February 22, 2012

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Best Bedroom Ever

January 30, 2012 By Jake

If you are looking to update your interior design upstairs then there are some key elements to modern bedroom decorating which you probably need to know about… here are a few to get you started:

 

  1. White bed linen. Timeless and classic, white cotton bedding is the perfect backdrop to any decorating scheme and will accessorise with any other colours. Go for a high thread count for added luxury and look out for textured fabrics for added interest.

  2. Stylish lighting. One big ceiling light just won’t cut it any more! Try functional lighting for the dressing table, mood lighting by the bed and perhaps a reading lamp by your chair. Chandeliers and candelabra are also making a bedroom come back.

  3. Clever storage solutions. Deep drawers under memory foam mattresses, floor to ceiling fitted cupboards or just a great deal of wardrobe space – it all helps to tidy away clutter and keep things looking neat.

  4. Personal touches. Delightful photos of the kids, romantic shots of you and your loved one, found objects from trips abroad or treasures from Grandmas old house all add a little bit of unique personality to the room.

  5. Centre stage. The bed is of course the vital piece of furniture in every bedroom. Head to Sleepmasters.co.uk and treat yourself to a brand new dream bed to get the best nights sleep ever.

  6. Reflections of beauty. Don’t forget to include a mirror in your decorating plans. Mirrors look stunning with ornate frames and can help to give the illusion of a larger room too.

  7. Experiment with floor coverings. Whether you have carpet, laminate or wood floorboards try a rug out for size. Contemporary or classic in design an area or even room sized rug will add a cosy touch and soften sharp lines.

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Your Curtain Call

January 30, 2012 By Jake

By the time we got our first place together, I knew a couple of things about home décor. I knew that a good mattress was worth spending money on and I knew “cheap tiles, expensive taps” applied to bathrooms and kitchens. What I didn’t think about was curtains.

 

Perhaps because our bedroom windows had been covered with newspaper for several months while we painted our walls (yellow, I confess…well it WAS 2000), any kind of curtains seemed like a real bonus. Once we had bought a double bed, chest of drawers, fitted storage and so on, there wasn’t a lot of cash left for curtains. We bought the cheapest we could find. Overlong, draping, cream coloured muslin-type material – you get the picture.

 

We may as well not have bothered to hang curtains at all. The sunlight streamed straight through them in the mornings and at night, my husband realised on arriving home after closing time, it was possible to observe the well-defined shadow of anyone getting undressed in the bedroom. A lovely spectacle for the neighbours opposite. Just as we went to an expert retailer like http://www.sleepmasters.co.uk for our mattress, we really should have saved up and bought decent curtains from a specialist company. Instead, we foolishly bought a yellow roller blind which was supposedly made of black-out material. The light still sneaked through the edges and it all looked very utilitarian.

 

Much older and wiser, a decade later, we splashed out and bought triple-lined curtains for our bedroom. The difference was incredible. Not only was the room completely dark at night, the curtains kept the heat in and even seemed to make a difference to the levels of sound we could hear on the street outside. Our quality of sleep was vastly improved. Never again will I skimp on curtains!

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How to make your stairlift match the rest of your house

January 30, 2012 By Jake

If you are becoming less steady on your feet or have a relative who is experiencing mobility issues, stairlifts can provide a fantastic solution.

 

Stairlifts give you the freedom to move between the levels of your home with the ease and safety that you used to experience and without worrying about slips and falls or experiencing the pain and discomfort that can come with climbing the stairs at an older age.

 

For anyone who is house-proud, it is important to ensure that your starlifts match the look and feel of the rest of your home and don’t stick out like a sore thumb. The good news is that, these days, there are plenty of starlifts out there in a range of different designs, styles, and colours, so you can pick something that really complements the style of your home.

 

Start by looking at the range of stairlifts available from stockists such as Homelifestairlifts.co.uk. Consider the size of stairlift you will need, as well as the model, colour, design and style you prefer the look off. Think about what will work well in your home and complement any existing décor.

 

Once you have decided upon a stairlift that will meet your requirements and look good in your home, you will need to decide whether you wish to have it professionally installed.

 

Having your stairlifts professionally installed is recommended, as botched DIY jobs can not only mean more money spent correcting mistakes in the long run, they can be unsafe and dangerous. The last thing you want to do is risk your safety or the safety of a relative by getting a new stairlift fitted incorrectly. It is also worth choosing products that have a decent guarantee on them, so that any issues can be fixed for free within a certain period of time.

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DIY Time

December 27, 2011 By Jake

These are certainly difficult times financially and one of the things we can all do to save money – if we have the precious DIY gene that it is – is to take on some jobs around the house which we might previously have paid someone else to do. In winter the projects which are fast rising up the list are the ones which in turn go on to save us money such as insulating the loft or fitting replacement windows and doors in order to conserve heat and reduce energy bills.

