Latest news with #KarenMcClure
The Irish Sun
22-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
B&Q slashes £11 ornament that instantly makes your patio seem bigger – it creates a ‘bold' look & lasts all year round
IF your stuck for space on your garden patio, don't worry as a budget buy can help make it seem bigger. Gardening pros have shared their top tips for maximising your outdoor space this summer. 2 A simple step can help make the most cramped patios feel big and spacious (Stock image) Credit: Getty The experts at Garden designer Karen McClure explained that the methods are "tried and tested". So while it may seem like adding plants to your space will cause clutter, it actually works to maximise your space. And Karen recommends one tree in particular for levelling up your patio. Read More On Patios "Use ornamental feature trees," she advised anyone struggling with limited outdoor space. "Multi-stem specimens in particular can be kept to a controlled height in a large feature pot, and can create a lovely focal point as well as give interest at a higher level. Be bold." She added that the number of plant varieties should be kept to a minimum. "Too many varieties can create a busy and chaotic feel, whereas a simple planting palette will feel harmonised, soothing, and calm," she said. Most read in Fabulous And if you're looking for a budget-friendly ornamental tree, B&Q has just the thing. The I transformed my garden patio into summer haven for less than £100 with cheap B&M buys including gadget to keep bugs out Usually referred to as the cherry tree, this plant has a compact, rounded shape and a gently spreading habit. This makes it suitable for planting in small gardens or areas with limited space. Katie pointed out that placing your trees in sleek planters makes sure they only take up a minimal amount of floor space. You can also opt to light your plants at night, giving your space a new lease of life after dusk. She also recommended incorporating mirrors around your patio to reflect your plants. Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% This makes it seem like there are even more plants around your patio area. Mirrors also help to bounce light and create the illusion of additional space. And a Plus another Or you can 2 B&Q shoppers can pick up an Ornamental Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-Mai' Fuji Cherry Tree for just £11 Credit: BQ
Scottish Sun
22-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
B&Q slashes £11 ornament that instantly makes your patio seem bigger – it creates a ‘bold' look & lasts all year round
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF your stuck for space on your garden patio, don't worry as a budget buy can help make it seem bigger. Gardening pros have shared their top tips for maximising your outdoor space this summer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A simple step can help make the most cramped patios feel big and spacious (Stock image) Credit: Getty The experts at Living Etc. broke down the best ways to make your patio seem bigger. Garden designer Karen McClure explained that the methods are "tried and tested". So while it may seem like adding plants to your space will cause clutter, it actually works to maximise your space. And Karen recommends one tree in particular for levelling up your patio. "Use ornamental feature trees," she advised anyone struggling with limited outdoor space. "Multi-stem specimens in particular can be kept to a controlled height in a large feature pot, and can create a lovely focal point as well as give interest at a higher level. Be bold." She added that the number of plant varieties should be kept to a minimum. "Too many varieties can create a busy and chaotic feel, whereas a simple planting palette will feel harmonised, soothing, and calm," she said. And if you're looking for a budget-friendly ornamental tree, B&Q has just the thing. The Ornamental Prunus Incisa "Kojo-no-Mai" Fuji Cherry Tree is available for just £10.79. I transformed my garden patio into summer haven for less than £100 with cheap B&M buys including gadget to keep bugs out Usually referred to as the cherry tree, this plant has a compact, rounded shape and a gently spreading habit. This makes it suitable for planting in small gardens or areas with limited space. Katie pointed out that placing your trees in sleek planters makes sure they only take up a minimal amount of floor space. You can also opt to light your plants at night, giving your space a new lease of life after dusk. She also recommended incorporating mirrors around your patio to reflect your plants. Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% This makes it seem like there are even more plants around your patio area. Mirrors also help to bounce light and create the illusion of additional space. And a £4 Home Bargains buy will help to add a "whimsical touch" to your garden. Plus another tree helps to add privacy to your garden, and it's now cheaper than ever. Or you can add a fast-growing flower to cover eyesore walls and fences in your garden.
