posted26/03/11
If your bathroom is looking a bit dated, but your are stuck for time then why not give your bathroom a mini makeover, it’s a great weekend projects that doesn’t take too much time and money.
A new lick of paint can make a difference and if you have a small bathroom won’t take too long either opt for light airy colours and don’t go for too many different ones as bathrooms automatically look luxurious when they’re bathed in one color. You can even give your tiles a new lease of life with tile paint.
Even if you feel that your bathroom sink, bath or shower looks a bit dated, you can give them a bit of an update with new bathroom taps, spending a bit more on high end faucets give you a focal point for your bathroom and the added luxury will give your bathroom a more expensive look. It will also draw attention away from your suite if it looks a bit old.
Finally adding some new bathroom accessories and new lighting will put the finishing touches onto your bathroom so take inspiration from a spa by adding little spa luxuries like a towel warmer, fragrant soaps, expensive lotions and hair products to create an attractive display. Flower arrangements will also some life into your bathroom and keeps it smelling pretty too. With the lighting add a dimmer switch so in the morning you can have it bright and light when you have to wake yourself up and dimmer on an evening when you want to relax.
Finally just make sure to decorate for the size of your bathroom, the smaller your bathroom the less you need, otherwise it can end up looking cluttered. Larger bathrooms have a bit more scope but still don’t get too carried away, minimalist is a good look.
posted24/03/11
Before you varnish your prepared surface you need to ensure the varnish is suitable and the right shade/colour. This is where making a sample board comes in handy, by using an off cut piece of wood you can see the final effects of your varnish, even sampling out different colours/shades. Also with a vast array of varnishes available results may vary depending on the number of layers, the type of varnish, the type of wood and any previous coatings as well as the application, so having a practicing testing some out will help you achieve the right result.
When it comes to applying the varnish, you need to use a method similar to painting, which is easy; firstly you should seal the wood with one coat, do this by mixing varnish diluted with about 10% of the recommended solvent. Then allow to dry, once that first coat is dry you can then apply another to coats of undiluted varnish, however if from your sample piece of wood you found on coat to be sufficient the instead use a clear varnish for your sealing top coat.
Make sure varnish dry’s in a dust free room and that it is completely dry before its used/ walked on otherwise you will mark your varnish leaving a blemish that will probably get on your nerves, meaning the whole process will have to be done again.
posted22/03/11
Making a claim on your home or buildings insurance can be confusing, so we will have a look in detail at making a claim, to make sure you do not lose out on any payouts you deserve.
When making a claim you need to check your insurance policy documents, to firstly make sure your covered, normally when you first receive your documents this is what you should check, otherwise it can prove rather costly, when something you thought was covered isn’t. The policy documents will clearly state the procedure you should follow when you make a claim, normally this requires calling your insurers claim line as soon as you know you need to make a claim. You will find this on your policy documents as well as your policy number which will be required when you speak to an adviser, as well as all the relative information for the claim you have such as a crime reference number (if appropriate).
Calling your insurer in the first instance give you the opportunity to discuss your claim with a customer service advisor, they can answer any queries or questions you may have and in the outset let you know if your claim is valid or not.
Depending on the type of claim or the size of claim the time it takes to be settled can vary if you have a large claim which means a big loss or a large amount of damage your insurance company may send out a ‘loss adjuster’ to inspect your property and advise the insurance company on your claim. This means that your insurer can confirm the damage or loss quickly and recommend repair or replacement depending on the claim. You insurer will send out specialists who will carry out any work or send replacements depending on your claim. You will find that if you correctly and honestly filled out your home insurance application form then normally your claim will be settled quickly without any problems. But if you lied on your application form or about any part of your claim, then the insurance company reserves the right invalidate your claim and cancel your policy.
Finally before a claim can be settled your insurer will need you to pay the excess that was agreed on your policy, this is the part that you must pay for yourself and can vary in cost between insurers and polices, it normally ranges between £50 and £100.
posted20/03/11
Varnish is used to protect wood, as well as highlighting the grain, as opposed to paint which does protect wood but hides the grain. Many people use varnish to modify the appearance of their wood as well as blend in with other woods. Many older pieces of furniture or even flooring can benefit from been re varnished and new pieces of furniture that have been produced but not protected will benefit from varnish, especially if you wish to retain a lot of the natural detailing.
It’s also a good idea to varnish surface and floors that get heavy use or that are old, to keep them viable and looking better for longer. Sometime you may just want to use a different shade of varnish, especially if your redecorating your home as it can add another dimension to furniture.
If the wood is varnished but in a poor condition, then you will have to remove the old varnish before applying a new coat, you can do this by using a varnish stripper; make sure you follow all safety precautions when using solvents.
Before you apply the varnish the wood needs to be prepared, make sure it is clean, grease free and smooth, then sand thoroughly with sand paper, finishing with a fine grade paper to keep it soft and smooth. Make sure you sand with the flow of the grain otherwise you make scratches on the surface which become more noticeable once varnish has been put on.
posted18/03/11
When it comes to fitting a new radiator in your home, people often disregard designer radiators, because although they look aesthetically pleasing they aren’t as efficient at heating your home as traditional ones are. However with advancements in technology and design modern designer radiators not only add aesthetic appeal to your home, they can also heat it efficiently too. In fact newer ones can have the same if not better heat output as traditional radiators.
Not only will installing a designer radiator add a new dimension to your decor, they can also add value to your home, whether for your bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom or hallway. Also you don’t need to have a modern home either as many designer radiators come in various designs including traditional designs, but with modern technology so they run much more environmentally friendly.
