Homes & Gardens

Contemporary Ideas for Transforming Tired Garden Walls and Boundaries

Garden walls and fences often occupy a surprisingly large part of the view from a home. Yet when an outdoor space is refreshed, attention commonly goes first to paving, furniture and plants. The boundaries remain exactly as they were, even when they provide the backdrop to everything else.

Giving these surfaces some thought can change the character of a garden without requiring a complete redesign. Texture, greenery, colour and lighting can turn an ordinary boundary into a deliberate feature, whether you have a compact Exeter courtyard or a larger Devon garden.

Use Texture...

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Three Things Worth Knowing Before You Buy, Build or Refresh Your Home

Home decisions tend to be among the most significant a person makes, financially, emotionally, and in terms of the daily quality of life they produce. Whether you're buying a property, extending the one you already own, or simply refreshing the way a space feels to live in, the choices made at each stage have consequences that play out over years rather than weeks. The difficulty is that there's an enormous amount of information available on all these subjects, not all of it reliable, and the gaps in knowledge that catch people out tend to be in areas they didn't know to look. The three...

What Separates a Decent Garden From One You Actually Use

Most gardens look fine. They have a lawn, some borders, maybe a patio. Nothing wrong with them.

The problem is how little time people spend on them.

If you walk past most back gardens on a Saturday afternoon in May, the furniture sits empty. The barbecue has not been lit since last August. The kids are inside. The lawn has been cut recently, which is about the only evidence anyone has been out there.

Then there are the gardens that get used constantly. From March to October, sometimes beyond. People eat out there, read out there, have friends round, and the...

Bathroom Remodel Mistakes That Can Lead to Plumbing Problems Later

A bathroom remodel can make a home feel brighter and more comfortable, but it can also create hidden plumbing problems if planned solely around appearance. New tile and upgraded fixtures may look beautiful on the surface, but if the drain layout, shutoff access, fittings, and fixture locations are not handled correctly, the bathroom becomes incredibly hard to maintain.

Mistakes like a slow-draining shower or a rocking toilet often appear only after the walls are closed and the room looks complete. That is why remodeling must include practical plumbing planning alongside design...

How to optimise small spaces for remote working

Working from home sounds brilliant until you realise your only available workspace is a cramped corner of the living room. Many of us don’t have the luxury of a spare bedroom to convert into a sprawling private office. Instead, we are left trying to squeeze our laptops, notebooks, and endless cups of tea onto whatever flat surface we can find.

However, you do not need a massive room to be productive. With a bit of strategic planning and the right furniture, even the tightest spots can become highly effective work environments. This guide explores practical ways to transform your...

The Rise of Community-Led Housing Projects Across the UK

Across the UK, housing is no longer being shaped only by large developers and national frameworks. A quieter shift is underway, led by communities themselves. From rural villages to urban neighbourhoods, local groups are increasingly taking an active role in designing, funding, and managing housing projects that reflect local needs rather than purely commercial priorities.

This movement is often described as community-led housing. It includes Community Land Trusts, co-housing schemes, and resident-led development groups. While still a small part of the overall housing market, its...

Orchid place celebrates show suite opening with visit from the Lord Mayor of Exeter

A new later living community in Exeter has marked a key milestone with a special visit from The Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Anne Jobson, officially celebrating the opening of the show suite at the development.

The Lord Mayor attended the event at Orchid Place, a McCarthy & Stone Retirement Living development, last week for a first-hand look at the newly unveiled one- and two-bedroom show suites, which offer local people the opportunity to experience a development designed around independence, connection and belonging.

Orchid Place on Topsham Road has been...

The Growing Appeal of Walkable Coastal Communities in Portugal and the UK

Across both Portugal and the UK, a quiet shift is taking place in how people choose where to live. For decades, location decisions were driven by job access, school catchments, and transport links. Today, lifestyle has become just as important.

Walkable coastal communities are increasingly at the centre of this change. These are places where daily life does not depend heavily on driving, where amenities are close by, and where access to nature is part of everyday routine rather than a weekend escape.

This trend is visible in both mature UK coastal towns and fast-growing...

New approaches to outdoor lighting for modern residential spaces

Outdoor lighting for homes is evolving with a focus on efficient performance, safety, and appealing design. Homeowners now seek solutions that improve daily living, increase security, and respect environmental priorities. Innovations in lighting technology and installation provide smarter, more effective options for residences of every style.

Growing interest in spending time outdoors, particularly in gardens, patios, and seating areas, has highlighted the need for better lighting strategies around the home. Visual comfort outdoor lighting , for example, illustrates how...

What You Need to Consider When Renting Student Accommodation in Exeter

Exeter is not a large city, but due to the distribution of its two main campuses (Streatham and St Luke’s), it is not always easy to find a place to rent. To help you avoid unnecessary detours, I’ve compiled this list of key factors to consider when looking for accommodation in Exeter, covering everything from choosing the right location to managing your budget.

Commute Time & Geographical Location Features

When looking for a flat in Exeter, the first thing you need to overcome is the "slope". The Streatham campus is hailed as one of the most beautiful...

Deep Baths vs Large Baths: What's the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?

Deep baths are for people who want to be fully submerged. Large baths are for people who want more room to move.

Most people shopping for a new bath use the words 'deep' and 'large' as if they mean the same thing. They don't, and confusing the two is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes in bathroom design.

A deep bath is about immersion. A large bath is about space. Both feel indulgent. Both look beautiful. But they serve completely different purposes, and the one that belongs in your bathroom depends almost entirely on how you actually use a bath....

Homes & Gardens

Contemporary Ideas for Transforming Tired Garden Walls and Boundaries

Three Things Worth Knowing Before You Buy, Build or Refresh Your Home

What Separates a Decent Garden From One You Actually Use

Bathroom Remodel Mistakes That Can Lead to Plumbing Problems Later

How to optimise small spaces for remote working

The Rise of Community-Led Housing Projects Across the UK

Orchid place celebrates show suite opening with visit from the Lord Mayor of Exeter

The Growing Appeal of Walkable Coastal Communities in Portugal and the UK

New approaches to outdoor lighting for modern residential spaces

What You Need to Consider When Renting Student Accommodation in Exeter

Deep Baths vs Large Baths: What's the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?

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