home design

As a homeowner, it’s always important to try and keep your property in the best condition possible. However, as time progresses, even the cleanliest of homes can become filled with rubbish and debris. Trying to get rid of everything can be tough, especially if you are not used to handling the removal of large volumes of refuse. If you want to get rid of some rubbish from your home, then we recommend you try and use some of the following methods.

Each method can make rubbish removal a little easier.

Get to the local tip

The best thing to do for most people is to try and bunch up all of the refuse and rubbish and then take it to a local tip. However, this does require having access to a vehicle that can get you to the tip in the first place. It would also require having a vehicle that can actually handle the extra weight being included when driving.

Take that into account, as you could damage your vehicle by choosing to take the rubbish to the tip in a car that is not suited for this.

Use state provided refuse collection

Another option for some people is to use the local council life-up collection services that exist in some places. However, keep in mind that budgetary cuts and other issues have led to a lot of council services stripping back or entirely stopping rubbish collection outside of your weekly bin collection service.

As such, you might find that you either have to pay for this service or you simply cannot get access to it in your area. That is why we recommend you consider this for emergencies only, as other options are more likely to be suitable.

Invest in recycling

Many items that end up going into our normal rubbish bins could actually be recycled. From old pieces of plastic and carboard to old pieces of debris, you can often find that you have a means of recycling these through your usual council bin collections. Try and spend a bit more time diversifying your rubbish so that it goes into the right bin, and you might find that you have a bit more room at home.

While this is a time-consuming job, it can be a worthwhile task if you want to help get rid of more rubbish.

Hire the experts

Of course, the best thing that you could do is hire an expert in rubbish removal. Having someone come down and do the lift-up for you is much easier and will ensure that all rubbish can be removed with relative ease. Local rubbish collection companies can be a godsend when you are looking to minimise the amount of time that you spend handling rubbish and can also make sure you don’t have to get into the nitty gritty of the rubbish yourself!

So, the next time you need to handle some rubbish, don’t do it yourself. Contact a professional who can ensure that the uplift is safe, sanitary, and secure.

Underfloor heating is generally much more energy efficient when compared with the other options that are available, such as central heating. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the flooring that is installed above the underfloor heating pipe if you are to make the most of your new system. 

Keeping that in mind, in this post we are going to take a look at the various types of material that can be installed on heated floors. Read on to discover some of the different choices that you should consider when getting underfloor heating installed in your home.

Ceramic tile – Tile is one of the easiest flooring options to go for. You have a wide variety of styles and colours to choose from and they can be installed in any type of room. Tiles are a good choice for underfloor heating, as their composition allows for heat to travel through the tile and warm your home.

Stone – A lot of underfloor heating installers will recommend stone flooring. Not only does stone naturally allow heat to travel through it, but it stores heat as well, which ensures you floors keep warm. 

Wood – Wood is another popular choice for those that have underfloor heating. It is advisable to go for engineered-wood flooring as opposed to simple wood planks. You will benefit from an extra layer between your subfloor and the wood floor if you go for the engineered option. This helps to protect your flooring from becoming too dry due to the heat.

Carpet – The underfloor heat with the softness of carpet can be a cosy combination. However, you should try to go for a thinner carpet so the heat can seep through your home. Notify the contractor of your choice of carpet so they can take it into consideration.

Vinyl – When contrasted with the other options that have been mentioned, such as stone and tile, vinyl is not as effective in terms of allowing heat through. Nevertheless, this does not mean you cannot opt for vinyl flooring. Again, if you have your heart set on a vinyl floor you should discuss this with your heating contractor so they can take this into consideration when installing your system. 

No matter what type of flooring you opt for, it is imperative to make sure that you keep up with your cleaning schedule to ensure that your floors are sparkling and look incredible. This is why it makes sense to look for the best floor scrubber, irrespective of whether it is for a commercial or domestic environment. Put together a cleaning schedule to make sure you keep on top of everything.

All in all, hard surfaces, such as ceramic tile and stone, are the best options as they transfer heat effectively and have the least resistance. However, this does not mean you cannot go for another option. Simply make sure you discuss your choice with your contractor first.

A Glass Link 

A glass link is essentially an extension between two parts of a property. Properties that can benefit most from this are usually old farms and homesteads, although any property with an outside building could use it to join up the buildings and create links. A glass link will not only allow more light into the property it will create more floor space and join everything together. 

If you think your property might benefit from a glass link you can have it assessed by a glass link provider. They will measure the area for you and suggest various options. The glass links come in panels and are joined up to create a tunnel. If the land is uneven a special base can be installed that levels the walkway. A glass link can open up your property creating more light and protect you from harsh weather. 

