Category Archives: Home

Why Insulation Is Important To Your Home Comfort

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When it comes to living comfortably, having insulation is key to keeping a nice temperature in the home without paying through the roof for your heating bill. Insulation areas include the loft, the walls, the floors and of course most importantly the doors and windows. Depending on whether you live in a modern home or not, you may want to look into whether you have the correct insulation in your property.

Loft

They used to do government grants for loft insulation, to help subsidise the cost, and loft insulation has a rather good benefit to a home. As we know, heat rises, and with an uninsulated loft you would be looking at large amount of warmth escaping through the ceiling of your home. Usually, loft insulation comes in the form of earthwool or pink batts. These are both “glass fibre” based insulations which have a high level of insulation, but one must be careful not to inhale the dust as glass fibres on the lung are not good in any way shape or form.

Walls and Floors

Now these are very tricky to access and at the end of the day are going to be expensive jobs to do, but the odds are that you already have insulation in your walls and flooring anyway. If you do not, then you will be looking at a very time-consuming process, emptying rooms of furniture and pulling up the carpet is going to be a nightmare that takes a long time to complete. When it comes to floor insulation again you will be looking at earthwool or pink batts but when it comes to wall insulation you can use a foam to make things easier.

Doors And Windows

Doors and windows are very important as that is where most of the cold and breeze comes from. Windows especially single glazed are not very effective at keeping the cold out, so if you have single glazing, it is definitely time to upgrade to something more substantial. You can even use triple glazing Somerset if you think you want that extra insulation. As for doors, you want to get yourself a PVC front and back door with a seal, this will help keep the draft in.

Using Planters To Breathe Life Into Your Home

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Most of us take great pride in our homes. After all, the biggest purchase we will ever make is usually hour home. We want to take care of it and make it beautiful, so it is only normal to want to decorate it in a way that we consider to be pretty or comfortable. One way to do that is with artificial house plants. These plants give us the color, texture, and touch of nature in the house without the mess that often accompanies living house plants.

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Allergies

One of the problems with house plants is allergies. Some people are simply allergic to dirt. Others are allergic to the spores or pollen ejected into the air from certain house plants. Ferns, for example, have tiny black spots on the underside of leaves. These are spores that, when mature, are ejected. Calla lilies have pretty blooms, but the pollen may be a problem. In addition, some plants that require a lot of water can start getting mildewed in the soil. This can also cause problems for allergy sufferers.

Artificial plants, however, don’t come with these problems. The plants do not need real soil, so you can use decorative rock or mosses to make them look nice. You can use any kind of planter you want, too, because it will not have to actually hold water. This gives you the option of using wicker planters or wooden boxes that you just love. Baskets look nice with artificial plants in them, too. All of these indoor planters may not work outside, but they are great inside your home.

The “Mess” Factor

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No matter how careful you are, you can always count on your live plants making a mess. At the very least, there will be dead leaves that have to be removed. But, what about the watering mistakes? You may think a plant sitting on the floor is insulated from the flooring, only to find a rude shock when you move the plant to clean. You find a discolored part of the wooden floor or carpet right under the plant, when all along you thought you had waterproofed that spot.

There is also the problem with overflow. You pour water into your plant, and all of a sudden, there are water and dirt running over the back edge and running down behind the television. Or onto your antique table.

Artificial house plants don’t bring you that kind of grief. You can select seasonal flowers without the allergens, and put them in pretty indoor planters, and never have to worry about your furniture or floors being damaged. You don’t have to worry about overflow creating havoc with your furniture. All you have to do is dust them occasionally, and they even make a spray for that. You place a towel under the plant, spray it, and the dust rolls off!

Yes, artificial plants are great for your home. Change them out with the seasons, and you have instant decoration for the holidays!

How Important Are Furnishings To Your Hotel Or B&B Visit?

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Whether you are choosing a bed and breakfast, or a 5 star hotel in London, a lot of your enjoyment on your holiday will be based on the furnishings in your lodging. Yes, the type of furniture in the facility may positively or negatively affect your holiday. How important are the furnishings? They are so important that you should take care to check for certain items in your hotel or B&B so that you will book the right room.

Bed

Italian Bed

First of all, there is the bed. Now, most people realize the importance of the right bed, but how do you know what to look for? First of all, if you can get by with a single bed, it may leave you more space in the room. If you are not comfortable on a single bed, choose a double with similar benefits.

If you are sharing a bed with another person, you will want, at the least, a double bed. However, for a step up, a queen or king sized bed is ideal. Rooms with queen and king beds are usually a little more expensive.

You may have another person sharing your room, but not your bed. While there are some bed and breakfast Quantocks that provide two single beds in a room, they are somewhat uncommon. You will be more likely to find a room with 2 double or 2 queen sized beds. Sometimes, there are rooms that have a double and a queen bed.

While you may be tempted to choose smaller beds in order to save money, keep in mind that your comfort will be the most important feature. Get a bed that will give you a good night’s rest.

Chairs

One of the most frustrating types of rooms to stay in is one without chairs. If you want to sit down, you have to sit on the bed. This creates all kinds of problems with comfort, with the necessity to kick off your shoes and balance drinks and snacks. Most hotel rooms have at least one chair in them, but believe it or not, you may end up with a room with nothing but a bed. Look for chairs in which you can rest and watch TV or read.

Table

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You will also need some sort of table in your hotel or B&B room. Whether this is a coffee table, desk, or dining-height table is irrelevant. The key here is that you have a solid, flat surface. You’ll need a place to put your jewelry, rings, eyeglasses, or drink cup. Without these tables, your stay will be frustrating, and you could end up losing items.

