Home & Interiors

When we renovate parts of our home, or even commit to large projects such as a home extension, it may not be feasible for you to move to a hotel room or live somewhere else for the duration of that work. Thankfully, unless you’re committing to a multi-room renovation, renovating all critical rooms, or demolishing the entire house to start again (which tends to be a bit more than a standard renovation effort), it usually is possible to live among this work without too much hassle. 

Pic Credit: Pexels

Lessening our stress while this work goes on, however, may be considered another art form all by itself. In this post, we’ll discuss a few measures you can use for keeping your day to day life calm and relaxed despite all the work going on around you, particularly if you have children or a relatively small household to host you.

While dealing with stress is important, of course, keeping ourselves safe at this time is the most essential aspect to consider. For that reason, we will also prioritize our advice in that direction:

Find A Good Way To Dispose Of Debris/Trash

Home renovations tend to accumulate a good amount of wastage. Knocking through floors, removing appliances, reframing cabinets, it means that all this trash has to go somewhere. Keeping this as neat as possible is essential. This is why using a skip hire service can be so worthwhile, as they not only provide you the means to store the rubbish over a few weeks, but they will take it away and dispose of it for you. This can help you avoid having piles of trash in your garden, or exposing anyone to elements that may not be safe.

Thick Dust Sheets & No-Go Areas

Renovations also tend to produce a good amount of dust and debris. Breathing this in can be harmful. This is why it’s important to make sure heavy dust sheets are placed in open door frames, and ensuring ventilation is properly established can be key, too. Thick dust sheets in this manner can make a massive difference, as can establishing no-go areas that your family is able to avoid for the time being.

Retrofit Temporary Living Standards

It may be that temporarily, you need to leave a certain room and work out a different solution elsewhere. If your dining room is being worked on, then purchasing a fold-out table you can use in another room may be key. Perhaps you might have to sleep on a fold-out bed in the living room for a week as your master room has its flooring replaced. These efforts can help you save money in the long run, without having to totally upheave your living situation for now. Planning that and agreeing these measures with the whole family can be helpful – such as if your child’s en suite bathroom needs to become the main family washroom for a week or so.

With this advice, we hope you can continue to live amongst your home renovation without stress.

Note: This is a collaborative post 

Energy is a hot topic at the moment. It’s not just green energy that business owners are concerned about, but about the energy of their employees and the fuel that powers their logistics. This last one is a very interesting topic because it ties into the first and the second. Cargo ships, trucks, and industrial vehicles all need to become more efficient, they need to also be comfortable and usable for employees. But, these three types of fuel are what we’re going to focus on in more detail as each is changing, and this could have an impact on your company and how you work.

Solar coming to the city?

Pic Credit: Pixabay

For a long time to come, governments are starting to force businesses to be powered by green energy. It’s quite amazing how aggressive new policies are, that are demanding that companies make the shift over to green energy by 2025 or 2030. This seems possible nowadays because, thanks to solar farms, solar energy is able to power cities and businesses. Solar farms are where large rotating solar panels are placed in an unused field that a farmer rents out. These solar panels then transport their energy to a storage unit which then transfers this power to a local storage unit in the city. And hence, you have solar energy acting as if it were conventional fossil fuel energy in the way it is transported, stored and used.

The new manpower

Employees have to be fueled and ready to take on tough challenges. But, there have to be two types of fuel, mental and physical. The pandemic has changed the way employees work and also, how they view their work. It’s up to employers to provide stimulating activities outside of work now. This could be gym memberships, tickets to go see local shows, festivals and sometimes even things like spa vouchers. Physically, employees want healthier options for their diet at work. So if you provide catering for employees, healthy salads, vegan options, low-carb and healthy fast food options are vital.

Fueling the line

Fuel for your fleet is also vital. Although eventually, every single fleet vehicle will have to become battery-powered, at the moment, governments want you to buy and use efficient red diesel. This is the fuel industrial and commercial vehicles often use. You can buy red diesel drums and store your fuel at your depot where vehicles are stored, parked and maintained. This will save you time from having to go to a truck stop or specialist station. They can transport the drums to you within the next day of order which is great if you are running low and need fuel replacement urgently. Not to mention, you get a dedicated team just for your order. 

