Price Points: Sun umbrellas

We generally think of umbrellas being used when it’s raining outside. However, with the absolutely scorching days we’ve been having this month, have you thought about getting yourself one of these sun umbrellas?

We’re all becoming more aware of skin cancer and the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure. Some of us use sunscreen as part of our daily routine; using an umbrella outdoors on a hot day builds on your solar skincare.

Two of the three sun umbrellas that we’re highlighting claim to give anti UV and factor 50+ protection. So, during the next heatwave – whether you’re dining al fresco at a favourite restaurant or taking a walk on the beach or relaxing in the park – open your sun umbrella, safe in the knowledge that you won’t be getting burnt!

Anti UV banana umbrella: £13.30, Amazon
Pantone large umbrella: £33.82, Pantone
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+: £40.00, Solbari

shop sun umbrellas

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00

Pantone large umbrella

Pantone large umbrella
£33.82

Anti UV banana umbrella

Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00

Pantone large umbrella

Pantone large umbrella
£33.82

Anti UV banana umbrella

Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00

Pantone large umbrella

Pantone large umbrella
£33.82

Anti UV banana umbrella

Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00

Pantone large umbrella

Pantone large umbrella
£33.82

Anti UV banana umbrella

Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00

Pantone large umbrella

Pantone large umbrella
£33.82

Anti UV banana umbrella

Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30

The best ways to upgrade your home security after moving in

When you first move into a new place, one of the first things you should consider is how secure you’ll be in the new location. You can’t be certain who has keys and spare keys from the previous owner, and you might not trust the security measures that they had in place. With that in mind, we’re going to take you through some of the home security improvements that you might want to make to your new property.

Invest in a safe

Investing in a safe or strong box is definitely a good idea if you want to make sure that you’re able to securely store your most valuable possessions without worrying about them when you’re not at home. That way, even if someone manages to break into your home, you can be confident that items such as cash, jewellery and official documents are out of the way and inaccessible to burglars.

Set up a fresh security system

If the home you’ve just moved into doesn’t have a very modern or up-to-date security system in place, that’s something that you’ll certainly want to work on and change as soon as possible. With a fresh security system installed such as CCTV and access control from Scaitec Security, you can guarantee that it offers all the features you need in order for you and your family to feel safe in the home.

Change the locks

Changing the external door and window locks in your home is probably one of the first things you’ll want to do when moving into a new property. As we mentioned previously, it’s impossible for you to know who has spare keys from the previous owner, and it makes sense to be safe. Therefore, find locksmiths in your area who can carry out the lock changes for you. You’ll then know that only you, and anyone else you give your keys to, can get into the home.

Ensure the garage is secure

The garage is often one of the easiest entry points for people looking to break into your home. It’s something that home-owners often overlook, but that shouldn’t be the case. Fitting secure locks on the doors and windows of your house is all well and good, but it won’t have much of an impact if the garage isn’t secure enough to keep out people who shouldn’t be there.

Light up the surrounding landscape

Lighting up the surroundings around your home is definitely an important way to make your home more secure. It’s a well-known fact that burglars prefer not to target homes that are well-lit or have motion-activated lights installed around the perimeter of the property. In addition to proper lighting, visibility plays a crucial role in home security. Installing a driveway mirror can help eliminate blind spots, making it easier to see approaching vehicles or individuals. If you haven’t already considered these upgrades, they could make a considerable difference in keeping your home safer.

It’s definitely a good idea to put some time and effort into thinking about ways you can upgrade your home security. The peace of mind that comes with knowing your family home is secure is priceless, so don’t overlook or delay in resolving these matters.

Auction Alert: Ancient Art & Antiquities

Here at H is for Home, we’re probably best known for selling and writing about mid century modern items. However, we also love antiques and ancient art & antiquities.

This week’s Auction Alert subject is selling a high quality selection of pre-historic, post-classical, Roman and other civilisation relics. There are so many good things, we found it difficult to narrow down lots to highlight here. From a bronze helmet for a baby, to a beautiful rock crystal necklace from the Roman era. From magical Islamic amulets to ancient Greek body armour – many of the items are rare and unique.

They’re all for sale at the upcoming Plakas Auctions‘ Ancient Art & Antiquities sale; 153 lots coming under the hammer on Wednesday 27^th July 2022 from 1pm.

Their buyer’s premium is currently set at 25%. You can bid live or leave absentee bids on Plakas LIVE or via their app (with no extra fee on top of the premium).

You may also bid online at EasyLiveAuction – (an additional £3.00 flat fee on registration or 3% commission on the final hammer price) or Invaluable – (please check the commission rate on their website).

Plakas Post Sale Service team can arrange professional delivery and convenient shipping of your purchased items. We offer competitive rates shipping a small pendant to as large as a piece of furniture. We are well informed on all international regulations, Plakas offers a full range of services for our clients, this includes collection, packaging and arranging shipping worldwide.

