Early years

The earliest integrated household kitchens would have belonged to larger homes in ancient Greece. But for your average citizen a place to cook, with a place to grind flour would have been located outside the shelter of the living areas.

In Britain, we had round houses in the Bronze Age, and most food was fairly basic and required the very minimum in cooking appliances. A pot, a ladle and a hot stone to bake flatbread on was pretty much it. The smoke escaped through the thatch, and the cooking fire was used as much to warm the house as to cook food on.

Open fire cooking continued through the medieval period, with the advent of chimneys helping a great deal to eliminate the worst of the smoky effects of making dinner.

Purpose-built kitchens

Industrial developments led to the invention of the first enclosed stove in the mid-1700s. Around the same time, a design influence emerged from the Shaker's style of wood craftsmanship, from the North-eastern United States. This simple, functional and well-crafted style of woodworking is still popular and influential in kitchen design today.

The first 'fitted kitchens'

The 1930s saw the first interlinked kitchen units, made up of a sink with hot and cold running water, a larder or cold store, and a gas or electric stove. These developed over the years to include cupboards and work surfaces, and throughout the 1950s and 1960s they started to become a status symbol within the home. Just think of those characteristic brown 1970s kitchens with the early Kenwood mixers and sandwich makers! Imagine Abigail serving her party food through the serving hatch, or wheeling out a heated hostess trolley. This was the period when the kitchen started to become the star of the home.

The birth of open plan

Thankfully, the eighties rolled in, with big hair, neon, and plenty of attitude – including in the kitchen. Cooking ordinary food went out, and new and exciting gastronomy came in. Home kitchens caught up by opening up the living space, and open plan kitchen-diners were born. Now you could cook and entertain at the same time in your airy, spacious kitchen-dining room. This is still immensely popular in modern kitchen design today.

What's trending in the kitchen design world now?

Today's kitchen designs demand the inclusion of the latest, most efficient appliances. Here are the three main trends that are hot right now:

1. Modern minimalist

Glossy doors, clean lines, and granite worktops are hot now for a sleek, contemporary look.

2. Country 'Shaker' style

Revisiting those classic US designs of the 18^th Century, but with bang up-to-date materials and clever design features. Wooden worktops and painted wooden doors are popular, with simple rustic designs reminiscent of the Shaker style. 

3. Kitchen refurbishments

Updating kitchens piece by piece rather than starting from scratch is extremely popular, owing to an uncertain financial climate and the popularity of 'up-cycling'. Budget conscious homeowners would often prefer to renovate a kitchen than to scrap it and buy new. You get the same great effect, but with minimum disruption and a lot smaller financial impact on your budget.

For more information about replacement kitchen doors - www.kitchenrestoration.co.uk

1. Cupboard door overhaul

Cupboard doors and drawer fronts are the first places you'll notice wear and tear in your kitchen. Rather than ripping out the whole kitchen, when the cabinets themselves are still in good condition, why not simply replace the cupboard doors? How about solid wood doors, painted or natural, for a contemporary country kitchen? Or go for quality laminate or gloss doors for a sleek modern look.

2. Design Accessories

Old-fashioned door and drawer handles can really age your kitchen. Handles are more than just functional; they can be highly decorative too. From stainless steel to pretty wooden knobs, updating the door handles is a quick and simple way to improve your kitchen.

3. Your kitchen's canvas

No kitchen is going to look its best when there's a backdrop of stained paintwork, or worse - a greasy ceiling. Start afresh with a thorough paint job. Perhaps a different colour, or textured paint will bring a new lease of life to your kitchen.

4. Cooks love an island!

An island unit will provide a focal point to the room, extra work surface space, and storage below. Family and friends can perch around it to chat, making the kitchen a more sociable space.

5. More floor

Kitchen floors see a lot of action. Revamping the floor can be very simple and inexpensive. Vinyl flooring is brilliant: it's hardwearing and cheap and comes in a variety of colourful designs.

6. Kitchen Flotsam: What doesn't belong?

Are you ever frustrated that there seems to be nowhere to put anything? Paperwork, magazines and handbags are just some of the things that end up lurking in the kitchen. Clear clutter away to its proper home, and your kitchen will seem more spacious, well organised and calm.

7. Stylish tiles

Who remembers the fruity kitchen tiles from the 90s? Not a good look these days, and replacing tiles and splashbacks in a kitchen can bring it right up to date. Think about a coloured glass or stainless steel splashback, how chic!

