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14 17 Are you wondering how Mouse Martin used to
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THE GREAT OUTDOORS © Habitat
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Regardless of the status of your self-build or home renovation project, many of us are drawing our attention to the half-finished jobs in our gardens from last year. As the sun shines that bit brighter, our garden negligence is in full sight; whether it's an abandoned flowerbed, patchy off-colour lawns or 'breadcrumb' trails of building material remnants dotted around your site, we're all starting to feel a slight tinge of guilt when it comes to our outdoor spaces. With such promising weather to look forward to and with all of us restricted on venturing too far from our homes, now's a perfect time for a spot of online shopping for your back garden. Plus, as we're all craving alfresco outings, it's important to create comfortable and enjoyable spaces where we can enjoy some fresh air, make the most of the upcoming summer months and appreciate outdoor family life. If you're unable to hire any builders or landscapers for groundwork and landscaping due to the Coronavirus outbreak, you can still start moulding your outdoor scheme with some chairs, tables, stools, plants and other designs. Here, we've collated the perfect accessories and furniture to start your scheme off. Last month's Bank Holiday saw many of us soaking up the sun in our own back gardens, and with many on furlough leave, working from home or on reduced hours, lots of us are turning to home renovations and DIY to pass the time – particularly within the garden.
YOURS TO BUY
1. Calma marea garden swing chair, Go Modern Furniture, £690
2. Fab Hab San Juan outdoor rug in dark blue, Cuckooland, £89.95
3. Charcoal grey hexagon geometric print outdoor cushion, Bazaar Group, £14.99
4. Seville outdoor table with planter, Ella James, £120
6. CHAPLINS Fenc E Nature outdoor dining table by Cassina, Chaplins Furniture, £POA
7. Stockholm rope outdoor chair with arms, Rose & Grey, £205
8. Rustic garden spade planter, Melody Maison, £23.95
9. Huatulco – kaki, BOQA, €309
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Lights4fun is a leading internet retailer of decorative lighting for the home and garden. This family business began from the kitchen table, when Tim Naughton and his wife, Jo, couldn't find a decent set of fairy lights for their garden. The now 40-strong team, based at their head office in Harrogate, is proud to offer highquality, beautifully designed lights that we all love, with an industry-leading two-year guarantee. They're a hard-working bunch who commit to provide the best possible customer experience and aim to shine through everything they do. L ights4fun
OUR BRAND PICK
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Let off some steam!
Everyone's favourite garden accessory, the BBQ will be, for many, an all-important decision. Whether gas, wood-fired or coal is your style, ensure you pick a long-lasting design and don't forget a high-quality cover for winter protection.
YOURS TO BUY
1. BBQ smoker grill, Monsterzeug, £104.22
3. Weber 47cm compact kettle BBQ, Dobbies, £79
YOURS TO BUY
1. Outdoor festoon canopy, £POA
2. Moroccan outdoor patterned solar stake bollards, £POA
3. Set of two solar stake lights with crackle glass, £19.99
4. Outdoor LED micro light rope decoration, £POA
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TOP TIP
Add some textiles to your garden space? A bold rug can really add some colour to an otherwise dull space and scattering outdoorfriendly cushions around seating areas can create a cosy ambience. Textures and patterns can provide that finishing touch to an outdoor seating area and colour coordination with flowerbeds can generate a sense of continuity.
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As well as adding a splash of colour to your interiors, fruit-inspired accessories can inject a trace of quirkiness to your indoor spaces – perfect for those home renovators that are lacking interior inspiration.
