Home & Property
New kitchen and bedroom showroom opens in Marlow
Kitchen manufacturer, Optiplan Kitchens, and bedroom manufacturer, Spaceslide, are hosting a special launch event to celebrate the opening of a new showroom in Marlow, which can be found in the converted 17th century cottage, Barmoor House, situated on Clay Lane.
Taking place on Saturday 25th January from 11am to 3pm, the launch event will provide guests with the opportunity to view the impressive range of kitchen and bedroom collections. In addition to being treated to a glass of fizz on arrival, at 11am and 2pm visitors will have the chance to listen to expert talks from the resident interior designer about the latest trends in interior design and gain an understanding of how these can be incorporated into the home.
Visitors to the event will also have access to exclusive offers which include an extra 5% all kitchen furniture and an extra 10% off all bedroom furniture.
Situated at the entrance of the popular Notcutts Garden Centre in the village of Booker, just 1.5 miles northwest of Marlow, the showroom is now positioned in the recently-renovated cottage which previously stood as a local florist and grocery store.
The ground floor of the cottage features five brand new Optiplan Kitchens’ collections, whilst upstairs is home to four new bedroom room sets displaying the latest fitted storage from Spaceslide. The displays showcase the vast array of sliding wardrobe door design options that can be created by varying the colour, finish, and size of the wardrobe doors.
Barry Beech, Showroom Manager, said, “Optiplan Kitchens has had a presence in Marlow for 12 years, during which we were located within the Notcutts Garden Centre. We made the decision to open our own space in the period cottage on the grounds of the garden centre in order to showcase both our brands to their full potential.
“We’re delighted to see the showroom come to life and we’d encourage anybody interested to pop down to our event to view the quality design and finish of both our kitchen and bedroom storage ranges.”
Optiplan Kitchens is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and retailers, selling high quality, handcrafted kitchens from a network of 14 showrooms across the country.
Optiplan Kitchens Hemel Hempstead
Optiplan Kitchens Hemel Hempstead is located just 5-minutes’ drive from the town centre and 24 miles northwest of London. Extremely well-connected, it is easily accessible from a number of large towns including Hemel, Leverstock Green, Boxmoor, Harpenden, South Harrow, Welwyn Garden City, St Albans, Bovingdon, Berkhamsted, Amersham, Pinner, Stanmore, and Watford. Reach us by car in just 15 minutes from St. Albans and Watford, and less than 20 minutes from Luton.
Optiplan Kitchens Marlow
Optiplan Kitchens Marlow is a short 10-minute drive (3.5 miles) from High Wycombe. The showroom can be found on Clay Lane just off junction 4 of the M40. It was opened in 2008 and has been creating kitchens in High Wycombe and beyond ever since.
In a pioneering initiative aimed at making the dream of owning a home more attainable, the new “Rate Reducer” mortgage scheme has been launched. This innovative program, developed through a collaboration between Halifax, Virgin Money, and Barratt Developments, is set to revolutionize how first-time buyers in Bedfordshire approach home buying. This unique opportunity could see eligible homeowners enjoy mortgage rates as low as 1.89%.
How Does Rate Reducer Work?
The mechanics behind Rate Reducer are ingeniously simple and highly beneficial. The scheme uses incentives provided by housebuilders to directly reduce the interest on mortgage payments over a fixed term. For example, if a builder offers a 5% discount on the purchase price of a home, Rate Reducer uses this amount to decrease the mortgage interest. Homebuyers have the flexibility to apply this discount over the first two or five years, depending on the lender’s terms.
Immediate Benefits and Long-Term Gains
The immediate advantage of Rate Reducer is the significant reduction in monthly mortgage payments, making it easier for new homeowners to manage their finances as they settle into their new homes. Eliot Darcy, the founder of Own New, expressed his confidence in the scheme, stating, “Our ethos is to make home ownership and mortgage lending in this country open to more people, and we are confident that the launch of the Own New Rate Reducer will achieve that.”
A Smoother Financial Journey
Craig Calder from Virgin Money sheds light on the emotional and financial comfort that Rate Reducer brings to the table. “Buying a home is a major life event, and this first-of-its-kind mortgage product will help customers feel happier about their big purchase,” he explained. This scheme allows new homeowners to focus on personalizing their new space without the stress of high initial mortgage payments.
Supporting Dreams and Providing Choices
Halifax’s Amanda Bryden emphasizes the choice and support offered by Rate Reducer. “This product gives customers more choice in the way they can benefit from builder incentives and is especially helpful to those who want to see a lower initial mortgage payment as they get set up in their new home,” she noted.
Step Forward with Confidence
Rate Reducer not only makes the initial years of homeownership more manageable but also ensures that buyers are making a sound investment. The program requires buyers to consult with regulated mortgage brokers who have been specifically trained to guide them through this new scheme, ensuring that each homeowner makes the best financial decision for their long-term goals.
