The Colour Emporium is the brainchild of Katie Holman who creates hand-dipped candles in a rainbow of hues in Shamley Green, with her friend Charlie Hardesty
If you’re in need of a dopamine hit (and who isn’t at this gloomy time of year?!), a quick look at The Colour Emporiumshould do the trick.
Your retinas are sure of a turbo-charged boost thanks to the kaleidoscopic collection of dip-dyed candles and accessories crafted by Shamley Green mum of two Katie Holman who runs The Colour Emporium with her friend Charlie. The idea came after a year of lockdown gave Katie the itch to do something creative.
“Having spent the last five years raising my two children Bodhi and Zephie, I had a lot of time to toy with a lot of different ideas for a business premise,” she says. “Having trained in costume-making before becoming a design and technology teacher, I’ve always felt a calling to do something creative with my time.
“It’s incredibly important to me that the products I create are unique and ethically made, and items you’re proud to display in your home or gift to friends and family.
“I love colour in every shade that it comes and hope everyone can find something to suit your colour palette. All of the candles I make have been hand-dipped in colourful paraffin wax to evoke a fun and joyous feeling when placed in your homes or on the dining table.”
The huge variety of dip-dyed candles includes the likes of Neon Sea; a vibrant marbled concoction, the uplifting zesty Club Tropicana, and the pastel beauties Tender Tulips.
These have won The Colour Emporium lots of interest in interiors magazines and blogs all over the world and the global customer base to go with it, with fans Down Under.
Katie also shares her experiences on social media, including “the mess, the mistakes, the fun bits”. “There is nothing more satisfying than dipping these beauties but I know as much as the next person that we aren’t on here to watch perfection all the time,” says Katie on one video sharing the thrills and spills of her creative process in the family garage.
“I take inspiration from all sorts of places; my garden, the seasons, food, art and more, then work on creating a combination that I feel will work in a variety of settings and bring a splash of colour to your interiors. Because of the nature of handmade products, each candle may differ slightly from one another but I think this only adds to the appeal of having something truly one of a kind.”
Rosalia Ferrara’s capsule collection of colourful organic totes, tea towels, cards, T-shirts & more is a tribute to literary legends
Brontë Bitch is a collection celebrating the legacy of the iconic Brontë sisters and their family.
It’s a homage to the literary trailblazers who shaped English literature with their powerful narratives and complex characters.
Brontë Bitch offers an array of beautifully illustrated designs featuring iconic quotes from their best sellers, that resonate with fans of the sisters and literature enthusiasts alike. The collection includes colourful tote bags, organic T-shirts, premium hoodies, tea-towels, greeting cards, key-rings all adorned with creative designs & quotes that reflect the spirit of the brand.
Amongst the standout items is the must-have popular hoodie, available in three colours, perfect for those chilly days spent reading or exploring the moors that inspired the sisters’ works. Prices for these original pieces range from £4 to £55, making it easy for anyone to own a piece of Brontë-inspired merchandise.
The UK’s largest garden building display site offers buildings to suit every home
Want to give your garden a fresh look? Bourne Buildings has the answer at its site in Farnham where you can find more than 200 buildings on display to choose from.
Celebrating its 30th year this year, this family run business is continuing to go from strength to strength, supplying quality garden buildings from sheds, greenhouses, and playhouses to garden offices, summerhouses, animal housing, workshops, garages and garden bars.
Get in touch and discuss your requirements and the options available. Many buildings can be designed to your specific layout and with installation offered and base laying in many areas, Bourne Buildings are the place to go for the best prices, best service and best selection.
Virginia Water mum Victoria Fearnley is obsessed with tidiness and organisation and can help you restore order to chaos with Surrey Decluttering
How often have you looked in that cupboard or opened a door to a room only to close it and walk away overwhelmed by the chaos inside?
You need to invite Victoria Fearnley round to ‘remove clutter, restore order and create a well-functioning home’. Through her business Surrey Decluttering she gets to ‘combine my passion for helping people with an obsession for tidiness and organisation.”
Since September 2020 Victoria has helped clients create better functioning homes in stress-free environments. Drawing on her scientific background and career in R&D she makes the most of her keen eye for detail and innovative and creative skills to come up with storage solutions and decluttering hacks.
She explains: “I provide decluttering, re-organising and tidying of any spaces and rooms within your home, including lofts, garages and sheds. I will also provide light cleaning to the areas of your home that I work on.”
She always brings her ‘decluttering kit’ which includes bin bags, labels, cardboard boxes, parcel tape etc and there’s no charge for any small items for her kit she uses.
Victoria also offers complementary services such as assembling new storage solutions (e.g. IKEA furniture), putting up shelves and re-painting a cleared-out room. Just tell her what you want doing and she’ll help if she can!
