Cosat del Sol HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine — Issue 10 (December 2009/January 2010)

Costa del Sol

COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE

COMPETITIONS TO BE WON IN THIS ISSUE! A 100 EURO VOUCHER FROM YORKSHIRE LINEN

&Lifestyle

A MEAL FOR TWO AT THE EL OCEANO BEACH HOTEL DECEMBER 2009 and JANUARY 2010 • ISSUE 10

BEDROOM OASIS Colour, texture, comfort and style

HOME CINEMA Heaven LUXURY and COLOUR

The latest trends in carpets

ECO-FRIENDLY Living

P erfect edding expo W

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Winter Skin Tips The Sunshine Vitamin

LIFESTYLE

The Renault Twizy Z.E.

QUALITY DINING

Christmas Day and New Year Eve Events

Living it … Loving it !

2009 & JANUARY 2010 1 DÉCOR • DESIGN • OUTDOOR LIVING • GARDENS • CUISINE •DECEMBER LIFESTYLE AND MORE

2 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

BRIDAL DRESSES WEDDING WEAR EVENING WEAR COCKTAIL WEAR DE LUXE MENSWEAR GROOMS WEAR SMOKING JACKETS SHOES BAGS JEWELLERY

1 Guillemot Place, Clarendon Rd. London N22 6XG Tel: +44 (0) 20 8888 8833 www.johncharles.co.uk • www.ellisbridals.co.uk

Available at: DAMARIS NOVIAS and NOVIOS Calle Pärroco J.A. Jiménez Higuero s/n (Front of the Court House, Fuengirola) Tel: 952 580 976 • www.damarisnovias.com • damaris@qlminformatica.com DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 3

EVENTS & PROMOTIONS > COSTA SALMON IMPORTS Costa Salmon Imports are pleased to announce that they will be holding a tasting of their finest Scottish smoked salmon in the Iceland store, Parque de Myramar Fuengirola, on Saturday the 5th December. You will also have the opportunity to purchase the product in 100g and 400g packs.

BURNS WEEKEND AT THE TAMISA GOLF HOTEL 23rd, 24th & 25th January Tamisa will be presenting a Burns Night extravaganza during the weekend of the 23rd of January 2010. Guests will first be “Piped” into the 4-course Gala Dinner by a Scottish Piper. The star of the show, ‘the Haggis’ is piped in, formally addressed by Scottish Toastmaster, Dee McMath, and washed down with a dram of whisky.

After dinner, Damaris Novias and Novios will present their very special collection of original kilts from Scotland. Damaris are the first shop in Spain to distribute the kilts and complete outfits from “The Kilt Centre” in Hamilton. These kilts are available in a range of tartans complemented by luxury sporrans, highlander shirts, shoes, socks and kilt pins. These outfits, along with morning suits and dark suits, are for hire or sale. They will also be presenting, for the ladies, their fabulous collection of cocktail wear.

This will be followed by Celtic Dancers performing a range of Scottish and Irish Dances, and a night of dancing till the wee hours of the morning.

For further information and reservations please call the Tamisa Hotel 952 585 988

Costa Salmon Imports at Mijas Playa Restaurant On Friday the 11th of December we are also hosting a tasting of Scottish smoked salmon, from 2pm to 5.30pm, in the Mijas Playa Restaurant in la Cala. To compliment the salmon you can taste the best Buluga vodka. Damaris Novias will also be there, holding a fashion show of Scottish kilts and evening and cocktail dresses.

Bunches Florist will also be present with their beautiful Christmas floral arrangements and a demonstration of Christmas table decoration.

This is definitely a date for your diary.

For more information please contact: Telephone 952 930 036 Mobile: 617 932 263

THE UNITY GOSPEL SINGERS The husband and wife duos make up the unique and fresh sound of Unity. They met 2 years ago and formed the group this summer. They each have over 15 years experience in the music industr y.

There was a fantastic response to their recent performance at the Perfect Wedding Expo. They exploded onto the stage and sang with a passion that would make your spirit soar. The Palacio De La Paz Fuengirola was the perfect venue for Unity to show the community their undoubted talent. They are available for functions, weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc. A few dates are still available in December and Januar y for bookings.

Looking to the future, Unity will be forming a choir on the coast, so watch this space!. The Unity Gospel Choir will be performing at the Christmas Fashion and Music Festival in Fuengirola (please see opposite page for details).

For more info/bookings, you can contact them on: Christine Warwood (Promotion Manager) 0034 627 055 246 Simone Harding (Admin/Booking Manager) 0034 622 725 321 or email: unitygospelsingers@live.co.uk

ESTEPONA FLORAL ART CLUB

Affiliated to London & Overseas Area of NAFAS Tuesday 8th December. Christmas Lunch Demonstration with David Thomson, NAFAS National Demonstrator from Chelmsford, Essex. Starts 12.30pm with a drink on arrival, followed by a 3-course Christmas Lunch including wine and coffee. Tickets €20 (Members) €25 (Non-Members) Thursday 10th December. Informal Teaching Class on how to arrange the perfect centrepiece for your Christmas table by David Thomson. 11am – 2.00pm.

Tuesday 19th January. Demonstration with Eleanor Griffiths, NAFAS Area Demonstrator from Frodsham, Cheshire. 3.00pm – 5.00pm. Selection of items on the Sales Table for purchase, which may inspire you into arranging your own designs at home.

The venue for the above events above are at the Benavista Country Club, Benavista, N340 Km 167. For more information please contact: Chairman Anne Atkinson. Tel: 952 890 352

If your business, event or promotion would like to be part of this page, please email details to info@cdshomemagazine.com 4 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

< Events & Promotions

CHRISTMAS FAYRES AT YORKSHIRE LINEN Yorkshire Linen are holding three Christmas Fayres in the shop, each one will be in aid of a different charity.

Saturday, 5th December — In aid of PADS animal rescue shelter.

Saturday, 12th December — In aid of LA CALA LIONS. Saturday, 19th December — In aid of the CHILDRENS ORPHANAGE in Malaga.

SANTA will be at the store between 12 noon to 3 pm at each fayre and there will be stalls selling cakes, preserves, jewellery, Avon beauty products, books, perfume and even cheap booze.

For more information please call Steph or Julie at Yorkshire Linen. Tel: 952 197 577 or 952 197 596

GREEN HOUSE CLOTHING FOR WOMEN SALE Thursday 10th December Green House — unique range of Danish fashions for ladies not available in retail outlets — Winter Sale starts on Thursday 10th December. All in the Autumn and Winter ranges will be reduced.

Green House Fashions are renowned for: I Fabulous Fabrics.

I Stylish detail and design.

I Affordable without comprising style & quality.

Stand out from the crowd — look and feel great in a range designed by women for women.

Viewing is by appointment with Sarah Hawes T: 671 384 961 or 952 933 619

FASHION AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 16-20th December 2009 The Plaza de la Constitucion in Fuengirola is the venue for the Christmas “Fashion and Music” Festival to be held on the 16th through to the 20th December The event has been organized by the Town hall together with local fashion retailers such as Damaris Novias who will be presenting their Evening, Bridal and Grooms Wear and also their Kilt Collection, unique in Spain.

The event is being set up to Samatha will be performing showcase the latest in fashion, on the 20th December. especially for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. In the afternoons there will be performers and singers creating that special Christmas atmosphere and also the kids will have their own fun with novelty balloons and face-painting.

For further information call Wendy on 638 008 889.

FLOR VALENTIN’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MARKET

12 December 2009, 10am to 4pm Once again, this year you will have the opportunity to visit Flor Valentin’s Christmas market, get into the spirit of the season and buy your Christmas tree.

• Lucia procession • Stalls with Christmas gift ideas • Come and greet Santa Claus • Christmas activities for children And much much more…

All this takes place on the big Christmas market, in the parking lot behind Centro Idea, on the Mijas road.

Tel: 951 311 086 or 669 06 1234

If your business, event or promotion would like to be part of this page, please email details to info@cdshomemagazine.com DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 5

EVENTS & PROMOTIONS > LOCAL BUSINESSES SHINE AT THE ESSENTIAL MARBELLA AWARDS

HILARIOUS BRIDGET-JONES-ESQUE TAKE ON A MODERN GIRL’S MOVE TO SPAIN’S COSTA DEL SOL When Keidi Keating’s book, Sol Searching was discovered by independent publisher Native Spain, what started out as the personal diary of a twenty-three-year-old who left the UK for a new life on the sunny Costa del Sol has become a publishing phenomenon.

Keidi, originally from the UK but now living in the Axarquia region on the Costa del Sol, decided to self-publish her revealing and hilarious dramatised-biography and was quickly discovered by fellow expat, Debbie Jenkins, who was keen to publish the book under her NativeSpain.com imprint.

Debbie says, “Keidi’s book is a perfect fit for our NativeSpain brand which sets out to inform and entertain expats and wouldbe expats about the challenges and joys of making a new life in Spain. What makes Keidi’s book unique is that it also hits a younger audience. It’s a bit like Bridget Jones in the sun!”

Keidi says, “I’ve been writing since I was seven-years-old so landing this publishing contract is a dream come true. The positive feedback it’s been getting has been a real boost too!”

‘Sol Searching: A fun-filled tale of a modern girl’s move to the Costa del Sol’ by Keidi Keating (ISBN: 190543068X) is available to buy from Amazon and all good bookshops.

On the 21st of November, the fourth edition of the essential Marbella Awards was a huge success, attracting over 200 people from high profile companies on the Coast to a spectacular gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Puente Romano Hotel. The event, dreamt up by essential Marbella Magazine’s Creative Director, Andrea Böjti, was created to reward those businesses that enhance our lives on the Costa del Sol. Companies competed in 16 lifestyle-related categories, including leisure, gastronomy and wellness. Voted by thousands of people online during the previous months, the winners were revealed Oscar-style on the night, each receiving a specially commissioned trophy representing the choice of the general public.

This year, the awards were presented in association with Talk Radio Europe, with Maurice Boland acting as Master of Ceremonies and bringing plenty of humour and pizazz to the affair. Thousands of euros were raised through the dinner and raffle draw to aid local three-year-old boy Fletcher Falvey, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and needed vital and expensive treatment in the United States. Entertainment was provided by talented tenor, Stephen Lloyd-Morgan and ABBAMAX, an ABBA tribute band, who flew in from the UK for the evening.

The essential team is already excited about next year’s awards, with lots of new ideas in mind for the most awaited event of the 2010 calendar.

Photos: KH Photography, Pictured above on stage: Filippone family receiving their award for Ristorantes Da Bruno

List of winners: international restaurant — EL LAGO RESTAURANT italian restaurant — DA BRUNO RESTAURANT oriental restaurant — THAI GALLERY innovative dining — TERRA SANA beach dining — THE BEACH HOUSE tennis club — MANOLO SANTANA RAQUETS CLUB golf club — FINCA CORTESIN GOLF beach club — NIKKI BEACH gym / leisure — O2 WELLNESS CENTRE hotel — HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO specialist clinic — MILLS & MILLS spa — VILLA PADIERNA SPA hair / beauty — REFLECTIONS nightlife — SUITE / SUITE DEL MAR shopping — LA CAÑADA school — ALOHA COLLEGE special essential magazine award SUSHI DES ARTISTES

MARBELLA STORE OPENING Marks & Spencer opened its new 14,000 sq. ft. (1,300 sq. m.) store at the La Canada shopping centre in Marbella on Tuesday 17 November. The new store is managed by York Marbella SL, the franchise partner which also operates our Gibraltar store, and who we have had a successful trading relationship with for over 40 years. The new store stocks the full range of quality M&S clothing including womenswear, menswear, kidswear and lingerie. The store offers a range of ambient food products including groceries, biscuits and confectionery. Also available is a range of frozen products including Indian, ChiFrom left to right: Jeremy Nicholls, Copywrite; Chris Walker, Marks & Spencer Marbella, nese and Italian dishes — like many of Nick Batey, Marks & Spencer UK; Tomas Olivo, La Cañada; Mª Angeles Munoz, Alcaldesa our other international stores. de Marbella; Tony Welsh, Marks & Spencer Marbella; Jon Knight, Marks & Spencer UK; Penny Welsh, Marks & Spencer Marbella; Bernard Fay, UHY Fay & Co Marbella.

Jon Knight, International Area Manager at Marks & Spencer, said: “We’re delighted to open our new store in Marbella today. We’ve had a successful franchise partnership with the Marks & Spencer in Gibraltar for over 40 years and feel this is an excellent opportunity for us to offer our high quality, good value products to the population in Marbella”.

If your business, event or promotion would like to be part of this page, please email details to info@cdshomemagazine.com 6 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

< PRODUCT FILE

IKO by Monsieur

+Madame Design

French designers Cécile Makowski and Pierre Schwenke of Monsieur+Madame Design have created the IKO seat for the Paris based manufacturer, Steiner.

Westminster

by Quinze & Milan

Westminster is proud to launch this exclusive range of furniture that promises to break the traditional boundaries of outdoor living. Working with world-famous designers Quinze & Milan, our combined expertise has resulted in a range of furniture that goes beyond traditional furniture design. Products include deep seating, armchairs, and loungers — all designed to exude energy and inspire. At the core of these products is a revolutionary coated Q&M™Touch Foam which is completely weather and water-resistant, UV colour stable and flame-retardant. Impervious to the weath-

er, the range guarantees flexibility and comfortable seating for everyone in any outdoor room, with little or no maintenance.

Available from stock in either Black, Sand or White for the Evolution Dining Chair, Armchair and Relaxer, with a further 22 colour choices via premium special order, the options when creating your own outdoor oasis are limitless.

Westminster Furniture S.L. T: 91 847 8533 freddy@westminstermuebles.es www.westminstermuebles.es

TOTUM Heater

Available at Pias Chimeneas Like the indoor room, the outdoor room should be accessible all year round. With this in mind, the TOTUM HLS ( Heat - Light - Sound) has been developed. The TOTUM HLS teases your senses with mood changing lighting, a concealed speaker system and an iPod interface.

This revolutionary terrace heater enables you to enjoy the outdoor life during all seasons of the year. Available in black and pearl white.

• Radiant black tube heating • 10.4 kWh total performance • Powder coated steel body with stainless steel mesh • LED coloured mood lights • Plug suitable for MP3 player • High quality concealed outdoor speakers • All electrics are powered by a rechargeable battery pack • Gas cylinder storage in frame • 100% pre-assembled • Width: 54cm, Height: 184cm, Depth: 37cm (Wheel Base Depth: 62cm) Chimeneas, Fire and Design S.L., Nueva Andalucia Telephone 951 275 693 • www.pias-chimeneas.com DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 7

Health & Beauty 54 News 56 VITAMIN D - The Sunshine Vitamin 57 Instant Facial Rejuvenation 58 Fitting Fitnes into your Routine 59 Winter Skin Tips

The Driver’s Seat 60 Fully Charged - The Renault Twizy Z.E

Fitness, Health & Leisure

18

50

62 News Update 63 Take a Swing at a Golf Course

BEDROOM OASIS

PERFECT WEDDING EXPO

…but Exercise Caution!

64 Golf on the Costa

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 • Iss ue 10

c o ntent s Special Features 14 Christmas Gist IDeas 50 Perfect Wedding Expo

Home Décor 16 Fill your Home with Seasonal Style 18 Bedroom Oasis 34 Luxury & Colour

Home Design 26 Modern Fireplace Designs Wood, Metal & Glass 28 Home Cinema Heaven 32 Hot Gadgets 38 Closets under Control

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CINEMA HEAVEN

Pets at Home 66 Poor Fido, it’s no fun being sick!

The Garden 68 Preparing your Garden for Sale 71 The Green Machine

Cuisine 74 Cook up a treat for Christmas For information on advertising please contact Advertising 74 Leftover Turkey Surprises Sales Manager, Linda Mairs, on 637 478 056. Please note Competitions that for our FEBRUARY & 23 €100 Voucher from Yorkshire Linen MARCH 2010 ISSUE, artwork must be submitted by 75 El Oceano Hotel Dinner for Two

25th JANUARY 2010.

Regulars

Home Improvement

4

Events & Promotions

40 “Greening” Is Sprouting Up All Over

7

Product File

78 The Directory

Outdoor Living 46 Pool Covers

80 Costa del Sol Voice

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VITAMIN D

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Luxury & COLOUR

and to all our valued clients and loyal readers who help to make

Costa del Sol HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 9

Welcome

COMPETITION WINNERS Valparaiso Restaurant Dinner Barbara Colborne El Oceano Spa Sally-Anne Smith Dinner for 4 at Suave Café Trevor Buxton Colours Hair and Beauty Alison Arthur Meal for two at Streets of London Bernadette Cassar

Costa del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine DOES NOT EXCEPT ADVERTISING FROM THE FOLLOWING CLIENTS:

December & January ‘Tis the season to be jolly! And here at HOME and LIFESTYLE Magazine there’s plenty of festive fun and Christmas cheer to spread around. In this edition we’re pulling out all the stops to bring you a newly-expanded magazine, packed with the very best that Christmas and the Costa Del Sol lifestyle can bring.

There’s a host of useful Christmas gift ideas, including fashion accessories for her and the odd gadget or two for him. Plus we have some simple ideas for Christmas decorations around the home. We also have a rundown of events over the Christmas and New Year period, including the upcoming Fashion and Music Fesitval at The Plaza de la Constitucion in Fuengirola; and also the excellent Burns Night Extravaganza at the Tamisa Golf Hotel.

If there’s one thing that Christmas always brings (apart from a slight hangover) it’s films, television, music and all-round entertainment. Don’t miss our feature on how to get your hands on all the right kit for a great home cinema without letting it take over your living room. If you’re not in the mood to plug things in, check out our range of features on making for a greener lifestyle — from pool covers and the latest electric cars, to ways to ‘greenovate’ your home with a series of green-minded improvements.

We also have an exciting update on last month’s Perfect Wedding Expo, which even had some A-list Hollywood stars supporting the event!

Add to that our regular mix of tips, tricks and best-buys to help transform your home and lifestyle, and you have the next best thing to an early Christmas present.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers!

TANYA FRANCIS EDITOR 10 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Spas 4 You EuroGlaze Stonemason S.L (SolDeck) Pink International Property

Costa del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine PUBLISHING DATES February and March 2010 Issue Published 1st February to 31st March April and May 2010 Issue Published 1st April to 31st May June and July 2010 Issue Published 1st June to 31st July August and September 2010 Issue Published 1st August to 30th September October and November 2010 Issue Published 1st October to 30th November December 2010 and January 2011 Issue Published 1st October to 30th November Costa del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine welcomes original article contributions from our advertisers. Articles can be submitted in Word or PDF. Photos should be high-resolution large format JPEG images with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Architectural and interior design clients may remain anonymous. Submit articles to: Tanya Francis, Editor editor@CDShomemagazine.com

www.CDShomemagazine.com << view the magazine online >>

VA L E N C I A COLLECTION

www.westminstermuebles.es

WESTMINSTER FURNITURE S.L. CALLE AMATISTA 21, EL REBOLLAR, SOTO DEL REAL 28791, MADRID, ESPAÑA T: 91 847 8533

E: freddy@westminstermuebles.es

RETAILERS: Harrods, Knightsbridge, London

Mad about Furniture — Marbella, Spain Tel: 952 88 88 04. Manilva, Malaga Tel: 951 27 67 08 White Design Company — Mijas Costa, Malaga Tel: 952 49 41 55 CLIENTS: The White House, Camp David I Hotel Hyatt Group, North America I Wentworth Golf Club

London Paris Berlin Brussels Copenhagen Amsterdam Bern Dublin Helsinki Lisbon Athens Madrid Luxembourg Monaco Moscow GLASGOW Prague Rome Oslo Stockholm Vienna SYDNEY BARCELONA CAPE TOWN NEW YORK

Costa del Sol

and Lifestyle Magazine DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 • Iss ue 10 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Tanya Francis editor@CDShomemagazine.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Chris Duffill info@CDShomemagazine.com DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Tanya Francis info@CDShomemagazine.com

NOT JUST THE COSTA DEL SOL

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Linda Mairs Tel: 637478056 linda@CDShomemagazine.com

HomeDécor

Second Skin

ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR CADIZ & VALENCIA COLLECTION

Tanya Francis

Texture is a big trend

advertising@CDShomemagazine.com

The once much loved wallpaper which fell out of favour in the UK in the late 1990´s has made an incredible comeback! This time without the hideous borders at dado rail level separating two contrasting wallpapers.

Welcome to 2009 where wallpaper is now used on a single focal wall in your drawing room or behind an oversized headboard in the bedroom. We offer one of the finest collections View the latest Elitis wallpaper collection from France, at the Richard Lewis Interiors Guadalmina show house of wallpaper in southern Spain, from vibrant pink animal skin to subtle brushed suede neutrals with stunning patterns and incredible textures.

Wallpaper is THE way to easily update the look of your room. Combine this with a carefully selected choice of curtains, cushions and accessories to instantly liven up and refresh tired living spaces.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTS Carol Millington

There is a world of possibilities with Richard Lewis Interiors. Expertise in bespoke interior design in Marbella and beyond for private and commercial clients in Spain and the UK is just part of the story. Visit their unique design house, studios and flagship boutique store, at The Royal Golf House in Guadalmina, Marbella, which showcases stunning interior and garden ideas.

carol@CDShomemagazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Clodagh and Dick Handscombe, Chris Duffill, David Jeffers Mairs, Linda

Richard Lewis Interiors Tel: (+34) 952 89 69 01 www.richardlewisinteriors.com

<

www.westminstermuebles.es

WESTMINSTER FURNITURE S.L.

info@richardlewisinteriors.com The Royal Golf House El Eagle de Guadalmina 7 Guadalmina, Marbella

CALLE AMATISTA 21, EL REBOLLAR, SOTO DEL REAL 28791, MADRID, ESPAÑA T: 91 847 8533 RETAILERS: Harrods, Knightsbridge, London I Mad about Furniture, Marbella, Spain Tel: 952 88 88 04 CLIENTS: The White House, Camp David I Hotel Hyatt Group, North America I Wentworth Golf Club

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DISTRIBUTION Media Round Tel: 651 106 027 distribution@CDShomemagazine.com

THE MAGAZINE ONLINE same content same design

Depósito Legal BI-911-08 published bi-monthly by Evolución Andalus S.L. (CIF: B92709930) Avda. de Espana 70-112, 29680 Estepona, Malaga Telephone: 951 170 265 • Fax: 951 170 265

delivered over the internet

Jiménez Godoy A. Gráficas, Murcia

available to view immediately

COVER PHOTOGRAPH www.istock.com

by anyone, anywhere, anytime Costa del Sol

PRINTER

Costa del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine is distributed at high-profile points across the Costa del Sol from Benalmadena to Alcaidesa Golf.

COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE

WIN AN EXQUISITE EVENING AT BEAUTIFUL VALPARAISO A DAY OF PAMPERING AT THE EL OCEANO SPA FOR TWO TO BE WON!

and Lifestyle Magazine

June and July 2009 ISSUE 7

OUTDOOR LIVING with indoor comfort, spas, pools, lighting and the latest tech It’s

ALFRESCO time

HEALTH & BEAUTY

SunKissed

beauty from top to toe

LIFESTYLE

Cool summer days and Hot summer nights…

SPECIAL FEATURE

WeddingGuide

OCEAN CLUB MARBELLA

Living it …Loving it !

DÉCOR • DESIGN • OUTDOOR LIVING • GARDENS • CUISINE • LIFESTYLE AND MORE

www.cdshomemagazine.com 12 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot accept responsibility for the effects of errors or omissions.

Costa del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine cannot accept responsibility for the claims, goods or services of advertisers. The views and opinions expressed by contributors in Costa del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or the publisher. Products and prices mentioned are subject to change without prior notice. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or copied in any way without the prior written consent of Evolucion Andalus S.L.

C M

CASA MICHELL

L

Luxury home in gated beach community

arge luxury beach house near Puerto BanĂşs and Estepona.

The property has a private garden and parking for 6 cars.

This is one of the most exclusive beach communities on the Costa del Sol, acclaimed especially for the lush tropical gardens and located right on the beach.

Price Built area Terrace Bedrooms Bathrooms

Casa Michell

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Costa del Sol

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â&#x201A;Ź 1,100,000 450 m2 100 m2 4 4

Phone +34 951 100 210

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DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 13

sales@casamichell.com

, TONES S L A R D NATU ON AN Y I T C E F CON ELER W E J G N SPINNI e. g uniqu methin hand-made o s h it ul sw beautif your hristma s this C large range of ideal gift for e n o d e n v de a a a , lo e s v r m e a u yo ston ea h home Adorn entro Id s, crystals and of ecological C in a s.

Vitamin and bracelet ir range 3,6, Mija es om the ijas, Km M e d necklac . Or choose fr . a ne Idea, Ctr loved o s.

Centro 13 e 4 t 2 58 3 chocola Tel: 95

INA

VITAM

For the Avid Gardener

Your Garden in Spain — From planning to planting and maintenance, Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain and Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain. Available from: Bookworld, Carrefour or www.santanabooks.com

Christmas gift ideas

From stocking fillers to luxury buys, here’s our pick of the best Christmas presents for friends and family

Ribbons & Bows ... Oh my

Get yourself a guardian angel to help you get through the day and at the same time look instantly pretty with these coloured ribbon and silk bracelets with silver bead accents.

Each bracelet has a solid .925 silver heart charm with cute little guardian angel and inscription on the back.

They are chunky enough to wear on their own and will look fab with your winter knits.

Come get them at the mimo showroom or online. You know you want to.

Available in brown . green . pink . purple . mauve . black

€65 Calle Las Medranas 30 A, San Pedro Alcantara, Marbella Tel: 951 27 59 26 www.mimosilver.com

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A Gift with Style…

Choose from the largest collection of eyewear on the coast, in a wide variety of colours and designer brands. A perfect gift for the man (or lady) in your life. Plus they currently have a holiday season sale on sunglasses and frames.

Paseo J. Santos Rein 4, Fuengirola Telephone 952 58 39 10 www.danoptica.com

Gifts with Christmas Spirit Christmas decorations, ornaments and elves, traditional advent candle wreaths, advent candle displays, and a lovely wreath on the door, are just some of the beautiful things available.

Gifts for your Clients Forget the bottles of wine this year. Why not give your clients the finest products from Scotland. Scottish Smoked Salmon complimented with a bottle of the finest Scottish Whisky.

Scottish Smoked Salmon from Costa Salmon can be purchased at the following outlets:

Flor Valentin Centro Idea, Ctra. de Mijas Km 3,6 29650, Mijas Tel: 951 311 086 • Mob: 669 06 1234 www.florvalentin.es

Iceland Stores; Cornish Pride Café/Bakers, Mijas Costa; Real Sausage Co., Fuengirola; Supermercado Miraflores; Costaless British Supermarket, Benavista

GIFT V OUCH ER To.

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Accessories

Great accessories plus gift vouchers of any denomination which will be honoured for 6 months.

Contact: Sarah Hawes 952 933 619 or 671 384 961

Dainty Petal Pink Set

Delicate petals form very simple and subtle accessories. One of the many exclusive collections by Kyles Jewellery of distinction.

Available at DAMARIS NOVIAS and NOVIOS Tel: 952 580976 www.damarisnovias.com Calle Pärroco J.A. Jiménez Higuero s/n (Front of the Court House, Fuengirola)

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 15

HOME DECOR >

Fill your Home with Seasonal Style

Get your home ready for Christmas in no time at all with these simple decorating ideas • Hang big, bold paper stars and snowflakes low over the table • Use gift labels as pretty place-setting name tags • Frame Christmas cards to make a seasonal piece of wall art

CREATE A CANDLE DISPLAY Put a poinsettia wreath around a simple hurricane vase LIGHT UP A LANTERN Baubles and lights aren’t just for the trees — fill a lantern with them to sparkle on the side table

MAKE A CENTREPIECE Use a tea cup to stake a side plate on a dinner plate and top with another cup to make a cake stand

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WHITE DESIGN CO.

CREATE PLACE SETTINGS Use candy canes as party favours and name card holders

• Decorate a plain mirror with deep red poinsettias • Use baubles all over; in lanterns and hanging in garlands • Add extra dashes of red by using tealight holders as vases for winter blooms

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DECORATE WITH GIFTS A host of giftwrapped candles will look great before you give them away

• Add inviting fragrance with cranberry, orange or cinnamon-scented candles • Keep a few extra presents wrapped up ready for unexpected guests • Store everyday clutter away in console drawers

Porcelain Christmas Decorations €10 each

For The Tree 50 Pack Baubles €6

Available in gold, silver, red, bronze, burgundy & champagne

Christmas Crackers, Tree Toppers plus much more…

Luxury Wreath €30

Brocade Table Runner €12

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Bedroom HOME DĂ&#x2030;COR >

Colour, texture, comfort and style are key elements in a well-planned bedroom

18 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM 18 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Oasis

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 19 DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 19

Home Décor >

Photo courtesy of White Design Co.

Photo courtesy of Roche Bobois

20 20 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Getting a good night’s sleep is a top priority for all of us. We don’t need scientists to tell us we can think, move and act with more energy and precision when we’ve slept well.

The colour of the walls, the window treatment and the floor covering play a part in the overall visual impact: the bedroom’s aura. How you decorate will change with the times along with your age and situation. The choices are varied and imaginative.

For those who are looking for a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere in which to wind-down, neutral shades and patterns inspired by nature will provide a soothing balance. Pastel floral hues, white and wood tones, simple furniture lines and bare floors allow the room to breathe and the senses to rest.

If you are happiest amid layers of colour and pattern, the romance of a traditional bedroom is a joyous mix of fluffy duvets covered in cotton chintz, lavish window treatments and plush carpets. The bed is the focal point, perhaps an antique brass or wrought-iron frame, a four poster or a bed with a special headboard either padded in luxurious fabric or ornately carved.

A bedroom with a more masculine sensitivity can be a mix of the tranquil and traditional.

Fabrics such as flannel, wool and tweed, inspired by men’s suits, will create a cozy men’s den atmosphere. We’ve just heard about the first automotive/bed collaboration - a hot new bed, the stylish Tonino Lamborghini, by Magniflex Mattress.

Contemporary bedroom designs are a mix of the dramatic and the sleek. A small condo bedroom should make the most of reflective surfaces to open the space and choose theatrical black and white to set the mood. Blackpainted shadow stripes are broken up by a large mirror, against which sits the modern black-and-chrome headboard.

Decor is important to us, but it’s what lies under the sheets that makes the biggest impact on a good night’s sleep. During the past five years, the demand for better sleeping products has exploded. Consumers are more educated about what it takes to have a healthy sleep and are looking for good support with a plush feel.

Mattress materials now include bamboo, organic wood and cotton, shredded rubber and buckwheat hulls, to name a few.

Aromatherapy continues to be a key trend for promoting relaxation, and it now goes beyond having a scented candle in a safe container by the bed. Using intricate nanotechnology, Magniflex is infusing mattresses with lavender and other essential oils. The scent and therapeutic benefits of the lavender-infused >>

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 21

Home Décor >

The Cologne Collection from Yorkshire Linen

mattress will last for five to seven years, and you can remove the mattress covering and wash it without losing the scent.

The ambiance is important. However, the best part of your bedroom is not what you see, but what you feel and the surrounding scents. A mattress suited to your body type and sleeping patterns, a good pillow, luxurious smooth sheets and a little aromatherapy are sure to provide sweet dreams.

WHICH FABRICS WHERE? Despite the best efforts of some, the minimal box house with acres of uncovered glass and one designer chair has never won over most homeowners.

People love to be surrounded by the warmth and texture of fabrics draped windows, upholstered chairs and couches, massed together fabrics in cushions and throws. Fortunately, we are blessed with a number of experienced textile houses, as well as shops staffed by people who love fabrics and know what works. In addition to fine local brands, we have access to an eye-watering array of labels from Europe, England, Italy, Spain, and more.

How then do you choose the right fabric for your home? As one experienced designer says: “the biggest problem with fabrics is simply that there are too many of them. Making a commitment to the one or two or three perfect choices for the job is no easy task”.

Picking the right fabric comes down to appeal and suitability. As well as choosing the fabric to create the look you want to achieve, you have to be aware of the environment in which you are placing it. Interior textiles have many characteristics and the longevity of your fabric can be extended or reduced by many factors.

Textiles are generally manufactured for specific applications, which fortunately are clearly displayed on the swatch labels and in the sample books. Some are suitable only for drapery or cushions, others for upholstery, while some can do both jobs equally well. And sample books often put together entire “stories” in fabrics, so that you can easily create a terrific scheme, mixing the right materials for the right jobs.

22 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Many textiles are laboratory tested and rated for colour-fastness (known as crocking resistance in the commercial trade) and ultraviolet light resistance (how fast they might fade). However, all fabrics — if exposed long enough to direct sunlight (especially in our infamously high levels of ultraviolet light) — will discolour or break down.

Natural fibres — cotton, hemp, linen or silk — have a beautiful hand-feel and look luxurious. That’s why they’re loved by designers and homeowners alike.

The thing is, because they have less resistance to bacteria and fungi, they are more likely to weaken and rot. Silk is fragile in our sunlight, and cottons and linens tend to move as the atmosphere changes from humid to dry through the year… or day! Therefore, fabric houses are increasingly offering synthetic fibres that mimic the look and feel of the finest natural products.

Synthetic fibres such as polyester and acrylics boast better sunlight resistance and durability, and have good thermal properties. Due to this, they have long lost their heap and nasty reputation.

The Emerald Collection from Alhambra International available at CortIdea, Centro Idea

They are increasingly favoured for both upholstery and window treatments, which have to live up to wear and tear. Their stiffness can be used to great effect for full, opulent drapery. What’s more, to meet an increasingly fashion-driven market, textile technology is creating fabulous new fabrics with gloss, plastic, metal, and even wood or bamboo-like effects.

PRICE IS YOUR ONLY LIMIT. The long life, thermal insulation and attractive draping of curtains and blinds are more about the lining than the textile itself. Don’t skimp with the cheapest linings, even lining so-called ‘thermal fabrics’ for better wear and warmth. And remember that more lavish curtains can be ordered with a bumph (a thin, quilt-like padding) between the lining and the fashion fabric.

Upholstery fabrics have their own rating scales, based on rub tests. For commercial applications, the Wyzenbeek “double-rub” rating simulates a person getting into and out of a chair, rubbing clothing against the upholstery. For general contract upholstery or heavy family use, a double rub abrasion rating of 15,000 is fine; heavy-duty upholstery needs a rating of 30,000 (think hotels or conference rooms), while extreme wear (theatres or airports) goes up to 100,000. Let’s face it, that’s not necessary in your average family room.

Finally, the appearance-change of pile fabrics such as velvet velveteen, corduroy, knitted velour, knitted pile and flock fabrics are tested using the Stoll test. For these, though, lower ratings are fine for low-use pieces — go ahead and cover a chair in your bedroom with a gorgeous fragile silk, or use an embroidered or beaded fabric for cushions or a duvet cover.

Another biggie is to check your upholstery fabrics for their flame resistance and for physical properties such as adversity to piling, seam >>

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A. West Midlands B. London C. Yorkshire

Ghp lniierbg` Lanmm^kl [r Zg] pZee mh pZee \Zki^ml [r <>GMKH B=>: <mkZ' ]^ FbcZl df',%/ +2/.) FbcZl% F§eZ`Z M^e3 2.+ -/* ++* ^&fZbe3 bg_h9\hkmb]^Z'\hf

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DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 23

Photo courtesy of White Design Co.

slippage, or tearing. Check the labels on the back of fabric swatches or ask knowledgeable staff who can quickly put you right.

When you are picking large expanses of fabric for a project (a sofa, for example, can use 12 metres or more, and a room of floor-length drapes might take up more than 40 metres) be aware that colour differences between rolls and batches of fabric are unavoidable. The samples displayed on cards or chips may not exactly match the actual yardage you’re after. So, be sure to ask your fabric supplier to colour-batch or sort rolls of fabric so that furniture or curtains hanging together actually match.

Material is supplied to be cut in the direction shown in sample presentations. If you wish to use fabric another way — for example, centering a large pattern on a sofa back, or hanging stripes horizontally — ensure you order extra.

Finally, don’t give up on that wonderful piece of cloth just because it’s too expensive or not sturdy enough for everyday family use. You can build an entire scheme around one stand-out fabric. Treat yourself to a couple of metres for cushions or a footstool, or for a tiny side chair.

Then bring in other hardier or lower-cost textiles for big sofas or curtains. Be modern and don’t match everything.

Mix and layer multiple colours, textures and patterns to create a vibrant, one-of-a-kind home, brought to life by that key “treasure” textile. H&L Photo courtesy of Roche Bobois

Over 20 years experience.

All types of painting and decorating work undertaken, interiors and exteriors, no job too small.

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Scotties Painter & Decorator T: +34 625 237 611 or +34 627 055 246 email: scottiesdecoart@live.co.uk 24 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 25

HOME DESIGN >

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PIAS CHIMENEAS

Designs Wood, Metal & Glass

Modern Fireplace Forget the traditional brick fireplace with a wood mantel — contemporary fireplace design has never been hotter. From the built-in fireplace to freestanding models, modern fireplace ideas abound for every taste and budget.

TRADITIONAL MEETS MODERN: Make Existing Fireplace Contemporary If you already have a fireplace but would like to give it a more contemporary look, there’s no need to start from scratch. It’s often much easier and less expensive to rework your existing fireplace than it is to have it rebuilt.

If your fireplace is in good repair, simply replacing an ornate mantle with a more streamlined version, or even doing away with the mantel completely, is the best place to start.

If you’d like to change the look of the brick or other materials, you have more options to consider. While painting the brick or other fireplace material is the quickest and least expensive fix, paint is also difficult to remove if you ever want to redecorate.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE FIREBOX For those who do not have a fireplace, the possibilities for a modern one are endless, whether you want a traditional built-in or a freestanding style.

Those looking for the traditional built-in fireplace with a contemporary feel will find that it’s all in the materials. Modern fireplace designs often feature smooth-tiled, concrete or even wood fascias. They have either a minimalistic mantle or no mantle at all. The hearth is also a non-issue: Many modern fireplace designs locate the firebox higher up on the wall, eschewing the hearth altogether. >> 26 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PIAS CHIMENEAS

< Home Design The more adventurous may want to consider one of the many freestanding fireplace units available now. These units take modern fireplaces where they’ve never been before — the middle of the room, suspended from the ceiling, or hanging on the wall.

Freestanding fireplaces vent through the roof like the traditional fireplace, but instead of a chimney they often have a smaller flue.

Another modern fireplace idea is the plug-and-play variety: the electric fireplace.

While it will not give you the warmth or ambiance of a fuel fireplace, an electric fireplace can go in any room in the house, requires little to no maintenance and is available in a variety of styles.

MODERN FIREPLACE, MODERN FUEL Whether you’re remodeling a fireplace or installing a new one, one of the questions that will inevitably arise is fuel for your fire.

Many new fireplace designs have abandoned the old wood-burning model and have replaced it with wood pellets, gas, and gel fuel. All of these are much cleaner and easier than to use than wood, especially if you live in the city or just find it difficult to cut firewood.

For existing fireplaces, inserts are available to convert your wood-burner to pellet, gas, or gel fuel. If you are installing a new fireplace, consider which fuel you’d prefer when deciding on the model you install.

A word of advice about installing a new fireplace or a new insert: Unless you are a professional, this is a job best left to the professional, especially if your fireplace installation involves cutting ventilation holes in the walls or roof.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PIAS CHIMENEAS H&L

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PIAS CHIMENEAS

Chimeneas, Fire and Design, S.L. Calle el Califa 564, 29660 Nueva Andalucia T: 951 275 693 - M: 617 649 583 www.pias-chimeneas.com DECEMBER DECEMBER 20092009 & JANUARY & JANUARY 20102010 27 27

HOME DESIGN >

Home Cinema Heaven

BY CHRIS DUFFILL

Grab a slice of high-tech style and get set for serious entertainment.

When high-tech gadgetry meets interior design the result can often be, well, a bit of an eyesore. On one hand you have your carefully arranged furniture, colour-coordinated décor and the odd work of art; and on the other you have a giant black screen, a stack of equipment and a bundle of wires. One result might be a messy room with a split personality, but the worst result of all is what many call ‘tech denial’. This usually involves ramming the TV as far as possible into the darkest corner, preferably inside some kind of faux-antique cabinet, hiding speakers behind chairs and generally pretending that electricity had never been invented.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re still reading then that probably means you enjoy movies, television and music and are ready to embrace technology and make it part of your home. If you already have a plasma screen the size of a football pitch you probably won’t learn anything new, but for the rest of us there’s some great tips and tricks which can help make your living room into a home cinema — without sacrificing that living room feel.

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION… Seating Consider the position of your seats. It’s important to decide where a new television screen will fit (more on that to follow) and take that into account. So, get your seating position right and the rest — screen and then speaker placement — will follow. However, before you start moving the sofa, make sure you’re clued-up about screens and speakers — the 28 28 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

rest of this article should give you what you need to know — and consider adjustments to the room’s layout if needed. Approaching things this way means that your living room isn’t forgotten in a flurry of tech-driven excitement. It should be possible to bring a home cinema system into a living room without compromising the décor and ruining that carefullydesigned interior.

Televisions - Size and Placement If you want to get the most out of home cinema you should aim for the largest possible widescreen television. But don’t rush out and get a monster-sized screen without taking a tape measure and checking first.

If it dominates the space or causes problems with furniture you’ll have allowed the technology to take over your home.

Make sure that you can sit as directly in front of the screen as possible. Although many screens are quite viewable from an angle, it’s not the best way to sit for long periods and doesn’t do the screen or the picture justice. Try not to place a large television in a corner, as this creates a lot of dead space around it and makes correct speaker placement that little bit more difficult (as you’ll discover next). Although it’s fashionable, don’t be tempted to mount a screen above a fireplace – this not only creates two competing focal points in the room, but also the rising heat from a fire isn’t great news for any screen. Finally, check the location of windows and lights and avoid placing the screen directly opposite them, as this can cause uncomfortable reflections and glare.

Speakers You’ve probably heard of ‘surround sound’ but until you actually hear surround sound fill your living room you’ll be missing out. Although there are setups with a greater number of speakers, the basic requirement is 5 (two at the front, two at the back, and a centre-front speaker for dialogue) plus a subwoofer for low frequency bass. This is commonly known as 5.1 sound.

This is when your seating and room layout will need to work in harmony with your home cinema setup. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to put speakers behind large pieces of furniture — if you can still see the whole speaker from your seat you’re halfway there. The key to getting the best out of 5.1 sound is the placement of the speakers in relation to the listener.

Essentially, the centre-front speaker should be central to the television screen and preferably just above or below the screen itself — this creates the effect that dialogue is coming from the person speaking it on-screen.

The two front speakers should ideally be placed as far away from the screen as possible, equidistant, and angled towards the listener. The two rear speakers should ideally mirror the position of the front speakers, but sit behind and to the sides of the listener — these provide the surround effect, piping the right sound to the right place. The subwoofer, usually a small box, really just gives a satisfying ‘thump’ to things, and can be placed close to the television against the wall. If you have to place your TV in a corner, just make sure you follow the same speaker-placement rules and things will work just as well. Providing you have a home cinema amplifier and a DVD or Blu-ray player capable of 5.1 sound, you’ll become immersed in the soundscape. Saving Private Ryan will probably leave you shell-shocked and concert DVDs will put you right in the middle of the music.>> DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 29

Home Design >

CREATE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT Lighting Apart from being great for creating mood, it’s important to use lighting to create good viewing conditions. Avoid placing bright lights in your line of sight or where they’ll reflect off the screen. Dimmer switches are a great investment too, allowing you to recreate that cosy feeling of a hushed cinema. More complex and expensive automated lighting control systems are available for the more serious enthusiast, but for most of us just turning off the main lighting and dimming lamps will be enough to let you enjoy the show.

