5 days agoNews TalkComments Off on We transformed a battered old van into luxury home-on-wheels – and it’s full of incredible hidden storage spaces
A COUPLE transformed a battered old van into a luxury home-on-wheels kitted out with incredible hidden storage spaces.
UK based Cecile and Jose are the creators of the ‘Rocky’, the motor home which went viral for its innovative features.
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaTheir van could be mistaken for a luxury hotel room[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe interior is beautifully furnished and features a fully functioning kitchen[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaCecile and Jose are part of Vanpuravida, a company which renovates vans into homes[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe decked out vehicle even features a hidden shower[/caption]
The smart design has garnered more than 200,000 views on TikTok, with a shower cleverly disguised as seating and a cupboard.
Van life has seen a huge surge in popularity over the past few years and this is something something the couple have capitalised on with unique designs.
“Most of us have a very busy life in cities – we all need to sometimes re-centre ourselves and being close to nature,” Cecile, 46, told Luxury Travel Daily.
The video from the couple behind Vanpuravida shows what appears to be a cushioned seat, before Jose removes it to reveal the base of the shower.
He then opens the cupboard doors aside, where water-friendly material is pulled into place, allowing for a full-size enclosed shower cubicle.
Underneath, the toilet can be seen – which Jose pulls forward for use.
Dubbed the ‘Rocky’, Cecile and Jose, 35, were tasked with creating a hidden shower for a customer.
Cecile said: “This van has a lot of fantastic features.
“We love of course the hidden shower.
“It gives a great feeling of space in the van without the usual shower that breaks the eyes’ view.”
After receiving the request, the duo got to work designing the van and the key feature.
Cecile said of the process: “We see a lot of genius ideas on social media, but we often wonder ‘What about the waterproofing’.
“When our customers came requesting the shower to be hidden in the sofa and a cupboard we thought ‘Genius – let’s make it real!’
“We started from the tambour spirals and corner sizes. This defined the radius of the bespoke shower tray.”
The post garnered tens of thousands of likes on TikTok.
One person commented: “Very clever and beautifully done.”
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you are looking to live in a van to save money or travel, you'll be pleased to know that there are no UK laws stopping you.
However, you must ensure your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There could also be restrictions on where you can park up to sleep in your van.
For example, local authorities place restrictions on certain streets or lay-bys, and you could be fined if you spend the night there.
It could also be unsafe to stop in certain locations, particularly at night-time.
“Just wow. Smartest one I saw so far,” another fan said.
Someone else wrote: “This is the best one I’ve seen!”
“That is so clever! smart use of space. I love it,” added another viewer.
Someone else said: “GENIUS.”
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe bed at the rear of the van[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe shower (left) with its rollers fully closed[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe view of the van from its sliding side door[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe seats at the front of the van can turn to make a dining table for two[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe cost of the luxury conversion costs £47,990 according to Vanpuravida’s website[/caption]
Jam Press/@vanpuravidaThe hidden toilet and shower (bottom left)[/caption]
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5 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Як розпізнати перенапруження очей і зменшити його
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5 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Affordable home scheme gaffs in new Dublin estate blasted as State ‘retain €100k stake’ in two-beds costing €334k
TWO bedroom houses in a new Dublin estate will cost €334,000 under the affordable home scheme – but Sinn Fein say the State will retain a €100,000 stake in the property.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien today officially opened the 600-home Shanganagh estate in Dublin that was built by the Land Development Agency.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien officially opened the 600-home Shanganagh estate in DublinCoalesce 2024
The first phase of the development will include 51 affordable purchase homes, 195 cost rental apartments and 35 social apartments.
A two-bed affordable house in the estate will cost €334,000 while a three-bed house will cost €388,000, but the State will retain a stake in the property which the new owner can buy out at any point in the future.
The cost rental apartments which are set by the State at a lower rate than the market will cost people nearly €1,200 per month.
Sinn Fein’s housing spokesman Eoin O’Broin raged: “What the press release deliberately leaves out is that the purchase homes will come with a hidden €100,000 state equity stake which must be paid back if you want to own the home outright.”
He added: “If you don’t buy out the equity your children will have to pay it when they inherit the home.
“Buyers beware, is neither home ownership nor affordable housing. It is overpriced market housing that is unaffordable to the vast majority of working people.
“It confirms once again that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are neither willing nor able to deliver affordable homes.
“Only a Sinn Féin government implementing Sinn Féin’s affordable homes plan can deliver tens of thousands of genuinely affordable homes, bringing home ownership back into reach of working people.”
Taoiseach Harris defended the affordability of the homes at the launch today and slammed Sinn Fein’s alternative housing plan which will remove supports currently in place such as the First Home scheme and the Help to Buy scheme.
He said: “What have Sinn Fein got against civil servants who are trying to get on the property ladder that they want to pull the rug from under them in relation to the supports we have available.