These 3 types of fuel power your business towards success. Each of them has their own role to play and you need to stay on top of them to be a forward-looking brand both in action and ethos.  

Note: This is a collaborative post

A terrace is a great place to sit, enjoy tea or coffee, read a book, have dinner or just enjoy the view if you have one. However, most homes do not have terraces because this is a feature that takes up space and can only be used as often as the patio may. It’s usually also found only on large homes, where they have room to spare, they want an entertainment space and perhaps, where they want to lounge in the sun. So why would a person who owns a normal house want a terrace? Well, you’re about to find out that it’s not that hard to create, it can be a perfect space that can be converted into different types of living space.

What you need

First, you need to decide what kind of terrace style you want. This will tell you what you need. For a classic terrace, you’ll need hardwood flooring that is able to withstand rain, wind and snow. So a tough oak would be great. For a traditional terrace, you’ll want stone, something like granite, quartz or perhaps even marble. For a modern terrace, you will want tiling, it’s easy to fit, fix and style. You will also need seating, tables, a place to hang out such as a pergola and some hammocks to make it into a second patio. You should also consider safety and edge protection while the terrace is being built so you can prevent your children or dog from careening over the edge. The edge protection can be linked together, making a wall that you can move to your liking. 

What will it be for? 

So far we have talked about what the style of the terrace might be, but what will the functionality be like? Surely, you want the terrace to be useful not just for style? So consider having patio furniture, a fire pit and maybe different types of seating so you can have a chill place to sit and talk. Will you have a coffee table or a dining table? Will the place be for hosting dinner parties or will you have it just for an entertainment space with air hockey and table tennis? 

When will you use it?

Apart from the obvious question of how you will use it, when you will use it is next. So, if you have a hardwood floor, chances are you can use your terrace most of the year, aside from when it is raining. You don’t want to put too much pressure on the wet wood. Stone and tiles are usually fine, but they can be slippery. An area rug would be fantastic for a terrace, so you can at least walk on your terrace rain or shine. You can make your terrace winterproof using sheets and fire lamps or pits but for the rain, you can’t do much.

Why not build a terrace for your home if it suits your lifestyle, gives you more space to relax and you can afford it?

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Now that summer is ending, and autumn is most certainly on the way, when you look back at the past few months, did you really make the most use out of your back garden, or was it just there, a handy place to hang washing out to dry but otherwise barely used at all? 

If this is the case, you’re not alone; many people don’t make the most of their back gardens, and that’s a big shame since being outside in nature for at least a few minutes each day is good for our mental and physical health, not to mention the fact that if the children are playing outside, they are spending less time on their screens (and the same goes for you). 

Therefore, why not redesign your back garden so that, by the time spring comes around once more, you’ll be able to use it to its full potential? Read on for some inspiration on what you can do. 

Have Less Lawn

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Depending on how much you like gardening, your lawn can either be a blessing or a curse. It’s good to have grass for comfort, for the look, and for wildlife, but it does tend to need a lot of upkeep. You’ll need to mow it at least every two weeks in the summer, and you’ll need to ensure that any brambles and thistles are removed before children can go out to play.

One idea you can implement when it comes to redesigning your garden is to have less lawn overall. You don’t have to worry that this is a big job to do; you can either employ professionals, or you can buy the right equipment from arbourlandscapesolutions.co.uk and do it yourself. It simply means digging up any areas of grass you don’t want and disposing of it. Then, you can replace it with artificial grass, paving slabs, woodchip, or anything else that appeals. Now you have less lawn to have to maintain, making it much more pleasant in your garden. 

Make An Al Fresco Eating Space

Redesigning your back garden is all about ensuring that you can use it more, and what better way to do that than to install or create some kind of outdoor eating area. If you have a space to enjoy your meals al fresco, you’ll be out in the garden a lot more – possibly three times a day. Plus, you can invite friends and family over much more often to enjoy either a barbecue or food prepared indoors and eaten around a nice big patio table.  And don’t forget somewhere to chill out and wile away the hours with a coffee or your favourite wine, what about a hammock with stand for the ultimate in chill out luxury. 