 

For any of these projects it is important that you know what you are doing, are properly prepared with the tools for the job and of course don’t end up doing more harm than good to your property! Some of the easier tasks include things like fitting bedroom furniture to increase storage or maybe even building a cabin bed for the kids. If you do that make sure you buy a mattress form http://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk first and build the frame of the bed to fit. The simplest project would be putting up shelves – but don’t knock it, we all need a place to store our knick knacks and all DIY-ers have to start somewhere.

 

If you want to fit your own windows – a more advanced task I’m sure you will agree – then it is all about the measurements. New windows will be manufactured to your specifications so check and double check your figures or get the supplier round to measure up for you as mistakes could be costly. Fitting windows is not really a one person job so make sure you enlist some help – ideally of the kind who have done it before – and take your time getting it right. Achieving success will make you feel on top of the world!

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Mahogany wood bedroom

December 27, 2011 By Jake

For a luxurious and elegant bedroom, you simply cannot go wrong with mahogany bedroom furniture. This classic interior design choice will add beauty to any bedroom, with very little effort. It’s therefore no surprise that mahogany wood remains the number one choice for people with style when it comes to bedroom furniture.

 

As it comes from nature itself, mahogany is a solid and durable material, providing so much more than some modern materials, such as plastic or MDF, which simply do not offer the same level of quality.

 

If you are considering adding an element of effortless style to your bedroom with some key pieces of mahogany wood furniture, then you have made a fantastic choice. Its dark and elegant look simply screams class and taste.

 

There are some choices to be made when it comes to decorating your bedroom in this way however. Will you go all out with the look, or select a few key pieces of bedroom furniture to purchase?

You might decide to go all out and fill your room with mahogany wardrobes, bedroom cabinets, mirrors, drawers and of course a mahogany bed. This could prove expensive if you are not careful however, so, if money is an issue, browse the sales for mahogany beds for sale and for other key pieces to complete the look. A good tip is to mix second hand pieces with new. So scour the second hand stores for bargains and visit a furniture store such as www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk to find some fantastic deals.

 

If you want to create something even more special with the look of your bedroom, select antique or imitation antique mahogany furniture. Antique mahogany furniture will give your bedroom a truly romantic look and feel, so mix the genuine article with quality reproduction items to create the look without breaking the bank.

 

For something more modern but which still offers the same level of elegant quality and effortless style, choose bedroom furniture in lighter shades of mahogany. Lighter mahogany is ideal if you love the look of dark wood, but don’t want it to be too overwhelming or imposing in the bedroom; you can simply mix the dark and lighter shades when selecting furniture and furnishings.

 

To keep your mahogany furniture in tip top condition, look after it by keeping it clean with a duster or damp cloth and waxing it about once a month with a quality wood furniture wax.

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Decorate with purple

December 26, 2011 By Jake

If purple is your favourite colour you’re in luck this winter as far as clothes are concerned since it seems to be this season’s must have hue. However, you may have been put off in the past at the thought of incorporating it into your colour scheme for the house.

 

There are all sorts of myths surrounding the colour. Contrary to what many people believe, purple is not too dark if used properly. Likewise, it has often been seen as an old lady’s colour or a young girl’s favourite but it can be equally successful in creating a masculine space provided you opt for the aubergine shades rather than the lilacs.

 

Using purple in your bedroom needn’t make for a gloomy depressing room. Instead used correctly it can provide a rich, exotic and opulent feel. If you have ever stayed in a riad in Marrakech you will know what I mean. Avoid painting the entire room in purple and instead think about having a feature wall of purple combined with a lighter shade on the other walls.

 

If you have fitted bedroom furniture with mirrored doors such as the type made by Wren Bedrooms you will find that this reflects light which counters the light absorbing properties of purple paint. Wallpaper which contains a strong purple element combined with lighter tones can also work well.

 

If you have a small boring hall purple can add a touch of glamour. Fit a rail half way up the wall and paint the bottom half of the wall in a soft lavender shade and go for a bold wallpaper above the rail incorporating aubergine shades.

 

Don’t be afraid of combining purple with other colours. According to one American designer mauve, caramel and slate work well together and purple with a grey hue works in combination with a golden yellow.

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What Are Flooring Accessories Exactly?

December 26, 2011 By Jake

I don’t know about you but I find all the jargon associated with DIY jobs a bit off putting. Maybe they do it on purpose! Sometimes though it just leads to frustration and a feeling that you are not quite sure what you are doing…

 

If you are buying and installing a hardwood or engineered wood floor then you need to know all about the required flooring accessories as well. It is important not to overlook the need for the correct accessories to ensure that your flooring project is a success so read on for what to look out for as all of these things are classed as flooring accessories:

 

  1. Underlay. It is usual to put a layer under the wood for various reasons such as to reduce noise and to protect from moisture: make sure you know what you need.

  2. Adhesives. You may not need them but if you do then check with the manufacturers instructions as to their recommended type.

  3. Nails. Particularly for solid wood floor the installation will require the panels to be nailed together instead of ‘clicking’. Special nails called cleats or flooring staples are advisable.