“Under their very interesting – to put I mildly and diplomatically – housing plan that confuses and boggles the mind in terms of whether you can even access a loan to buy the house, but leaving that aside they would actually once you hit a threshold of €90,000 you are not eligible for the funding.
“So if you have somebody who maybe an experienced garda or nurse married to the other you wouldn’t qualify for any support.
“Under our scheme you would qualify for tens of thousands of euros of support.”
Sinn Fein’s housing plan proposes a new form of housing where the State builds the homes on State land and sells them for an affordable price however, the State remains ownership of the land the home is built on.
5 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Thousands more get €924 cash, €50k & €70k grant but lower €250 energy credit – what Budget 2025 has for householders
THOUSANDS of Irish homeowners could get €924 cash they didn’t qualify for before, €50k and €70k grants and every home in the country is set a €250 energy credit in Budget 2025.
Budget 2025 will be announced on October 1, and a total of €1.4billion in taxation measures and €6.9billion in expenditure measures will be announced.
A number of boosts are on the way for homeowners and renters in Budget 2025Getty Images - GettyFinance Minister Jack Chambers has confirmed energy credits will be part of Budget 2025� 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved
The Government has confirmed plans to pay out energy credits again to assist homeowners, while Ministers may also move to offer thousands of people a chance to cash in on €924 annually.
Finance Minister Chambers has said that energy credits will be paid out to every household in the country this winter to help tackle high bills.
He said: “We have to finalise that but what I would say is that there is consensus in Government on having an energy credit to support people through the winter period.
“Whatever feeds into next year has to take account to the new fiscal rules that we are in and that will dictate how we decide to spread payments or whether we have one bulk payment in particular.
“What I would say is that the decisions we take on energy credits will be about protecting families and ensuring that the energy costs which are still in our economy are mitigated through the winter period.”
Here’s everything things homeowners, first-time buyers and renters should watch for in Budget 2025.
FUEL ALLOWANCE
A lowering of the age requirement for those who can receive the fuel allowance is on the cards for the budget.
The Fuel Allowance is a major payment aimed at covering the cost of heating your home for a 28-week period from September to April and will be paid out to thousands on September 23, 2024.
To qualify for the payment you must be over 70 or getting a qualifying social welfare payment and satisfy a means test.
It can be paid out for the 28 weeks in €33 payments which you receive with your other social welfare payments – or people can opt to receive the amount in two lump sums of €462.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has revealed that a lowering the qualifying age for the fuel allowance from 70 to 66 is being considered.
The fuel allowance expansion would see thousands more people being given access to the €924 annually.
Minister Humphreys said: “I have to say last year I expanded the fuel allowance to the over 70s and that was a very, very welcome measure because the one thing we don’t want is old people in their home afraid to turn on the heating.
“So this year I am looking at maybe reducing that age to those over 66 when they retire – that is something I am looking at.”
ENERGY CREDIT
Households nationwide will benefit this year from a once off €250 energy credit before Christmas.
The payment aims to help families across the country get through the winter.
Last winter, €450 was given out as an energy credit to over 2.2million households.
This year, the Government has confirmed that there will be at least one energy credit, €250 being first and likely paid before Christmas.
However it has not been decided how many instalments will be paid.
Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: “I think it will be this year that [the energy credit] will be paid out”.
He continued: “The cost-of-living is still very much in our minds because many families across the country are feeling the pressure because of the inflation over the last three years, particularly the beginning of the Ukraine war.
“It particularly impacted energy and energy costs is a big issue with families and indeed with businesses.
“Even though inflation has come down now to two per cent, below that, prices are at an elevated high and we’re very clear we have to look after people and do the best we can to protect people at the end of the budget.
VACANT PROPERTY REFURBISHMENT GRANT
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to thousands of eligible homeowners in order to help with the cost of refurbishing your home.
The grant can also be used to renovate any vacant and derelict properties that were not previously listed as residential homes.
It only applies to non-residential properties who have planning permission to be used residentially and were previously used for commercial use.
It’s given to those who plan on living in the property or to those who plan on renting the property when renovations are complete.
The scheme offers a maximum of €50,000 when it comes to renovating any vacant properties or €70,000 if properties are derelict.
The scheme also offers more funds if the property is located on one of Ireland’s off-shore islands.
Or if the conversion is on a vacant traditional farmhouse.
RENT CREDIT
Budget 2025 will also provide support to those who don’t own their home and are renting.
Minister Chambers and Minister O’Brien have both backed a fresh increase to Rent Tax Credit – marking the second hike in two year.
The rent tax credit – first introduced at a rate of €500 back in 2022 – was increased to €750 for a single person and €1,500 for jointly assessed couples.
The cash scheme previously sees renters get money back once they pay €2,500 rent if they are single or €5,000 if in a couple, in the specific calendar year.