A Voluminous Space 

Older properties are unique and interesting, they have long histories attached to them, they also present favorable opportunities in almost every room. One main flaw, however, is the ceiling height, which tends to be lower than contemporary houses. Despite this there are opportunities to renovate your property, not horizontally, but vertically. This will create more space in your rooms and give the property and more contemporary feel. 

Vertical extensions for older properties are easier to get planning permission for and to build, you can easily increase the height of your property by at least one story without contacting your local authority. This extra height creates a voluminous space that is airy and contributes to your well being. It also looks modern and contemporary. If you prefer you can always add an extra room instead to increase the value of your home or start a small business. 

The Broken Plan

The modern trend is towards open plan homes that give owners plenty of space and light, kitchens that run into living rooms, and living rooms with dining areas attached. It’s easy to see why, this open plan design enhances the interior’s qualities of openness, light, and wellbeing, it is also practical, especially if you have children you need to watch while in the kitchen. However, the open plan design doesn’t suit everyone. 

There are those who like to have the space divided up and this also has several qualities and advantages. If you divide up an open space into several sections you will have more options to transform spaces into what you like. As well as the standard kitchen and living areas, type might have rooms for sewing, gaming, or a small suite of some kind. Creating a broken plan and designing individual rooms can affect how you feel in that space. 

A Transformed Space 

If your property is older there’s a chance it may be listed or have other restrictions on what you can do with it. While this might seem disappointing in some sense it does keep the original integrity of the building for future owners. It also presents you with some possibilities to be creative with the space. That is something artists often do, they restrict the object of creation in some way to make it more challenging or interesting. You can do the same with your home’s interior. 

Common issues with older properties include doorways that you might like to brick up but can’t, or brickwork you want to plaster over. Some solutions include using special glasswork to create windows out of old doorways. This is not only permissible but it can create a space with more light and any interest. If you wanted to use the room as an office or bedroom you could also use a shutter design that allows you to see out while restricting the view in the opposite direction. 

Lofts and Basements 

Many older properties have lofts and basements that offer great renovation potential. These spaces may have been used in the past for storage or as stables, or for Heating oil tanks  Now though there can present an issue or a possibility. The sensible thing to do is renovate them, turning them into new bedrooms, sitting rooms, apartments, or entertainment spaces. Depending on the property, however, this could present a problem. 

If you have a basement that was once a stable, for instance, you will have one large space divided up and you may not obtain permission to knock them through. Luckily, this problem also presents an opportunity. Renovate the space by taking advantage of the layout. Build shelves, beds, kitchen areas, and small single purpose rooms that make the best use of the space. You will be surprised at how interesting and appealing these spaces can once renovated creatively. 

For many people, the kitchen is easily one of the most important rooms in the home. If that is true for you, then you should be aware of some of the things you can do in order to make your kitchen as good as new at all times. As it happens, there are plenty of things you can do in order to make this happen, and in this article we are going to take a look at some of the most valuable of these. Follow these tips, and you should be giving your kitchen a new lease on life in no time at all.

A Splash Of Color

One of the simplest ways to make your kitchen look like new is to give it a splash of color, which is something that can be easily achieved as long as you know how to approach it. The easiest way to do this is to spend a day or two repainting the room. If nothing else, this is going to make the room feel and look so much more like new, so you won’t have to worry too much about achieving that effect. Or you can simply paint the cupboards or some of the tiles for a lesser effect with more pop.

Deep Cleaning

Sometimes all you really need to do in order to improve the look of any room is to carry out some deep cleaning. There are a few parts of the kitchen which are likely going to benefit from this in particular, of course, and you should focus on these most of all. That should probably include the interior of the oven, the inside and outside of the refrigerator, and any scum marks that might have appeared around the sink or other areas. The cleaner the kitchen is in this way, the more enjoyable a space it is going to be, and the newer it will seem as well.

New Countertops

If you are looking for a really impressive way to make your kitchen look completely like new, one of the best ways to do that is simply to replace your old countertops with new ones. This is the kind of upgrade that is going to make any kitchen seem considerably more attractive, so it’s definitely something that you should be considering if you want that to happen. You can go for any style you want, so long as you make a point of changing it up a little.

Declutter

Finally, if your kitchen is one of those areas that tend to become dumping grounds for random stuff from the rest of the home, it might be time to reclaim it. Doing that should be as simple as decluttering the room of anything that simply doesn’t belong there. If you can do that, you should find that the kitchen takes on a life of its own again in no time, and starts to really look the part. This is one of those things you can’t afford to overlook if you want your kitchen to look its very best.

All too often we are bombarded with the same sorts of looks for our humble abodes when we pick up interiors magazines. White high gloss kitchens are all the rage, oak veneered laminate flooring is in fashion, and who could forget the white wall minimalist look that seems to have been on trend for the past decade. When we finally climb the final rung of the property ladder and we find our dream home, we might want to shun the norm. Instead, we have more confidence to buck trends and do something a little more unique to express our personalities.