Out of the ordinary A bold mixture of past and present, these pictures contrast the dark and moody traditional still life tableaux with eye-popping fluorescent paint. The ‘Strange Fruit’ canvas assumes that art and food are perfectly peculiar partners. mineheart.com
Pop of the tropics Add a bold pop of tropical colour to your living space with the ‘Bana Leaf Wall Hanging’, designed in The Netherlands by a master craftsman to be used as either an eyecatching wall hanging or functional room divider. This piece-together artwork is made from the high-quality synthetic material Synaps. yellowoctopus.com.au
Regal and refreshing Make your guests feel immediately welcomed with this golden pineapple side lamp, ideal in an entrance hall, sitting room or as bedside table lamps, either side of a gold French bed. These versatile pineapple table lamps will add a regal but fresh aesthetic to your room. frenchbedroom company.co.uk
Ataste of Spain This fabulously fruity Orange Blossom wallpaper by Cole & Son forms part of the Seville Collection. It features a bold repeat print of colourful Spanish orange trees weighed down with their load of zesty fruits. Majestic tapestries inspired this stunning statement wallcovering. habitat.co.uk
Healthy storage This gorgeous floorstanding woven Pear Storage Basket from Abode Living is topped with a woven leaf handle in dark green, which lifts off to provide a basket that is perfect for tidying up bits and pieces. abodeliving.co.uk
Garden variety The 'Big Core Weave' is hand-woven to provide a striking, natural appearance. With a sturdy, protected aluminium frame, the unit is perfect for regular outdoor use all year round. The day bed rotates 360º on its base and has a smooth sliding swivel top section as well. Inside, you will find a retractable drinks table. gardenfurniturecentre.co.uk
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William Morris
Whether you are designing a contemporary masterpiece or rejuvenating a period classic, William Morris prints will unquestionably deliver character and a sense of 'arty' sophistication to any household. Although the prints are heavily inspired by nature, their vivid and robust impact is not to be underestimated, and it's essential to ensure your scheme is well-thought-out and not driven by impulse purchases if opting for this style. Blinds and curtains are the perfect method of adding the Morris style to your home. Not only do they create interest around window apertures, but they can also change the ambience within the room when the sun shines through into your home. Here, i-Build has listed its favourite William Morris-inspired window dressings for your perusal, and taken typography inspiration from the artist himself for the very design of this page with the Morris-designed 'Golden Type' font.
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Traditional Joiners using modern machinery&techniques. Makers of Hardwood and Accoya ™ Windows, Doors and Staircases
Established in 1968, Croxford’s remain a familyowned businesscommitted to the finest quality craftsmanship which includes hand made hardwood doors, timber windows, staircases and bi-fold/patio doors. You will find ourwork all overthe UK.
We supplyforboth commercial and private projectsfrom the most modest newbuild/renovations to the most elegant ofstatelyhomes. Ourtimberdoors and windowsnot only lookgood and wearwell, but with the option oftraditional ormodern hardware and highlyefficient double glazed units theyalso help you save energy. Pleas e call orvisit ourwebsite formore information.
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Why self-builders are opting to use oak frames for new projects There are so many benefits that come with building with oak. Here, English Heritage Buildings has outlined eight reasons why self-builders can benefit from building with oak for a timeless and beautiful building.
Oak is one of the most versatile and adaptable building materials in the construction industry and is popularly used by both experienced carpenters and beginner DIYers. Oak frames support the structure of your chosen building and come with several benefits, namely their durability, cost-effectiveness, character-defining features and in some cases, they can be primed for easy assembly for self-builders. We have outlined eight great reasons why self-builders are opting to use oak frames over other materials and the benefits of doing so.
1. Oak frames are versatile
Self-builders are more likely to experiment with oak frames because of their versatility. They may have had some experience working on smaller oak-based projects, such as furniture, decking and even small sheds. Oak is a strong building option for these reasons, and you will find that many buildings can be constructed using oak frames.
2. They offer timeless aesthetics
Oak has long-remained one of the most aesthetically-pleasing building materials in the construction industry. It’s able to merge seamlessly with almost any existing property design, and you have the option to paint and decorate the timber if preferred.
Over time, oak may change colour depending on the seasons, but this offers a truly authentic and natural appearance. Additionally, many oak-framed extensions are designed to be aesthetically-compatible with the rest of your property.
3. They are durable and long-lasting
Oak adapts to its environment, so while you may think the splitting and warping could be a sign of deterioration, it’s simply changing to suit its environment.
