Month: January 2012

Grand Designs Magazine

This is a fantastic magazine for all fans of the show. Regular features on houses seen on TV, plus design articles and all sorts of new products for you to drool over.

Grand Designs Magazine

Grand Designs Magazine from Magazine Group £27.50
The magazine features really wonderful grand designs – these are incredible homes, housees that display real vision, and where risk-taking has been central to the project, as well as houses that embrace interesting materials and new technologies – all elements for which the TV programme is known.
It’s packed with design features you’ll want in your own home and information on creating your own grand design.

Designer radiators

Designer radiatorsHow many times have you seen a radiator and thought “oh I like that”… A few times maybe. I love the really chunky looking ones like you used to get in schools. Really solid looking radiators look good in big rooms, but there are so many types of designer radiator.

A review of designer radiators at B&Q
In the photo shown on this page there are three radiators. One of them doesn’t even look like a radiator, you might be mistaken for thinking it’s a mirror. It’s a clever design, using the upright style of radiator in conjunction with a reflective surface that makes it something entirely different.

From a heating perspective you need to know the BTU you need. There’s a calculator for this which needs room sizes.The british thermal unit works out how much radiator power you need.
You need to know the type of room: whether it’s a living room, a sleeping area or another type.
You’ll need room measurements including height and information on whether it’s got french windows, double glazing or is north facing.
The calculator gives you a BTU/hour figure and it’s this that you need to know for each room you need a new radiator for.

They have over 180 contemporary radiators which means you’ll find something that suits your needs in a style you like.
You can search by colour, by brand or by style or finish.
There are several brands Accuro-Korle , Acova, Bristan ,Jaga, Kudox , Thermic , and XIMAX ,

I do like the more unusual ones but you’d have to weigh up which would suit your own house and style. If you’re looking for a radiator for a dark room then picking a reflective one would certainly bounce more light off. For limited wall space you can pick a narrow one.

Things to look out for – what will heat it

– hot water central heating systems means
– hot water heating systems and can also be fitted with an electric element
– Stand alone electric only – no plumbing required

Fitting an electric element means you can press a button and have a hot radiator without having your central heating on. A real luxury treat!

Location Location Location

There was a new Location Location Location on last night

You can find out more here n Ch4

Kirstie and Phil meet two pairs of buyers who hope to make south-east London their home.

But with very specific requirements and a lack of time, Phil and Kirstie are going to have to really work their property magic to make these dreams come true.

Cruise ship workers Peter and Jason are desperate to end the years of living out of suitcases and hope to set up home together in the popular suburb of Beckenham.

Designers Nadine and Toby want a house that’s in need of serious refurbishment, with a 60ft garden, ideally with a flat front, and also with a `good narrative’ to boot… on a maximum budget of £350,000.

They like the big property (some sort of masonic hall attached) on at £350k.
They ask if £330k is too cheeky. Don’t think it was cheeky enough myself but it’s peopel acting as trustees so they’re holding out for a better price.

After the owner rejected this offer (and a higher offer) they eventually accepted an offer of 346k! Krusty said this was ‘good for a house that has been on the market 2 and a half years’!
It’s not good! I thought their budget was £350k tops so it means they won’t be able to do it up. They’ve put in full planning permission for changes. Worrying to hear them say “We need to get it warm, dry and safe” … isn’t it? UBOSM house looks like a huge project.

The entertainers struggle to decide between tow houses. They like the one with period features £292500 is offered but the other people who’ve offered are exchanging on their sale tomorrow so in a bid to hurry it up Phil asks what he can do to get the sale stitched up today – so they offer £295k and it’s a deal.

St Michael’s Lodge

\
“St Michael\’s Lodge” is a splendid and magnificent Georgian detached villa which occupies large, level and walled grounds within the Stoke Damerel Conservation Area. Designed by the renowned achitect \’Foulston\’ in circa 1820, this imposing and elegant residence is undoubtedly a property of major historical interest within the Plymouth City boundaries. Indeed, between 1890 and 1968, the house operated as St Michael\’s Preparatory School.
The property has a wealth of original character features including fabulous mouldings, ‘Minster’ fireplaces, coving, full length multi-paned windows and a delightful 53\’ hallway with four pillars.
Magnificent building.

Southbrook House

An absolutely fabulous Grade
Southbrook House is an absolutely fabulous Grade II Listed Victorian property with its own wonderful tower housing a studio which looks out to sea.
Southbrook House stands in roughly two acres of mature gardens and grounds and boasts beautiful estuary views.
A very \’grand\’ feeling property with an abundance of period features including tall ceilings, original plasterwork, handsome fireplaces and stunning floor to ceiling windows.
The property benefits from 7 bedrooms, 2 of which include en-suites. The house also consists of a Drawing Room, Dining Room, Sitting Room, and Music room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Laundry Room, Study and Sewing Room

Such a lovely looking house with it’s tower!
It’s got a huge staircase and big windows throughout! Fab!

Grand Designs House Storm Damage

One of the Scottish Grand Design houses has been damaged in a recent storm – A house in Kilcreggan, Argyll and Bute, which featured in the Channel 4 programme Grand Designs, was damaged in the storm. Gail Young who took the picture said no-one was hurt.

View here on the bbc – it’s currently picture 6 of 26.
It’s the one where he sandblasted the inside.

This is actually for sale at the moment too

Ireland to have Mandatory alarms for carbon monoxide

Ireland is set to have Mandatory alarms for carbon monoxide

THE MANDATORY installation of carbon monoxide alarms in all new homes is to be addressed by new building regulations being drafted by the Department of the Environment.

I have read somewhere about UK rental rules will be changed this year to ensure all rental properties have hard wired smoke alarms.