September 10, 2023 - Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Odiham McCarthy Holden Estate Agents

How to style your home like a professional

September 10, 2023 by John Holden

Interior Design Image McCarthy Holden and PA

Thinking about giving your home a mini makeover?

When it comes to creating your own personal style, there are a few principles which come in super handy when you’re about to embark on a new project… and take your first foray into the world of interior design.

(By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA)

“It’s not rocket science that if you wake up in a home or room you love, which makes you feel happy and calm and brings a smile to your face, then you will start your day with a more positive mindset,” Lucy Gough writes in her new book, The Home Style Handbook.

“And it doesn’t have to cost the earth either. Paint, wallpaper, upcycling, second-hand furniture, along with a new cushion or two, can go a long way in transforming your home,” she suggests.

Currently living in Sydney, Australia, and head stylist at Home Beautiful magazine, Gough says she feels it’s important as a stylist and freelance creative director to be able to turn your hand to any aesthetic a client asks of you.

“Us stylists need to be truly versatile!” enthuses Gough.

Here, she shares her insider tips on how to style your home like it is second nature, which is sure to put you in a positive frame of mind…

Make a mood board

“All wonderful interiors schemes are pulled together in the beginning stages using a mood board,” says Gough.

“Not only are they important in helping pull together all your creative thoughts and ideas,” she continues. “But they are fun to make and a great mindful task for you to play around with at the beginning of the project, to make sure you get it right first time.”

Create continuity of colour

“If you can decide on your colour and texture palette before you embark on picking up a paintbrush, your home will feel cohesive,” notes Gough. “And might trick people into thinking a professional has helped you!”

A thread of colour throughout your home is so important for it to feel like you have considered your ideas before implementing them, she adds

Tell a story

Not only should you consider your palette but also think about a theme, says Gough.

“Now, I’m not talking about a Disney theme here! I mean a thread forming around your love of antiques, family treasures, a dark palette or coastal look for example.

“Something that makes your heart sing when you walk in your home!”

Then add colours you love and bring these together with surface samples and foliage, she writes in The Home Style Handbook. If you decide to go with two or more bold colours, Gough says to add some soft tones in between to give them space to breathe.

Style your space in sections

“I suggest approaching your room as a series of vignettes,” encourages Gough.

“Sometimes, if you’re not a professional it can be overwhelming to think about styling a whole room at a time. Instead, think of each room as a series of smaller spaces.

“Look through your phone screen and break it down into smaller photographable corners and sections,” advises Gough.

“For example, style the sofa area first then the TV unit area second, and the corner with the armchair and mirror third.”

And when it comes to the finishing touches, such as styling your succulents, she writes: “Notice how the objects and plants on the cabinet (pictured) are higher in the top left and then go down at an angle to the bottom right.”

Visualise a triangle formation

“When I am styling bookshelves, I like to style using a visual triangle formation,” says Gough. “I never style with symmetry – although there is nothing wrong with doing so.”

She continues: “I prefer the more relaxed look and find creating triangular shapes between items helps aesthetically.

“And don’t pack things in too tightly,” says Gough. “You should give things room to breathe!”

The Home Style Handbook by Lucy Gough, published by Mitchell Beazley, priced £30. Photography by Simon Bevan. Available now.

Mini though the ages – the evolution of a motoring icon

September 10, 2023 by John Holden

The word ‘icon’ is overused in the automotive world, but it’s most certainly suitable to describe the Mini. It’s been a true trailblazer in the small car class for decades, successfully evolving with the times as well.

From dinky ‘60s car to a modern electric hatchback, the Mini has done it all, while never losing its focus as being an affordable and fun car in the process.

(Motoring feature by By Ted Welford, PA Motoring Reporter)

With the British firm just revealing its new Mini Cooper, it’s time to take a walk back down memory lane and look back at the history of the Mini.

1959 – The original Mini

In the late 1950s, fuel prices skyrocketed as a result of the Suez Crisis, and that meant that suddenly the idea of a gas-guzzling large car fell out of fashion. It prompted the Morris Motor Company to challenge its top engineer, Alec Issigonis, to create a small, fuel-efficient car capable of carrying four adults but at a low price that many could afford.

The result was the aptly named Mini – a true marvel in engineering and packaging. With the wheels pushed out to the far corners, the engine was put in the car sideways, helping to improve stability and free up more interior space. It was British through and through, being built at Longbridge, Birmingham, and also at Cowley, Oxford.

1961 – Racing success

The public was a little baffled by the Mini at first, but it quickly grew a fanbase, and by 1962 the British Motor Corporation (BMC) had manufactured 200,000 examples.

