HOMES & PROPERTY Metallic

All That Glitters is GOLD

Soft gold helps to balance out the coolness of grey tones, proving that when it comes to choosing fabrics and soft furnishings for your home, all that glitters is gold...

This Spread: Clarke & Clarke Edgworth fabrics, bedding Belgravia ochre/charcoal; duvet Windsor ochre and chambray, pillows Breton and Windsor.

Top Left: Harlequin Momentum including Kienze and Trattino rug. Top Right: Harlequin Demoiselle cushion and throw. Above: Sanderson Sycamore, curtains in Mustard Seed Weave, wallpaper Little Thistles in Ecru. Opposite: Jane Churchill fabrics, sofa in Foxtrot Ivory; cushions in Indra Gold, Tamara Silver/Gold and Zephy Gold.

Above: W Morris Strawberry Thief bedding in Pebble, £120 for double duvet cover. Opposite Top Left: Botanist Collection, Clarke & Clarke. Opposite Top Right: Clarke & Clarke Origins fabric. Opposite Bottom: Clarke & Clarke Natura linen look fabric with metallic and satin effects.

Rutland & Stamford Suppliers: Delcor Interiors: Stamford, 01780 762579, www.delcor.co.uk. H-Works: Stamford 01780 754605, www.hworksdesign.co.uk. Hunters Interiors: Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD, 01780 757946, huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk. Sarah Harding Interiors: Uppingham, 01572 823389, www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk. n

THE KEY TO YOUR NEXT HOME

For those seeking to buy or sell property in Rutland or Stamford, the experience and expertise of Greg and Mel at Perrins Properties makes the whole process faster and easier...

Words: Rob Davis.

IF ANYONE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE between a house and a home, and how important the latter is to a functional family life, it’s local property experts, Greg and Mel.

On the morning of our interview their home was a hive of activity. Three children and two adults all trying to work from home? Sounds like a recipe for chaos, but it’s all working well on the morning of our call, with Greg and Mel on loudspeaker around the table in the property’s kitchen diner with its views of local countryside towards Stamford.

“We’ve three children, aged, nine, four and two,” explains Mel. “Like a lot of people, we have had to adapt to working from home over the last year. I tend to work downstairs in the playroom whilst we are home schooling the children, and when he’s not out with clients, Greg works in his study upstairs.”

“He has the nicer office but as he spends most of his time on the phone to client’s he needs a quiet space which wouldn’t be possible with the children nearby! ”

“It’s running smoothly, so far – touch wood – which is even more impressive given how busy we are at the minute. The property market, much like the rest of the country, is operating in unusual circumstances – and in uncertain times –but property is moving incredibly quickly and there are a number of trends that we have seen which are having a direct bearing on Rutland and Stamford.” “We’re seeing people making a lifestyle move,” says Greg. “The past year has proven that many of us can work from home, and that’s encouraging people to re-evaluate where they live.”

“Our area provides more property for your money, larger gardens, nice communities, excellent commuter links and many other physical and psychological benefits which can be derived from living in such a beautiful part of the country.”

“That means luxury properties in Rutland and Stamford area are highly sought-after, and using an experienced luxury property specialist can give you the advantage you need to secure a fair price when you buy or sell a home in the area. And that’s exactly the service we set up following our return to the area after 11 years working in Dubai’s prestigious property market.”

“Dubai is renowned for luxurious living standards and five star service and we were determined to bring those standards to the UK with us. We are passionate about improving standards in the UK real estate market starting with improving the fundamentals of communication between all parties involved in a sale.”

“We also believe in a truly bespoke service for each of our clients focusing on their requirements and individual circumstances instead of the usual off the shelf approach that is standard in this market.” >>

>> Buying Property “One in three buyers of high-end property in the area are from London or the home counties. As a boutique agent we work with a small number of properties which gives us the ability to proactively reach out to our constantly updated list of national and international buyers who have registered their interest in purchasing a property in the area.”

“This also enables us to spend more time on each of our properties matching them to the right buyers and actively reaching out to them. We pride ourselves on our excellent communication with both buyers and sellers keeping all our clients informed at every step of the process.” “Uniquely, we don’t consider our service complete once an offer has been accepted. We actively see our sales through to exchange and completion, acting as a ‘concierge’ during the conveyancing process.” “Often that’s a tricky or drawn-out part of purchasing a property, so to have someone keeping the process going can be a real advantage and relieve a lot of the frustrations commonly experienced during the process of buying a home.”

Selling Property “Our comprehensive knowledge of luxury property and the area allows us to serve as a concierge for sellers, investing more time introducing properties to buyers, and providing services like home staging and styling. We have 15 years of experience in the luxury property market and have both the knowledge and the market insight to provide an accurate valuation for your home.” “We also offer a consultancy basis if your property is already on the market but isn’t attracting enough viewings.” “The service is offered with a small, fixed fee, and aims to ensure you can take charge of marketing your home and reach out to potential buyers.” “Home staging is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and can really help to make your property more attractive to potential buyers.” “Our professional photographers will showcase the unique features of your home and create an amazing portfolio of images to tempt and engage potential buyers.”

On the Market in Rutland & Stamford...

