by Morag Kenneth | Feb 24, 2017 | Blog
Airbnb is becoming an increasingly popular way for people to arrange accommodation for short and long term stays. As such, more and more people are embracing the site in order to let out their home (or part of it) and boost their income. In case you aren’t familiar with how it works (where have you been?), hosts use the site to rent their entire homes or individual rooms in their homes to guest who are looking for some where to stay in the area. But, just like renting your property out to tenants, if you let your home out on Airbnb, it’s important that your home is fully prepared for your guests’ arrival. In fact, just a few small changes can not only increase the level of interest in your property, but also boost your reviews and your rental income! So, if you’re thinking about jumping on the bandwagon and becoming an Airbnb host, here are our top tips for getting your home Airbnb ready… Clean and Tidy It goes without saying that, if you’re going to rent your home out on Airbnb, it needs to be ultra clean and tidy. After all, no one wants to stay in a dirty property, right? Either hire a professional cleaner to give your home an overhaul between guests or be prepared to get your rubber gloves on and give everywhere a good scrub. Safe and Sound Before you can invite paying guests into your home, it’s important that you ensure that the space is safe. So ensure there are no chemicals in reach of children, cover any exposed wiring, check your...
by Morag Kenneth | Feb 17, 2017 | Blog
With the change in season, there are a whole host of new and exciting interior trends to embrace and explore. So, if you’re planning on updating your kitchen and you’re looking for some inspiration, here are the hottest trends to look out for this Spring/Summer season… Matt Finishes Leaving the trend for glossy kitchens firmly in the past, Spring/Summer 2017 is all about matt finishes – particularly when it comes to benchtops. Soft to touch, and less reflective, this trend lends itself particularly well to all-black kitchens as using matt and textured tones ensures that the bold, dark colour palette isn’t too overwhelming. Faux Marble Whilst marble is still an incredibly popular material for kitchens, it can be somewhat unpractical, requiring regular maintenance and care to keep it looking great and performing to the highest possible standard. Faux marble, an engineered stone, provides the look of marble worktops without any of the inconvenient downsides – it’s quick and easy to clean, and designed to be resistant to heat, staining, and scratching. Grey Grey is one of the hottest colours for interiors right now and kitchens are no exception! The new staple colour for contemporary kitchens, shades of grey can be incorporated into your space in a wide range of ways, such as concrete floors or as a feature paint colour. Although grey is slightly more daring than the traditional white, it’s a neutral shade that can easily be layered with other tones and styles. Try using grey for the fixed elements of your kitchen, such as benchtops and splashbacks, whilst integrating other colours and styles that complement them. This...
by Morag Kenneth | Feb 10, 2017 | Blog
With Christmas long gone and the nights getting lighter, more and more of us are turning our attention to the long-awaited arrival of spring! And, with long hot summers days, sun-kissed holidays, and lazy days spent outdoors, there’s plenty to look forward to. But the new season also offers a whole host of treats for your interiors, with an array of new trends and design ideas for you to embrace. Here’s our guide to the best bathroom trends for Spring/Summer 2017: Heritage Style The heritage trend is all about giving your bathroom a touch of vintage-inspired glamour and timeless elegance – think freestanding, roll-top baths, sculpted sanitary ware, and classic brass fittings. Perfect for contemporary new builds and Victorian properties alike, the increasing popularity of vintage-style bathrooms means that you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to both Victorian and Edwardian style fixtures and fittings. Of course, it’s not all about the fixtures and fittings, there are plenty of ways to introduce the trend into your flooring and walls as well. Heritage paint colours such as soft greens and blues, or modern neutrals such as greys are a great place to start. When it comes to tiles, go for metro tiles, with or without bevelled edges, or for a more Art Deco feel, cover your floor with square black and white tiles laid out in a geometric pattern. Shimmer and Shine Embracing the shimmering, sparkling trends we’ve seen on the catwalks this season, this bathroom trend is all about pale, glossy finishes that will reflect the light, giving your space a bright, open feel. With their space-enhancing powers,...