Lot 29: PROTO ELAMITE COPPER CLOAK OR HAIR PIN, 2^ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
With a floral pattern. Height: 18.5cm
Estimate: £300 – £500

Lot 35: A GRECO PERSIAN PERIOD BRONZE LADLE WITH A GOAT HEAD, 400-300 B.C.
Height: 35cm
Estimate: £400 – £600

Lot 40: A RARE GREEK MUSCLE BRONZE CUIRASS BODY ARMOR PROBABLY 5^TH/4^TH CENTURY B.C.
Height: 50cm
Estimate: £10,000 – £15,000

Lot 47: AN EASTERN ROMAN DOUBLE HEADED BRONZE CHALICE, CIRCA 3^RD-4^TH CENTURY A.D.
Height: 13.5cm. Diameter: 7.8cm
Estimate: £7,000 – £9,000

Lot 48: A VERY RARE ACADEMIC ELAMITE BRONZE BABY HELMET, CIRCA 3^RD MILLENNIUM B.C.
Diameter: 14.5. Height: 9cm
Estimate: £1,500 – £2,000

Lot 56: A PAIR OF ANCIENT GOLD EARRINGS, WESTERN GREECE 1^ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
Diameter of each earring: 4.5cm
Estimate: £600 – £800

Lot 59: AN ANATOLIAN MARBLE FEMALE IDOL KILIA TYPE, CIRCA 4500-3500 B.C.
Height: 11cm
Estimate: £20,000 – £30,000

Lot 64: A MONUMENTAL GHANDARA STANDING BUDDHA SCHIST FIGURE WITH HALO, CIRCA 3^RD-4^TH CENTURY
Height: 89cm
Width: 27.5cm
Estimate: £7,000 – £9,000

Lot 69: TWO SILVER MAGICAL ISLAMIC AMULETS
Amulet 1 width: 2.5cm. Amulet 2 width: 3cm
Estimate: £150 – £250

Lot 71: THREE QAJAR INLAID COMBS, 19^TH CENTURY
Largest: length: 13.5cm, width: 11.5cm
Estimate: £600 – £800

Lot 79: A GOLD PENDANT WITH A DEPICTION OF CHRIST WITH A LATIN INSCRIPTION “ICXC” BYZANTINE PERIOD
Inscribed in latin “JESUS CHRIST”. Reverse is the standing figure of two angels inscribed. Byzantine period, a relic from a cross. Weight: 25grams. 4.5cm x 3.5cm
Estimate: £4,000 – £6,000

Lot 90: AN AMETHYST SEATED GOAT AMULET IN THE STYLE OF PTOLEMAIC PERIOD
Height: 2cm. Length: 3cm
Estimate: £300 – £500

Lot 92: AN EGYPTIAN WHITE GLAZED HIPPOPOTAMUS, NEW KINGDOM PERIOD 1400 B.C.
Length: 8cm. Height: 5cm
Estimate: £2,000 – £3,000

Lot 99: A SET OF SOFT STONE MEDIEVAL GAMING PIECES, CIRCA 10^TH-12^TH CENTURY
16 pieces in total. Height approx of each: 4cm
Estimate: £400 – £600

Lot 136: A CUT ROCK CRYSTAL NECKLACE ROMAN OR PARTHIAN PERIOD
Inner diameter: 23cm
Estimate: £500 – £700

Lot 144: A LARGE CHINESE CHERRY AMBER FOO DOG FIGURE
Weight: 65g
Estimate: £120 – £160

How to get business premises that work for you

Your business premises are more than just a place for you to do your work. It’s an extension of your company, influencing how both customers and employees view your organisation. It can also impact the quality of the work done, too; people work better when they’re in an attractive and comfortable environment rather than one that’s a little more uninspiring. Therefore, it’s worthwhile looking into whether it’s worth upgrading your business location. In this post, we’ll run through some useful tips that’ll point you in the right direction.

Pexels – CC0 Licence

Where do you need to be?

Location is more important to some business types than others, but all need to think about it. It’ll impact how easy it is to reach the space, how easy it is to connect with other businesses, how customers view your business (some addresses are more prestigious than others), and so on. You’ll need to decide whether you want to be in the centre of town or whether being slightly further afield will work for you. There are advantages and disadvantages to both!

How much can you afford?

If your business premises are to work for you, rather than against you, you’ll need to ensure that the space is in line with your financial situation. No company wants to spend more money than is necessary on rent, and they positively don’t want to run the risk of financial problems because of overspending on their premises.

Five years’ time

You’ll hope to be in your premises for a while, so it’s a good idea to think about the plans for your business. Where will it be in 5 years’ time? If you’re planning to add a lot more employees or make the move to remote working in the future, then that should influence your decision.

Getting the lease

You’ll have identified the location and can see that it’s the right place for your business to be for the years to come. Now, you’ll need to get your hands on the lease. Since commercial rentals work a little differently from residential rentals, it’s recommended that you work with solicitors such as Beyond Law Group Solicitors to thrash out the details. This will be doubly important if you’re planning to buy the space that you’ll be occupying. Working with legal experts will ensure that your lease doesn’t come back to bite you in some way later on down the line.

Smooth transition

Moving into a new office isn’t as stressful as moving home, but it’s not far off. You’ll likely have a lot of equipment and furniture to move into your new premises, plus it might take a few days before you’re fully up and running. Since it’s important that your move doesn’t disrupt your work operations, it’s best to either move into the new office slowly (transitioning from old space to new) or to pick a quiet time of the working year. That way, you’ll have time to settle into your new space without it having an impact on your customers.

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