Originally from a small village in Sweden, she was by her own admission always a ‘tidy’ child, adding: “I would often re-arrange the content of my wardrobes and things on my shelves just for fun! Please don’t judge me – we didn’t have electronic devices or daytime TV back then!
“Having been brought up in Sweden, I love regular visits to IKEA, who doesn’t? I love making up their furniture and finding new storage solutions. It might be my Swedish heritage that made me a keen DIY-er, so typically I always have a new project on the go!”
Among Victoria’s top tips are: • Start small with a 30-minute declutter session, focus on one area at a time, a wardrobe or kitchen drawers • Seasonal sorting – what to store, what to keep as the seasons change, pack away clothing you know you won’t need and rotate with that which will be worn • Declutter high traffic areas of your home notably hallways and kitchens, try instead keeping a basket or box in those areas to gather together items which accumulate quickly
Find out more about how Victoria can help you have the tidy clutter-free home you’ve always wanted at surreydecluttering.co.uk
Liz Nicholls chats to interior designer, dad & grandad Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, 59, who has helped design Rangeford Villages’ new luxury retirement villages, with his daughter Hermione
Watch the full interview here:
Q. Hello Laurence! How do you like to be addressed?! “Whoa, gosh that’s such a question. ‘Laurence’ is very cool, I’ve always liked being a Laurence… I was nearly a Lancelot; that was a good swerve to be honest. My father, who hankered thoughts that I’d play rugby for Wales, wanted me to be a Gareth.”
Q. Do people constantly misspell your name? “Yes, but I’m very relaxed about it. Y’know, ‘Laurence’ is nothing like as complicated as ‘Llewelyn’ so thank the Lord for small mercies! I regret the fact that Dr Johnson brought in spelling. It would all be much better if we just made it all up.”
Q. Can you tell us how you came to lend your peacock flourishes to Rangeford’s new retirement villages in Surrey & the Cotswolds? “It’s a very organic relationship, happenstance! Rangeford were building in Siddington, on the edge of my village. I work with Hermione and, as an almost 60-year-old myself, I feel the way forward for my generation is to entice people into a relationship with retirement living that’s based much more closely on boutique hotels rather than caravan parks. Just because you’re a specific number, just because you’ve had a specific amount of birthdays, and you have quite so many rings that you can see when you’re cut in half like a tree, that doesn’t mean that the design volume knob should be turned down. Older people are not frightened by design.
This is such an extraordinary odd and Western European attitude! Anywhere else in the world, being senior is seen as a ‘flowering’, as a moment of great accomplishment, a moment when everything you’ve created throughout your life can be celebrated. You celebrate that through colour and commitment, excitement, opulence! Unbeknown to us, that’s absolutely where Rangeford see themselves, too. I found it incredibly refreshing to find a company that understood this. My generation of Boomers who saw the Sex Pistols live don’t want to be shuffled into some ghastly oatmeal trailer park. Actually what we want is somewhere that keeps us active, diverted and alive! So many studies show that the more social contact we have the older we get, the longer we live. So as far as I was concerned it was the creation of a design landscape that drew all its inspiration from contemporary hospitality. I also wanted to reflect a lot of the things I love, especially since this first one was Cotswold-based, and to have a bit of an Arts & Crafts hat on. At the moment people are very interested in this. They see a Brit design legacy that’s not only worth celebrating but ridiculously rare.
We don’t have many things we can put our ‘Britain is Cool’ hat on for, other than William Morris and [Thomas] Chippendale. What William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement did was incredibly influential throughout the world. It all comes from [Morris’s] love of nature. I think that’s one of the main inspirations from the Rangeford projects: they’re all about the exuberance of nature at its most engorged, its healthiest, its most vibrant, when you get as much chlorophyll as you possibly can. I wanted to create an environment that’s… chlorophyllaceous, if that’s a word! The interesting thing behind all of this, and what’s a big moment for me as an elderly ‘designosaur’ (and also for my business) is the point when Hermione is taking over as that arbiter, that figurehead.
This – we found out recently – is what happened with Williams and May Morris. When May Morris took over the business at the beginning of the 20th century suddenly it became a different and very successful proposition. What Hermione’s been enjoying with the installation in Surrey is that people come over and go “oooh gosh!”. There is that slight assumption that a Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen interior is going to be too tricky to live with, too many notes, too much colour, too stimulating! But this is good in the context of Rangeford. To everyone who’s said ‘ooh I actually love this’ she can say ‘yes that’s because it’s Hermione Llewelyn-Bowen, not Laurence! Hermione believes in a more holistic way. She feels that what she’s doing with my pattern legacy is to create spaces that have energy and vibrancy but aren’t necessarily full of… ‘poisonous looking weedy things’ as she calls them.”
