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The Garden Experience

When we think about buying gifts for a gardener, we usually end up plumping for a flower or a tree in a pot. Of course, no serious gardener will turn down a plant, but there are other ideas that would thrill your green-fingered friend or family.…

The Asking Price

Only 10 percent of properties sold in Spain go for the original asking price, according to new figures. It’s a stark contrast with the USA, where more than 35 per cent of properties go for the price asked. “It’s almost standard…

Foreign Interest

If you want to get an idea of where foreign buyers prefer to set up home in Spain, a map produced by the Spanish Society of Registrars provides a good starting point. 16,209 homes in Spain were bought by foreign buyers in the second quarter…

Lanzarote Christmas Gifts

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The build up to Christmas can be daunting. Deciding what presents to get is half the equation, but finding the right present is a massive task. Here on Lanzarote, there are many local craftsman and artisan stalls, so why not have a wander and…

When do the decoration go up?

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It's the age-old debate. When do the decorations go up? Everyone has their own opinion, some start in November, some start on December 1st and some don't put them up until the day before Christmas! But who's right? The famed Christmas…

Stay Cosy This Christmas

We have the luxury of living in 24/7 good weather, and those who have become accustomed to the climate think that anything under 20°C is borderline jumper weather. Here’s some tips to make your home cosy on cool winter nights in Lanzarote. I…

Look East

China has influenced our interiors for hundreds of years. Far Eastern interior design has influenced us here in the West for much longer than you think. First came the wealth of ideas and materials that were revealed to Europe by explorers…

The Bare Effects

Bare ownership is a recent Spanish property development that gives older people the chance to live out their lives in their own homes and enjoy a cash windfall. Spain has the longest life expectancy in Europe – if you’re a woman,…

The Carpenters Greatest Hits

Carpenters are every bit as important to building a house as architects or bricklayers. Jesus and Joseph, Harrison Ford, Ronnie Biggs - carpenters have been in demand throughout history, and for good reason. They are the guys (and ever…

Flat is Beautiful

All around you on Lanzarote you'll find flat roofed buildings, so why not celebrate the 100th anniversary of the German design school that made them world famous? The history of the flat roof doesn’t go back that far. Before the 20th…