Places (IoM) | Homes & Interiors | February 2014

Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | February 2014

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The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man

me family ho perties o r p r e i m pre advice mortgage ... and more

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opening up the market

for property agents.

Full colour, full pages.

Free production if required.

Island wide distribution in Gallery magazine.

Inclusion from £427.

It’s what we thought would be good...

What do you think?

If you’d like to be in the next edition, call Rachel on 209726 or email ad@gallery.co.im

are you looking to find a place?

Welcome to Places, are you looking to find a place in the Isle of Man?

INVOLVED IN PROPERTY? PLACES IS THE PLACE FOR YOU Places is the Isle of Man’s only publication dedicated to multi- agent, high quality property related listings and features.

Places offers ultra competitive rates for high impact premium property goods and services marketing. If your an agent, developer, or supply products and services to the home owner get in touch.

Places is published monthly in Gallery magazine and online at: www.gallery.co.im

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PUBLICATION

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PROPERTY & FEATURES Reayrt ny Glionney from Heritage Homes......2

Park Close, Glen Vine.................................................................................12 College Green, Castletown .............................................................13 Orrisdale, Kirk Michael.........................................................................13 Harbour House, Derbyhaven.........................................................14

Wall to wall in style................................................................................................4 Mortgages - Planning & Preparation...............................6 Rural Views .............................................................................................................................8 Woodbourne Road, Douglas........................................................10 Crafty Ways To Calm A home....................................................16 The Meadows - Kirk Michael......................................................10 Carrick Bay View, Colby........................................................................18 Faaie Ny Cabbal, Kirk Michael...............................................12 Ballaterson Fields, Ballaugh ........................................................18 Places, the Isle of Man’s independent property supplement published monthly in Gallery magazine and online at: www.gallery.co.im PLACES

GET INCLUDED IN THE NEXT EDITION T: 07624 249249

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REAYRT NY GLIONNEY FAMILY HOMES IN LONAN

Reayrt ny Glionney from Heritage Homes is a superb collection of four and five bedroom detached homes in the charming hamlet of Lonan, just 15 minutes’ drive from Douglas.

Enjoying an enviable elevated position and offering beautiful coastal views towards Laxey and Cumbria, Reayrt ny Glionney is conveniently located within walking distance of Laxey village and all local amenities.

Designed and constructed to Heritage Homes’ awardwinning standards, every property comes with a 10 year NHBC warranty and benefits from exceptional levels of insulation, high quality double-glazing and central heating systems powered by the latest generation in energyefficient boilers to help you save money on your energy bills.

Premium quality fittings, superior levels of craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail ensure the highest levels of finish inside and out, and every home features many luxurious ‘extras’ as standard including:

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FEATURED PROPERTY

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Superb kitchen by top German manufac- turer featuring a full range of high quality, integrated appliances Luxurious fully tiled bathrooms and en suites Stylish fitted wardrobes Floor coverings Landscaped gardens

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Prices start at £451,950. For full details call Heritage Homes on 615000 or visit the stunning 5 bedroom ‘Silverdale’ show home at Reayrt ny Glionney, which is open from 11am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday or by appointment at all other times.

FEATURED PROPERTY

SH NO OW W H OP OM EN E

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WALL to WALL

with style

IF YOU WANT TO LIVEN UP YOUR WALLS, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN A ROLL OR TWO OF WALLPAPER. ONCE SEEN AS A LITTLE OLD-FASHIONED, WALLPAPER IS WELL AND TRULY BACK ON THE STYLE AGENDA.

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tyle doesn’t have to mean money though, and there are fantastic wallpaper designs for all budgets – Cubbin & Bregazzi have some great designer selections. You can also save money because these days many of us prefer to paper one feature wall rather than opting for wall-to-wall papering.

Wallpaper is always a great way to inject colour, pattern and texture into a room but with a feature wall, you can really go to town on your wallpaper choice without it overpowering the room. It’s generally obvious which wall is most suitable for the feature wall - the wall behind your bed or sofa, for example, or it could be part of a wall, such as an alcove or chimney breast.