Q. I’ve read that you live with your children & grandchildren, which sounds idyllic! Can you tell us about this multigenerational living arrangement? “In many ways it’s mirroring what I’m doing with Rangeford. They have this brilliant concept which is to encourage their buyers to see what they’re doing not as ‘downsizing’ but ‘rightsizing’. They want their buyers to think about creating a way of living that’s right for the physical resources they have. And, much more importantly, that hardwires the physical resources they’ll have in ten years or 20 years. What’s important for my generation is that you cannot be in denial about growing older. You cannot keep wearing the sportswear you were wearing when you were 20. You can’t keep the Oasis mullet that you sported when you were 20. You have to go with the flow slightly. Noël Coward had the most brilliant expression: he said you have to invite old age in and give it a cocktail. In other words you make it a very gentle transition rather than a point of crisis, a moment when your life is turned upside down.
And that’s very much what we are doing at home in terms of the way Jackie and I live; we’re occupying a fraction of what was a very large space for us on our own, but we’re tailoring it to suit everything that we enjoy. The other side of the house is lived in by Hermione and her husband and their two children and then Cecily and her husband and their two children live in a garage block on the other side of the courtyard. So we are the rock and roll Waltons! We do have that moment of ‘good night john boy’ and all of that stuff. Our grandchildren are an incredibly important part of our daily lives. Our children are intertwined with everything that we do – we work together and Cecily’s husband Dan is our commercial director, and I’m about to do a big publishing project with Cecile. We are literally living above the shop. That feels like it’s such a strange and anachronistic thing in this day and age but I actually think it’s a natural state of grace. This is exactly how families operated in the world, before the 20th century’s obsession with urbanity forced everyone to abandon the nest and leave it to the old crows, only returning occasionally. We are there supporting each other and it means Cecile and Hermione can spread their wings and be who they want to be. They’ve got the incredible safety net and support of Jackie who’s very much there for the children and for them. Meanwhile, of course for us, a stated scientific fact, people live longer and happier when they have as much access to younger people as possible, rather than being confined to somewhere that’s all about you and your generation. My grandchildren are growing up in an incredibly lively, vigorous space when they have cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, all very much a part of the daily tribe.”
Q. I did laugh when I saw your post on Instagram, saying you and Jackie were in Venice, spending the kids’ inheritance! Are you a romantic couple? And will you be celebrating Valentine’s Day this month? “We are incredibly romantic. And no, Valentines Day isn’t a big deal. I always feel that if you wait a year to do something romantic and thoughtful you’ve got something wrong there. We’re so lucky, we met each other at 19. So many people we know, in their sixties, they’ve only just met ‘the one’, but they haven’t got much of their life to spend together. We’ve done everything together: we’ve grown up together, we’ve built businesses together, we’ve taken risks, not doing programmes, doing other programmes, putting out product ranges, relaunching wallpaper in 1999, in the absolute teeth of the wallpaper depression when no one was buying wallpaper… I’ve always felt empowered, stabilised to do these things because I had my life, my real life, my home life. I was going home to an incredibly safe and secure environment so I felt safe. It encouraged me to be more ‘me’. This is something my daughters have said: they are now making some exciting decisions about who they are, what they a re and what they do. They’ve got this stable, rock-like foundation to be whoever they want to be. A lot of their friends, people their age, they’re querulous and very uncommitted to trying new things, because they’re still looking for that great relationship. Get on with that! Find the right one who allows you to be who you are!”
Q. You won our hearts on television. Do you watch much telly? “It makes me laugh with my sons-in-law because they have these enormous televisions, as their generation is wont, which we’re always trying to find concealments for when we’re doing interiors. And yet all these enormous televisions play is Peppa Pig and Bluey: they’re not there to watch international sport or nature documentaries at all. They’re being wasted on computer-generated animation. I rather like Bluey. I find it hard not to watch Bluey without having a little tear. I’m often being crawled on by grandchildren and we all find it very emotional – it’s a powerful watch! Of course, at the moment, we’re all over Jilly Cooper’s Rivals which is about where we live.”