The problem with eating outside if you don’t have a dedicated, planned-out space to do it is that you’ll have to rely on good weather. However, if you have created an alfresco eating area, complete with some kind of awning to keep you protected from sun and rain, then it won’t matter what the weather is doing; you can still enjoy your garden. 

Build a Garden Room

Credit provided by Scottish Garden Rooms company GardenRooms.scot

If you want to create the ultimate wow factor in your garden whilst giving yourself an additional space to use, consider building a garden room.

There’s kits you can buy online that are put together much like sheds but they’re generally not usable year round due to a lack of insulation. Alternatively, you can hire a company to build something that can be used year round for lounging, entertaining, exercising, working and more.

Not only will a garden room look amazing it will give you a space to use and possible add value to your home. The cost will vary depending on what you go for but a well built room will last the test of time. Image provided by Scottish Garden Rooms company GardenRooms.scot

Make It Wildlife Friendly 

If you don’t much like gardening, but you still want an enjoyable, interesting garden, you can take steps to make your outdoor space more wildlife-friendly. This will involve creating a wildflower area, which doesn’t need to be weeded very much and generally takes care of itself. However, even if this is only part of your back garden, you’ll still be cutting the work you need to do outside down by a good amount. 

As well as this, try adding a bee hotel, bird feeders, and even a pond. All of these will attract wildlife to your garden and make it a wonderful place to be for everyone. 

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Even with the utmost care, no food in the bedrooms and coasters for drinks on the coffee table, there’s still the chance of spills and stains wreaking havoc in your home. 

Those tough to clean areas, like upholstery, wallpaper and carpets, are the worst, too. After years of daily activity, it can be hard to feel proud of your home and its evident wear and tear. 

That’s why this guide should provide you with all the tips and tricks you need to create a stain-free home. 

Removing stubborn stains from carpet

Whether it’s a not-quite-potty-trained pooch or a paint splatter from the kids, getting stains out of the carpet can be a nightmare. Scrubbing and rubbing can sometimes just smudge it further into the fibres, leaving you frustrated and your carpets grubby. 

To remove stubborn stains from a carpet, ammonia and steam from the iron is a winning combination. 

1. Fill a spray bottle with half ammonia, half hot water, and leave the iron to heat up.
   

   Pic Credit: Pixabay

2. Douse the stain with the cleaning solution and place a clean towel on top.
3. Iron over the towel, making sure not to singe the carpet (there’s no trick to removing iron burns!).
4. If you turn over the towel, you should see that a good amount of the stain has transferred onto the back. 
5. Keep repeating the process until the stain is gone. 

Removing stains from your mattress

Everything in the bedroom looks clean and pristine until you remove the bed sheets. 

Pillows, bedding and your mattress can collect sweat, skin particles and breakfast spills throughout the years, leaving behind a far from clean sleep space. 

You can easily clean your mattress with a vacuum – to get rid of dust, hair and other particles that irritate your breathing – and a few household products to get rid of the stains. Lemon juice, salt, even sparkling water can rid your bed of stains.

Removing marks and stains from upholstery

Of course, when it comes to the sofa cushions, you can usually remove the covers and throw them in the laundry, but for the actual upholstery, it’s not as easy. 

A few glasses of wine or a cup of coffee can easily find their way down the side of the sofa, and hiding the problem with a blanket is all well and good until the hot weather arrives. 

If you want to get rid of stains from your upholstery, combining water, dish soap and vinegar (2:1:1) may do just the trick. 

Dip a microfibre cloth into your cleaning solution and blot the stained areas. Don’t rub, as this could spread the stain or damage the fabric. 

Leave the solution to soak for a few minutes, then blot with a cloth that’s damp with plain water. This should help to remove any remaining solution. 

Finally, blot the area with a dry cloth. 

