Homes, Interiors & Gardening

The design of a room can have many starting points of inspiration, a photograph or painting, a piece of fabric or in this case a collection of adjectives which conjured up a vision of spring.

Spring is all about the freshness of light. The sun is sitting slightly higher in the sky, creating shorter shadows; everything seems lighter, fresher, crisper, a new happiness after the long dark winter months. The design objective was about capturing this essence while creating a luxurious sanctuary of calm and joy, hence the colour palette was born.

The feeling of luxury was created with beautiful and intricately embroidered fabrics, mixed with lush velvets and crisp satins, accentuating the smooth curves of the upholstered furniture and applauding the detailed buttoning and piping; adding a delicate touch with the soft draping of the bed spread

An ambience of calm and lightness was achieved by layering subtle tones of neutrals with a warm grey and taupe base, adding crispness with fresh duck egg hues. The little cheeky injection of the vibrant cerise pink adds joy and fun, just like the new blossoms of spring. The playfulness of the pink accent is mirrored in the wonderful art from Number Nine the Gallery hanging in the lounge area.

To give the design some structure and to balance out the softness strong geometric forms were incorporated with the use of a linear pattern to the headboard by Lorca (Minto) which takes centre stage and it continues along the walls with a Today Interiors wallpaper Liquid Fantasy.

Depth is added to the ambience with the use of warm wood tones; walnut is wonderful for this, adding interest and detail with its grain. The carpet from Jacaranda is hand woven and is inviting to walk on with its detailed ribbed weave and silk like sheen which adds interest to the open spaces.

It was the art of capturing the essence of your clients’ thoughts and feelings with fabric and textures while also embodying a luxurious functionality fit for any top hotel, which has created a space that you feel spoilt in every time you visit and you just want to smile.

53 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1TH  Tel: 0121 455 7555. www.sbdp.co.uk

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If home is where the heart is the fireplace must be the soul - The Heating Centre

From feature marble surrounds and wooden fireplaces to hole in the wall fires and woodburning stoves, the style you choose says a lot about you.

‘Indoors or outdoors we believe there should be a choice of style to ensure the fireplace complements the decor in the room and makes the style statement you have been seeking. If it is a little cool outside it shouldn’t mean that you have to stay indoors. Our outdoor gas fireplaces let you enjoy open air while still staying warm. An outdoor fireplace is a natural focus for any outdoor gathering and will add sophistication and ambience to the occasion.

The innovative design means that no flue is needed making installation simple and can be installed straight into any timber framed external construction a suitable wall or masonry cavity’ This range of fires obviously include indoor fires which are equally as versatile allowing televisions to be mounted above and the same easy installation requirements’

A central element of room designs, fireplaces can completely change the look of a lounge. But with so many designs, materials and fuel to choose from, the task of selecting the right one can be daunting.

Thankfully, The Heating Centre in Coventry can help. Established 25 years ago, The Heating Centre is one of the most popular fireplace showrooms in the Midlands, with customers travelling from far afield to take advantage of the competitive prices and sheer range on offer.

Whether you are looking for gas electric or solid fuel, we are confident that we have the best range at the best prices. Offering a complete service, from initial inquiry through to installation, our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you through the maze of what’s on offer and give you expert advice.

Located in Spon End, the Heating Centre is ideally situated for customers in Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Stratford Upon Avon and The Cotswolds as well as Solihull which is only 20 minutes away.

Visit our bright showroom and you will be amazed at what we have to offer. Boasting 2 floors of fireplaces, we have a fantastic choice of nearly 200 modern and traditional designs to suit all budgets.

Many of the fireplaces are “live” displays with working fires, which show exactly how they will look in your home.

The Heating Centre is known for its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with staff who are on hand to advise – not to pressure you into buying – making a visit to the showroom a very pleasant shopping experience. Since the majority of sales come from recommendations, this is a sure sign we are doing something right.

You can see what is on offer online at  www.theheatingcentre.co.uk or visit  our showroom, which is open everyday except Sunday.

Free parking is available on the front  of the shop. We look forward to giving  you a warm welcome.

