Furniture/House items What works and what to avoid?

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 14:58

Hi,

Can those of you who already live in NC or have taken possession of your new properties already put onto this topic helpful things or things to avoid that possibly us soon to be buyers in the UK wouldnt necesarily think of when choosing furniture, household items or furnishings etc.

Have you great ideas (your own or passed on from someone else), things to take into consideration especially to do with heat, sunlight etc or even your stories of things that you have had to have a change of heart about after living in the sun for a while.

Buying on Sweetwater Bay

Sheila&Phil

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 17:44

Water cooler/dispenser so that you can get the big 19 litre bottles (bidon in Turkish) of water. Some form of heater for the bathroom in winter. Unless you want to spend time and money maintaining it, avoid wooden furniture for outside use as it rots in the sun. Get covers for anything that you put outside, like sun loungers, tables, chairs otherwise you will be forever wiping the dust off. Get good quality umbrellas and heavyweight bases. Floor standing/ ceiling mounted fans can be used during the day in living rooms and overnight in bedrooms instead of air con saving you a bit of dosh on the electricity bill. Cool the bedroom first with air con and then point the fan on the bed and leave it on all night - I quite often have to get up and switch it off as I get too cold, so maybe try to find remote control ones or ones with timers. Consider mossie nets so that you can have bedroom windows open at night and don't forget plug in mossie machines that take tablets.

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 18:09

Also what do people do about bedding?



Do people have diferent sets i.e sheets with a throw to ward of air conditioning chills in summer then change to quilts in covers for winter?

Sheila

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 18:31

Bedding, Yes I do exactly that, Electric blanket is worthwile bringing over.



As most properties here do not have damp proof courses installed, a dehumidifier is a god send.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 18:36

electric blanket - you big softie!!!!!!



We have duvet for winter and at the moment better not say what have for bed!!!!!!!!



Mint, are you brining furniture with you or buying here for holiday home, we just brought all furniture etc with us. Did make the mistake of getting rid of some things that we now wished we had kept, so if you have room in container, bring it all and then dispose of.

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 18:45

We will have to buy furniture and fittings etc as for a few years yet it can only be a holiday home as we have teens doing A levels and then Uni etc.

So I guess any pointers or hints and tips on what not to buy would be appreciated.

Sheila

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 18:45

Ttoli, Do yu need the dehumidifier all year or just in the winter?



Sheila

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 19:50

cyprusishome

Okay I admit it I'm a big softie, my windows were installed by untrained monkeys, not sealed and the wind and rain comes thru.

Mint

Just the winter time, pretty new concept here, so we get the chinese junk that they charge the earth for (Rich English syndrome), If I had a container coming over, I'd definately bring one over (even if i didnt use it myself, would be a nice little earner).

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/search/filter/dehumidifiers/page/1

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 19:54

Yep back up cyprusishomes point, the amount of stuff that I got rid of before the move, quality goods are thin on the ground and expensive here, think that I done 7 or 8 boot sales....., ah well hindsight is fantastic.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 19:56

Think about dual weight duvets, the kind that you can clip together. High summer you don't need anything - if it gets too cold then don't use air con or put it on higher temperature. Early Summer/Spring/Autumn use a duvet cover without duvet in or 4 tog duvet. Winter you can get away with a 9 tog duvet or a summer and winter weight duvet clipped together. An electric blanket is nice to warm up the bed in the winter otherwise it can feel a bit damp.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 21:36

Storage beds are a godsend , bedding from UK , electrical items , lamps , toasters , kettles , Iron , hair dryer , GHD ,tv , George forman would not be without our's . decent wooden clothes airer . hope this helps .

Chris


Joined: 26/03/2008
Posts: 454

Message Posted:
27/07/2008 21:47

Basically, bring it all, keep what you need, THEN have the boot sale!!



Chris

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
28/07/2008 12:23

there is a large store called onder in lefkosa. it sells bedding and all household stuff. found our uk sheets are not a purfect fit for cyprus beds, so buy local.

vee123


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 393

Message Posted:
28/07/2008 15:56

hi, this store called onder, what sort of prices is the bedding there? i have been looking around girne/nikasea and find the prices of sheets really expensive. i am going over the south sometime this week, would they be cheaper over there? and could someone tell me where to go as have only been over there twice and end up getting lost trying to find the stores.

Rogerdodger


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
28/07/2008 17:46

Mint,



We are in the process of stocking up our house, from experiance in living in Cyprus before, and to save money, bring as much out as you can, Towels, bedding, quilts, bed throws, as it is cheaper in the uk, as for the bedding, quilts ect. by vacum bags off the internet, pack your stuff in them, then all you do is attach the nozzel of the vacum to the nozzel on the bag, it then sucks all the air out, compacts them for packing, when you get the other end just un zip the bags.



You might think me mad by saying quilt covers but once you aclimatise, in the winter you will get cold, you can also purchase mobile oil filled radiators to put in the house.

jacktheladett


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 528

Message Posted:
28/07/2008 18:06

Good quality poly cotton sheets

single £6.00

double 7.00

KS £8.00

Pillowcases £1.50



Towels - bath sheets 100 x 150cm £6 ish



Is that expensive?

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
29/07/2008 19:06

Great idea's thank you.



What about things like leather versus fabric sofa's etc are there diffreent considerations in respect to heat than what we would have in the Uk etc?

Outside furniture metal or plastic or wood?

Curtains and blinds should they all have special backing to deter sun?

Sheila

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
29/07/2008 20:26

Outside furniture - get a concrete or stone table as this can stay out in all weathers and will not blow away!! Also any spillages etc will bleach out in the sun.



We have lightweight aluminium sunbeds that we brought from England and are so far fine. Plastic will deteriorate over time but is probably the cheapest so just expect to replace it now and then. Our outside dining chairs are the plastic type that looks is supposed to look like it's woven and so far these have been excellent and show no signs of deterioration. The frame is black lightweight metal and is also ok. We bought these from the Medview shop near Lemar in Karaoglanoglu.



Curtains/blinds will without a doubt fade in the sun. Ours were quite badly affected and they are North facing so be prepared. We now have curtains with blackout lining which I am hoping will be much better. The other option is just to buy cream for everywhere because it doesn't fade. This is also a good idea for any outside cushions you may need (as long as the fabric is washable).



I would definitely buy an electric blanket. It is a godsend. We only have very lightweight duvets with an additional throw on the bed as some nights are chillier than others and I prefer to have layers that can be added/removed to suit.