You know what they say – the kitchen is the heart of the home, so you want it to be a room that you love to spend time in.
A great kitchen can also add value to the cost of your property, so a revamp and refresh every so often is important. If you want a new-look room but you’ve got a strict budget, worry not – here are some top tips on how to improve your kitchen with just a few small, affordable, changes.
Clean and Declutter
Kickstart your transformation with a deep clean of your kitchen. Take everything off the shelves and use this also as a chance to declutter. Out of date food, gadgets you haven’t used in over a year, that drawer full of keys and batteries… sort it all out and your kitchen will be looking fresher in no time. It’ll also give you a proper look at what parts of the room might need extra attention. This is probably the least fun part, but it’s essential.
Make the Most of the Space
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Stephen Lynskey, Head Designer at Hammonds, has offered some expert tips on how to best utilise the space in a small kitchen. Stephen advises, where possible, to consider replacing cupboards with drawers – they hold so much more. In your remaining cupboards, use baskets, shelf risers and under-shelf hooks to maximise space and make everything easier to access.
Paint the Furniture
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You can make a huge difference to your kitchen by simply painting the furniture. Make sure you buy paint that’s resistant to stains and household products, and you could transform your cupboards from dull and dark to bright and welcoming in no time.
Paint the Walls
Perhaps painting the furniture is too big a job, or you don’t need to – if so, why not refresh things a little by painting the walls? It doesn’t need to be a bold change, even a new lick of neutral paint will breathe new life into your kitchen.
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Change the Chairs
Chairs really set the tone of a room, so consider investing in new ones to go around your dining table. You could opt for chic, understated chairs or a loud, colourful style that will really express personality.
Lighting is Key
Lighting is everything. Installing suspended lights will make a statement, while dimmers will create a lovely, cosy atmosphere.
Don’t Forget the Finishing Touches
Some final decorative touches will really complete your new kitchen. Hanging artwork will bring warmth and personality to the space, especially if it’s art that’s personal to you. And don’t underestimate the power of plants. Invest in a few house plants and the room will instantly come to life. Buy some vases that match the style of the room, too, and fill them with flowers. You won’t believe the difference.
Business
WeWork is closing its enormous office in Spinningfields, with tenants told to move out
Daisy Jackson
Co-working giant WeWork has announced the shock closure of its flagship space in Manchester, an enormous unit in the heart of Spinningfields.
Those who rent desks or offices within the space have been served notice to move out by the end of the month.
It’s understood that WeWork’s three remaining locations in Manchester are unaffected.
The US-based workspace company first moved into the 60,000sq ft unit at No.1 Spinningfields in 2017, offering flexible solutions to businesses of varying sizes.
But in the last few years it’s faced major financial difficulties, with WeWork eventually filing for bankruptcy in the States.
It was previously valued at $47 billion before its bankruptcy overseas.
On the closure of its huge Manchester office, a WeWork spokesperson said: “As part of WeWork’s efforts to achieve a sustainable capital structure and profitable business to serve our members for the long term, we have made the decision to stop operating at No1 Spinningfields in Manchester.
“We look forward to continuing to provide our members with flexible space solutions across our other locations in the city and the rest of the UK, which remains a key market for us.”
An email sent to tenants said: “After carefully evaluating our offerings in Manchester, we have made the decision to stop operating at WeWork No 1 Spinningfields… the move out will occur by 31 May 2024.
“We understand this may cause disruption to your business and are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Have you been affected by WeWork’s Manchester closure? Email [email protected] who can help with central, flexible office spaces.
Business
Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour
Danny Jones
The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.
If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.
Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.
The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.
If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.
According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.
This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.
While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.
A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.
“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”