Q. Yes! Rutshire, haha! Do you know Jilly? “Yes! I was sitting next to her a couple of nights ago, trying to convince her that she was almost certainly related to Daisy May Cooper, which would be two polar opposites here in the Cotswolds. Jilly and I have always got on very very well. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never read any of her books. Rivals is not only set where we live and reeks horribly true on many social levels but it’s also giving me the most phenomenal PTSD from the 1980s. That was very much an era when Jackie and I were at these parties and doing that naughty thing, and it’s brought it all back, rather…”
Q. Speaking of the 1980s, I wonder whether you think there is such a thing as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ taste? “Basically, there is no such thing as good or bad taste. This is peculiarly British obsession, one that was created – if you want to be very boring about it – by the Earl of Burlington in 1720. That aside, it’s a class obsession because there was a general indoctrination that supposed that the ‘posher’ you were, the better your taste was, which is absolute rubbish! Particularly if you live in the Cotswolds; the poshest people have the most terrible taste most of time. Taste should always be subjective, in fact taste is a word I’ve never used. Taste suggests, etymologically, that it’s decided by committee. Style is a much more interesting word: it comes from the Latin ‘stylus’ which means pen. It implies that style is something you write, you change to suit yourself, and I think finding your own style is a much more important obsession than trying to achieve good taste. Half the time, particularly in Britain there’s an obsession with taste and avoiding bad taste so that you end up with no taste at all, and that’s absolutely what happened in the ’90s!”
Q. What’s the favourite interior you’ve ever visited, Laurence? “Oh, big question. I mean, I’ve just come back from Venice, as you say, which has a lot to see. I get very excited by interiors that tell stories, unlike the mass-produced ones with delusions of blandeur! When you see the same kind of colour scheme and the same kind of irritating inability to engage, they’re very unstimulating spaces. Inevitably historical rooms tell you a lot. Venice is a very interesting place because style was always unhindered. You never had to worry about being attacked Barbarians or Goths here because you were in an island in the middle of a lagoon. So you were allowed to show off as much as you bloody well wanted! There was no upper limit to showing off. Meanwhile, you were fantastically wealthy, you had access to incredible craftsmen, incredible artists, incredible materials. So a Venetian room is an act of a self-aggrandisement. And I find it very difficult not to fall in love with that kind of expressive aesthetic.”
Q. If you had a magic wand, what would you wish for? “For everyone to have a magic wand.”
Q. Do you have a favourite piece of music? “I like a lot of contemporary film music and gaming music, weirdly, including classical and opera. I continue to be very fond of artists like Goldfrapp. I tend not to like too much pop but my playlist is bonkers and eccentric; it’s like a dressing up box of extraordinary stuff from here there and everywhere.”
Q. Final question! You dress beautifully, including today. Are you always dapper or do you sometimes just chuck a pair of joggers on!? “No. I will put on pyjamas and a dressing gown which I think is very appropriate. But the current obsession with ‘comfort’, I don’t really understand. Wear clothes that suit you, fit you, and you can keep them on. The idea that you’re just going home to watch Gogglebox is appalling… that was the taste police talking, wasn’t it!”
Have you ever wondered if you can grow mistletoe in the garden? Cathie Welch of Cathie’s Gardening School shares her thoughts
I questioned this when I saw a lovely specimen growing on a relatively small tree. It is such a familar sight around the country on enormous trees and cut for Christmas of course. So why do you never see trees for sale with mistletoe on them?
Mystery of mistletoe
It is something I have tried to grow several times and failed realising quite quickly it’s harvested too early at Christmas and the seeds have not developed inside the white berries. It is very prolific in huge popular trees and I have seen it on apple trees in clients’ gardens. Birds love the sticky berries and when they pass through them are rubbed onto branches where they can germinate. There are male and female mistletoe plants so are dioecious like holly. It is only the female that has the berries but needs a male plant for fertilisation. Mistletoe is a parasite and although it can photosynthesise in the green leaves it also needs other nutrients from the host plant.
Christmas magical mystery tour
One day before Christmas my husband took me to collect my Christmas present. I had no idea where we were going until we arrived at a farm near Chelmsford advertising mistletoe trees! We were taken to choose our specimen and found a beautiful pink flowered hawthorn with several mistletoe seedlings already growing in it. So my passing question about why you never see trees with mistletoe on them had been answered.
Growing your own mistletoe
It’s not easy and often all the birds have eaten the berries! The seeds are not ready to germinate into the tree until spring and the small shoots coming out of mine are about three years old so it takes time. Also as the mistletoe and tree grow together you don’t want the mistletoe to take over and it will need pruning.
Find these amazing trees atMistletoe Trees. There is a wealth of information and a warm welcome from Henry who is extremely knowledgeable on the subject. I am delighted with mine and my students will be learning all about mistletoe propagation in 2025.
Considering a heat pump? It could protect the planet for future generations
Two years ago, Ann and John, who live in west Marlow, decided to replace their ageing condensing gas boiler to reduce their carbon footprint.
During the two years of researching and investigating the purchase of a Heat Pump to warm their house and heat their water, they contacted 12 companies and had 12 visits and subsequent quotations varying from about £12,000 to more than £19,000. However, the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides grants of £7,500 to reduce the overall cost. Eventually, they decided to spend £5,700 to buy a Vaillant Arotherm plus 5KW heat pump.