Oak is also water-resistant and requires little to no maintenance or upkeep as the seasons change. In fact, some of England’s most historic buildings are made from oak, and they still stand today.
4. Oak frames can be used in kits for easy building
One of the most popular reasons oak is a preferred building material for carpenters and novice DIYers is down to its accessibility. Oakframed kits do not require the tools or labourintensive requirements commonly used in brick, concrete and UPVC construction. Most kits come with easy-to-follow instructions and are often suitable for any skill level (though, this depends on the type of kit you purchase).
5. Building with oak is environmentally-friendly
An obvious benefit but an important one nonetheless, oak is of course environmentally-friendly. According to the UK Timber Frame Association, timber has the lowest embodied CO2 of any commercially available building material, while delivering up to a 33% reduction in energy consumption for large detached houses.
If you are a self-builder looking to build your own oak-framed building, consider researching companies that source their timber sustainably to ensure you’re doing your bit to help the environment.
6. The frames are quick to construct
This technically depends on your skill level and the type of oak frame building you’re building. However, it is widely understood that building with oak is much faster than with other materials. As soon as you have chosen your design, the kits are typically packaged and sent to you for assembly.
An experienced carpenter could have a timber porch built in a day, and a standard two-bay garage frame would take between two to four days. Construction, of course, depends on your skill level and the pace you choose to build it.
7. Building with oak may save you money
Self-builders on a budget will be pleased to know that building with oak frames is a very cost-effective construction route for many reasons. As mentioned previously, oak requires little to no maintenance in order to remain in a healthy condition and won’t suffer the same ‘wear and tear’ that will likely affect brick, concrete and UPVC builds.
Additionally, wood can also save you money on your energy bills. Oak is a breathable material that’s able to absorb moisture and dry out in the summer. It’s also able to retain heat and improves the thermal performance of your walls and roof (if you’re building a garden building, extension or any closed-wall build).
8. And building with oak is, of course, sustainable
It’s common knowledge that oak is a sustainable material but what some may not know is that it requires virtually no upkeep or maintenance.
You can, of course, stain, paint and decorate your oak-framed building, but you will have to apply topup coats to ensure its appearance remains the same. Other building materials do not have the adaptability properties of oak, and if damages do occur (to a UPVC porch, for example), then it will require a professional carpenter or builder to repair it, which costs money and time.
Oak is a fantastic building material and is very popular among self-builders. We’d recommend doing your research before building using oak frames to ensure you’re buying from a sustainable source.
How is COVID-19 impacting the self-build market? The UK, along with the rest of the world, is in uncharted waters. The spread of COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our day-to-day lives. Indeed, UK homebuyers in the midst of completing on a transaction have been advised by the Government to hold off until the current pandemic is effectively resolved. However, is the same caution required of those looking to take on their own self-building project? Paul McGerrigan, CEO of Loan.co.uk, investigates.
Contracts Legalities
Paul McGerrigan
is the CEO of Loan.co.uk – an online brokerage for mortgages and loans
A snapshot of the UK lending landscape
On 17th March 2020, the Bank of England made the unprecedented decision to cut interest rates from 0.25% to an all-time low of 0.1%. Not since the Second World War have we seen rates plummet to such an extent. At face value, this would have been welcome news for those looking to take out a loan or a mortgage. Given that interest rates were already low, a further dip would have been particularly enticing; especially for those toying with the idea of taking on a self-build project.
Although in reality, this move has resulted in lenders becoming more risk-averse. Indeed, since the Bank of England announced its interest rate cut, banks and building societies have withdrawn more than 900 mortgage products.
There are two main reasons for this; firstly, banks will be overwhelmed by homeowners attempting to take the three-month mortgage holiday offered by the Government. Consequently, it is likely
that they will be redirecting their resources to deal with such enquiries from existing customers.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, lenders are starting to become unnerved by uncertainty surrounding house prices during the pandemic. House prices appear to be falling, but lenders are faced with the logistical issue of a UK lockdown, so they are unable to arrange house valuations. Consequently, more lenders are becoming reluctant to accept new mortgage applications.
