The idea of overhauling the design of your home completely is one that horrifies some homeowners; the potentially huge costs, the amount of work involved and the state of the home whilst work is ongoing are just three of the potential stumbling blocks. Another, perhaps more overlooked factor, is people’s fear of interior design.
Interior design is often seen as a bit of a closed shop, what with various designers being paid millions for their work. This is somewhat of an assumption however; with a bit of basic knowledge, some help from a specialist and interior design software, planning your ideal bedroom, bathroom or kitchen is simple and more importantly, fun.
The first step to good interior design is having a decent idea of what you have to work with, and what you will be using it for. Be realistic about the amount of space you have and use it creatively; as much as you may love a particular set of units, if they’re going to overwhelm the room then there is no point in having them.
Consider what you’re going to be using your rooms for – the bedroom, for example, will require a bed, storage space for clothing and other items and whatever else you may have (televisions, weights, etc). Kitchens will usually have a cooker, a microwave and a sink as well as other appliances so think about what you’re going to need before you go ahead and plan your rooms.
The fun part of interior design is choosing a decorative theme for your home. Bedrooms are particularly great to plan, with potential influences ranging from Edwardian classic style to space-age futuristic designs! Kitchens and bathroom design tends to be more conservative but still, be expressive – you want your home to reflect the personality of the people living in it.
Come up with a few rough ideas and designs for your home – these won’t be of a professional standard but at this point it doesn’t matter. Measure out your home and draw up some rough floor plans. From there, you can go as wild as you like! Experiment with placement of items, taking measurements into account, until you have a layout you like.
Another good idea is to draw some pictures visualising the design as you see it in your head. Whilst this may sound like a futile task if you aren’t particularly artistic, working from a visualisation is far easier than trying to describe a visual task in words.
The final step is to go along to a specialist store or call a designer to work out your design using home design software. This may seem like a bit of a step backwards considering you’ve done a lot yourself but the benefits of home design software are massive and should help flag up any design issues. Generally this software is expensive and requires training, so working with a specialist is recommended.
Interior design software allows you to create 3D visualisations of your dream designs by placing objects in various positions and playing around with designs and furniture. It actually goes beyond this too, going as far as to show where shadows would be cast and reflections on floors and surfaces. Using interior design software is the only way to truly see what your design would look like in practise before going ahead with it.
After you’ve finalised the design of your rooms and finished playing around with the software (it can be a lot of fun!), the final step on your path to the perfect home is to get quotes on the redesign and finalise the furniture and items that’ll make up your dream design. Happy designing!…
Home Repair
Laminate Flooring As an Alternative to Other Types of Flooring
Whenever it comes to decorating a home, everyone wants to make their home look as good as possible. They also want their style and creativity to show through on the projects they undertake. Every part of their home should show a unique pizazz and flair that cannot be matched anywhere else. One of the most difficult decorative choices to make in a home is what types of floors should be used in which rooms. Nowadays hard wood and tile seem like they are the way to go. However, laminate flooring looks realistic and is able to offer several advantages that these floors cannot.
The first advantage is in the maintenance and upkeep department. Hard wood is extremely delicate. There are only certain products that can be used on it, and even then it can only tolerate a small amount of it. Even if these rules are followed perfectly, there is still no guarantee that they will not need to be restained or varnished at a later date. Tiled floors have grout in between them that always seems like it needs to be cleaned and no matter what gets done to it, it still never looks like it did whenever the tiles were first installed. However, laminate flooring is able to tolerate chemicals that hard wood cannot. And, whenever it comes to grout, there is no problem because there is not any. The grout that appears on the laminate is a realistic representation of grout and cleans just as easily as the rest of the floor.
Second is durability. It pretty much goes without saying that wood floors are not very durable. Everyone does their best to protect them from those chips, dents, and scratches that occur so easily. Special pads on the bottoms of furniture and not allowing any woman visitor to walk across in her high heels are just a couple of the preventatives so many have taken. Tiling is more durable than wood; however, if something heavy such as kitchen ware or furniture is dropped on it while moving, the tiles will crack. Laminate, however, is extremely durable. Unlike tile, it will not crack if something is dropped on it. While with extreme force it may be possible to scuff or tear it, it is still able to resist much more than wood flooring is able to resist.
Whenever it comes to decorating a home, everyone wants to pick out things that look decent and are affordable. Laminate flooring fits both of these. It provides the appeal that hard wood and tile provide, yet is cheap enough to not break the budget. This allows a homeowner to also spend time and energy into perfecting other parts of the home while still being able to be proud of the work they have put into their new floors. The many different patterns and styles allow homeowner to express their creativity in a room and create something that is truly unique and different.…
What Warranty and Insurance Do New-Build Homes Require?