A company from west London installed their heat pump and ensured that their four thermal panels (water) and their 16 photo-voltaic (PV, Electricity) panels were incorporated into the system. The installation took four days, as some pipework had to be replaced, three of their eight radiators were replaced, the thermal panel had to be linked up to a new hot water cylinder and their PV panels were connected to provide some of the power the Heat Pump requires. Their house is now warm all through the day and night and the hot water for their shower is hot.
Although a new gas boiler will cost between £2,000 and £4,000, they contribute significantly to adverse climate change. In addition, an air source heat pump will save them money, now and in years to come, as electricity becomes cheaper and gas prices rise. Fortunately, some small inheritances allowed them to finance this project, but installation costs could be spread over a period of years.
John says: “If you have to replace an ageing gas boiler, or if you have some spare cash, a new heat pump is likely to save you money and reduce your carbon emissions and hopefully protect your children and grandchildren’s futures.”
Marlow Energy Group (MEG) is a non-profit Community Benefit Society formed with the purpose of reducing Marlow’s carbon footprint through the use of carbon-saving energy technology. To find out more visit MEG – Helping Marlow becoming a net-zero town
As the holiday season approaches, many families are faced with the challenge of balancing caregiving with their daily lives. For families supporting elderly or disabled loved ones, live-in care can be a wonderful solution to ensure they receive around-the-clock assistance while keeping family life intact.
In this post, we’ll explore how integrating live-in care into family life can be both seamless and rewarding, how it impacts family dynamics and how it can create time for family celebrations during the holidays.
How can live-in care be integrated into family life?
Live-in care brings a professional carer into the home to provide 24/7 support, allowing your loved one to remain in familiar surroundings. While this offers many benefits, integrating live-in care into family life does require some thoughtful planning. Here are a few steps families can take to ensure a smooth transition:
1. Open Communication: Before a live-in carer moves in, it’s important for family members to discuss what this change will mean. Consider holding a family meeting to set expectations and address any concerns about privacy, space and responsibilities.
• Clear Roles and Boundaries: Each family member may have specific tasks or routines they prefer to handle themselves, such as cooking meals or running errands. Defining roles and setting boundaries early on helps everyone understand how they’ll collaborate with the carer, reducing potential friction.
• Build Trust Gradually: Introducing a new person into your home can be a big adjustment. A gradual approach to building trust can help everyone feel more comfortable. Consider introducing family members slowly whenever possible to allow your family to form a natural bond with them.
• Involve the Carer in Family Activities: Inviting the live-in carer to occasional family dinners or gatherings helps them feel integrated into the family unit, fostering a sense of harmonious living. This also helps your loved one feel that the carer is a part of their daily life rather than just a professional presence.
By focusing on these steps, families can make the process of integrating live-in care into family life smoother, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
Challenges of Balancing Family and Live-In Care
While live-in care offers many advantages, families may face certain challenges when balancing family life with a live-in carer in the home. Addressing these challenges proactively can make a significant difference.
Here are some of the common challenges and how families can overcome them:
1. Privacy Concerns: One of the most common challenges is privacy. Having an additional adult in the household can make family members feel like they have less personal space. Setting up a designated living area for the carer, separate from family common areas, can help maintain a balance between privacy and support.
• Adapting Family Routines: Live-in carers often follow schedules to meet the needs of the person they’re caring for, which may impact family routines. Families may need to adjust their routines slightly to accommodate these caregiving schedules, especially around meal times or social gatherings.
• Managing Family Dynamics: Introducing a new person into the family environment may temporarily shift family dynamics. Open conversations can help family members adjust to this change, especially when young children or teenagers are involved.
By recognising these challenges, families can create a plan to address them and establish a stable, collaborative environment that respects both the family’s needs and the carer’s role.
How Live-In Carers Impact Family Dynamics
Live-in carers inevitably impact family dynamics. Their role within the home affects relationships, routines and responsibilities – often in positive ways but sometimes it can be a challenge and require adjustment. This is absolutely normal, and for most families, it gets easier over time.
The benefits often outweigh any potential early concerns. When a live-in carer assumes the daily responsibilities of caregiving, it can significantly alleviate the emotional and physical strain on family members. This shift allows families to focus on nurturing their relationships with their loved one instead of constantly being preoccupied with caregiving tasks. By reducing the burden, family members can experience greater peace of mind, which enhances their ability to be fully present and emotionally available.
Live-in carers bring a level of professional support that goes beyond what most family members can provide. As trained professionals, they are skilled in assessing and responding to various health needs, offering a reassuring layer of security for families. This expertise often elevates the standard of care, benefiting everyone involved and fostering a sense of overall well-being.
