The 4Homes Blog

Christmas On 4Homes

Rich Payne — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:10:54 +0000

Christmas: it’s that time of year when Jack Frost nips at your nose, shopping centres become an unnavigable morass of frantic human bewilderment and you realise that there’s nothing festive about your bank balance. At 4Homes we’re going all-out to make sure our readers enjoy a fun, stress-free and affordable Christmas.

Christmas Shopping
Our Christmas gift ideas are a great starting point if you’re struggling for inspiration. We’ve arranged them by age, price point, gender and personality, so there can be no excuses for saying it with gift vouchers this Yuletide. On top of these shopping guides, we’ve got a Christmas advent calendar of exclusive offers, discounts and competitions.

Christmas Trees And Decorations
We’ve also got Christmas decorations, wrapping and trees covered. Whether you want to have a go at making your own decorations, need to know where to buy the best baubles or require a bit of help cleaning up for Christmas, you’ll find everything you need right here.

Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas
This year we’re lucky enough to have our very own Christmas miniseries. Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas picks up where Kirstie Allsopp’s craft series from earlier in 2009, Kirstie’s Homemade Home, left off.

In three one-hour episodes our queen of crafts will give Meadow Gate, her Devon home, a homemade and handmade Christmas makeover. Kirstie will once again showcase skilled British artisans, as well as having a go at new crafts herself. In advance of the series, Kirstie’s given us her top tips for a fun family Christmas. They’re worth a look for the final tip alone.

Feel free to share your own Christmas tips with us in the comments form below…

Which Crafts To Include In Kirstie’s Homemade Home?

Rich Payne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:44:16 +0000

At some point in 2010, Kirstie Allsopp will be back with a second series of Kirstie’s Homemade Home. The lovely team that produces the show are keen to include arts and crafts that you, the viewers, would like to see.

This is your chance to directly influence the series, and to give a platform to a craft or skill close to your heart. It’s all rather exciting, quite frankly.

Post your craft suggestions in the comments form below, and they could feature in series two of Kirstie’s Homemade Home…

Win A Home Consultation With Sarah Beeny

Rich Payne — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:33:27 +0000

You read it right – Sarah Beeny is offering one lucky homeowner a free home consultation, to discuss how to add value to your home in the current climate. She’ll pop round to take a look at your property and discuss its potential.

Click here to enter the competition. Terms and conditions apply.

Remodelling Your Home’s Exterior

Rich Payne — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:35 +0000

Over the weekend I had an email from a developer called Martin Swatton. He’s a designer based in Sussex, whose talent lies in turning average properties into awe-inspiring contemporary living spaces.

The rear of one of Martin's bungalow projects, before and after

It’s not always practical, nor possible, to remodel your home in this fashion. That said, with the housing market the way it is, more people are deciding to stay put and build on what they’ve got, rather than incur the costs and stress associated with moving house.

The new bungalow is almost unrecognisable, but comes at a cost

The Home Show is a programme founded on this very principle. While architect and presenter George Clarke is usually unable to overhaul the facade of a property, his work on the interior architecture is right in line with Martin’s own aim of creating a flexible, usable and downright gorgeous living space.

A large detached house transformed

Whether or not such a drastic approach to home improvement can prove to be profitable is dependent on so many factors that it’s impossible to give a definitive yes or no answer. I seem to remember an episode of Property Ladder in Poole, in which developer Rebecca made stacks of cash on this type of total aesthetic overhaul. That said, she chose her properties exceptionally well, and was working in a rapidly rising market. For most homeowners undertaking this type of development, the motivation tends to be quality of life and creating a long-term family home, rather than turning a quick profit.

Like George Clarke, Martin's aim is to produce bright, stylish and practical interiors

If you’d like to see more examples of dramatic exterior overhauls, check out our exterior facelifts photo gallery, or visit Martin Swatton’s website.

Seen a great exterior facelift? Want to give your house the ultimate curb appeal? Share your thoughts by leaving comments below…

Five Quirky Rugs

Rich Payne — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:24:11 +0000

Britain loves laminate and wood flooring, but as we plunge headlong into the bitter depths of winter, a warming centrepiece rug may be in order. I popped on to the 4Homes Product Search to bring you five of my faves…

1. Stella Felt Rug By Michelle Mason

A fun and funky take on the oft-boring wool rug, the Stella Felt Rug instantly draws the eye. You could lay it over wood, tile or existing carpet, and it comes in a range of colours. Kirstie’s Homemade Home fans can rest assured that this rug is made in the UK from 100 per cent wool.
NotOnTheHighStreet.com, £350

