This three-bedroom end of terrace in Salisbury had previously been rented before the current owners moved in. It was in a serviceable condition, but it had zero character. It had magnolia walls and cheap beige carpet everywhere. The kitchen colour scheme was dark and very dated with a poor layout and the whole suspended timber floor downstairs was rotten.
The owners have since rebuilt and levelled the floor and laid reclaimed solid wood parquet throughout the downstairs. They have also reconfigured the kitchen layout, plastered and painted throughout, restored floorboards and fitted storage. The real home is now a fine example of a modern Victorian terrace.
Image credit: Future PLC/James French
The couple desperately wanted to reconfigure the kitchen layout, so relocated the back door to the living room and replaced the tiny kitchen window with a larger window to create more space and light.
‘The difference these changes made were quite incredible,’ says the owner, ‘it completely changed the feel of the house.’
Image credit: Future PLC/James French
The owners opted for bespoke shaker style cabinets from DIY Kitchens but were able to save some money on the fixtures and fittings. They laid the under-floor heating, the floor tiles, fitted all the cabinetry and learned how to install a kitchen splashback themselves. They also saved a fortune by whitewashing and oiling old floorboards as the work tops.
Instead of wall cabinets they fashioned some open kitchen shelving ideas, using a single piece of wood and brackets, adding a brass rail for a touch of elegance. The sink and taps were found for a fraction of the price by hunting around for second-hand pieces.
Image credit: Future PLC/James French
The owners were keen to fit parquet flooring throughout, as they loved the design and the way it warms a space. However, it was completely out of their price range.
The couple spent weeks scouring the internet until they found someone selling a job lot of reclaimed parquet flooring for £100. However, it has taken us over two years to clean it up and install. ‘It’s been a labour of love, but it’s made our home!’, they told us.
Image credit: Future PLC/James French
The owners have tried not to stray too far from the Victorian era. They have enjoyed sourcing interesting furniture that comes with a little story.
The sofa is a vintage Laura Ashley piece featuring a nostalgic ditsy print. The large vintage rug was found on Facebook Marketplace and splits up the open plan living room idea.
Image credit: Future PLC/James French
The owners have created a statement DIY headboard idea using panelling halfway up the wall with a ledge to display artwork and floral displays.
Old fireplaces can easily be found on eBay or Gumtree for pennies and add instant character and an interesting focal point to a room.
Image credit: Future PLC/James French
Another Facebook Marketplace find, this vintage brass hospital bed along with the floral bedding adds an old-world charm. You can create interesting wall art from unusual finds – like this old-fashioned carpet beater.
Additional words: Marisha Taylor
The post Take inspiration from the charming modern country features of this Victorian terrace renovation appeared first on Ideal Home.
Hive has launched a new mini version of its Hive heating thermostat. The new Hive thermostat mini includes all the key features of the original Hive Thermostat but at a lower price point.
The clever little smart heating gadget from British Gas allows customers to control the central heating and hot water remotely on a mobile phone app either home or away. It’s designed to work with your existing energy supplier, boiler and water tank if you have one.
The Hive Thermostat Mini is available to new Hive customers for just £119, instead of £179 for the large version, offering a saving of £60. However, existing customers already using a Hive Hub can pick one up for just £59.
Image Credit: Hive
The clever Hive smart heating product was first launched in 2013, but has been given a ‘mini’ upgrade. The smart device is now micro-sized with an elegant mirrored finish touch screen to blend seamlessly into any interior style. Its tiny box size is 84mm by 83mm and is slender too at 36.8mm.
If the last few months have left you wondering why are my energy bills so high? The Hive Mini may be mini but it helps reduce carbon emissions and save both energy and money.
It’s packed with nearly all the same features as the original. And, those that are not on the thermostat control have been transferred over onto the app.
With energy bills rising this month the Hive Thermostat Mini is a cheaper investment than its larger big brother. Plus, when subscribed to Hive Heating Plus, it will let you control exactly how much you spend on your heating.
Image Credit: Hive
The key feature the Hive mini has retained is the built-in frost protection. Frozen pipes can be a problem in winter. If the temperature drops below 7 c, Hive will automatically turn on to warm the pipes and keep water flowing.
It will also send instant alerts if you’ve done out and left the heating on at home. The Minis geolocation features mean it knows if you’ve left home and forgotten to turn the heating off – never fort to turn the heating off again.
Voice scheduling via Amazon Alex or Google Assistant – The thermostat is compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set personalist set personalised schedules for the heating, including when you go on holiday via the app. The Mini take care of the controls so you don’t have to
Image Credit: Hive
If you are already a Hive fan the Hub lets you easily connect all your Hive smart products in the Hive App, from heating and cameras to lights and alarms with Hive Home Shield. Plus it has an applet on IFTTT to help your home run smoother.
‘With ambitious net-zero targets and the drive to reduce carbon emissions, we are passionate about helping our customers live more sustainably. This is why we are excited to launch the Hive Thermostat Mini; part of the next generation of smart heating,’ says Andrew Middleton, Commercial Director at British Gas.
‘Our sleek, more affordable thermostat lets customers manage their heating from their phone and is packed full of intuitive smart features, enabling them to keep a closer eye on their energy efficiency, with minimal effort.’
The post Hive has downsized its energy saving smart heating thermostat into a more affordable mini version appeared first on Ideal Home.
