Caden Grimes Estates

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Lighting – The Single Most Important Design Aspect

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Use soft lighting to add cosiness’: 5 design tips to make a dark living room work in your favour

IN THE WORLD of interiors, a lot of attention is given to natural light. We’re told to be mindful of where light is coming from in each room, maximise any available light and – if there is no light source – turn all the lamps on and pray no one notices.
Then there are the paint colours. Rooms which are small or dark must be painted white and brightened up at all costs, no argument.

My experience? It’s hard to create the illusion of natural light in a room that’s not… naturally lit. You can cover every surface in white paint, but sometimes it just doesn’t work, and you’re left with a blindingly white room that looks even duller than before. 

Obviously, in an ideal world, all of the rooms in our house would be bursting with natural light, thanks to large beautiful windows. But even if you’re lucky enough to have a south facing garden, you’ll still be left with some darker rooms towards the front – and typically this is where most living rooms are situated.

I think it’s time to change our thinking. Instead of looking at a lack of natural light as a bad thing, or feeling under pressure to create light and space where it’s just not happening naturally, you’re far better off leaning into it.
Instead of sparse, cool and airy, think warm, cosy and inviting. Work with a low-light room, rather than against it, by considering the following tips…

1. Think about how (and when) you use the room
First of all, give some thought to the living room’s primary function. Netflix binge? Yes. Entertaining friends? Yes. Morning coffee? Probably not. Chances are, you’re mainly using your living room in the evening – and most likely as a place to relax. Because of its function, the living room doesn’t necessarily need to be bright. Instead, its aesthetic should reflect its role in providing comfort. This is important to keep in mind for any room you’re decorating: how do I use it? When do I use it?

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2. Switch off the overhead bulb
What is most relevant when it comes to how you use your living room is the secondary lighting. Move away from the stark overhead lighting – nothing is less inviting than a spotlight – and choose your floor lamps and table lamps that warm things up. This will be particularly effective on a dull Sunday afternoon. Opt for warm yellow bulbs that cast a soft glow, balancing the natural coolness of the room.

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3. Choose brass and other “warm” materials over chrome
Picking out a new table lamp or wall mount? Choose metals on the warmer side of things too, avoiding chrome. Brass will always compensate for light, as will rattan or lantern style lighting. And don’t forget the candles…

4. Yes, you can paint a dark room in a dark colour
A room that lacks in natural light can be seen as a negative. Instead, see it as a free pass to experiment with bolder, darker colours, making the most of the room rather than painting it white and finding it lacks in atmosphere and style. Opt for a deep green or blue (I’m a fan of Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue), revel in the luxe aesthetic, and rely on all that secondary lighting to add warmth. This is also something to keep in mind for small and poorly lit bathrooms. Stop trying to make the impossible happen and allow yourself to have some fun with colour.

5. Add extra cosiness with wool, velvet and more
Once you have your colour and lighting sorted – and you’ve confidently ditched the rule book – be sure to introduce lots of varying textures to further warm things up. Again, this will balance the darkness of the room. Sheepskin throws, rich kilim rugs, velvet cushions, chunky knit throws, warm natural wood in a coffee table or shelving unit – all of these textures can work together or individually to enhance your living room, making it ultra cosy and inviting. As you create your very own literal comfort zone, you’ll soon forget there was ever an issue with natural light.

Caden Grimes Estates Is Licenced with the PSRA As An Estate Agent In Dublin #001883 Info@CGestates.ie

Using Property As A Pension Fund

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Renting is now an accepted part of Ireland’s housing market.
And using your pension fund (if you’re eligible) can be very tax efficient.

Fiona Reddin writing in The Irish Times

“If you buy an apartment through your pension fund for example (and remember this has been built up thanks in part to tax relief on contributions), then all the rent flows directly into the pension fund. It does not pass Revenue and does not result in a tax liability.
Should you sell it at a later stage, any capital gains which might arise are again distributed to the pension fund tax-free. The rent that comes in can be invested back into the equity or bond markets.
It is only once you draw income from your pension fund in retirement that there will be a tax liability.
Outside of the pension fund, if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer, almost half of your rental income can go on tax, while gains are subject to tax at 33 per cent”.

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If you are considering investing in property as a pension fund, call or email Caden Grimes Estates, we may have a property to suit.

