Make sure that you can see the wood for the trees and choose the right home in splendid Surrey

Article by Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Sunningdale

Did you know that Surrey is the most wooded county in England?

No? Well woodland covers a substantial 22.4% of Surrey, 37,564 hectares in fact, nearly double the national average of 11.8%. Box Hill for example, close to the charming town of Dorking, has the oldest untouched area of natural woodland in the UK and is one of the oldest in Europe; not surprising perhaps that it was closely guarded from the crowds keen to catch a glimpse of Wiggo whizzing past at the Olympics last year.

The South East of England is particularly rich in ancient woodlands. There are sites which have been continuously wooded since at least 1600 and can be found on the earliest reliable maps as well as many which have been woodland for much longer and may even be descended from the 'wildwoods' that covered Britain at the end of the last Ice Age.

Perhaps all this woodland located tantalizingly close to London is the continuing draw for individuals, couples and families alike to reside in Surrey? Adding another dimension to the immediate environment, woodlands attract large numbers of wildlife as well as offering beauty, tranquillity and privacy which makes living in the countryside so highly prized.

Inspired by this exquisite nature, Barton Wyatt, award-winning Surrey estate agent see an extraordinary number of homes with names linked to trees or woods. In fact 50% of their current sales inventory features just that: Keepers Wood, Pine Acre, Birchington, Willowbrook, and Woodbury House - the list goes on.

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt, comments on how the great outdoors impact local house names in the Virginia Water area:

"A great number of our buyers come to the area from central London or overseas. They're attracted to Surrey due to the short commute (42 minutes direct to Waterloo by rail), the great schools available and almost always for our beautiful countryside. There are very few days of the year where you cannot enjoy all the nature we have to offer. Whether you are into shooting, fishing, riding or perhaps more mainstream cycling, walking and flying a kite - Surrey has it all. The changes of season that can be hard to spot in London are around us every day and I particularly love this time of the year as we enter Spring, although it does appear to be dragging its heels somewhat this year!

"Virginia Water is particularly blessed, we have our own stunning lake in grounds that reach as far as Windsor Castle, locally there are many gardens that are open to the public such as The Savill Gardens and if you like golf - the courses at Wentworth are an amazing spectacle, particularly in May when the rhododendrons are out."

So if you are looking for the perfect home in splendid Surrey, make sure you can see the wood for the trees and be inspired by one of these charming properties.

Queenswood, Sunningdale, Guide Price  £4,250,000

A magnificently restored country house with distinctive Dutch gables occupying a stunning location overlooking Sunningdale ladies course yet just a short walk from Sunningdale village centre and mainline station.  

Queenswood is blessed with wonderful grounds. The garden to the rear of the property has a stone paved terrace with gradual steps down to the lawn.   A gravel path leads down the undulating lawn with steps down to the swimming pool area. Many of the trees and shrubs in the front and rear gardens are discreetly lit by an external lighting system.

The property offers wonderful family accommodation. The ground floor comprises a modern Kitchen / Breakfast room, utility, gymnasium and shower room. The reception rooms include formal drawing room, dining room, sitting room and orangery.

On the first floor the master bedroom has an en-suite and 2 dressing rooms. There are a further five bedrooms all with en-suite and a large games/cinema room.  

Keepers Wood, Wentworth  £4,450,000

Keeper's Wood is set within 0.7 acres of south facing rear gardens in a highly sought after road on the prestigious Wentworth Estate, in Virginia Water, Surrey.

The property includes marble floored entrance hall, large combined kitchen / breakfast / family area with walk-in larder and second cloakroom. Linked dining and drawing room opening onto terrace, a spacious guest cloakroom, TV end and study complete downstairs.

First floor has 4 en-suite bedrooms. The master bedroom suite is beautifully appointed and includes a centre, free standing bath, TV, bespoke twin basin vanity unit, super-sized walk in wet room and separate wc and bidet. The master bedroom has double doors with a glass Juliet balcony overlooking the rear garden

Top floor has a further bedroom, bathroom and a leisure room with mini kitchen.

Willowbrook, Wentworth, Surrey  £3,595,000

An architecturally handsome and traditional house with a stunning contemporary styled interior. A stunning open plan kitchen/breakfast/family room is the main feature of the downstairs giving a contemporary family lifestyle. On the first floor there is a generous master bedroom suite with a unique frosted glass wall to the en-suite bathroom. The other bedrooms are all of generous proportions. The house was built to a very high level of specification and finish and has been immaculately maintained during the first occupant's ownership.

The property is approached though wrought iron electronically operated gates over a cobble driveway providing ample parking for several cars. A pathway leads down the side of the property to an expansive terrace across the rear of the house with steps leading down to a central path running down the middle of the formal upper lawns. There is also a path to the Jacuzzi tub area and a thatched breezes house for al fresco dining. From the upper lawns, the garden falls away to the Cabrera Trust Nature Reserve, a highly protected wildlife sanctuary. The garden is well enclosed by mature trees and high perimeters of rhododendron bushes, faces due south to the rear and amounts to approximately 0.65 of an acre

Woodbury House, Wentworth Estate  £3,950,000

A unique stunning new house recently completed to an extremely high level of specification and finish, an opulent home with a fabulous design and attention to detail.