With the day-to-day caregiving tasks managed by a professional, family members have the freedom to enjoy quality time together. Freed from the constant demands of caregiving, families can focus on meaningful connections and shared moments with their loved one, making their time together more enjoyable and memorable.
Additionally, the presence of a live-in carer can create a more positive atmosphere within the household. Family members, no longer feeling solely responsible for caregiving, may experience increased happiness and relaxation. This uplifting environment benefits everyone in the home, including the loved one receiving care, as the supportive, relaxed atmosphere promotes a sense of warmth and comfort.
Live-in carers often bring emotional benefits as well. By joining the family in celebrating special occasions and bonding with the family member they care for, carers often bring a sense of warmth, stability and familiarity that adds value to the family dynamics.
Celebrating the Festival Season with the Help of Live-In Care
With the holiday season around the corner, live-in care offers families an incredible opportunity to enjoy the festivities without the usual caregiving stress.
Here’s how having a live-in carer during Christmas, New Year and any other religious or cultural festivals can make the season more enjoyable:
1. Freeing Up Time for Celebration: Live-in carers manage daily care responsibilities, allowing family members to focus on holiday planning, shopping and decorating without added pressure. This extra time lets everyone fully embrace the holiday spirit without feeling stretched thin.
• Support During Family Gatherings: During family gatherings, the carer can assist with mobility support, dietary needs, or personal care, ensuring that the loved one receiving care can be comfortably involved in the celebration. Their assistance helps family members to relax, knowing their loved one’s needs are professionally met.
• Helping with Holiday Preparations: Carers can be a huge help during the holidays by aiding with food preparation, gift wrapping and other tasks that require an extra hand. This allows families to focus on spending time together rather than being pulled away by holiday chores.
• Ensuring Safety and Comfort: If your loved one has specific needs, such as medication schedules or health monitoring, the live-in carer’s presence can provide invaluable peace of mind during the excitement of the holidays. Families can rest assured that their loved one’s needs will be met while they participate in the holiday cheer.
With the support of a live-in carer, families can experience a more relaxed, meaningful holiday season; focusing on togetherness and joy rather than juggling care duties with festive obligations.
Final Thoughts
Integrating live-in care into family life can provide numerous benefits, from reducing the burden on family members to enhancing the quality of life for loved ones who require assistance. While challenges may arise, a proactive approach to communication, boundaries and family dynamics can create a balanced and positive home environment.
As the holiday season approaches, the gift of live-in care can be particularly meaningful. By easing the caregiving load, it enables families to focus on what truly matters: spending time together, making memories and celebrating the season without the usual stress of caregiving duties. With a live-in carer by your side, you and your family can enjoy a season filled with warmth, joy, and harmony.
For more information about how Eximius Live-In Care can support you and your loved ones needing additional support please call us on: 0203 794 9933
Infuse your interiors with Christmas home styling tips for a festive makeover by award-winning South Oxfordshire interior designer Holly Scott
Christmas is the perfect time to create a warm, inviting home for gathering with loved ones. Holly shares her design tips whether you’re hosting festive get-togethers or simply adding seasonal charm, these ideas will bring warmth and sophistication to every corner of your home.
1. Choose a theme for a cohesive look
Select a colour palette or style that flows throughout your decor. A traditional red and green theme creates nostalgic warmth, while a silver and white palette lends a modern, sleek feel. Consistency from the tree to smaller accents like candles and wreaths will give your home a harmonious, polished look.
2. Garlands for instant festive style
Garlands add natural elegance and warmth and can be placed in various spots, layer or double up for a full, luxurious look.
• Windows and banisters: Frame windows or wrap stair banisters with garlands to spread cheer throughout. • Table centrepieces: Use garlands down the centre of the table, enhanced with sprigs of greenery and fairy lights for a magical touch. • Mantels: Draping garlands across the fireplace gives a cosy, welcoming feel.
3. Wreaths beyond the front door
Hang wreaths on interior doors, walls, or mirrors to spread festive spirit. Try a wreath as a centrepiece with candles nestled in the middle for a unique touch that connects seamlessly with your decor.
4. Make your Christmas tree shine
Your Christmas tree is the focal point of holiday décor. Start with plenty of lights to create a warm, welcoming glow. For balance, place larger baubles at the base and smaller ones towards the top. Mix textures and shapes for added depth, and consider using florist wire instead of string for a neat, secure finish.
5. Style a festive dining table
The dining table is the heart of festive gatherings. Place a runner or garland down the centre, layered with fairy lights, greenery, and candles of varying heights. Keep the food on a side table to let your decor shine, add crackers or mini gifts at each place setting for a charming touch.