Sound and soundproofing Unless you’re afraid of upsetting the neighbours or waking people up late at night, soundproofing can be expensive and unnecessary. Most amplifiers and speakers are powerful enough for the average room – only if you have a large open-plan area might you need a more powerful system. Plus many Spanish houses are built from solid materials, rather than the thin stud walls which do almost nothing to dampen sound and plague many homes in the UK. If you’re considering home cinema at all, it’s worth remembering that different movies do demand different volumes; you won’t get the best out of your movies, or your new system, if you try to watch blockbusters at a volume so low you can hear a pin drop.

TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR FRIEND Okay, so you know where everything will fit, but what about the equipment itself? Well, the world of home cinema is swamped with options and wrapped up in jargon. Yes jargon can be nerdy, but here’s what you need to know to help you choose your equipment: HD/High-Definition In the world of screens resolution is king - the higher the numbers the greater the detail. Some TVs are marketed as ‘HD-ready’, but what 30 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

they won’t tell you is that HD comes in two flavours – full-HD (1080) and lessthan-full-HD (720 or 766). Always buy full-HD. Also, look out for the letters ‘i’ (interlaced) or ‘p’ (progressive scan) after the numbers. These relate to the way the image is displayed, progressive scan creates less flicker, so always go progressive if you can.

HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface. There, I’ve said it. It’s basically a cable which connects screen to amplifier, movie player or other highdefinition device with HDMI connections. One thin cable carries both sound and vision digitally, so no more fuzzy pictures delivered through bulky Scart cables.

Plasma and LCD Each of these display technologies has its pros and cons. Generally, plasma screens have better contrast and remain viewable from fairly extreme angles, whereas LCD screens can suffer from washout in certain lighting conditions. The best advice here is to try before you buy, visit a showroom or ask to visit friends who may already own one. Also, check out in-depth reviews of the latest models in home cinema magazines.

Don’t forget to shop around - there are great deals to be had on flatscreen TVs. Blu-Ray DVDs have been replaced by Blu-ray discs – which basically means high-definition picture quality. Now that you have that HD screen you should really grab yourself a Blu-ray player, a handful of discs, and enjoy your movies in glorious cinema-style.

Upscaling Many DVD players and home cinema amplifiers (amplifiers that distribute video signals to the TV as well as process and output sound) are capable of ‘upscaling’. This means that if you’re playing a DVD, or watching other non-HD material, the picture is artificially upscaled to the HD standard. This can often achieve astonishingly good results and

< Home Design can make standard television broadcasts look much better once they’ve been blown-up to fill larger screens.

HOME CINEMA BELLS AND WHISTLES Okay, so you’ve chosen a great screen, now you need something to hook up to it. If you’re new to home cinema and want to replace your kit, a good place to start is with pre-packaged systems – speakers, subwoofer, amplifier and disc-player packaged and designed to work together. There are larger and more expensive systems on offer, and generally the more you spend the better the quality, but the beauty of these pre-packaged systems is that they’re affordable and the best of them can pack quite a punch; importantly, the speakers tend to be both small and attractive, which means they’ll enhance rather than dominate your décor.

With so many all-in-one-box systems to choose from it’s impossible to cover them all, so here’s a great example to get you started: The Panasonic SC-BT205 Blu-ray Home Cinema System.

The first thing you’ll notice about this system is the size — it’s compact, designed to fit almost anywhere. With simple lines and sophisticated looks which won’t dominate your interior, the four main speakers are floor-standing, allowing for easy placement. A subwoofer needs to be housed in a large box to achieve its convincing sub-bass sound, but this one is surprisingly slim; the centre dialogue speaker is easy on the eye too. However, the key component here is the combined Blu-ray and home cinema amplifier. Again, it’s slim, but as well as delivering a crisp high-definition picture from Blu-ray discs, it’s also able to decode digital audio in several formats, including Dolby Digital, and output it all to the 5.1 speaker setup with various equalisation and surround settings.

It also outputs video in progressive scan mode for a flicker-free picture.

To top it all, the Blu-ray player/amplifier even features a hidden iPod dock, which means that you can plug your digital music collection right into the system. It retails from around £500 in the UK, which is a great price for an all-in-one-box system. Many independent reviews claim that it performs exceptionally well regardless of its price-tag, so as an entrylevel home cinema system it’s hard to beat.

Relax and enjoy By taking the time to arrange your room in harmony with home cinema technology you really can enjoy the best of both worlds — a living space which is homely, comfortable, well designed, and able to provide instant cutting-edge entertainment.

Christmas is just around the corner. That means DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and television specials. Time to experience them in widescreen, highdefinition, high-fidelity splendour – all from the comfort of your living room. Merry Christmas! H&L DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 31

Home Design >

Hot Gadgets!

It’s that time of year again. If you’ve read this edition’s article on home cinema, you may already have itchy gadget fingers. No matter how big or how small your Christmas stocking may be, there’s always room for some of the very best gadgets of 2009.

Sony PlayStation 3 More than just a high-definition games console, the PS3 can surf the internet, play mp3s and DVDs, and you can even browse your photo collection on your TV. The ace up its sleeve is the built-in Blu-ray disc player. At around £225* the PS3 is one of the cheapest ways to get into Blu-ray and it has become a highly-rated player in its own right, not to mention an amazing all-round media hub for home-entertainment.

Read more at: www.uk.playstation.com/ps3

Panasonic HDC-SD200 If you’re into making home movies and want to see them in glorious high-definition you can’t do much better than this award-winning full-HD camcorder from Panasonic. It boasts stunning images, a touch-screen interface and even takes 10.6 Megapixel still photos. Costing around £550*, the SD200 records directly to a removable memory card, which means no more tapes and makes for a smaller, lighter camcorder. Hook this up to your TV with the built-in HDMI port and you’re all set for putting your collection of comedy family mishaps on the big screen for all to see.

Read more at: www.panasonic.co.uk

Apple iPod Touch 32GB It’s hard to imagine a world without the iPod. Now Apple have created the next best thing to the iPhone – the iPod Touch. Although it comes in 8GB and 64GB varieties, we feel that the 32GB model offers the best value for money. Capable of storing up to 7,000 songs, 40,000 photos or 40 hours of video, the iPod Touch also allows you to surf the web and access emails through its built-in Wi-Fi connection. Download games and music from Apple’s iTunes website and you’re away. Oh, and don’t forget the iPod Touch’s enviably large screen and drop-dead gorgeous looks.

At around £220* it’s not the cheapest digital music player you can find, but the iPod Touch is so much more than ‘just’ another music player.

Read more at: www.apple.com/uk/ipodtouch

Photo Courtesy of Apple

Solar Powered Plant Pot Had enough of all those black and silver gadgets cluttering up the place? Well, here’s a gadget to brighten your garden and flash your high-tech credentials to the outside world. Just place one of these stylish plant pots in a place that will catch the light and the pot’s hidden batteries will charge-up; come nightfall you’ll get between 4-8 hours of light from the pot itself, illuminating the garden with a gentle entrancing light. With prices from £19.95*, it comes in both white and multicolour versions. Why not grow and glow!

Read more at: www.firebox.com 32 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

*all prices quoted are average UK prices at time of print

< Interview

Gold on Glass

Through sheer determination and dedication Sally Morgan, owner of Gold on Glass, has created a business from a life long passion for creativity and design.

Home & Lifestyle Magazine speaks to her about her designs and her future.

What is it you create and what makes it different?

What can we expect to see in the ranges you’ve been working on?

I create pieces of art by applying designs in gold leaf onto sheet glass. The glass remains completely transparent so, when the piece is mounted, you get the impression that the gold design is ‘floating’ on your wall. The transparency of glass has always fascinated me and I suppose that’s what makes my pieces different, because I don’t disguise this feature. It’s also the reason my pieces are easy to fit into an interior, as you don’t have to consider what colours in the ‘painting’ will go with the colours in your room.

How did you come up with the idea?

In December 2006 I was going through something of a life-review. I had just bought a property and was pondering the fact that since giving up a job I loved when I had my children, some seven years previous, I hadn’t really found anything remotely fulfilling. I’m one of those people who puts 110% into my work, so it’s important that I get something out of what I’m doing. I started considering materials that grab my attention, which of course quickly took me to glass, and metals — precious and otherwise — and how I might combine the two.

40cm x 40cm Fern leaves

The pieces are stunning, do they take long to make?

Actually, much longer than I’d like. It’s quite a drawnout process and I’m a bit of a perfectionist and quite capable of driving everyone, including myself, mad in making sure that every stage of the production is done properly. But ultimately I think it’s reflected in the final pieces.

It took me two years of experimenting to create my first tried and tested piece to my satisfaction. By this time my disposable income was reduced to zero. I had no money to invest in starting my business, so I set about producing a few designs that demonstrated the potential diversity of my art with what raw materials I had remaining.

went back to the drawing board. Not being content with the one-off designs that I had originally created, I now started to outline whole ranges.

I currently have a project in the Caribbean with the people I first met in London, but unfortunately I won’t be required on site! A little closer to home, I have my pieces going into a new shop that will be opening in January and another I will be supplying in December.

I’m also working on another project in conjunction with a shop in Marbella that will undoubtedly raise a few eyebrows. I’ll keep you posted in future issues of Home & Lifestyle Magazine as to who is carrying what.

I have quite a few ranges in various stages of production: Leave the Fur on the Animal, where you’ll find the very popular zebra pelt and a snow leopard pelt; Take it Personally, where you can find examples of portraits, the finger print, hand print, etc., which make great presents; Homage to Iconic Designs, where you’ll find some old classics like damask, dog-tooth and fleur-de-lis, with some added quirks of course; and Cultural Symbolism that has some really attention-grabbing pieces, and you can of course see the Koi Carp, which are proving very popular.

The pieces can also be creatively mounted. For example, the zebra pelt pictured is mounted absolutely level, but when I originally designed the piece, it was intended to be hung at a slight angle, reminiscent of how you hang a real pelt on the wall.

For the Koi Carp, each Carp is comprised of two square pieces of glass. If you line up the squares of two or more Carp they are designed to look as though they are swimming around each other. You can end up with a veritable pond on your walls!

Are you worried that someone will eventually copy you?

These two individual Koi Carp (4 square pieces of glass)

You’re kidding — what a compliment. I have sufficient legal cover now, but to be honest, the only thing that concerns me is that copycats might not be as vigorous with their testing as I have been and that they might produce an inferior product that, by its very nature, discredits mine. Buyer beware. But all my pieces are signed.

Zebra Pelt

Had anyone actually seen them at this time?

90cm x 70cm During June/July this year I took my pieces to a couple of places in Marbella and one in London. The response was so gratifying. Although I was only showing samples, I think the interior designers I took it to could recognise its potential.

When did things start to turn around?

In September I received a call from a very respected interior design firm in the UK as a response to an advert I had in a UK magazine. The ball started rolling from there. Within just two days of the call I was also offered a small investment. This changed everything for me and I literally

Telephone (0034) 610 530 433 www.goldonglass.co.uk e-mail info@goldonglass.co.uk DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 33

HOME DÉCOR >

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CORT IDEA (carpets by EGE)

Luxury & Colour

Nowadays we are being exposed to more carpet colours, patterns and textures than ever before. First, consumers are becoming more daring in their carpet choices. And second, playing it safe with the beige-carpetthroughout syndrome is pretty much a thing of the past.

tal grasses. Instead of putting them in glass vases, place them in your favourite basket or a colourful bowl that picks up the colour of your new carpet.

Bring in plants (real or silk) to hang in the windows. If you’re worried about dripping water or plant fertilizer discolouring your furniture, woodwork or carpet, then silk is probably better.

How about changing one chair in your “green room” to wicker? The new wicker colours are luscious, or you can create your own special look, maybe in greens or companion whites.

So what’s new when it comes to carpet? Well, carpets are getting softer. How wonderful to be able to laze about on your new carpet without worrying that you’ve sacrificed performance.

If you are skeptical and want to know more, your sales professional can provide scientific data on laboratory-conducted wear tests that simulate many years of foot traffic. Soft-fibre carpets have been around long enough that your sales professional should be able to talk about them from personal experience.

Now, on to fashion, colour and style. We’re seeing the return of wonderful plaids, traditional tartans in reds, and of course the Black Watch plaid of blues and greens. There are also some beautiful pastel plaids with soft huggable colours.

Animal prints have also become popular, their colours and familiar images making them neutrals that you can decorate and redecorate around. Animal prints are also being used as runners in hallways and strikingly on staircases.

Low-level loop carpet is developing some new character with dots, diamonds, checks and other colours and designs tufted in. That means that we can coordinate our flooring and home decor as we do our wardrobe. Experiment by taking items to your flooring retailer, such as an embroidered pillow that picks up >>

These days we tend to adopt the colours we’re wearing to the colours in our homes: lemon yellow, lime green and red are particularly fashionable at the moment. These fashion colours are trickling down to our home furnishings in pillows, tableware (including fun flatware) and to our floors. Look at the new carpet fashion colours ranging from deep reds and soft “ice cream” colours to lots of wonderful summery greens.

These greens are not the lime greens we’re wearing but rather toneddown versions. We’ve never seen so many new and different colours or patterns. From the very bright to summer pastels, you’re bound to find what you need.

By the way, green is now considered one of the “new neutrals.” That means you can easily turn one of your rooms into your “outside” room.

By choosing your favorite green colour and having it year round, you’re bringing the outdoors in.

It’s easy to accessorise your carpet and decor with tall green ornamen34 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

Simply Beautiful

FLOORS

Luxury vinyl flooring …

BEAUTIFUL, STYLISH and INNOVATIVE

ng xisti r e r u oo yo over eramic fl d i a be l ble or c Graphite Can mar

Spring Oak

Winter Oak

Spanish Slate

Limestone

Solid in nature and its ability to flex or “give” a little when walked on, makes customised luxury vinyl one of the most resilient and versatile flooring products available today. Natural Habitat in Mijas Costa supplies and installs the Karndean International brand, which offers the look and feel of natural materials with none of the practical drawbacks. It’s a product that will enhance any room in your home. Wooden-effect planks that are quiet underfoot, elegant antique ceramic tiles that never crack and intricate mosaic designs that always feel warm. As well as being affordable and versatile, there’s also a huge spectrum of colours, sizes and patterns to choose from, which will ensure that you will find a unique floor that’s perfect for your home. Beyond their new looks, resilient vinyls have really been updated with new wear layers and protective coatings which protect the surface layer against typical scratches and also protect the pattern beneath.

What are its practical features and benefits?

Realistic. Whether it’s hand-crafted wood or natural stone tiles, textured oak or a terracotta effect, our products perfectly replicate the look and feel of nature with the versatility of vinyl. This means you can have the effect of natural, stylish flooring with none of the disadvantages.

Warm and quiet. Elegant slate, classic stone and contemporary wooden planks all look gorgeous in the modern home. Our floors recreate these desirable styles with no noisy floorboards or chilly stone tiles to contend with.

Durable and low-maintenance. Our flooring has been crafted to withstand the toughest environments, from a child’s nursery to high street stores. This means your floor won’t splinter, chip or crack under strain. And it will always look its best, with minimum effort.

Hygienic and versatile. In a family home, hygiene is particularly important. Bacteria and dirt cannot latch into cracks, and surfaces simply wipe clean. More than that, our stylish flooring can tackle almost anything — from bathroom spillages to kitchen calamities.

Individual. From slate to ceramic, oak to pine, each of our ranges has a crafted, individual feel. And with a large array of products, coupled with a diverse range of design and border options, there’s scope to create your own unique, personalised look.

Affordable. That sought after, hand crafted look can be costly. A superb natural effect with added durability at excellent value for money, you’ll be surprised just how affordable such high quality products can be.

One of the biggest advantages is that our professional fitting team can lay your new flooring on top of your existing marble or ceramic floor. So whether you’d like to change the look of one or maybe all of your floors, Natural Habitat has a solution for you.

Selected ranges are also ideal for commercial flooring solutions, including shops, bars, and restaurants.

Please contact Simon and Melanie Brown for more information or to arrange on appointment. We can visit you at your home or work premises to discuss your needs and help you choose the right product for you.

N AT U R A L H A B I TAT

A N E S TA B L I S H E D A N D R E L I A B L E F A M I LY B U S I N E S S I N T H E H E A R T O F L A C A L A D E M I J A S Co m e r c i a l A - 1 5 E d i f i c i o A 2 9 6 4 9 , L a C a l a de Mijas, Mijas Costa, N340 La Cala Junction (Opposite Sol Bank) 9 5 2 4 9 2 154 I 637 787 980 I 637 787 953

Home Décor >

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CORT IDEA (carpets by EGE)

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING A CARPET OR RUG 1. TWIST. The tighter it is, the more the carpet resists crushing, matting and texture changes.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

2. CONSTRUCTION. With the explosion of new carpet styles and fashions in recent years, why not go beyond textures; explore stylish construction types like the loop and level-cut look.

3. FIBRE. The tight molecular structure of Type 6,6 Nylon Bulked Continuous fibre resists stains and is strong enough to stand up to heavy traffic.

4. STAIN AND SOIL PROTECTION. Not all stain and soil protection is the same.

Select a brand you know and trust, and look for a carpet that features both a soil and stain warranty.

5. ANTI-STATIC. Lifetime anti-static is important for your comfort –– and your electronics.

36 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

the lighter colours. Colour variations in some carpet makes it easy to change your accessories with the seasons, essentially giving you a new or new-feeling room every 90 days!

Pattern-on-pattern is still hot, and cut-and-loops in finer denier yarns — coupled with the softer fibres — are producing luscious feeling and gorgeous looking carpet. Look for these in more design-oriented >>

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CORT IDEA (carpets by EGE)

stores which carry better carpets. Unusual graphic patterns, often used in more commercial settings (such as hotel lobbies and meeting rooms) are finding their way into private homes.

And why not? The patterns are vibrant and the materials are made for heavy traffic –– perfect for active homes.

When purchasing carpet it’s easy to look at the fashion, colour and pattern that’s gone into it. One may think about what it’s made of, such as fiber, but rarely (if ever) does anyone look at the back of the carpet. One sign of quality to look for are those little squares on the back of a tufted carpet.

T he smaller and closer together, the better the quality (and, most likely, the higher the cost too). Every carpet has a backing — the foundation that a carpet is built upon, affecting how it functions over its entire life. Backing has a direct bearing on carpet’s life, beauty and softness.

As a mainstream carpet fibre, olefin has certainly reached a new peak in a patterned broadloom we saw recently, boasting one million “points” per square inch (points being individual tufts). The result is a very dense and durable product. Olefin has always been very stain-resistant but was too often relegated, unnecessarily so, to less expensive carpets. Nowadays, olefin is available at many points of sale and in a range of qualities.

Finally, don’t forget what goes under the carpet. Consider cushioning that has a moisture barrier as well as enzyme technology that will fight odours. You don’t have to have messy kids or pets to purchase this type of cushion. Industry statistics tell us that the average household experiences carpet spills seven times a year. H&L

Wishing everyone a healthly and prosperous New Year

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CORT IDEA (carpets by EGE)

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 37

HOME DESIGN >

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

Closets Under Control Is your bedroom wardrobe filled with teeteringmasses of clothing ready to fall on your head?

Do you have garments you never wear because they’re hidden in piles of clothing? Need more storage space? If so, it’s time to create order out of chaos and organise your closet.

GETTING STARTED Closet organisation is a three-step process: getting rid of stuff, grouping like objects together, and creatively using your space. You should schedule two to three hours for this project.

Before beginning, set up bags marked: Mend, To Cleaners, Give Away, Garage Sale. Keep a bowl close by to hold buttons, coins and other loose objects you find. You’ll be removing and sorting each item in your closet, so clear your bed and other surfaces in order to pile clothing of one kind together.

Now it’s time to be honest. As you remove each article of clothing, ask yourself if you really like it, if you’ve worn it in the past year, or whether you’ll ever really wear it again. If not, get rid of it!

Then sort your clothing by type — dress shirts in one pile, pants in another, etc.

ASSESS YOUR SPACE NEEDS After you’ve narrowed down your wardrobe and grouped items by type, the next step is to assess what kind of hanging and shelf space you’ll need.

• Transfer your hanging garments onto matching hangers. Having the same size and shape hangers keeps all your clothing in view, helps prevent wrinkles and gives a tidier look. Put 38 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

suits or other sets on one hanger to save space.

• Hang garments of the same length next to each other: jackets and (folded over) pants next to blouses, dresses next to coats, etc. If you plan on buying a closet system, measure the horizontal space each length of garments require.

• Next, fold sweaters, T-shirts, scarves, etc., and stack in 12 to 16-inch piles (overly tall stacks fall over or turn into a gnarled mess when you remove something). Line up shoes and purses, stack up hats, etc., and measure how much horizontal space you’ll need.

Once you’ve assessed your needs you can improvise your own closet system, purchase components to make your own, or invest in a customized system installed by a pro.

Having a tidy closet can help reduce stress and increase the enjoyment of your home. Be creative with your limited closet space and have fun getting organised. H&L PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTA CARPETS

< Home Design

How the crisis has affected the decoration shops?

How to

increase the value of my Home?

Last winter was a challenging season for interior design shops, with many being forced to close their doors. Particularly in the Costa del Sol, the weakening of the pound against the euro had an impact during the winter season — in most sectors, including interior design, projects were postponed.

“During last winter people haven’t thought much about buying a new flat, but they’ve still decorated their own homes, to better match their needs and tastes.” Says Miika Ihander, owner of Costa-Carpet.

Miika continues: “But. this Autumn, the property market has been stimulated, especially for many Finnish and Scandinavians who seem best prepared to buy flats. In fact, many of our clients have told us that they’ve just bought a new house.”

Costa-Carpet is a decorating shop, wellknown for their wide selection of rugs and carpets, fitted wardrobes with sliding doors, and Scandinavian-style beds and top mattresses. Costa-Carpet is in the heart of the decoration business, along the Carretera de Mijas, a few kilometers from the center of Fuengirola.

Interior design and renovation services are offered. Renovating a home can happen, of course, as soon the home-owner is happy to undertake a large project, but beautiful interior design and working facilities can increase the value of a home and invite easier and faster property sales.

“In fact, even if the economy brings difficult times, our company is clearly having a better year than in previous years. Suitably priced rugs and carpets, beds, and wardrobes have all sold in great numbers. These items create comfort and functionality for a home and, at the same time,

increase the value of your property” says Miika.