Five bedrooms, five bathrooms, second floor games room, drawing room, dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast/family room, utility, double garage, beautifully landscaped gardens facing south at the rear of half an acre.

For more information please contact Barton Wyatt Estate Agents Sunningdale on 01344 843 000.

Tips and Guides on Box Sash Window Restoration

A box sash window is a kind of window that is made up of one or two window panels that serves as its frame. This frame is also responsible in securing the pane of the glass and the panels on these types of windows are easily moveable. You just have to slide it horizontally or vertically to open or close them. These windows are popular in the olden times, but a lot of people would still prefer to have these types of windows, thus, they would have a box sash window restoration services done in order to bring back the beauty of their ancient box sash windows.

The restoration services are very important in order to bring back the old charm of the window and to make it become functional once again. The services would not really require any professional help and can be done on your own. But if you think you are not capable of doing the job, it is recommended that you hire an expert on the window restoration projects. These professionals can also install wood shutters and doors in your house which can make a great accompaniment with your Classic style box sash windows.

There are three main mechanisms of the box sash windows, and among these are:

·         Double Hung Sash

·         Horizontal Sliding Sash

·         Single Hung Sash

Here’s the step by step procedure of the window restoration:

1.       To begin with the repair, you must first remove the window as well as the window casing entirely.

2.       As soon as the panel cover is opened up, the pulley, the weight as well as the sash cord will then be visible. The next thing that you need to do is to lubricate and clean up the pulleys. When you are done, replace the old cord with new ones since they could get frayed as time goes by.

3.       Next, the weight must be secured well and this is done by tying a knot at the end of the sash cord. As soon as you are done, you need to put back the weights on the jamb and slide back to the panel.

4.       At this part of the box sash window restoration process, the repair and maintenance is done so you will need to check the window now to see if it functions well.

5.       If after you are one with the process, you notice that the windows are still jammed up, then the best option is to consult a professional to repair your job. These professionals might also be willing to attach the timber shutters and doors along with the windows to make your home look more appealing.

Shop Window Dressing – The Art of Display

One of the main focal points of any shop window is the dressing kits which are both functional and decorative components. The window area often captures the attention of visitors and also helps add to the overall look of a public display section.

Some people will actually hire the services of a professional window dresser and this is an expert in designing and arrangement of window dressing. Shop window dressing however, can be done by any ambitious individual with a sense of style and a keen eye for detail.

A fundamental aspect about window dressing is the use of themes. This will set the tone for a particular premise and offer the desired final look.  Here are some wonderful and simple tips that will go a long way in creating the perfect effect for your shop windows.

·         Wave heading – creating waves with fabric is a great way of creating an eye catching effect for a background.  Using a pleated heading will ensure that curtains fall gracefully in symmetrical waves.  To get this right you should ensure that the curtains are combined with proper suspension rails which will support the corresponding weight and ensure that the drapery hangs properly. The advantage of this method is that it is simple to execute and does not cost an arm and a leg.

·         Lighting effect - great lighting tends to bring out the good side of any product that is displayed.  There are various types of lighting ranging from neon to fluorescent illumination that will offer different effects. However the lighting will need to correspond well with products. For instance soft ambient lighting will go well with products that are targeted at mature market segments while neon multi colored lighting may be more suitable for youth oriented store-fronts.

·         Display casings - displaying many different products can be made easier by creating different compartments. This is a functional method of display but with the right materials and artistry it can also be an attractive look. Glass compartments for instance give a classy look when combined with good lighting.

·         Stained glass – to add some artistry to a window display a stained pane of glass can be included. This should be done by a professional and it is suitable for establishments such as antique stores and niche boutiques.  This collage should also be in line with the general theme and color scheme of the shop.

It is important to ensure that your shop window dressing is a sufficient reflection of the entire store in order to achieve the intended effect.    

For Visual Merchandising ideas contact VM Design.

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6 Reasons why you would benefit from an office refurbishment

Deciding about getting your office fit out requires careful a decision and planning process; especially in today's hard economic times.

You will need a a dependenable and knowledable partner that will minimise the risk for you; a company that will take all the risk off your shoulders. The experts should have a proven track record in projects of all sizes.

I see you asking yourself "how would my business benefit from Office refurbishment in the first place?".