You can create another ‘feature’ with wallpaper by placing it horizontally between a picture rail and coving, between a picture rail and dado rail or, more traditionally, below a dado rail. If you like the idea of breaking up the space visually in this way but don’t have these original features, you can always add them.

Remember wallpaper has more than just a decorative function though. If you don’t want the hassle and cost of replastering, the right wallpaper will improve the appearance of uneven or otherwise imperfect walls. Thick wallpapers, especially textured ones, and

lining papers are ideal for covering up such imperfections, and many are designed to be painted. Wallpapers with a shiny or reflective surface will highlight lumps and bumps, so avoid these unless you have perfect walls.

Wallpaper is always a great way to inject colour, pattern and texture into a room but with a feature wall, you can really go to town on your wallpaper choice without it overpowering the room.

Walls in period properties often aren’t perfect and if they’re not straight, this will be accentuated by patterned wallpaper.

You can therefore either avoid it altogether,

choose a pattern that won’t look too bad (straight-across patterns should be avoided with wonky ceilings, and vertical ones with wonky walls) or simply accept that it won’t look perfect.

Wallpaper can be used in pretty much any room, including kitchens and bathrooms, apart from full wet rooms. There are special vinyl wallpapers designed for kitchens and bathrooms and you can also use conventional wallpaper, although it’s advisable to protect it from damage and damp with a clear varnish designed for paper, or a glass or Perspex panel.

Hanging wallpaper can be a bit tricky for novices and takes some getting used to the easiest option is to use a paste-the-wall wallpaper. As the name says, you apply wallpaper paste directly to the wall using a roller or brush and then stick the dry lengths of wallpaper onto the wall. Unlike conventional wallpaper, you don’t have to wait for the paste to soak in and you don’t have to handle soggy lengths of wallpaper, which are tricky to deal with but easy to damage.

HOME MONTH OF THE

SPRINGFIELD RISE, FOXDALE The Oak - FULLY FURNISHED 4 bedroom Show Home with garage

ÂŁ479,950 READY TO MOVE INTO - PRICE INCLUDES: P Luxury German kitchen P Stone worktops P Integrated appliances P Fully tiled bathroom and en-suites P Fitted wardrobes

P P P P P

ALL Furniture ALL Carpets and flooring ALL Curtains ALL Fixtures and fittings ALL Accessories

Call 01624 615000 Visit dandara.com

Call into our Sales Suite, 22-24 Victoria Street, Douglas - OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK. To scan the code, download a QR code reader app. Full details available on request. Price and details correct at time of going to print.

PLANNING, PREPARATION and a little bit of guidance...

When Tom and Leanda Richardson first approached Kate Davies at Lloyds Bank’s to apply for a first time buyer’s mortgage, planning their long-term budget was a central concern. Two years later, and just one year after their wedding, they’re both ready to move in to a new home. We find out how planning, preparation and a little guidance from Kate, helped them to accomplish their ambitions.

“We initially approached Lloyds for mortgage advice quite a while ago; perhaps a couple of years before we came in and went through the initial process with Kate,” Leanda explained. “We came for the early advice simply to know what to do with our accounts. We realised that we needed to take a step-by-step approach to get our affairs in order which, for us, meant setting up and transferring to various savings and current accounts. Overall, it was a surprisingly easy transition from renting a property to a mortgage. Of course there’s a slight adjustment, and you’re still budgeting to

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Kate was on-hand to help us all the way, which was great during the planning process and, of course, our peace of mind.”

“Tom and Leanda had also been making regular savings with us each month.

This demonstrated affordability, which is obviously the main focus from our perspective,” explained Kate, Mortgage Arranger at Lloyds Bank’s Victory House branch in Douglas. “We want to make sure that our customers are confident that they can meet the requirements of their mortgage well in advance of approval and Tom and Leanda were able to demonstrate this through making those savings as well

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make your monthly payments, but it’s not too dissimilar from a normal monthly schedule and we now feel like we’re investing in something.”

“What also came in handy at this early stage was we were advised to move on to a Gold Account*, which really benefitted us when it came to actually going through the mortgage approval process,” added Tom. “Not only was it easier to manage our personal finances in the short term but we were also awarded certain discounts and packages when it eventually came to getting the house itself.