Its popularity also came down to Mini’s success in racing. Its lightweight and agility made it a prime candidate for modifications, not least with John Cooper, a British racing legend. This led to the introduction of the Cooper, featuring a more powerful engine and other tweaks. An even hotter Cooper S would follow, with the Mini chalking up some impressive racing victories, not least three wins at the prestigious Monte Carlo rally. By 1965 the millionth Mini had been produced.

1970s and 1980s – the Mini would just keep plodding on

It’s a testament to just how brilliant the original Mini’s engineering was that the firm just kept producing them as the years rolled on.

Helped by rising inflation and increasing petrol prices, demand for the small Mini was relatively sustained, with cumulative Mini sales passing three million and four million in 1972 and 1976 respectively, helped by the addition of new versions such as the Clubman estate and a pick-up.

1994 – BMW buys Mini and the final Classic Minis are produced

Mini came under the Rover Group in 1986, and in 1994, BMW acquired the firm. Though it would also own Land Rover as part of the deal, this was sold to Ford in 2000, but BMW retained Mini and continues to do so to this day.

The original Mini would continue to soldier on, helped by lots of special editions, until 2000, when it was finally discontinued. More than 5.3 million classic Minis were produced.

2001 – The New Mini

Reinventing a car like the Mini, especially when it was in production for more than 40 years, was always going to be challenging. But Mini presented its ‘New Mini’ at the 2000 Paris Motor Show, with production at the firm’s Oxford factory and sales beginning in 2001.

It was quite a lot bigger than the original, which proved controversial, but it sold well, with the 100,000th model being made just a year later. A Convertible version followed, as did sportier Cooper S and John Cooper Works models. A special edition ‘GP’ also arrived in 2006, with the rear seats removed and power increased to 218bhp, making it the most powerful Mini ever.

2006 – The Second New Mini

Following the success of the New Mini, the firm didn’t deviate far from its proven formula with this second-generation model, which looked quite similar.

But it was larger, better equipped and featured new engines as well. This new model would also serve as the basis for the reincarnated Mini Clubman, introduced in 2007. This generation of model is also noteworthy as providing the setup for the ‘Mini E’ in 2009 – an electric Mini trialled for 12 months to evaluate the user-friendliness of EVs. Though it would be another decade before buyers could choose an electric production Mini, these prototypes helped pave the way for BMW to introduce its electric i3 in 2013.

2014 – The third innings

In 2014, a brand-new Mini was launched. Though sharing a clear lineage with its predecessors, it was based around a new platform and was noticeably more modern to look at. A broad range of new engines were available, while it was also available with a range of new features, including a head-up display and LED headlights – both fairly advanced technology at the time.

Though revealed in a three-door guise, Mini would introduce its first five-door Hatch shortly after, helping to improve interior space further. In 2020 we saw the launch of the Mini Electric as its first EV, boasting a range of around 145 miles. In the same year, Mini also pulled the wraps off its latest John Cooper Works GP – an aggressive-looking 302bhp hot hatch that remains by far the most powerful Mini hatchback ever made.

2023 – A simplified, digital Mini

Mini has just revealed its new Cooper, as it will now be known, rather than Hatch. Offered in just a three-door guide, it gets a modern, simplified design that makes it look quite different to the outgoing model.

The plastic wheelarch trim is gone, as are the questionable Union Jack rear lights, and in place is a modern-looking Mini that will exist for many years to come. Inside there’s a new circular touchscreen display and a simplified layout. Only revealed in eclectic guise so far – petrol versions will join the line-up at a later date – the Mini Cooper can now travel up to a claimed 250 miles on a charge, considerably more than its predecessor.

A beginner’s guide to pickling your homegrown fruit and veg

September 10, 2023 by John Holden

Want to know how to make delicious pickles, chutneys and relishes by adding homegrown vegetables, fruits and herbs to the mix?

“A veggie patch is the fastest path to preserving homegrown produce,” says keen gardener Jo Turner, who learned many of her skills from her mother and grandmother and has now put her knowledge into a new book, The Preserving Garden, an illustrated guide on how to preserve your produce throughout the year.

The book features recipes for chutneys, piccalilli and a plethora of pickled veg, and how to go about growing and preserving them.

Here, she offers tips for anyone wanting to have a go at pickling their homegrown produce.

Pick fresh produce

“You can pickle courgettes, cucumbers, onions, carrots, beetroot and capsicums,” Turner enthuses, or use tomatoes in chutneys and courgettes in piccalilli.

Choose firm, young, blemish-free vegetables and start the pickling process within 24 hours of picking them. Some, such as beetroot, will need preparation. Turner peels and roasts her beetroot before pickling.

