Vietnam celebrates national day at Expo 2020
Vietnam has marked its Expo 2020 Dubai national day with a cultural performance from top artists, including a rendition of the UNESCO-recognised song ‘Quan ho son in Bac Ninh’.
Instagrammer turns a secondhand broken cabinet into a modern and unique piece – for just £160
. We love it when we spot an upcycled furniture idea that undergoes such a good transformation that it looks like an entirely different piece – and this one is a great example of how a little bit of vision and creativity can go a long way.
When Instagrammer Jen Rothbury, aka @crack_the_shutters, bought a secondhand broken cabinet, she knew she was going to turn it into a modern and unique piece without spending a fortune. In fact, the project cost just £160, which is a fraction of the price Jen would have paid for a cabinet of this size and style – had she bought it new.
Clever cabinet makeover
Searching for a unit to go in her bedroom, Jen scoured Facebook Marketplace and finally found what she was looking for. ‘I was after a glazed cabinet and then I stumbled on this one, when was up for sale for just £40’ she says. ‘There weren’t many pictures of it and the description was brief, but I thought it had good potential so I went to pick it up.’
Before
Image credit: @crack_the_shutters
The cabinet had an oval shape to it that Jen liked, along with two drawers and glass doors – however, she also discovered a few defects. ‘When I picked it up it was dark and I just hauled it into the car without checking it over,’ she recalls.
‘Once I got it home I| found that it had two holes in the back board and the glass was cracked around one of the hinges – it probably explains the bargain price! Thankfully the repairs were fairly minor and I still managed to make the best of it.’
Starting the prep
Image credit: @crack_the_shutters
To get the cabinet ready for painting, Jen began by glueing the crack in the glass and then filling both of the holes. Next, she sanded and cleaned the outside of the unit, giving it a good base on which to paint.
Image credit: @crack_the_shutters
Then it was time to prime the cabinet, before painting it both inside and out. ‘I used Farrow & Ball’s Borrowed Light for inside the cabinet and the outside I painted in Oval Room Blue,’ says Jen.
Buy now: Zinsser B-I-N Multisurface matt primer, £43 for 2.5 litres, B&Q
Buy now: Borrowed Light Modern Eggshell, £77 for 2.5 litres, Farrow & Ball
Buy now: Oval Room Blue Modern Eggshell, £77 for 2.5 litres, Farrow & Ball
Updating the glass
Image credit: @crack_the_shutters
‘I wanted the cabinet to have reeded glass doors,’ says Jen. ‘So I bought a reeded glass film for £80 from Glass Films Europe, which I added to the glass. It also helps to hide the crack!’
After
Image credit: @crack_the_shutters
The end result is pretty spectacular, with the cabinet a far cry from the sorry-looking wood unit that it was before. A sleek blue painted finish has transformed the wood. The reeded glass film looks like the real thing, and decorative gold handles ensure the piece has an expensive, luxe vibe.
‘I added new handles from Etsy as a finishing touch and it’s now a lovely cabinet in our bedroom,’ says Jen.
Buy now: Semicircle handles, £11.47, Etsy
What do you think of this furniture hack? To see this and more, follow Jen on Instagram at @crack_the_shutters.
Share your own upcycled creations with us, here at Ideal Home we’re always looking to celebrate creativeness.
The post Instagrammer turns a secondhand broken cabinet into a modern and unique piece – for just £160 appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 3 min
These are the homeware trends that will be out of fashion in 2022
Before we know it, we’ll be making New Year’s resolutions, turning over a new page in our 2022 diaries, and itching to give our homes a refresh. Because January just does that to us.
Once Christmas decorations are packed away, we’ll be ruthlessly clearing out clutter and treating ourselves to a few new on-trend homeware pieces. Over on Instagram, we asked you which home decor trends should be left behind in 2021, out of Japandi and Cottagecore.
Image credit: Furniture And Choice
The homeware trends to leave in 2021
It was a pretty even split, but you voted for Japandi as the trend to say goodbye to in 2021. Japandi received 53% of the votes, while Cottagecore had 47%.
Both have been huge living room trends this year. They’re also ones we were actually anticipating seeing more of – but that’s where the similarities end.
While the combination of Japanese and Scandi styles is neutral and minimalist yet inviting, cottagecore celebrates a nostalgic country lifestyle and bringing back the vibrant chintz.
Image credit: Furniture And Choice
Recent research by Atlas Ceramics also suggests that Japandi and Cottagecore peaked in 2021. The online tiling retailer examined Google Search data and found these two styles were among the ten most short-lived trends this year.
Coming in at first place is the female body candle, which we couldn’t get enough of last winter. However, since April, the search for female-form-inspired candles plummeted 444%.
Most short-lived trends of 2021
These are the ten trends that had a BIG moment in 2021, but haven’t stuck around – according to Atlas Ceramics. This is based on how much search levels for them have fluctuated over the last six months.
- Female Body Candle, 444.1%
- Cottagecore, 250.1%
- Boucle Chairs, 232.2%
- Bum Vases, 159.8%
- Twisted Candles, 157.6%
- Japandi Style, 148.3%
- Colour-Blocked Walls, 94.4%
- Bust Vases, 94.3%
- Shell Vases, 77.6%
- Mushroom Lamps, 59.0%
Image credit: Fy!
