< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES ‘Wonderland’ Discover ‘Wonderland’ Discover 10-14.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:25 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 11 HOMES Down a little road called the Weather Walk, in Spridlington, one will discover a stunning stone, Grade II Listed farmhouse. The peaceful property sees hardly any passing traffic, enjoys good views, gorgeous sunsets, and is imbued with character. While officially called Elm House, the owner refers to it by another name. She explained: “A friend who came to visit from Switzerland said it was an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ house, so I call it ‘Wonderland’. It’s a very quirky house, and you can actually get lost in it.” She continued: “It is sort of Referred to by its owner as ‘Wonderland’, this month’s featured property is a magical home, full of character. 12 Á 10-14.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:26 Page 212 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY H0MES magical the way you move around from one area to another. It’s full of character and even the little rooms like the pantry and cloakroom are all unique and beautiful.” Fortunately, there is no Queen of Hearts demanding heads, one will instead find a property full of original features, from low beams to the listed staircase. Venturing down the rabbit hole, one begins in the reception hall, with its stone floor. Off the hall is the sitting room, featuring an oak floor, coving, dado rail, York stone hearth, oak mantle, wood- burner, and sash window with shutters. One will also find the dining room on the ground floor, with oak floor, triple aspect bay sash windows, Cathedral Limestone hearth and surround, wood-burner, fitted shelving and cupboards, dado rail, pendant and wall lights. Continuing through the house, there is the cloakroom with stone floor, w/c, pedestal wash hand basin, panelling to dado, window, recessed spotlights, fitted cupboards, and exposed beam, and the snug, hosting Karndean oak effect floor, an inglenook fireplace with wood burner, exposed beams, dual aspect windows with insulated blinds, and a built-in cupboard. Moving into the kitchen, the Karndean Oak effect floor continues. The kitchen also features an Oil fired double oven aga, dual electric oven, four ring induction hob, Belfast sink, brushed steel mixer tap, bespoke units, granite worktops, tiled splash backs, integrated dishwasher, fridge and wine cooler, and windows with insulated blinds. From the kitchen one can reach the utility room and pantry, which has stone shelves, keeping things cool. Travelling upstairs, across two floors are six bedrooms, three bathrooms, and the attic room. One of the bedrooms has been transformed into a reading room. The owner said: “I’ve changed it into a sort of entertaining room. I belonged to a reading group and created that room for poetry, books, to be a room to sit in and relax.” The blue room also features beams, a sash window with seat and 14 Á 10-14.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:26 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 13 HOMES Buoyant sales for Beal Homes as house-hunters seek quality during pandemic Award-winning housebuilder Beal Homes is delivering buoyant sales as house-hunters seek quality and space in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “People have spent much more time in their homes over the past few months and many of them have decided they need more space and flexibility, including to accommodate working from home,” said Chief Executive Richard Beal. “That has fed through to demand for new homes and we’re finding the quality we’re well known for and the unique opportunity we offer for every buyer to personalise their home is proving extremely popular.” Beal Homes is also in the process of building three brand new bungalow types at the Bishops Green and Somerby Croft developments. They may have gone out of fashion for a while, but bungalows are back in demand from house-hunters. Customers can benefit from one-level living without the costs, disruption and stress of redeveloping a dated and neglected property. To find out more, visit www.beal-homes.co.uk. 10-14.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:26 Page 414 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES shutters, and a decorative fireplace. While the owner notes that this is her favourite room in the house, she highlights how each room exudes its own character: “Every single room changes, that is what makes the house so interesting.” A particularly unique space in the home is the master suite, which is actually set over the first and second floor, with the master bedroom, with its vaulted ceiling and Velux windows, on the second floor, and the dressing room and bathroom on the first. The owner notes that the master bedroom suite is one of the main reasons she bought the house. Stepping outside of the property, beautiful South and West facing landscaped gardens await. Predominantly laid to lawn, there are planted and well-maintained borders and beds, as well as a greenhouse, garden store and raised beds. One should also mention the rose beds at the front lawn - don’t worry no-one will ask you to paint them red! Talking about the gardens, the owner said: “There is a U hedge that frames the house, and lawns and little seating areas all over. There is also a ha-ha wall, and just beyond it the garden starts in spring with daffodils, snowdrops, and aconites, and then it just stays in flower all the year.” After a two year stay at ‘Wonderland’ the owner and her husband are now looking to move to the seaside: “Lockdown makes you really consider exactly what you want from life, and we have decided that if we don’t move to the seaside now, we probably never will.” Elm House, or ‘Wonderland’, is now on the market with Mount and Minster for £665,000. 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A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round! 4 great reasons to subscribe... 