8. Worktop workout

Older worktops show their age – and can start to harbour germs and bacteria too. Battered Formica and patchy laminate can be banished with the simple addition of a new worktop. Choose from gorgeous granite, wood or slate effect laminate, or choose the real thing for untold luxury.

9. Lighten up

Dingy or too bright lighting in a kitchen is one change that can make a huge difference. A new pendant over an island unit or under-cupboard lighting can change the mood and function of your kitchen lighting dramatically.

10. Accessories

Toasters, kettles, and bins are often on permanent display in a busy kitchen. Make sure yours look great with retro designs, bright colours or elegant stainless steel to suit your style.

For more information about Kitchen Doors and Kitchen Makeovers see - www.kitchen-magic.com

Based on 3.5 million house insurance claims, the comparison website found that the LS13 area in Leeds topped the list with 34.8 theft claims per 1000 enquires.

London postcodes make up half of the top ten with postcode areas N12, RM3, SW12, UB3 and SE22 taking up the third, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth spots respectively.

It's not all bad news though, also highlighted are the top ten areas with no burglary claims, such as Swansea, Devon, Cornwall and Fife.

Unfortunately for those living in the worst affected areas, home insurance expert Hannah Jones commented "Areas affected by higher rates of burglary insurance claims will see their premiums impacted - increasing by a fifth on average."

There are some handy tips on the infographic that detail ways in which to protect your home from burglars and in some cases they could reduce your home insurance premiums.

Easing the Transition

The fact that there are many empty residential properties is something that hasn't gone unnoticed by the Government. Indeed, at the beginning of September 2012 the Government relaxed planning permission laws surrounding commercial property, with the aim of boosting the economy. The impact being that commercial property owners are now able to convert storage or office space above shops into two flats. In the past the regulations only allowed for one flat to be created, unless planning permissions was sought.

This change was followed a few days later by the Government's announcement of plans to further relax planning permission requirements, albeit temporarily, on both residential and commercial property. The ideas included the ability for shops to be expanded by 100 metres square and industrial units by 200 metres square. In addition, offices and shops will be allowed to be extended to premises' boundary without the need for planning permission.

Uncertain Times

A 6 week consultation stage of these planned changes ran between 12^th November and 24^th December 2012, with it envisaged that they would be introduced before the end of the year and last until early 2015. However, at time of writing, there have been no further updates as to whether these relaxations will indeed be introduced. This has left many residential and commercial property owners in a state of limbo, as they wait for confirmation as to whether they can progress with planned building work.

The delay has also had an adverse effect on the building trade, with few wanting to push ahead with work until the situation is clarified, in the hope of reducing costs that seeking planning permissions can entail. Not ideal at this time of year; which is traditionally a quiet period for builders already.

So, where does that leave you now if you are looking to convert all of your commercial property and not just the space above a shop?

Initial Approval

Converting a commercial property to a residential one will usually entail plenty of building work. However, before you even get to this stage, you will first need to seek approval from the local authority to change the purpose of the property. In order to receive this approval, you must be able to demonstrate that there is no demand for the property in its current state. In most instances the local authority will only consider a change of purpose where the property has been on the market for at least 6 months. Some local authorities may even stipulate a period of 12 months. If you are successful in your application for a change of use, you can then move onto the next stage of applying for planning permission for any building work that requires it.

Additional Considerations

With some commercial properties it may be that there are restrictions in place that require the consent of third parties, before certain building work can be carried out. One example of this being where the property is held under leasehold and the landlord must approve the work. It may even be that the owners of adjoining premises can exercise rights over conversion of the property. These rights could restrict your plans, or impact on how the work can be completed.

Finally, you should also take into account the fact that some commercial properties have covenants in place. These relate to the exterior of the property and are aimed at ensuring that all buildings in the surrounding area retain the same look. Such covenants tend to exist most commonly in market towns where the buildings are older and may specify that certain materials must be used.

A guest post by Eddisons: specialists in commercial property management.

Gutters

Gutters are most likely to get blocked with leaves and moss in the autumn and should be cleared out before the cold weather arrives. In winter, the build-up of leaves may cause rain to leak from the gutter, resulting in the house's walls becoming damp and maybe penetrating damp soaking through to the inside of the house. At the same time, keep gullies clear of leaves to ensure that surface water can flow freely into the drains. This is especially important when there is heavy rain.

