The Journal

Sit Back ; and Admire the Views

MORE PICTURES visit our gallery at www.homemaker.co.uk J OHN and Sylvia MacDonald like nothing better than to relax on the balcony of their Northumberland home and admire the stunning views. Offering the very best of all worlds, their 1950s detached property backs on to Morpeth Golf Club, yet enjoys a convenient location just one mile from Morpeth town centre. The retired couple bought the three-bedroom house, on Churchburn Drive, 21 years ago.

Family Home with Leisure Complex

COMPLETE with communal leisure complex and grounds, this barn conversion in Northumberland would be an ideal family home or holiday let. Daneshill, in the rural hamlet of Branton, is located within a pleasant courtyard of Grade II-listed traditional stone agricultural buildings. The two-storey property comprises a reception hallway, master bedroom with en suite, two further bedrooms and bathroom. On the first floor there is an open-plan living and dining area with multi-fuel stove.

Auctions Report Pick-Up in Demand

LOCAL property auction houses are reporting a pick-up in demand in a traditionally quiet month of the year, suggesting confidence could be returning to the market. Property auctions can often provide an early indicator as to the health of the local housing market and recent sales by Pattinson and Sarah Mains show promising signs of recovery.

Fourth Month of Price Rises

HOUSE prices rose for the fourth month in a row in August as the market continued to be boosted by a shortage of homes for sale, figures showed this week. The average cost of a home in the UK rose by 1.6% during the month, the biggest increase since December 2006, according to Nationwide Building Society.

This Spacious Bungalow has Been [ ... ]

THIS spacious bungalow has been extended and improved and is ideal for family life or entertaining. The house, in Rowley, County Durham, has four bedrooms, three reception rooms, a lounge and a kitchen. The two-and-a-half acres of land comes with stables and a double garage/workshop, with stunning views over the countryside.

Bring On the Bungalows ; Bungalows Appeal to All Kinds of Buyers, As Well As the Traditional Retired Market. If Single-Storey Living Is for You, Homemaker has a Selection.

APPEALING to a wide range of potential purchasers including the retired, couples and families, this three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow in Winlaton ticks many boxes. The well-presented property has an entrance porch, generously sized lounge measuring 21ft by almost 14ft, fitted kitchen, three bedrooms (with fitted wardrobes to two) and a bathroom. There is also a lawned garden, block paved driveway and single garage.

This Detached Bungalow in Sought-After [ ... ]

THIS detached bungalow in sought-after Low Fell, Gateshead, has been refurbished and is presented to a high standard. With a sizeable plot on Rokeby View, the three-bedroom property is well proportioned. It has a living room featuring a wall-mounted fireplace, a contemporary dining kitchen with integrated oven, hob and fridge freezer, three bedrooms and a family bathroom with free- standing bath and shower. The immaculate gardens to front and back are another attraction, with a timber decked ...

Comforta Cream ; Relaxing, Versatile and Easy-On-the-Eye, It's No Surprise That Cream Is Making a Comeback, Says Claire Hornby.

NOT a fan of bright colour in your home? Nothing says sophistication and glamour like a smooth, cream interior. Not as stark as white, cream is much more forgiving and a whole lot cosier. A cream interior goes hand in hand with natural materials and sleek, smooth chrome. With this look it's all about adding in lots of textures and different shades to make sure the room doesn't look flat once you're done decorating.

Three of a Kind ; Semi-Detached Houses Are Often More Spacious Than You Think. Homemaker Highlights Three On the Market in the Region.

What: A stone-built semi detached property in Powburn, Alnwick, set within just under a third of an acre. Highlights: The home has undergone a number of improvements and offers versatile family living accommodation. Features include a family room with traditional stone inglenook fireplace housing a cast iron stove, lounge with French doors leading to the garden, and L-shaped fitted kitchen. The first floor has a master bedroom with views to the foothills of the Cheviots and en suite, and two ...

Mystery of the Patchy Damp ; House Doctor Peter Fall Looks at the Causes of Damp.

DESPITE the cry of the newspapers, I think the weather this summer has been quite good. Well, it has for me going to work every day. Rarely has it rained so much that is has become a nuisance and the heat hasn't been that intense so work is difficult. I spend most of my days inspecting property and the thought of donning overalls and climbing into a stifling loft on a baking hot day fills me with dread!

Barn Conversion Set in Heart of the Countryside

LA LIBELLULE is a luxury barn conversion in the heart of the Northumberland countryside. The west -facing property is one of only three within this development in East Fenrother, just miles from the bustling market town of Morpeth. The property has been sympathetically restored and has a spacious reception hallway with natural stone flagged floor and oak staircase, cloakroom, and stunning living room with beamed ceiling, oak flooring and stone fireplace housing a multi-fuel burning stove.

Keep the Display Going ; a Walk in the Garden

AUGUST is always a difficult month to manage in a garden. The frothy abundance of early summer has become dull, making many plants look as though they lack vitality. By September there will be lots of colour again, from asters, golden seedheads of grasses, rose hips and other fruits, plus late season perennials. But for now, it is a time for heavy cutting back in order to keep the display going, and having one or two areas of vibrancy to direct attention to.

Best of the Bunch

Diary

Diary KEEP in touch with North East gardening and floral events through this column every Saturday.

Substantial Bungalow Surrounded by Garden

THIS detached bungalow is in Darras Hall. In a quiet cul-de-sac, it has a conservatory and lounge extension plus a well fitted kitchen.

Attractive Flat Close to the Centre of City

Proving Popular

HOME buyers are flocking to take advantage of the superb deals from Yuill Homes on its two and three-bedroom homes at a new development in Newcastle. Almost two-thirds of homes at Balliol Mews, Benton, have been sold . Balliol Mews has proven popular with a range of people looking for a home in a central location - from first-time buyers and young professionals, to growing families and downsizers.

Space and Style for All the Family ; Advertisement Feature

FAMILIES need space to live and grow and Bryant Homes has the answer. The five-bedroom, three-storey, detached Hoylake is available at the Greenside development in Newcastle Great Park. Not only does The Hoylake have three good-sized reception rooms, but the inclusion of a separate study makes it a dream home for any family whose key requirements include space for children to study or for a home office.

With 21st Century Living in Mind ; Karen Overbury Gets Away From It All - Only a Few Miles From the Heart of Newcastle.

YOU look at the adverts and you read the developer's words of praise. But many people are rather cynical of the claims of perfection. So when I read about Fell House Farm sitting amid "rolling fields" and with glorious views, yet only a few minutes from Newcastle city centre I was a touch cynical.

Something for Everyone ; Advertisement Feature

WITH its attractive setting overlooking cornfields, and its close proximity to schools, shops and local amenities, George Wimpey's Copperfields development is a great opportunity to own a beautifully designed home in a sought-after location. Add to that the convenience of a public transport system with great links to Newcastle and Durham and it's easy to see why the site is so popular. Since it opened its doors in 2007, the development, in Boldon, has been a resounding success with buyers on ...