The Heating Centre, 55 Spon End, Corner of Hearsall Lane, Coventry, CV1 3HE

Tel: 02476 670041     Fax: 02476 675534     www.theheatingcentre.co.uk     email:info@theheatingcentre.co.uk

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“ The Stables” Wellington Road, Edgbaston B15 2ER

Located at the end of a long private lane with two sets of security gates, this fine modern residence offers five bedrooms, family bath room and three en-suites, marble reception hallway,three main reception rooms including conservatory/dining room, luxury kitchen and utility. Separate important garaging and surrounding garden.  The impresssive carriage sweep driveway offers parking for numerous vehicles.  Price: 1.5 million

10 Westbourne Gardens Edgbaston B15 3TJ

Number 10 Westbourne Gardens is set within an exclusive backwater, being a cul-de -sac on the renowned Calthorpe Estate leading off Westbourne Road and  heavily screened behind mature trees. This architect designed bungalow follows a ‘Conservatory’ style. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, three reception rooms are open arched offering a superb area for entertaining.  Price:  £850.000

Ribchester Associates Property Agents

5 Chad Square, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TQ

Tel: 0121 456 5454  Fax: 0121 456 3100

email: info@ribchester.co.uk

www.ribchester.co.uk

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Parlour Farm

‘The first limited edition design in the brand new bespoke National Trust Kitchen Collection by Parlour Farm - the ‘Shrewsbury’ kitchen – has been officially unveiled by the National Trust’s Director General, Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE.

The overall collection has been named ‘The National Trust Woodlands collection’.  In total there will be six designs. The first, the Shrewsbury, was inspired by the grand kitchens seen in Attingham Park house, near Shrewsbury.  The second design will be launched in August 2012, and will be more of a ‘workers kitchen’, with larder units, nostalgic fabrics and a central work table.  Each design will boast quite different styles and design details, reflecting the wide and precious portfolio of spaces and places that are under the care of the National Trust.

Each of the six designs will be made as a limited edition run of just 100 bespoke kitchens.  Parlour Farm was chosen by the National Trust to design and produce its own branded kitchen collection, due to the company’s track record in building outstanding bespoke kitchens of the very best quality, its strong family values, its excellent environmental credentials and its unique designs and attention to detail. Each kitchen sold will give a percentage back to the National Trust.  Installing a National Trust Woodlands collection kitchen not only helps to protect Britain’s history and heritage, but adds a piece of tomorrow’s history to your home.

To find out more visit: www.parlourfarm.com/nationaltrust or call 01285 885 336

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For  perfect, hassle free coffee - Meseta Coffee

Do you have a passion for coffee? The Italians are giving up their best-kept secret. Love freshly ground coffee, but hate the hassle of a bean-to-cup machine?

A revolutionary product that’s about to launch in the UK is just what you have been waiting for.

The Meseta Capsule Coffee machine is the secret Italians have kept for years – but now it’s coming to these shores and it promises to be the must-have appliance for your home or business.

Forget the grinding of beans…

Forget the mess that has to be cleaned up…

Forget the effort it takes to make a cup of coffee…

The convenient Meseta Capsule Coffee machine, from HBO Ltd, offers aficionados a high quality, Italian fresh coffee at the touch of a button – and for a fraction of what it would cost from your favourite High Street chain.

And because the biodegradable capsules are filled and sealed with only the freshest ground premium coffee from Meseta, in Bologna, Italy, which has been roasting the finest coffee since 1961, you can be sure of the best flavour and the perfect crema every single time.

It couldn’t be easier to use: simply pop a fresh coffee capsule into the machine and let the machine do the work for you.

No mess; no hassle: just perfect coffee in no time.

Specially adapted for the UK market, HBO’s Meseta Coffee Capsule machine allows users to enjoy a variety of coffees, from a classic espresso to a frothy cappuccino.

There is also a multi-cap machine that dispenses two cups of your favourite coffee at the same time, which is ideal for both domestic or business use.

Order the capsules easily online and HBO Ltd will deliver direct to your home or office a choice of four different strengths and blends of coffee capsules:

• Espresso - a blend full of character, selected Robusta beans from India, Africa and the Far East.