by Morag Kenneth | Feb 3, 2017 | Blog
In city centres and other desirable locations, an increasing number of people are turning to studio apartments for a practical and affordable living solution. With one main room containing the kitchen, living, and bedroom space, and a small separate bathroom, studio apartments provide everything you need in one, typically affordable space. This type of living environment offers a host of advantage – studio apartments are less expensive than other types of housing and, as such, they can enable residents to live in highly desirable areas that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. What’s more with limited space, they’re also quick and easy to clean! However, those living in studio apartments also face a number of challenges, particularly when it comes to the very limited space. After all, whether you live in a spacious 6 bedroom home or a small two bedroom apartment, it’s safe to say that clutter can accumulate incredibly quickly. But with plenty of nooks and crannies available to hide away your clutter and belongings, they can often be tucked away and remain unnoticed. When it comes to living in a studio apartment, however, the little storage space you have can fill up extremely quickly, leaving your space feeling overrun, overcrowded, and far from comfortable. So here’s our guide to optimising space in your studio apartment… Divide up the space You might not have any physically walls within your apartment, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t divide up the space. You simply need to get creative with visual dividers. From curtains and screens, through to strategically placed pieces of furniture, there are plenty of ways...
by Morag Kenneth | Jan 27, 2017 | Blog
With more and more people struggling to get on the property market, the rental market is booming. So now’s the perfect time to rent your property out to paying tenants. However, if you stand any chance of receiving a constant flow of rent, it’s important that your home is fully equipped to meet the needs and expectations of your potential tenants. By making a few tweaks to your property, you can increase its appeal amongst renters and ensure that it’s snapped up for the best possible rental price! So here’s our tips to making your home rental ready… Kerb Appeal Although your tenants will be most interested in what’s inside your property, first impressions really do count. And many landlords totally overlook the importance of kerb appeal. So remove any rubbish from the front yard, do a little weeding, plant some pretty flowers, and ensure everything looks tidy and well kept – trust us, it’ll make all the difference! Clean and Tidy This should go without saying but it’s so important! If you want to stand any chance of convincing your prospective tenants to rent your property, it’s important that everything is clean, tidy, and smelling fresh when they view. So ward off any lingering smells, clean very surface, and make sure everything looks spick and span. If you’ve had previous tenants in the property, it’s always worth hiring professional cleaners to ensure that it’s fully cleaned to the highest standard. Remove any Personal Belongings Also known as staging your home, this means removing all personal items etc so that your potential tenants can imagine themselves living there rather...
by Morag Kenneth | Jan 20, 2017 | Blog
With the many demands of life often pulling us in all different directions, it’s more important than ever before that we find the time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some much needed calm and tranquillity. And what better way to ensure that you can take advantage of a much-needed break from the stresses and strains of fast=paced contemporary living than by kitting your bedroom out as the ultimate relaxing retreat? So here’s our guide to ensuring your bedroom is the perfect, calming environment… Organise! Before you do anything else, it’s important that you tidy and organise your room! After all, how can you possibly relax and unwind in a space that’s cluttered and messy? If you find that your clutter is caused by a lack of storage space, why not think about integrating some built-in wardrobes into your room? These will keep everything tidy whilst creating a sleek, uniform look that will be the perfect backdrop to your relaxing retreat. Think about your colour scheme If you want to create a relaxing environment, getting the right colour scheme is crucial. Loud, garish colours and busy patterns are unlikely to have the desired effect! Instead, opt for blues, greens, and lavenders from the cool side of the colour wheel to keep the space restful and calming. Optimise Comfort Nothing says relaxation like comfortable fixtures and fittings. So kit your bedroom out with plenty of cushions, throws, and blankets. Oh, and you should also invest in a headboard – not only will it add a stylish twist to your space, but it will also give you the perfect place to...
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