Pipes and Leaks

One of the most common problems of cold winter weather is blocked and frozen pipes. Pipes in unheated areas are vulnerable unless they are lagged and particular attention should be paid to pipes in garages and cellars. An attic should have sufficient insulation, with any water pipes running beneath the insulation. If the house is left empty for a time the heating needs to be left switched on for a period each day to stop the temperature falling too low. Internal doors left open will allow the warm air to circulate round the house and if pipes run behind cabinets the cabinet doors should also be left open.

Any outside pipes should be lagged, with the stop tap to outside taps switched off. Leaks and dripping taps should be repaired. A leaking overflow pipe with water falling onto a path, even with only a small drip, may lead to a dangerous icy patch when the temperatures fall below freezing.

Repairs

Any damage to wooden windows and doors, including frames, should be repaired as this will only get worse due to low temperatures and driving rain. It is also advisable to repair loose or perished pointing in walls. If not, water getting into the cracks will freeze and expand, causing further damage. The roof should be checked for any missing or slipped slates or tiles as they will allow water into the house. You can use a pair of binoculars to get a clear view of the roof.

Keeping the House Warm

Boilers need regular checks and winter is the time when they are most likely to develop problems. Central-heating failure when there's snow on the ground is difficult to deal with. If heating is provided by an open fire or wood-burning stove, then the chimney needs to be cleaned regularly and doing this before the winter starts is a good idea. Ensure that there is sufficient wood or other fuel to last for a few weeks at least.

Repairing damage or dealing with breakdowns can be costly. Insurance or breakdown cover policies need to be adequate to deal with such expenses, so check out MoneySupermarket.com for advice on choosing insurance.

All it takes to protect a house from winter weather is a bit of preparation and planning. Much of what needs to be done is inexpensive but the potential cost of damage could be considerable and it's always cheaper to sort out minor problems before the problem gets too severe.

When it comes to selling your property there are several things to consider with one of the more important aspects is the condition of the décor. For this reason, many property owners, regardless of whether it is commercial or residential choose to install a wall protection system to give the interior a much-needed fresh lease of life.

Requirements

A protection system usually consists of wall panelling, corner trims, hand rails and bump rails depending on how much traffic or usage it is likely to receive. Supermarkets and commercial properties will usually require a considerable amount of protection due to their heavy volumes of usage; whereas residential properties may instead be looking at some wall panelling and the occasional corner trim on particularly busy areas.

Wall panelling and protection systems can be used in more areas that you might initially imagine. For example, they are a prominent feature of leisure centres, sports facilities, schools, hotel and a variety of other popular public areas. This is because they create an incredibly clean and hygienic atmosphere, making it attractive to visitors and/or potential buyers of your property.

Benefits

Regardless of whether or not you want to sell up and move on or alternatively are just looking to add some fresh style to your surroundings, a wall panelling system has a great deal of benefits. Not only can it be customised to suit virtually any space, it is also incredibly durable and easy to clean. This of course makes it a popular option for medical environments such as hospitals and clinics that require a clean and safe décor.

Wall protection systems are also an excellent alternative to wall paper or bare walls as they are both attractive and easy to maintain. Gone are the days of maintaining never ending scuffs and marks along your carefully decorated interior, the true beauty of a protection system is that it is incredibly durable, and can usually be wiped clean should scuffs or marks appear.

Available in a massive range of colours, textures and even densities to suit every property and budget, a good protection system is becoming essential to an increasing amount of both commercial and residential properties, whether it is to increase the value of a property in preparation for a sale or alternatively to carry out a major renovation.

Yeoman Shield provides high quality wall protection systems that can be customised to suit every property perfectly. With an extensive range of wall panelling, hand rails and door plates for an extensive protection system, Yeoman Shield can transform your décor for an affordable price.

Traffic levels

During the winter period grass plants will stop actively growing.  As a result they are not able to repair themselves when damaged, until they begin growing again in the spring time.  It is therefore a good idea to keep your lawn traffic down to a minimum and use garden paths wherever possible. 

Cutting

You should look to give your lawn its last cut of the season in the last few weeks of October or first few weeks of November.  Before you give the lawn its final cut of the season, it is advisable to first check the weather forecast to see if there is likely to be a frost or snow in the next week or so.  If there is, avoid cutting the lawn, as it will expose the roots to the elements.  Also be sure they the ground is not too wet before you start mowing.