  4. Trims: these might be decorative edging strips to cover expansion gaps, edging pieces for stair tread or fittings to go around radiator pipes for example.

  5. Moldings: these are ingenious devices to help transitions between floor heights and into rooms with different floor coverings such as carpets.

  6. Edgings: For Flooringanddoors it is ideal to get a good finish for warmth and the general look of the room so edgings are used to create a perfect finish.

  7. Tools of the trade. The ideal accessories for the person fitting the floor will vary depending on the type of floor and the house itself. Get prepared before you start work.

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Why not look for eco-friendly furniture?

December 6, 2011 By Jake

When decorating your home it’s very easy to go down to the local furniture sale and pick out the items that look most appealing to you. You just have to check how they fit with your budget and make your choice.

Wrong! If you consider yourself to be environmentally aware, then what you need to do is a little more research before buying any new furniture.  Much of today’s furniture is made using responsibly sourced wood, it’s true.  Check with the retailer, and they’ll be able to give you information about their supply chain.

However, new wood is still new, and what’s even better for the planet is to buy pieces made with reclaimed wood.

Reclaimed wood is wood that has already been made into something in a previous life – including floor boarding, joists, ships’ timbers.  It has a hue and depth of colour and tone that’s so difficult to recreate in new wood – as wood matures gradually over the years.  So pieces of furniture made from reclaimed wood are often really beautiful.

A classic example is a dining table and chair set or a coffee table. If your rooms are modern in design, then having some reclaimed wood in the room can look really great.

One third of our planet is covered with forest, but left in its natural state before agriculture began, we would have 40 per cent more forest than we do now. Our demand for wood and land to grow food has robbed the planet of its natural vegetation. In the 1990s, 8.9 million hectares of trees were lost every year.

As a society, we are now making amends – with responsible forestry where two trees are planted for every one felled, but by choosing to buy reclaimed wood over new, we can do our bit to help the world’s forests as individuals.

 

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Planning a colour scheme

November 30, 2011 By Jake

When deciding how to decorate a living area in your home, it’s best to start by deciding the colour scheme you’d like to have.

Different colours can create different ambiences.  If you spend much time in a room you’ll be seeing a lot of the colour you choose, so make sure it’s something you will like for a long time.  Think about the different ways you use a room.  It may be that it’s more of a formal reception room that you only use for entertaining.  In this case a bright vivid colour might be a good choice. However, if the room doubles up as your cosy den for just the family, bright and vivid might not make it for a very calming environment.

Blues and greens can be very soothing, but if your room doesn’t have much natural light, they can feel a little cold, so choose the tone carefully. These cooler colours tend to work best in a south-facing room, where the tone of the light coming in from outside is warmer.

Yellow, on the other hand, can brighten up a north facing room, but may be a little too overpowering.  An option is to pick a neutral shade for the walls, and use cushions and picture frames to work in your preferred colour theme.

Don’t try and use colour too much in a room. Pick out the colours on furnishings like curtains and the sofa, or make those the neutrals and put colour on the walls. Many sofas UK retailers now sell include great patterned fabrics, which stand out against a plain painted wall without having to be brightly coloured.

It’s worth going down to a furniture sale and looking at different room sets to get inspiration. Similarly look through interiors magazines and websites.

Once you’ve made your colour choices, sound it out on a few objective friends or relatives.  They will give you an honest opinion and guide you if you are about to make a grave error of judgement!

 

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Treat the Little Princess in Your Life like Royalty

November 30, 2011 By Jake

When it comes to making the transition from nursery to little girl’s bedroom there is perhaps one of the nicest interior design jobs on the planet to be undertaken. What little princess doesn’t want a bedroom that looks like it is straight out of a fairytale castle? And the dressing up outfits to match of course. Here is my list of the best things to include when you make your little girl’s room fit for a princess:

 

  1. An incredible bed. A Cinderella carriage pulled by mice, a platform at the top of a tower or just gorgeous metal children’s beds draped in pretty muslin and piled high with frilly cushions.

  2. A fantasy mural. If you are handy with a paintbrush then why not create an imaginative scene across the bedroom walls complete with a knight in shining armour.

  3. A grown up dressing room. Every little girl wants to be just like Mummy so why not give her a dressing table with a heart shaped mirror and some sparkly fairy dust to sweep on her cheeks.

  4. Plenty of play space. For practising dance steps for the ball, dressing up in enormous frocks and entertaining ones loyal subjects at a royal tea party.

  5. Somewhere to stash her tiaras. A princess naturally has an enormous wardrobe of clothes so build in somewhere to house them along with all those matching shoes.

  6. Just the right bedding. Check out the range of comfortable pillows and bedding at Sleepmasters and make sure your little one doesn’t have a princess and the pea experience!

  7. Make a window feature. Princesses are always singing out of windows or talking to little birds in the nearby trees so set the scene with beautiful draped curtains and maybe a padded window seat too.

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