Not every homeowner will adore the open plan kitchen diner look but many will succumb to its charms because of the pressure from the magazines and friends. Instead, consider going for what you truly love and what you want to surround yourself with for the rest of your days. Your forever home needs to be personal to you alone. Forget about what the magazines dictate to you and follow this guide to add uniqueness to your home.

The Garden

We don’t often start with the outside of our homes when we consider renovations and giving our pad a makeover. However, the garden that we have can become a real haven of tranquility. If you are keen to add uniqueness to this aspect of your home, think about water features, al fresco dining, and room for the kids to play. Forget about the rectangle patch of lawn in front of a patio surrounded by some planted borders Instead, go rogue!

Consider planting some elliptical borders in the centre of your lawn. Go for plants that aren’t the usual bog standard bedding. Pansies and violas look great but they are a little twee. Instead, opt for the sculptural dogwood and consider come banana palms if you live down south. Alternatively, you could cordon off a section of patio to become a smallholding allotment. Growing your own veg might be something that you’ve yearned to try but haven’t gotten round to yet.

If you fancy something unique, consider adding tiers to your garden. Building up mounds or steps within your back yard can give your garden more height and interest. A garden could have a theme or be a place that you simply want to relax in. Make it fit for purpose and add your uniqueness when you design it.

Kitchens

The kitchen has become the heart of many homes across the nation in the twenty first century. Many people adore the open plan look but others still cling onto the separate more formal layout of a kitchen and dining room. To add a touch of uniqueness to your kitchen, consider more salubrious appliances. Maytag fridges are the ultimate in style and calibre being American style and catering for even the largest of gatherings. DCC do Maytag fridge repairs so you never have to worry about finding parts or having a specialist to call on should things go awry. You might also want to look into custom built wine coolers or integrating boiling hot water taps. Think about how you use your own kitchen and make it fit for purpose.

In terms of units, shaker style and white gloss are so mundane nowadays. If you’ve always fancied the two tone, petrol blue and green units, go for it. Yes, they might not be everyone’s first choice, but this is your room and your home. Couple your cabinetry with your own choice of flooring. Mediterranean tiles or red brick reclaimed Mitnon tules are a real change from the usual laminate or lino. Splashbacks don’t have to be tiled. How about industrial steel or futuristic perspex alternatives?

If you are keen to go completely unique, think about getting your cabinetry custom built. With a specialist designer, your kitchen can be a real one of a kind piece. You might want cherry wood worktops, Formica units, or London plane cabinets that have a real rustic feel. Plenty of designers use reclaimed materials meaning that your kitchen would be like no other in the world. This can also boost your eco-credentials and tap into your desire to be sustainable.

Adding something unique to your home isn’t too challenging. However, to make your entire humble abode a homage to your loves, passions, and personality takes some commitment. If you want all vintage Danish furniture in the living room, do it. If you want a fully wallpapered formal dining room complete with eighteenth century dining table and picture rails, go for it. This is your forever dwelling so make it the home of your dreams.

Winter is coming, the house is getting cold, and it’s finally time to start making moves to make the house a cosy place to come home to. With the darker nights drawing in and the harsher weather outside, you want to make sure that the drop in temperature doesn’t make you surfer on the inside. You will use over 70% of the energy consumption in your home on your heating bills, but you want to reduce this figure and still maintain the warmth in the home.

The biggest problem that you will find is that you want to keep your house warm without using ten extra radiators to drain your finances. The house needs to be comfortable and cosy when you get home from a long day at work. You need the tips below in place and you can embrace every aspect of winter without worrying about shivering your butt off just because you’re inside! With this in mind, here are some of the best tips you didn’t know you needed for the colder months!

1. Use the curtains in the house as much as possible. If your windows only have blinds, install a curtain pole and hang double lined curtains in front of them. During the day, use the heat of the sun to warm the rooms in the house with the curtains and blinds open all day. Once the evening draws in, shut the blinds and curtains to trap the heat inside. As long as you ensure that there are no gaps around the edges, you should be able to stay warm all evening.
2. Adding timers to your central heating is one of the best things that you can to prioritize your energy. You can program your boiler to turn the heating on half an hour before you wake and at a lower temperature the rest of the time, it’s cheaper to have it consistently running rather than blasting hot air at intervals. Of course, that doesn’t include when you aren’t in the house! Turn off the heating entirely or program it to be timed for when you are almost home!
3. If you have any furniture blocking the radiators in the house, move it out of the way. If you move the furniture away from the radiators, you’re going to allow the heating to circulate the room properly. You should also keep curtains and wet clothes away from the radiator, too. While clothes will dry off, you are having them absorb the heating and you will end up colder. You want to get the most out of your heat sources if you’re at home. It makes for much better comfort if you have radiators that are exposed.
4. Get up into the roof and add to your insulation up there. A lot of the heat is lost through the roof but if the attic is well insulated, you can prevent this from happening. You can have more insulation added to the space, too, that will help you to keep your heating bills much lower than you had them before.
5. Wrap yourself up in blankets and slippers, but think about how your boiler needs to be wrapped up, too. Your hot water tank needs to be as wrapped up as you need to be – the more you insulate it, the longer your water remains hot. You can upgrade the old jacket of the tank and help your home to remain warm.