If the process seems to be working but hasn’t quite got rid of the stain entirely, repeat. 

So, with help from the kitchen cupboards and a little research, your home can be stain-free from top to bottom. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Purchasing an existing home is a perfectly acceptable option for most people who are looking for a home. And because there are so many possibilities available in most markets, you are almost certain to find one or two that meet your requirements perfectly.

But what if you have something in mind that is quite unique? Alternatively, what if you simply cannot locate anything in your local market that meets your requirements? Depending on your circumstances, you may find yourself in the position of having – or wanting – to construct your own home.

Of course, building your own home is a time-consuming process with a lot of opportunities for mistakes to happen. So, before you begin your own self-build journey, have a look at these pointers to help you avoid some of the more common pitfalls.

What do you want from your house?

To begin, you will want to develop a list of your goals and objectives. Do you have a certain location in mind for your home? Which design features are essential and which are optional, and which should be included in your budget if it is possible? Your architect will appreciate your ability to distinguish between needs and wants and prioritize the most critical features of your new home if you are clear about what you want and what you do not want in your new home.

Purchase a piece of land

You will need a site to put your home before you can start building it. Look through the real estate listings in your area for desirable lots that meet your requirements. If you reside in an urban region where usable land is difficult to come by, you may be able to purchase a decaying home that also happens to be on a decent lot for a reasonable price.

Pic Credit: Pexels

If you want to go this path, you will have to include in demolition and cleanup charges in your construction budget, but in the long run, it may be less expensive than purchasing a building site in an undesirable location.

You also need to make sure that you have got or can get, the relevant planning permissions for the plot of land.

Find a builder and an architect for your project

Considering that your architect and builder will be two of the most crucial members of your team, you will want to ensure that they are both respected and professional.

Your architect will work with you to improve your concept and turn it into a workable blueprint. Your builder will monitor the construction of your home, as well as handle the cost breakdown and deal with any subcontracting difficulties that may emerge during the construction process.

While hiring a builder will cost you money, it will make the process of creating your own home much easier to cope with in the long run. If you are feeling extremely ambitious, you can consider taking up the role of your own builder. In order to avoid dealing with dishonest contractors, you will need to control your costs wisely. There is always the possibility that you will have to deal with them.

Make sure you understand the terms of the contract you signed with your builder by carefully reading it through. Ascertain what the building costs cover and what they do not cover so that you are not taken by surprise when the time comes.

Make certain that it contains a cooling-off period and that it defines a construction timeline that is suitable for your requirements. See if the package has full plans, warranty, and insurance information before you buy it. Pay particular attention to the payment plan, as well as the due date.

Finally, it is a good idea to have a lawyer review the deal before you sign it. Fill in any blanks with a black marker, and make sure that any contract modifications are thoroughly documented and mutually agreed upon.

Make a budget for the construction of your home

You are aware of how much money you have available to spend or borrow. Now is the moment to determine whether or not the house you desire can be built with the funds you have available.  Once you and your architect have reached an agreement on a design, your builder will break down the plan into specific building phases and solicit bids from the contractors who will carry out the actual construction. Remember that you have to pay for materials and specialist equipment as well, such as crane hire.

The amount of money that your home will cost should now be able to be determined with reasonable certainty. When building a budget, It is important to account for all of the essential construction supplies and labor – including everything from Bulk water delivery should you be building on a rural plot that is not yet connected to the local water mains and wood for the frame of your property, to the day-rate for any contractors working on-site – as well as utility bills and permits, and the costs for designers, landscapers, and other specialists.

Do not forget to account for a contingency of at least 10% in your budget. The contingency fund is designed to cover the unforeseen costs that can occur during the construction of a home. If you do not need to use it, that is great.  Construction of your dream home should proceed as planned, but the last thing you want to happen is to have to stop because of unexpected costs.

Make sure that you communicate carefully with the people involved

Communicate frequently with your builder and craftsmen during the construction process. Receive regular updates on the status of the construction, and make sure you check in with the team. You should take images of the development on a regular basis so that you can capture any issue areas that may arise in the future.

