Latest news with #KatherineOrmerod
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
New lease of life: How to make a rental property feel like home
Making your rented home feel like your own space is achievable, according to London-based social media content creator Katherine Ormerod, whose book Your Not Forever Home: Affordable, Elevated, Temporary Décor for Renters details her experience with renting and buying and renting again. She's a fashion journalist but most likely to be found in dungarees, brandishing an electric drill. She's also adept at sewing everything from cushions to curtains — that's quite inspiring, but is it really worth the bother when the property will never be yours? 'There's no point pretending that renting doesn't have its drawbacks,' she says, 'but it's also not the living nightmare it's sometimes made out to be, especially if you can find an undervalued property and agree to making changes to help you feel properly at home.' Art and books bring colour and your own personality to a room, especially if you are living with furniture you don't own. With house prices soaring and in short supply, making the most of a rental can give you some sense of having roots. 'If you find yourself still short a deposit in mid-life it doesn't mean you've screwed up,' says Katherine. 'The world has simply turned quicker than our expectations of adulthood have evolved. I've lived in 15 rentals over the years, and I've made every single one a personalised space.' Although she and her husband briefly owned a tiny flat, they quickly outgrew it. After 18 months of trying to sell, coping with two pandemic lockdowns with a toddler and a baby on the way, and even renting the flat out for a while, it sold without making a profit, and she found herself back renting and dealing with constraints, which she sees as being good for creativity. Being able to take your own furniture to your new rental instantly gives a feeling of home. 'There are all kinds of temporary ways you can elevate a space,' she says. 'Vinyl kitchen surfaces, stick-on tiles, a host of movable artwork and objects. But I also deeply believe in trying to change the dynamic we have between landlord and tenant and seeing a lease more as a collaboration. We are so adversarial,l and it just doesn't have to be that way.' She does go further than these easy-to-add and remove changes if you see yourself staying put for a few years. With the rental market being as excruciatingly competitive here as in London, she takes a novel approach. 'I always present a prospective landlord with a proposal for what I'd like to do to improve a rental,' she says. 'For example, I paint the walls and pay for that paint, and ask for a rental reduction in lieu. The landlord gets a refreshed home for a fraction of the cost of professional decoration, improving its value, and I get to live in an, admittedly neutral, colourful home.' For tenants who don't want to go this far or can't get permission to do it, other steps can be taken, according to Katherine. 'When you walk into a rental, especially if it's a new build, the thing I hate most is that echo you get in an empty, optic white box,' she says. Zoning is one of Ormerod's approaches to fitting everything into her space, including a dining room for entertaining. 'My number one tactic is to bring fabric and textures into the room, because aside from bringing that tactile cosiness, it also transforms the auditory quality of the space. As well as sofas, rugs, and throws, I'll make large bench cushions and curtains and stretch fabrics across handmade frames to create tapestries to line the walls. Nothing makes a home feel more comfortable than layered fabric.' If you're unskilled with a needle beyond reattaching a button, this is ambitious, but a quick purchase of some soft furnishings would also do nicely. When eventually it's time to move, this interest in having a lovely home ought to endear you somewhat to your landlord so you get your deposit back, but it isn't always a guarantee. Accessories and crafts, whether homemade or purchased, are a way of adding colour and texture. 'If a landlord is adamant that they're going to screw you over and keep your deposit, they will find a way to do it,' says Katherine. 'So many unfair situations have come up for me along the way and I am somewhat cynical. However, if you take pictures of every room yourself when you move in and ensure that you keep an email trail of everything, most definitely any changes that you've agreed to, you will have evidence to support your claim if it comes to arbitration. From my experience, you always have to compromise in small courts cases, but at least you'll have a leg to stand on.' Your Not Forever Home by Katherine Ormerod, photography, Yuki Sugiura (Quadrille) by Katherine Ormerod, photography, Yuki Sugiura (Quadrille)
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘It took four years and 183 viewings to sell my flat – then I made a loss'