2. Cut Out 1 Rug By WovenGround

Remarkably for a rug that looks like both a muddy island and a single-cell amoeba, this is a hit with the 4Homes team. We love the irregular shape, as well as the flexibility of being able to order it in a custom size. Cut Out 2 is also available, and both rugs can be slotted together should you so choose.
WovenGround, £260

3. Nani Marquina Do-Lo-Rez Rug By Ron Arad

It’s not cheap, but it is pretty. Really pretty. If blue isn’t your colour, you can also opt for varying shades of red or grey. Why not order all three?
Nest.co.uk, £2,342

4. Motor Club Rug By Fine Bedlinens

It might be aimed at the kids’ bedroom market, but I reckon this retro car rug could make a playful focal point in all kinds of interiors. Those with developed levels of taste and maturity may disagree.
Fine Bedlinens, £44.04

5. Pirate Rug By WovenGround

Made from hard-wearing synthetic material and designed to be as childproof as possible, the Pirate Rug should, in theory, provide hours of entertainment for the little ones, and a bit of peace and quiet for mum and dad.
WovenGround, was £110, now £99

All items were found using the 4Homes Product Search. Found something wonderful on there? Dislike any of our choices? Leave your comments below…

Want To Appear On Relocation, Relocation?

Rich Payne — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:55:40 +0000

From our friends over at Relocation, Relocation:

We are currently casting for the new series of Relocation, Relocation!

Are you ready to move? Are you relocating? Are you looking for two properties; one as your main property and another as a business premises, a holiday home, an investment etc? Do you need Kirstie and Phil’s help?

If the answers are yes, get in touch here or send us an email to relocation@iwcmedia.co.uk.

RIBA Stirling Prize 2009: Live Blog

Rich Payne — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:39:50 +0000

Refresh this page to see the latest updates, or view the full RIBA Stirling Prize 2009 Shortlist.

8:57pm
Maggie’s Centre by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners WINS THE 2009 RIBA STIRLING PRIZE. Ruth Reed, President of the RIBA, presents the award to Richard Rogers, a previous winner for Barajas International Airport. Our congratulations go out to Richard and colleagues, and commiserations to the four other practices that made the shortlist. Any of the nominees would make a worthy winner.

8:51pm
Not long now… So exciting. There’s apprehension in the air.

8:42pm
He gets about a bit, doesn’t he? Kevin’s now in rural Denmark at the Fuglsang Kunstmuseum. It’s very Danish, and by that I mean effortlessly cool, as well as being both warm and modern. Its layout would require a visit to properly appreciate I think – might dust off the 4Homes expenses account and go have a look. This was the favourite with the bookies, which means it most likely won’t win. By the way, it’s a crazy architect that tells the client their brief is wrong! Tony Fretton must be a brave man.

8:38pm
Argh, now I’m torn. Maggie’s Centre in Hammersmith is quite special. Kudos to Richard Rogers for this, his second building on the 2009 shortlist. It’s marvellous that every aspect of the design is geared towards comfort and relaxation, as well as to both interaction and introspection. It’s an exceptional project, and would make a very worthy winner.

8:32pm
My own personal favourite – Kentish Town Health Centre by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. As all buildings should be, this is designed to serve its visitors down to the very finest detail. This is the bookies’ longest shot, but the RIBA Stirling Prize judges don’t always pick the odds-on favourite. Anyone else mildly uncomfortable with Kevin toying with an examination light?

8:27pm
Grand Designs Trade Secrets presenters Deborah Saunt and Tom Dyckhoff look very excited to be at the architectural equivalent of the Oscars. No word on who they’re rooting for, though – Kevin’s too coy to ask.

8:21pm
Time for 5 Aldermanbury Square to shine… quite literally. It’s coated in polished steel and glass, making it rather reflective. We’ve got Eric Parry to thank for this fine addition to London’s skyline. At 18 storeys high the views across London are magnificent, and the architects have made the most of this. Inside there are mixed materials, including timber, marble and more steel and glass. The building has a timeless, impenetrable feel to it, but and yet maintains at least a degree of grace. As Kevin points out rather more eloquently, this building blurs the lines between strong, masculine architecture and the curves and soft lines more often labelled feminine.

8:18pm
Kevin mentions that one architect will win and five will go home empty-handed. However Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners are nominated twice, for Maggie’s Centre in London and Bodegas Protos. To be fair, he may have had a vino or two.

8:11pm
After a quick ad break, Kevin returns to take us on a tour around Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ Bodegas Protos. It’s a winery built to mimic the underground caverns used to ferment and store wine in days gone by. Those timber-clad curved roofs also play on the shape of wine barrel. The building has a central courtyard for staff and visitors to relax in, and critically the wine store is kept at a constant 16C not by electronic means, but rather by utilising the thermal mass of the land in which it sits.