OVERALL, IT WAS A SURPRISINGLY EASY TRANSITION FROM RENTING A PROPERTY TO A MORTGAGE.

as proving their ability to budget and pay rent on their previous property every month.

All of this put them in good stead for the application itself.”

Leanda explained that she and Tom were always conscious of the difficulties many first time buyers face when organising an initial mortgage down payment, and the importance of planning ahead for when the time came. “We were very lucky that we had some help from my parents and put together a large portion of the down payment from our own savings. It was a big undertaking that was made a lot simpler and more manageable with some professional guidance from someone who appreciated our position as first-timebuyers. We ended up getting the mortgage in the end, and the whole process took just three months, so it worked out perfectly.”

As long-term customers of Lloyds Bank, the decision to approach Kate at the point of applying seemed only natural, Tom explained: “In a sense, when it came to researching the mortgage and assessing our options we just went with the flow. There was more of a reason to come to Lloyds because it was just so much easier for us. We already hold all our banking requirements here and then there was the educational side of things.

As you can imagine, planning a commitment like this is quite daunting, even at times quite scary. You can’t help but think ‘what if they come back and say you haven’t been approved?’, but Kate explained everything to us as we went along. It was nice to be able to speak to someone face-to-face and it was so easy to arrange a meeting if we felt we needed one.”

I remember they were both quite nervous when they first came”, Kate recalls, “but we soon got over that once everything has been put into perspective and we had a plan in place. This is a problem that many first time buyers face but it’s something we’re all experienced in and, after all, that’s what I’m here for.”

“Overall, my best advice would be to come

OVERALL, MY BEST ADVICE WOULD BE TO COME INTO THE BANK AND TALK WITH THEM...

into the bank and talk with them”, Tom explained in closing. “They’re the ones who award the loan and they’re the ones who’re the experts. It’s people like Kate who are also able to help you with some of the hidden costs that we hadn’t even considered. Costs for things like lawyer’s fees, building and life insurance and, of course, furnishing and decorations for an entire house can all add up. It’s important to factor them into your financial ambitions early if you don’t want to be met with any unpleasant surprises when you move in.”

“Whether you’re eager to get on the property

ladder as soon as possible or just want to know your options years in advance, my advice would be to approach the experts as soon as you can” Leanda added. “Having gone through the process ourselves, I would always recommend that anyone thinking of applying for a mortgage for the first time just goes to the bank to see what they can do to help. It’s about having the confidence to go in, to make a plan, and to plan well ahead.”

“Coming here gives you more drive to do it and having a plan in place and knowing what to do makes all the difference. They’ve been so helpful here at Lloyds; we’ve been made to feel like they really want to help us, that they’re working with us. You need to feel that when you’re new to such a massive commitment.”

The Island Gold account is a current account with a range of benefits for a monthly fee of £9.

Please also remember: YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

For full details of Lloyds Bank mortgages please visit our website http://islands.lloydsbank.com/mortgages/ island-mortgages/ or contact one of our Mortgage Arrangers on 01624 697118. Our lines are open 9am to 5pm excluding bank holidays. Telephone calls may be recorded and monitored.

SHAKE UP THIS IS THE YEAR I

MY FINANCES

Make it happen this year.

Our personal loans can give your finances a boost.

Visit lloydsbank.com/islands

Lending is at the Bank’s discretion. How much we lend, the rate available to you and the issue of a loan is subject to our assessment of your circumstances.

You must be 18 or over and resident in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man to apply.

Issued by Lloyds Bank International Limited trading as Lloyds Bank. Registered Office: PO Box 160, 25 New Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 8RG. Registered in Jersey, number 4029. The Isle of Man branch of Lloyds Bank International Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and registered with the Insurance and Pensions Authority in respect of General Business. Business Address: PO Box 111, Peveril Buildings, Peveril Square, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1JJ. Copies of our terms and conditions and latest report and accounts are available from the above registered office.

Date of issue: 03 February 2014

RURAL VIEWS This stunning property located on the border between St Judes and East Jurby, has recently been reduced by over £100,000 to the new market price of £710,000.