Buying a home is often a pivotal milestone. It can be an emotional anchor for those settling down and a way to signal their ascendancy into adulthood. After decades of soaring house prices, many expect them to keep rising – so that a profit is guaranteed when they come to sell. But that is not always the case, especially for those who have not owned their home for long. Katherine Ormerod, a writer and author, knows this better than anyone. In 2016, she bought a house with her boyfriend, a 'tiny, tiny' flat in Kilburn, north London. Three years later, with a young child and pregnant again, the couple decided to put the flat back on the market. It was in immaculate condition, in Zone 2 and less than three minutes' walk to a Tube station, so – they figured – the buyers would come. But it wasn't quite that simple. The property wouldn't budge. To make matters worse, lockdown hit a few months in, scuppering an initial offer. It took four years and 183 house viewings to secure a buyer, a process that Ormerod describes as 'mental torture'. When the sale finally happened in 2023, Ormerod and her partner technically banked a price £10,000 higher than they'd bought at. But this marginal increase was more than offset by fees, meaning when they did the maths, they were in the red. 'If you add up all the money, we obviously made a financial loss on the property,' she said. ' We paid stamp duty, we paid lawyer fees, we spent a lot on storage,' she explains. In addition, they had to pay a punitively high mortgage rate for several months after a buyer fell through at the last minute, on top of paying rent on their new place. Given the value of the flat grew by just 1.8pc over seven years, this was not enough to recoup the amount of money, or time, that they had pumped into the house. And it increased by far less than inflation, which averaged around 3.8pc per year in this period. Ormerod calculates that the couple would have roughly broken even if they hadn't bought the flat, but had instead paid rent during this period, assuming they'd found a high-interest refuge for the funds they spent on a deposit (plus what they paid in mortgage interest and fees). 'There's no question that, for us, it was a really bad investment.' Losses on losses Ormerod, 41, is not alone. Last year, 91pc of people sold their UK homes for more than they paid, according to Hamptons. In other words, almost one tenth of sellers made a loss, nationally. That excludes people who made losses from fees and legal costs, like Ormerod, meaning the true proportion of loss-makers is likely higher. The picture is even worse in London. Last year, 14pc of Londoners sold their property for less than what they bought it for, putting Ormerod in good company. Between 2016 and the end of 2024, the average London property increased in value by just 9pc, according to Land Registry data. It's particularly bad for flats and maisonettes in London, which rose 3pc on average in that period. As such, flat owners are four times more likely than house owners nationally to sell at a loss, according to Hamptons. This is having a knock-on effect on people's lives, says Lucian Cook, of Savills. 'One of the features of the recent housing market has been relatively weak numbers of those moving up a rung on the housing ladder. People have been living in their first and second homes for longer, often delaying a move up the ladder until it becomes a necessity. 'In part, that is because of the higher interest rate environment, but it also reflects their struggles in accumulating enough housing wealth to give them the confidence to do so. 'The issue has been particularly acute in London, where house price growth has been lower than elsewhere in the UK over the past nine years or so. That has meant the ability to trade up in the capital has been heavily dependent on their ability to pay down their mortgage debt.' Last year, property returns in percentage terms hit the lowest point since 2015, when Hamptons' records began. They have steadily fallen since the peak in 2016, before the Brexit vote, when the average home sold at a 60pc premium. Equity gains from property are getting smaller and taking longer to cash in, exacerbated by higher mortgage and transaction costs. The average homeowner has gained £91,820 in property value, equating to a 42pc profit on average over 8.9 years. Sarah Coles, a personal finance adviser at Hargreaves Lansdown, says that it's worth remembering that not all home investments work out. 'In the UK people have come to think of property as something that generally tends to rise in price, so during those times when prices fall, it can feel discombobulating.' She added selling at a loss is particularly 'unsettling' for first-time homeowners with little equity, and for older people downsizing, hoping to fund their retirement care. Even the ultra-wealthy occasionally suffer the downsides of property investments. Singer, Ellie Goulding, reportedly made a loss on her £3m London town house post-divorce, while British mogul, Bobby Arora, recorded a 30pc loss on his luxury Belgravia property. Stories like Ormerod's paint a bleak picture for the cohort of first-time buyers who bought in 2016 at the top of the market, particularly for those buying flats in London. Ormerod says she chose to speak publicly because so few people talk about 'ballsing it up'. It was a painful experience that she says others need to be more aware of. 'People talk about buying and selling as if it's this really normal, straightforward and light-hearted thing. And actually, for so many people, it's much more like being on the precipice of financial longevity and potential ruin.' Though financially, she did survive, she says she went through an immeasurable mental tax. Looking forward Today, Ormerod reflects philosophically on the sale. 'I always try to stay positive and think, perhaps if we hadn't been putting that money into our mortgage every month, maybe we wouldn't have been saving it so consistently.' She adds she feels privileged to have been in a position to buy a house at all. Time has proven a healer too, and two years since they sold they are now considering buying again, although it could be tricky given they're both self-employed (which, she notes, makes securing a fresh mortgage from the bank more difficult). But Ormerod says that she doesn't regret the loss-making sale, having given her the opportunity to raise her children in a dream (rented) home outside central London. 'It was worth every penny of heartache,' she says. 'Loss and gain are subjective.'
