Latest Homes magazine

Sleek kitchens and luxurious bathrooms designed managed and fitted

Steve Mant is the managing director of In-toto in Western Road where his company specialises in the design and build of stylish kitchens and bathrooms. Along with Hayley Grumbridge, sales manager, and Christine Belsey, shop manager, they have been serving a wide range of customers who demand a certain level of service.

I asked Steve what makes In-toto different:
“We offer a full service, from design to fit and complete project management. Our clients communicate directly with Hayley and myself as the team’s designers and it will be one of us who looks after an entire project from start to finish. Our consultation service is free and that is the key to success. The biggest part of the job is creating the design brief by really getting to the heart of what kind of a kitchen a client wants and how it will be used, whether as a serious cook’s kitchen, family kitchen or social kitchen.

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Selma Montford MBE looks at possible changes to the Vardean college building

Varndean College is facing change. It stands grandly looking across its playing fields below and out over the town to the sea, but is currently facing demolition. The proposal is to knock down all the buildings, except the Downs Link College, and replace them with a low-level glass, brick and tile building, with a flat roof planted with sedum, with a glass bubble at the front.

The reason for this development is that the Learning and Skills Council, which is closing its doors in 2010, has money to invest. Initially the College’s proposal was for a £10m development, but the bill for the replacement building is now looking to be over £40m.The College has to fund some £3–4m itself.

A planning application is likely to be deposited in late July, and objections will have to be made in the window of two weeks or after the advertisement appears in the press.

You can learn more and offer help by contacting the Brighton Society or the Preston & Old Patcham Society. Please call 01273 509209 or email info@brighton-society.org.uk for details.

Dozens of landlords are contacting the council and arranging to let their properties using one of the council’s leasing schemes.

Mark King is one recent recruit to the Direct Letting Service which matches tenants with private sector properties. He was looking to let a three bedroom house in Bevendean, but wasn’t sure how to go about it and a neighbour suggested the council. Mark spoke to the council’s property leasing team and they said they may be able to get someone within three days. In fact, someone came the next day and snapped it up. There is no charge for the council service.

Maria Caulfield, cabinet member for housing, explained: “The service we are offering is very attractive. “We take on the tenancy management, so landlords don’t have to worry about the process, but still get a guaranteed income.”

For more information visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk

It has certainly been a sizzling summer for the team at Callaways. With new owners taking over in July, new team members, and lots of exciting new properties to offer prospective clients, their enthusiasm about what their business has to offer seems boundless.

The latest addition to be welcomed on board is Claire Perry, formerly of Strutt & Parker. Claire is supporting the Sales and Lettings teams and says, “With over 16 years’ experience in the sales and lettings industry and having just moved from Strutt & Parker, my finger really is on the pulse of the area. I am delighted to be able to share my expertise and passion for property with the team at Callaways.”

Contemporary living at The Nurseries in Lewes from Blue Sonic

Life in Lewes isn’t all real ale, morris dancing and fireworks. These days the county town has taken on a sophisticated new mantle and this is clearly expressed at The Nurseries, a small, new development of modern family homes with a difference.

I met developer Andrew Newton for a guided tour and to find out exactly what he has done to make this project that bit more special. First impressions in the property business can make all the difference and the first thing I notice is how clean and tidy the development is. Andrew is quick to explain why. ‘‘The houses, although designed by my team here in the UK, are constructed in Germany and arrive almost finished. The foundations are prepared in advance and on the day the walls are raised into position, secured and the roof fitted.

Within 24 hours the building is secure and weather-tight, the windows in place and all to a very exacting standard.’’ I have to admit that on close inspection the finish is immaculate. “We also needed only one labourer on site for the entire build whereas a conventional build might require six on a project this size.”

It’s all impressive as a concept, but how do they match up as homes?

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Andrew Kay is convinced that all that glitters is not under 21-years-of-age

Forgive me for riding the same hobby horse two weeks in a row but I can’t let this one go. If you read last week’s Chez Kay you will have seen how disturbed I was by the uninspired drivel presented at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympics. I did not have room to comment on the animated short that ran before that fiasco.

“It’s time to grow up and let the grown-ups have a hand in these important decisions”

The presenters at the BBC announced it by declaring that it had been created by ‘young people in Soho’. Young people in Soho, what could they mean? I sat back to find out.

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Building opinions with Robert Stuart Nemeth, the man with a keen eye on Brighton’s architecture

Western Road, West Street, North Street, Eastern Road, King’s Road and London Road have all been widened over the years. One major street escaped though and is all the better for it.

“All of Brighton’s trademark architectural styles are represented on St. James’s Street – Georgian, Regency, Victorian and even a bit of Art Deco”

St. James’s Street was developed from the 1790s and probably takes its name from St. James’s Palace on Pall Mall in London. Although it would today be considered part of Kemp Town, it is technically not. It was in fact built as a shopping street to serve the flourishing East Cliff development before Thomas Kemp’s Kemp Town of Sussex Square, Lewes Crescent and surroundings was even conceived.

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Latest Interiors have the best tips for achieving privacy with a selection of sophisticated, classy and affordable blinds

The finishes used to ‘dress’ windows – blinds, curtains or shutters, for example – make all the difference to a home. If you like a clean, modern finish, want to maximise light, or need to make the most of space then blinds are definitely top of the drops. This week, Latest Interiors gives you the low-down on beautiful blinds.

‘Oriental trail’ sheer blinds from £30, www.johnlewis.com

Which blind, where?

Blinds are particularly useful in difficult spaces like bay windows where curtains just won’t work. Read the rest of this article »

Emma and Nick, from the Velvet lifestyle and furniture stores, answer your design questions

I’m decorating my hallway, and want it to have a fun, modern feel but with a twist of Rococo elegance! Could you give me some suggestions of what colour to paint the walls and how to furnish it?
Hannah Lewis, Kemp Town

Emma says: Wow, this sounds like fun! My suggestions depend on who has to live with this décor, aside from yourself! One idea is to paint the walls a bright magenta – furnish with black classical French furniture, such as our Moulin Noir Range. Prices start from £195.

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The Paul O’Grady Show’s Marc Abraham advises on autumn care for your pets

Harvest mite, only 1 mm in length

I think we can now safely assume that summer is well and truly over for another year, which means it’s time to look at some of the issues facing our pets this autumn.

“Small amounts of antifreeze can cause serious irreversible kidney damage and usually death”

As temperatures drop and the nights draw in, it’s extremely important to remember to continue (or even start!) decent anti-parasitic treatments to prevent problems associated with annoying fleas. These tiny wingless insects are always such a major cause of irritation to both pets and their owners and, with our centrally heated homes, are now a year-round menace.

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