3 Each issue is brimming with a diverse topic range... • Heritage • Fashion • Hair & Beauty • Leisure • Homes & Gardens • County Motoring • Dining Out • What’s On • Free Reader Giveaways and much much more… 3 First 3 issues only £1! 3 FREE delivery to your door 3 Receive your copy before it hits the shops First 3 issues for £1 15.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:34 Page 1If you’re anything like us, you’ll have boxes of Christmas decorations and décor pieces that come out as soon as December arrives. It’s a wonderful tradition to transform the house for a month or two. But chances are, many of these pieces have been hanging around a bit and might be getting tatty, so why not use the excuse to kit yourself out with some lovely new pieces to infuse your house with Christmas cheer. Goodness knows we could all use some more of that this year. We’ve curated this selection of delightful décor choices, ranging from the elegant to the downright cheeky. HOME TRENDS 16 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 1 2 3 Put your décor at the top of the gift list © Masque photography 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:35 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 17 1) For a statement decoration this Christmas, the LED star in ash with fairy detailing adds a beautiful focal point for the room. Available from dar lighting group. 2) From The British Craft House comes this cute needle felted reindeer Christmas decoration complete with stand and ribbon. 3) This metal candle holder with a star surround and a double glass container from Natalia Willmott would make a charming addition to your festive décor. 4) Berries & Baubles offer this rustic wreath combining red Hydrangea combined with naturally dried oranges, Rosehip berries and pinecones. 6) Sometimes, all we can do is laugh. A case in point is this cheeky COVID-19 Christmas tree ornament from London Bohemian Limited. 5) The gold festive mistletoe spray from Hudson Home will make for a family-favourite decoration you’ll be excited to bring our year on year. The rustic, gold metal leaves lead to clusters of berries. 7) We all love a bit of Fizz over the Xmas period and this Prosecco Ho Ho Ho Doormat from Lime Lace will remind you to pop open a bottle. 8) It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a stocking, and these adorable designs from Mosney Mill featuring snow bunnies, puddings and robins are just darling. 9) If it’s your baby’s very first Christmas, what better way to celebrate that with this delightful personalised decoration from And so to Shop. 8 9 5 6 8 4 7 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:35 Page 2creative. It’s a practice and passion that has sustained him into his adult years. However, his journey to becoming a full- time artist has hardly been a straight line. After leaving school, Michael worked as forklift driver for ten years – a decade where he was also topping up his income as a part-time freelance card designer with major publishing companies. In 1990, he finally amassed the confidence to take the plunge and go full-time. He’s not looked back since. Having recently celebrated his twentieth year as a full-time professional artist, it’s safe to say that Michael hasn’t 18 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Michael Abrams has an artistic streak dating back to when he was in junior school. By his own admission, he was “very average” at most school subjects but leapt at every chance to paint and draw. At a time when most teachers and pupils didn’t take art classes very seriously, he would arrive early for the lesson and make sure everyone had paper and pencils ready and all the powder paints were topped up and ready to go. The reason being so that no painting time was wasted with children mucking around and Michael could just enjoy a full afternoon being What a whimsical world looked back. Despite his longevity, he is nothing but humble, being completely self-taught and admitting he has “only a certain amount of talent”. But his career has been filled with plenty of highs, having worked and exhibited in New York, designed figurines in Thailand and ceramics for Wedgwood featuring one of We take a closer look at the wonderful whimsical works of Michael Abrams. 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:36 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 19 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE his teddy bear characters. The ‘Hound Heads’ is one of Michael’s most renowned series of paintings and features people with hound heads in place of their own. These images include whimsical, intriguing, and often powerful messages behind their pops of vibrant colour, giving a dream like quality. Adding complex psychological dimensions give an unnatural presence to the work that can be interpreted in many ways. A number of Hound Head images contain humour and a more pop art visual appeal, especially the Hounds of London in which the bowler hatted hounds are seen interacting in everyday situations in or around the capital. The juxtaposition of the Hound Head characters in the real world gives their expressionless faces an innocence and vulnerability which is both appealing and mysterious. ‘The Wanderer’ series, meanwhile, features a man Michael has christened The Wanderer. The Wanderer is a mysterious character who roams the THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. 8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134 art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk countryside with his dog. There is not a definitive back story to the character, Michael would like the viewer to make their own mind up as to why he is there. Who is he, what is he searching for, where has he come from and where is he going? “Although the countryside is painted in rich hues of colour, I try to evoke a feeling of solitude and capture a moment in the wanderers life, adding a deep sense of atmosphere to the paintings,” he says. Some of Michael’s work can be bought from The Little Red Gallery in Lincoln. 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:36 Page 2Next >