When you first plan to purchase a new home, having a good warranty with beneficial insurance is key to the future of your living space. No one ever knows when a problem will come about, so taking the necessary precautions will be vital. After all, you don’t want to get hit with an expensive repair when it could have been avoided by having the right warranty and insurance.
However, you will have to have the right type of warranty for your new build home. This means the Solo for Self Build option. Yes, there are residential, rentals and mixed warranties available, but they won’t fit your needs if you’re trying to purchase a new home. The Solo warranty is a 10-year plan that is geared to offer various options in a two phase system.
During the first phase you will be able to get quality cover and during the building process. If you are using a reputable company, they will continually keep you in the loop to the progress that is being made. If by chance something is out of order you will be the first one to know about it. During each stage there will be a completion process that must be approved. It will then receive a certificate of accomplishment.
Obviously the safety issues are the main goal, but there are also many other benefits that come along with a Solo for Self Build warranty. The most important to some families will be the financing department. Without the proper warranty in place it can be more difficult to receive a proper loan without hassles along the way. Since the mortgage lender will have cover as well, it will make the paperwork trail work faster.
Plus, there is a chance that something could happen during the construction. If by chance the sub-structure is defective while it’s being built, you will not have to pay for any of the costs to restructure it. The most common problem usually revolves around drainage issues in case of a storm. If you don’t have the proper cover, this could end up halting the building until you come up with the money.
When you’re looking over the second phase of the warranty, it will explain in detail all the parts of the home that are covered if a problem occurs. This can range from staircases and ceilings to wall plaster and foundations. In all there are over 12 different areas that are covered, which basically takes up the entire home. When you see it for yourself you’ll have a better understanding of it all.
Then again, there are a few things that Solo warranty doesn’t cover. In this case you may look for additional options to have everything covered. Just keep in mind that this will cost you extra money, so if it’s not necessary, you may not want to get it.
If there comes a time when you decide to move, the Solo warranty can be transferred over to the new home owners. However, they will not receive a new 10 year term, but instead have whatever is left on the one you transfer. If by chance it runs out on them, they’ll have to purchase their own. It may not be important right now, but definitely something to keep in the back of your mind if you do decide to sell down the road.…
Professional Home Design Made Easy
Have you ever browsed through a design magazine and wondered how the pros do it? You’re not alone-every homeowner wants a professionally designed home, the kind where the colors, patterns, spaces and lighting just work perfectly together. Well, the good news is that it’s not that hard to pull off, and you don’t even have to spend a fortune for it. The pros really go by just a few simple rules, and the rest is a matter of creativity.
The first thing you have to decide on is color: after all, it’s the first and last thing that people notice when they look at a home. For the most part, it’s a personal decision. You want a color that you can live with for a long time, but is also versatile enough to go with changing tastes and trends. If you’re not sure what to pick, you can play it safe by just using neutrals like black, white or beige, and then adding colorful pieces as you see fit.
Textures are the second most important element in home design. Sometimes a home may have the perfect color combination, but still appear flat because it lacks texture. Wherever there’s an expanse of space, think of ways to liven it up. Use textured paint or wall art to break up the monotony of a blank wall. If you have lots of bare floor, lay out a rug or runner for some variety. Just make sure not to overdo it, as it makes the room look messy.
Finally, you need to find a focal point-a point of interest that draws the viewer’s eye and directs it around the room. It can be a lighting fixture, a painting, or a window with a view. These days, many designers are using area rugs as focal points, and it’s easy to see why. Not only are they bright and colorful, they also add a nice warm glow to any space. You can use one rug for a small room or two larger ones if you have a larger area. Look for a rug that fits your décor theme, and place it somewhere visible like the middle of a floor or the front of your fireplace.…
Baby Nurseries – How to Create One That Nurtures and Protects Your Baby
After waiting the 9 long months and enduring discomfort, back pain and unknown sleepless nights you’ve finally become a parent. Like any proud new parent you’ll want to make sure your child is as comfort in the outside world as it was in its mothers womb. You’ll want to create (if you already haven’t created it that is) a nursery that gives your new little bundle of joy a combination of style, absolute safety and of course comfort. This article has some tips to help you along in your quest to create the best nursery that you possibly can.
The first thing you need to think about is the color of your baby’s new nook. Although they may not be sensitive to different hues at first (they may only distinguish black and white), the color you choose will gradually become significant. Decide on colors that are easy and calming such as pastels in peach, yellow, blue or green. These shades will provide a relaxing atmosphere while exuding comfort and style! Colors in the primary wheel perk up your kids interest in his or her surroundings. However using too much at the same time might cause your child to become overly excited. Rather than sleep, your child might lie awake all night and you wouldn’t be resting soundly either! And it’s not just because of your baby’s awkward feeding patterns. This time, the colors are the culprit!