Do not be scared to stick to your guns when it comes to your beliefs. Do not be afraid to challenge your builder, contractor, or tradespeople if they tell you something cannot be done. It may be more expensive, but the chances are good that you will be able to achieve your goals with the appropriate amount of effort. Putting up a battle for details that are essential to you is well worth the effort. After all, you will be the one who has to live in the house after it is finished.

You should, however, be able to prevent disagreements during the construction phase if you maintain effective communication. Construction will go much more smoothly if you have a clear vision of what you want and the details that are non-negotiable for you before starting.

Plan for things to go wrong

Something is bound to go wrong during the course of a project as complex as home construction – it is inevitable. The most important thing is to maintain your composure and stay calm and in control. As long as you have put together an excellent team, everything should turn out perfectly in the end.

Decisiveness is required

Once the construction process has begun, you may find yourself inclined to change your mind on a few important aspects of the project. If you can, resist the impulse to make changes unless you absolutely cannot live without making a few adjustments. Making adjustments in the middle of a project may be extremely expensive, time-consuming, and frustrating.

Pick out the finishing touches as early on in the process as possible

Choosing the finishing touches, such as home exterior materials or flooring early in the construction process will help to keep your project on schedule and running smoothly. You may discover that some finishes are out of stock or will take a long time to arrive. Alternatively, you may find that some finishes are no longer available, allowing you time to go back to the drawing board and make an alternative choice.

Early selection of products ensures that the products are in your builder’s possession as soon as the subcontractors are ready to begin working on the project. Believe us when we say that you want everything ready to go when your subcontractors arrive to work on your property. Aside from that, you could have to wait a long time while they finish another project.

When we purchased our house over 7 years ago now, as it was a very old house it did not have a down stairs toilet but it did have a good sized cloakroom.   One of the items top of my last was a downstairs toilet for many reason including future proofing for our needs as we get older, to enable the kids grandparents to visit and also for sheer handiness for young kids.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

I naively thought it was more straightforward than it would be. There is a lot to consider including the applicable rules and regulations pertaining to your local area. While I a no expert in this area when I can do is bring some tips and advise based on my own experience in this area.

Research

Doing adequate research before you begin cannot be underestimated.  For example check out local experts in your area, by way of reference shower remodel in Houston experts can be easily located.  Pay a visit to local display showroom, which admittedly can be a lot more difficult during the current pandemic. Another very useful piece of advice we got was to talk to our neighbours to see if any of them had completed a similar remodel. Those for us was so useful as we could go and see the size of the completed project and see the pitfalls from their perspective.

Cost 

This sounds a little cliched but it can cost as much or as little as you want depending on how much you know your specification and are willing to compromise often on functionality versus aesthetics. What shocked me most when we commenced our research was that the entire project could be brought in completed for approx $2,500.  I was genuinely shocked, my expectations were closer to $10,000. However what we did do was we increased the spend to increase the spec and hopefully prolong the bathroom functionality.

Ventilation 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

You will thank me later!! Good ventilation when retro fitting a bathroom cannot be underestimated. If you think when your main bathroom was fitted this was considered from the outset however for retrofit this is most certainly the after thought.  Poor ventilation can lead to the presence of mould which can prove hugely detrimental to health.  From our experience and talking to our contractor we erred on the side of more ventilation, not just for the obvious and essential health reason but because with a hallway toilet no guest wants to be greeted with lingering odours from your downstairs toilet.

Statement room

What we decided to do with our downstairs bathroom is make it a feature! The rest of our house is quite minimalist and neutral, except the downstairs toilet!! We went for totally out there wall paper and finishes and it really has had the desired impact and really becomes a talking point.  Can highly recommend, especially at the moment you can source really cool wallpapers and paints with most shops allowing you to take samples to try in your own space. I would really recommend using this room to let your personality shine!!!

Note: This is a collaborative post.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Finding out you are expecting a baby is such an exciting time. Whether it is the first or your fifth, making plans and getting excited about your new bundle is what it is all about. One of the things to consider with your baby is what you are going to have the baby nursery look like. You might want to go for a classic look, a more modern style, or perhaps something unique and more vintage or boho. Here are some ideas and tips to help you to decorate the baby’s nursery, so that it is not only a practical space, but a space that is happy and safe for your little one.