But Ministers have hinted that the payment could be hiked again – with a possible rise to €1,000 for single renters and a whopping €2,000 for couples.
O’Brien said: “That’s something that we will absolutely discuss and Minister Chambers and I have already said that we would like to see a further expansion of the renters’ tax credit.
“Really importantly for renters, lots of renters want to buy.
“That’s why we’ve scaled up the First Home scheme. We’ve invested an additional €80million this year, €40million from us, €40million from the banks, because lots of renters are now buying their homes by using the First Home scheme.”
HELP TO BUY SCHEME
There’s also packages in place to support those looking to buy.
Housing Minister O’Brien has pushed for the Help to Buy scheme to extend beyond 2025.
The scheme was extended to December 2025 in the previous budget, but according to The Irish Times, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien wishes to see the programme continue after next year.
The HTB scheme helps first-time buyers purchase newly built homes or apartments as well as self-built homes.
There are limits to which properties can be involved in the scheme as it only considers properties that cost €500,000 or less.
Those whose purchases meet the required conditions receive a refund of Irish Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax paid in Ireland.
It has also been reported that Minister O’Brien will seek an increase in a cap on the price of homes eligible for the scheme for October’s Budget.
FIRST HOME SCHEME
Among the grants currently available to homeowners are the First Home Scheme – which was allocated an extra €80million this year.
The FHS is an affordable housing scheme that aims to help first time buyers be able to afford or build their first home.
It is a shared equity scheme, meaning the Government and banks involved in the mortgage pay up to 30 per cent of the cost of your home.
This gives them a stake in your home and if you want, you are able to buy back the stake at any time, but it is not a requirement.
SEVEN MAJOR MONEY CHANGES IN SEPTEMBER
THERE are seven upcoming money changes that should ease the pain on people's pockets this month, including a €462 payment set to be paid in just weeks.
The country’s biggest electricity provider confirmed that both its standard unit rate of electricity and standard gas rate will be reduced by three per cent for over 1.2 million customers.
This will save households around €45 a year on their electricity and €40 a year on their gas on average.
The Fuel Allowance is a major payment aimed at covering the cost of heating your home for a 28 week period from September to April and will be paid out to thousands on September 23, 2024.
To qualify for the payment you must be over 70 or getting a qualifying social welfare payment and satisfy a means test while living alone or with one of the exceptions listed here.
It can be paid out for 28 weeks in €33 payments which you will receive with your other social welfare payments but people can opt to receive the amount in two lump sums of €462.
Student Grants
Maintenance grants for students are set to increase by €615 for all non-adjacent rates and by 10 per cent for adjacent rates.
There is also changes to the postgraduate tuition fee grant which will increase by €1,000 for students in the 2023/2024 academic year.
And students who qualify for the Free Fees Scheme, will see the Student Contribution be reduced by €1,000 in the 2023/2024 academic year. Those who have already paid will receive a refund.
From this month the income threshold to qualify for the 100 per cent Student Contribution will increase to €55,924.
Hot School Meals
In July, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys announced an additional 168 primary schools would receive Hot School Meals in the term starting in September 2024.
This means 345,000 primary school children are now eligible to receive hot school lunches.
From September 2, 2024 the minimum rate for the National Childcare Scheme subsidies increased from €1.40 to €2.14 per hour.
Free Book Scheme
An extension of the Free School Books Scheme means parents and guardians of students in Junior Cycle years in post-primary schools should not be asked to buy or rent any school books in the 2024/2025 school year under the scheme.
This applies to students enrolled in secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme and will see free schoolbooks and core classroom resources provided.
It’s available across the nation for first time buyers and some others who wish to buy a new home as well as people who want to build their first home on a new site.
The scheme extends to ‘fresh start’ applicants who previously owned a home but now no longer have a financial interest because they are divorced, separated, or their relationship ended.
People also become ‘fresh start’ applicants if they have gone through personal insolvency or bankruptcy.
There are limits to the price of the home depending on where in the country it is and more information can be found on citizensinformation.ie.
Перенапруження очей у світі зустрічається дуже часто. Воно може бути викликане довгим читанням, постійною роботою за комп’ютером та телефоном, водінням на великі відстані. “Люди із захворюваннями очей, такими як нескоректований зір або м’язовий дисбаланс, наражаються на більший ризик перенапруги очей. Стрес і втома також можуть сприяти втомі очей”, – зазначають фахівці Клівлендської клініки (Cleveland Clinic). […]
П’ятничне відео вам від Насті Каменських Співачка Настя Каменських вирішила допомогти своїм шанувальникам увійти в легкий настрій вечора п’ятниці. У Instagram вона поділилася жартівливим відео з собою в головній ролі: заклопотана ділова жіночка під кінець робочого дня з насолодою наливає собі в чашку винце. «Коли нарешті дотягнула до п’ятниці» «Нарешті ми дочекались ще однієї п’ятниці. […]