During this difficult time for interior design firms, many have been forced to give up their high prices. In the past, this policy - just as much as high pricing - has driven many companies to cease trading. The over-pricing of products doesn’t bring customers into stores.

“Our trump cards have always been high-quality products, reasonable prices and reliable service; they’re certainly the things which develop strong sales for the company during this period. Loyal customers are very important to us and their positive experience with our business leads them to recommend us to their friends and neighbours.”

Good service and reliability are certainly things that we reflect in out new interior design projects and in our remodelling of homes. Currently, interior design shops offer an affordable price level to suit the requirements of the interior. Customers are more important than ever for companies. It’s the right time to demand good service.

It’s time to decorate — it will raise your property value! H&L

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 39

HOME IMPROVEMENT >

“Greening”

Is Sprouting Up All Over

“Greenovation Saves you Money, now and later” We’ve all heard often enough that it’s time to start thinking and acting green. We’re depleting the Earth’s resources in record amounts, and it’s becoming more and more clear that we need to start thinking in terms of protecting and preserving the Earth and her resources when we build. Despite all the public knowledge about the importance of sustainable and renewable building practices, there’s still a lot of resistance to the idea of “going green”. One of the biggest reasons is the notion that it’s more expensive to use sustainable materials and consider environmental issues.

Obviously, it’s not financially feasible for most of us to completely gut our homes and replace them with totally green and environmentally-responsible buildings, but that’s not the only way to accomplish the goal of living a greener life. There are a lot of things that you can do on a shoestring budget that don’t require any major investment of either time or energy. You can take bigger steps toward living a greener life when you’re ready to make major renovations to your home. While there’s a general belief that choosing greener products and alternatives will cost you more money, that’s not always true. In many cases, the greener alternative costs no more than, or even less than, the traditional option. In nearly all cases, you’ll make up any additional cost over the course of a few years. Take a look at what it will cost you to choose green in some of these popular home renovations: REPAINTING/RE-SIDING Going to repaint or re-side your house? Choose a light colour. Light-coloured paint costs no more than any other colour, but it can significantly reduce the amount of energy you’ll use to cool your home because it reflects heat instead of absorbing it.

Savings: Lots on your electric bill By the way, the same applies to indoor spaces. If you’re repainting bedrooms, living rooms and >> 40 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Six Simple Ways to Green Your Home 1. Install high-efficiency water systems (drip, bubble, or low-flow sprinklers, showerheads, faucets, and toilets).

Low-flow showerheads and faucets alone can save over 45 gallons of water each day.

2. The average household tosses 500 lbs. of perfectly biodegradable kitchen and garden waste each year. Create a compost for nutrient-rich plant soil.

3. To reduce water usage during the hot summer months, lay mulch on the tops of planting beds for its cooling effect.

4. Use low/no-VOC paint, since “volatile organic compounds” are linked to headaches and nervous-system damage.

5. Save water, energy and cold hard cash by installing Energy Star appliances.

6. Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). Each CFL can save more than €30 in electricity bills over the lamp’s lifetime.

The eco-friendly revolutionary heating system that brings the healing warmth of the sun into your home or workplace.

This amazing heating system produces gentle, warm waves using FIR (Far Infrared Ray) technology — to create the effects of sunshine, without the harmful ultraviolet rays. That warmth is absorbed by the walls, floor and ceiling of the room — rather than heating the air like conventional systems. The warm wave heat is then projected evenly back into the room. Cold spots in the room, along with condensation, damp and mould, quickly disappear. As the air is not being heated, heat is also not lost when the door is opened.

The elegant glass Warmwave heating panels are so simple to use. You can just hang them on the wall like a picture (or even on the ceiling), plug in to the nearest electrical socket and within minutes your room is warm and cosy — no need for plumbers or tradesmen. Warmwave heating is perfect for your home, especially bathrooms and conservatories, lofts and basements; for holiday homes, work premises — anywhere, in fact, that needs cheap, clean, instant warmth.

Warmwave heaters produce no carbon emissions, are 100% efficient and can save up to 50% of your current heating costs.

Installed in minutes

The size of the heater you need depends on the capacity of the room you need to heat. But, because the output of a Warmwave heater is multiplied by 1.5, you will get a lot more heat from a small heater. For example, a 1000kw Warmwave heater will produce 1500kw of output.

All Warmwave heaters are covered by a twoyear manufacturers guarantee. Because there are no moving parts to maintain or service the practical life of a Warmwave heater is much longer.

ERADICATION OF CONDENSATION, DAMP AND MOULD Warmwave heating not only provides a gentle allround heat, but it also eradicates condensation, damp and, of course, mould which develops as a result of condensation. Because the warm waves produced by Warmwave heaters penetrate the fabric of the room, just like sunshine in summer, the walls of your rooms will dry out, eradicating humidity, damp and mould forever.

Warmwave heating is perfect for eradicating damp in holiday homes and second properties that are not lived in all year round. Imagine, never again having to experience the musty smell and damp bedding of a holiday home that has been

No plumbing or pipe work required

Cheaper than any gas central heating system

unoccupied. The warmwave heated mirrors are ideal for keeping bathrooms free of condensation.

HEALTH BENEFITS Because Warmwave heaters use Far Infrared Ray technology, it also provides you with the following health benefits of Far Infrared Therapy: increases metabolism and blood flow; reduces hypertension and the chances of blood clots; improves the elasticity of arterial walls; flushes toxins from the lymph areas; reduces the acidity in our bodies; improves the immune system; reduces pain associated with all types of Arthritis; increases the extensibility of collagen (fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue); relieves muscle spasms; reduces joint stiffness; reduces edema (an accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities); reduces exudates (substances oozing from the skin); successfully used to aid weight control; reduces sinus congestions and migraine pressures; relieves headache tension and pain; helps to heal skin burns and reduces scaring; reduces inflammatory skin conditions, like psoriasis; reduces cellulite dimpling.

Save up to 50% of your heating costs

Welcome to the NEW Warmwave Heating Panels.

Costs as low as 3 cents per-hour to run

Pure elegance in glass design.

The warmwave system includes the advantages of an Integrated Damp Control System — no more damp or condensation. Super light and super slim design. Environmentally friendly — no emissions, no noise. No maintenance or servicing required. Easy installation.

AII warmwave heating panels are guaranteed to provide a healthy and comfortable heat by the distribution of warm waves throughout the room.

AII power used is transformed into heat.

Suitable for every room in your home, including lofts, basements, conservatories, terraces and galleries.

Available in a variety of stunning glass and marble finishes.

For more information contact Lesley or Dave:

(+34) 672 354471 or (+34) 952 388 558 www.warmwaveandalucia.com

warmwaveandalucia@gmall.com

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 41

Home Improvement >

other living spaces, consider light colours with at least 50% reflectance.

UPGRADING KITCHEN/LAUNDRY APPLIANCES Is it time for a new look in your kitchen? Look for the Energy Star whenever you buy appliances. You can save up to €500 a year in energy costs by replacing your current appliances with Energy Star rated appliances.

You’ll also see a bonus when it’s time to sell — kitchen upgrades and new energy-efficient appliances are a huge selling point with home buyers.

Additional cost: Depends on appliances and styles chosen Savings: Up to €500 annually Buying a new clothes dryer? One that uses a sensor to time drying rather than a timer can save you up to 15% in energy costs by reducing the amount of time your dryer runs. Added bonus — you’ll reduce the wear and tear on your clothes from over-drying.

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS Multiple shower heads at different levels may be temptingly luxurious, but you get points as a greener home if each shower in your home has one shower head. Make it a low flow shower head to reduce water usage, and add a low flow toilet to reduce water usage even further. According to the EPA, toilet flushing accounts for 30-40% of in-home water use.

Additional Cost: Comparable to conventional fixtures Savings: Thousands of gallons of water annually NEW ROOF OR ROOF REPAIRS A light-coloured roof will serve the same effect as light-coloured exterior walls. In addition, there are other things you can do when replacing a roof that will cut energy use and conserve resources. Those include adding skylights and installing a rainwater collection system.

Additional cost: Depends on the materials chosen.

Savings: Hundreds in energy savings and thousands of gallons of water LANDSCAPING AND OUTDOORS If you’re redesigning your outdoor space, you’ll find some surprising ways to reduce your use of energy and increase the efficiency of your home. For instance, the shade from a pair of trees on the south side of

42 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

your house can reduce your cooling costs during the warmer months.

If you choose deciduous trees, you’ll have shade in the summer months and sunlight during the winter months. Xeriscaping can save you the cost of a sprinkler system, since native plants are designed to flourish on nature’s sprinkling, with no assistance from man-made irrigation.

ADDING A POOL OR SPA If you’re planning to add a pool or spa to your property, be sure you include an installed cover that is easy to use. The greatest water loss from pools and spas is through evaporation, so an installed, convenient and easy-to-use cover can help reduce your water use. Install a sanitation system that reduces the need for chlorine and other chemicals. A solar pool heating system can virtually eliminate the costs of heating an outdoor swimming pool.

REPLACING HOT WATER HEATER When it’s time to replace your hot water heater, there are a number of energy-friendly alternatives to traditional hot water tank heaters. Solar hot water heaters can reduce your utility costs by €150-€500 a year, depending on whether you use them as a complement to regular heaters or on their own. If you’re not ready to make the plunge to solar, there are low-energy electric and gas alternatives. Like any other appliance, if you shop for the Energy Star, you’ll be buying a hot water heater that is highly rated for efficiency.

NEW FLOORS AND ROOM ADDITIONS Choose sustainable materials for new room additions and floors. Bamboo floors are one alternative, though some question any product that has to be shipped across the world. Other options include using reclaimed wood for floors and for building, often available at less than the cost of new wood.

No matter what renovations you’re doing, you’ll find that there are green alternatives that aren’t much more expensive than the traditional alternatives, and many that cost even less. When you factor in the ongoing savings and the added value to your home, green is the best way to go. H&L

Christmas Spirit at Flor Valentin

Once again, this year you will have the opportunity of dropping by the Christmas market and getting into the spirit of the season. You will be able to find anything and everything for Christmas: elves, decorations and ornaments; seasonal flora and fauna, Christmas trees, etc. You can meet Santa, shop for gifts, confectionaries or Christmas foods, and have a cup of traditional Scandinavian glögg and Danish doughnuts while the Swedish Lucia parade entertain you. The Christmas trees have been directly imported from the Danish forests and will provide the perfect Christmas with their authentic odour of pine-needles.

Remember to reserve your tree well in advance, since there will be limited stock available.

All this takes place on the big Christmas market, in the parking lot behind Centro Idea, on the Mijas road, Saturday the 12th of December, from 10am to 4pm.

But you can already experience the special Christmas spirit at Flor Valentin. Christmas decorations, ornaments and elves; traditional advent candle wreaths, advent candle displays, and a lovely Christmas wreath for the door are just some of the beautiful things that have been available since the beginning of November. All the

decorations are handmade from scratch. You can also order your own Christmas decorations and add your own touch to it, so it will perfectly match your own personal style and home.

Don’t forget to drop by the new shop, Flor Valentin 2, which is located by the main entrance to Centro Idea. The store opened for business on the fifth of October.

Here you will find a slightly more modern seasonal spirit, along with other stunning examples of arts and crafts.

Also, come and see the new “Medusa” models. Medusa Copenhagen are, among other things, known for their handmade gnomes and elves, especially for the house-elf “Johannes” (John).

Uniquely, Flor Valentin can, as the only supplier in Spain, present you with this “Medusa" collection.

All figurines are made as limited editions and are therefore considered collectibles.

Flor Valentin can also create beautiful floral arrangments to help make sure that your wedding will be absolutely perfect.

We look forward to seeing you at Flor Valentin.

Centro Idea, Ctra. de Mijas, Km 3,6 29650, Mijas Tel: 951 311 086 • Mob: 669 06 1234 • www.florvalentin.es Mon-Fri 11-18 • Sat 10-14 DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 43

party season essential

20 10

Living it … Loving it !

dress

cardigan

Home

Lifesty

le

Hiper Andalucia - Mijas Costa Andalucia 29050 Malaga - Centre Larios Auenida, De la Auropa 29002 Las Rampas, Fuengirola 29040 Velez - Avda.JuanCarlos1 Parque de Activiadades PA-B1a Centro Comercial El Ingenio 29740 Torre De Mar Velez Malaga 29700 Coin - Centro Comercial La Trocha, Carretera Coin Cartama KM. 1, CP/ 29100 Coin 44 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

… tune in to Spectrum FM 105.5

< Custom, Hand-Built Sheds Our hand-built sheds are made to customers requirements and can duplicate any design you desire. All our sheds are built using only quality treated timber. A selection of woods are available with felt roofs if required, including various wood preserves to ensure that your shed fares well in the elements.

Garden Gazebos > with a Difference

Square Line Guttering Guttering - 4 metre length 14.00 €

Our thatched wooden gazebos and outdoor structures create a stunning focal point for either a contemporary or traditional design garden. Each uniquely designed wood structure reflects a style of outdoor living that is uncomplicated, relaxed and elemental in its approach to colour and textures.

Wishing all our clients and customers a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year AIM British Building Supplies Las Chapas Poligono (behind petrol station) Elviria Tel: 0034 952 835 172 www.abbs.es • email: aimwholesale@hotmail.co.uk

Jointers

3.00 €

Stop ends

2.50 €

90 degree angle

5.00 €

Running outlet

4.30 €

Shoe

3.40 €

Facia brackets

1.50 €

Downpipe - 4 metre

14.00 €

Downpipe Offset

3.00 €

Downpipe brackets

1.50 €

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 45

OUTDOOR LIVING >

Pool Covers Seal up the Savings

Covers are best known for what they keep out of your pool — from filterclogging leaves and other debris, to accident-prone children and pets.

But another benefit comes with what pool covers keep in your hands: money; by reducing heat loss, water evaporation and even maintenance chemical consumption. So, how much can a cover save you?

Photo WESTMINSTER FURNITURE

Maximus & Inferno Following the huge success of the Zeus heater (as featured on a recent episode of Dragon’s Den), Westminster Furniture have developed two more products to add to the range.

The Maximus is a powerful tripod of infrared heaters which attaches simply to any parasol pole and is fully adjustable for quick and effective heating. Inferno is stylish, contemporary, fire-pit manufactured using triple plated sheet iron, and has legs and cooking grill in stainless steel.

Photo WESTMINSTER FURNITURE

46 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

EUROS AND SENSE • The most effective way to reduce pool heating costs is with a cover. That’s because a covered pool acts like a giant solar collector, absorbing heat and transferring it to the water.

Studies show that a covered pool can have a solar heat gain of up to 15 degrees F; that can reduce overall heating costs as much as 70% compared to an uncovered, similarly sized pool — especially when using a cover with greater insulation value. To maximise passive solar gains, consider running your pump and filter system while the cover is in place; this circulates the warmer water throughout the pool.

• An uncovered 5-by-10 meter pool loses up to 180 gallons of water per week to evaporation — the capacity of three completely filled home bathtubs. A cover, meanwhile, can reduce this evaporation between 30% and 50%.

• A covered pool extends the sanitizing power of chlorine and other chemicals, reducing consumption by 35% to 65%.

Nearly all covers help reduce costs to varying levels, but for that other type of saving — namely, someone’s life — products must meet the specific requirements of ASTM International to qualify as bona fide safety covers. ASTM-approved safety covers must hold the weight of two adults and one child within a 1 meter diameter — approximately 485 pounds.

They must also have adequate drainage to prevent drowning hazards if a child or pet wanders onto them, and not have any opening large enough to allow a child to slip through.

ABOVEGROUND OPTIONS Cover choices tend to be limited for aboveground pool owners: Solar blankets are the most basic and inexpensive. Resembling giant sheets of bubble wrap, they are placed over the pool surface, and their translucent material allows sunlight to warm the

< Outdoor Living water while preventing heat from escaping. Though lightweight and easy to remove for daily pool use, solar blankets are designed primarily for heat conservation — not for cleanliness or safety.

Winter covers are the next level of protection. Plastic fabric completely covers the pool, tied tightly around the perimeter or weighted with sand bags; they are not intended for daily use.

As the name implies, these covers shield the pool from winter conditions and provide for easier season-opening cleanup. If your budget allows, look for one with UV stabilisers, mildew inhibitors and reinforced seams.

INGROUND CHOICES Solar blankets and winter covers are also available for inground pools. But others can be used whenever the pool is not in use or supervised — no matter the season — and are available for all types of pool configurations and shapes. The most dramatic difference is how the cover attaches to the pool or deck.

Tie-down covers, also called “manual covers,” stretch across a pool and are “tied down” to deckmounted anchors via springs and adjustable straps. Made of solid vinyl or mesh fabric, tie-down covers form a taut barrier around a pool. Even though they are traditionally used for winterising inground pools, newer lightweight materials make them more practical for everyday use. Still, with larger pools they can be heavy enough to require two people, so try handling one before buying it.

Tie-down covers can be custom-designed to fit over steps, raised spas and water features, but generally require about 3 feet of decking around the pool for the securing anchors.

Track-style covers are a great choice for everyday use — especially with rectangular pools (installing a track-style cover over a non-rectangular pool is trickier, but possible). Made from reinforced coated vinyl, these covers work by sliding over the pool along a set of tracks. Installers typically mount low-profile tracks on top of the existing pool deck or, for a premium price, they may cut through the deck to install a nearly invisible below-surface system. When retracted, the cover rolls up onto a reel or into a sunken housing unit at the end of the pool.

Track-style covers are available in two versions: • Semi-automatic covers use a motor-driven reel system, but also rely on muscle power and hand tools - such as cranks and poles — to roll the cover back and forth.

• Automatic versions are powered by a hydraulic motor that slides the cover open and closed by simply pressing a button or turning a key. Some homeowners tap into the power of these covers by opting for remote controls that not only allow them to operate the pool cover, but also turn on outdoor lighting and crank up water features.

To upgrade from a semi-automatic to an automatic track, you’ll need to purchase the operating mechanism, motor and controls and have the system professionally converted. However, the converted system can generally use the existing tracks and fabric. H&L

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 47

K I LT S “ M A D E I N S C O T L A N D ” AVA I L A B L E N OW !

KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND

PHOTO CREDIT: JUAN M. MATA

SKIBO

SCOTLAND’S LIONHEART

PHOTO CREDIT: JUAN M. MATA

kilts - hire - sales - jackets - sporrans - belts - buckles - kilt pins hose - skian dhu - shirts - kilt roll - kilters - ghillies - flashes

Now available at

C/Parroco J.A. jimenez higuero s/n, frente a juzgados - 29640 Fuengirola Tel: 952 58 09 76 Mob: 638 00 88 89 48 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Photographs courtesy of Ellis Bridals, UK

Largest selection of quality wedding, evening and cocktail wear in the Malaga area.

Breathtaking bridal dresses, elegant mother-of-the-Bride ensembles, de luxe menswear, including groom and smoking jackets. Plus handcrafted shoes, bags and jewellery from the best Spanish, Italian and UK designers

DAMARIS NOVIAS and NOVIOS English, German, French, Dutch and Spanish spoken Tel: 952 580976 • www.damarisnovias.com • damaris@qlminformatica.com Calle Pärroco J.A. Jiménez Higuero s/n (Front of the Court House, Fuengirola)

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 49

SPECIAL FEATURE > They said it couldn’t be done! They said it shouldn’t be done! They were right, of course… and yet totally wrong! Because we did it! And I’m so proud we did!

What am I talking about? The English speaking Wedding Expo held on the 14 and 15 November at the Palacio De La Paz in Fuengirola.

I was the Event’s Coordinator and, thanks to this event, I met an extraordinary and multitalented group of people and businesses, and was introduced to an entirely new world of creativity and energy. A largely English-speaking world that I, as a Dutchwoman married to a Spaniard, had never really encountered before.

P W ACROSS THE DIVIDE

One of the most important lessons I learnt from the weekend was the importance of teamwork.

It’s become something of a business manual cliché. But like the legendary King Arthur, a vi-

ALL IN A GOOD CAUSE

It’s ‘thank you’ time! Love and squishes MUST go to Linda and Tanya at the Costa del Sol Home and Lifestyle magazine… you girls are great! Equal measures to Leslie, Jack White, my business partner Marissa, Roxeanne, Sarah, Andy, Rocio, and all my girls at our shops Damaris Novias. Thanks also to our sublime MC-ChoreographerScriptwriter & Everything else, Jim McNulty, for filling in all the spaces I couldn’t…

And special thanks to Ellis Bridals and superstar Piper Robert Mathieson for his astounding playing and the sensational kilt and Scottish dresswear that he’s allowing me to be the first to sell and hire in Spain.

Staging the event was a joy in itself, made even sweeter knowing that two excellent charities were benefiting from all profits made… Cudeca and Positively Pink. Antonio Banderas and his wife Melanie Griffith allowed us to use their Cudeca pledge videos and one of my personal heroes, the talented actor Oliver Tobias, provided an endorsing voiceover for the event. These recordings are testament to how highly these charities are regarded and I’m delighted and honoured to know that all our efforts went to help such good causes.

erfect edding expo

SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR

FUENGIROLA, PALACIO DE LA PAZ Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November 2009

Yep! That’s right! We’re doing it again next year! And this time even bigger! We’re already inundated with people offering to help and, with so many new ideas to expand the event’s reach, it’s going to be spectacular! Big sponsors are already making enquiries and several big names are in the frame to beef up our ‘LIVE’ component. See you next year, Hasta Luego …

sionary whose story was actually my inspiration for starting the whole cross-cultural enterprise, I saw firsthand the power that comes from bringing the normally mutually exclusive English and Spanish speaking ‘tribes’ together. I met new talent… and introduced talent to talent.

NETWORKING This was one of the most dynamic outcomes of the whole enterprise. People were thrilled by the unforeseen networking potential the event provided them. I can only guess at the number of new business partnerships and deals that were done across stands. But many conversations I’ve had since the Expo bear this out. Equally many stands enthused to me in emails about expanding their client base both through their direct involvement and in meeting industry representatives from other stands. I’ve never received so many warm, encouraging emails in one week! Better still, they’ve booked again for next year!

MUCHAS GRACIAS!

Firstly I have to say a very personal muchas gracias to Fuengirola’s Mayoress Dona Ona Esperanza and her staff at the Palacio de la Paz. Without their cooperation and sterling work our Exhibition would never have got off the starting block.