6. Invest in good outerwear! It sounds rather daft, but you need to start investing in clothes for outside so that you can remain comfortable when you are on your way home. You have to consider ensuring that you need to remain warm when you walk into your house. If you spend some money on good outerwear, you should think about spending good money on a dressing gown and slippers. Ugg slippers are perfect for the winter nights, and a good, thick dressing gown will keep you warm on the inside. You need to make the right investment, though, or you will find that you will be shivering!
7. Start blocking out draughts with homemade draught excluders and DIY draught proofing with rubber seals on the doors and windows. Getting the doors and windows sealed will keep the cold out and the heat in and it’s a simple solution to a chilly problem. You need to feel comfortable and you cannot feel that way if there is a draught blowing through your house. You can do this with the upper levels of the house if you have them, and keep the bedrooms as warm as the rest of the house!
8. Add rugs in the house! You want to layer up the carpets and flooring with rugs from https://www.cowhiderugslondon.co.uk/ and feel toasty every time you walk into the house. It doesn’t matter if you already have a high pile, you can add a rug and make the room muted, pretty and warm at the same time. With the right rugs, you can make your house look beautiful at the same time as making it warmer. You’d add throws to the sofa and the bed, so adding rugs to the floor will have the same effect.
9. Get a boiler upgrade and be quick about it if you want to have it installed before the cold weather really takes hold. Boilers should last for up to ten years, so if yours is older than that it’s time to get it replaced and working well for definite in the winter. You want a boiler that works efficiently at all times.
10. Where you can, reflect the heat! Radiator panels are easy to install and cheap to buy. The heat from the radiators can then warm the rooms and not just makes the walls hot. They will always reflect the heat back to the house and that’s exactly what you need while you try to keep as warm as possible on a longer night! Take the time to try these tips and you can maintain your warmth, too.

Spending time in our garden tends to be an activity reserved for the warmer months of the year. However, with more of us spending time at home at the moment and social distancing measures in place, there is plenty of potential to create an outdoor space that can be used all year long.

Here are some ideas on how to utilise your outdoor space during winter. 

Make a cozy outdoor living space. 

The garden can be an extension of your home, creating an outdoor living room makes sense for those who choose to socialise with friends outside in the midst of the pandemic. 

Outdoor safe furniture, chairs, tables, waterproof sofas, even outdoor rugs can make all the difference when it comes to creating an inviting space. Hot tubs aren’t just for the summer, either- just make sure to have enough towels and dressing gowns to fight against the chill as you get out. 

Consider building a pergola which can provide shelter against bad weather. Don’t forget to add fairy lights as a delicate finishing touch that will bring a delightful variation to dull winter nights. 

Warm up the cockles with outdoor heating 

The winter months are cold, so going outside may not be the most appealing way to spend time. Invest in some decent outdoor heating. Standing electric heaters are a popular choice, but how about a natural feeling firepit to keep you warm in the long evenings? Bake potatoes and make s’mores for a bit of added fun. 

Give your garden a trim 

The winter is the perfect time to trim back on the bushes and trees that need a little bit of attention to keep them thriving. You can trim your own bushes and shrubs, but you may need to call in the services of a local tree company to keep them in check. Winter is a notorious time for trees to become damaged by the weather, so an expert eye will be able to show you what’s what.

In addition, the best part of having wood trimmings is being able to use them for your DIY projects. Think flower beds and garden chairs made from the logs of your trees– truly unique furniture for your garden. 

Attract local wildlife 

Winter is a difficult time for wildlife as many of their food sources are frozen up from the cold. During the winter months, wild animals and insects make home on piles of leaves and logs, tree bark and compost heaps. While some animals hibernate or migrate in the winter, others don’t, so it’s important to try and protect them as much as possible when food can be in short supply. So now would be the time to use garden cuttings as a safe habitat for them. Make a ‘bug hotel’ with twigs and sticks, allowing moss to grow there as a safe haven for bugs. Leave plenty of nuts and seeds for birds and squirrels, too.

What is your favorite way of spending time outdoors in the winter? How do you prepare your garden for the winter months?