Her are some points to consider when choosing bunk beds Continue reading “Tips on Buying Bunk Beds” »
Blog Archives
Changes to make your home more saleable
In today’s housing market, it’s more important than ever to make the most of your home if you’re thinking of selling Continue reading “Changes to make your home more saleable” »
Arrrr…. Its just like writers block!
Interior design that is. Fact is that if you have a project to get completed and particularly in a short time period, its easy to get the Interior Design equivalent of writers block – where do you start, what colours do I specify? Continue reading “Arrrr…. Its just like writers block!” »
Fancy studying Interior Design from home?
Well you’re not alone, but what do you get for your money? Continue reading “Fancy studying Interior Design from home?” »
Clearing your home of negative energy with Feng Shui
I know this sounds far fetched and you may pooh-pooh the idea but keep an open mind. Continue reading “Clearing your home of negative energy with Feng Shui” »
So your painting sucks?
Often we have little choice but to pick up the brushes ourselves because paying a decorator is out of the question. Continue reading “So your painting sucks?” »
Using White in Your Home
Of course its well known that using white will tend to make a space look bigger, but you might like to try several warmer, creamy shades to create a more sophisticated and one that is less clinical perhaps. You can accent with tile, brick or stone to create a softer more comfortable, perhaps “casual” feel. Continue reading “Using White in Your Home” »
Considering Paint Colours
I think I’ve written before that I’m blessed to have a holiday home in Naples Florida and I’m really please with the way it;s looking. It seems that other people say so too because I keep getting asked if I would help decorate other condos by our neighbours, which in truth I’m delighted to do, so you could ask why I’m writing. Continue reading “Considering Paint Colours” »
How to clean and remove stains on a wooden chopping board
My Beaux has been a chef since he left school and seeing my Moms wooded chopping board stained he was chatting to her about cleaning it. Continue reading “How to clean and remove stains on a wooden chopping board” »
So what exactly IS a diploma in Interior Design?
Well everywhere I read it says that a diploma is a wonderful introduction to the subject and of course and importantly the better known the college the greater esteem your diploma will hold when you get it. Furthermore, being able to put .Dpl from XYZ institute or college will help your search for a career or get your first Clients. Not that any of that tells you what a diploma is though or what it should provide! Continue reading “So what exactly IS a diploma in Interior Design?” »
5 Simple Things to Avoid When Doing DIY
My mind turned to what “not” to do after a heavy downpour washed the flipping paint off parts of an outside wall I painted a few days ago. Continue reading “5 Simple Things to Avoid When Doing DIY” »
For Nesting Or Investing?
For what it’s worth, perhaps a little abstract, but sitting comfortably in my lovely home in Portugal (which let me not omit I am blessed to own) it strikes me that the rather mesh-mash array of furniture and objet d’art I have, goes against my normal structured careful approach to interior design and I was pondering how it all came about, where have I gone wrong? Continue reading “For Nesting Or Investing?” »
The Importance of a Formal Client Agreement
So you’ve got your first Client!
You’ve studied and studied, then burnt the midnight oil and risked every bit of spare cash you can scrape together to set up your own Interior Design practice – but what if they don’t pay? Continue reading “The Importance of a Formal Client Agreement” »
So You’ve Qualified as an Interioir Designer. What Now?
How do you get clients? Continue reading “So You’ve Qualified as an Interioir Designer. What Now?” »
New Design Show looking for Participants
A brand new architectural series by Red House Television is looking for people wanting to undergo some form of renovation on their property who have between £100,000 and £500,000 to spend doing so. They have an exciting leading architect in place who will be taking on the project. Continue reading “New Design Show looking for Participants” »
How to Avoid Plumbing Disasters
I recently had the pleasure of staying with a great friend of mine. She and her husband (a great friend of my beaux) bought a big Victorian house in Peterborough, which they have been modernising for a couple of years now. Continue reading “How to Avoid Plumbing Disasters” »
What makes a beautiful home?
That’s easy. Fill your home with friends and family… Continue reading “What makes a beautiful home?” »
So a saucepan’s a saucepan?
Well no, true they all hold liquid, but that’s about as far as it goes I guess.
My partner and I love cooking and I write this blog after having gone to a lot of trouble to choose some lovely saucepans, which we thought would last us many years (they had a lifetime guarantee) Regrettably we were wrong and needed to get the lovely people at John Lewis to change them (which to be fair, they did after using them for about 18 months without trouble). Continue reading “So a saucepan’s a saucepan?” »
Does Your Home Insurance Provide Adequate Cover?