Confession time: we’ll never stop dreaming of owning a cute Murano mushroom lamp, and we love a touch of cottagecore. All things in moderation, eh?
As for interiors trends we think will be building momentum in 2022, we’re putting our money on a flouncy, regency era-inspired style with frills. And since a purple was announced as the Pantone Colour of the Year 2022, we’ll be seeing plenty of this royal shade…
Will you be giving your home an update this year?
The post These are the homeware trends that will be out of fashion in 2022 appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 2 min
Shared Ownership mortgages – the best rates and lenders
To date, over one million people have made an enquiry on the Share to Buy website. Thousands of properties which can be purchased with Shared Ownership mortgages are currently listed on the site from the UK’s largest housing providers. With ever-increasing property prices in the UK- it’s hardly surprising.
If you have looked into Help to Buy options and want to buy a percentage of a home, you’ll need to secure a Shared Ownership mortgage. Shared Ownership is a great scheme for those struggling to afford to buy on the open market due to lack of a deposit.
‘Saving up a 5 per cent deposit for a full 100 per cent of a house price can be too much for some people,’ says Nicola Schutrups, Managing Director at The Mortgage Hut.
‘But, if you’re buying 25 per cent share of a house, you only need five per cent of that 25 per cent to make up your deposit. So, it can be more like £2,000-£3,000 deposit, which is a much more achievable amount,’ Nicola says.
Shared Ownership mortgages – the best rates and lenders
Read on to find out what Shared Ownership Mortgages are, how they differ from other types of mortgages and where to find the best rates and deals.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Robert Sanderson
What is a Shared Ownership mortgage?
It’s specifically designed for someone buying a Shared Ownership property. ‘A Shared Ownership mortgage differs to a residential mortgage as, instead of buying the whole property, you’re only buying a portion of the property,’ says Brian Murphy, Head of Lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau.
‘Therefore, you will only pay mortgage repayments on the share you own and will pay rent on the remaining part of the property to the housing association that owns the rest of the home.’
Typically, buyers purchase between 25 per cent to 75 per cent of a property, and take out a Shared Ownership mortgage to cover this amount. The rules changed in April 2021, so the minimum share is now just 10 per cent. However, if you can buy a larger share it’s advisable to do so.
How do I find the best Shared Ownership mortgage?
It’s quite a specialist product which will have its adapted specialist rates and criteria. Therefore, not all mortgage lenders provide Shared Ownership mortgages.
‘You can try and find a mortgage yourself however, as Shared Ownership is a specialist scheme, I would recommend getting a mortgage broker who has experience in this particular product,’ says Chelsea Kennedy, Specialist Property Mortgage Advisor at Pure Property Finance.
‘They can liaise with the new-build site directly and assist with the housing association forms’ she says.
You might also find that the housing provider you are buying through offers to help as well. ‘At St Arthur Homes we have financial experts to provide support and advice to our buyers. This ensures they understand the whole process and which mortgage product is best for their circumstances,’ says Louise Mills, Sales Marketing Director at St Arthur Homes.
Image credit: Robert Sanderson
How can I apply for a Shared Ownership mortgage?
The application process is exactly like a standard mortgage application. ‘You’ll need to apply directly to your lender or via a mortgage broker,’ says Brian. ‘They’ll ask for detailed documentation such as proof of identity and income. Then, also evidence of your right to live in the UK, and details required for a credit check,’ he says.
You will need to be able to prove that you can afford the deposit, too. You typically only need a deposit of five or ten per cent of the share that you are buying.
So, if your share was worth £40,000, you’d only need to put down between £2,000 and £4,000.
What is a Shared Ownership Leasehold?
The leasehold agreement will need to be considered too. ‘Your lease sets out everything, for instance, the amount of share you’ve bought, how long you can keep the house for (usually 125 years), how much your monthly rental payments are, as well as your responsibilities while living there,’ says Brian. ‘Make sure you take the time to thoroughly read the lease and ask your solicitor any questions you have,’ he says.
What costs need to be considered?
‘You’re actually buying only part of a house. Although, you’ll still have all the associated costs that come with buying a property,’ says Brian. ‘This includes mortgage arrangement fees, survey costs, and charges from your solicitor.’
What are the best mortgage comparison websites?
Some of the online mortgage finder tools you can use to find the best lender to suit your needs are:
‘There are a few comparison sites out there. But, they aren’t always the best route to use as there are several different factors to consider when looking at affordability,’ says Nicola.
Image credit: West Kent Housing Association
‘You’ve got the price of the full property, then you’ve got the price of the share that you’re buying, which then works out how much rent is left on the remaining share.
There will also be a service charge added to the ground rent. It’s quite a complicated calculation compared to a regular mortgage, where affordability is based on just roughly four-and-a-half times your annual income.’
Where do I find the best rates and deals?
Not all mortgage providers offer Shared Ownership mortgages. So, you will need to do your research and shop around for the best deal.
‘Speaking to a mortgage adviser will help you identify potential lenders that would suit your circumstances,’ says Brian. Nicola agrees: ‘They’ll have access to a wider range of lenders and rates to help find the best deal for you,’ she says.
*Ideal Home and Go Compare are part of Future plc.
The post Shared Ownership mortgages – the best rates and lenders appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 4 min
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