We had the privilege of being asked to be part of this fantastic article for Essex Living Magazine recently.
We was two of the 50 top business women in Essex asked to take part and we met so many inspirational women, it was very empowering to be around so many fellow business women.
This is a great read so please go get yourself a copy, lots of fab business stories to read!
Essex women really do mean business…..!
x
Tonya vs Rea – The £1000 Challenge!
We recently set ourselves a challenge of making over under £1000 using High Street Interiors Tonya worked on a children’s craft room whilst I made over a lounge/diner.
Black and Greys are currently very on trend and here ill break down how I created this living room look for just £850 turning this very dull grey blank canvas into a chic living area!
Before
After
Cover Me……
Starting with the wallpaper, I was after an industrial/grey style paper and came across this stunning wall covering by Holden. The paper has a slight texture to it and some areas of metallic which gives the wallpaper a very luxurious feel/look and what a bargain at just £11 per roll! Covering just one or two walls is plenty to help transform a bland room and add some texture.
Home Comforts…..
I found two beautiful accent rugs at Wayfair and opted for mixed tones of white/grey and blacks. I placed one in the dining room as well as the lounge to bring the two rooms together. The rugs feel amazing and look far more expensive than the £80 each I paid for them.
Let there be light…..
Keeping with the Industrial look I went on the hunt for some grid cage light fittings and come across these beauties, they really finished the look off nicely and cost just £19.99 each. The black pendant and flex helped finish the look off nicely.
I also come across a lovely grid style tray from Homesense which matched in perfectly with the light fittings!
Frame it….
A living room isn’t complete without some personal touches so I used this bare wall to create a home gallery of my favorite photos, the frames are from Ikea and add a touch of class to the look.
I also added a touch of blue with two stunning prints from Ikea.
Can a girl ever have too many cushions…..?
Cushion shopping has to be one of my favorite parts of accessorizing a room, and no….you can never have too many scatter cushions. I always opt for feather filled cushions as you can prop them up easily and they tend to keep their shape longer. Here we have a mix of greys/silvers/patterns from Homesense, The Range and BM Stores. These high-street shops have a fantastic range of cushions to suit any budget.
The Little Details….
This has to be my top buy, this gorgeous glass and metal nest of coffee tables was just £45 from Ikea. I have to say it looks so trendy and the quality is there too, everyone who has walked in recently has asked me where it’s from and have been blown away with the cost.
Now it’s easy to get carried away with coffee table accessorising and there’s a thin line between too much or too little but I always opt for a tray, candle, vase and book.
Here you will see I have gone for a lovely mirrored/black tray and candle, slim line vase and silver table décor (Ideal for sweets or nibbles) and a stunning marble effect box storage box. Not forgetting my little black of Chanel which should be on every coffee table!
The mirror was my most expensive Item at £200 but what a statement, This stunning mirror is from Mason Du Monde and really brought the room together.
Below you can find a full product breakdown which I hope will help you with creating my trendy look on a budget.
I will always love high end interiors but as far as High St Interiors go I have found these products excellent value for money proving you can create a designer look on a high street budget.
Are you thinking about Investing into property?
If you’re in it for the long run you can’t lose….
Today it is very hard to make a ‘quick buck’ flipping a property (buying/renovating/selling) due to shortage of suitable property and taxes, however in regards to securing your future there still isn’t a better way then with a property portfolio!
Here are some of my tips…
Regardless of what others may be telling you at this uncertain time, don’t be scared to invest!
If you’re in it for the long run you can’t lose….
Think about it, your tenant is paying your mortgage monthly for you plus you property is growing in value/equity as you sleep, it’s a win win.
Keep following us for more Investing Tips.
Rea
X
I’m excited to talk about this little gem of a studio in Chelmsford I have just snapped up.
The studio cost me £105,000 and will achieve a rental figure of £525pcm, that’s a healthy yield of 6% (before costs)
It’s on the outskirts of Chelmsford City and is located in a quiet cul de sac, with bus links and local amenities all within walking distance.
The current tenant has been in situ for over 7 years and is likely to be there long term which is great for us and saves money paying an agent to find a new suitable tenant.