So, what impact are these conditions having on the selfbuild mortgage market?
In short, those seeking self-build mortgages are facing similar changes. Unlike a residential mortgage, a selfbuild mortgage is a form of financing issued to borrowers building their own home. The mortgage is issued in stages during the construction phase in order to reduce lender risk and ensure the mortgage is being used for the purpose of constructing a new property.
Indeed, when compared to the traditional mortgage market, self-build mortgages come with the additional risk of financing the construction stage. This might seem like an obvious point; however, given the current uncertainty faced by the construction industry itself, many lenders will likely be less generous when it comes to accepting a self-build application.
The impact on the workforce
Given the current circumstances, it is perhaps unsurprising that lenders who offer self-build mortgages have become more risk-averse. Like many sectors across the UK, the construction industry has taken a hit from COVID-19.
Many development firms have taken decisive action and halted all their construction work for the immediate future. And whilst the Government has not offered any definitive guidance on the closure of construction sites, the announcement of a support package for the self-employed could encourage construction workers – many of whom are self-employed – to stay at home and help with the containment of the virus.
Additionally, a similar issue will occur when it comes to finding the correct building materials for the project. Suppliers and logistics companies across the UK, and indeed the world, will likely be practicing social distancing. Even if such companies are still able to provide a service, it is probable that it will not be at full capacity. So, deliveries will likely be delayed, or even cancelled.
Whilst an understandable measure, the fact that many construction workers, suppliers and logistics companies are operating at a reduced level means the construction sector at large is in a static position. As a result, the time it takes to successfully lodge and process a mortgage for self-build purposes is likely to increase. What’s more, traditional lenders could simply decide to remove this product from the market for the time being.
What are the next steps?
Of course, it is too early to say what COVID-19’s long-term impact on the self-build market will be. However,
we should also not forget that the property market, in general, has been able to quickly recover from difficult trading periods. This is due to underlying domestic and international demand for UK real estate as an attractive asset class.
That being said, in the short-term, many self-build mortgage applicants might find the current climate unaccommodating to say the least. While options are still available, the process of finding a lender willing to deploy a mortgage will be challenging. This is why it is always advisable to consult with brokers who have an informed understanding of the different mortgage products available on the market.
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GREEN BUILDINGS 䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮 䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵 䢨 䣯䣱䣴䣧 䣷䣲 䣶䣱 䢹 䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵 䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰 䣾 䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵 䢨 䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵 䣾 䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮 䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾 䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵 䢨 䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵 䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣛䣱䣷䣴 䣉䣔䣃䣐䣆 䣆䣇䣕䣋䣉䣐䣕 䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻 䢨 䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻 䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖 䣐䣑䣙 䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦 䣃䣖䣖䢮 䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮 䣐䣒䢴䢸 䢷䣒䣔 䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䢲䢳 䢴䢻䢳 䢶䢵䢹 䢲䢷䢲 Delivering
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GREEN BUILDINGS 䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮 䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵 䢨 䣯䣱䣴䣧 䣷䣲 䣶䣱 䢹 䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵 䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰 䣾 䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵 䢨 䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵 䣾 䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮 䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾 䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵 䢨 䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵 䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣛䣱䣷䣴 䣉䣔䣃䣐䣆 䣆䣇䣕䣋䣉䣐䣕 䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻 䢨 䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻 䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖 䣐䣑䣙 䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦 䣃䣖䣖䢮 䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮 䣐䣒䢴䢸 䢷䣒䣔 䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䢲䢳 䢴䢻䢳 䢶䢵䢹 䢲䢷䢲 Delivering
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GREEN BUILDINGS 䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮 䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵 䢨 䣯䣱䣴䣧 䣷䣲 䣶䣱 䢹 䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵 䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰 䣾 䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵 䢨 䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵 䣾 䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮 䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾 䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵 䢨 䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵 䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣛䣱䣷䣴 䣉䣔䣃䣐䣆 䣆䣇䣕䣋䣉䣐䣕 䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻 䢨 䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻 䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖 䣐䣑䣙 䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦 䣃䣖䣖䢮 䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮 䣐䣒䢴䢸 䢷䣒䣔 䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䢲䢳 䢴䢻䢳 䢶䢵䢹 䢲䢷䢲 Delivering