• Intenso - a strong, smooth and creamier cup of coffee as beloved in Southern Italy.

• Extra Lungo - a longer, lighter fresh coffee flavour.

• 100% Arabica - The special roast enhances the subtle flavour and mild aroma  An addition to the Meseta brand is the automatic milk frother, which will create creamy foam for hot or cold drinks.

Coffee bean lovers will also want to try Meseta’s specially roasted coffee beans, which are on sale in the UK for the first time.

What are you waiting for? Try the Meseta range today… for details, telephone 01564 785470  or log onto www.mesetacoffeeuk.com

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Tanglewood, 8 Plymouth Road,  Barnt Green, B45 8JA £1,150,000

An excellent period detached family residence having been originally a former school situated in one of Barnt Green’s most prestigious addresses. The interiors are stylishly presented throughout and finished to a high quality specification. The property is set back from the road behind a gated entrance and briefly comprises: hall, drawing room, sitting room, luxuriously appointed breakfast kitchen, bedroom one with dressing/sitting room/sitting room and wet room, guest bedroom with wet room, fourth further bedrooms. The private grounds extend to both front and rear and include detached garaging and a detached studio.

Twatling Farm, Twatling Road,  Barnt Green, B45 8HX £999,999

A Grade II listed detached residence that has undergone extensive modernisation and extension but still  retaining many original character features and offering excellent value.  The property is approximately 4831 sq ft (£204 per sq ft approximately) and briefly comprises: hall, library, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, breakfast kitchen, snug. On the first floor: bedroom one with dressing area and ensuite, bedroom two with ensuite bathroom, four further bedrooms, bathroom, outside: double garage, excellent gardens front and rear.

The Paddocks, 52 Greenhill , Blackwell, Bromsgrove B60 1BL Offers Over £699,950

A superb seven bedroom three storey luxuriously appointed detached family home built by Bryant Homes situated at the end of a development of exclusive houses along a private drive in the sought after village of Blackwell. The property briefly comprises: spacious hall, cloakroom, cloaks cupboard, formal dining room, lounge, study, breakfast kitchen, utility and family room. On the first floor there are five double bedrooms two with en-suite facilities, large galleried landing and a family bathroom and on the second floor there are two double bedrooms and bathroom. Outside double garage, gardens front and delightful large rear gardens with views over open countryside.

Highfield House and the Lodge, 7 Linthurst Road, Blackwell, Bromsgrove, B60 1QG £850,000

A large seven bedroom Victorian residence situated along a pleasant road conveniently placed for both Barnt Green and Blackwell village centres having the advantage of a separate detached granny annex having two reception rooms, kitchen, on the first floor: two bedrooms, bathroom. In the main house there are four reception rooms. conservatory, cloakroom, breakfast kitchen, utlity room, on the first floor: bedrooms one, two and three all with ensuite facilities, bedroom four, house bathroom, on the second floor: two bedrooms, bathroom, detached double garage, gardens of approximately half an acre.

Judith Hitchen

BARNT GREEN - 67 Hewell Road, Barnt Green B45 8NL

Tel: 0121 447 8300 Fax: 0121 447 7131

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Pollensa Cottage, Oversley Green, Alcester      PRICE Offers in the Region of £675,000

Pollensa Cottage has been created from two cottages to produce a highly individual and substantial home situated in a fabulous and private riverside location in Oversley Green. Despite the rural nature of the location the excellent amenities available with Alcester are within walking distance whilst Stratford upon Avon, Solihull and Birmingham itself are all within easy reach. Internal inspection is strongly advised in order to appreciate the generous and contrasting nature of the accommodation with various ‘impact’ rooms including two large and contrasting living rooms together with a particularly spacious master suite comprising bedroom with Juliette balcony, dressing room and ensuite. The property stands in grounds in excess of acre split between formal gardens and paddock with extensive river frontage.