Watch your vinegar

“You need an acidic brine made from vinegar and spices,” she advises. The vinegar used should have an acidity content of at least 5%, which should be on the label of the bottle. Alternatively, ready-made pickling vinegars are widely available from supermarkets.

White vinegar is often the base for pickling vinegars, but you could also use cider vinegar, wine vinegar or malt vinegar. For a richer flavour, balsamic vinegar can also be used. Don’t add water to the mix as it will reduce the acidity, Turner says.

Mix your vinegar with sugar (some recipes require a lot of sugar), salt and spices and you will get a brine. You may have to taste it to assess sugar content, she suggests. Remember that darker vinegars will result in a darker brine and may not be ideal if you want your pickles displayed in a clear liquid, she adds. Use white sugar to keep the brine clear, not cloudy.

Herb choice

Use whole spices and washed fresh herbs to add to your vinegar, as that will give the best flavour. Ground spices will make the brine cloudy.

“Ideal additions include whole peppercorns and bay leaves, star anise and more robust spices,” Turner suggests. She uses fennel leaves with carrots and finely sliced chillies to spice up other pickled veg, while cucumbers (gherkins) go well with mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, dill, chilli and bay leaves. Whole cloves, allspice and star anise make good companions for beetroot.

Sterilise your jars

She advises avoiding metal lids to seal jars containing brined or pickled produce, unless they are sealed with a plastic-like coating on the underside. Sealing rings help long-lasting preservation and glass bottles can also be used.

To sterilise, wash the jars, lids and rings in hot soapy water and rinse in a sink of clean hot water. Leave the lids to air dry on a clean tea towel. Place damp jars upside down on a baking tray lined with an old tea towel and place in a warm oven for 15-20 minutes, she advises. Turn the oven off and leave the jars to keep warm until needed.

Putting it together

Some veg, such as cucumbers, will need to be sprinkled with salt and left for a few hours before being rinsed off in a colander with boiling water and dried. Peppers will need to be grilled and their blistered skins removed before preserving.

You’ll need to boil the brine in a pan so that the sugar and salt are dissolved.

“Place your spices and cut-up vegetables as you would want them into the jar and then cover it with boiling hot brine, ensuring that your jars are warm when you do it, or they may crack,” Turner says.

“Pouring hot brine on veg won’t make them softer because it doesn’t cook them through.”

Remove air bubbles by gently running a small spatula or cocktail stick into and around the jar and leave a centimetre at the top, but the vegetables need to be completely covered with the brine, she adds.

How long will pickled veg keep?

If you place an unopened jar of pickled veg in a dark, cool room it should last for six to 12 months, she predicts.

Once the jar is opened, it needs to be resealed and kept in the fridge and should last a couple of weeks. Chutney may keep longer, although it will need to be placed in the fridge after opening, she adds.

The Preserving Garden by Jo Turner is published by Thames & Hudson, priced £19.99. Available now.

These 4 big tax mistakes could be draining your finances – here’s how to avoid them

September 10, 2023 by John Holden

Knowing which tax pitfalls to avoid can be a big help when it comes to being smart with your money.

Here, Shona Lowe, a financial planning expert at abrdn, highlights the common mistakes people risk making when it comes to tax, and shares her top tips on how to avoid them:

1. Not making the most of pension perks

“One way to potentially manage the amount of tax you pay on income is by saving some into your pension instead,” Lowe explains.

“This can reduce the amount you earn for income tax purposes and, on top of this, the Government will usually add money to what you save into your pension in the form of tax relief – effectively giving your retirement savings a boost.”

2. Leaving too much inheritance to the taxman

Giving gifts in your lifetime can help reduce the value of an estate and the potential inheritance tax bill.

But Lowe cautions: “One thing many people assume is that if they make a gift, that amount given away will always reduce the value of their estate straight away.

“Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, with some gifts taking seven years for the value to fully leave your estate for tax purposes. It all depends on the amount you gift, and who to. Because there are lots of different types of gifts, each coming with different rules, good record-keeping is really important.”

Lowe also suggests making sure you have an up-to-date will and power of attorney in place and that you tell your pension provider who you’d like any pension savings to pass to when you die.

3. Not managing capital gains tax

Capital gains tax (CGT) is charged when you sell, swap or give something away that has increased in value while you owned it. It can apply to investments.

Lowe says: “An option to help manage tax here is to hold your investments within a tax-efficient wrapper such as a stocks and shares ISA or pension so that the value can grow without attracting CGT. Or you might be able to spread your gain over a number of tax years. Specialist advice will often be vital here.”

