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 Out of date food, gadgets you haven’t used in over a year, that drawer full of keys and batteries… sort it all out and your kitchen will be looking fresher in no time.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
Manchester Airport releases statement after customer data stolen in ‘targeted’ cyber security attack
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Airport has released a formal statement after data was stolen from 8.7 million customers in a ‘targeted’ cyber security attack yesterday.
Manchester Airport Group (MAG) – which operates Manchester Airport, Stansted, and East Midlands Airport – said the cyber security incident happened at around 1pm yesterday (Thursday 27 August), and that the data seized from 8.7 million customers included email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations, and postcodes.
The data that was stolen related to car park, lounge and Fast Track bookings, and in-airport WiFi sign-ups, MAG stated.
It was initially confirmed that the system the hackers accessed did not hold customers’ bank or payment details, however, and that all other regular airport operations and customer parking continued uninterrupted.
Manchester Airport has now released a formal statement to reassure customers that they are taking the matter ‘extremely seriously’.
The statement reads: “Manchester Airport Group has been subject to a cyber security incident by an unauthorised third party.
“A quantity of customer data has been obtained that relates to car park, lounge and Fast Track bookings and in-airport WIFI sign-ups at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.
“We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisors and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems. We have informed and are working with the relevant authorities, and at no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised.”
MAG insisted that the incident had not resulted in any ‘operational disruption’, adding: “Airport operations remain unaffected and customer parking services continue to operate normally.
“Neither MAG nor the system accessed hold customers’ bank or payment details. The data that has been accessed includes customers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes.
“We would like to reassure customers that Manchester Airport Group takes the security of customer information extremely seriously, and we apologise for any inconvenience or concern caused.”
Featured Image – MAG
Business
Workers at major Manchester city centre hotel to strike this bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
Workers at one of the most prominent hotels in Manchester city centre are set to strike this bank holiday weekend.
Workers at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and its bar venue The Refuge, who are members of the union Unite, will take 24 hours of strike action on Saturday (29 August) in what is said to be a ‘long-running dispute’ over union busting.
The strike day chosen by the workers is the second day of this year’s Manchester Village Pride, and is historically the most lucrative day of the year for their employer.
This is because Kimpton Clocktower is located very close to the Pride Parade route, and for several years has been a very popular location for people attending the festival, and even runs a number of Pride events itself.
Unite says that for months now, workers at the Kimpton Clocktower – which is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group UK (IHG) – have been asking for formal union recognition to improve conditions after raising several issues with management, but IHG UK has refused this and instead ‘targeted’ the union for its actions.
Workers at a major Manchester city centre hotel are set to strike this bank holiday weekend / Credit: Rebecca Hope Photography (Supplied)
Previous strikes have already taken place this summer, apparently causing ‘financial hits’ to the business in the process – with the bar being forced to close early at several events as there were not enough staff to cover them.
“A strike on Kimpton’s most profitable day is entirely of its own making,” commented Unite regional officer, Alison Treacher. “Throughout this dispute, Kimpton Clocktower management have treated its loyal workforce with contempt and our members have shown they will not stand for it.
“There is still time to avoid this highly disruptive strike action, but that relies on IHG changing tack by listening to its members and giving them the union recognition they have long been calling for.”
This dispute is said to be the first ever hospitality strike in the North West.
Unite is currently running a petition demanding that IHG UK stop targeting union activists, recognise the Kimpton workers rights to have their grievance heard collectively, and support their union recognition campaign.
The Manc -
12th July 2021 
