our business grows, we remain focused on retaining our strong and dynamic culture, with, at its core, a committed and passionate workforce and well-earned reputation for innovation and creativity.

We are serious about succession planning and maximising young talent where possible and this has naturally led to the support of YEP Leeds as they see the importance of investing in young professionals in our industry. Like YEP, Stonebridge Homes see the key to achieving this is to raise the visibility of the property and construction sectors across the board, but very much by educating future generations, at a young age, and promoting the fabulous career opportunities available within the industry.

We were proud to support YEP’s Christmas event where around 100 like-minded property individuals met to talk about the industry, and to celebrate the festive season.

Want to join our company?

Visit our website to see STONEBRIDGEHOMES.CO.UK roles currently available and become a part of the Stonebridge team.

Fiona Carr and Deborah Wilson established The Harrogate Candle Company in 2012. Their purpose was clear: to create a luxury candle using only high-quality, natural essential oils that would positively enhance mood and stimulate different emotions (all while being competitively priced). Their research and development led them to create five signature fragrances for their flagship Mood Candle range; Happy, Inspire, Lovely, Divine, and Dream.

Plus, a seasonal sixth; Orange and Cinnamon.

With four sizes of candle available, the collection quickly grew, and the range was expanded to include Reed Diffusers, Room Mists and Gift Sets.

Nearly 10 years on and the company is a very desirable, luxury brand both in the UK and Internationally, and is a firm favourite with customers and stockists alike. Their attention to detail - even the colour of the packaging was specifically chosen to match the streetlights and street furniture seen in and around Harrogate - have made the Harrogate Candle Company an internationally recognised and sought-after brand.

THEHARROGATECANDLECOMPANY.COM

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

We love their beautiful fragrances and elegantly designed products, which were perfect for our Christmas show home photo shoots!

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

A moist, Christmassy vegan cake Apple, allspice and sumac Slow Rise Bakery is

located just a stone’s throw from our offices in Horsforth and they are renowned for their amazing bagels.

SUMAC IS A WINE-COLOURED GROUND SPICE MADE FROM DRIED BERRIES. IT HAS A PLEASANT TANGY TASTE WITH A HINT OF CITRUS FRUITINESS AND VIRTUALLY NO AROMA

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 x bramley apples 1 x tbsp lemon juice 120 ml water 200g wholemeal spelt flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 50g ground almonds 1 tsp all spice 1 tbsp sumac 120g golden caster sugar 60ml olive oil (you can use sunflower or rapeseed oil) 175g dried apple (add some water to rehydrate)

Method

It’s a thick batter, but don’t be worry as this cake has a great crust and lovely crumb.

Step 1: Chop the bramley apples into chunks and then simmer for 1012 minutes with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 120ml of water. Mash down with a fork to get a nice smooth puree. You’ll need 200g for the next step.

Step 3: Add the mix to a lined loaf tin (450g/1lb) and pop into a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius.

Step 2: Combine the flour, baking powder, baking powder, almonds, bicarb and all spices in one bowl.

Step 4: Cool and then drizzle with a lemon sumac icing. Make the icing with 1tbsp lemon juice mixed with 60g icing sugar. We add some more sumac to taste and the zest of ½ lemon.

And the sugar, oil and apple sauce in another bowl, then mix both together. Chop up your dried apples into small chunks and chuck them in too.

As this cake it vegan, and it doesn’t use eggs, the apple sauce helps to bring it together and makes this a beautifully moist cake, perfect for those winter months.

Cook for around 40 – 50 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

RECIPE COURTESY OF SLOW RISE BAKERY SLOWRISEBAKERY.CO.UK

£10,000 donated to local causes OurHarrogate Community Fund End of the 1st year!