4. Not making the most of your ISA allowance

Money saved into ISAs is ringfenced from the taxman and people can save up to £20,000 in ISA products in any tax year.

Lowe says: “Whether it be a cash ISA for an emergency fund, a stocks and shares ISA for longer-term goals or a Lifetime ISA which could help you save for your first home, there are various options to choose from.

“Also, if you want to save for your children or grandchildren, they get their own Junior ISA allowance of £9,000.”

Bake Off’s Hermine Dossou: Being thrifty helped me get on the housing ladder

September 10, 2023 by John Holden

As a trained accountant and a long-time baking enthusiast, Hermine Dossou knows a thing or two about saving money in the kitchen.

“My first breadmaker was from Panasonic – I bought it from Gumtree,” the former Great British Bake Off contestant says.

“It was basically somebody’s wedding present that they didn’t want and they sold it half price.”

A devotee of Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert website, the 42-year-old, who was born in Benin, West Africa, and moved to the UK for university aged 20, tries to avoid ever paying full price for a big ticket item.

“If I wanted to buy, let’s say, a mixer, I would go online, and type ‘Kenwood discount vouchers’ and then something always comes up,” says Dossou, who lives in Kettering and came fourth on the 2020 series of Bake Off.

But the mum-of-one – whose son Steven is 13 – wasn’t always such a frugal foodie.

“That came from that period where I became a single mum on a reduced income,” she says.

“I couldn’t work full-time because I had to look after my son, and also I didn’t want him to have the processed kind of bakes.”

Whipping up cakes and cookies filled her “empty afternoons” as a new mum and was a lot cheaper than buying ready-made baked goods.

“I would cook from scratch and prep my vegetables when I could get them on offer,” she continues.

“Same for fruits – they are often very discounted when they become a bit soft, and that’s the best time to make jam.”

Even post-Bake Off and her book deal (she works full-time as an accountant), Dossou remains a savvy shopper, knowing that a higher price doesn’t always mean a better product.

“Like a bar of chocolate, if it’s the same quantity of cocoa, why are you paying three times the price? Especially if you’re going to bake with it.

“Wonky onions at half the price is the same… they all come from the same farm.”

Her accountancy skills came in handy, too, and she still uses a spreadsheet to track her income and outgoings every month.

“I think generally in life it is important to budget and know where your money goes, because I think it allows you to achieve a lot more than if you were just living freestyle,” Dossou says.

“It’s a nightmare trying to get on the housing ladder here in the UK – that’s something I’ve been able to do through being thrifty in every area of my life.”

That’s why she decided to call her first cookbook The Thrifty Baker: “I just really wanted to bring that awareness of how we choose what we eat, and how we can save through making little changes here and there.”

“Now, more than ever, when people are struggling with the cost of living, I think it’s even more important to go back to those values of cooking from scratch, trying to cook at home, and making meals from, you know, not much.”

With lots of advice for beginners, the book focuses on affordable dishes, from basic breads and simple biscuits to special occasion puds and impressive-looking desserts.

There’s a distinct Gallic influence (Benin, where Dossou learned to bake as a child, is a former French colony) felt with recipes such as pain de campagne, orange and brown butter madeleinesm and pear frangipane tart.

The author points out when a recipe can be cooked in an air fryer – a recent Black Friday bargain she loves because it allows her to enjoy fried Benin delicacies using less oil and without turning on the oven.

“Because we have a really small family, just me and my son, you don’t always want to put the oven on just to bake something for two.

“With an oven you’ll need to preheat it for a good 15 to 20 minutes before you can even bake in it. With the air fryer you just put the cake in and 15 minutes later it’s out – easy and convenient.”

There’s also a section devoted to microwaveable mug cakes, with peanut butter and jam, speculoos (aka Biscoff) and chocolate hazelnut flavours of the cheap and easy-to-make single-serve puds.

“In the microwave you can make a cake in five minutes from weighing, mixing and baking,” says Dossou, who loves how kid-friendly they are.

“With my son I feel more inclined to let him make a mug cake than maybe something bigger.

“Even if it goes wrong he’s not wasting a lot of ingredients and, you know, he’s not turning the kitchen into a bonfire.”

The Thrifty Baker by Hermine Dossou is published by White Lion, priced £18.99. Photography by Patricia Niven. Available now.

How to style your home like a professional

Mini though the ages – the evolution of a motoring icon

A beginner’s guide to pickling your homegrown fruit and veg

These 4 big tax mistakes could be draining your finances – here’s how to avoid them

Bake Off’s Hermine Dossou: Being thrifty helped me get on the housing ladder

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