Yew Tree House, Alcester      PRICE Offers in the Region of £695,000

Situated in the heart of Alcester, Yew Tree House comprises a substantial period property having been painstakingly renovated by the current owners so as to maintain the elegant character of the era whilst creating a most comfortable family home. The property affords charming generous accommodation with gas central heating throughout and includes 4 reception rooms, a delightful garden room, fitted kitchen with AGA, 4 excellent bedrooms and 2 spacious bathrooms. The property stands in walled grounds of almost 0.25 acre including formal gardens with a heated swimming pool and electric gates giving access to plenty of parking.

sales@jeremyandco.co.uk    www.jeremyandco.co.uk

Tel: 01789 868168

stratford-upon-avon  |  alcester   |  wellesbourne  |  park lane - london

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by Karen Jones

If you love stores that sell everything you need for the home as well as wonderful gifts and nick-knacks, then a visit to Stalls Lifestyle is a must.

Just a ten-minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon in the pretty village of Preston on Stour, Stalls Lifestyle is like an Aladdin’s Cave.

It may be off the beaten track, but this delightful emporium, which opened in 2008, attracts visitors all year round, thanks to its huge collections of homewares and must-have trinkets.

From the finest handcrafted Peter Guild sofas to those items that make a house a home, it is sure to have something that will look just perfect. There is always a range of stylish table lamps, chandeliers, candelabras, photo frames, mirrors, glass vases, bonbon jars and ornamental hearts of every size in stock.

For the bedroom, Stalls Lifestyle stocks a selection of beautiful jewellery stands, cushions in assorted hues, jewellery boxes, money boxes and even a rocking chair to enhance the corner of the room.

And your kitchen could easily be transformed, thanks to its collection of colourful canisters, kitchen utensils, cutting-edge accessories from award-winning Culinary Concepts, and new Swiss-made steam ovens that are taking the culinary world by storm. Look out for a series of afternoon demonstrations, which will show you how you can cook a full meal in 20 minutes using this new style of cooking.

Stalls Lifestyle is also a fabulous place to find exquisite gifts for a friend or loved one. Take a look at the jewellery, which is always popular with customers, or the large selection of scarves or statement handbags, including stunning evening bags and purses, that come at down-to-earth prices.

The store is also the place to go for lovely soaps or candles and has also introduced a new range of elegant giftware for men, including shaving sets, hip flasks, cuff links and lighters.

And for keen gardeners, there are plenty of planters and ornaments to choose from that will add vibrancy and colour to your garden.

Take your time to browse in this eclectic boutique and once you have completed your gift buying, you can always relax in the café, situated in a bright and airy conservatory, and enjoy coffee or tea and a freshly-baked scone.

For unusual gifts and homewares all under one roof – discover Stalls Lifestyle today.

Preston Lane Preston-on-Stour Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 8DZ

Telephone: 01789 450837

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It’s springtime and for gardeners that means one thing – tending to the lawn.

It’s a big job and one that few of us relish: all that mowing, edging, feeding and weeding has to be done regularly if you are to have a beautifully lush lawn.

However, there is an alternative.

Thanks to Endurance Mats, you can now have a luxuriant-looking lawn in your garden all year round.

High quality and hard-wearing, Endurance grass looks just like the real thing, but needs no looking after.

This superior maintenance-free artificial turf is just the thing for those with pets or children or for people with precious little time on their hands to dedicate to the garden.

With each individual fibre as close to natural-looking grass as possible, this lawn is soft to the touch. Manufactured to strict EU regulations, it is made from 60 per cent polyurethane and 40 per cent polyamide and is guaranteed to look perfect year-on-year.

Ideal for the gardener who seeks perfection, the 37mm pile comprises three different greens and a brown or green incurl to produce a natural looking lawn. It comes in 2m and 4m rolls and is latex-backed and pre-punched for drainage.

Endurance grass also comes with a ten-year UV stability warranty, which means the lawn will not fade or deteriorate – it will look as good in years to come as it did when it was first laid, giving you guaranteed peace of mind.

Leigh Valler, director of the Coventry-based wholesale company, has seen an increase in the number of customers looking to free themselves from the drudgery and costs involved in tending to the lawn.