• • • • • •

SASH Wellspring Therapy Harrogate & District Community Action (HADCA) Ripon Community Link Pateley Shed Harlow Friendship Group

• • • • • •

Harlow Tennis Club Pannall Cricket Club Green Hut (Harlow Community Centre) Birk Crag Girl Guides Supporting Older People Autism Angels

Our community fund has given out nearly £10,000 in 2021. We support as many local groups in the Harrogate area as possible as those in need is on the increase.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations have found two in five voluntary organisations have only six months left of reserves. A worrying

• • • • • •

1st Pannall Scouts JustB helpline (Soroptomists) Harrogate Street Aid Dancing for Wellbeing Harrogate Hospital Radio Washburn Heritage

83% of charities and those in the not-for-profit sector forecast a continued decline, with 75% expecting higher demand this year (according to national accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO). With this gap between increasing demand and declining income widening, the shortfall means that more than ever, support is paramount.

This is what some of our applicants have said: “Harrogate Hospital Radio have recently launched on 95.3FM within HDFT and surrounding area. Our bank balance has taken quite a hit recently to pay for the installation of our transmitter etc. so, every penny we receive helps enormously to enable us to provide the service we do.

“The grant you have kindly offered us will go towards a supply of batteries for 100 FM radios recently purchased. We will be placing the FM radios on wards within Harrogate District Hospital over the Christmas period, so your timing is perfect. Thank you.”

Mark Oldfield, chairman, Harrogate Hospital Radio

“The funding from Stonebridge Homes has enabled young people to move on from homelessness by providing them with a safe place to stay in the home of a trained volunteer.

“We would like to thank Stonebridge Homes for enabling SASH to meet the expenses our volunteer hosts receive for opening their homes to young people facing homelessness.

“SASH volunteer hosts are ordinary people with a spare room and a will make a difference to young people at a time of crisis, or for the longer term.”

Deborah Rack, trust fund-raiser, SASH

STONEBRIDGE HOMES

Well done Stonebridge Homes staff

Back in August, Mitch, one of our IT guys, and 7 of his friends took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks. They managed to complete all 3 in 11 hours and 37 minutes and raised an amazing

£9475.75 for Pink Events

Current developments And what you can see!

THE WILLOWS, HARROGATE

2X SHOW HOMES

3, 4 & 5-bedroom homes. t: Ben on 0113 357 1204 e: thewillows@stonebridgehomes.co.uk

KINGSLEY FARM PHASE 2, HARROGATE

1X SHOW HOME

2, 3, 4 & 5-bedroom homes. t: Dan on 0113 357 1134 e: kingsleyfarm@stonebridgehomes.co.uk

HAWTHORN GRANGE, MENSTON

1X SHOW HOME

3, 4 & 5-bedroom homes. t: Linda on 0113 357 1203 e: hawthorngrange@stonebridgehomes.co.uk

SPENCER GRANGE, SKIPTON

1X SHOW HOME I n addition we have recently supported staff good causes with money on its way to: British Heart Foundation, Macular Degeneration, Jacqui’s Millions, SNAPS Yorkshire and Mini Vinnies.

Supporting Variety’s Big Build

The Yorkshire residential property awards is attended by over 700 professionals from across the Residential Property sector. As in previous years Stonebridge Homes were proud to attend and support this event which promotes awareness and raises vital funds for disadvantaged children across our region raising over £126,000!

A huge thanks to Charlotte and the team at Variety for organising such a great event which we and our guests thoroughly enjoyed. Already looking forward to next years event.

VARIETY.ORG.UK

2, 3, 4 & 5-bedroom homes. t: Jayne on 0113 357 1201 e: spencergrange@stonebridgehomes.co.uk

THE GRANGE, CITY FIELDS, WAKEFIELD

1X VIRTUAL TOUR

3, 4 & 5-bedroom homes. t: Donna on 0113 357 1202 e: thegrange@stonebridgehomes.co.uk

Coming soon developments Please register your interest on our website

GRAINGER PARK, GOLDSBOROUGH

3, 4 & 5-bedroom homes t: Head Office on 0113 357 1100 e:graingerpark@stonebridgehomes.co.uk

OUR HOUSE | YOUR HOME

FEATHERBANK COURT, HORSFORTH, LEEDS, LS18 4QF 0113 357 1100 STONEBRIDGEHOMES.CO.UK