Let me give you 10 reasons why your business would benefit from a commercial fit out project:

1. Better space utilisation for existing and additional workforce
   As your business expands, it will need to make extra room for new team members. Redesigning and refurbishing you existing office (instead of moving to new premises) will allow you to make the best of existing work space.
2. Creating a new boardroom and/or meeting room You would expect the most important space in your work place needs to be both relaxing and stimulating. Why not create an inviting place in which your management team could spend long hours in comfort; planning the future of the company.
3. Increase the productivity throughout your team by Improving the facilities
   Giving your office an a face lift will have a significant impact on your work force morale as it shows clearly that your team is important for your business and you are investing into improving their environment.
4. Better impression for your clients
   First impressions count! A better presented and welcoming office space will create a great impression on your clients and prospects as soon as they walk in the front door. A professionally designed and fitted; eye-catching office refurbishment will put them at ease as well as filling them with confidence.
5. Reorganisating the existing space
   Making more efficient use of the work space will create an fully open plan office, which will be great for the team morale. This will all allow the additional space for building extra rooms inline with your business needs.
6. 'green' credentials
   Office refurbishment will provide you with the perfect opportunity recreate the workspace with carbon neutral materials and "green" sources. This will not only make help you reduce your energy utilisation but will also help show your green credentials.

Just imagine how many other ways your business can benefit from an office fit out project.

Now imagine how much easier it would be if an expert took all the stress away from you; letting you focus 100% on your main expertise. Let me remind you that the commercial refurbishment process is very complicated and can cause a lot of trouble, so make sure you have a dependable partner on your side before you emabark on the project.

Office Refurbishment

Roofing Contractors in Ascot

When it comes to looking after and managing valued landlords' properties, using dependible contractors is very important.

We have recently come across Sunningdale and Wentworth Roofing recently.

Sunningdale and Wentworth Roofing Ascot is a small attentive company with 30 years experience in all aspects of roofing, guttering and cleaning.

They are Berkshire based and provide a prompt, polite and reliable service throughout the local area.

They are recognised as specialists in Flat Roofing, however they also include the following in their repertoire:

• New roofs
• Roof repairs of flat and pitched roofs
• Felt roofing systems
• Felt roofing systems
• Maintenance
• Insurance work
• Roof cleaning including moss removal
• Strip and re-tile
• All roof repairs
• Roof installations
• Slate roofing
• Lead work including lead roofs
• All chimney work
• Roof lights
• Installation, Replacement, Repair and cleaning of UPVC Guttering, Fascias, Soffits and Cladding
• Unblocking and cleaning Guttering and Downpipes

If you need roofing work in the Berkshire and Surrey area, it is definitely worth getting in touch with them.

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Appleton Estate Agents Maidenhead and Estate Agents Marlow provide residential property sales, rental and management services in Marlow, Maidenhead and Windsor.

Tips for choosing the right roofing contractors in Ascot

 

Roofing Ascot maintenance and repairs must be taken seriously to prevent any future headaches and unexpected costs. However, keeping in mind the health and safety aspects of these tasks, you should seriously consider using professional roofing contractors to carry out the work.

 

This article with outline a number of tips for choosing the right roofers for your property.

 

First of all, choosing a local roofing company with a long history is the key. An attentive company with many years of experience in all aspects of guttering and roofing would be a good candidate.

 

They must also provide a polite and prompt service throughout the local or neighbouring areas. Ideally you would expect them to be providing a fast and responsive emergency call out service round the clock for your emergencies.

 

All of their work must be carried out to the highest standard of workmanship possible and it should come fully guaranteed. The last thing you would want is to spend money with a contractor who would not want to rectify any problems in their work that comes to light after they leave your property.

 

The roofing contractors must be CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) registered. This will ensure that the roofers have the desired level of construction skills as well.

 

In addition, they should hold a fully comprehensive Insurance. This should include the public insurance as minimum. Public insurance will give you the peace of mind that you and your property are protected against damages as a result of an injury or damage.

 

The roofing professionals should have the experience to allow them to identify all type of problems that may be encountered in advance. They should be prepared to survey your property, recommend options provide relevant advice and document all in a free quotation.

 

Flat roofing maintenance tends to be the most sought after type. Even if your roofing service provider is recognised as specialists in Flat Roofing, they must also offer a number of other roofing services as well:

• New roof installations
• Repairs of flat and pitched roofs
• Slate and felt roofing
• Roof cleaning including moss removal
• Lead work including lead roofs
• All chimney work
• UPVC Cladding, Fascias, Guttering, and Soffits

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Appleton Estate Agents Maidenhead and Estate Agents Marlow provide residential property sales, rental and management services in Marlow, Maidenhead and Windsor.

Inflation falling

The government measures the inflation via the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and over the last year this index has been mainly going up; mainly indicating an increase in inflation.

However, the November figures have bucked the trend, according to the latest figures published. Official figures highlight a drop down to 4.8% in November.

The wider RPI (retail prices index) also fell by 0.2% down to 5.2 percent in November as well.

Overall, this is likely to further boost the rental properties Maidenhead according to the Appleton Estate Agents Cookham.

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Appleton Estate Agents Maidenhead and Estate Agents Marlow provide residential property sales, rental and management services in Marlow, Maidenhead and Windsor.