Property spotlight: Ready-made annexes

Often, on the many property programmes that are broadcast on TV, the property owners featured have a choice of moving to a larger property or creating and extension. Perhaps they need space for children that have outgrown their shared kids’ bedrooms. Occasionally, there’s an elderly parent that’s moving in; maybe they’re putting funds towards the larger property. Once in a while, a property owner is looking to create a little money-spinner – a self-contained space that can be rented out on a long or short-term basis. Today, we’re highlighting properties that have ready-made annexes that can be utilised without the need to seek planning permission or getting the builders in to smash through or put up walls!

£309,999 – 1 Honeyborough Farm Cottages, Honeyborough Road, Neyland, Milford Haven SA73 1RF

• 18^th century stone cottage with annexe
• 3 bedrooms in original farm house with 2 en suites
• Gas central heating
• Double glazed windows and doors
• Off road parking for 3 cars
• Separate, self-contained annexe / workshop
• Holiday let potential

The property not only has been done to the highest standard, it also boasts a potential annexe which has the possibility of being let out as a potential holiday let or even a long term rental property if required. It could also act perfectly for two families relocating and looking at buying together.
The potential annexe is easily accessible from the front or rear of the property and comprises a lounge / bedroom, shower room and also a kitchen. This could be used completely separately to the cottage if required.

£550,000 – The Homestead, Marsh Hall Lane, Chapel En Le Frith, High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 9UQ

• Expansive grounds with panoramic hill views
• Versatile layout, including independent annexe option
• Proximity to Chapel-en-le-Frith’s vibrant centre
• Convenient access to Manchester and Sheffield
• Tranquil gardens with stream, greenhouses, seating
• Potential for personalised updates, modern enhancements

…the property currently comprises the original main house, complemented by a ground floor extension that offers the option for an independent annexe or supplementary space for the main dwelling.
The adjacent annexe introduces a dining kitchen, a versatile study/office space, two bedrooms, a well-appointed bathroom, and a separate WC – an arrangement perfectly suited for various lifestyle needs.

£855,000 – 10 & 10a Nashenden Lane, Rochester, Kent ME1 3JQ

• Charming & heavily extended detached property
• Principal bedroom with en suite
• Six well proportioned bedrooms
• 1 bedroom self-contained annexe with its own entrance
• Three reception rooms (including the annexe)
• Good sized garden
• Double garage & good-sized driveway
• Views over the Medway Estuary

This rarely available and substantial detached property sits within a generous sized garden and not only offers six bedrooms within the main property but also incorporates a self contained 1 bedroom annexe.

Get their look: Groovy studio apartment

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Lauren W‘s groovy studio apartment is located in the Big Apple – Brooklyn to be exact. I just love all the pops of orange colour – the sofa, the DIY mirror, the wall art and the rainbow-ed locker.

A studio can be a very tricky space in which to create a comfortable living area. But Lauren has shared how she made it work for her:

I felt I had to find a way to add invisible walls that made it feel like there was some separation in my space. The furniture placement and even the location of my mirror really aid in creating those boundaries.

Get their look

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Zeal melamine colander

Custom rainbow decal

Steel storage cabinet

SÖDERHAMN 2-seat sofa

Yellow bistro tray side table

‘No Shame in Black Beauty’ print

IKEA MONGSTAD mirror

Zeal melamine colander

Custom rainbow decal

Steel storage cabinet

SÖDERHAMN 2-seat sofa

Yellow bistro tray side table

‘No Shame in Black Beauty’ print

IKEA MONGSTAD mirror

How to create the best work-from-home space in a studio apartment

When you have a studio apartment, space is at a premium. If you’re working from home, you have to be extra intelligent and creative when creating your workspace in a studio apartment. That’s okay, you’re in luck! We’re going to help you do just that in this post. Are you ready to optimise your studio apartment for an amazing, cost-effective, efficient workspace? Excellent, let’s begin!