Clearing the lawn

Make sure that you keep the lawn free from any debris during the winter period, such as leaves, twigs and branches.  You should also remove any items that tend to be positioned on the lawn through the summer, such as children's slides or the BBQ.  If you don't then it is likely that these items will sink into the surface of the lawn throughout the winter due to the high levels precipitation. 

Aerating the lawn

Try to take advantage of spells when the lawn isn't too wet by aerating it using a spiking machine or lawn fork.  This will reduce compaction in the soil and allow better drainage.  In addition, more air will be able to access the root system, which will improve the health of your lawn. 

Considering worms

Don't underestimate just how beneficial it can be to have worms wriggling around in your soil.  Not only do they improve the structure of the soil; they also serve to add nutrients to it which helps the grass grow.  In the event you see any worms on the surface of your flower beds then pick them up and add them to the lawn area.  If you have a compost heap then you can also have a dig through it and pull out a few worms from there. 

Preparing your mower

That is pretty much it in terms of lawn care until spring; however you should also spend a little time on your mower preparing it, so it is ready for when the warmer weather returns.  Give the mower a good clean and remove any leftover lawn cuttings that will rot over the winter.  You should also bear in mind that the first cut of the spring is going to involve plenty of grass, so make sure that the blades are nice and sharp.  If you garden shed or garage suffers from a little damp then it might be a wise move to add a little grease or oil to the blades, to protect them from the moisture and prevent rust. 

Article is provided courtesy of Rolawn – the leading turf specialists in the UK.  Please visit the Rolawn site for further advice on garden lawn care, or to view their range of grass turf products.

Choosing the right flooring for each room is underrated and often completely disregarded, with home owners choosing the lay down the first carpet or laminate they come across at the lowest price. Unfortunately, this often results in the requirement for on-going repairs and maintenance, later leading to the flooring having to be replaced much sooner than usual.

Quality Costs

As much as you we would love to be able to save money on new flooring, it simply is not the place to sacrifice quality. Whether you're opting for tiling, carpet or laminate flooring, it is more than likely going to be in place for a considerable length of time, and should therefore co-ordinate with any style you choose to throw at it.

Tiling vs. Carpet

Obviously which ever you choose will depend on the circumstances of the room you plan to fit them into. Tiling in a bedroom for example may not always be suitable; however areas that experience a considerable amount of moisture such as bathrooms and kitchens would benefit more from tiling. For rooms in between such as living rooms and corridors, here's a breakdown of what each flooring type has to offer:

Tiling Pros

• Stylish and Attractive: Tiling adds undeniable class and a sense of luxury to every room in which it is installed. Available in a massive range of materials, styles and finishes, the world of tiling is your oyster, allowing you to create any style you desire.
• Environmentally Friendly: Materials such as tumbled travertine are made from natural materials with a minimal manufacturing process, allowing it to portray their sense of nature around the home, as well as adding a touch of luxurious Roman style.

Tiling Cons

• Expensive Costs: As expected, when it comes to tiling you have to pay a little extra than low budget alternatives. Prices often depend on which material you desire and of course how much you require.
• On-Going Maintenance: In order for your tiling to remain stylish, grouting will need to be applied correctly and also cleaned and maintained when it begins to look a little tired. To get the best out of your tiles, it's also recommended that they are cleaned at regular intervals.

Carpet Pros

• Massive Variety: Carpet is available in a massive range of styles and colours, ranging in quality to suit every budget. With such a wide variety available, interior spaces can be customised easily.
• Affordable: A much cheaper alternative that tiles, carpet has a much more budget friendly price tag. The price will usually depend on what sort of quality you're looking for, with the superior possessing the higher price tag.

Carpet Cons

• Stains and Dirt: Unlike tiling, carpets are prone to picking up dirt and incurring damage if they are overused. Disliking moisture and being much harder to clean, many people instead opt for tiles for the particularly busy areas in the home.
• Damage Control: Carpets don't offer the same resilience that tiling does, often incurring damage from general day to day use. Heavy duty carpets can be purchased, however this may mean you have to sacrifice a bit more money and style.

The type of flooring you choose will depend on the circumstance of the particular room, however if you find yourself torn between carpet and tile, consider which will last the test of time and continue to look stylish.

Travertine Direct provides an extensive range of high quality tiles at affordable prices. Choose from a range of travertine, porcelain and natural stone tiles.

Photo Credits: Marie LL & Sekhmet1776

Making squatting a criminal offence will provide assistance for owners of empty properties, including landlords and local councils. It may even have an impact on the cost of landlords insurance. Property owners will be able to reclaim their property far swifter if it is occupied by squatters, reducing the potential risk of damage to the building and allowing landlords to let it to tenants sooner.