PLACES

FEATURED PROPERTY

‘Ballafletcher’ is a spacious detached bungalow, situated in 15 acres of land in a beautiful secluded location, approached via a long private tarmac driveway. Upon approaching the property the spectacular panoramic rural views are instantly noticeable. To the south there are views of the various hills including Snaefell,

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North Barrule and Sky Hill which all add to the joy of living in this location.

The accommodation is flexible and well designed, briefly comprising of an open plan dining hall, formal living room, conservatory, breakfast kitchen, utility/ laundry room, four double bedrooms, and a family bathroom.

location location location our banners are perfect for your communication

www.harmonyhomes.co.im

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The overall construction easily lends itself to internal remodelling and extension, should the new owner wish to do so. There really is fantastic potential to create a truly magnificent and highly prestigious property.

A further benefit to this property is the large modern outbuilding which would be suitable for a variety of purposes.

The property can be found by driving

through Andreas Village, proceeding past the Grosvenor Public House and after a short distance, taking the next road on the right, signposted ‘Jurby East’. Proceeding for 3/4 mile along this road, the entrance to ‘Ballafletcher’ can be found on the left hand side, shortly after crossing a small stone bridge. Given this £100,000 price reduction, this property is a true bargain, but don’t take our word for it book a viewing today.

Viewings are highly recommended on this comprehensive and impressive family home. CALL OUR RAMSEY OFFICE 0N 835252.

This space seen by the Island’s househunters and homebuyers from £265 per month

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publication

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are you looking to find a place?

FEATURED PROPERTY

Find out more on 07624 209726 or email places@gallery.co.im

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WOODBOURNE ROAD, DOUGLAS ÂŁ395,000 4 3 3 6 Built-in-bar -

A large imposing semi detached town house situated in a convenient town location near schools, bus route and amenities. The property consists of a large lounge with a decorative marble fireplace and large bay window with original sash windows, there is a separate dining room which also has a feature fireplace and an alcove which is ideal for a dresser. From the dining room there is an open archway into the kitchen which has a glazed door to a decked balcony. The lower ground floor has a large room which is ideal as a games/party room or occasional guest room, with a built-in bar and door to shower room and utility room. There are six bedrooms (one en-suite) which are situated on the first and second floors and a family bathroom. Outside there is a large detached garage, a lovely front garden and rear garden which is mainly laid to lawn with a vegetable patch.

HARMONY HOMES T: 616200 www.harmonyhomes.co.im

THE MEADOWS - KIRK MICHAEL ÂŁ264,500 4 3 2 3 Corner Plot -

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FEATURED PROPERTY

A lovely detached dormer bungalow situated in a quiet location in easy walking distance to Kirk Michael Village. The property is set on a large corner plot with a delightful surrounding garden, comprising of two reception rooms, conservatory, kitchen, three bedrooms (one en-suite) and a family bathroom.

Outside there is an integral garage, mainly laid to lawn gardens with good privacy and a separate tranquil seating area with water feature.

HARMONY HOMES T: 818222 www.harmonyhomes.co.im

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Isle of Man Bank Limited (IOMB). Registered Company Number: 1 Isle of Man. Registered Office: 2 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1AN. Licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission of the Isle of Man and registered with the Insurance and Pensions Authority in respect of general business. Calls may be recorded.

PARK CLOSE, GLEN VINE £499,950 Floor to ceiling rustic brick -

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This superbly presented detached house is a beautiful example of ‘Potton’ design, featuring exposed beams throughout. The property comprises of a large airy lounge with feature floor to ceiling rustic brick Ingelnook open fire and French doors opening to a paved sun patio. There is also a dining room, study, cloakroom, conservatory and breakfast kitchen. On the first floor there is a bathroom and four bedrooms, the master having a recently fitted en-suite bathroom with separate tiled shower cubicle. Many of the rooms in the property benefit from being wired for ‘Bang & Olufsen’ integrated music and television systems. Outside is a detached double garage with a hobbies/storage room above and a generous driveway for several cars. The front garden is laid to lawn with a crescent flowerbed, whilst the rear is laid out for ease of maintenance and faces in a westerly direction, thus enhancing on the maximum sunshine hour.

