Acclaimed Design Firm Appointed To Revamp Receptions Acclaimed Manchester architecture and interior design studio, Jasper Sanders + Partners, has been appointed by Exchange Quay, Manchester’s leading office development, to redesign the office receptions as part of the scheme’s ongoing commitment to its occupier experience. Buildings 8 and 5 will have entirely remodelled receptions and the concept for Building 8 has now been unveiled. The design concept looks to carefully restore the design intent of the original buildings. The site sits close to two canal systems which the original architects used as inspiration for a maritime theme. The impressive buildings will have their grandeur restored with new wall panelling, beautiful joinery and finishes that bring the external materials and finishes from outside in. The intention is to give the buildings back their classic sense of identity, with added purpose appropriate to modern ways of working.  North West contractor Aztec Interiors has been appointed to carry out the works. The contractor will commence the 6 week programme of works to upgrade the reception in Building 8 first before moving onto Building 5. Acting for Ekistics, Investment Manager at Exchange Quay, Till Asset Management, has announced the reception upgrades as part of the team’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the occupier experience at Exchange Quay, which at 435,000 sq ft is one of the largest office developments in the North West with over 4,000 workers. The investment into the reception remodelling works follows on from the delivery of the 26,000 sq ft ICE building which provides contemporary Grade A office accommodation together with a café bar, business lounge and communal meeting space and is already over 60% let. Exchange Quay, which has its own Metrolink tram stop, is located approximately 1.5 miles to the southwest of Manchester City Centre and is strategically located just off Trafford Road which links Salford Quays to both Manchester City Centre and the regional motorway network. Les Lang, Director at Till Asset Management, said; “Jasper has an excellent reputation as Manchester’s leading designer so we were keen to get his vision for how to revitalise the entrance areas of Buildings 8 and 5. We were delighted with his concepts and can already visualise what a difference the new areas will make to tenants working in the buildings and also to their visitors. We will have additional areas for occupiers to utilise, with breakout areas and booths for informal meetings and look forward to seeing works progress in the forthcoming weeks.” Jasper Sanders, Design Director at Jasper Sanders + Partners, said; “Exchange Quay is one of the North’s most impressive office developments and we were excited to have the opportunity to redesign the entrances for two of the prominent office buildings. Our focus was on function, purpose, activity and creating a sense of culture whilst allowing for alternative activities such as coffee break spaces and meeting areas to give greater space options for the occupiers. The result will be fresh, functional space that serves a purpose for the tenants while creating a lasting impression for visitors.” The quoting rent on Exchange Quay is £20 per sq ft plus car parking.

Leading power tools supplier Howe Tools has asked people around the UK about the discounts they expect on trades work carried out by friends and family, along with what they deem as the most useful trade. When time and skillset is in low supply, and something in our homes needs to be fixed or maintained, it’s often an easy option to go to a friend or family member in a trade and ask for some help. While pay is sometimes included in these deals, generous discounts, or ‘mates rates,’ can make the job unprofitable for the tradesperson. In light of this, we’ve asked people in the UK to reveal their typical expectations around hiring a friend/family member for trades work. So, what are the true costs of mates rates and which trades do we value most? The most valued trade So when it comes to which trade we find useful, which ones come out on top? 41% of people would find an electrician the most helpful tradesperson to have as a friend or family member. Plumbers come in close second, with 39% of people finding them the most useful person in a group of friends. This could actually be down to the fact these trades are some of the most expensive to pay for and they’re two of the highest paying trades available. Discount disbelief In total, 81% of people expect discounts on work done by friends in a trade. This reveals that mates rates are a standard expectation when work is carried out, and suggests a pressure for tradespeople to provide discounts on a regular basis. With 43% of people claiming they’d be annoyed if they didn’t receive a discount from a friend in a trade, tradespeople could be put in an unfair position, choosing between friendships and earnings. Which location wants discounts the most often? Even though living costs in London are three times higher than Sheffield, residents from Sheffield come out on top when it comes to expected mates rates, with 36% of people surveyed wanting discounts. London is in second, with 34% wanting discounts, and Glasgow is in third at 32%. In comparison, Belfast and Edinburgh are the best cities for tradespeople to be paid in full, with only 1 in 5 friends and family asking for mates rates, making them the lowest in the UK. Manchester comes in at 4th overall, with 31% wanting mates rates, while Liverpool is much lower, coming in at 12th, with a quarter wanting mates rates. Does age affect mates rates? The overall average expectation of mates rates is a 25% discount off trade work. People between 16-24 years of age expect the highest discount, at 33%, while those over 55 years old expect a lower discount at 20% off. This correlation between age and discount expectations could be due to younger people having less money for trades work – Millennials are the most reliant on mates rates, with 13% suggesting they’re not able to pay full price for it. Are mates rates down to cost? All of these expectations surrounding discounts could lead you to believe that trades work is priced higher than the average person can afford. However, the data reveals that income doesn’t exactly correlate with requiring a discount, as 44% of people earning over £55,000 would delay work without a discount, compared to only 24% of those earning under £15,000. This suggests lower earners feel less comfortable asking for mates rates and would rather pay full price for the work they have done. 

