Price Points: Growing green

No, it’s not a typo. I did mean to say Growing green not Going green, although the former can be part of the latter. Growing green encompasses cutting down on the plastic use and waste and increasing your recycling when it comes to doing jobs in your garden and/or allotment.

Virtually all of us put paper into our recycling each week; newspapers, junk mail, used envelopes etc. How about putting some of that paper to good use by turning it into little pots to sow your seeds? This wooden tool helps you make them – quickly and uniformly.

Personally, I find plastic drinks bottles ugly. Also, we don’t tend to buy drinks that come in plastic bottles. So, perhaps, #2 isn’t for me. However, I think the kit would be a great if you wanted to do a project with your little ones. Get them involved in sowing, growing and harvesting salad, herbs, tomatoes and more. They’ll be able to watch as the roots, shoots, flowers and fruit develop. It may even get them eating their greens!

The soil block maker seems like a large initial outlay, but if you sow lots of seeds every year it will pay for itself both financially and ecologically. No more plastic pots needed! You can buy the block makers singly, in two different sizes however, it’s worth shelling out a bit more and getting the kit. They two sizes work seamlessly together; when the initial seedling is ready to be potted on, the small size block fits into the larger size block. That means there’s no need to disturb the fragile roots or risk accidentally snapping off young leaves. The block maker even moulds a little indentation for you to drop your seed into… it’s such a genius invention!

Paper plant pot maker: from £6.00, eBay
Bottle farm kit: £24.99, Bottle Farm
Eco soil blocker set: £62.95, The Worm that Turned

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Eco soil blocker set

Eco soil blocker set
£62.95

Bottle farm kit

Bottle farm kit
£24.99

Paper plant pot maker

Paper plant pot maker
from £6.00

Eco soil blocker set

Eco soil blocker set
£62.95

Bottle farm kit

Bottle farm kit
£24.99

Paper plant pot maker

Paper plant pot maker
from £6.00

Eco soil blocker set

Eco soil blocker set
£62.95

Bottle farm kit

Bottle farm kit
£24.99

Paper plant pot maker

Paper plant pot maker
from £6.00

Eco soil blocker set

Eco soil blocker set
£62.95

Bottle farm kit

Bottle farm kit
£24.99

Paper plant pot maker

Paper plant pot maker
from £6.00

Eco soil blocker set

Eco soil blocker set
£62.95

Bottle farm kit

Bottle farm kit
£24.99

Paper plant pot maker

Paper plant pot maker
from £6.00

Nantucket home vacation market

Many people are purchasing vacation homes in Nantucket and it’s easy to see why it’s a leading destination for such investments. First of all, the island has a great environment, suitable for people who want to keep away from the bustle of the city.

Secondly, the prices of vacation homes are more buyer-friendly at the moment compared to the prices in 2021. As a real estate investor, now is the best time to venture into Nantucket’s property scene. If you’re interested in the market insights, you’re in the right place. We’ll take you through what you need to know about this island’s home vacation market.

Living on an island

When thinking about getting a home in Nantucket, you have to remember that it’s an island. It’s only 30 miles off Cape Cod, but it’s still remote, and access is either by sea or air. Commuting via ferry or plane may seem fun and adventurous for the first few days, but it may become tiresome very quickly for some.

Also, you have to consider the added cost of getting supplies in from the mainland. The remoteness can make deliveries pretty slow and pricey.

Far from the downsides of having property on an island, you’ll enjoy the weather, the ocean’s scenic view and the beaches. It’s a sound move to choose Nantucket as your vacation or retirement destination. You could have a primary property in Nantucket if you work on the island or don’t mind commuting to and from the mainland.

Which neighbourhood to live in?

Once you’ve decided on having a house in Nantucket, next you’ll determine in which neighbourhoods to search for property. For the most part, the island has a quiet and calm ambiance; in the town centre you’ll find historical buildings preserved to maintain the traditional essence of Nantucket.

The good thing about being based in the town centre is the proximity to amenities; most facilities are within easy reach.

Brant Point is an excellent neighbourhood to consider. Its main attractions are the many lighthouses and attractive beaches. Green lawns or waterfront porches punctuate many of the residences. The safe, peaceful atmosphere makes it ideal if you’re looking for a retirement home.

Other districts to look for a vacation home include Cisco, Dionis, Madaket and Miacomet. Consider issues that may be important to you in your search such as accessibility, transport links, local schools and more.

Return on investment

Many property investors consider the potential return on investment when purchasing real estate. A vacation home can be considered like an investment that you can sell in the future for a profit. Alternatively, you can rent out the property when you are not in town.

