The listing homes and gardens july 2014

HOMES & GARDENS

JUly 14 • ISSUE 107

london property exhibition

Marshalls are delighted to announce that they are holding a property exhibition at their prestigious Park Lane office in Mayfair on Friday 1st August. They are experiencing huge demand from London buyers at present and huge success at their last exhibition in March, selling three properties from it. There has never been a better time to move.

If you would like your property to be a part of this exhibition they would welcome the opportunity of visiting your home and discussing your moving plans and providing an up to date opinion on your property’s value. Call Marshalls on 01763 247788 or email sales@ marshallsproperties.co.uk for further details.

audio visual services made simple

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Fabrics • Lighting • Wallpaper • Blinds Making & Fitting Service • Free Measuring & Advice Showroom open Mon – Sat 9:30 – 4:00 The Old Maltings rear of 3 Green Drift Royston Hertfordshire SG8 5DB 01763 241763 www.bordersandbows.com

T-AV Services is a new Audio Visual Company for 2014 set up by Tommy Verleg who lives in Reed; he is looking forward to becoming a part of the community of the very industrious and creative small businesses that are so much a feature of this area.

Many people are a bit confused about what “AV” actually is – Tommy’s wife calls it “wires and stuff” – but Tommy can deal with something as simple as fitting a TV screen in a Doctors surgery, providing a PA system for a wedding or special event, installing a projector and screen into a classroom or even advising on, supplying and installing video /audio conferencing systems into your boardroom. He’d love to design and build a music studio as music is his passion! Recently he travelled to Belgium to support a local band with their on stage sound.

Tommy also offer various packages for maintenance and advice - so like one of his now regular clients - you may already have a sound or AV system but need somebody to come in and iron out the bugs and then keep an eye on it to make sure things stay in good shape and working for when your clients need them.

Tommy is an experienced AV Engineer who has worked in some of the most prestigious situations globally including embassies and top hotels and can count famous clothes designers, TV personalities and even Sheiks as clients. He worked freelance in Dubai on large concerts and was engineering manager at the Grand Hyatt during its opening years.

In the UK Tommy worked for a Hertford company but he is now a father and decided that running his own business made sense as it allows him to structure his time around family life.

He knows AV can be daunting and his aim is to make your life easier by offering you a polite and professional service with a friendly “can do” attitude and good technical know-how. He wants to develop strong and lasting relationships with clients who trust him and so far his repeat business ratio is impressive. One of his latest clients says: Thanks so much for sorting that all out for us. We are really pleased that it is all working again and glad to have found someone like you that we can call on in the future!!

T-AV-SERVICES For more details please do call us LIVE EVENTS on: 078 157 80 SUPPLY 629 or email your requirements INSTALLATION or questions to MAINTENANCE tommy@t-avservices.com The website is www. tommy@t-av-services.com 07815780629 t-av-services.com

Business Profile

AUDIO VISUAL

www.t-av-services.com

www.thelisting.info • 01763 248447

JUly 14 • ISSUE 107

HOMES & GARDENS

Home & Interiors: Double-Up Your Space

When you have run out of space and it’s not possible to extend, the time has come to think creatively. With the right approach, you may even be able to make two rooms out of one.

Had a new baby? Children growing up?

Started working from home? Every year it seems like there’s more pressure on our living space. And while it’s not always possible to move up the property ladder to a ten-bedroom mansion, there is always a way to make your current property work better for you. It’s called doublingup – and it’s all about giving your home a new lease of life with some thoughtful rearrangements and careful additions, resulting in multifunctional rooms that are entirely practical and yet also utterly stylish.

Take a long, hard look at every room in your home and, even in the smallest of apartments, it will soon be possible to see which spaces can be modified so as to serve more than one purpose. We’re not talking about expensive extensions or complex loft conversions, but simply about making the most of what you’ve already got. Like adding a dining area to a kitchen, a home office in a bedroom or a hideaway guest bed in a living room.

The trick is to forget your preconceptions about where you live and be creative with the space. To get the most out of every inch (vital when you need to double up on what you have), foldaway furniture is a great option to start with, whether it’s a bed, a desk or a dining table and chairs. Next, make the most of any free wall. Peg rails and hanging rails, hooks and shelves – from high above your head to fitted across an alcove, this can be incredibly useful storage. Think high: a raised child’s bed with space beneath for a desk, sofa or play area, for example.

Or could you even build a mezzanine sleeping or working space? And think low: slide a truckle bed under a permanent one, or tuck stools under a small table and magically create an intimate dining area. It’s a lateral-thinking approach that’s quick, easy and inexpensive, and that will make your home as functional and as good-looking as you could ever want, no matter what changes come your way in the future.

Creativefinishes

No room to sit down and eat? Turn a small kitchen into a kitchen/diner with a foldaway table and chairs. The table is attached to a wall with dowels, while the chairs can be hung on a wall hook, nicely out of the way.

Calligaris Quadro white lacquered bar table, £111; Calligaris Olivia solid wood folding chairs in wenge or beech, £80 each; all Lime Modern Living, 01892 512611; www.limemodernliving.co.uk.

By raising a child’s bed you create two rooms: one for sleeping, and one below for playing, studying, relaxing or for sleepovers.

The same goes with an adult bedroom – if you have high enough ceilings, consider building a mezzanine sleeping space, leaving room underneath to use however you wish.

Loft bed by Oliver Furniture, £995, Nubie, 01825 724160; www.nubie.co.uk.

Sharman Knowles Partnership chartered architects

D E C O R A T I N G Professional Interior & Exterior Decorators

One Market Hill Royston SG8 9JL

info@creativefinishes.uk.com Tel: 01763 249075 07568 575527 “Feel free to call for a free no obligation quote”

01763 250599

We are an architects practice in Royston town centre.