50 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

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DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 51

EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS TO THE SCANDINAVIAN MARKET BY REACHING MORE THAN

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La revista danesa de la Costa del Sol · Det danske magasin på Costa del Sol

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S PA N I E N F Ö R S V E N S K A R

Kasper Nielsen Kasper Nielsen er køkkenchef på den nye danskejede restaurant Roca Tranquila, som åbnede sommeren 2008 i Torreblanca. Han har været med fra starten af projektet, siden 2005, hvor han rejste frem og tilbage, mens byggeri og planlægning foregik, samtidig med at han kombinerede det med sin deltagelse på det danske kokkelandshold.

HOTELL

Frigiliana VAGTSKIFTE I CLUB DANÉS - NY FORMAND SKAL VÆLGES EFTER GENERALFORSAMLINGEN I MARTS DET SPANSKE RETSSYSTEM - ER DET VED AT FALDE FRA HINANDEN?

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På kryss og tvers gjennom Andalucía Du kan ikke ha unngått å se dem, de mange veiskiltene her i Andalucía-regionen som forteller at her gikk de gamle historiske veiene, ”Rutas”. Men vet du hvilke historier som skjuler seg bak de gamle og ofte arabiskklingende navnene?

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NORWEGIAN

The most cost-effective gateway to the Scandinavian market on the Costa del Sol. The editorial backbone of our publications is made up of current events, news, reviews, politics and finance, while other sections cover in-depth and topical information on subjects that concern readers living in Spain. We also offer refreshing and interesting features on health, food and wine, sport, travel and décor, designed for the many Scandinavian-speaking residents and visitors to southern Spain.

Contact our team to learn more how to get in contact with the Scandinavians on the Costa del Sol With 18 years of experience on the Costa del Sol, Norrbom Marketing has the necessary knowledge about marketing locally as well as nationally, which is essential to provide our clients with the best tools to obtain the very best results. We are delighted to share our knowledge.

52 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

CENTRO IDEA • Ctra. de Mijas Km. 3,6 • 29650 Mijas Tlf. (+34) 95 258 15 53 • Fax. (+34) 95 258 03 29 e-mail: norrbom@norrbom.com

NORRBOM

MARKETING

P erfect W edding expo EXHIBITORS DIRECTORY

Hotel Torrequebrada FASHION, HAIR AND BEAUTY Tel: 952 446 000 Coco´s World www.torrequebrada.com Tel: 952 599 069 Restaurante Mijas Playa antonia@villaspain.com Tel: 952 493 749 Colours Hair & Beauty www.mijasplaya.com Tel: 952 577 072 Roca Tranquila colourshairandbeauty@yahoo.com Tel: 952 196 067 Crafty Things & Aminobeauty www.rocatranquila.es Tel: 952 583 907 / 663 674 804 Sunset Beach Club www.craft-things.net Green House Clothing Tel: 952 579 400 www.sunsetbeachclub.com Tel: 952 933 619/671384961 The Caleta Hotel www.green.houseclothingspain.com Tel: 350 200 76501 Kool Jewels www.caletahotel.gi Tel: 600 935 009 / 607 801 022 Hotel Tamisa Golf www.kooljewels.com Tel: 952 585 988 Las Divas www.hoteltamisagolf.com Tel: 678 794 483 Lasdivas09@hotmail.es WEDDING CAKES

Permanent Perfect Make up Sweet Things by Fi Tel: 666 094 075 Tel: 697 228 088 www.permanentperfectmakeup.com fionadodson@hotmail.com FLORISTS AndiFlora Tel: 680 264 447 www.andiflora.com Bunches Tel: + 952 463 712 www.bunchesspain.com Flor Valentin Tel: 951 311 086 / 669 061 234 www.florvalentin.es Los Artistas flower shop Tel: 952 666 845 / 663 055 800 floristerialosartistas@yahoo.com VG florist

WEDDING CARS Autos Charleston S.C. Tel: 952 704 552 / 667 749 709 www.autocharleston.es Classic Cadillac Tel: 952937465 dolfoto@live.com

WEDDING PLANNERS Alfombra Roja Tel: 952 371 650 / 659 905 425 www.alfombraroja.com Dream Weddings Tel: 952 593 797/98 www.dreamweddingsinspain.com Fiesta en casa JEWELLERS Mijas Diamond & Jewelry Centre Tel: 635 022 934 adrian.martinez1968@yahoo.es Tel: 952 485 069 / 952 590 871 Marbella Marriages www.mijasdiamond.com Tel: 647 397 657 LAWYERS www.marbellamarriages.com Ruiz y Guillen Abogados Party People Tel: 952 198 154 Tel: 952 81 25 80 / 655 155 107 www.ruizyguillenabogados.com www.partypeoplemarbella.com PHOTOGRAPHERS Reviva Weddings Adam Chandler Tel: 951 271 220 / 618 021 172 Tel: 637 084 432 www.reviva-weddings.com www.adam-c.com Wedding Planners Marbella Luis Garcia Photography Tel: 951 310 093 / 625 763 659 Tel: 670 475 892 WEDDING DRESSES www.luisgfoto.com Damaris Novias and Novios Lorraine Kingham 952 580 976 / 952 585 576 Tel: 951 247 113 / 661 943 947 www.damarisnovias.com l.kingham@btinternet.com Novios Santos y Eva Mineo Video Fabian Tel: 952 86 48 43 Tel: 666 581 843 www.santosyevanovios.com mineovideo@gmail.com MISCELLANEOUS Pierre Richardson Air Medical Group www.pierrerichardsonphotography.com Birdie Vinos Del Mundo Wine Shop TRAVEL Tel: 952 462 074 Marina Sun Travel S.A. Chocolate Fountain Tel: 952 467 031 Tel: 665 632 798 www.marinasun.com www.fuentechocolate.es VENUES Art Seco (dry cleaning) Benalmadena Palace Tel: 0034 952467964 Tel: 952 964 958 www.artseco.com www.benalmadenapalace.com Mi sueño El Oceano Beach Hotel Tel: 952 472 138 Tel: 952 587 550 misueñodetallesfuengirola@hotmail.com www.oceanohotel.com Pirotecnia Esteban Martin S.L. Hacienda Las Fuentes (Fireworks) Tel: 952 584 248 / 667 530 633 Tel: 952 35 79 57 Fax: 952 35 63 34 www.haciendalasfuentes.es www.pirotecniamartin.es Hotel El Castillo de Monda Yorkshire Linen Tel: 666 299 037 / 952 457 336 Tel: 952 197 577/ 952 197 596 www.castillodemonda.es email: ylwspain@hotmail.com

+RWHO 7DPLVD *ROI THE JEWEL OF MIJAS

Burns Suppers in January

Saturday 23rd January Sunday 24th January & Monday 25th January 2010 45€ per person Welcome drinks piped in Scottish canapés Cock-a-Leekie Soup Haggis, Neeps & Tatties Aberdeen Angus Roast Beef Banoffee Pie All wines included

Overnight Packages Sharing Twin Room Including Burns Supper & Typical Highland Breakfast

80€ per person

cing n a D & e Music

Liv

Hotel Tamisa Golf

Camino Viejo de Coin, Km 3,3 Mijas Costa, 29649, Málaga, SPAIN Tel: 00 34 952 585 988 Fax: 00 34 952 663 893

www.hoteltamisagolf.com email: reservas@hoteltamisagolf.com DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 53

HEALTH & BEAUTY >

Fashion File

The D&G Fragrance

Anthology Dolce & Gabbana’s D&G line recently launched The D&G Fragrance Anthology in September. Inspired by tarot cards, the five scents — Le Bateleur 1, L’Imperatrice 3, L’Amoureaux 6, La Roue de la Fortune 10 and La Lune 18 — were created to cross age and gender lines and are each represented by a different iconic mode: Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova, Naomi Campbell, Fernando Fernandes, Noah Mills and Tyson Ballou.

Though all the scents are unisex, La Lune’s blend of lily and tuberose heart with a sandalwood base, and L’Impératrice’s watermelon, kiwi, pink cyclamen with a musky base, are both considered more feminine. Le Bateleur’s mix of aromatic top notes and cedarwood and vetiver base, and L’Amoureux’s spicy top and middle notes of bergamot, juniper, pink pepper, cardamom, birch leaf and sensual wood and musk base, have more masculine qualities. La Roue de la Fortune, on the other hand, is considered truly unisex because of its feminine tuberose, gardenia and jasmine heart and masculine benzoin and patchouli base.

52 EUR for 100ml.

The ’80s power dressing vibe with its neon, big shoulders, leather motorcycle jackets, leggings, and heavy metal riffs were all over the runways for the fall/winter season. But don’t despair if that’s not your style — there were also ladylike LBDs (little black dresses); luscious, oversized sweaters; romantic, ruffled white blouses; and the classic, knee-length pencil skirt. In other words, there was a little bit of something for everyone. The first thing you should know is that black is back, stronger than ever. It relates to the three major fashion themes for fall — the cropped motorcycle jacket and the LBD that every designer has done his take on this season. Often studded, sequined, beaded, sculpted — these two are must-haves for fall/winter. A third must-have is the thigh-high, to-die-for boots. They’re sexy. They’re punky.

They’re “it” this season, keeping in mind that strong shouldersculpted tailoring (i.e. shoulder pads and one shoulder looks) is de rigueur, and embellishment and texture are strong (i.e. studs, crystals, sequins, origami folds, and draping) are strong motifs.

Must-haves this season Black leather studded motorcycle jacket Sequined, belted LBD Metallic thread, broadshoulder bouclé suit Neon sculpted sheath Leopard-print fitted jacket White ruffled blouse Over-the-knee boots Neutral chunky knit sweater Skinny black pant or legging Over-the-top textured red coat Beaded bib necklace Sparkly cuff Studded handbag Jackie O. sunglasses – they’re not going away!

Nail Colour Trends The start of the autumn/winter season has been marked by the end of the London Fashion Week, showcasing some dazzling new nail colours to give an edge to our outfits. Strong darker colours were the clear trend. Dark greens made a new presence suiting most catwalk looks — making everyone on the front row green with envy! Dark and navy blues were worn elegantly, adding a touch of class to complete many designs. Neutral grey, charcoals, and browns are the key new “in”, marking the start of a top trend.

The really new and exciting appearance, however, is the exciting new grey and beige — newly dubbed ‘greige’ — set to take this winter by storm. This new fabulous colour helps to make your nails look elongated and defined, making you look quite the lady.

Deep purples were also a great addition, showing the flexibility to be worn to create both a glamorous 54 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

and funky image. Of course, the timeless classic bold-red kept its position in many shows.

This autumn/winter the trends will suit whatever look you’re after. These collections are all set to create an elegant look, with other great colours such as coppers, lilacs/lavender and shiny silvers and glitters to spice things up.

Bio Sculpture recently released their new range for the season, including the must-have grey Soaring Dove, striking green Emerald Touch, deep purple Amethyst, and a rich red Cherry Liqueur. As the top selling brand in England, Japan and Australia (and with celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Kylie Minogue using it) you can’t go wrong. Get set with the best colours to look fabulous this season! www.biosculpture.es

A unique range of Danish fashion for ladies – not available in retail outlets SALE STARTS THURSDAY 10TH DECEMBER 12 NOON Viewing by appointment with Sarah Hawes T: 671 384 961 or 952 933 619 All Autumn/Winter range reduced. Soon to be replaced by stunning Spring Collection, arriving 2nd week of February.

Green House Fashions — renowned for: I Fabulous Fabrics.

I Stylish detail and design.

I Affordable without comprising style & quality.

Stand out from the crowd — look great and feel great in a range designed by women for women.

GENTLEMEN: GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE You can buy Green House Fashions at: I Fashion Events I Charity Events I Shows & Exhibitions I Home Events I One to one (or bring a friend) with your very own Fashion Consultant.

Book your appointment today with Sarah on: 671 384 961 or 952 933 619

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A FASHION CONSULTANT? Due to the high demand for our Spring 2010 Collection, we are looking for Fashion Consultants. If you want a flexible way to run your own fashion business, in your own time, then why not become a Green House Fashion Consultant. It’s a great way to earn extra money, meet new friends, get together with friends in your home or theirs, and enjoy their company whilst sharing the shopping experience.

Green House Fashions are holding a presentation day in Mijas Costa in late January 2010.

I Discover the possibilities of a career or career change with Green House.

I Learn about the benefits of being an Independent Green House Fashion Consultant.

I Find out why we decided to become part of the successful International Green House Team.

I View the beautiful range, see the quality and understand why we have committed customers who come back time after time.

Come to the Green House presentation — it’s the perfect way to understand the range without committing yourself — you won’t be disappointed.

Places are limited, so book your seat soon and don’t miss this opportunity. We look forward to seeing you.

For more information on becoming a Fashion Consultant or to book a space at the Presentation Day please contact Sarah Hawes 671 384 961 or 952 933 619 Telephone: (0034) 952 933 619 Mobile: (0034) 671 384 961 sarah@green-houseclothingspain.com www.green-house.com/SarahHawes

Health & Beauty >

VITAMIN D

The Sunshine Vitamin Find out how to get more disease-fighting, fatigue-banishing vitamin D — without exposing yourself to the sun’s damaging rays.

A few years ago, vitamin D was nothing more than calcium’s wingman, a secondary nutrient that helped the bone-building mineral make its move from the belly to the bloodstream and eventually plant itself in the skeleton. Well, no offense to C, but new research suggests that vitamin D may be the biggest nutritional superhero of all. The lab guys have uncovered up to 2,000 different genes — roughly one-sixth of the human genome — that are regulated by the nutrient. That means almost everything your body relies on it. It affects cell death and proliferation, insulin production, and even the immune system.

Translation: Without enough vitamin D, your body works far below its potential. And you’re probably not getting anywhere near the right amount. Here’s why you’ll be hearing a lot more about it and how you can score what you need to make your body function at its absolute max.

NUTRITION’S NEW MVP What’s most remarkable about vitamin D is the sheer number of health issues it’s been linked to. In the past few years, studies have shown that a lack of the vitamin may be the primary culprit in depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis. Even if you don’t suffer from any of these conditions, getting more D may still be what the doctor ordered.

WHY WE’RE D-FICIENT So why do we come up so short, especially since vitamin D is one of the few vitamins our bodies can actually make? Sunlight converts a cholesterol-like substance naturally found in the skin into D. Problem is, thanks to UV rays and skin cancer, soaking up sun to make more D would do you more harm than good. For your skin to make enough, you’d need direct midday summer sunlight on a huge portion of your body for 15 minutes a day — risking serious sun damage.

To make matters worse, D is missing from the food we eat. Only certain kinds of fish and fortified dairy have enough D to brag about, and it would be hard to consume enough of both in one day to get 1,000-plus IU.

VITAMINA HEALTH SHOP

A large range of Vitamins, Minerals, Q10 Ubiquinone, Natural Medicines, Coral Calcium, Natural Cream Beauté Pacifique, Organic Products, Tea, MSM, Glucosamine, Noni Juice, Vita Biosa, Feug Shui, Birkenstock Sandals, OBSI, UDO’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend, Pomegranate Nectar and Healthy Goji Berries.

Propolis

Antibiotic created by nature itself. Strengthens the immune system of the body. Recommended for inflammation of the throat, with a cold, sinusitis, urinary tract infection and much more …

FREE VITAMIN AND MINERAL TEST December: Sat 12th at 10:00 - 14:00, Mon 14th at 16:00 - 19:00 January: Sat 16th at 10:00 - 14:00, Mon 18th at 16:00 - 19:00 CHOLESTEROL TEST — 5,00 Euros Please call for an appointment

Tel: 952 584 313

Centro Idea • Ctra. de Mijas km 3,6 • 29650 Mijas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 56 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

EASY TO SWALLOW There’s a simple way to get your D up without baking in the sun. It’s not often that nutrition experts say it’s better to get a vitamin from a pill than from food, but D is an exception.

A few ways to get your D intake up to par: • Take a daily multivitamin or a vitamin D supplement that provides at least 1,000 IU. In addition, drink two glasses of skim milk per day.

•When buying supplements or fortified foods, make sure the label reads “D3.” This is the same type the skin makes, but some companies still use D2, a plant-based form of the vitamin that the body doesn’t metabolize as easily.

•Get your blood levels measured, especially if you have a family history of heart disease, cancer, or depression. If you are extremely low, your doctor might recommend higher doses of D. H&L

WHAT YOU CAN DO Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? Factors to consider for vitamin D sufficiency: Here is a sample list of staples that includes a good balance of carbs, proteins, and fats to get you started: • Sun exposure The most natural source of vitamin D is through direct skin exposure to ultraviolet light (UVB); this allows for photosynthesis and conversion of 7-dehyrocholesterol into a bio-available form of vitamin D. Knowing that sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, it is important that we still obtain this source; however, we must still factor in skin health and avoid burning or cancer risk. Peak times of photosynthesizing vitamin D occur between the months of April and October, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

• Sunscreen use Sunscreens efficiently absorb UVB rays and thus markedly diminish the ability of vitamin D absorption. If properly used, a sunscreen with a protection factor of eight reduces cutaneous production of vitamin D by ninety-five per cent, and a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of fifteen reduces capacity by ninety-nine per cent.

• Skin colour Melanin is a natural sunscreen in the human body that can also compete for UVB photons with vitamin D. Those with darker skin have greater amounts of melanin in their epidermis and are therefore less efficient at producing vitamin D. • Food sources Although limited, there are food sources that can increase your levels.

Examples include: SOURCE Natural Food Sources Fresh fish (salmon) Canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines) Sun-dried shitake mushrooms Fortified Sources Cow’s milk Infant formula Margarine Plant beverages (soy, fortified with calcium and vitamin D) Orange juice (fortified with calcium and vitamin D) Yoplait Minigo ™

AMOUNT VITAMIN D3 (IUIU) 100 g 100 g 10 g

92–904 40–600 166

250 ml 250 ml 10 g 250 ml

100 100 60 90

250 ml

90

100 g

20

< Health & Beauty

Instant Facial Rejuvenation WHAT IS RESTYLANE Restylane® products smooth away wrinkles, enhance facial contours, create fuller lips, and rejuvenate skin.

Treatments are tailored to your needs and the results can be seen instantly. Restylane is a natural beauty product that does not affect facial expression or facial movement.

Restylane is a crystal clear gel that is injected into the skin (or for some treatments just under) in small amounts to restore volume and structure. It is based on hyaluronic acid, similar to the body’s own hyaluronic acid. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is non-animal which means that no skin tests are needed and that there is a minimal risk of allergic or hypersensitive reactions.

BENEFITS OF RESTYLANE BEAUTY TREATMENT. The results of a treatment with Restylane are long-lasting, without being permanent, giving you the freedom of choice to maintain the effect. A treatment with Restylane will generally last 6-12 months, and with only one re-treatment the effect has in a recent clinical study been shown to last

up to 18 months. To maintain the results in the lips, a re-treatment is usually needed within 6 months.

WHAT CAN IT DO TO ENHANCE YOUR APPEARANCE Whether your need is to rejuvenate skin, smooth wrinkles or enhance facial contours or lips — Restylane® has the product to make you look good and feel great. It provides instant and long-lasting aesthetic results.

THREE MAJOR BENEFITS OF TREATMENTS It’s natural. Restylane is not a toxin and does not affect facial expression or facial movement. As Restylane is non-permanent, it allows you to avoid a permanent look you might regret as your face changes over time.

It’s safe. Unlike some other hyaluronic acid-based products, Restylane is non-animal which means there is a minimal risk of allergic reactions or transmitting disease.

It’s for you. Restylane products allow treatments to be tailored to your wishes and needs — and the results can be seen instantly. As treatment is nonsurgical, there is a minimum of downtime so you can get on with living life to the full. H&L

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 57

Health & Beauty >

Fitting

Fitness

into your rountine

Okay, so you’re tired and time-strapped, you dropped your gym membership, and you hate the feel of sweat-drenched spandex on your skin. But that laundry list of excuses you use to avoid daily exercise is doing you more harm than good. It’s time to cut the excuses and embrace exercise because that’s the surest way to becoming a healthier you.

Regular exercise is just as important for maintaining good health as eating well and getting adequate sleep. A regular exercise regime combats chronic disease, strengthens your heart and lungs, and helps you sleep better once your head hits the pillow. And according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you don’t need to exercise in excess to reap benefits; the CDC recommends getting around two hours of aerobic activity and two strength-training sessions in per week. Of course, the more you exercise, the greater your health benefits and fitness gains, but there’s satisfaction in knowing you could improve your health just by taking a brisk walk every day.

And yet, despite these benefits, the majority of us have trouble motivating ourselves to exercise. That’s why we’re sharing the secrets to fitting it in. Whether your goal is weight loss or improving your well-being, we’re outlining the steps you need to take to make exercise a regular habit.

PENCIL IT IN We schedule beauty appointments, board meetings, and play dates for our kids in advance, so why shouldn’t we follow suit when we make dates with the gym? At the start of each week, pencil or program exercise appointments — perhaps a lunchtime walk or a spinning class after your kids leave for school — into your planner or PDA. Then, put your schedule in a place where everyone can see it; your family will learn to plan around your exercise hours, leaving you free to focus on reaching your goals without any interruptions.

OUTFIT YOURSELF It’s difficult to get excited about exercising when your shoes squish 58 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

your toes and your workout wardrobe consists of ancient alma mater sweatpants and threadbare tees. You’ll be better off, not to mention more enthused, if you purchase the proper workout gear before you hit the gym. You don’t need to spend a wad of cash, but you do need to buy a supportive pair of athletic shoes; a snug sports bra (for women); and workout-specific gear such as running shorts, a swimsuit, or yoga pants, depending on your fitness focus.

You can also beat exercise excuses by creating a home gym with a set of dumbbells, a workout ball, resistance bands, and yoga mat. For good measure, buy a few workout DVDs in a category that interests you (you’ll find them in every discipline, from kickboxing to cardio belly dancing).Then, when you’re in a pinch for time or when the weather turns ugly this winter, you can squeeze in a quick workout at home.

