Making a rental house a family home can be a challenge if there are restrictions on furnishing or decorating. However, for new residents of Get Living London’s private rental homes at East Village, E20 (London’s newest neighbourhood and the former London 2012 Athletes’ Village), putting a personal stamp on the homes is encouraged. Residents are welcome to change the colours of the wall, hang pictures and, with a dedicated team available at the local Management Office, Get Living London is on hand to fix any problems.
Leading designer Wayne Hemingway explains the importance of keeping children in mind when putting a personal stamp on your home:
1. Give your children a say
“My wife Gerardine and I have always purposefully given a say to our kids when it comes to decorating our house.
“It’s amazing how kids can have such strong views and opinions about style from a very early age. As part of their early creative education, encourage them to have a say on the style of their room, and what they want from it. Consult with them so they feel a sense of ownership over their space and then there is a chance that they will take a natural pride in keeping it tidy! Taste and design is a crucial part of the learning process. Just as too much bad food and TV can have a negative effect, so can bad taste – all homes should be visually exciting and pleasing!"
2. It’s all about storage
“For kids’ bedrooms in particular, storage is key. Opt for beds with storage underneath, and really use every possible space you can. We found that kids can become blasé about their toys if they have access to all of them at once, so we made sure most of them were tucked away when they were not playing with them. Make full use of walls and floors; blackboard paint is a great way to encourage your children’s creativity, and wall stickers are the perfect way to add immediate character when you’re restricted on painting and decorating.
3. Utilise the outdoors
“For us one of the most stimulating things for the family has been integrating the outdoors into our daily living. Kids need to get rid of energy, so I would say encourage them to run around and spend time in the fresh air, play sport or simply encourage them to get growing things on a balcony. The residents at Get Living London are extremely lucky because they have that outside space in abundance. Living in parkland; what better way for families to enjoy a new home together!”
Get Living London has appointed acclaimed designers Wayne Hemingway MBE, Gerardine Hemingway MBE and Tilly Hemingway to lead the furnishing and interior design for its range of homes. At East Village, both furnished and unfurnished apartments and townhouses are available to rent.
HemingwayDesign’s creative guidance allows Get Living London to set new standards of design and furnishings for the rental market. Benefitting from a higher investment than properties with more traditional landlords, each Get Living London home has been designed to reflect the future residents’ stylish and cosmopolitan lifestyles; perfect for a family home rather than just another rented house!
All homes have as standard wardrobes in all bedrooms, wooden flooring in all living areas, underfloor heating and high-quality modern kitchen and appliances.
Get Living London has new homes to suit everyone, from 1 and 2-bedroom apartments for young professionals and couples, to 3 and 4-bedroom apartments and townhouses for sharers and families, with all homes right on the doorstep of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Homes are available to rent with no fees or hidden costs; long-term tenancies of up to three years with the flexibility of resident-only break clauses; and no agents or middlemen, just a direct relationship with the Get Living London team who are based on site seven days a week to quickly respond to residents’ needs.
To find out more, visit: www.getlivinglondon.com.