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GREEN BUILDINGS 䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮 䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵 䢨 䣯䣱䣴䣧 䣷䣲 䣶䣱 䢹 䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵 䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰 䣾 䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵 䢨 䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵 䣾 䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮 䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾 䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵 䢨 䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵 䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣛䣱䣷䣴 䣉䣔䣃䣐䣆 䣆䣇䣕䣋䣉䣐䣕 䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻 䢨 䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻 䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖 䣐䣑䣙 䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦 䣃䣖䣖䢮 䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮 䣐䣒䢴䢸 䢷䣒䣔 䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䢲䢳 䢴䢻䢳 䢶䢵䢹 䢲䢷䢲 Delivering
NATIONWIDE
GREEN BUILDINGS 䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮 䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵 䢨 䣯䣱䣴䣧 䣷䣲 䣶䣱 䢹 䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵 䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰 䣾 䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵 䢨 䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵 䣾 䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮 䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾 䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵 䢨 䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵 䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣛䣱䣷䣴 䣉䣔䣃䣐䣆 䣆䣇䣕䣋䣉䣐䣕 䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻 䢨 䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻 䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖 䣐䣑䣙 䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦 䣃䣖䣖䢮 䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮 䣐䣒䢴䢸 䢷䣒䣔 䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䢲䢳 䢴䢻䢳 䢶䢵䢹 䢲䢷䢲 Delivering
NATIONWIDE
GREEN BUILDINGS 䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮 䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵 䢨 䣯䣱䣴䣧 䣷䣲 䣶䣱 䢹 䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵 䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰 䣾 䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵 䢨 䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵 䣾 䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮 䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾 䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵 䢨 䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵 䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣛䣱䣷䣴 䣉䣔䣃䣐䣆 䣆䣇䣕䣋䣉䣐䣕 䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻 䢨 䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻 䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖 䣐䣑䣙 䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦 䣃䣖䣖䢮 䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮 䣐䣒䢴䢸 䢷䣒䣔 䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䢲䢳 䢴䢻䢳 䢶䢵䢹 䢲䢷䢲 Delivering
NATIONWIDE
GREEN BUILDINGS 䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮 䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵 䢨 䣯䣱䣴䣧 䣷䣲 䣶䣱 䢹 䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵 䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰 䣾 䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵 䢨 䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵 䣾 䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮 䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾 䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵 䢨 䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵 䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢 䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣛䣱䣷䣴 䣉䣔䣃䣐䣆 䣆䣇䣕䣋䣉䣐䣕 䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻 䢨 䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻 䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖 䣐䣑䣙 䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦 䣃䣖䣖䢮 䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮 䣐䣒䢴䢸 䢷䣒䣔 䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭 䢲䢳 䢴䢻䢳 䢶䢵䢹 䢲䢷䢲 Delivering
UV-PROTECTION OIL EXTRA
Perfectly protected against the sun. The first clear UV protection for the outdoors!
UV resistant factor 12 in comparison to untreated wood For vertically structured exterior surfaces Very water and dirt resistant Reduces wood swelling and shrinkage Resists the growth of algae, mildew and fungal attack Microporous, breathable finish – doesn’t crack, peel, flake or blister No sanding necessary for future applications
Lose yourself at Filly Island
All images: ©Unique Homestays
batch of chocolate brownies of my life, and we sat down and had our first chat about it. The owner told me she wanted the asking price and to remain there for six months, and that suited me just fine. She told me to put my offer in the following day, so I did, at 9 am, (this is when I learnt how much she wanted for it!). By 11 am, my offer was accepted. M ouse Martin has a passion for upcycling and discovering use for old objects, and it is this quirkiness that makes this property so unique. Pre-loved finds have been revivified to great effect – from fire bucket lampshades and curtains made from old Hungarian grain sacks to the vintage mangle and cartwheel. Life began at Filly Island in the 1700s, when this cottage was used to store the cart which the neighbouring mill’s horse dutifully pulled upstream. Flash forward to today, and the building has received an extraordinary transformation thanks to the dedication and determination of its current owner, Mouse Martin. The building now serves as a luxury self-catering cottage in Cirencester, the Cotswolds – available for bookings via Unique
Homestays – and is sat upon a tiny island accessed solely by a humpback bridge.