Nantucket is constantly growing and developing, and experts praise its active real estate scene. The prices are steady, with demand being high. It means you will not have a hard time entering or exiting this island’s property market.

Keep in mind the matter of taxation to have a clear and realistic picture of the market. Property owners pay 2% of their property price as a transfer fee to the Land Bank. As a first-time homeowner in Nantucket, you are exempt from paying this tax for the first $850,000.

Rules and regulations

Nantucket has strict regulations governing home ownership and construction. Your vacation home should stick to these rules to avoid problems with the local authorities. Find out about the colour codes and construction style before breaking ground or buying a house.

Summary

Nantucket is gradually taking its place as a top real estate investment hub. The vacation house market is one of the most lucrative, seeing that Nantucket is a leading tourism destination. The beautiful oceanic view, relaxed beaches and unique culture are among the things that attract visitors and incomers to the island.

Auction alert: The Dorchester Park Lane London Auction

Have you ever been lucky enough to stay in a prestigious, 5-star luxury hotel? Even if you haven’t (and I certainly haven’t) have you ever oggled images of their rooms and suites and wished that you could furnish your home using some of their fixtures & fittings? Well, next month, your dream could come true!

That’s when the 2-day Dorchester Park Lane London Auction takes place at Pro Auction‘s premises in Bath. 1,674 lots will be coming under the hammer on Tuesday 21st & Wednesday 22nd June 2022, starting at 10:30am each day.

The Dorchester is currently in the midst of a major refurbishment and they’re disposing of a lot of the hotel‘s decorative contents.

According to a press release they circulated:

As part of an ongoing investment programme to enhance one of the world’s most legendary hotels, The Dorchester will commence a comprehensive renovation as of February, 2022.
The renovation will be the biggest since 1989 and will start with the entrance to the hotel, The
Promenade and The Bar at The Dorchester, as well as two guest floors, with this work to be complete by September 2022. Two of the most renowned names in design have been appointed to transform the hotel: Pierre-Yves Rochon is reimaging the hotel entrance, The Promenade and the new guest rooms and suites, while Martin Brudnizki Design Studio has been appointed to re-create the bar.

There are lots of soft furnishings; heavy curtains, cushions, rugs, mattresses etc. Furniture items include dining tables, chairs, chaises longue, console tables, coffee tables, full-length mirrors and luggage racks. There are a couple of items that jumped out at me though; dozens of Bang & Olufsen wall-mounted televisions, cocktail cabinets and beautiful sideboards with integral mini-bars – who wouldn’t love to have one of those in their bedroom at home?!

If you’ve had the pleasure of staying at the Dorchester, it’s possible to become the new owner of something from the actual room in which you stayed – the room numbers are included in each lot’s description.

I couldn’t find the sale catalogue on the Pro Auction website – however, it’s available on EasyLiveAuction. There are no estimates and there are no condition reports. I think it could be a great opportunity to get your hands on some high quality goods at knock-down prices.

Don’t forget the hidden costs that are added to the hammer price:

VAT is applied to all lots including the hammer price, lifting charges and buyers premium, by way of example a hammer bid of £100 would attract £20.00 commission(20%) and VAT on the sum of £120 at the prevailing rate of 20% being a sum of £24.00, therefore the total amount payable if you bid £100 is £144.00

The auctioneers state that they are happy to organise delivery – but their wording seems a bit ambiguous. It’s probably best to contact them before bidding.

Pro Auction may at its absolute discretion offer packing and shipping services. Packing and shipping requests should be made to Pro Auction including any special requirements such as delivery address, insurance required or other requests.
Pro Auction retains the right to decline to offer packing and shipping service for any reason at any time and removal of the goods from the Auction remains the responsibility of the buyer.

Lot 502: A pair of marble top chinoiserie black lacquer nightstands
With single drawer with hand painted detailing 50 x 50 x 58cm (room 301)

Lot 503: A pair of Laudarte crystal table lamps
Inserts and decorations in 24ct gold with shade 95cm tall (room 301)

Lot 514a: Bang & Olufsen Beovision 10-40″ hotel LCD TV
Diagonal picture size: 40 inches (101.6cm) aspect ratio: 16:9 (widescreen) contrast ratio: 4000:1 pixel count: 2,100,000 resolution: 1920 x 1080 (full HD)

Lot 519: Regency style giltwood pier mirror
Flanked by spirally-turned half pilasters the frieze with highly decoration 90 x 125cm (room 301)