As part of a drive towards helping homeowners achieve greener lifestyles, the award-winning Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has fitted electric vehicle charging points, as standard, to over 50% of the properties on the company’s first development in the Somerset town of Wincanton.  For those who want to reduce their travel by car, Cavanna Homes is also offering new homeowners at Cales Reach the chance to join a Green Travel Initiative where they can receive cycle vouchers towards a bike or cycling equipment. Councillor Ray Tudgay, Deputy Chair of Wincanton Town Council, was invited to cut the ribbon at the formal opening of the “green” development where the new show home is fitted with the latest features to help achieve maximum energy efficiency. Cllr Tudgay was joined by Head of Sales and Marketing Paul Furner who said: “Cales Reach is a great example of how we are future-proofing our new homes with extensive wall and roof insulation in excess of industry guidelines, modern heating systems and car charging points. We recognise that many people will want to go much further in their efforts to live a greener lifestyle by choosing to travel by bus, bike or foot – and we want to reward that too by way of our Green Travel Initiative.” The three-bedroom show home is a ‘Steeperton’ which offers a spacious family lounge and a large, modern open plan kitchen / dining room for entertaining guests. At Cales Reach there will be 60 new homes, designed to appeal to a full range of requirements and tastes; from two-bedroom semi-detached homes to four-bedroom family homes and townhouses. Surrounded by hills, Cales Reach is close to the A303 and Templecombe train station. Wincanton town centre is within walking distance of Cales Reach and offers pubs, cafes, shops and a monthly farmers’ market. The town also has a GP surgery and vet practice. Wincanton County Primary school, which is close to the new homes, will benefit from a contribution from Cavanna Homes of £110,000 towards an extension which will house eight new classrooms. Cllr Tudgay said: “Cales Reach is in a brilliant location and Cavanna Homes’ Green Travel Initiative is a great incentive for home-buyers to opt for sustainable travel methods by foot, bike or bus. I look forward to seeing the completed development next summer.” Cavanna Homes was awarded the UK’s Medium Housebuilder of the Year in the 2019 national Housebuilder Awards. Kelly Aylesbury, Sales Advisor at Cales Reach, added: “Cales Reach is a fantastic development and we’re excited to open the doors to our stunning show home welcoming visitors to take a look around. “We’ve already had off-plan reservations, which is brilliant, and being in such a beautiful location has been a great selling point for many homebuyers. We also offer buying schemes, including Move Assist, Part-Exchange and our show home leaseback schemes. “If you’re looking to move to the area, come and visit us to see our selection of beautiful new homes.”