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FEATURED PROPERTY

HARMONY HOMES T: 616200 www.harmonyhomes.co.im

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FAAIE NY CABBAL, KIRK MICHAEL £340,000 4 3 2 2 Rural views A spacious detached bungalow on a corner plot situated in a quiet and secluded location in Kirk Michael. The bungalow consists of a large lounge/dining room with a feature fireplace and good sized conservatory which enjoy distant rural views.

There is a generously sized kitchen and breakfast room , three bedrooms, master en-suite and family bathroom. There is also an open plan mainly laid to lawn front garden with a driveway for parking up to 2 cars. The fantastic corner plot enjoys a private large rear garden which is laid to lawn with a patio area and garage with utility area.

HARMONY HOMES T: 818222 www.harmonyhomes.co.im

ORRISDALE, KIRK MICHAEL £1,085,000 4 3 Equestrian facilities -

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A rare opportunity to acquire a spacious family home with excellent Equestrian facilities, set in approximately 7 acres of private and secluded land on the West Coast outside the TT Course. ‘Ballahowin’ is a modern and spacious, detached bungalow has four reception rooms, four bedrooms (two of which are en-suite) and a family bathroom. The property has oil fired central heating (two boilers), integral double garage, mature well stocked gardens, modern stable block, 2 wareing barns and well maintained paddocks. An internal inspection is highly recommended to appreciate this unique property, situated in close proximity to the villages of Kirk Michael and Ballaugh, yet only 15 minutes from Ramsey, 25 minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from Douglas.

HARMONY HOMES T: 818222 www.harmonyhomes.co.im COLLEGE GREEN, CASTLETOWN £399,000 Stone fireplace 4 4 4 1 1

An attractive mid terrace coastal residence enjoying some fabulous views over Castletown Bay. Property comprises of a lounge/diner with a Manx stone open grate fireplace, a delightful breakfast kitchen with breakfast bar, cloakroom, a nautical themed cabin style bathroom with a large spa bath and walk in shower, four good sized bedrooms some having pleasant views over Castletown Bay and partially exposed A frames in the ceiling. Outside The property has easily maintained gardens and also comes with a garage.

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HARMONY HOMES T: 835252 www.harmonyhomes.co.im

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FEATURED PROPERTY

HARBOUR HOUSE, DERBYHAVEN, CASTLETOWN ÂŁ745,000

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This spacious, beautifully refurbished coastal house is situated in one of the most sought after villages in the Island. Derbyhaven has a peaceful harbour filled with sailing boats and a wide, gently curving sandy beach.

www.harmonyhomes.co.im

There is an excellent golf course stretching out to Fort Island and wonderful walks can be enjoyed across the links and over to Langness lighthouse. With sweeping, uninterrupted views across Derbyhaven Bay and a wonderful beachside garden, this family home lends itself to a relaxed pace of life, whilst only being minutes from the centre of Castletown. Six generously sized bedrooms over three of the four floors allows for plenty of scope for family living alongside home working, with more than enough room for a variety of room uses.

With the large, well fitted breakfast kitchen and range cooker forming the heart of the home, the property benefits from a second, expansive kitchen/dining room along with its own Aga. The ground floor Family room and first floor Lounge both enjoy the wonderful views across the Derbyhaven Bay. The 21’ by 15’ Master Bedroom, with its stunning sea and coastal views, has a good range of built in wardrobes providing plenty of storage space, along with an attractive feature inset stove, and benefits from a well presented en-suite bathroom with sea views.

“This spacious, beautifully refurbished coastal house is situated in one of the most sought after villages in the Island.”

This is rare opportunity to purchase a fine coastal residence with extensive living space and stunning sea views in a highly desirable village location.

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FEATURED PROPERTY

Viewings are highly recommended on this impressive family home. CALL OUR PORT ERIN OFFICE 835252.

