Gatehouse School - Aspire Magazine

HomesThe latest figures from the Halifax have suggested that house prices have fallen further this spring and even the government’s own houseprice survey says UK prices fell by 1.1% in April to leave them 0.3% down on a year ago. The average UK home now costs just £160,519. Allthis pressure on the housing market isn’t good if you’re a homeowner looking to sell and move up the property ladder.However, it does mean that it’s the perfect time to invest in your home and make the improvements that’ll not only make your house feelmore like your home, but also make your house stand out from the others in the street once the market recovers.Make AHouseA HomeLiving RoomMany homes don’t have the luxury of a separate adults’ living room and a child’s livingroom, so the space has to be shared, catering for all ages. By choosing versatile furniturewith simple lines and neutral upholstery in a fresh yet warm colour scheme, your livingspace will cater for the whole family. Why not call upon the professionals to custom makecurtains, cushion covers and throws from a material you love.Storage space has to be well organised in a room that caters for all ages, so get somestorage baskets or fun yet stylish toy boxes for the kids toys and build an entire wall ofshelves for books, games and DVDs. If your space is limited, why not have furniture and/or storage space specially made to fit your space to avoid awkward corners and blockingdoors/radiators.KitchenThe simplest way to give your kitchen a face lift is by updating your cupboard doors. Youcan either do this yourself for the price of a pot of paint and a few hours of your time, oryou could get a professional to fit brand new doors and handles to your existing units,provided there’s nothing wrong with the units themselves. If you’d like to make yourkitchen practical yet glamorous, a great place to entertain dinner guests, our top tip isto use zones to define the preparation and cooking areas and the dining and relaxingareas. In order to family-proof any changes in your kitchen, invest in durable finishes suchas composite worktops, wood furniture and laminate flooring. Finally, why not considerdefining the dining space with bold wallpaper and a focal point fireplace.BathroomThe ideal room in which to make a style statement as well as being practical, yourbathroom is the room that every member of the household uses. If you’re looking to installa new bath suite, plan exactly what you need and can fit in the space. A separate bath andshower unit, as well as twin basins mean more than one person can use the bathroomat any one time. Don’t forget about storage space; make sure there’s plenty of draws andcupboards for hiding away shampoos and bath toys for the kids, but open shelves are idealfor fluffy towels and pretty accessories.In order to make any house feel like a home it’s important not to follow fashions too closelyand instead fill your home with the things you love; why not make a style statement byhaving family photos, mementoes or drawings your children have done framed to adornthe walls of your home. However, be sure to pay attention to the lighting in each room sothat your framed favourites will be seen by your friends and family throughout the year.24 ASPIREInTouchInteriorsCall today on 01536 744024or 07976 754931Kitchens, bathrooms,bedrooms and home officesFrom replacement doors and worktopsto bespoke handmade designs.Whether you are looking to revitaliseyour kitchen, or renew your bathroomor bedroom, we can help you make themost of your home. InTouch Interiorsbelieve that through clever design you canoptimise the potential of your home, andcreate living space that suits your needs.Our designers deliver independentprofessional advice. We are a uniquecompany with over 20 years’ experienceand wide knowledge of all aspects offitting and planning to our customersunique requirements. We can alsoprovide a supply only package should thecustomer wish.Email: enquiries@intouchinteriors.co.ukwww.intouchinteriors.co.ukIn-Touch Interiors, Unit 3 Saxon Park,Saxon way East, Oakley Hay Industrial Estate,Corby, Northants NN18 9EYDoors&DrawersChange the face of your kitchen......for a fraction of the normal cost!Choose from a huge range of styles and finishes!Is your kitchen old, worn out or just plain boring? By retaining the existingcabinets, we totally and professionally refurbish every aspect of each kitchen– replacing doors, drawer fronts or worktops. We enlarge or change the shapeby adding new units. There is no compromise on quality, choice or design, buthuge benefits in time and outlay. From design to installation, we think you’llbe amazed at what Doors & Drawers can do for you.Call Ian now on 01788 891289 or 07947 490632Visit the website at www.doorsanddrawers.co.ukCustom-made sofasand chairs made inour own workshop.Choose from alarge range offabrics to suit allbudgets and tastes.Aspire’s Top RecommendationSimplySSSofasStyles for IndividualsVisit showroom / workshop at: Simply Sofas, 132 Castle St, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 1DD01455 633944 www.handmadesofasandchairs.co.ukFINE FURNITURETel: 02392 826 201Furniture repair & restorationHigh quality craftsmanshipWe also offer furniture restoration coursesMonday afternoon 3pm - 5pm and evening 7pm - 9pmTuesday and Thursday evenings 7pm - 9pmWall-to-wall with lighting solutions ofevery shape, size and colour, AccentLighting’s treasure trove of goodiesguarantee to transform your home. TheDaventry-based company have beensupplying a unique and varied selectionof lights for over 20 years and armedwith a wealth of experience, owner,Richard Glover, will be more than happyto talk you through the lights, lamps andbulbs that will complement your home.Impressed with Accent Lighting’s superband exclusive range of lights, AspireSales Manager, Stacey Wragg, hasenlisted Richard to help light up herown home, she says: “Richard reallyknows his stuff and has given me somefantastic ideas for my home that I can’twait to put into action. Not only washe able to advise me on the lightingthat would suit each room, but he alsosuggested alternatives to some of myown choices to ensure that everythingcame in on budget. I’m really excitedabout working with him on this project,as he made me feel comfortable andconfident about what he does; therewas no pressure and no hard sell, hewas just interested in making sure Ifound the correct lighting solutions tosuit my home and my budget.”Having been dazzled by AccentLighting’s vast selection of qualityproducts and friendly advice, Aspire aredelighted to announce that the lightingspecialists have scooped our Certificateof Recognition for Interior Design 2011.Stacey says: “Having experienced firsthandthe quality, variety and expertadvice available at Accent Lighting, Isimply had to nominate the companyfor this award – I’m thrilled they wereselected.”Covering 1,000 square feet, AccentLighting’s new showroom is the idealplace to find a focal lighting featurefor your home or business. Witha comprehensive range of lightingsolutions from more than 50 globalsuppliers, the lighting specialists haveAccentLightingAspire’s Choice forInterior Design 2011thousand of options to choose fromand a huge library of catalogues thatcustomers can gain inspiration from.Whether it’s vintage, traditional,modern, bespoke or eco-friendly you’relooking for, Accent Lighting have pricesto suit all budgets, styles to suit alltastes and décor and expert advice inabundance.Accent Lighting’s range of products isvast, but if for any reason they don’tstock what you’re looking for, Richardand the team will endeavour to find itfor you.Opening times:Monday to Friday 9am – 6pmSaturday 9am – 5pmRecognising that his customers aren’talways available during Accent’sopening hours, Richard is also happy toopen by appointment in the evenings oron Sundays.Accent Lighting, Unit 10, Station Close, Vicar Lane, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 4JFTel: 01327 703123Email: sales@accentlighting.co.ukWebsite (under construction): www.accentlighting.co.ukASPIRE 25