Improve your home’s interior

COVER STORY

Grow your own Time to dig up the lawn and grow your own vegetables

FOOD

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Spring is in the air Featuring a luscious lamb dish for the family to enjoy

PROPERTY

Improve your home’s interior Add new life to your home by adding style and colour

Moving for a new job? Top tips when moving for a job

8LIFESTYLE Bond is back! Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as 007 arrives in April

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Be fashion ready Don’t be caught out and about without your fashion essentials!

16 1 6 12 TRAVEL Your role as a landlord Understand just what your tenant expects from you as its landlord Time to spa There’s nothing like a day of pampering to put you in the right frame of mind to face the world. But where to go? Our latest instructions Take a look at a selection of our latest properties on the market About us Get to know us a little better and see why we are your agent of choice 14 SPORT

The US Masters A preview of the 84th US Masters which tees off this April

WELCOME TO THE MARCH ISSUE! T he days are getting longer and the nights are getting shorter; a good sign that we are moving towards thoughts of warmer weather and longer, balmy nights. OK, we may be getting a little carried away but the warmer weather will be very much welcomed by all. When it comes to property, years ago it was highly unusual for homeowners not to have a vegetable patch. Post-war austerity and a limited amount of produce in the shops meant it was the only way to get fresh veg and vitamins into the daily diet. has turned full circle and ‘homegrown’ is fast becoming the norm again. But how do you grow your own? Find out inside. But if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of life or just want to treat someone special, then take a peek at our spa feature. The health benefits of visiting a spa cannot be overstated, particularly for mental well-being, so we look at what you can expect on a spa visit. As ever, there is plenty of support and advice on property inside this issue which is sure to keep you reading. So, enjoy and we’ll see you next time.

The arrival of the supermarket changed that but now the wheel Linda McKeown Editor

The words DIY – or doing it yourself – can often instill fear into any homeowner, but it doesn’t have to be that way. A lick of paint and new finishing touches can make a property go from oh to wow.

Find the room’s focal point and look to emphasise this feature. This could be a fireplace, feature wall or a bay window. Don’t have a feature? Then create one! Doing this is much easier than you may think; paint a wall a different colour and accessorise with artwork or shelving. EMPHASISE THE FOCAL POINT IN THE ROOM

Perhaps the easiest – and most affordable – way to bring a room to life is to add a coat of paint. However, don’t rush it! Focus instead on working on small and manageable sections to avoid the feeling of biting off more than you can chew. It’s important to feel that you are making progress, rather than being left with the feeling that your decorating is never ending. ADD A LICK OF COLOUR

To kick-start the painting in any room, remember to focus on all edges first, including windows, door frames, light switches and other nooks and crannies, before applying the main section of paint. Also, don’t forget to put down old sheets or blankets to help protect surfaces from paint splashes; it’ll save you time and potential heartache as you won’t have to spend time cleaning the carpet if you have any mishaps.

Before you start any work, it’s vital that you set a budget and prepare a list of things you need to complete the job

ADD NEW LIFE TO YOUR HOME

Update your interior by adding style and colour; it’s one of the easiest ways to freshen up the look and feel of your home

Top tip: Buy testers in the paint that you like and paint small samples on the walls to see which fits best with the plans that you have for the room

Using the best – and the right – tools, such as brushes, paint and rollers are key to getting the finish just right. Now that doesn’t mean expensive is always best; we recommend for going midrange – so not the cheapest and not the most expensive. HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS

Once you have finished all your painting and decorating of walls, ceiling and woodwork, then it’s time to focus on the final touches. Adding vases, scatter cushions and throws to a living room will encourage more warmth. However, remember not to go the other way and add so much that the area looks cluttered. Keep your eyes peeled for inspiration from things you see day to day – whether that be in magazines, on TV or in homes you’ve been viewing online! THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Even changing simple things like door handles on your interior doors can really change the feel of a property. It can be quite pricey to refurnish a home, so to help keep costs down look to update any of your old furniture with a re-varnish or a coat of paint too.

Perhaps the easiest – and most affordable – way to bring a room to life is to add a coat of paint

Before you start any work, it’s vital that you set a budget and prepare a list of things you need to complete the job. It’s easy to become over excited and spend money on things that you don’t need. Shop around for the best deals and YOUR BUDGET

ensure that you measure all the spaces you have, so that you can be confident that there won’t be any sizing issues once you get your new goods through the door!

Whether you do it yourself or enlist the help of a professional depends on several different factors; your budget, experience and available time! SHOULD YOU DIY OR GET A PROFESSIONAL IN?

The positive factors of hiring a professional interior designer and/or decorator is that it can save you time (and stress), as they will be qualified in knowing the latest trends and what designs will work well for certain spaces. Search for decorators in your area and keep an eye out for those with positive reviews; word of mouth can be a godsend so ask for recommendations via your social media channels.