The East Midlands experienced the second highest growth in England in 2020 seeing a 10.6 % increase from December 2019 to December 2020. This compares to a UK average increase of 8.5% for the same period. House prices nationally took a slight downturn after the first quarter of 2020 but quickly recovered, surpassing pre-lockdown prices by June. South Kesteven fared well during this period with prices staying higher than those seen in almost all comparable months in 2019 and ending 2020 with a comfortable 5.2% increase in prices since the end of 2019. In particular, the town of Stamford has fared very well with a 7.96% increase in the last 12 months. The average price paid for a detached home in December 2020 in South Kesteven was £322,287 with a healthy increase of 6.1% over the course of 2020. This compared to a regional average detached house price of £315,652 after a regional increase of 11.2%, shows that the South Kesteven area, and in particular Stamford, still attracts a premium for its properties. n Sign up for quarterly updates on house prices in the area by calling Greg Perrins on 07495 368823. “For extensive properties with acreage, drone photography and professionally produced videos truly bring your property to life, presenting your home’s setting in the best possible way.” “Once prepared for sale, as boutique property agents we can then invest more time and more attention in your home and in finding our clients a property that meets their needs and provides them with a better lifestyle.” “We also provide accompanied viewings and are very proactive in following up on a potential buyer’s interest.” “In many ways there’s room for improvement in the way we buy and sell property in this country, but that also means there’s scope for improvement and for someone like us to provide a much better customer experience.” “The purchase of a property is not only the largest investment you’re likely to make, it’s also really important that where you live works well for your lifestyle and contributes to your happiness.” “Our homes are where we live, relax and grow as a family. For that reason, helping people unlock the door to their dream home is a responsibility that we really thrive on and enjoy with every single satisfied customer!” n

UNLOCK THE DOOR TO YOUR DREAM HOME...

n Property Valuation: “With 15 years of experience in the luxury property market we have the expertise needed to provide an accurate valuation of your home. With an eye for detail, we are able to achieve premium prices for our properties by recognising and marketing the luxury features which other agents may miss.” n Tailor Made Marketing: “Looking to sell a property and don’t want your home move to be treated like a production line? It’s time to try something new! At Perrins Properties we don’t believe in a one size fits all approach and will tailor make a marketing package that fits your home.” n Consultation Service: “Already on the market but not getting any viewings and don’t want the hassle of changing agent? For a small fixed fee Perrins Properties can offer a consultation service which will enable you to take charge of your home’s marketing and get your current real estate agent performing for you. For extensive properties with acreage, drone photography and professionally produced videos truly bring your property to life, presenting your home’s setting in the best possible way.” n Staging & Styling: “All our agents are experienced in staging your home to achieve the interest and value it deserves and help potential buyers to see themselves living there. This service comes as standard for all our properties whereby agents will advise and assist with minor staging prior to photographs being taken. For larger jobs such as empty properties we can refer you to trusted professionals who can stage the property as a home showcasing the best your property has to offer.”

n For more information on Perrins Properties services call 07495 368823 or see www.perrinsproperties.com

Professional Interior Design Service Re-Upholstery and Soft Furnishings

MARKET PLACE · UPPINGHAM · RUTLAND · LE15 9QH 01572 823389

www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk • info@sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk www.facebook.com/sarahhardinginteriorsltd

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A Better Bathroom with BUILDBASE

Striking style and plenty of storage! Jackson Buildbase’s bathroom specialists can create a room that looks great, works well and will last for many years... a place to relax unwind and pamper yourself!

Words: Rob Davis.

From sunrise to sunset, your bathroom is probably the first place you visit in the morning and the last room you use before bed. And these days, they’re not merely practical places. For many households the bathroom is a place to pamper and relax, unwind and enjoy some time alone.

Designing a bathroom, though, does take real skill. Your family bathroom, en suite or cloakroom need to look great, work well, they need to be easy to clean and they need to resist moisture of steam in order to last years and still look great.

Add to those challenges the fact that many rooms are confined spaces – certainly en suites and cloakrooms – which means you need to have a real flair for design to create a really great bathroom. That’s why Jackson Buildbase has dedicated bathroom design specialists like Sue Abbott, who are used to making the most of your spaces. “We’ve a combined 50 years experience and the company has over 200 branches,” says Sue. “That means we’re of a sufficient size to be able to exercise great purchasing power and pass on those savings to our customers, but at the same time each of our branches can serve our customers like an independent bathroom supplier to offer personal service, great advice and a truly collaborative design experience.” “In addition our years of experience have ensured we’ve stuck with the best names in the industry like Utopia, which supplies traditional and contemporary bathrooms and cabinetry to ensure plenty of storage, plus shower enclosures from Roman and Matki, and designer fittings from names like Roper Rhodes and Atlanta.” “Clever touches can include wall-hung fittings which are easy to clean around; wetrooms; heated towel rails and heated fog-free mirrors which offer a clear view when you’re applying makeup or shaving. All of these innovations are tried, tested and worthwhile; little ways to make your bathroom easy to live with on a day-to-day basis. ” “We also offer 0% finance and a ‘buy now, pay later’ option making us the ideal choice for those who need a bathroom unexpectedly. Our kitchen ranges and our bathrooms offer quality and value, creating great spaces in your home which all add value to your property, meaning your new bathroom will be a great place to wake up to every morning for years to come.” n