I went for this apartment as it is what we call ‘virtually freehold’ the lease is for a whopping 999 years (from 1 January 1980) The ground rent AND service charge is just £788 per annum…..If you see something like this snap it up!
These types of property are safe bets when it comes to investing especially if you are investing for the first time.
A wise friend of mine taught me to try to invest in several small buy to lets properties, rather than a couple of large houses. Reason being if the very worst should happen and you have a void period or your tenant stops paying rent, the costs are a lot more manageable to cover. Secondly In my personal opinion I believe you will get a better long term return on 3 – 5 smaller properties.
Keep following us for my property tips….Happy Investing!
Rea
x
I wanted to showcase this stunning garden transformation by my talented husband Tommy, when we purchased this bungalow the entire backyard was just concrete and pretty depressing.
We ripped out the concrete and went for a light grey porcelain (this covers the majority of the backyard as we do not have the time to regularly mow a large lawn)
Top reasons we went for porcelain:
We have a little lawn area which gives us just enough greenery and somewhere for the baby to play.
Like most Brits we love a BBQ so rather than spend a fortune on a fancy outdoor grill my husband built a cooking area out of bricks, giving us lots of worktop/preparation space.
Next we wanted to create a special focal point and you can’t beat the sound of running water in your garden. So we designed a contemporary decorative wall feature with cedar paneling/slate/water feature and raised beds (made from the leftover slabs) these are great for planting and we chose a lavender which gives off a lovely burst of colour, great scent and the Bees love it!
We added some electrics to highlight key areas of the garden (behind the large potted box hedge balls, on the cedar paneling and BBQ area) it looks lovely in the evening.
Lastly as I love to cook we added a cute little herb garden in which I look forward to looking after with my son.
All in all we have created a low maintenance garden with a contemporary feel out of quite a small space and believe this could add at least 10% onto the value of our home.
Follow @officialpropertytwins Instagram page for more gardens designed by The Cube 1994.
Rea x
The short answer is YES!
We say keep it simple, manageable and according to HouseBeautiful Magazine a shed is a must have. According to their research (June 2017) a whopping 82 per cent of property professionals claim a a decent sized shed is the most cited feature to boost value.
To achieve a low maintenance garden utlilise as much of the space with patio/slabs or shingle. Go for hardy evergreens, once established they will require little care as well as some pretty perennials which last for a couple of years and require minimal upkeep.
Next up is my own garden transformation!
Rea x
What an amazing day we had at Grand Design Live (Excel London) we had the pleasure of taking over their Instagram for the day and meeting the wonderful Kevin Mccloud!
Firstly we have to admit the show has really opened our eyes to plastic pollution thanks to the teams efforts to raise awareness and a fantastic talk by Friends of the Earth.
We were saddened to learn about the huge amounts of species tragically effected by plastic and shocked to find out the average plastic bag – used for just 12 minutes, will not disappear for up to 1,000 years!
We will certainly be doing our bit to research more on this and ways in which we can reduce plastic in our homes.
Please visit https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics to learn more!
We really enjoyed visiting all the exhibitors stalls from floating chaise lounges to a camper van made out of salvaged for sale boards….this truly is a home show on a grand scale!
Our favorite stand had to be The Vintage Fridge Company…. they specialise in the refurbishment and supply of original “Ice Box’s” and vintage refrigerators, how cool is that…..?
They also had beautiful cast iron fireplaces, floor tiles and even a vintage shower!
We had the pleasure of meeting some of the lovely team from Grand Designs TV show (one of our fav programmes) and Kevin was an absolute delight to chat with, we even managed to squeeze in a Boomerang!
We cant wait for next year, so make sure you get yourself down to the show open until May 13th!
To book your tickets visit https://www.granddesignslive.com/
To see all our favorite photos from the day please follow our Instagram page @officialpropertytwins
Tonya & Rea
xx
Money Mondays: How to buy your first home with your partner
Money Mondays is your go-to guide for all the information you need to manage your finances. For this week’s Money Can’t Buy Me Love column, we speak to property experts about how to buy your first home.