Prior to this new law, complaints about squatters were dealt with as a civil matter. Property owners were forced to go through lengthy, costly and stressful court proceedings to have them evicted. The length of time this took often led to increased repair and cleaning costs once the squatters were removed.

A Quicker Route to Justice

The new process should be far smoother and swifter, with the ability to report potential squatters to the police. Once they have ascertained that the occupants knowingly trespassed on the property and either are living or intend to live there, they can be arrested and dealt with through the criminal courts. Punishment for those found guilty is up to six months in prison, a £5,000 fine, or both.

There are exceptions to this new law. It won't affect those in rent arrears or tenants who stay in a property after their tenancy agreement has ended. Landlords of these properties will still have to go through the usual process of eviction. It also only applies to residential properties, not commercial buildings.

Opponents of the Changes

As expected, there are many opponents of the new law, who claim that it is simply targeting the most vulnerable people in society. They cite the lack of affordable housing in this country as one of the key reasons for homelessness, which in turn often leads to squatting. They argue that the majority of squatters are simply occupying buildings that would otherwise have remained empty, with very few actually taking over people's homes. According to the Empty Homes charity, there are currently over 350,000 houses that have been empty for at least six months, so if local authorities worked with owners to revitalise these it would reduce the need for squatting.

We will have to wait and see if the change in the law does increase the number of homeless people or if instead it encourages more homes to become legitimately occupied again. There is always help for people in desperate need of accommodation and while for many squatting was a final resort, it is now one that could see them spending time in prison.

The difference between your well being and misery is bringing in the right contractor for the right price at the right time. It is essential to find, negotiate, appoint and collaborate with one at an early juncture.

Your architect will help you compile a tender list, but you should also  be actively involved. What should you look for? Here are some critical questions that must be answered:

1 References From Previous Clients

Personal recommendation and local reputation count for a lot. Ideally you are looking for a builder who leaves all their clients delighted! If so, they will be doing an excellent job, because building is not easy. You want to know whether the builder has previous clients who are willing to speak to you honestly about their experience of working together. In particular you want to drill down into how the contractor dealt with unforeseen problems successfully?

2 Relevant Experience

Can the contractor demonstrate a command of the relevant issues? What are their strong points? There is no substitute for seeing the quality of a completed project by the same builder. Ask whether the same team that did that project would be involved in yours. Was the project delivered to time and to budget? Was the standard of finishings up to your liking?

3 Size

Horses for courses! Ask about the contract value, and makeup, of their three largest and most recent projects. When tendering ask a minimum of three similarly sized and resourced companies to submit pricing so that you will have a reflection of the true cost for your project.

4 Financial Checks

The cost to a client of the contractor going under when your dream house in partially constructed can be considerable. Do not be afraid to ask for a Banker's Reference, which should give you a reasonable indication of their liquidity, or even a 'conditioned' credit check where in order to get on the tender list each contractor has to prove certain financial criteria (eg 4 star rating and above).

5 Contracts

Have a clear idea of what form of contracting you will use. Do not use the builder's form of contract. The JCT Minor Works or other industry standard is advisable

6 Communication

Regrettably, organisational skills are often not a strong point, particularly for smaller contractors, yet from client's point of view this can have a big impact on your well being. In particular you want to know who is in daily charge of your project who cares enough about doing a good job They must also be able to think ahead and spot problems before they arise, rather than merely responding to them.

Make it clear how you want your updates – daily or weekly, and what do you want to know.

7 Insurance

Depending upon the procurement set up there may be many types of insurances needed. As a minimum ask for a copy of your builders (all risk) insurance certificates.

8 Money

Nail down all the costs in the pre start meeting – leave nothing to chance. Put in a contingency (minimum say 5%) to deal with any unforeseen problems.

Ask your architect to collate visuals or catalogue references with supplier information attached. Be involved in all the decisions relating to any finished products.

Do not pay any deposit; all payments to be in arrears of pre-agreed work stages completed.

Keep a good sum for the final payment to be made only when the works are satisfactorily completed and the council issues the final certificate of satisfactory completion.

9 Site Welfare

Insist on a risk assessment around anything or anybody that is susceptible throughout the project. A little bit of forethought of dogs going missing or broken plant pots is the best way forward.