Telegraph
04-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
How to dress for this fool's spring weather
There is an oft-shared meme that goes around at this time of year on social media. 'There are actually 11 seasons, and we are here,' it says, pointing to 'fool's spring' (often directly underneath a 'second winter' or 'spring of deception'). That's because every March our wardrobes reach a stalemate with the weather, as we are seemingly unable to dress appropriately for whatever it decides to throw at us. This past fortnight has been particularly tricky, with some fashion editors declaring tights season is over, only to be caught shivering by lunchtime (thank God for emergency socks in our desk drawers), while the opposite camp have regretted piling on the layers and leaving their shades at home when the sun does make an appearance. And don't get us started on the great coat debate. Should our big coats be stored away for the winter now, and are trenches warm enough for every day? It's enough to depress even the most enthusiastic of dressers. So, what's the answer? We've consulted some of the most stylish women in the country to find out their fool's spring outfit hacks. Embrace hosiery For Henrietta Rix, co-founder of the vintage-inspired clothing brand Rixo, the wisdom of keeping your feet warm to stay warm applies. 'I always tend to have a pair of London Sock Company socks in my bag for those days where I'm not really sure what the weather is doing,' she explains. 'They come in a range of colours and the quality is amazing – they are men's socks but I love them anyway.' Writer Katherine Ormerod starts wearing her spring wardrobe earlier thanks to the addition of thermal tights. 'I'm a big fan of M&S thermal tights worn under springlike dresses with knee-high boots,' she explains. 'I don't know how people live without them, because they translate so much of my wardrobe across the seasons.' Merino wool socks, £20, London Sock Company; 200 denier thermal fleece lined tights, £8, Marks & Spencer; Swedish Stockings fishbone tights, £39, Toast Remember: scarves aren't just for winter From the street style set to the red carpet, the fashion cognoscenti are loving scarves right now. Not only do they add a little Old Hollywood glamour, but they also keep your neck warm – one of the first areas that can feel a nip in the air when it's cold. 'I always carry around one of our Rixo Julian scarves – when it's cold I wrap it around my neck numerous times and tie in a tight knot to keep my neck really warm,' explains Rix. 'If it then brightens up, you can wear it really loose, more draped, as a styling piece.' You could also try the ultimate Gen Z styling hack: tying your scarf around your head like a bonnet. 'I always leave umbrellas on trains and they become cumbersome in my bag, especially when wet, so I have taken to wearing a knitted triangle scarf around my neck,' shares fashion editor Alexandra Stedman. 'It keeps my neck warm, with the added bonus of when it rains, I loop it over my head like the late Queen. I might look mad, but it really is freeing and I think it's quite chic.' Crinkled georgette scarf, £65, Rixo; Merino wool triangle scarf, £49, Tartan Blanket Co Embrace the cardi-naissance If in doubt, you can always count on a cardigan. The street-style set in London, Milan and Copenhagen have been wearing theirs as tops with the bottom buttons left undone for a hint of midriff, but perhaps an easier way for us normal folk to style them is over a long-sleeved white T-shirt, à la Hailey Bieber. You could even opt for a twinset vibe, with a matching cardigan and knit vest. 'I think the cardigan comeback is an absolute boon for fool's spring,' says Ormerod. 