Leading UK retailer Primark has selected GRAHAM to deliver four contracts across some of its national stores. The firm will roll out the retailer’s modern new concept in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Liverpool and Southend on Sea against tight deadlines. This builds on the £53 million worth of work GRAHAM has already completed for the fashion retailer since 2015.  Mark Gibson, Managing Director for GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out, said: “The work across all four stores comes with different challenges. Many will be completed in single phases while others will have a period of between 16-34 weeks to allow for a full fit-out.   “The fast turnaround time required on each project, demands robust project management and efficiency in decision making and ultimately delivery. Throughout our four-year partnership with Primark we have consistently demonstrated our capacity to deliver multiple projects simultaneously without any variance in the high-quality of our work.  “And because Primark is a popular retailer and, like many other fashion names, limiting closure over trading periods is of paramount importance, we will be working with a number of named sub-contractors in partnership to ensure the rollout is delivered on time and on deadline.” GRAHAM’s contract for the new Primark Barton Square store at the Trafford Centre in Manchester is worth over £9 million and involves an “extensive fit-out” covering 65,000 sq ft. The work will be completed in a single phase with an opening set for February 2020.   Meanwhile the Milton Keynes store, a contract worth £4.5 million, will cover 75,000 sq ft across three floors with an opening due in April 2020.  In Liverpool, GRAHAM’s work on its store will take place over a period of 16 weeks, from January 2020 until May 2020, while the store remains operational. This £3.5 million project will take place as GRAHAM works on the retailer’s most significant scheme next year, the £9.3 million Southend On Sea contract.  

There are countless magazines devoted to modern living but many are filled with ideas that are simply out of reach for most of us. So we’ve decided to condense the top trends and make them more achievable with these 10 ideas for modern living. Consolidate Your Furniture Modern design is minimalist. You only have as many chairs or tables as you need. However, you can further maximize space with multi-functional furniture like coffee tables that double as bookcases and footrests with hidden storage inside. Get rid of a flimsy nightstand and put in one large enough to do more than hold up a lamp. Or use a wooden stool as a work table next to your bath or bed. Minimize Your Wardrobe A large chest of drawers standing against a wall is big intrusion. Installing a walk-in wardrobe or built-in unit will simplify the lines in the room. So not only will you have a smooth visual flow for the space and more storage, but you may even save yourself from stubbed toe as you walk into the room late at night. Choose a Simple Layout Forget separate groupings of furniture in most rooms. Choose a simple layout. Have the bed at the center of the bedroom, and locate a single plush chair in the corner. That’s enough to relax with a good book or to sit on while getting dressed. Maximize Height in Small Spaces There are a number of tricks to maximize height in small spaces. Curtains that extend from floor to ceiling is one example. A good two tone paint job is another. But the universal solution is getting rid of clutter and excess furniture to give you as much space as possible. Declutter First, purge the stuff you really don’t use so there’s less to organize in the first place. Next, invest in organizers that sit under the bed or hang in the closet, and get any clutter off the floor. This won’t only make the room look better, but will also reduce your stress level. You’ll sleep easier and your bedroom will become a peaceful retreat. Bring in the Light Maximize natural light. If new windows or solar tube aren’t options, changing your window dressing to let in more daylight is a good first step. Also put mirrors on the walls opposite your windows to maximize light. Go with Basic Colours, Then Add Accents To avoid a colour scheme that will date quickly and is too expensive to change, decorate in basic neutral colors like white, gray, black and beige. This doesn’t mean you can’t have colour. Add accents like paintings, throw pillows and blankets draped over the couch. If you do decide to change the colour scheme, these items are easier to replace. You can also mix and match them as your color palette changes. Bring the Outdoors Inside As high tech living becomes the norm, we’re placing a bigger emphasis on nature. This has led to a literal growth in houseplants. Yet we haven’t seen a return to a love of gardening and hard work. This has resulted in low maintenance succulent plants becoming a popular choice. They need relatively little light or water, but they add a dash of color. Mount the Lights The trend toward mounted lights has occurred for practical reasons. If your lights hang from the wall or ceiling, you don’t need night tables or stands, freeing up floor space and reducing the odds they get damaged. Old Is New Again The trend toward eco-friendly materials and natural materials has resulted in a wave of recycled and repurposed products. It’s more than timber from old buildings being turned into furniture, though that is part of the trend. Before you spend money on these handcrafted items, look for antique and historic items in your own family you can use instead. Baker’s racks with wood board can serve as kitchen storage. Wicker baskets can be turned into hanging storage baskets.