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IT’S OFTEN THE SMALL THINGS THAT CAN MAKE LIFE STRESSFUL - WHETHER IT’S MISPLACED KEYS, OVERLOOKED BILLS OR DARK, DULL CORNERS THAT SEEM TO ATTRACT CLUTTER. Instead of just daydreaming about having a calm, perfect-place-for-everything home, journalist and mother-of-three Joanna Gosling decided to put her thinking cap on. She came up with a series of simple-tofollow projects, all of which now feature in her new book Home Made Simple: Stylish, Practical Makes For Living And Giving.

She shows how, with a little effort and some basic DIY, you can create and furnish a well-equipped corner for sorting household finances (or enjoying hobbies), funky lights, and even conjure an attractive home for those wandering keys.

“I love making things for the home because it saves money, you can make nicer things than you can buy, and there’s the bonus of the ‘I made it’ satisfaction every time you look at it,” Gosling enthuses.

All the materials used in her projects are inexpensive - old wine boxes are transformed into a desk, storage and a key box, for instance.

HOME MADE SIMPLE: STYLISH, PRACTICAL MAKES FOR LIVING AND GIVING BY JOANNA GOSLING, PHOTOGRAPHY

BY RACHEL WHITING, IS PUBLISHED BY KYLE BOOKS, PRICED £19.99.

WWW.KYLEBOOKS.COM

Photo key box

“Giving your keys a home where you can stash and retrieve them in an instant is pretty good for stress levels,” says Gosling.

“This is a lovely place also to display photos and remind yourself of happy memories and, when closed, it doesn’t look like a key box, which is good for security.”

YOU NEED: Three-bottle wine box with a sliding lid.

Source from wine merchants who often sell these cheaply as gift packaging, or search for them online Emulsion or eggshell paint Drill Eight 1.2mm x 17mm screw hooks Bradawl

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Photos or images for the front

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Spray acrylic sealant (optional); doublesided tape

“As, like most people, I don’t have enough time to sit and spend hours crafting something perfectly, my mantra is ‘minimum effort, maximum return’,” she says. “I’ve worked out the quickest, simplest way to do things that are useful, decorative and bring character to rooms.”

Follow three of her projects for a bright, business-like corner in your home...

METHOD: Remove the rope handle, if your box has one. Leave the unfinished pale wood as it is or paint.

If you’re going to hang it, drill four small holes in the corners of the box for screwing it onto the wall. Mark drill points 4cm up (or down) and in from the sides. Use a pencil to mark evenly spaced dots where the screw hooks for the keys should go. Do a row of three, then a row of two, then another row of three, and stagger the hooks so that the keys don’t bunch on top of each other.

Pierce each hole using a bradawl and screw in the hooks. The back of the box is thin wood, so screw the hook through until the point is just poking through the back.

Choose photos with a sealed finish, or use an acrylic sealant, to go on the front. Fix to lid with double-sided tape.

Wine crate desk

NB: Ensure finished light and bulbs are not positioned near anything flammable, such as fabrics or upholstery.

YOU NEED: Switched metal lamp holder Fabric-covered three-core cable - measure the length you need (historiclighting.co.uk has a good range of colours) Cable stripper and small screwdriver Three-pin plug Bulb (make sure it is compatible with the lamp holder - screw or bayonet) Screw hooks to suspend the light from the ceiling METHOD: Unscrew the top and bottom of the lamp holder to separate. Feed the top of the lamp holder onto the cable. Strip a short section of the cable to reveal the core, then strip a little of each wire (take care not to expose too much). Wire the cable to the bottom of the lamp holder - with a three-core cable, which includes live, neutral and earth wires, there will be a point in the side of the fitting to connect the earth wire to.

Fabric cable lights “If you can wire a plug, then you can make one of these brilliant lights very easily, and they’re so versatile and useful,” says Gosling. “Make the cable as long as you like and, with a couple of hooks on the ceiling, you can fix them to light up anywhere in a room. You can position them high or low, as you want.”

“My version is a combination of wine crates and cheap MDF. It means it’s not entirely free to construct, but it’s still far cheaper than buying anything even remotely as stylish.”

Add matching storage with painted wine boxes, and glue household pegs on the sides of them so you can clip on paperwork or photos.