This partnership between leading lenders and housebuilders is a robust step toward fulfilling the homeownership dreams of many. With thoughtful planning and the right financial advice, stepping onto the property ladder in Bedfordshire has never been easier.
Luxury housebuilder Mulberry Homes is sharing its top tips on defusing stress at home this National Stress Awareness Day, taking place on Wednesday 2nd November, to help its residents beat the mania of modern life.
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Clear out unwanted clutter
There’s never a perfect opportunity to declutter and sort through all your belongings, but it can be a very cathartic experience. Removing unwanted items from your home can help you focus on the things that really mean a lot to you.
A clear and organised space can help you feel more relaxed, and it’ll be much easier to destress without being surrounded by clutter.
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Maintain a healthy sleep schedule
During particularly stressful times, it can be easy to slip into bad habits like not getting enough sleep, which can make the stress worse.
A full night’s sleep will help you to recharge quickly, and provide you with enough energy to get through the busy days.
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Eat healthy
It’s easy to take comfort in junk food, especially with the convenience of takeaways. But eating unhealthily will put your body at a disadvantage when it comes to coping with and recovering from stress.
A healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, is a great way to improve wellbeing.
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Make use of your garden
Being in the outdoors is proven to be beneficial for your mental wellbeing. Surrounding yourself with greenery and breathing in fresh air is an excellent thing to make sure you do every now and again, especially if you’ve been indoors all day.
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Stay active
Many of us nowadays lead very inactive lifestyles, both at work and at home, looking at screens. However, short bursts of physical exercise are proven to boost your mood.
Releasing those endorphins into your system is an excellent way to unwind and to prepare yourself best for dealing with the upcoming stress of the day. Try going for a run in the morning, or a walk after work.
About Mulberry Homes
This year, Mulberry Homes has been running a monthly community fund, called The Mulberry Community Chest.
As part of the programme, charities and public organisations local to its developments are invited to apply to receive a one-off donation of £1 to £1000, and each month, a judging panel will select a beneficiary to secure the requested funding. For more information or to submit an application, visit https://mulberryhomes.co.uk/news/distinctly-local/.
Established in 2011 and based in Warwickshire, Mulberry Homes is a medium housebuilder that provides quality properties across the wider midlands. It specialises in individual and small developments with their own looks and personalities and builds traditional homes with modern layouts.
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‘All about the community’, The Almere prides themselves on making living easy for their residents. With residents set to move this month, the exciting new community boasts co-working, communal and event spaces within the building.
The ground floor ‘Gathering Place’ is bookable to the local community and to residents, whilst upstairs on the 11th floor sits an amenity space for residents, where part will be for co-working, roof terraces to hang out, barbeques and yoga classes. Additionally, there will also be a fitted kitchen and dining area which can be closed off for a private dining experience.
The Almere Neighbourhood Hero initiative
With community at its heart, The Almere aims to build relationships and work collaboratively with local businesses to guide residents to the best spots and products in town. The Almere’s new Neighbourhood Hero initiative has handpicked local, and predominantly independent businesses to connect residents with the true value of living in Milton Keynes, highlighting all that there is to offer.
With the recent COVID-19 pandemic having had such an impact on small, independent businesses it’s key to get people back out there and supporting locally. The Neighbourhood Hero initiative is a fantastic example of this, helping businesses to thrive and regain their position within the economy. Current Heroes include Bogota Coffee Co; DeRoka; Fuuudgelife; Suds; Sweat Studios; Doorstep Cocktails; Mollys Pantry; Pup Club; Headonist Hair and Beauty; and Moxy Hotel.
Benefits of the Almere led scheme include:
- Feature on The Almere website, with regular spotlights and tags on social media channels
- Exposure to over 600+ residents, and the ability to send offers and deals to them, without incurring any marketing costs
- Welcomed as a core part of the community, allowing the businesses to use the communal spaces to hold pop-up events for residents and the local community
- Include collateral in the ‘move in packs’ for new residents, for free
- Invited to all community events at The Almere, and work together on collaborative event activations
Community Manager, Holly Birmingham explains, “Community is so important to us at The Almere – it is all about meaningful connections both within our own four walls and the wider neighbourhood. At The Almere, we aren’t just a building, we are a new community in the heart of Milton Keynes. We want to support the brilliant local businesses around us, create lasting relationships and of course, show our residents the best our town has to offer.”
The new scheme offers an exciting experience for local businesses to work on an exclusive basis with the upcoming, Milton Keynes hotspot, offer discounts to residents and in turn help show the rest of the UK what Milton Keynes has to offer!
About The Almere
A pioneering new rental community for Milton Keynes, The Almere, is a collection of 294 rental apartments built across two buildings with neighbourhood and outstanding service experience at its core.