CATER TO YOUR NEEDS AND INTERESTS When you’re mapping out your fitness routine, weigh your time constraints. If your schedule is packed, split your cardio and strengthtraining sessions between two days, or multitask: You can walk on the treadmill while watching Oprah or do Pilates exercises in your living room while whittling down your Netflix queue. Consider also merging social and workout hour by meeting friends for walks, not cocktails, and by scheduling active dates with your spouse. You’ll never enjoy exercising by forcing yourself into activities you loathe. So, don’t try to run five miles a day if you hate running or sign up for a boxing class if you’re a timid guy or gal. Instead, break a sweat doing activities you love.

STAY MOTIVATED The best way to beat boredom is to change your routine — often. Mix things up with multi-machine cardio workouts, circuit training, and workout classes in new-to-you disciplines. Or schedule a few appointments with a trainer to breathe new life into your workout. If you want to sidestep trainer fees, download programs onto your iPod or MP3 player from websites like iTrain.com. With few excuses left — save that issue with your sweaty spandex — it’s time to start fitting fitness in. H&L

< Health & Beauty

Winter Skin Tips

How to look after skin in the winter

Changing temperatures mean a change of routine, no matter which part of the world you live in. Knowing a little about how skin functions in the winter, and tweaking a few habits, can make all the difference between a dull winter complexion and glowing radiance.

• Start the day with a hot shower… but before you get out, switch to cold water for about fifteen seconds. Then turn up the heat a little, and down again to repeat the process for about two minutes. “Why would I want to do that?!” we hear you cry! This is a simple hydrotherapy technique which revitalises the skin by stimulating the flow of blood through the body.

It is both invigorating and highly beneficial to the skin. So even though you may not really enjoy the process, just think of the all the good it’s doing you!

• Use a good moisturiser. Choose a highly protective day cream which contains zinc oxide, and provides SPF30 protection to form a barrier against the elements. Creamier, water-inoil emulsions are best. And don’t forget about

your lips. Chapped lips are often the most noticeable problem for a lady in the winter. Use a highly moisturizing lip balm which provides a protective barrier, with vitamin E for good elasticity.

• Exfoliate at least twice a week. This will remove dead cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture. The oil which we all complain about in the Summer is no longer being produced because of cooler winter temperatures and heating.

Therefore the skin loses the water which should be retained in the lower dermis of the skin. This can lead to premature aging of the skin and fine lines, whilst your skin can appear puffy and grey.

• Drink a glass of hot water with lemon. This Chinese herbal remedy is a sure-fire method of

energizing your body. It will de-tox your entire system, including the liver and gall bladder. This means that your body will be able to clean the blood faster to get rid of toxins responsible for bad skin.

• Simply sleep! Money can’t buy the benefits of a good nights’ rest. Your oxygen levels will drop if you don’t get enough sleep, meaning that your cells will not be renewed as quickly. This is when degenerative skin aging sets in. Try to get seven, if not eight or nine hours of rest a night to achieve absolutely painless benefits. It’s ideal! H&L

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IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT >

Fully Charged The Renault Twizy Z.E

BY CHRIS DUFFILL French car-maker Renault are all set to turn concept into reality with their new Zero-Emissions range of electric cars. With the announcement that production of the Twizy Z.E. will take place in Valladolid, Spain, we look at the benefits that this miniature marvel may bring to both motoring and the environment.

Mention the term ‘concept car’ in a room filled with motoring journalists and you run serious risk of being blown to the floor by a collective sigh of raised hopes and dashed expectations. How many times have we been treated to futuristic cars at motor shows, paraded and turntabled in all their electro-luminescent, carbon-fibre, computer-controlled glory, only to never see them, or anything remotely like them, go into production? Well, too many to mention. So, when one of the world’s leading car manufacturers announces that it’s going to take something as potentially ground-breaking as a two-seater, electric-powered urban runabout into actual production, it’s something worth keeping an eye on.

Renault aren’t taking this challenge lightly. They’re working to a global strategy which aims to make them the first manufacturer to offer a range of fully electrically-powered, zero-emissions vehicles produced on a large and affordable scale. And they’re not dragging their heels either.

The first of the Z.E. (Zero-Emissions) range – the light-commercial Kangoo Z.E. — is due to roll off the production lines in early 2011; shortly followed by a family saloon — the Fluence Z.E.; the Zoe Z.E. — a five© Copyright, Renault UK Limited. Printed with permission

60 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

© Copyright, Renault UK Limited. Printed with permission

seater city car; and urban two-seater — the Twizy Z.E. We all know that things are likely to change once the Twizy moves from concept car to production model, so expect to lose some of the futuristic bodywork and styling first showcased by the concept model at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The most that Renault will say is that the production model will be ‘inspired by’ and ‘very close’ to the concept; so, in the meantime we can only hope that the Twizy’s most distinctive design elements are retained or evolved rather than streamlined out of the mix.

But, beyond its concept car good-looks, what exactly is the Twizy Z.E.? Renault describe it as ‘an an all-electric vehicle aimed primarily at busy city dwellers who need to pick their way through the urban jungle’.

As an electric two-seater town or city runabout, the Twizy does look set to corner the market in urban mobility — a compact body on a highly manoeuvrable four-wheel chassis means that the Twizy is perfect for parking in crowded streets, negotiating busy town traffic and generally jetting around suburbia. But don’t be tempted to take your rear-seated passenger on a shopping spree — the Twizy Z.E. Concept doesn’t appear to have much, if any, storage capacity. But then this is a concept and Renault may yet make some room for a shopping bag or two.

At the core of the Twizy, as with the rest of the concept Z.E. range, is the all-electric engine. It’s a 15kW (20hp) motor capable of developing 70Nm of torque, giving the Twizy a top-speed of around 45 milesper-hour. Okay, it’s no hot-hatch — but it’s not trying to be one either.

Whilst other cars in the Z.E. range can claim top-speeds and acceleration similar to their diesel-powered cousins, the Twizy is built for stability and agile handling in built-up areas rather than for speed or motorway cruising.

Equipped with a light and small lithium-ion battery (yes, a larger version of the ones you find in mobile phones and other gadgets), the engine runs off a conventional gearbox and offers smooth linear acceleration and instant torque. One of the key problems faced by the designers

© Copyright, Renault UK Limited. Printed with permission

and engineers of electric concept — they haven’t just imagcars has been range. In reined how people will need to refuel, cent years early-adopters they’re building that too. Renault and green-minded motorhave been working with Operators ists have been excited by (battery hire and installation infrathe proposition of an all-elecstructure), energy suppliers and tric car, but quickly become local authorities to develop the disillusioned once they learn Z.E. range and its power distributhat the effective range is only tion network. on permissi a few miles — running the risk There is of course standard h it w d d. Printe K Limite nault U e R of being stranded on the mocharging via domestic sockets, t, h ig © Copyr torway with not so much as a taking around 4-6 hours, but there will also 240V socket in sight. But things be fast charging stations taking just 20 © Copyright, Renault UK Limited. Printed with permission have moved on since then. The minutes — enough time to stretch your Twizy’s lithium-ion battery can legs, grab yourself a coffee and read the achieve a range of around 90 miles on paper. But the true deal-maker here is one full charge, depending on variables really the Quickdrop station — no need like traffic and other driving conditions. to wait for a recharge, just replace the It even uses deceleration and hill-deold battery with a fully-charged one - in scent to recharge the battery. around 3 minutes flat (well, 3 minutes Renault claim that their electric motor charged, actually). generates power at 90% efficiency — a So, how about the price? Well, in line devastating statistic for the regular comwith Renault’s goal to make their vehibustion engine which can only achieve cles available to as many people as posaround 25%. They also say that running sible, their electric cars will retail at the costs are roughly 20% less than that of same price as equivalent diesel models a regular combustion-engined vehicle and that maintenance costs are — welcome news to anyone who wants a cutting-edge environmentallyhalved due to the engine needing fewer services. friendly choice without the high price tag. However, this new source of The goal of producing fully-electric vehicles has been around for decpower brings with it a new way to pay for it — batteries are rented under ades, but with growing concerns about the impact that our petrol-fuelled contract at a separate charge. This may seem counter-intuitive to many driving habits are having on the global environment, the momentum motorists to begin with, but it will redefine the traditional petrol station towards eco-friendly motoring is gathering serious pace on a global and move towards a contract-based product, not unlike a mobile phone scale. Renault believe that the electric vehicle is a sustainable solution or domestic utility contract. You can probably expect better deals from to global warming, air quality and energy dependence. The electric car different energy suppliers as the technology and infrastructure gathers generates no greenhouse gasses (those dreaded CO2 emissions that ground. add to the ever-expanding carbon-footprint), no carcinogenic pollutants, You have to give it to Renault — they can put on a great show with and reduces noise pollution — all while offering the same performance their concept cars (which motor company doesn’t?) but, unlike many as a conventional combustion engine. It’s hard to deny that the case for of their contemporaries, the fundamental core technology in this new all-electric vehicles seems stronger than ever. range isn’t a futuristic promise they know they can’t keep; in their own One of the greater challenges in pioneering this kind of sea-change words: ‘The future is already merging with the present’. With Renault’s in technology is the infrastructure needed to support it. It’s one thing announcement to build the Twizy Z.E. in Spain, and with the Z.E. range to dream up a flashy new concept, but it’s another to put it into pracrolling into showrooms as early as 2011, the age of the all-electric car tical everyday use. However, Renault’s Z.E. range is more than just a really could be upon us. H&L DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 61

Fitness, Leisure & Golf > Costa del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine

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News Update > The HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine 4Play Golf Society at Calanova Golf The Costa del Sol HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine’s 4Play Golf Society held their inaugural round of competition golf recently at the Calanova Golf Club on Friday, 20th November. Twenty-four happy and smiling players turned out in perfect weather conditions and enjoyed a game of golf with tapas, drinks and great prizes for the winner and runnerup. It was a great day out for the players with many enquiries on 4Play Golf Society’s upcoming events. Thank-you to Sizzlyns and El Golf restaurants for sponsoring the prizes.

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2010 FESTIVAL OF GOLF 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 FEBRUARY 2010

John Lowe

Meet 8 times World Darts Champion 1st Feb

El Chaparral Golf Club

50,00 €

2nd Feb

Calanova Golf Club

45,00 €

3rd Feb

Santa Maria Golf Club

60,00 €

4th Feb

El Chaparral Golf Club

50,00 €

5th Feb

Calanova Golf Club

45,00 €

*Price is per person and includes shared Buggy, Prize Presentation and Buffet The above prices are introductory offers and are subsidised by HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine.

For more information please call our Golf Coordinator & Event Organiser Stuart Woodall 696 009 673 4playgolf@CDShomemagazine.com 62 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

For more information or to book a tee time for the next competition please phone Stuart on 696 009 673 or Linda on 637 478 056.

England’s Carl Mason claims the Benahavis Senior Masters Carl Mason took a step closer to European Senior Tour golf history when he beat Scotland’s Gordon Brand Jnr. at the second play-off hole to claim the Benahavis Senior Masters presented by ISPS in Spain.

The victory, at the La Quinta Golf and Country Club, was the 56-yearold Englishman’s 22nd Senior Tour title, a win which moves him within only one of the all-time record of 23 titles held by his fellow Englishman, Tommy Horton.

The win, Mason’s second of the season following his success in The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall in June, also gives the Englishman a realistic chance of picking up the John Jacobs Trophy for topping the Seniors Tour Order of Merit at the end of the season.

Mason has already experienced that honour on three occasions – in 2003, 2004 and 2007 – and is now up to fourth place on the Order of Merit with €134,292, only €27,327 behind leader Ian Woosnam of Wales who did not compete in Marbella.

“The John Jacobs Trophy would be a lovely way to end the season and you never know, if I get a little bit of luck, it might happen,” said Mason.

“Strange things happen in this game, as you saw today with my victory, so you never know. It promises to be an exciting end to the season.”

< Fitness, Leisure & Golf THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLAYING GOLF

“People who are

with Linda, Fitness and Health professional

physically active

Take a Swing at a Golf Course …but Exercise Caution!

If you care about your health, then you gotta play golf!

Seriously, there are many health benefits of playing golf, some of which I introduced in the previous edition of Fitness, Leisure and Golf. Following on from that last article I want to elaborate further to reinforce some of the perks of playing golf. However, whilst we talk about the benefits, we have to exercise caution in relation to ‘Handicaps’ of golf, not in the normal sense of the word but in terms of possible injury occurrence, therefore we will conclude this article with injury prevention.

PERKS OF PLAY… AND INCENTIVES UK Government Guidelines urge 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day, five days per week (At Least Five a Week Report, 2004).

Moderate intensity exercise includes walking and even playing golf. But don’t despair if you can’t get to swing those clubs, moderate activity can even include mowing the lawn, painting and decorating or cycling. Exercise intensity can be determined from heart rate and how you perceive this can be used to monitor your exercise intensity.

There really is a way to make golf count as a low to moderate intensity aerobic activity. Walk vigorously for 18 holes and pull your own clubs.

Any activity that leaves you slightly short of breath and works up a bit of a sweat is great for your cardiovascular system or heart. In addition to lowering harmful cholesterol, it also helps speed up your metabolism, making weight loss easier. A round of golf burns about 300 calories in a 150 pound individual who plays for approximately 1 hour while carrying clubs. If you choose to ride in a cart, the same round of golf could burn approximately 230 calories.

The driving range could burn about 200 calories per hour.

Golf is never going to be a high energy aerobic activity like running or jogging but, as you can see, it still offers exercise benefits which also include weight-bearing exercises which are great for your bones. Weight bearing exercises two to three times a week can create long, lean muscle mass, which helps support a strong skeleton. This type of exercise can also help prevent bone degeneration, including osteoporosis. To include weight bearing in your golf game, carry your clubs. A great option to release stress on your shoulders is a double strapped golf bag.

POTENTIAL PERKS OF PLAY Plenty of Vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for strong bones, it regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin D also helps regulate the growth of skin cells. While you can eat some foods that are high in vitamin D, your body can actually make this vitamin and you can increase your body levels just by catching some rays of sunshine. So go outside and take a walk around the links.

Sleep Better. Study after study has shown that regular exercise increases the positives that sleep brings. You’ll fall asleep faster and remain

have a lower risk of coronary heart disease”

in a deep sleep for a longer period British Heart Foundation of time with regular exercise, which includes activities like golf.

G o l f is a social game. Golf is often played not just for sport, but as a strategy for creating and strengthening business relationships. Indeed many people call it business golf, because a lot of real business is done during or immediately after a round of golf. In the United States, golf is actually considered the “sport of the business world.”

There’s plenty of time to chat with business colleagues/friends and get to know new ones.

Spending time with friends and making new acquaintances increases endorphins, which helps mental outlook and an overall feeling of well being. Studies have shown that seniors that remain social and friendly live up to six years longer than those that don’t. Golf offers a great way to keep young, stay involved, and have a little fun. So, get out there!

If you live on the coast, visit your local golf course or try different ones to find the one you like best. If you are a visitor to Spain, choosing the best golf package is essential. The best golf vacation packages let you relax and enjoy the course and the location without having to fuss with all the details of planning a trip. Choose the wrong package though, and you could end up with more headaches than handicaps. (www.golfingoptions.com)

TIPS ON PREVENTING INJURY Golf is a leisurely sport and, compared to other sports, the overall risk of injury is low. However, injuries still can and do occur. Common injuries are to the lower back, wrist and elbow, head and eye. Causes of injury include overuse, incorrect technique, hitting the ground instead of the ball, aggravation of a previous injury and falling.

Some safety tips to avoid injuries include: • Warm up and stretch before playing. Pay particular attention to your back, shoulders and arms. Include gentle movement and mobility exercises followed by gentle air swings or ball hits using short irons (a type of golf club).

•Take lessons. Good technique is your best defence against injuries.

• Stand at least four club lengths away from a swinging club.

• Use good equipment including shoes, socks, gloves and clothing.

• Wear sun protection (clothing, hat and sunscreen) at all times. Likewise dress warm if it is cold to further protect against the elements — cold muscles are more prone to injury whilst exercising.

• When the temperature exceeds 35° Celsius, you may need to reconsider the playing conditions for further play.

• Drink water before, during and after a game.

• Know and practice the basic rules and etiquette of the game. Check that no one else is standing close by before you swing. Don’t play until the group in front is out of the way. Give way to ground staff and wait until they call you to play on.

• Lift and carry clubs safely and, when necessary, use a buggy.

• Stop playing immediately when an injury occurs.

• Seek first aid or prompt medical treatment for any type of injury, irrespective of how severe it is. H&L If you have a medical condition, or haven’t exercised regularly for a long time, see your doctor for medical advice before starting or increasing your physical activity levels.

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 63

Featured Golf Course >

Cabopino Golf is situated on the border between Marbella and Mijas Costa, opposite the charming little marina of Cabopino. The course was designed by Juan Ligues Creus. The layout presents spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding pine forest.

Cabopino Golf allows all categories of handicap golfers to enjoy a day out. At the entrance to Cabopino Golf we find the excellent facilities of the Golf Academy and driving range. The driving range has a capacity for 60 players, with a depth of 250 meters. With 160 meter-wide distance markers and bunkers, the natural layout amongst the pine forest make for an interesting and challenging practice session. The academy offers classes for individual ladies and gentlemen, groups of children and corporative groups.

Amongst the many spectacular holes, the par 4, 3rd, would be one to mention. Your tee box, perched on the side of the cliff, presents you with a tee shot that has a drop of nearly 200m to the fairway. You then face an elevated green protected by a large bunker.

COURSE INFORMATION 18 holes, Par 71, 5417m • 4640m Handicap: Men 28, Ladies 36 • Requirements: Soft spikes only Facilities: Buggies, Driving Range, Putting Green, Golf Lessons, Clubhouse, Restaurant CABOPINO GOLF MARBELLA. Urb Artola Alta s/n 29600 Marbella Tel: +34 952 850282 Fax: +34 952 837277 email: reservas.cabopino@aymerichgolf.com www.cabopinogolf.com • www.aymerichgolfclub.com COURSE INFORMATION 18 holes, Par 72 5586m • 5325m • 4657m Handicap: Men 28, Ladies 36

Urbanización Calanova Golf Club s/n, 29649 Cala de Mijas (Málaga) Telephone: +34 951 170 194 or +34 690 751 084 Fax: +34 951 170 197 reservas@calanovagolfclub.com www.calanovagolfclub.com

64 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Requirements: Soft spikes only Facilities: Pro Shop, Trolleys, Buggies, Putting Green, Club Cleaning, Tennis, Lawn Bowls, Sauna, Clubhouse, Gymnasium, Snooker and Billards Room

< Featured Golf Course

COURSE INFORMATION 18 holes, Par 72, 5586m • 5325m • 4657m Handicap: Men 28, Ladies 36 • Requirements: Soft spikes only Facilities: Pro Shop, Trollies, Buggies, Putting Green, Club Cleaning, Tennis, Lawn Bowls, Sauna, Clubhouse — with bar, lounge and restaurant. Gymnasiun & snooker/billard rooms.

SANTA MARIA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB. Elviria, Marbella (Malaga) Golf Reservations: Tel: (+34) 952 831 036 Fax: (+34) 952 834 797 caddymaster@santamariagolfclub.com www.santamariagolfclub.com

Santa Maria Golf & Country Club, as the name suggests, is far more than a Golf Club.

Based around an 18th century “cortijo” which is currently the Club House, the grounds boasts stunning gardens and fine leisure facilities including tennis and lawn bowling.

Santa Maria prides itself on being one of the friendliest international clubs on the coast and the existing membership, which is currently held to about 350 members, is made up of 14 different nationalities. Set amidst unparalleled beauty of the Andalucian countryside, the course traces the contours of two valleys in which the natural vegetation, streams and four lakes form natural hazards.

The course is not long but full of interest and with each hole having its own character.

Many of the tees are elevated and the views from the 10th hole to the 16th are breathtaking on a fine day.

COURSE INFORMATION 18 holes, Par 72 5649m • 5402m • 4594m Handicap: Men 26, Ladies 34 Urbanización El Chaparral N-340 Km 203, 29648 Mijas Costa Telephone: +34 952 587 733 Fax: +34 952 587 744 reservas@golfelchaparral.com www.golfelchaparral.com

Requirements: Soft spikes only Facilities: Buggies, Trolleys, Driving range, Golf academy, Clubhouse, Restaurant

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 65

PETS AT HOME >

Poor Fido, it’s no fun being sick!

Common dog health problems range from minor annoyances to major crises… and knowing how to recognise the most common canine health issues before they cause serious trouble is very important.

PREVENTING COMMON DOG HEALTH PROBLEMS As the old saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” (or something to that effect!) and there are lots of ways that you can help prevent many of the most common dog health problems from ever rearing their ugly heads.

Here is a list of things you can do to protect your puppy or dog right from day one.

• Vaccinations. Making sure that your puppy gets all his vaccinations on time (and then has his annual/bi-annual vaccinations too) can prevent a whole lot of trouble. Many of the most serious dog illnesses target puppies and can kill an unvaccinated pup very quickly.

• De-worm your pup. Almost all puppies have worms to begin with.

To prevent these nasty parasites from becoming a real problem down the road, your pup should be dewormed. Usually this is done routinely when he gets his puppy shots.

• Prevent flea and tick infestation. These parasites carry diseases which can make your pup quite sick. Using an effective flea and tick preventative is the only way to be sure that Fido is protected.

• Heartworm prevention. Heartworms are arguably the most dangerous parasite your pup faces, and by the time symptoms of this condition appear, a dog is already very, very sick. Treatment is long, expensive and dangerous. Prevention is easy. A monthly heartworm tablet can save your dog from a slow and painful disease, or even death.

• Know the dangers lurking in your home. There are many common human foods and other household products that are dangerously toxic to your dog. Keep your dog safe by making sure he never has access to any of these, and also learn what to do if your dog should be a victim of dog poisoning of any sort. And dog-proof your dustbins.

• Spaying or neutering your pup. Research has shown that spaying or neutering your pup gives him (or her) the best possible protection against reproductive organ cancers and other conditions.

Feeding your puppy or dog a nutritious, premium quality food and making sure he gets enough exercise are also very important! These play a big role in ensuring that he grows up healthy and strong and helps to prevent bone/joint and other developmental issues.