Pride & Professionalism in property services

Caden Grimes Estates is a PSRA Licensed (#001883) Estate Agent.

Info@CGestates.ie
01 9014480

This article is reproduced for information purposes only and does not purport to offer financial advice.
Always talk to your Financial Adviser before making financial investments

Airbnb Properties Will Come Back To The Long Term Rental Market

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And It Can Be Good For Dublin Landlords……

The new legislation restricting short term stays to 90 days come into effect today (1st July 2019) and apply to properties where it is NOT the owner’s principal private residence but IS in a designated Rent Pressure Zone
You can apply for ‘change of use’ planning permission, but you are unlikely to get it.

If you are short-letting a room in your own home, the new rules do not apply, but you will need to register with your Local Authority

If you are short-letting a property OUTSIDE of the RPZ’s the rules DO NOT apply, but you DO need to apply for change of use. And you have to register with your council.

THIS IS serious – you can be fined up to €5,000 or get up to 6 months in prison – or both of the above!

Is this UNIQUE to Ireland? No – Barcelona, New York, San Fran, Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto, Vancouver, Berlin and a host (NPI!) more have introduced similar rules for similar reasons.

What does it mean for landlords?  Well it’s not all bad – long term rents are high, you won’t have to pay constant change out /cleaning fees, less wear and tear – and there are GREAT tenants out there.

 But New legislation has come in over the last few years which landlords need to be aware of – limited rent increases, equality, new standards in rented houses- All can be daunting.

Selling or Letting Your Property?
Caden Grimes Estates is licensed (001883) as an Estate Agent and Letting Agent with the PSRA
Info@CGestates.ie  01 9014480

Caden Grimes Estates. Pride and Professionalism In Property Services.

Rent Pressure Zones in Dublin and surrounding areas include:
All of the Dublin councils, Naas, Newbridge, Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth, Ashbourne, Ratoath, Navan, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow, Laytown/Bettystown, Drogheda

Dublin costliest city in euro zone because of high rents

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Fears are growing that expenses such as high rents could deter multinationals from locating in Dublin, as these costs make it more expensive for organisations to move managers to the city to oversee these investments.
From Barry O’Halloran

Capital falls 11 places to number 43 in annual cost of living study by Mercer

Dublin’s high rents make the city the costliest in the euro zone, a survey published on Wednesday says.

The Republic’s capital has fallen 11 places to number 43 in an annual cost of living study of the world’s cities by pay and pensions specialist Mercer, which advises businesses when they want to move workers from one country to another.

The figures show that Dublin remains the most expensive city in the euro zone in which to live, ahead of Milan in Italy at 45 and French capital Paris at 47.

Noel O’Connor, senior consultant at Mercer’s Irish operation, blamed high rents, a consequence of the Republic’s housing crisis, for making Dublin an expensive place to live.

“High demand coupled with supply constraints in the private rental market mean that expatriates may face serious problems finding appropriate accommodation, often the biggest cost for companies placing employees on assignment,” Mr O’Connor warned.

Multinationals

Fears are growing that expenses such as high rents could deter multinationals from locating in Dublin, as these costs make it more expensive for organisations to move managers to the city to oversee these investments.

The cost of living survey uses New York as its base city. Its calculations take everyday expenses including rent, the cost of a cup of coffee, cinema tickets and buying a pair of jeans into account. Mercer surveyed more than 200 cities around the world in March.

Hong Kong topped the rankings this year, followed by Tokyo in Japan at number two, Singapore at three and South Korea’s capital Seoul at four. Zurich in Switzerland was Europe’s most expensive city at number five. Belfast came in at number 158.

Mr O’Connor noted that the euro’s fall against the dollar made living in the euro zone cheaper, but within the single currency region costs remained relatively the same as in 2018.

He suggested that Dublin could cut the cost of living by expanding the number of homes available to rent. “Nevertheless, Dublin remains an attractive location for multinational organisations,” he said.

Other expensive western European cities included Switzerland’s Bern at 12 and Geneva at 13, Copenhagen in Denmark at 20 and British capital London at 23.

Caden Grimes Estates is a PSRA licensed (# 001883) Estate Agent.

Make The Most Of Your Garden This Summer

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The More You Like It, The More You Use It

From Caroline Foran, writing in The Journal.ie

Caden Grimes Estates is a PSRA Licensed Estate Agent, based in Dublin, # 001883