'What I favour is a fine knit in a mohair, which, importantly, needs to be nipped in at the waist and cropped above the hip. Sometimes cardies can kill a look, but when you get just the right cut they offer warmth on top of dresses and separates. I love my Dôen Petra cardie – worth every penny of investment.' Scottish wool cardigan, £290, Navygrey; Cotton stitch detail cardigan, £98, Boden; Cropped wool cardigan, £85, Cos Switch your boots for patent shoes Now is the time to start phasing out your winter boots, which, let's face it, have probably seen quite a battering by now. While it's not quite time to reach for the mesh ballet flats or sandals yet, a heeled patent pump will keep your feet dry if it rains. 'I love wearing a patent shoe at this time. I just feel like they are so much more resilient but moving away from boot territory,' says fashion PR Alexandra Carello. 'I am currently in love with my Jennifer Chamandi Mattia pumps in cherry patent with a block heel. I wear them with thin tights underneath either patterned or plain, just for an extra layer of warmth and no cold feet.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alexandra Carello (@alexandracarello) 'More structured Mary Janes in patent are the perfect in-between footwear option,' agrees Ormerod. 'They manage so well in the rain and they are perennially chic. Sézane has an awesome selection of Mary Janes, which can be worn with sheer or opaque tights.' Black patent Mary-Janes, £200, Bobbies; Paula babies, £160, Sezane; Bordeaux-red block-heel Mary-Janes, £295, Russell & Bromley Layer a poncho over your jacket Another Y2K trend that has made a surprise comeback this season is the poncho, seen on the runways at Rabanne, Chloé and Moschino. An evolution of the cape coat, ponchos are effortless and easy to style, with their loose fit and draped silhouette. What's more, they are great for this time of year as they can be styled over whatever you're wearing, whether that's an optimistic roll neck or a full-on trench coat. While the millennium version was largely boho in vibe with tassels, the 2025 take is more quiet luxury – and even waterproof, as was the case at Chloé. 'I love to layer a shirt with a jacket and then my Carolina Herrera poncho, which you can easily fling over your shoulders at any moment,' shares Carello. 'I have had this one for years and always bring it out at this time of year. Like Goldilocks, I find it just right for the weather now – any sooner it's too cold and any later too hot, but right now it is the perfect supporting layer that you can easily throw on or take off. Mine is a wool blend in taupe that largely goes with anything.' Another clever option? A waterproof with carry straps. 'The Meriweather Anna Trench coat [£440, reduced from £740, Meriwether ] is the perfect mix of style and function,' says fashion influencer Kelly Eastwood. 'It's breathable, waterproof, and effortlessly versatile. The best part? Its interior carry straps make it easy to slip on and off during those inevitable temperature swings, so I'm always prepared without the hassle.' Asymmetric cashmere cape, £149, Massimo Dutti Think natural fibres While balmier temperatures might have you reaching for your pretty polyester summer dresses, consider sticking to layers of natural fibres for the time being. Personally, we love a roll neck under a shirt for a 1960s Parisian intellectual vibe – very on trend for next season. 'No one wants to overheat in polyester one minute and freeze the next,' explains Pip Durell, the founder of With Nothing Underneath. 'I love our brushed cotton shirts layered up with knits and jackets. You'd think a brushed cotton was just for winter, but worn solo it's a lovely soft and easy piece – and layered up it's an effective keeper of warmth. I like a T-shirt then fine cashmere under it and a jacket over, giving me the option of one or four layers in one outfit. Ideally the sun comes out and I'm left with just the T-shirt and shirt, easy and chic.' Brushed cotton-Merino wool-blend shirt, £120, WNU; Skims stretch cotton-jersey T-shirt, £48,