Different textures and varied patterns should be included in your nursery. These variations spark up the interest of your growing child. Their sense of touch will be further heightened when they encounter new textures once in a while! Although it’s a must to cover the crib with soft cushions to prevent bumps, you can still add a touch of texture to it. With regards to blankets, the general rule is that babies should not be put to sleep covered with a blanket…unless they happen to be at least a year old. Though a soft cuddly blanket offers added comfort during feeding time, it could cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS and should be avoided inside the crib during sleeping hours. Get rid of that adorable blanky even if it breaks your heart!
As a last piece of advice, be sure you choose a particular design that can ultimately grow as your child grows. Yes, I’m sure Pooh Bear and Disney Princesses are all the rage for your youngster now, but what will happen if she outgrows it? Make sure the theme and color schemes are flexible enough to adapt to your child’s future needs. So think again before buying that huge Little Mermaid crib, not unless you can picture your teenage daughter still enjoying under-the-sea moments in it thirteen years from now. Invest in a wall color and design scheme that will work for a boy or a girl for that matter. You never know just what your next child may be right (or was the first experience enough for you)? Keep decoration to a minimum without sacrificing your chosen theme. Don’t overdo it so that you won’t have to initiate nursery makeovers every time those pregnancy tests turn out positive!
Because a nursery is going to be used for many years make sure that you plan it well. You don’t want to have to update it in 12 months time to achieve a new look or feel. Use textiles, textures and visuals that will appeal to any growing child. Many children have vivid memories of their nursery so why not make sure these memories are as warm and fond as possible?
Create the perfect nursery by unleashing the creative child in you.…
How to Clean Hardwood Floors
One of the best types of flooring is hardwood flooring that enhances the beauty of the interior of a house and adds style and attraction. It is one of the top used flooring systems because its material will lasts for many years and it is easy to clean. Using a vacuum cleaner is a most common way to clean the wooden floors but there are also some more good ways to clean hardwood floors. It is not at all a difficult task to clean hardwood floors but it is important to know the correct techniques in order to do it easily and quickly.
Following are some of the best ways of cleaning hardwood floors:
It is claimed by many experts that washing a hardwood floor with water is the simplest and easiest way and it usually does not cause damage to the wood. But you have to make sure that the floor should not be wet for a long time after cleaning. It should be dried out sooner rather than later. If there are holes or aberrations on the flooring, the water should not be allowed to go into these holes so it cannot start destroying the wood.
The floor ideally should not be made too wet or the water should not be splashed on the floor. In its place a mop could come to salvage. A wet mop would be a good option to have the dampening effect on the floor. It is important to remove the dust and debris before pulling the mop on the whole floor. Use a broom if it is manageable to clean off the dust or a use a vacuum cleaner.
Using a mixture of vinegar and water would also prove very helpful in cleaning hardwood floors. It is quite convenient and easy to do and it provides a great shine and cleanness to the floor.
Cleaning hardwood floor with wax also required at regular intervals to give shine to the lacquered floors. But some people tend to use it too many times, which is undesirable because it would mean spending a lot of wax to remove later.
There is also another effective way to clean a hardwood floor which is to boil some water and dip few black tea bags in it. Wait for the water to cool down and then dispense it in a cleaning bucket, take a mop, squeeze it and clean the floor.…
Finding The Right Home Security Options For Your Home And Family
Having a secure home is something you surely take seriously and something you don’t want to forget about. The problem is that you may lack focus. The following article should be very beneficial as you begin.
Be sure your home always looks occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This makes it appear that someone is home. This will help to deter burglars.
Why not give your trusted dog the job of holding onto your spare key? This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.
Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.
When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. Don’t hesitate to request a different technician or to hire a new company altogether. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!
Those that live in rural area are not as concerned about having their home invaded as those who are located in the city. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.
Walls are a good place to hide things. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. Repurpose phone jacks and electrical outlets as tiny wall safes. If you have no unused plates, you can put in a fake one.
If you’ve bought large or pricy items, avoid throwing out boxes until the day the trash is scheduled for pick-up. Doing so is like giving a burglar an invitation to target your home; he or she will know there is something good inside.
Were you aware that your home’s wires are valuable? People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. In order to protect yourself from this risk, make sure wires on your house are difficult to find and hard to access.
Replace rotten wood on your door frame. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door. Always replace rotting wood with fresh wood immediately to keep your house strong and secure.
If you want to feel safe and secure, you must attend to your home security needs. About this, there can be little doubt. It’s not always easy to know how to go about ensuring safety however, but the tips that have been provided here offer a good place to begin.…