YOU NEED: Strong wood glue Four 12-bottle wine crates Two sheets of 30mm MDF measuring 505mm x 175mm, and one sheet measuring 505mm x 1460mm (or however wide you want it to fit your space) Eight 50mm castors 32 x 1cm screws for the castors Drill with 2mm and 4mm drill bit 12 x 6cm screws Paint, preferably eggshell Roller and small paintbrush

METHOD: Make the two end supports for the desk.

Glue the long sides of two wine crates together to make one support, and repeat with the other two for the second support.

Make sure the glue gets a good fix by piling some heavy books inside the top crate to press it downwards onto the lower one.

Strip the wires at the other end of the cable and connect to the plug.

you fix the bit into the drill. Make the length of the drill bit slightly shorter than the screw, so that you don’t drill too deeply and go right through the desk top. Screw together.

Once the glue fixing the wine crates together is dry, flip the desk over. Finally, paint the desk using a roller.

Place the large sheet of MDF on the floor.

Position one small piece of MDF at either end of the large piece and align the edges.

Glue the small pieces in place using plenty of glue. Now position the end supports on top of each of these small sheets of MDF, ensuring the interiors of the crates are facing inwards. Glue these in place. This is the basic construction of the desk upside down.

Position four castors on the corners of the base of each end support and screw them on.

Using the 2mm drill bit, drill small holes into the wood through the holes in the castor plates for the screws to go into.

Now switch to the 4mm drill bit and drill six holes through the top wine crates into the MDF (one at each corner and two in the middle for strength). This is for the 6cm screws, to fix the base to the desk top.

Position the screw against the drill bit when

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“I love this desk. It’s such a practical design, with its internal storage, big surface area and castors, which make it easy to move around,” says Gosling. “It’s a perfect work space for anything, from writing to crafting.

The live and neutral wires can safely be connected to either of the other points. Make sure you connect the wires to the correct points - double-check the correct wiring by doing an internet image search on ‘how to wire a plug’. Screw the two parts of the lamp holder together.

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PLACES

FEATURED PROPERTIES

BALLATERSON FIELDS, BALLAUGH ÂŁ369,950 4 3 2 3 Corner Plot 11 Ballaterson Fields is a immaculately presented and spacious detached bungalow situated on a large corner plot. The recently modernised and improved property briefly comprises three reception rooms, to include an impressive living room with bay window, three bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en-suite), kitchen, utility and integral double garage.

The property is situated within walking distance of Ballaugh village, which offers all local amenities including a village shop, highly regarded primary school and public house. The property is only a short drive from Ballaugh Glen and plantation and also Ballaugh beach which offers spectacular sunsets. The property also benefits from being on a bus route to the main towns, including Ramsey, Peel and Douglas.

HARMONY HOMES T: 818222 www.harmonyhomes.co.im

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CARRICK BAY VIEW, COLBY ÂŁ750,000 4 4 3 3 Southern Views A spacious well appointed true bungalow enjoying fabulous far reaching southern views. The property consists of a sitting room which enjoys delightful views over the South of the Island towards Port St Mary via dual aspect windows and dining room with double French doors to a large Everest conservatory which is fitted with a double glazed glass roof. There is a fitted breakfast kitchen and utility room, four double bedrooms, two en-suites and a family bathroom. Outside the property there is a generous double garage, garden store and approximately 3/4 acres of beautifully landscaped contoured lawns, gravelled pathways, mature boundary hedging and colourful heavily planted shrubs. There is also a large timber summer house, a decked patio area., greenhouse and timber shed. To the side of the property is a substantial, gated hardstanding suitable for motor home or boat parking.

HARMONY HOMES T: 835252 www.harmonyhomes.co.im

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Indulge yourself in French luxury and meet your Mobapla specialist on your doorstep, here in the Isle of Man Tyne Ltd/U 11 Balthane-Park Ind Est Ballasalla | Isle of Man | IM9 2AX Tel: 07624 437818 | 01624 822 712 www.isle_of_man.mobalpa.co.uk

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If you are marketing your mortgage offers, this full page, seen by the Isle of Man househunters and homebuyers is available from ÂŁ427 per month.

Find out more on 07624 209726 or email places@gallery.co.im

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