Analyse your studio apartment

The first step when thinking about creating a stunning workspace in a studio apartment is to get realistic about your space. You need to figure out the square footage, twohe layout of your apartment, and visualise possibilities. If your studio apartment is a large square, you want to take that into account. If it’s a longer rectangle, take that into consideration as well. You need to clearly determine what you have to work with. There’s a significant difference in planning when you have a 250 ft² studio as opposed to a 760 ft² studio, for example.

Working with a small studio apartment

If you have a small studio apartment (under 600 ft²), no problem! You can still create an impressive work-from-home space. You just have to be more creative! For example, you may need to find a modular sofa to work in your space. You can always use a virtual room design app if you need to visualise how things could work!

When you have a small apartment, you may want to consider things like a Murphy bed. This is simply a bed that folds down from the wall when you sleep. You also want to choose a small entertainment centre. Or, you could consider mounting your television on the wall to save space.

Working with a large studio apartment

If you have a large studio apartment (over 600 ft²), you have many more options. You’ll want to begin listing all the things you want to have in your larger studio apartment in terms of furniture, home entertainment features, the size of your bed and additional aspects.

After creating a list of the things you want in your large studio apartment, figure out where in your apartment your work-from-home workstation would fit. You’ll have much more room compared to a small studio apartment. Therefore, you can likely fit more things into your workstation. Create a list of what you would like your workstation to include. You can always remove things later.

Moving forward with your workstation

Now that you know what you want in your workstation, and where you’ll put it, it’s time to move forward! You’re going to go ahead and source your items. Shopping can be so fun! It also can be super easy when you’re shopping online. Many people shop on huge websites like Amazon or Overstock. However, we do want to point out that buying large items can be a bit tricky online.

The reason it can be tricky is that it can be hard to gauge how those large items will actually look “in person” after you purchase them. So, you may want to go to a store or shopping mall to purchase your desk and other large items. This way, you can measure them, visualise them and really understand how they’ll look when you finish your wonderful new workstation!

Taking these tips into account, you’re on your way to creating an amazing work-from-home space!

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Why you should invest in a studio apartment in the UK

Studio apartments are becoming a big part of the UK property market, appealing to a growing number of investors. With a bedroom, dining area, living room and kitchen all contained within the one room, studio apartments represent a more functional way of living. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider a studio apartment for your next investment.

The aim of any property investment is to make as much money as possible, which is made possible through high rental yields. Studio apartments have some of the highest rental yields of any property investment due to their low costs. Prices for studio apartments are often low due to their size, but with a high demand from growing populations in several UK cities, people are willing to pay similar amounts for a studio as they would for a one-bedroom apartment. If the studio apartment is a new-build with a more luxury, modern design, rental costs can go even higher.

Part of this growing demand for high-quality studio apartments lies in the population of young professionals and students in the UK. Major property investment hotspots like Manchester and Liverpool have some of the highest student populations in the UK, with Manchester being home to the largest single-site university in the country. There are on average 3.5 students per room throughout the UK, leaving large numbers of student tenants in need of quality accommodation.

Student accommodation is not what it used to be in the UK. In the past, students were happy to settle for shared housing in a run-down period property, whilst today, apartments with a more luxury and modern edge are preferred. Students are keen to rent accommodation that’s stylish, convenient and has everything they need for a comfortable university experience. Studio apartments can be the ideal living situation for a student who prefers their own privacy but doesn’t want to rent a larger property all to themselves.

Young professionals are another type of tenant who could benefit from studio apartment living. Many young people prefer their own space, for which a studio is a great option as it gives the tenant their own privacy but is still relatively affordable. Studio apartments from property investment companies like RW Invest are based in popular city centre locations which are convenient for professionals working in the city.

The target market for studio apartments doesn’t end there, however, as these types of properties may also appeal to an older clientèle. Numbers of middle-aged people living alone in the UK have soared in recent years, meaning studio apartments could be a perfect alternative to living in a large residential property.

With a large and varied target market, increasing demand and high rental yields, investing in a studio property might just be the best option for your next UK property investment.