Lot 537: A pair of wall appliques
Twin arm in a elegant wheatsheaf motif and a small decorative mirror supported by scrolling arms 29 x 65cm (room 301)

Lot 578: Contemporary two seater upholstered sofa
Complete with scatter cushions 150 x 80 x 95cm (room 305)

Lot 607: Upholstered chaise longue
With nail pin detail 140 x 70 x 80cm (room 306 & 307)

Lot 636: English Georgian style green lacquered chinoiserie gilded cocktail cabinet martini bar
Bifold two door internally mirrored interior fitted with glass shelves mounted on tapering legs with a carved stretcher base 110 x 55 x 180cm (room 306 & 307)

Lot 715: 2 x drum style pendant
Steel frame with pleated shade 53cm diameter (room 310 & 311)

Lot 814: Headboard
Handcrafted with nail trim and padded textured woven upholstery with oriental style floating pelmet and fully lined curtains with four oriental lantern style tassels headboard is cream with piping trim (room 317 & 318)

Lot 822: Custom upholstered trapezoid bay window seat cushion pad and scatter cushions set
140 x 60cm (room 317 & 318)

Lot 870: 2 x finish and base material hand-painted on metal waste bins
With lion mask handles 22 x 26 x 26 cm (room 317 & 318)

Lot 965: 2 x LED antique brass 2 light indoor wall light
Antique brass 30cm (room 323 324)

Lot 1030: Coloured verre eglomise sideboard
Two door internally fitted with refrigerator mini bar 125 x 58 x 97cm (room 414)

Lot 2029: 2 x classic style upholstered silver velvet sofas
Three seater sofas with loose padded cushions and skirt with scattered cushions 183 x 94 x 84cm (room 411)

Lot 2172: A two tier console table
With bevelled and mottled mirror tops mounted on a bronze brass frame 70 x 35 x 76cm (room 421)

Lot 2213: A rectangular coffee table
Polished brass frame with clear glass top 110 x 60 x 58cm (room 424)

7 ways to give your home a minimalist makeover

The minimalist style is fashionable in-home décor trend. It gives a home a clean and organised look that makes a space relaxing to be in. You don’t need to try too hard or make any substantial changes to give your home a minimalist makeover. Here are 7 things you can do to make going minimal simpler.

Clear your clutter

The minimalist style is all about clean lines and tidy spaces. You need a place for everything and everything to be in its place.

Consider storage options for furniture that doesn’t fit the style or space. Expert storage solution providers such as Stored Away can keep your old furniture out of the way until you decide what to do with it. You could always bring it back later if you change styles again.

Mute your colour palette

Bright and bold colours won’t work well if you’re going for a minimalist look. Tone down feature walls by repainting or papering them in muted, natural shades.

Stone and sand colours are perfect. Accent them with deep browns where appropriate. This makes a minimal room feel warmer.

Add minimalist art to your walls

If you do want some colour in your space, you should introduce it via art on the walls. Prints by artists such as Mark Rothko and Bridget Riley have a very minimalist style but will often use strong colours or patterns.

Monochrome prints look good in minimal spaces. Black and white photographs can help create an atmosphere. Use them to define spaces. Hang a painting of a still life with food above your dining table, for example.

Use textures to warm things up

The clean and clinical look of the minimalist style can make a living space seem cold and uninviting. Style is important, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort.

Clever use of materials can make a room a warmer, friendlier place. Balancing a living room’s crisp lines and muted colours with a soft and comfy suede sofa or fluffy cushions works well.

Make the most of natural light

Fussy curtains and blinds don’t suit the minimalist style. Letting in the light helps the natural colour tones bounce light around a room. This makes a space seem larger and airier.

The downside is a lack of privacy. Use sheer, monochrome curtains to cover windows if you must. This will still let a lot of light into your interior without compromising on the simplicity.

Pick quality accessories

The minimalist style makes furnishings and household objects stand out. Bear this in mind when picking out accessories like lamps or wall art.

This is an opportunity to focus on quality. You want to keep the level of clutter down so you have a little extra to spend on the few things you need. Use what you have available to buy a few, high-quality things.

Find a place for pattern

Floor rugs and sofa cushions are good candidates for introducing pattern into a space. Use them to add some contrasting colours to accent the minimalist shades in your living room.

Simple geometric patterns suit minimalism. Try to avoid complex patterns of many colours. These can seem a little chaotic in an ordered, minimalist space. Messy patterns spoil the vibe.

Try a few of these simple tips to get a more minimal look in your home. They make it easy to give your interior a modern, stylish makeover.

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