Cork Homes

A new National Housing Construction Index compiled and issued by Link2Plans has shown the extent of the drop in construction activity in Cork measuring both submitted Planning Applications and Planning Commencements for the county.

The research shows that from January to April 2012, 687 planning applications were submitted in Cork. This compared to 789 in 2011 resulting in a drop of 13...

Lilac: A scent sensation

Even those who are new to gardening will recognise the lilac, an old fashioned shrub that was likely grown in your grandmother's garden. Lilacs are generally grown for their superb scented flowers, which are excellent for cutting. Late spring, early summer can almost be defined as ‘lilac time’, a season easily recognised by that...

"I have taken action on a lifelong dream and bought a tiny café in the heart of my village. The food I'll be serving is French bistro cuisine and the café will be open during the day for brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. It's medium sized with 12 tables and a glass display cabinet to showcase pastries and scones. I've been watching Neville’s Doorstep Challenge and...

The latest house rebuild guide, published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, shows that national average rebuild costs have increased marginally for 2012. On average SCSI are reporting an average national increase of 1.48%. The SCSI results show that for the most common house type, a three-bedroom semi detached, there were increases in rebuild costs in the order of 1.72% per square...

As the summer sun finally rears its pretty head, eBay.ie has reported a surge in spending on summer dinning must-haves. The website recorded a 12% increase in sales of picnic baskets and sets last week.

The little additions that will make a big impact to your outdoor space...
 

"I’m redecorating my living room but I’m really unsure of what shade to choose. It's a north-facing room which doesn’t get an awful lot of light so I’m struggling to pick a colour that will brighten the room without being garish. My existing furniture consists of cream curtains and a cream sofa that I would like to keep."

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