Homes & Gardens

175 residents and families come together for summer fete at Exeter retirement village

Millbrook Retirement Village in Exeter welcomed around 175 residents, relatives and staff for a summer fete on Friday 14 August, bringing generations together for an afternoon of live music, local stalls, food and activities.

The Inspired Villages community welcomed residents’ children and grandchildren to join the celebrations, alongside local organisations and businesses from across the area.

Among those attending were the RNLI and Exeter homelessness charity St Petrock’s, which residents have chosen as Millbrook’s charity of the year. Local businesses also supported...

Saving Light Bulbs: How to Upgrade Your Home from Traditional Bulbs to LEDs

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Sat, 08/29/2026 - 3:13am

Modifying your home’s lighting system need not involve any significant renovation at all, and there are a number of ways in which doing so could prove advantageous to you. This includes saving energy as well as setting the right atmosphere in particular rooms. In this regard, Saving Light Bulbs could prove helpful once you are ready for such modifications.

Reasons for Opting for LED Lights

There have been traditional incandescent and halogen light bulbs for many years; however, they are not energy efficient since much of the energy spent on lighting goes to waste in the form of...

Classical Chandeliers: Simple Ways to Make Them Work in Your Home

Authored by Val Watson
Posted: Sat, 08/29/2026 - 1:17am

The selection of the right light fixture can definitely make a significant difference to the atmosphere in your room. What you have to do now is find the right light fitting that makes your room unique and not crowded. Classical Chandeliers will perfectly complement the interior, while fitting harmoniously with the furnishings and colors of the interior.

Choose the Right Size for Your Room

Remember, at all times, proportion must come before style. A large chandelier in a smaller space will give a sense of congestion, whereas a small chandelier in a larger space will be...

Rent word to illlustrate paying your rent

Dealing With a Non Paying Tenant: A Guide for Exeter Landlords

Authored by Simon Wells
Posted: Wed, 08/26/2026 - 1:09am

A missed rent payment rarely announces itself as a crisis. It starts with one late transfer, then a second, and before long an Exeter landlord is staring at a spreadsheet that no longer balances.

The rules for handling this changed in May 2026, and the old playbook no longer applies. When a tenant does not pay rent , knowing the correct order of steps matters more than ever, since a rushed or badly worded notice can set your case back by months.

This guide walks through exactly what to do, from the first missed payment through to court, under the framework that now...

Contemporary Ideas for Transforming Tired Garden Walls and Boundaries

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Tue, 08/25/2026 - 1:54am

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...

How wall lighting has evolved in contemporary home design

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Tue, 08/25/2026 - 1:49am

Wall-mounted lighting has moved beyond its practical roots to become a defining element in modern interiors. Subtle advances in form, material, and technology mean wall lights now influence the mood, flow, and style of every room. This article traces the evolution of these fixtures and explores their impact on current home design priorities.

As design trends favour open-plan spaces and flexible layouts, decorative wall sconces have become increasingly common in shaping atmosphere and functionality. Lightweight and versatile, these fixtures suit both traditional and contemporary...

Low-Maintenance Garden Ideas for Busy Devon Households

Authored by Ellie Green
Posted: Sun, 08/23/2026 - 5:54pm

Keeping a garden presentable can take a surprising amount of time. Lawns need mowing, borders need attention and outdoor furniture has to cope with whatever the Devon weather brings. For households already juggling work, family life and other commitments, spending every free weekend on garden jobs may have little appeal.

Reducing maintenance does not mean removing everything that gives a garden character. By keeping planting straightforward, choosing surfaces carefully and planning around how the household actually uses the space, it is possible to create an attractive garden...

How to Build Strength at Home: The Equipment Worth Investing In

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Fri, 08/21/2026 - 9:36pm

Building strength at home does not require recreating an entire commercial gym. In fact, filling a garage or spare room with machines you rarely use can make home training unnecessarily expensive and complicated.

A better approach is to invest gradually in versatile equipment that supports the fundamental movements of strength training. With the right foundations, a relatively compact home gym can provide enough variety to keep progressing for years.

Start With a Quality Barbell

For anyone serious about strength training, a barbell is one of the most versatile...

Zoe in her new home that she brought fiancé Alfie becomes the 100th buyer at Brook Manor.

First-time buyers find their perfect home as Exeter development reaches major milestone

First-time buyers Zoe and Alfie have found the perfect place to put down roots in Exeter, as the new community they now call home celebrates a major milestone.

The couple moved into Tilia Homes’ Brook Manor development earlier this year after deciding the time was right to take their first step onto the property ladder.

After renting in Exeter, Zoe and fiancé Alfie explored a number of developments across the area before finding a home at Brook Manor that offered the space, flexibility and location they were looking for.

Their move comes as Brook Manor, which is...

Transform Your Home with Rust-Oleum Paint: A Guide to Colour, Finish and DIY Projects

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Mon, 08/17/2026 - 5:32pm

A room or piece of furniture or an outdoor space can be completely changed with just a fresh coat of paint without having to change out any major elements of the design. Modern decorating materials make it simpler to obtain professional-looking effects at home with their wide selection of colours, and finishes, along with specialty formulae. Whether you're looking to rejuvenate an outdated piece of furniture in addition to refreshing your walls, choosing the right Rust-Oleum Paint can simplify your next DIY project while sparking creativity.

Why Choose Paint for Your Next Home...

How to Create a Light, Airy Home That Feels Larger Than It Is

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Mon, 08/17/2026 - 3:18pm

British homes are renowned for their history and charm, but they can occasionally feel somewhat compact and dark, particularly during the overcast winter months. When square footage is at a premium, the physical layout can start to feel restrictive.

However, you don't need to knock down walls to change how your property feels - you can easily alter the perception of space, turning even the most modest room into a bright and airy sanctuary that feels significantly larger than its actual footprint.

Embrace Light Colours and Reflective Surfaces

The most effective way to...

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