As with any documentation always read the small print but sometimes things are easily missed. Your Insurance may not provide the cover in the way you expect. Continue reading “Does Your Home Insurance Provide Adequate Cover?” »
Can’t get to sleep. What should you do?
Sleeping is so important to our health and performance at work and when I read an article recently (about the problems people face sleeping) it struck a cord as I don’t often sleep myself and have tried most things, so here are some tips that may help. Continue reading “Can’t get to sleep. What should you do?” »
How to Keep Warm This Winter and Reduce Your Fuel Bills
Winters are getting colder…
Well if you’re my age, you might think they are just going to be as cold as when you were little! But I confess that having just returned from warmer climbs (yes I was lucky enough to spend much of the summer in Portugal, basking in the high 30’s most days for 3 months or more) the colder weather is “metaphorically” killing me and I was prompted to put forward a few suggestions to keep warm this winter – some oldies but goodies. Continue reading “How to Keep Warm This Winter and Reduce Your Fuel Bills” »
What’s the Best Interior Design Course? Part 2
Following swiftly on the heels of my last article, you may recall I had promised to look at what you might expect to be taught once you had chosen a course and what I decided to do was to look initially at (what I’m referring to as) the entry level courses that require no previous qualifications or experience in the subject. Continue reading “What’s the Best Interior Design Course? Part 2” »
What’s the Best Interior Design Course? Part 1
So you’re thinking about interior design? Perhaps like me, you revel in the online blogs, pictures and ideas of design, but if you wanted to go about it in a more concerted way, how would you start? Continue reading “What’s the Best Interior Design Course? Part 1” »
Obesessing over Low Tack Masking Tape with Paper Masker
A long, long time ago, on a planet far, far away, my husband used to paint Alien space craft… Well ok, I’m getting a bit carried away here (you may have guessed).
In truth we’re talking about a lock up garage workshop under the railway arches in Digbeth Birmingham, where (he tells me) he used to paint cars! Well you can’t blame me for trying to glamorise that really can you? Continue reading “Obesessing over Low Tack Masking Tape with Paper Masker” »
Current obsession – kitchen knives
Ikea 365 range of kitchen knives
I was looking for a new set of kitchen knives recently and was prepared to spend no small sum on “the best” and so credit card in hand, I popped down to my local kitchen shop… Continue reading “Current obsession – kitchen knives” »
A little gem of a kitchen accessory
Little wine pourer disc
Currently obsessing over my oh so simple kitchen goody. I have a real love of cooking and like to think I’m pretty good at it too, so I wanted to share an of item that has helped me with my hobby. Continue reading “A little gem of a kitchen accessory” »
How do you fill a hole in the ceiling?
Ok, so an odd choice for a blog post, but it happened to a friend of ours recently after he had a light fitting changed and when the electrician left there was a great pesky hole just next to the light, stood out like a rocket over Dublin (a phrase a pal of ours uses LOL) and would stand out just as much if repaired badly. Continue reading “How do you fill a hole in the ceiling?” »
Designer rugs- the perfect finishing touch for an interior revamp
If ever there was a time to embrace the adage ‘out with the old and in with the new’, then spring is definitely it…and what better place to start on this quest than with our home interiors? From the tired looking dresser in our spare room to the faded sofa covers that have turned from a vibrant red to a barely there pink, no stone should be left unturned in our bid to give our home a thoroughly revamped look. Continue reading “Designer rugs- the perfect finishing touch for an interior revamp” »
How to decorate and furnish a guest room?
The guest room challenge –you want to your guests to be impressed by the décor and to feel comfortable in the room. The worst thing would be for guests to mutter under their breath that they’ll never come back. Of course there are some you may not want to come back! Continue reading “How to decorate and furnish a guest room?” »
Dreaming of Living in the Countryside? 4 Things You’ll Need
Every city slicker dreams of living in the countryside. Likewise, many people that grow up in a rural setting occasionally dream of the busy, fast-paced lifestyle of a major city. Continue reading “Dreaming of Living in the Countryside? 4 Things You’ll Need” »
The Adirondack or Muskoka Chair – Get Comfortable in the Garden
I’ve been lucky enough to spend a deal of time in the Bahamas and Florida away from the cold British winter and came across these wonderful patio chairs that are iconic in the States and Caribbean. Continue reading “The Adirondack or Muskoka Chair – Get Comfortable in the Garden” »
The appeal of Caribbean Colonial Style
We are privileged to be able to travel a great deal and with my interest in all things “design” (well ok and travel) I was particularly taken by the wonderful rich dark woods and flowing linens of the Inn at English Harbour in Antigua. Continue reading “The appeal of Caribbean Colonial Style” »
How to Make Temporary Changes to Your Home
Whether for practicality or fashion, all homes go through many incarnations over the years but not all changes need be permanent or expensive. Continue reading “How to Make Temporary Changes to Your Home” »
Furniture Packages for Landlords and Developers – Are they worth it?