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
B&Q slashes £11 ornament that instantly makes your patio seem bigger – it creates a ‘bold' look & lasts all year round
IF your stuck for space on your garden patio, don't worry as a budget buy can help make it seem bigger. Gardening pros have shared their top tips for maximising your outdoor space this summer. 2 The experts at Living Etc. broke down the best ways to make your patio seem bigger. Garden designer Karen McClure explained that the methods are "tried and tested". So while it may seem like adding plants to your space will cause clutter, it actually works to maximise your space. And Karen recommends one tree in particular for levelling up your patio. "Use ornamental feature trees," she advised anyone struggling with limited outdoor space. "Multi-stem specimens in particular can be kept to a controlled height in a large feature pot, and can create a lovely focal point as well as give interest at a higher level. Be bold." She added that the number of plant varieties should be kept to a minimum. "Too many varieties can create a busy and chaotic feel, whereas a simple planting palette will feel harmonised, soothing, and calm," she said. And if you're looking for a budget-friendly ornamental tree, B&Q has just the thing. The Ornamental Prunus Incisa "Kojo-no-Mai" Fuji Cherry Tree is available for just £10.79. I transformed my garden patio into summer haven for less than £100 with cheap B&M buys including gadget to keep bugs out Usually referred to as the cherry tree, this plant has a compact, rounded shape and a gently spreading habit. This makes it suitable for planting in small gardens or areas with limited space. Katie pointed out that placing your trees in sleek planters makes sure they only take up a minimal amount of floor space. You can also opt to light your plants at night, giving your space a new lease of life after dusk. She also recommended incorporating mirrors around your patio to reflect your plants. Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% This makes it seem like there are even more plants around your patio area. Mirrors also help to bounce light and create the illusion of additional space. And a £4 Home Bargains buy will help to add a "whimsical touch" to your garden. Plus another tree helps to add privacy to your garden, and it's now cheaper than ever. Or you can add a fast-growing flower to cover eyesore walls and fences in your garden. 2
The Sun
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Modest life of BGT's biggest star Susan Boyle revealed including £5 scampi & chips meals despite being worth £22m
SHE'S sold 25million records and is about to launch a musical comeback, but little else has changed for Britain's Got Talent legend Susan Boyle. Despite having an estimated £22million in the bank, the singer follows the same routine she fell into long before she became world-famous 16 years ago. 4 Susan, 64, often hops on the bus before carrying bags of shopping back to her four-bed council house. Lunch is her favourite scampi and chips that costs £5.05 at a local cafe in her hometown in West Lothian, Scotland. Karen McClure runs a cafe that was Subo's favourite karaoke pub until it was converted into a restaurant eight years ago. She said: 'Susan still pops in now and again for a roll and square (a square sausage and bun) and a cup of tea. She always sits in the same chair at the back and she's happy to chat with me and the other customers. 'A few years back, she ended up joining a French man on his table and she was speaking fluent French. Global phenomenon 'I couldn't believe it. She can speak five languages. She told me that she was learning Mandarin at that time. 'She also did a degree a few years back, after she rose to fame. It's just incredible. 'She goes down to the local music shop and sifts through the records. She seems happy in her life.' The daughter of a miner and a shorthand typist, Susan shot to fame aged 47 on the 2009 season of BGT. 'I'm back' cries Scots superstar as she announces major music return Revealing that she lived alone with her cat and had never been kissed, no one could have predicted the global phenomenon she would become when she took to the stage in Glasgow while wearing a gold dress. But her rendition of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables became a social media sensation and led to BGT being named the world's most successful reality TV format by Guinness World Records. Judge Simon Cowell said: 'No one knew who this lady was. "She was from Scotland, a little village, and she goes on the show and within 48 hours the clip had 500million views. We sold the format to more than 30 countries after that. It was unbelievable.' This year and next are going to be massive for her as she releases new songs and shows off another side to her. Susan's debut album, I Dreamed A Dream, became the UK's best-selling record of all time following its release in 2009. The unlikely star made eight albums in total and performed for Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2019, but her parents never got to toast her success. Her mum Bridget died aged 91 in 2007 and her dad Patrick passed away in the 1990s. Last month, Subo announced she has returned to the recording studio for the first time in six years to work on new material. 4 The comeback, which she has been teasing to her 144,000 followers on Instagram, is remarkable given that she suffered a stroke in 2022 which reportedly affected her speech. One industry source told The Sun on Sunday: 'This year and next are going to be massive for her as she releases new songs and shows off another side to her. 'She's always wanted to do a documentary and let people into her world and she's so excited for what's to come. "She's told everyone she knows that she's ready for a biggie.' However, while the star is thriving, the place she calls home, once a bustling mining town, has fallen into decline. A number of shops have closed and her favourite Jolly Roger pub is no more, meaning she has to travel to the next-biggest town outside Edinburgh to sing karaoke. This could pose a problem for Subo, who still has not passed her driving test despite recently buying a new VW car, according to one source. And her modest lifestyle is well documented. After winning BGT, she paid £65,000 to buy the semi-detached, pebble dash council house she grew up in. In 2010, she also splashed out on a £300,000 five-bed new-build on the other side of town, but she never settled and soon returned to her old family pad. Four years later, she bought the house next door for £110,000, later combining the two properties to create her dream home. Besotted fans still travel miles to turn up at her front door. But locals believe she has still yet to receive her first kiss because — they say — she has never had a boyfriend. 4