A good room to place a designer radiator in is your bathroom, many double up as towel racks and can change the whole design of your bathroom easily, not to mention there are many colours and styles available so you could always find something to go with your existing bathroom suite if you’re just looking for an update.
posted16/03/11
One of the easiest ways to update a look or a piece of furniture is to change the door handles and knobs being used. You may not be able to afford a new kitchen, or a new sideboard for the living room, but by simply changing the style of fixtures within a piece of furniture, you can dramatically alter its look.
Choosing a new door handle is not as simple as it first sounds as there a number of important considerations to take into account. How will it be used? What is the style you are aiming for? Which material would best suit the surrounding décor? There is an enormous range of handles to choose from so do not be swayed by a fitting that simply will not suit your home. If your rooms design is contemporary and modern, think about chrome or glass knobs. Meanwhile, if your style is more rustic and country, brass or wrought iron works best.
A major consideration in choosing door handles is how the fitting will be used. Door handles to rooms are often best as an actual lever, allowing better grip and functionality. Meanwhile, for kitchen cupboards, a small knob or flat handle with grip work well. Door handles with locks are also another important consideration if you want a room to have added privacy, or want to ensure that the contents of a cupboard can be kept safe.
Whilst choosing door handles try to bear these important points in mind to ensure that, whilst updating, the function is also improved. In addition, by simply changing the doorknobs on a piece of furniture, or around a room, you can vastly change the tone and setting of any décor.
posted14/03/11
By adding a Magis Puppy to your child’s room or play area you will be starting or continuing a very early appreciation for fine art. The designer, Eero Aarnio, is world famous in the furniture design world and has created a full line of art pieces that double as children’s play things and furniture. Each piece is not only a sculpture or a toy, but a fully functional piece of furniture that can be used with regularity.
The pieces are created to last through generations. They are built from moulded polyethylene and many of them can be used either indoors or outside. The Magis Puppy comes in two different finishes. One is a beautiful and very shiny smooth lacquer which is best used indoors. The other is the matte finish and is the one to order if you are looking for a piece that you can place in the bedroom, the play room or in the garden. Lacquer puppies come in red, white or black and the matte finish puppies are available in orange, green, white and blue.
Perhaps the most fun finish of all is the glow in the dark matte finish puppy. This would be lovely in the bedroom of a child who has difficulty with darkness. A soft and gentle glow from a trusted friend could be just the thing to calm an anxious child at bedtime.
posted12/03/11
You should always try to eradicate weeds before they flower and spread their seeds. Remove as much of the root as you can, because they easily regenerate from small sections.
Chemical weed killers should only be used as a last resort, when all else fails, due to the danger of contaminating healthy plants. Many chemicals purport to specifically target weeds, but it is better to be on the safe side. Spray chemicals as locally as you can and mix in small quantities to avoid wastage. If you are against chemicals as such, some weed killers use natural products and you may prefer these.
Contact weed killers are fast acting and kill anything that they come into contact with on the ground. Systemic weed killers are absorbed by the plant and taken into the roots, but are deactivated when they come into contact with soil. These are best used against weeds that rely on their root systems for propagation, such as brambles and ground elder.
Some weed killers remain effective in the soil for a long period of time, such as sodium chlorate and SBK, and these should be used only sparingly and when nothing else seems to work. They are best used for controlling brambles and killing off stubborn tree stumps.
Childproof weed killer packages are available if you have toddlers running around in the garden.
Long-term weed killers, such as Pathclear, can be used to eradicate weeds from garden paths and they should be applied sparingly, just before summer begins. Some mixtures of algicide and detergent are useful for clearing paths and terraces of algae.
posted10/03/11
Taking up t shirt printing as a hobby can be extremely enjoyable although in some cases it can also start off very costly. If you decide you want to set up a screen printing machine at home you need to find a suitable large space such as a garage, workshop or even a cellar where the machine can go. Even the smaller screen printing machines take up a large space.
The cost of the inks are not cheap, and you must bear in mind that if you are new to this you will be making errors along the way as you learn. This means you may make mistake with cutting the templates and will need to start over again, you may make a mistake with the inks, they could smudge or the colours could mere together which is great if this effect achieves a desired result, if not it is more waste.
Once you get the hang of it however you can be printing t-shirts for all your friends and family and you may even decide to open your own small business. Stag and hen parties often order t-shirt printing prior to their nights out.
If you decide you don’t want to use a screen printing machine although you do want to customise your clothing then iron on transfers are ideal. You can print off your chosen design from the internet directly on to transfer paper and just iron it on to the clothing. This is a comparatively cheap and easy way to make your clothing unique. You could also use a t-shirt printing company, such as Adlogo, who offer a wide range of printing services and ordering in bulk can save you money in the long run.
posted08/03/11
Although there has been an increasing tendency for families to grow their own fruit in recent years, there are still swathes of unused land in the UK just waiting to be planted. Fruit trees only need to be planted once, and require little care when they are fully developed, so they can be a good choice for novice gardeners, or those who don’t have a great deal of time on their hands to spend in the garden. It is extremely satisfying, not to mention healthier, to grow, harvest and eat the fruit from your own trees. Fruit trees are also good for the environment and looking after them can be a great way to engage with nature.
Many people choose not to plant fruit trees because they feel they do not have enough space, but these same people might be surprised to find out how much fruit can be produced on a few squared metres of land. Others feel that their land would be unsuitable, but it is amazing what can be achieved with a little cultivation. Some feel the climate may be unsuitable for planting, but there are many types of fruit trees suited to many different climates. In the UK climate apples, gooseberries, strawberries, red and black currants are just a few of the varieties which thrive virtually everywhere, and the latter four only require a small amount of space and effort to maintain.