Whether buying property at the moment is the right choice or not, is the subject of another debate but I own an investment property in London, a holiday home in Portugal and have just purchased another investment property in Southampton. The target demographic for the rentals is a corporate let, Continue reading “Furniture Packages for Landlords and Developers – Are they worth it?” »
Top UK Home Improvement Exhibitions 2013
If you’re an amateur interior designer, or have an active interest in DIY or home improvement then these events should be on your calendar. Rather than spending days visiting stores and trawling the internet, make a day of it, have some fun, attend one of these exhibitions Continue reading “Top UK Home Improvement Exhibitions 2013” »
Colours in the Home
Stepping into the small entrance-way I was instantly embraced by yellow, my happy colour, a real tonic on a cold but bright winter’s day. After weeks of house hunting, as I stepped into this one I knew it was the one. I was shown the nearby kitchen first, a fair-sized room with Continue reading “Colours in the Home” »
10 Tips for Picking a Good Plumber
Hiring a good plumber has become a tedious task for many homeowners perhaps because some don’t know what to ask or what to look for when seeking quality services. Sadly, many are tricked into hiring incompetent service providers who perform dismally and later Continue reading “10 Tips for Picking a Good Plumber” »
The Stylish French – Images and Inspiration from Château d’Oléron
On these grey, miserable winters days I thought I’d share some images of a visit back in September to Château d’Oléron, Charente Maritime off the Atlantic Coast in South West France. Continue reading “The Stylish French – Images and Inspiration from Château d’Oléron” »
How to Cut in Paint and Paint Clean Lines
If you want your room looking good, but don’t want to pay through the nose for it, some DIY painting could just do the trick. Many people are scared off by the prospect of “straight lines” and the mess one so often gets on the ceiling when painting the adjacent wall! Continue reading “How to Cut in Paint and Paint Clean Lines” »
A Cheap Alternative to Window Shutters – Choose Wood Venetians with Tape
I love the look of window shutters. They’re simple, stylish, add privacy and also some character to bland windows in today’s modern homes. However windows in most new homes are small and shutters can also block out much of the light as well as being extremely expensive. Continue reading “A Cheap Alternative to Window Shutters – Choose Wood Venetians with Tape” »
Tips for Displaying Art & Collections in your Home
The world of interiors has evolved towards a freedom of expression, using your home to demonstrate your likes and character. Continue reading “Tips for Displaying Art & Collections in your Home” »
Open Plan Living? Questions to Ask before Knocking Down that Wall
There’s an increasing trend in home renovation of ‘open-planning’ living, kitchen and dining space but there’s no guarantee it will add property value and in some cases could even devalue your home. This article will take a look at some sensible questions to ask before committing to an Continue reading “Open Plan Living? Questions to Ask before Knocking Down that Wall” »
UK Crime Statistics and their effect on Property Selection and Home Insurance
If we are to believe the scare stories that permeate much of the media in the UK, Britain is becoming a far more dangerous place to live in. Such stories routinely suggest that rates of crime are rising constantly, particularly crimes such as Continue reading “UK Crime Statistics and their effect on Property Selection and Home Insurance” »
A Homeowners Guide to Wood Flooring
In this guide we will explain about the various options a typical homeowner should consider when buying wood flooring. Whether you plan to purchase online or at your local retailer, the outcome is the same. The more you know, the better prepared Continue reading “A Homeowners Guide to Wood Flooring” »
Landlords Insurance – Do I need it?
Many new landlords often question why they need specific landlords insurance, or why they need it at all if they are going through a letting agent Continue reading “Landlords Insurance – Do I need it?” »
Interior Design Tips
Interior design is a very personal art where one person’s ideal room may be another person’s nightmare. Nevertheless, there are certain guidelines and tips that will help you to achieve the look and feel you are seeking with your interior design. Continue reading “Interior Design Tips” »
Tips on Choosing a Supplier
Choosing a tradesperson to work in your home can be a daunting prospect. How do you know the supplier you choose is reliable or professional? How do you know their work will meet the standards you expect? Continue reading “Tips on Choosing a Supplier” »
An Introduction to Adding Value to your Home
The value of your home is the amount a prospective purchaser is willing to spend buying it. The major question you should ask yourself is whether the added value of any home improvement should be for your enjoyment of your home or an increase in its monetary value. Continue reading “An Introduction to Adding Value to your Home” »