Christmas Health Care Tips for Pets FOR ADOPTION DUFFIE

66 66 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Duffie is a 9 month old boy.

A well-behaved and happy dog that doesn’t give any trouble to any one. Good in a home, with both cats and children.

If you like more information please call: Maria 619 69 42 17

Tinsel, String and Decorative Wrapping Tinsel used as a tree decoration and fancy ribbons used on presents are pleasing not only to our eyes, but to the eyes of our four-legged companions (especially cats). If any of these items are ingested by your pet, they may become lodged in the digestive tract and require surgical removal.

Christmas Trees To help your pet avoid injuries, ensure that your Christmas tree is firmly set in place. A playful or curious pet may run into or climb the tree, knocking it over.

Ornamental Plants Ornamental plants such as poinsettas, holly, and mistletoe, found around the house during the holiday season, may be toxic to pets if ingested and should be kept out of your pets’ reach.

Christmas Chocolates Chocolate, a common addition to any festive occasion, is loved by people and pets, especially dogs. Chocolates contain stimulants including theobromine and caffeine. One ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate is enough to cause chocolate toxicity in a small dog.

Table Scraps: Feeding pets table scraps and other foods that are high in fat content may cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). This is a potential problem at any time but is more prevalent during the holiday season.

< Pets at home RECOGNISING COMMON DOG HEALTH PROBLEMS Although the proper prevention techniques can go a long way towards keeping Fido happy and healthy, there is still a chance that he will fall ill, or be injured in some way. Hopefully, any canine health issues he faces will be minor, but you stand a better chance of preventing any problems that arise from becoming serious if you know the signs of trouble.

Sometimes one symptom can be a sign of something simple, or something potentially dangerous, and the trick is to know how to tell the difference! Two canine illness symptoms that you should keep an eye on are diarrhoea and/or vomiting. Anything from a sudden change in diet to a life-threatening condition can trigger these problems. The following are some unmistakable signs of illness and distress in dogs: • Vomits or has diarrhoea for more than one day, with or without blood.

• Has one or more seizures; shivers or trembles, staggers.

• Loses balance or displays disorientation or lack of coordination; falls.

• Has difficulty walking, lameness, or limping (first check between the toes for seeds or anything that can get lodged there and penetrate the skin, causing swollen, painful abscesses) • Exhibits tenderness in any part of the body when touched.

• Changes eating habits, misses more than one meal.

• Loses weight (without being on a diet).

• Stops urinating, has difficulty urinating (straining), urinates much more frequently, or displays dribbling of urine or incontinence.

• Drinks much more water.

• Excretes worms in the faeces or develops a pot belly.

• Restlessness or apathy.

• Whimpering or crying.

• Preoccupation with a certain area of their bodies.

• Running a fever.

• Displays irregular breathing, shortness of breath, prolonged or heavy panting.

• Coughs or sneezes frequently or has difficulty breathing; has discharge from the nose or eyes.

A dog’s normal temperature is around 102 degrees. When you see any of the above signs of illness and distress, the first thing you should do is take his temperature with a rectal thermometer.

If his temperature exceeds 103 degrees, this is cause for concern. Your dog may be fighting an infection of some kind. If you see no visible injury or sore spot after giving him a head-to-foot examination, this is a sign that your dog’s distress is caused by internal factors.

Whimpering and crying indicates that your dog is in pain. He may even nip at you when you examine him and hit a “sore spot.” Excessive panting and quivering also indicate pain. Your dog may lick or paw at the sore area of his body. Ill or injured dogs will try to self-heal by isolating

themselves in a closet or corner; it is their ancient instinct to stay in a safe place away from predators while they’re healing.

Refusing food and water is a serious sign of illness. Sick dogs won’t take anything into their bodies until they’re feeling well again. Similarly, ill or injured dogs often vomit and have copious diarrhea, especially if they have ingested something that has either poisoned them or something that they are unable to pass such as your new leather slippers. Blood in urine and/ or faeces is always a serious warning sign; something harmful is making them bleed internally.

Sick dogs are sometimes restless, unable to sleep and get comfortable.

Similarly, sick dogs may be apathetic and listless to the point of extreme lethargy and even coma. If you cannot rouse your dog, this is a sign that he is very seriously ill.

The signs of illness discussed above all necessitate a prompt visit to your veterinarian. Your dog needs help to recover from an infection, an internal injury or illness, a stroke, even a cancerous condition. Your canine family member depends solely upon you to recognise the signs that he is ill or injured. H&L

SPECIAL THANKS The Editor of the Costa del Sol HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine would like to express her personal thanks to vets, and especially to Dr. Manuel Millan and Clinica Veterinaria Tamara, for their support, dedication and generosity in the medical care of her 4 year old dog, Lucy, who was seriously ill. The below advertisement is complimentary, not only as a personal thank you to the Clinica Veterinaria Tamara and the profession, but also in recognition of one of the veterinarian clinics in Estepona who provides charitable services to local animal rescue center, ADANA, from where Lucy was adopted at the age of 6 months.

Clinica Veterinaria Tamara • Vaccinations, neutering, spaying • Surgery, medicine and dentistry • Prescription and diet foods • Accessories and toys • Ample Parking Dr. Marcel Vet Dr. Manuel Millán Dr. David Valverde

952 795 049

English, Dutch and Spanish Speaking

24 HOUR EMERGENCY NUMBER

639 204 642

Clinic Hours (by appointment): Mon to Fri 10am-1.30pm & 5pm-8pm • Sat 10am-1pm Estepona Town Centre

Palacio de Congreso

Pharmacia

WE ARE HERE

Petrol Station

McDonalds

Exit N340 (A7) Km158

Marbella

Avda. Litoral, Edif. Europa Center, ESTEPONA (close to Palacio de Congreso) DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 67

THE GARDEN >

PREPARING YOUR

Garden FOR Sale

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe Practical holistic gardeners authors and broadcasters living in Spain for 25 years.

The housing market in Spain is certainly in the doldrums. Houses in many areas, both new and re-sales, are being reduced by up to fifty percent to even get a sniff, and when a sale is negotiated and closed it is often the garden that finally tips the sale in spite of some amazing internal bargains. But that’s not that surprising. Whether buying a holiday home, a house for reletting or a permanent residence, the weather allows one to live a very much outdoor lifestyle. This results in the exquisitely designed, decorated and furnished house being used for just a few hours a day from Spring to Autumn and only for entire days on the colder wetter days of winter — but this is provided the garden is designed for outdoor living and does not require substantial maintenance activity every week of the year. So what can you do to prepare and modify your garden to give yourself a better chance of a fast sale at an attractive price for both the seller and buyer? We highlight some tidying tasks, likely attractions and improvement needs.

BASIC TIDYING NEEDS As with the interior of the house, potential buyers will be attracted by a tidy uncluttered garden that suggests that maintenance will be very manageable with or without the help of a gardener.

So, as a minimum, ensure that the following are done and maintained so that you can present the best image during unexpected visits by potential buyers.

1. If you have a lawn, ensure it’s cut regularly, even in the winter months should sunny weather stimulate growth, and treat it to a combined weed killer/fertilizer mix.

2. Ensure that the swimming pool and jacuzzi are kept pristine, even if you normally give them little winter attention.

3. Keep all paths and terraces swept and edging plants neatly trimmed back. If the sur-

68 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

< The Garden

faces look a little dirty and mossy, clean them with a pressure hose.

4. Re-point damaged surfaces and the facing of garden walls, and repaint garden walls to give them a fresh appearance.

5. Prune back straggly plants and deadhead plants that continue to flower.

6. After Christmas, do the major winter cutback as normal explaining to visiting potential buyers that you are doing it to improve the shape, sizes and Spring/Summer flowering potential of plants. What to do is explained in Chapter 6.9 of Your Garden in Spain.

7. Tidy the garden shed, clean tools and remove smelly, out of date, and/or leaking chemical products.

8. Check that the watering system is working effectively. Turn off unnecessary tubes and drip jets, and stop leaks.

9. Clean up potted plants and their pots/containers.

10. Prepare a tidy hidden area for the compost heap, leaves rotting down in bags, logs, etc.

vegetables, especially if the potential buyers did this previously in the UK or other European countries.

LIKELY ATTRACTIONS Beyond a tidy garden, what sort of thing might be attractive to potential buyers, recognising that some will look for simplicity and minimalism and others a more complex holistic style of garden. In many cases the former will be non-gardeners and the latter gardening enthusiasts.

• Try and have as many plants and shrubs that don’t require lots of watering.

• All year round colour.

• Have evidence of generally reasonable water bills.

• All year round perfume.

• Well framed vistas beyond the garden and strategically placed seats.

• Winter-sheltered sunny spots and shade for hot sunny days.

• Large terraces for entertaining and an outdoor kitchen.

• An interesting network of paths and internal vistas.

• As well as flowering plants, shrubs and trees, an assortment of fruit trees adds interest, also the facilities for a comprehensive herb collection; and how about the growing of some

• Colourful window boxes and containers.

• Change the tired plants.

IMPROVEMENTS TO CONSIDER The following are among the most common important issues.

1. Is your current gardener really up to maintaining and actioning the next stage of the development of your garden? If not, it might be wise to change the gardener now so as to ensure the garden is as good as you can get it in a few weeks or months, and you can recommend with confidence

Deco-Home is located on the Mijas Road, kilometre 4, between Fuengirola and Mijas Village.

They are open every day from 10 am to 7pm, including Sundays and holidays.

Telephone: 952 590 210 • www.deco-home.biz DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 69

The Garden >

PLANT OF THE MONTH

GOOD FOR THE PURPOSE

• A month-by-month resume of the essential maintenance that you have been carrying out.

• If you employ a gardener, a resume of their month-by-month or seasonal duties and your basis of payment.

• A new set of the most important ergonomic tools that you have been using and a year’s supply of the eco insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers that you have found useful, along with a list of addresses where they can replenish their supplies. For us this would include a bottle of neem oil, insecticide, propolis, fungicide and… snail killer.

A set of the most useful trilogy of books published in Spain: Your Garden in Spain — From planning to planting and maintenance, Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain and Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain. As many know these can be obtained from Bookworld and Carrefour bookshops among others, or by mail order in Spain from www.santanabooks. com, or call 952485838. If living in the UK they can be obtained from www.amazon.co.uk, or the Royal Horticultural Society Bookshop at Wisley Gardens on freephone 0845-2604505.

We hope the above ideas speed along your property sales and a Happy Christmas and New Gardening Year to all our readers. H&L © CLODAGH AND DICK HANDSCOMBE WWW.GARDENINGINSPAIN.COM DECEMBER 2009.

Cyclamen A group of bright coloured cyclamens will brighten up any porch, front step or windowsill adjacent to the front door whatever direction they face, but particularly so on a shady side of the house. If the plants are regularly deadheaded and the compost is just kept damp — preferably from a plastic tray and not by watering the top of the soil — cyclamens can flower profusely for several months. that a buyer retains your gardener. If you are unsure of the quality of your current gardener, use the Gardeners Audit Questionnaire found by clicking ‘Evaluate the Gardener’ on www.gardeninginspain.com.

2. If you have no water feature, establish a fountain or pond with natural-looking spring fountains or waterfalls. The sound of water and sight of fish, frogs, dragonflies and drinking birds can be both relaxing and stimulating and add a touch of nature in an urban as well as rural situation.

3. If space permits plant some more fruit trees and bushes. There are over 70 to choose from in our book Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain.

4. Establish a raised bed or vegetable plot planted up with over wintering vegetables.

It is not too late to sow some carrots, broad beans, peas and garlic cloves and buy and plant lettuce, Swiss chard, onion and broccoli plantlets. Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain will tell you all you know if you have yet to grow vegetables in Spain.

PROVIDE BUYERS WITH USEFUL INFORMATION AND EFFECTIVE TOOLS As a final touch in the negotiations indicate that you plan a special moving-in kit to smooth their take-over. This could include the following: 70 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

< The Garden

THE GREEN MACHINE In light of all our recent scientific advances, the tree is still undoubtedly our most valuable tool for a healthy environment.

Right now scientists around the world are working hard to prevent us from environmental collapse. At this very instant, they are studying new types of fuel cells, biodegradable construction materials and how to master vertical hydroponic farming. It’s an exciting time in which the spike in technology has begun to converge with our desire to preserve the planet.

While not all of us can afford hybrid cars or solar panels, there is a green apparatus out there that we all have easy access to. It is an incredible device — able to simultaneously absorb carbon dioxide from the air and produce oxygen. Not only that, it is both accessible and valuable to homeowners; it can make the price of a home appreciate by 10%, lower utility costs and reduce noise pollution. It is the tree. In light of all our recent scientific advances, the tree is still undoubtedly our most valuable tool for a healthy environment. Besides those mentioned above, the tree is connected to an almost endless chain of environmental benefits. It is our gateway to healthy soil, clean ground water, fresh air, and lower energy expenditure. At a time in which virtually every heralded new idea seems to come with a long set of trade-offs, the tree has none.

It is pure upside with wide-ranging effects.

For people feeling the pinch of a depressed housing market, it’s worth considering that trees can help your ability to sell your home. The insulation, windbreak and shade provided by a single mature tree planted on the west side of a home can lead to a decrease in utility bills of 12%, an astounding amount when looked at in light of a tree’s lifespan. It feels funny in a way to talk about a tree as an asset, because it’s something so easy to take for granted, but not only does one single tree serve the environment in very real and practical ways, it also comes with a great collection of fringe benefits. Trees also provide food, fragrant flowers and animal habitats. H&L

– Jardenería – Gartengestaltung – Landscaping – We are your competent partner …

in the fields of support, care and design of your garden, as well as the relevant technical equipment and accessories.

• GARDEN CARE Regular maintenance of your garden • GARDEN DESIGN From concept to completion to match your personal tastes and lifestyle.

• GARDEN TECHNOLOGY Irrigation, lighting, pool equipment and supplies, filters • GARDEN ACCESSORIES Practical and artistic accessories to complement your garden

Mob: + 34 617 709 790 Tel: + 34 952 839 653 info@siempre-verde.com www.siempre-verde.com DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 71

Top Quality Scottish FROM COSTA SALMON IMPORTS Costa Salmon Imports are based in Riviera del Sol and import the finest Scotch smoked salmon produced by One Day Fish in the UK. One Day Fish is a family business dating back to the 1700s when they started a smoke house on their own island in the Outer Hebrides. Since those very early days the company has now grown considerably and has a regular customer base of 1,300 deliveries weekly in the UK, which includes a delivery to Knightsbridge’s number one store, and with wholesaler representation in Greece, Denmark and now Spain.

One Day Fish operate from a state-of-the-art’ plant which meets all the requirements of registration for EEC licences together with a Kosher licence. The salmon is smoked daily

and is caught off the coasts of the Outer Hebrides

and Faroes. Once caught the fish is immediately

oak smoked for 18 to 20 hours to produce the

unique Scottish taste.

As well as salmon, the company also smoke fresh haddock for the commercial industry, which is proving increasingly popular with hotels as a ‘healthy’ breakfast option.

Initially, Costa Salmon are concentrate on ES HEBRID OUTER E

the importation of the superb quality and H T TED IN T LOCA G PLAN IN S

reasonably priced smoked salmon which comes packed S E OC THE PR INSIDE

in 100 gram and 400 gram or one kilo catering packs. Shortly they will be expanding their range to include smoked haddock and other products.

RECENT TASTINGS Costa Salmon Imports recently held two very successful FREE TASTING at the El Oceano beach Hotel in Rivera del Sol on Friday 23rd October and at the Miraflores bowls club in Rivera del Sol on Friday 20th November where they donated a 1 kilo pack of smoked salmon as a prize.

If you are involved in the gastronomic trade and would like to receive an invitation please contact Costa Salmon on 952 930 036 or 617 932 263 RECEN T FREE TASTIN or by email on costasalomon@ymail.com.

G AT TH E

72 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

EL OCE

ANO B

EACH H

OTEL

Smoked Salmon

> Already in France, Denmark & Greece and now in Spain. > Family Business dating back to the 1700s. > Suppliers to the top London Hotels, Restaurants and no.1 store in Knightsbridge. > Salmon caught Freshly every day in the Outer Hebrides and Faroes and then smoked for 18 to 20 hours to producethat special unique Scottish taste. > EEC Approved, Kosher Licence. > Stock flown in on a daily basis. > Sold at very competitive prices Scottish Smoked Salmon from Costa Salmon Imports can be now be purchased in the following outlets: •

NOW AVAILABLE IN ICELAND

• Cornish Pride Café/Bakers, Calypso, Mijas Costa • Real Sausage Co., Fuengirola (near the main Post Office) • Supermercado Miraflores, Comercial Centre Las Terraza, Urbanisation Rivera del Sol • Costaless British Supermarket, Benavista Scottish Smoked Salmon from Costa Salmon Imports is also available in a number of quality Restaurants and Hotels along the Coast since its recent launch.

For more information please contact:

Telephone 952 930 036 Mobile: 617 932 263 costasalmon@ymail.com

ace. p S his ing Soon T h c Watutlets Com

New

O

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 73

CUISINE >

Cook up a treat for Christmas Ideal as food gifts Snazzy Snowmen Present these in a decorated cake tin that the recipients can use time and time again. These make great gifts for giving to teachers or school friends at the end of term.

Preparation time: 35 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes. Makes 8-10

Stained-Glass Window Cookies These are great fun to make and look fantastic hung on the tree with fairy lights making the colours really twinkle. Preparation time: 50 minutes. Cooking time: 12 minutes. Makes 25

Leftover Turkey Surprises Turkey is the food that just keeps on giving. Here are two ways to break out of the leftover turkey rut, from enchiladas to soup.

Turkey Enchiladas with Sour Cream

n 100g softened butter n 100g golden caster sugar n 2 eggs n 100g self raising flour n 1 tsp baking powder n 1 tsp vanilla essence n Icing sugar for dusting n 150g white icing n 3 tbsp apricot jam n Marshmallows n Red fizzy laces for scarves n Tubes of coloured writing icing n Edible silver baubles DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.

Place softened butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and vanilla essence into the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat for a few minutes until the mixture is light in colour and fluffy.

Line a bun tin with eight paper cases and divide the mixture between them, filling the cases to about two thirds of the way up. Bake for about 20 minutes until the fairy cakes have risen and are lightly golden. Lift the cakes (still in their paper cases) out of the tins and leave them to cool on a wire rack.

Put the apricot jam, into a dish and stir in one tablespoon of hot water. Brush this over the surface of the cakes and coat with white icing.

To decorate the cakes, use marshmallows for the snowmen’s heads, black writing icing for the eyes, red writing icing for the smiles and sugar baubles for the noses (stick them on with a blob of writing icing). Stick the heads on the cakes using a little apricot jam, then stick on the edible silver baubles for buttons. Wrap fizzy laces around the snowmen’s necks for scarves.

74 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Super easy and satisfying, this recipe turns leftover turkey into a fiesta of flavours. Make sure you use a high-quality salsa for the freshest taste. Serve with a simple coleslaw of shredded cabbage topped with lime juice and cumin.

Notes: Use any favourite, good-quality salsa, red or green, for these enchiladas.

Yield: Makes 6 servings

n 350g plain flour n 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda n 2 tsp ground ginger n ½ tsp salt n 100g soft brown sugar n 1 egg n 4 tbsp golden syrup n Coloured fruit-flavoured boiled sweets n Narrow ribbon DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.

Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and salt in a bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs and then stir in the sugar. Beat together the egg and golden syrup and mix into the flour mixture to make a smooth dough, kneading lightly with your hands.

Crush the boiled sweets in their wrappers, using a rolling pin. Sprinkle flour on a clean work surface and roll out the dough until about ½ cm thick.

Cut the dough into shapes using a selection of Christmas cookie cutters. Transfer to lined baking sheets.

Cut out shapes in the centre of each biscuit, making sure you leave a good edge all the way around the biscuit.

Fill the hole in each biscuit with crushed boiled sweets. Make a hole at the top of each biscuit using a drinking straw so you will be able to thread a ribbon through later. Bake for 1112 minutes until golden. Decorate with writing icing before hanging. H&L

n 3 cups shredded skinned cooked turkey n 2 cups sour cream n About 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese n 1 teaspoon salt n 1/3 cup vegetable oil n 12 corn tortillas n 1 jar (16 oz.) medium-hot salsa (see notes) 1. In a bowl, mix turkey, sour cream, 2 cups shredded cheese, and the salt.

2. Heat oil in an 8 to 10-inch frying pan over low heat. Dip the tortillas, one at a time, in the hot oil just until limp, about 5 seconds.

3. Fill tortillas equally with turkey mixture, roll up, and arrange side by side, seam down, in a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Pour salsa evenly over the top.

4. Bake in a 350° oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. If desired, sprinkle more shredded cheese over hot enchiladas before serving.

Quality Dining

A GUIDE TO THE BEST RESTAURANTS ON THE COAST

Open from 20th Dec - 3rd Jan

Turkey Soup Provençal Transport your turkey to the south of France.

For this soup, add ground (or leftover) turkey to chicken broth, cannellini beans, spinach, and canned tomatoes. Then season it with the delicate and aromatic flavours of herbes de Provence. The best part? It’s super-fast and budget friendly, requiring just six ingredients and 10 minutes of your time.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4cups) n 1 pound ground turkey breast n 1/2 teaspoon dried herbes de Provence, crushed n 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, drained n 1 (14.5-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth n 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, undrained n 4 cups chopped fresh spinach Cook turkey in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble.

Add herbes de Provence, beans, broth, and tomatoes to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in spinach; simmer 5 minutes. H&L

Avoid recipe emergencies RUN OUT OF…

SUBSTITUTE

NEED TO KNOW

Self-raising flour

Plain flour + baking powder

Use 3-4 tsp of baking powder per 225g (8 oz) flour

Cornflour

Plain flour + softened butter

Blend equal amounts into a paste and whisk gradually into hot sauces to thicken

Cream

Evaporated milk

Only for pouring and in sauces

Gravy granules

Marmite + cornflour

Thicken cooking water with the flour and flavour with Marmite

Sugar

Golden syrup

Use same quantity. Not suitable for meringues

Butter

Sunflower oil

Use same weight, but only for recipes needing a solid fat

Vinegar

Fresh lemon juice

Use for dressings and chips not pickles or chutneys

El Oceano will be serving a special 3-course evening menu with top class live entertainment every night throughout the festive season for an incredible

24,50€

*subject to 7% tax, excludes Christmas & New Year’s Eve

Ask at reception for further details

WIN the above Meal for 2 including a Bottle of Wine Answer the following questions correctly: QUESTION 1: QUESTION 2: QUESTION 3:

How many people are in the group Masquerade?