6. Add whimsical festive details
Little touches can elevate your home, adopt a “more is more” approach: Drape fairy lights around door frames, inside lanterns, or across shelves for a cosy glow; fill bowls or vases with extra baubles for easy, eye-catching accents; hang small ornaments from candelabras to add festive whimsy.
Holly Scott is an award-winning interior designer, specialising in creating bespoke, elegant interiors. With 20 years of experience, including styling for Harrods and Ralph Lauren, Holly brings a refined, sophisticated approach to every project. Her design style focuses on blending comfort with luxury, ensuring every space feels lived-in yet timeless.
A garden room extension can be a highly rewarding investment. Discover all you need to take into consideration, including planning, design and cost.
A garden room extension can create extra living space, provide a lovely location for a home office, or allow room for a tranquil retreat. All in all a highly rewarding investment.
One company at the forefront of building bespoke oak-framed garden rooms is The Classic Barn Company. Renowned for their expertise in constructing a wide range of oak framed buildings their skilled craftsmen possess the ability to handle projects of varying sizes and complexity, showcasing the versatility of oak framing.
This editorial will cover all the essential questions UK homeowners need to consider before embarking on a garden room extension project, with insights drawn from the experience of Andrew Guppy, founder of The Classic Barn Company.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garden Room Extension?
The price of building a garden room varies significantly depending on the size, materials, and design. According to The Classic Barn Company, oak-framed garden room extensions typically range between £70,000 and £120,000 + vat at today’s prices, depending on the complexity and specification.
Key cost factors include the foundation work, the choice of glazing (whether you opt for bi-fold doors, for example), insulation, and interior finishes. Oak is a premium material, and while it may cost more upfront, its durability and timeless aesthetic often make it a worthwhile investment.
Garden Room Extension
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Garden Room Extension?
Whether or not you need planning permission for your garden room extension depends on several factors. If the garden room is under a certain size and within permitted development rights, it may not require planning permission. The Classic Barn Company advises that it is essential to adhere to both planning and building control requirements when planning any building work. This is something you can attempt to navigate yourself but they do offer full planning and building control services, guiding you through the process and ensuring that all aspects of your garden room extension comply with UK planning regulations.
Oak Beams in Room Above Extension
Bathroom in Garden Room Extension
Do Garden Rooms Add Value to Your House?
Adding a garden room to your property can significantly increase its market value. On average, garden rooms can add between 5% and 10% to the overall value of your home, especially when built to a high standard using premium materials like oak.
The Classic Barn Company builds bespoke oak-framed garden rooms that enhance both the visual appeal and functionality of a property. Their garden rooms are designed to blend seamlessly with the existing architecture and often incorporate garage space and room above space, providing potential buyers with a desirable additional living space. The durability of oak framing also ensures that the extension remains an attractive feature for years to come. For a detailed look at how oak-framed buildings can add value, visit The Classic Barn Company or check out their informative YouTube channel
Oak Extension Linked To House
Can I Attach a Garden Room to My House?
Yes, you can attach a garden room extension to your house. Many homeowners opt to link their garden room to their main residence via a connecting hallway or corridor. This provides easy access to the garden room, which can be used as a living area, home office, or even a guest room. This also adds more value relative to the build cost, as the space contributes to the main property’s overall square footage.
The Classic Barn Company specialises in designing oak-framed garden rooms that can be seamlessly attached to your home, providing a smooth flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Their expert team can create a design that complements your existing architecture while enhancing the overall layout of your home.
Living Quarters Above A Garage Extension
Can I Add an Oak Framed Garden Room to a Brick Built House?
Absolutely. Oak frames can be added to a wide variety of property types, including brick-built houses. The juxtaposition of traditional brick with natural oak can create a stunning aesthetic, blending the strength and solidity of brick with the warmth and character of oak.
The Classic Barn Company has extensive experience in designing oak-framed extensions for brick homes. Their bespoke oak structures are carefully crafted to harmonise with your existing property, creating a cohesive look. Whether your home is modern or period, oak can provide an elegant, high-quality extension that feels like an integral part of the original house.
Glazed Gable Balcony On Garage Garden Room
Do Oak Frames Make a Good Garden Room Extension?
Oak frames are an excellent choice for a garden room extension. Oak is renowned for its strength, durability, and timeless beauty. It’s also a sustainable building material, with oak trees being replanted to ensure future supplies.
One of the major advantages of using oak for a garden room extension is its natural insulation properties. Oak frames can help maintain a comfortable temperature in your garden room, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
The Classic Barn Company’s oak-framed structures are built using traditional craftsmanship combined with modern building techniques, ensuring that your garden room extension is both energy-efficient and long-lasting.
Timber Framed Extension Linked To House
What Is a Link Extension?