Our website shows the range of work we undertake which includes commercial, industrial, housing and large domestic projects.

NO OBLIGATION FIRST MEETING

Specialists in the restoration of historic buildings, from private homes and gardens to churches and colleges.

Portfolio of large and small scale projects undertaken throughout the UK. See our new website www.ambstonemasonry.co.uk

E andy@ambstonemasonry.co.uk M 07970 874 853

T 0845 1990 184 www.thelisting.info • 01763 248447

HOMES & GARDENS

JUly 14 • ISSUE 107

MD GROUNDWORKS

In the garden... July Top tips and ideas to improve your garden

By Melbourn garden designer Richard Arnott www.thinkgardenthinkrichard.co.uk 1. Training climbing plants Climbing plants are very useful for covering space in the garden without taking up as much room as trees and shrubs, but they do need to be trained to get the best results. New growth is being produced quickly at this time of year and needs tying in to wires to give it direction over the structure you are trying to cover. I recommend using vine eyes and galvanised wire.

2. Focal points This seems like a very obvious thing to say but having a focal point to look toward in the garden is important. This can take many different forms from a specimen tree or shrub to a favourite pots or urn. The eye is looking for a place to be drawn to and settle on. I love to use a multi stemmed tree such as Amelanchier lamarkii, not only does it look good in blossom in the spring but its autumn colour is awesome.

It could also be the form of an arbour seat with climbing roses above, but a focal point helps to give the garden added interest.

3. Seating Too often with the busy lives we all seem to lead there is not enough time to stop and relax. It is very important to make space for a seat within the planting in the garden to tempt us in to rest and soak it up. I love to look through transparent herbaceous planting in my designs. A well placed bench is sometimes all you need and could act as a focal point too.

& GENERAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

4. Definition With everything growing so fast with the warm and wet weather we have been having it is important to have some control in the garden. One of the simplest things is to give definition between the grass and the flower bed with a well clipped edge. This can be achieved with shears and an edging iron or you could consider one of the many garden products available. I like to use an aluminium product called Rite Edge that bends well to form shape to the lawn edges. Once installed all you need to do is clip the grass with shears when you cut the grass.

5. Wildlife places It is not all about manicuring every inch of our outdoor spaces. It is important to have some untidy wild places for the wildlife to thrive in. Native shelterbelt planting on the boundaries of the garden are very good for birds and insects. Brambles and nettles are very useful to birds and butterflies. If this seems too untidy for you the least you could do for the wildlife is have a pile of old logs that you allow to decay for the insects. Habitat piles are great for children to explore too.

Go for it! Start with little changes, it can make all the difference to your enjoyment of the garden!

• Landscaping • Block paving • Shed bases • Fencing • Conservatories • Patios • All drainage • Garden walls • Extensions • Decking • Brickwork • Repointing • Footings • Foundations • Turfing • Lawns • Hedging • Pruning No job too big or small • Free estimates No obligation

Tel 01223 892610 Mobile 07968 483 959

DIGITAL TV • FM

DO YOU NEED HELP WITH DIGITAL? call now for a free quote and advice

For a friendly reliable service call Henry Burgess on 01223 208441 Mobile 07831 774757 www.super-aceaerials.co.uk Burglar Alarms Home Cinema Audio Visual and more

Feel secure in your own home Burglar Alarms Home Cinema

ContactAudio Visual Terry on 07939 204328 / 01763 660546 CCTV for a free quote And more

Over 15 years’ experience

Feel secure in your own home

Contact Terry on 07939204328/01763 660546 for a free quote

security.av.solutions@hotmail.com Over 15 years’ experience Email: Security.av.solutions@hotmail.com securtiyavsolutions.com Website: Securityavsolutions.com

Four County CLEANERS

Local to Royston and the surrounding area Oven Cleaning • Window Cleaning Carpet cleaning • Office & Builder Cleans Ironing & Domestic Cleaning Service Contract Cleans House Move & Removal Cleans

07580 705 687 07528 788 811

fourcountycleaners@hotmail.co.uk Specialists in end of tenancy cleans

www.thelisting.info • 01763 248447

Dark Lane Forge *Plant

Nursery *Gardening Accessories *Farm Shop

“You can draw it, I can make it”

Large choice of Cambridgeshire grown herbaceous Perennials, Shrubs, Roses, Seasonal Bedding, Fruit and Ornamental Trees.

Visit us throughout July to take advantage of our weekly sale offers .

Lucas Ling Blacksmith

*Visit the farm shop for all summer fruits – Blueberries, Cherries, Melons, Nectarines, Peaches, Raspberries Strawberries etc.

Phone: 01763 838876

Post Code: SG8 0AG. Tel:01223 208194

Email: darklaneforge@hotmail.co.uk

Open: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5.30pm Wednesday: Closed. Sunday: 10am - 4pm.

Mobile: 0754 523 3939

JUly 14 • ISSUE 107

HOMES & GARDENS

Warm Summer Weather? Time to buy youR heating oil!

With fuel poverty on the rise and energy bills rocketing, heating oil users across the country are feeling the strain. If you’re looking to make a difference to your bank balance, check out our useful tips for smart, simple ways to save money on your next heating oil order.

Watch the weather Oil prices typically decline during the spring and summer months, when temperatures are high and demand is low. By topping-up your tank this summer, you can take advantage of these great prices and stay warm in winter for less.

Compare prices You might have a regular supplier, but are they offering you the best price? By shopping around, or using an instant, impartial comparison service such as BoilerJuice, you’ll always get the best quote for your oil.

Buy in bulk Did you know that several small orders of heating oil will generally cost you more than one large order? Instead of topping-up your oil levels on a regular basis, fill-up in one go to cut-down on delivery costs and get a great bulk-buy price.

www.thelisting.info • 01763 248447