Also remember the contractors welfare. It is not uncommon for separate portaloo and washing facilities to be located outside the property. This will reduce conflict throughout the project and minimise unnecessary traffic throughout your home but of course may need to be positioned discretely.

At the pre start meeting for alteration work insist any areas of risk to dust, stains etc be completely covered up with a good quality material. This includes bannisters, carpets, doors, kitchen units etc.

For all projects photograph all areas before building work starts and make sure you have a chronological record of how your site or property looked before work started.

10 Your Sanity

Make sure the company you use provide guarantees on the finished product.

Be especially cautious if appointing a friend or an acquaintance; familiarity erodes the control of the employer and can lead to disappointment.

Architect_Home_

www.studio08.info

The government recognises that not everyone can afford the initial capital cost of making  our homes energy efficient and so has come up with the 'Green Deal'. Essentially this is a new type of loan which helps people to make energy saving improvements to their homes to keep them warm and cosy. It becomes available in January 2013.

What is the Green Deal?

The Green Deal helps you pay for home improvements like insulation through expected savings on your energy bills. The Energy Company Obligation (ECO - a subsidy from energy suppliers) will provide extra help for those most in need and properties that are harder to treat.

There are two reasons for this:

1. The Green Deal can lead to benefits such as a cosier, more comfortable house or apartment and savings on your gas and electric bills.
2. It will help you do your bit towards reducing the UK's carbon footprint by 34% before 2020.

The Green Deal has three parts:

1. The home energy assessment,
2. A list of approved suppliers, and
3. A new way of paying for home improvements.

How Much Support Will I need?

From 1 October 2012, you will be able to have an impartial Green Deal assessment carried out. A qualified Green Deal assessor will determine how you and your family use your home and how much energy you use.

Recommended measures may include energy efficient boilers, heating controls, solar panels and double glazing; as well as loft, cavity or solid wall insulation. You can pay upfront if you want to or, from January 2013, via your electricity bill with a Green Deal finance plan.

How Does This Help With Upfront Installation Costs?

The Green Deal can help you to pay for home improvements through savings on your energy bills. The terms of the loan ensure that your repayments are no more than your expected energy savings. NB Your monthly Green Deal charge will be fixed so if energy prices do rise, savings will increase.

Why is the Green Deal right for me?

The Green Deal is designed to finance a range of energy efficiency improvements. There are currently 45 available measures. It allows you more choice and control over what improvements you wish to make and stays with the property if you move.

The Green Deal will protect consumers rights through the process. Any Green Deal advisor, provider or installer will have to display the Green Deal quality mark seal of approval, only an authorised Green Deal advisor will do an onsite assessment of your home then draw up a Financial Plan and only trained and accredited installers can do the work.

How can I get the funding for all of my Green Deal recommendations?

In some cases, more expensive measures which take longer to pay for themselves will be recommended by your Green Deal adviser. For example, older buildings tend to have solid walls instead of modern cavities and require insulation to be fitted externally.

The Green Deal will only allow you to use your energy bill to pay for improvements with repayments that are equal to or lower than your expected savings.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) sits beside the Green Deal and stipulates that the big energy companies, who supply gas and electricity to most homes across Great Britain, must help households to reduce your energy use and related carbon emissions. This means that if you require more expensive measures, such as solid wall insulation, your prospective Green Deal provider should be able to advise on whether any of the recommendations for your property are eligible to receive support from these companies, and factor this subsidy into any offer of Green Deal funding they can make you.

What if I move to a new home before the end of my plan?

All repayments are attached to your electricity meter.Should you move before the end of your Green Deal plan the new occupants will continue to pay it. This is because they will benefit from energy savings and a more comfortable home in the short- and long-term.

If you have already paid off your Green Deal plan and are enjoying energy savings and an improved living environment, this could possibly increase the value of your home when you come to sell it.

If you move to a new house or flat that is not energy efficient, you can apply for a fresh Green Deal assessment and plan. If your new home already has a Green Deal plan in place you will continue to make any repayments through your electricity bill in the same way and enjoy all of the home comforts that insulation and other efficiency measures bring.

Save Energy, Save Money, Save the Planet

For more information about the Green Deal, email architect@studio08.info

• S Allen of Tamworth
• M Chopra of Wolverhampton
• S Coker of Wellingborough
• S Scott from Sheffield
• N Houlihan from Stockport

For your chance to meet us & the hundreds of other exhibitors at the NEC between 12th and 14th October 2012, click to our free ticket giveaway and fill in the form provided.