Buying your first home with your partner is an exciting move, but one that can be difficult to navigate.
To help guide you through every step of the journey, from securing an agreement in principle (AIP) to finding a solicitor, we spoke to property experts Rea and Tonya, also known as The Property Twins. The pair are experts in everything from lettings and sales, to interior design and investments, and share a combined property portfolio of over £3 million.
Here, they share their advice for getting your first step on the property ladder.
The most important thing to start with is obtaining your AIP. You will need this in order to have an offer accepted on your chosen property, so it’s a good idea to have this sorted before you head out on viewings. The AIP is usually valid for six months, which gives you plenty of time to search for your dream home. We recommend visiting a local mortgage broker rather than a bank to obtain this, as you will be given access to various lenders and the best rates.
Remember that you’re buying a home together, so be prepared to compromise. You will never love exactly the same place but you both need to be happy – after all, this is a big commitment. Write a checklist of important things you need to prioritise before you set off, and consider questions such as:
• What location suits you both?
• Size: how many bedrooms do you need?
• Outside space: do you need a garden?
• Parking: do you need off road?
• Do you want something new or are you keen to find something you can mark your own stamp on?
It’s easy to get carried away and fall in love with a property during the viewing process, but always remember to make sure the property fits with your checklist.
We also recommend registering with your local estate agents directly, to receive up to date alerts on the latest properties for sale.
Check with your local housing association to see what Shared Ownership schemes might be available to you. These schemes allow first time buyers to step on the ladder with a much smaller deposit than is usually required. This enables you to buy a share of your home (between 25% and 75% of the home’s value) and pay rent to the housing association on the remaining share. Be aware that the scheme is usually only available on new build properties, so this will limit your search.
Check with your local housing association website to see what’s available and always seek advice from an independent mortgage adviser who specialises in this area.
Once you have found your dream home and your offer has been accepted, you will need to instruct a solicitor. Opt for someone local as you will need to pop in with ID and paperwork, so there’s no point choosing a solicitor who is miles away. They will guide you through the entire process and keep you updated on key stages. The sales process can take around 12 weeks plus, so we suggest you take this time to discuss thoroughly between you the responsibilities of living together.
Before making the big move, think about the following:
Most importantly of all, enjoy it! Buying your first home is such an exciting thing, so try not to get stressed and enjoy the process together.
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We are so excited to confirm we are attending this years Grand Designs Live next Wednesday.
We will be taking over their Instagram page for the day showcasing all of our favorite products/stalls and doing some Q & A with Kevin.
Grand Designs Live, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, returns in 2018 from 5 – 13 May at London’s ExCeL and from 10 -14 October at Birmingham’s NEC. Based on the Channel 4 series and presented by Kevin McCloud, the show offers visitors top expert advice, new product launches and specialist exhibitors in six project zones. Whether you’re planning a self-build, renovation or are adding the finishing touches, find ideas and inspiration for your very own Grand Design at this multi-award winning event.
Book your tickets here:
www.granddesignslive.com
We cant wait!
x
I wanted to share with you this lovely little Kitchen makeover.
I didnt have a huge budget on this one as myself and husband brought this home as a base whilst we search for land to self-build on. The Property was built in the 70’s and only had one previous owner so the property needed completely modernising throughout.
Previously you accessed the kitchen from the front entrance porch (not practical with a baby) so we bricked this area up and knocked down the entire wall that bordered the lounge creating a lovely open space.
As usual I searched for kitchen inspiration online and found a lovely design I liked, so I took this to a friend of mine who works in Wickes (chelmsford) and we spent a few hours designing the Kitchen. I needed as much storage space in this small kitchen as possible and it needed to be practical for my family.
I added some fancy features for example a ceramic sink, wine cooler and traditional tap and I ensured the oven was placed high (due to little hands)
We picked a real wood grey unit and found a lovely grey/white marble effect countertop (much cheaper than the real marble one I had found online but very similar)
The kitchen is now unrecognizable from its original design and the total cost for kitchen/appliances cost £6500 (excluding fitting)
Tips:
Tag us into your kitchen designs we would love to see them – Instagram @officialpropertytwins