For Martin, the renovation of Filly Island was a longheld passion of hers, as she explains: “I actually lived opposite, and when the owner put it up for sale, it had to be mine! I had always wanted to pursue my own project, and the right home is often hard to come by.
“I look at the property over the stream from my kitchen window. It was put up on the market when I was away on holiday, and the Friday I came home, a neighbour told me it was for sale. That hour I put a note through the owner’s door explaining that I would really like to buy it – having no clue what it looked like on the inside or how much it was on the market for. That night, the owner put a note through my door which said: “Let’s talk on Sunday”. I made the best
“Initially, I had no clue what I was going to do with it. A fellow villager walked past one day with her dog and asked me the same question – I replied “no clue!”. She then told me that her father had sadly passed away, who she described as a hoarder and had left a barn full of old things. She asked if I would like to take a look, and that’s where the upcycling element of the interior derives from. I walked into the barn and instantly fell in love! I saw an old flip-top mangle, a larder cupboard, apple ladders, front doors, old painted doors and many other delights that now reside inside the cottage.
“The only structural changes I made to the build itself is at the front. I simply added a porch so visitors can sit outside and enjoy the full view of the two rivers joining at the tip and becoming one. Overall, it took me just under six months to gain planning permission for the project and construction ran for around four months. However, I did have the Christmas holidays in between, and my builders were travelling up from Devon. The build itself was simple really; I knocked everything out from the inside and was left with four walls and a roof!”
Building materials
Martin continues: “I live in an ‘Area of Outstanding Beauty’, so there is no point in trying to get away with cheap ‘lookalike’ materials. You have to spend the money and do it properly, using Cotswold stone and slate; for example, so it’s in keeping with the surrounding area. When it came to material and product specification, I took faith in my architect, builders and my structural engineer.
“The exterior is made from Cotswold stone. How it was fabricated in those days is absolutely mind-boggling because this structure was built in a stream, and every stone would have been handcrafted to fit. It’s actually astonishing that it is still standing today – you can even see chisel marks in many of the stones. It truly is a unique building; a river continuously flows on one side, and a mill stream on the other. Both sides have a bank of grass with a row of cottages on one side and a beautiful thatched barn on the other (which is now the village hall).
Brimming with biodiversity
“Filly Island is surrounded by nature. I have wild ducks – who have become friends and will come and peck at my door for breakfast – a lovely pair of yellow wagtails that are always feeding and a kingfisher that zooms by and loves darting under the bridge. I’ve also had two otters rolling in the river, squeaking with delight. But for me, the best of all is a water vole, who happily pops up from his hole, nibbles on the grass and then darts off swimming across the stream to the other side of the bank.
When asked what her favourite element of the build is, Martin answered: “Probably the porch – there is nothing better. Even on a sunny winter’s day, it’s fantastic to be curled up outside with a glass of something in your hand and being able to listen to the water gushing past and just watching nature and the wildlife go about its day-to-day business.
“As for the interior, you can still see the stonework above the gable, and everything inside is upcycled, recycled, pre-loved or hand-made.”
Top tips
For others looking to take on their own renovation project, Martin offers the following advice: “Give yourself one very simple rule. Allow yourself double the time to complete the work and double the money. Then when you’re done, you will be under budget because it has not cost double! I’d also advise not to skimp, to do your research, get reliable builders, and not rush it – enjoy the process and trust your instincts.”