“Our artificial lawn is becoming more popular with the domestic market because once it is installed, you don’t have to do a thing and it looks amazing every single time,” he explained.

“And while people aren’t surprised at the excellent quality of our products, they are surprised at our prices.”

It is easy to transform your less-than-perfect lawn into an Endurance grass lawn – and for less than you think.

The experienced Endurance mats team prepare the area by removing any existing turf and smoothing out the area, taking out any debris, vegetation and large stones that could create imbalances in your lawn.

They then add between 10mm and 20mm of sharp sand and to compact it with a roller to make the surface perfectly smooth before laying on top a hard-wearing geotex membrane that stops weeds from growing through.

Then, the final touch: the Endurance grass is rolled into place, trimmed and anchored down firmly. The rolls are glued together at the seams and are accurately aligned to hide the seams.

Within two days, your new lawn will be perfect and you can sit back and enjoy it.

Your neighbours will wonder how you have done it. The question is, will you let them into your secret?

For more details about Endurance grass, visit www.endurancemats.com or telephone our dedicated sales line on 0845 123 0456.

Siskin Drive, Coventry, CV3 4FJ   endurancemats.com  Tel: 0845 1230456

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by Alan Standring

Gardening is often thought as a theraputic profession but a professional gardeners mind is never at rest wether it is worrying about watering plants, stressing about if there is going to a frost in the night or is there aphids on the roses. But one thing you can be certain about you always get plenty of fresh air wether it rain or shine and currently we are basking in the sun remember the sun hat and cream.

Well down to work April is a month of many tasks and you can often be caught out. It is often seen as the start of the gardening year for most now that the clocks have gone forward you spend those early evening tending the garden.

The Lawn

Wether you mow your lawn with formal stripes or just looking for some where to relax and watch the children play there are general tasks that need to be carried out to ensure you get the best out of your lawn.

You should now be cutting your lawn on a weekly basis and lowering the height of cut as the weeks proceed, applying a lawn feed and mosskiler will be a benefit, as the wear of tear of the season proceeds. If your lawn is plauged with moss as this point it may benefit from a application of lawn sand which will kill the moss off. Once this moss has turned black and died off it is time for some gardening exercise by raking out the dead most with a spring bok rake. If you end up with thinning or bald patches your lawn could benefit from a reseed.

The Fruit Garden

One of the most important factors that affects your fruit garden in the early season is the slightest of spring frosts, which may kill or injure the flower buds or fruitlets overnight. If frost are forcast and it is possible cover bushes and trees with a horticultural fleece as the sun rises the next day remove this fleece.

April is also the time to apply fertilizers to your fruit garden, apply the fertilzer evenly over an are just beyond the branch spread, this area is commonly known as the drip line, as if we ever see rain the water drips of the end of the branches and goes directly into the soil. Remember to keep an eye on the watering also through this dry period. Watering little and often is more beneficial than saturating the area around the tree.

Also as the temperatures are rising the possibilty of aphids increases it is worth while checking your crops on a daily basis and taking appropiate action if you see the slightest infestation.

The Veg Garden

As the soil temperatures start to rise you can start to sow seeds directly into the soil, and also plant your second early potatoes, you must be ever concious of spring frosts which can check the growth on early germination, it may be worth investing in some cloches or making some to protect these early crops  and assist in germination.

If you are using cloches watch out for slugs as they easily wipe out your new seedlings overnight.

The Greenhouse

The greenhouse at this time can be bursting at the seems with all those young plants you are nurturing for summer flowers or all the tender veg plants. There is one major problem with the greenhouse being full you must ensure you have good air movement through to stop any fungal diseases building up in the glasshouse.

Whats Looking Good

With the vast array of spring colours there is a riot of colour stariting to come through and with unseasonal temeperatures plants are a little out of kilt.

Plants of particular interest currently

Magnolias (Keep an eye out for yellow flowering varieties)

Cherry trees

Rhododendrons

Azaleas

Erysimums

Ribes

Doronicum

Pulmonarias

My Favourite plants of the month

Prunus incisa Kojo No Mai

This particular plant bears dainty pinky white flowers on bare stems which looks like dancing butterflies

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