Who is El Oceano Hotel’s residental pianist and vocalist?

On what date is El Oceano Hotel’s famous last lunch ?

Please email your answer to competition@cdshomemagazine.com. Correct answers will be randomly picked for one winner. Winner will be notified on the 20th December 2009. Prize must be taken before 3rd January 2010. Conditions apply.

Boxing Night, Saturday 26th

with Masquerade, the coast’s Nº1 party duo!!

❋ ❋ ❋ ❋

Wednesday 30th

an evening with FRANK SINATRA

❋ ❋ ❋ ❋

New Year’s Day Lunch, Friday 1st Jan

start the New Year the only way... the Oceano way!!

A very special Spanish welcome drinks reception and top class live entertainment with our resident pianist & vocalist Johnny Baker plus very special guest playing unforgettable electric violin!!

❋ ❋ ❋ ❋

Last Famous Sunday Lunch, 3rd Jan

Our last ‘famous’ Sunday Lunch will be on January 3rd, we are then closed until April, so don’t miss it!!

Book now to avoid disappointment!!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve: FULLY BOOKED El Oceano Beach Hotel A7 (CN-340), Km. 199 Miraflores Beach, Mijas Costa

Tel. 952

587 550 www.oceanohotel.com DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 75

Quality Dining

S

A GUIDE TO THE BEST RESTAURANTS ON THE COAST

izzlyns STEAK House

Great prices, friendly service plus a Plasma Television to watch your favourite sporting events

The ideal venue for that special occasion.

This Christmas enjoy our

Traditional Christmas Lunch & New Years Eve Dinner with Live Music.

Mention this advert and receive a 15% DISCOUNT

Rump Sirloin Rib eye Fillet Fish Vegetarian Homemade meals

Mediterranean Cuisine & Charcoal Grill Located by the 5th hole of Los Lagos at Mijas Golf

Fantastic homemade food using the finest ingredients.

• Sunday lunch 2 courses 9.95€ with live music.

• Early Bird menu from 6pm till 8pm 3 courses ONLY 12€.

• Christmas parties catered for from 12€ per head.

• Christmas Day Lunch served from 1pm till 7pm with fabulous Cabaret show JUST 25€.

• New Years Eve 45€ a head. Start 8pm, 4 course menu, cava and grapes at midnight.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.

Plaza Picasso Fuengirola

Restaurant & Bar Angel Mijas

605 423 985

Please call us on 952 486 944

Urb. Dona Pilar, Local 8 Crta de Mijas, KM 4, Mijas

This Winter, Nov to Mar, we are offering a 20% discount on our á La Carte Menu which boasts a large selection of meats including T-bone, Forerib, Filet Steak, & Lamb Cutlets. All cooked on our BBQ. We also offer a great selection of Fish Dishes.

Early Bird Menu 19,50€ 7-8pm 3 course meal with a glass of wine For bookings and enquiries phone

952 467 674 CLOSED SUNDAYS

Christmas at the Tamisa Christmas Day Gala Lunch Live Entertainment and Dancing with Ian Jacks

Christmas Day Gala Dinner Live Entertainment with Rhiannon

Boxing Day Gala Dinner

Saturday 26th December Live entertainment with Samatha Mairs includes all Beers & Wine until Midnight

Hotel Tamisa Golf

87,50€

per person

30,00€ children

65,00€

per person

30,00€ children

45,00€

per person

Camino Viejo de Coin, Km 3,3, Mijas Costa, 29649, Málaga, SPAIN

Tel: 00 34 952 585 988 Fax: 00 34 952 663 893 reservas@hoteltamisagolf.com

www.hoteltamisagolf.com

Quality Dining

A GUIDE TO THE BEST RESTAURANTS ON THE COAST

M ijas Playa Restaurant Christmas Day Menu 2009 — 69 € Chef’s Snacks

Pumpkin and almond cream with Amaretto or Marinated salmon with dill sauce, sprout salad and pistachio vinaigrette or Our pâté served with cumberland sauce

Christmas

CHRISTMAS EVE GALA DINNER

49€ all inclusive

Entertainment with Father and Daughter, David and Samatha Mairs [

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH Choice of menu

75€ or 95€

New Year

Traditional roast turkey with chipolatas, gravy and redcurrant sauce served with roast potatoes and a selection of vegetables or Sole fillets with cava sauce, steamed potatoes and fresh vegetables or Roast leg of suckling lamb au jus with potatoes and grilled vegetables

NEW YEARS EVE GALA DINNER

Traditional Christmas pudding or Chocolate fondant with Cointreau and orange sauce

[ Fresh Asparagus Soup

Coffee and turrones Wine and water

New Year’s Eve Menu 2009 — 95 € Welcome drink, snacks and appetizers of the house

Fresh lobster salad, red fruits and salmon caviar seasoned with a sweet citrus vinaigrette or Green apple puff pastry, foie gras and caramelized goat cheese served with tender shoots Consommé with the aroma of sherry or Cream of asparagus soup with thin shavings of ham Champagne sorbet with tangerine Supreme roasted monkfish on chopped tomatoes accompanied by creamed peas with a bundle of tied vegetables or Sirloin steak with truffle sauce, potato gratin cake and a basket of seasonal vegetables Three chocolate cake with mint ice cream Coffee, nougat, lucky grapes and a glass of champagne with a New Year Party Bag The above menu includes water, soft drinks and beer Red Wine — Condesa de Leganza Crianza 2004 White wine — Condesa de Leganza

Special Party Menus starting at 30€

6 course banquet

149€

An assortment of handmade canapés and champagne on arrival

made with the finest ingredients

[ Lobster Platter

Half a fresh lobster garnished with smoke salmon and plump prawns, served with mixed leaves and a Marie rose sauce

[ Fresh Salmon Supreme

Thick cut fresh salmon served on a bed of creamed spinach with a champagne and mustard suace with buttered new potatoes, glazed carrots and mange tout

Mijas Palaya Fillet

Medallions of beef fillet served on a slow cooked confit of beef with roast lamb cutlet. Served with poached savoy cabbage, glazed baby carrots and fondant potato

Aubergine Mille Feulle

Stacked with roast vegetables and goat’s cheese, served on a pumpkin sauce

[ Presentation plate of our most popular desserts [ A se;ection of Continental and English cheese’s served with crackers, celery and grapes [ Coffee with chocolates Champagne and grapes at Midnight.

Entertainment until late.

Party Bags and fun Christmas Novelties.

FIREWORKS DIPLAY Menu Price is totally inclusive of all bar drinks, fine Rioja wine and Faustino Cava with the exception of French Champagnes and Special Brandies

BOXING DAY AND NEW YEAR’S DAY Fabulous Dinner menu

20€ or 25€

TWO FANTASTIC SUNDAY LUNCHES

Sunday 20th December with Carol Singing Sunday 27th December a Traditional Sunday Lunch THE PERFECT PLACE FOR VALENTINES DAY. 14th February 2010.

We are serving lunch and dinner

Calle Pinzón 1, Urb. de la Ponderosa, 29649, Mijas Costa Telephone: 952 47 24 35 • info@laspiedrasmijas.com www.laspiedrasmijas.com

T: 952493749 Paseo Maritimo, La Cala, Mijas Costa admin@mijasplaya.com www.mijasplaya.com

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FURNISHINGS AND INTERIOR DECOR

THE DIRECTORY

Chimeneas, Fire and Design, S.L. Calle el Califa 564, 29660 Nueva Andalucia Tel: 951 275 693 Mob: 617 649 583 www.pias-chimeneas.com info@pias-chimeneas.com Cort Idea Centro Idea Ctrr. De Mijas km 3,6 29650 Mijas, Málaga Tel: 952 461 221 www.cortidea.com info@cortidea.com Costa-Carpet Ctra. De Mijas km 4 Mijas Costa Tel: 952 473 328 www.costa-carpet.com Gold on Glass Tel: 610 530 433 www.goldonglass.co.uk info@goldonglass.co.uk Natural Habitat Comercial A-15 Edificio A 29649 La Cala de Mijas Mijas Costa Tel: 952 492 154 637 787 980 637 787 953 www.naturalhabitatspain.com Warmwave Andalucia Tel: 952 388 558 Mob: 672 354 471 www.warmwaveandalucia.com warmwaveandalucia@gmail.com Westminster Furniture S.L. Calle Amatista 21 El Rebollar Soto del Real 28791 Madrid Tel: 91 847 8533 www.westminstermuebles.es White Design Company Local 2-3 Edif. Butibamba La Cala de Mijas Mijas Costa 29649 Tel: 952 494 155 Dilys Mob: 600 583 673 www.whitedesignco.com info@whitedesignco.com

Yorkshire Linen Avda de Andalucia, Nave 3 Mijas Costa Tel: 952 197 577 / 952 197 596 www.yorkshirelinen.com ylwspain@hotmail.com

ADVERTISE HERE for ONLY 120 Euros for 2 months or 300 Euros for 6 months!

TVs, MEDIA ROOMS AND HOME THEATRE Cabletec Tel: 952 665 861 Troy: 616 549 344 Rupert: 639 551 352 www.cabletec.tv info@cabletec.tv

OUTDOOR LIVING AREAS

Cape Reed S.L. Suite 450, Marbella Business Centre Avde. De las Cumbres 29600 Elviria, Marbella Tel: 951 044 205 Mob: 638 421 464 Fax: 952 900 589 www.capereed.com Europe@capereed.com

Creative Lighting Tel: Joe at 620116343 www.creativelighting.es info@creativelighting.es Deco-Home Carretera de Fuengirola To Mijas Village, Km4 Tel: 952 590 210 Marbella Pools & Spas Cntro Comercial Las Petunias 1, Local 4, San Pedro Alcántara Tel: 952 781 939 www.marbellapools.com info@marbellapools.com The Shadesail Company Tel: 952 930 959 www.theshadesailcompany.com info@theshadesailcompany.com Siempre Verde Tel: 952 839 653 www.siempre-verde.com info@siempre-verde.com

KITCHENS AND BATHS UK Fitted Kitchens Centro Comercial Cristamar Puerto Banus Tel: 952 818 540 Mob: 639 865 779 www.modernhomes.co.uk www. halcyon-properties.com info@halcyon-properties.com

WINDOWS R-DMC’s Glass Manufacturers S.L. Tel: 952 477 963 Mob: 677 712 742 www.rdmcsglass.com info@rdmcsglass.com

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

AIM British Building Supplies Poligono Las Chapas, Elviria Tel/Fax 952 835 172 www.abbs.com aimwholesale@hotmail.co.uk

ADVERTISE HERE for ONLY 120 Euros for 2 months or 300 Euros for 6 months!

To advertise here call 637478065 / 637478056 or e-mail advertising@CDShomemagazine.com

HEALTH, BEAUTY AND FASHION

• 100s

of ready made curtains and poles in stock.

Colours Hair & Beauty Avenida Federico Garcia Lorca 1 Pueblo Quinta 2a Fase Bloque 1 Semisotano Banalmadena Costa Tel: 952 577 072 colourshairandbeauty@yahoo.com

• Luxury throws, cushions, bedspreads.

• We

now have a selection of material, Roman and Vertical blinds to order

• Measuring fitting and pressing services.

• We

now stock Memory foam mattress toppers and pillows Tel: 952 897 477 Mob: 652 018 623 thecurtainandbeddingco@hotmail.com

Local No1, Portal 12 Jardines de Sabinillas, Manilva

HOME SERVICES MARBLE FLOOR POLISHERS E6 Solutions Property Management Tel: 637 501 577 663 335 179 951 165 138 www.estrella6.com info@estrella6.com PAINTING & DECORATING Scotties Painter and Decorator Tel: 625 237 611 / 627 055 246 scottiesdecoart@live.co.uk AIR CONDITIONING Williams Refrigeration SL Contact: Simon Williams Tel: 952 596 404 Mob: 679 284 959 www.airconditioningspain.com info@airconditioningspain.com

FLORISTS Flor Valentin Centro Idea Ctra. De Mijas, Km 3,6 29650 Mijas Tel: 951 311 086 Mob: 669 06 1234 www.florvalentin.es

Málaga Tel: 952 585 900 Fax 952 663 893 www.hoteltamisagolf.com reservas@hoteltamisagolf.com El Oceano Beach Hotel A7 (CN-340). Km 199 Miraflores Beach, Mijas Costa Tel: 952 587 550 www.oceanohotel.com Sizzlyns Steak House Plaza Picasso, Fuengirola Tel: 605 423 985 www.sizzlyns.com Angel Mijas Restaurant and Bar Urb. Done Pilar, Local 8 Crta de Mijas Km 4 Mijas Tel: 952 486 944 Restaurant “El Golf” By 5th Hole, Los Lagos Mijas Golf Tel: 952 467 674 Las Piedras Restaurant Calle Pinzon 1 Urb. de la Ponderosa 29649 Mijas Costa Tel: 952 472 435 www.laspiedrasmijas.com info@laspiedrasmijas.com

RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS Hotel Tamisa Golf Camino Viejo de Coil, Km 3,3 Mijas Costa 29649

Mijas Playa Paseo Maritimo, La Cala, Mijas Costa Tel: 952 493 749 Fax: 952 493 544 www.mijasplaya.com admin@mijasplaya.com

Damaris Novias Calle Pärroca J.A. Jimenez Higuero s/n, Fuengirola Tel: 952 580 976 www.damarisnovias.com damaris@qlminformatica.com Dunnes Store Las Rampas, Fuengirola 29040 Centro Comercial La Trocha Carretera Coin Cartama Km1 CP/29100 Coin

ADVERTISE HERE for ONLY 60 Euros for 2 months or 150 Euros for 6 months!

Dan Optica Paseo J. Santos Rein 4, Fuengirola Tel: 952 583 910 Toll Free: 900 720 821 www.danoptica.com info@danoptica.com Green House Tel: 952 933 619 Mob: 671 384 961 www.green-house.com sarah@green-houseclothingspain.com

FOR SALE

Direct from Owner Rustic Finca in Mijas

1,727m2 plot - 665m2 built

1,900.000€ www.fincapucine.com claude@fincapucine.com Tel: 952 590 210 Real Estate welcome Permanent Perfect Make-up Tel: 666 094 075

www.permanentperfectmakeup.com

Vitamina Health Shop Centro Idea Ctra. De Mijas km 3,6 29650 Mijas Tel: 952 584 313

ADVERTISE HERE for ONLY 120 Euros for 2 months or 300 Euros for 6 months!

Los Angeles Clinica Dental Jesus Santos Rein 19, Fuengirola Tel: 952 461 444 Mob: 659 713 944

Do not interrupt your advertising during tough economic times Costa del Sol HOME Magazine offers advertising in its DIRECTORY from as little as 60,00 Euros per issue. Call today to ensure your business catches the next issue. advertising@CDShomemagazine.com • 951 170 265 • 637 478 065 • 637 478 056

Please mention Costa del Sol HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine when responding to Advertisements

THE DIRECTORY

The Curtain and Bedding Company

Costa del Sol Voice COMMUNITY AND CHARITY NEWS ALONG THE COAST Promoting Positive People on the Costa

By David Jeffers Mairs What a summer it’s been. The warm sunshine and high temperatures seem to have lasted forever.

My wife and I are in our 16th year of living on the beautiful Costa del Sol and we both have no regrets about moving to Spain. The climate, the Spanish way of life and the way they embrace and celebrate their culture is, in my view, hard to better. The Spanish way is somewhat slower than the rest of Europe, especially here on the Costa. This may be seen as lazy, but when the Spanish work, they work hard — and play hard too. It is quite common for life to begin when the sun goes down, especially in the summer. They are a very happy people who enjoy life, music, dance and food. They know how to live life to the full.

FLETCHER FALVEY Fletcher Michael Falvey is 3 years old. Born in May 2006, he is a sweet, sensitive, funny little boy. He is very loving and gives out lots of cuddles and kisses. At the moment Fletcher is in the United States undergoing treatment to save his life after having been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. The Malaga based charity “Plataforma de Ayuda a Fletcher” was the recipient of thousands of euros raised at the ESSENTIALS MAGAZINE’s Marbella Awards 2009, held in association with TALK RADIO EUROPE. A heart-warming gesture from the business community, coming together to help this precious little boy.

The HOME & LIFESTYLE Magazine golf society I had the pleasure of competing in a round of golf with the 4PLAY GOLF society, the first of which I hope will be many. Calanova Golf was the venue and a great day it was. Twenty-four happy and smiling players (golfers are like that… until they miss a birdie putt for loads of points) turned out in perfect weather conditions and enjoyed a game golf with tapas, drinks and great prizes for the winner and runner-up. The problems with the sun-damaged greens are well on their way to recovery. Well done the ground staff for bringing the course back to nigh on perfect condition.

Looking forward to the next competition which will be held at Chapparel golf on the 17th of December. For more information or to book a tee time for the next competition please phone Stuart on 696 009 673 or Linda on 637 478 056. See you all there.

The Unity Gospels Singers at the Perfect Wedding Expo For those who didn’t manage to visit the Perfect Wedding Expo at the Palacio De La Paz Fuengirola on the 14th and 15th of November, you missed a great day out. One of the added attractions was the music and dance, and this is where I heard The Unity Gospel Singers for the first time. They exploded on to the stage and sang with passion that PHOTO CREDIT: JUAN M. MATA would make your spirit soar. With their up-beat funky sound and soulful singing, this group will surely touch your heart. The MC for the day, Jim McNulty — himself a very talented singer and performer — was enjoying the music so much that he couldn’t resist the opportunity of joining them on stage (pictured above) (See the Events section of the magazine for more details).

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year…David 80 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

Samantha J. Mairs

Samantha, my lovely daughter who was the female vocalist on the recently written Dario Poli/Alan de Ward song Marbella Marbella, will be back on the Coast for the Christmas and New Year festivities. For the last twelve years Sam has been performing with me on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at the beautiful Restaurant Mijas Playa, the only opportunity we have to work together since, as I’m sure most of you know, Sam returned to Scotland to further her education and now has a degree in business and media. Talented and smart… I wonder where she got that from? The smart bit obviously came from her Mum. We’re both very proud of her. Other bookings for Sam include the new Angels Restaurant on Christmas day lunch and the fabulous Tamisa Golf Hotel on Boxing Night.

You can contact me at costadelsolvoice@hotmail.com or visit www.costadelsolvoice.com

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 81

You can find the magazine in the following areas Costa del Sol HOME and LIFESTYLE Magazine can be found in over 500 key points along the Costa del Sol between Benalmádena and Alcadeisa/San Roque — including Golf Clubs, International Schools, International Clubs and Associations; Dental and Medical Practices, Hairdressers and Beauty Salons, Spas, Gyms and Fitness Centres; Reception areas of Lawyers and Accountants, Urbanizations, Furniture and Interior Design shops, Garden Centres and Restaurants.

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By anyone, anywhere, anytime.

British foods Golf Torrequebrada Costaless supermarket Marina Benalmadena Stand Benalmadena Inter’l College Spainsburys Celebrations cards Muebles Danesa Nordik Centre Lew Hoad Tennis Eroski Supermarket Cort Idea — Danish Centre Euromarket at Hiperprop Iceland Dunnes Stores El Chapparel Golf Snack Attack Calanova Golf La Cala Golf Resort La Noria Golf Miraflores Golf Club Miraflores Driving Range Max Beach Restaurant Costaless Supermarket Cabopino Lighting Julies Bar — Puerto La Siesta Golf Club Tennis del Sol Supersol Santa Maria Golf Club Santa Clara Golf El Casco Paddle and Tennis Marbella Golf Club Rio Real Golf Monte Paraiso Golf Marbella International School Supersol supermarket Bookworld — Puerto Banus El Corte Ingles — Puerto Banus Starz Cafe — Nueva Andalucia Terra Sana — Nueva Andalucia Marbella Golf School — near Aloha College Aloha Golf

Las Brisas Golf Los Naranjos Golf La Quinta Golf Los Arqueros Golf Swans International School Calpe School Passion Cafe Golf Guadalmina Supersol Guadalmina Atalaya Golf Club Marbella Golf Club La Heredia, Benahavis Monte Mayor Mayfair Academy Corner Cafe El Paraiso Country Club El Paraiso Golf Peggotys Fish and Chipsl AgroJardin Valle Romano Golf Estepona Golf Golf Dona Julia The Galleria —Duquesa Sotogrande Golf Santa Maria Polo Club Cafe Ke — Sotogrande Port Octogono Tennis and Beach Club La Canada Golf La Reserva Golf San Roque Golf Alcadeisa Golf CASARES La Tienda Kidogo ALHAURIN UK Foods Martins newsagents Brit essentials Bed linen direct COIN Dunnes Stores

Competent, energetic SALES EXECUTIVES needed from Marbella to Sotogrande to sell advertising space in the Costa del Sol HOME and LIFESTYLE Magazine. Commission + expenses with future prospect of base salary. If you have previous advertising sales experienced, are well presented and like to work from your home base, please send your CV to editor@CDShomemagazine.com.

82 del Sol Home & Lifestyle Magazine 82 Costa CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COM

DECEMBER 2009 & JANUARY 2010 83

Merry Christmas We wish all our customers a very

Throughout December we will celebrate Christmas as usual with mulled wine (glogg) and Danish ginger spice cookies (brunkager), so take a look inside.

We also have lots of good Christmas gift ideas.

Take advantage of the Sale!

We are offering a 15-40% discount on all our frames and sunglasses.

Paseo J. Santos Rein 4 . 29640 Fuengirola . Tel. +34 952 58 39 10 Toll Free. 900 720 821 (only in the Malaga Province) Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10am-2:30pm and 5pm-8pm, Saturday 10am-2pm 84 CDSHOMEMAGAZINE.COMwww.danoptica.com â&#x20AC;˘ e-mail: info@danoptica.com You will find us opposite the MercaCentro in Fuengirola, near the tourist office.