8:04pm
Kevin’s short film about Liverpool One emphasises the enormous scale of the project – 500 new homes, 42 acres, and 26 separate architects are involved in the regeneration of the city, under the single banner of Liverpool One. Great moment when Kevin sits in the chair of Herbert, ‘hairdresser to the stars.’ Multinational architecture and design practice BDP will accept the gong if this masterplan wins over the judges.

8:02pm
Two medical buildings, an art gallery, a winery, an office block and an entire city centre make up this year’s shortlist. An eclectic mix that includes two buildings by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

7:59pm
In case you were wondering, the bookies are offering the following odds.
Fuglsang Kunstmuseum – 6/4
Maggie’s Centre – 9/2
Bodegas Protos – 9/2
Liverpool One Masterplan – 5/1
5 Aldermanbury Square – 5/1
Kentish Town Health Centre – 6/1

7:55pm
Kevin McCloud heads from his Grand Tour of Rome to Old Billingsgate, London where nerves are no doubt jangling…

Who do you think will win the RIBA Stirling Prize 2009? Leave your comments below…

A 1930s Semi by the Sea: Under the Floorboards

Brigid Buckman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:04:28 +0000

For anyone taking on a renovation project, make sure you look under your floorboards before they get nailed back down. We did, and this is what we found…

A corner of a sandwich (circa 2009)
Empty bags of crisps
Enough rubble to construct another house
Wire casings and discarded electric and plumbing packaging
A label from electrical wire bought in 1969 (lovely packaging, actually)
And, our favourite…a pair of men’s underpants, and I assure you they were not from the 1930s

Because so many of our floorboards were not nailed down, we were easily able to find this treasure chest of glamourous goodies. I did not personally fish it out, though my husband did have the honor of removing the delicious looking sandwich lurking under out bathroom floors. No, I made the building company fish it all out before they nailed the boards down as part of the snagging list. The boss was mortified by what he saw as I gave him a sub-floor tour, room by room.

I was not upset the pants, more intigued, really. What exactly went on when we were not here…? A construction site by day, Chippendales club by night? Did we unknowingly have some naturalists working on site?

A little bit of rubble is acceptable, but a lot is not. And food is most definitely not! Underpants? Well, that’s a bit of a grey area. More a question for the pros: George, Sarah, Rich, what are your views…?

And Another Grand Designs House For Sale

Rich Payne — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:26:30 +0000

This time it’s the Killearn Loch House Grand Design that’s up for grabs. From memory it’s got a lovely cantilevered staircase, and as the owner you have the ability to raise and lower the water level of the loch so that you’ll never be flooded.

Savills are listing it at £1.9million. I happen to know that this is my mum’s all-time favourite Grand Design, but she won’t be getting it for Christmas…

For more on the sale, check out the Primelocation Blog.

Like this Grand Design? Loathe it? Let us know by leaving your comments below…

Five Contemporary Table Lamps

Rich Payne — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:32:57 +0000

The nights are drawing in and the clocks are about to go back, so now’s the time to think about low-level lighting to create a cosy atmosphere in your home.

Here’s five contemporary lamps that caught my eye, all found using the 4Homes Product Search.

1. Kartell Cindy Table Lamp

A much-imitated design classic, the Cindy Lamp by Kartell is a regular in interior design magazines and it’s easy to see why. Available in a variety of colours to suit any interior.
Heal’s, £125. I’m also told it’s available from www.design-conscious.co.uk with a free energy-saving bulb.

2. Flamp Lamp

A delightfully playful lamp-in-a-box, the Flamp Lamp has gone down a treat on the international design circuit. It’s effortlessly cool, unique, and a bit of a bargain. Should you wish to buy me one for Christmas, feel free.
redcandy, £35

3. Bonsai Table Lamp by Catellani & Smith

Handcrafted from brass in Italy, the Bonsai Table Lamp is both opulent and expensive. It’s beautifully sculpted, and each of those branches is flexible for varied effects. It might bust your budget, but if you can justify the initial outlay then this timeless piece of lighting design will last a lifetime.
T-House Interiors Showcase via mydeco, £898

4. ALMA Pawn White Glass Table Lamp

For all the minimalists among you (you know who you are), the creamy curves and dimmable light of the Pawn Glass Table Lamp will soften the stark lines of your modern home. It comes in three sizes, priced at £175, £284 and £492. Not cheap, but utterly chic.
allupandon, from £175

5. Halo Brushed Chrome Table Lamp

If chrome and curves are your thing and you’ve got a keen eye for price, the Halo Chrome Table Lamp is for you. Looks great and proves that elegance and flair needn’t break the bank.
Argos, £38.99

Have you found something you can’t live without on the 4Homes Product Search? Think we’ve missed something unmissable? Leave your comments below…