Use primary colours

No matter the gender of your baby, primary colours work well. You can choose bright and bold options, as well as pastel versions of the primary colours in order to make the room look cosy and friendly. If your little one will be sharing a room with a sibling, then this can also be a good option for all.

If you are looking for a colour scheme that will work as your baby becomes a toddler and then becomes a tween, then choosing a monochromatic look could work well. You can accessorize with prints and wall stickers adding pops of colour, but keeping the base the same will help the room last and last and mean that you don’t have to redecorate every couple of years. 

Practical storage

There is no getting away from it that babies and children need a lot of stuff. So to make the nursery a great space to be, adding in some practical storage is a must, unless you want clutter and toys everywhere. Some great ideas for storage, that aren’t just typical toy boxes or shelving units, can be things like an Ottoman-style stool or a window seat with storage underneath. Sometimes you just need some items to be out of sight and out of mind!

Add personality with framed art

Instead of getting the walls in a bright colour or getting bright bedspreads, you could choose to add personality with framed art. If you’re not keen on big and bright Thomas the Tank Engine bedding, then go for framed prints of the engines, so that your little one still gets to see their favourite things, just in a more classic way. These can then be easily changed as the child gets older, adding in some Pro Hart art or perhaps artwork that they themselves have created. It will also help when they’re a teenager to use frames for their displays, rather than sticking bluetack all over the walls.

The key thing with a nursery is that you want to create it to last. Babies grow quickly, and before you know it, they’ll be a toddler, and you don’t want to keep having to redecorate. Thnk comfort and think longevity, and that will help as you create a bedroom space that will work well and that will grow with your little one. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

It could not be a more perfect time of year to turn your attention to some garden improvements such as the addition of an outdoor canopy. I have been lusting after a pop up canopy for a long time and the recent good weather spell has made us see how useful one would be for shelter in the really warm weather and the converse is also true if the weather is really bad it means the kids are sheltered and don’t have to come in out of the rain.  One huge plus for us is that it effectively increases the footprint of the house extending out into the garden.

So you have decided to invest in an outdoor canopy, what are some of the key considerations you need to keep in mind when making that decision. Below I have set out some useful advise.

• Something portable 

Pic Credit Costoffs

Speaking from experience, if like us you have a young family and pets you will want something portable.  Something that can be put up in seconds and put away then if needs be.  Following our own research it was clear what we needed was a pop up canopy. A pop up canopy as its name suggest literally pops up and you have it set up in mere minutes making it extremely handy.  It can provide shelter for pets, a safe play area for kids or a sun/ rain shelter for adults.

• Reputable supplier 

When you have decided a pop up canopy is for you,  you need to consider your supplier carefully.   If you are spending the money on garden improvements, you will want to get good value and best functionality for your money.  We stumbled across Costoffs which which are an e furniture brand founded in 2020 which specialise in home and office furniture.  They also impressively offer free shipping & delivery and 24 hours after sales service….now that is impressive.

• Functionality

After undertaking much research we were most impressed with the Costoffs pop up canopy, size wise at 3m * 3m is a really good size for most back gardens.  The major selling point for us was that it is waterproof and UV proof making it importantly suitable for all seasons which is very important, as mentioned above especially with kids and pet. Also critically is is CPAI-84 fireproof.  Also at $146.99 with free delivery you really could not go wrong.

I simply will not compromise on safety features when it comes to my kids so this pop up canopy really ticked all the boxes for us.  I see from their website that orders are currently arriving in 10-15 working days.

Do take a look at the blog posts on the Costoffs webpage as there is a wealth of information on choosing your canopy.  As mentioned above they don’t just sell canopies they have a huge range of good quality indoor and outdoor furniture.  With so many of us now working from home they do stock a very wide range of office furniture and chairs, which is exactly what is next on my list….

Note: This is a collaborative post