A link extension is a small corridor or hallway that connects a garden room or other extension to the main house. It serves as a transitional space, providing easy access between the main property and the extension.
Link extensions are a popular choice for garden rooms, as they allow homeowners to create a seamless connection between the house and the garden room while maintaining the integrity of the original building.
The Classic Barn Company is adept at designing and building link extensions that enhance both the aesthetic and functional aspects of your property.
Living Quarters Above A Garage
Can You Use a Link Extension with an Oak Frame Garden Room?
Yes, a link extension can be used with an oak-framed garden room. In fact, combining the two can create a striking architectural feature. Oak frames add character and a sense of grandeur to any property, and when paired with a well-designed link extension, they can create a harmonious transition between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
The Classic Barn Company offers bespoke oak-framed link extensions that are tailored to match the design of your garden room and home. Whether you’re looking for a glazed corridor to maximise natural light or a more traditional oak-framed walkway, they can design and build a solution that fits your vision.
3 Bay Garage With Room Above
Is it Worth Building a Garden Room Extension?
A garden room extension can provide valuable extra space while enhancing the aesthetic and financial value of your home. Whether you choose to use it as an office, living room, or guest space, the versatility of a garden room makes it a popular choice for UK homeowners.
Working with a company like The Classic Barn Company, known for their craftsmanship in oak framing and an accredited member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen, ensures that your garden room extension is built to the highest standard.
From planning permission to design and construction, The Classic Barn Company offers a full range of services to guide you through the process, with an array of design solutions for both single storey designs or room above garages making your dream garden room a reality.
With their expertise in oak framing, they can create a bespoke extension that not only meets your needs but also stands the test of time.
To learn more about oak-framed garden rooms visit The Classic Barn Company or watch their informative videos on YouTube.
Garden Room Oak Extension With Guest Room
Glazed Balcony In Gable End
What is Different About The Classic Barn Company?
The Classic Barn Company stands apart from other oak framing companies due to its rich history, unwavering values, and team of highly skilled experts. Founded over three decades ago, the company has honed its craft and developed innovative techniques that push the boundaries of traditional oak framing.
At the heart of The Classic Barn Company lies a deep commitment to sustainability. They source their oak from responsibly managed forests, ensuring that every project contributes to the preservation of our natural environment. Their team of master craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company for years, possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that is passed down through generations.
One of the company’s unique strengths is its ability to seamlessly blend traditional oak framing methods with modern design sensibilities. They understand that every client has unique needs and preferences, and they work closely with them to create bespoke structures that not only meet their functional requirements but also reflect their personal style and vision.
The Classic Barn Company’s innovative techniques and attention to detail set them apart from the competition. From intricate joinery to meticulous finishing touches, every aspect of their work is executed with precision and care. Their commitment to excellence is evident in the stunning oak framed structures they have created, each one a testament to their craftsmanship and dedication.
Who founded The Classic Barn Company?
Andrew Guppy is the founder and lead designer at The Classic Barn Company. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Andrew has established himself as a true authority in the field of oak framing.
His passion for this traditional building method began at a young age, and he has dedicated his career to mastering the intricate art of oak construction. Andrew’s extensive knowledge encompasses not only the technical aspects of oak framing but also the rich history and heritage behind this time-honoured craft.
Throughout his career, Andrew has been recognized by his peers and industry organisations for his exceptional work. His designs have won awards and been nominated to the prestigious ‘Built it’ awards. In addition his barns have been opened by Royals and are often recognised as flag ships in villages across the countryside and rural areas.
His deep understanding of oak’s unique properties and his ability to translate clients’ visions into reality have made him a sought-after authority in the industry.
Garden Room Above With Balcony
What sort of oak framed buildings do The Classic Barn Company build?
The Classic Barn Company is renowned for their expertise in constructing a wide range of. Their skilled craftsmen possess the ability to handle projects of varying sizes and complexity, showcasing the versatility of oak framing and the ability to combine habitable spaces such as guest accommodation.
One of their specialties is the construction of oak framed garages, both traditional standalone structures and those with additional living spaces above. These garages are not only functional but also exude a timeless charm that seamlessly blends with any property.
Beyond garages, The Classic Barn Company excels in the creation of stunning oak framed barns, stables, complexes, extensions and outbuildings. The Classic Barn Company has an excellent video that showcases their craftsmanship and the oak framing process. The video takes you through the entire process of an architecturally led build, from the concrete being poured to a fully fitted interior. You can witness the skilled craftsmen carefully constructing different phases of the project and the attention to detail of each beautifully crafted aspect. You’ll see them expertly assembling the oak frame, with each piece precisely fitted together using intricate joinery methods, and the finished project in all it’s glory.