Settee

Finally, you will probably want a settee in your room. Sometimes, you just need to stretch out and prop your feet up, and a settee will do nicely. Also, you need places for guests to sit comfortably. This also goes along with having a room that is big enough to be comfortable.

Furniture That Goes Well With Tall Planters

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Tall planters make a dramatic statement in the home or garden. They are more available than ever, too, because of a number of reasons. Advancement in the use of materials have made large planters more light weight and easy to transport, and new manufacturing techniques have lowered the prices on these great items. You may have added one or more tall planters to your deck, your contemporary garden furniture collection, or home. If so, you may have some decisions to make about what kind of furniture to place in those spaces. Here are some suggestions for choosing furniture that goes well with tall planters.

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Contrast

One strategy is to plan your furnishings as a contrast to tall planters. Most of the time, this type of planter will also have tall plants in them, such as palms, or topiaries with ivies growing through them. In these cases, don’t try to compete with the scale of the planting. Use it to define your area. Groupings of smaller armchairs, with a side table between them, will look cozy and welcoming. You will see this used in hotel lobbies, where the management wants to create gathering areas. The tall planters and greenery overarch the area, filtering light and reducing noise.

This can be a very effective technique in small spaces. You may think that a tall plant would be out of scale in a small room, but the key to getting the most out of your room is to use all of the available space. By drawing the eye upwards, you create a sense of volume in the room. Then, you can group your furniture beneath for a welcoming sitting or dining area.

Complement

If you have large rooms, then you can complement the size and presence of the planters with larger furniture. For example, in bedrooms, a four-poster bed flanked by tall fern trees in attractive vases will look very exotic.

In the den or media room, large sectionals and/or recliners will provide scale with the taller plants in the room.

On the deck, a bank of benches that also serve as retaining walls look great with tall planters framing them. The bulk of the benches complement the plants.

Styles

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In general, just about any style of furniture will go with this type of planter. However, wicker and rattan look especially nice, when you are looking for contrasting furniture. This lends itself to a more outdoor atmosphere, and adds to the natural fee of the spaces.

For complementary furnishings, overstuffed, plush furnishings fit quite naturally with the aura created by tall plants and planters. It invites you to relax and feel the comfort in a secluded spot.

Furnishings with straight lines and rigid, metallic and glass construction should be paired with more modern styles of planters. There are beautiful obsidian or metal planters that can sport arrangements of unusual plants that would look nice with modern furniture. But, with more traditional furniture, fit the lines of the planters with the lines of the furniture.

Choosing The Right Garden Furniture For Your Home

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We’re usually pretty selective when we buy furniture for our home. The average person tests about 8 mattresses before they decide on a new bed. At least 5 recliners have to be tested before we decide on the one we want, and buying a sofa is a matter of measuring, re-measuring, and agonizing over styles, upholsteries, and a dozen other little details. The last thing we want is to go through the same mind-numbing process, nail chewing when choosing garden furniture. With the goal of comfort and peace of mind, here are some pointers on choosing the right garden furniture for your home.

Budget

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Always at the forefront of any shopping trip is the budget. You can plan to spend a pre-determined amount of money, or you may plan to seek financing through the store from which you make the purchase. Just keep in mind that even if a store offers “X months no interest,” this could still end up being a money pit like lawn care services. If you are late by even one day with a single payment, the contract is broken and the store can start charging you enormous interest. While the payments may remain affordable, you will find the principal is not going down.

Value

The next factor to consider is the value for your money. Cheap garden furniture may get you through the season, but that is all. Cheap frames will bend, unable to withstand the daily use, especially if you entertain in your garden. Fabrics and fibers will mould quickly and become frayed from use. This may be just fine, if you expect to move within the season, or simply don’t spend much time outside.

However, if you do entertain outside, it will be well worth the money to budget for higher quality construction. Cast iron, wrought iron, powder coated steel, and heavy gauge aluminum will be more durable, and stylish as well. The difference between inexpensive and quality lawn furniture will often be seen in the frame, with smooth, strong joints and quality welds. The fabric also should be treated to be moisture resistant. This will make it last longer and help to avoid that musty smell that you encounter with so many outdoor fabrics.

Style

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You can choose just about any style of garden furniture. Once you settle on a budget, and decide the value of your purchase, you can start looking at different styles. Do you want casual, lounging style furniture, with seating walls placed around, or do you want more formal seating areas with tables and shade? Will you select monochrome hues that don’t draw attention to themselves, or do you want bright colors that will serve as a focal point in the garden?

Protect Your Lawn

Proper lawn furniture can actually protect your lawn. Seating walls help to direct traffic, keeping large groups of visitors off of the lawn areas. Comfortable seating will also provide an obvious center of activity, saving your lawn from wanderers.

As you shop for garden furniture, remember to take a deep breath. It will be fun!

Choosing The Right Plant Pots For The Home

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After spending 17 years in a house decorated in warm earth tones, I was eager to stretch my wings with new colors. The kids had moved out, and I actually had two bedrooms to decorate as I wanted! The office came first. For years, the kids each had their own room, the husband had the basement, and I had – the kitchen? Nope, for the first time, I would have my own space, defined and separate from the rest of the house, and it wasn’t going to be in warm earth tones. I planned it out for months, down to the large plant pot in the window.

Express Your Style

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The new office has light turquoise walls – I know, I know – with pure white trim and shelving. None of this “creamy white” nonsense for me anymore; pure white is crisp and clean.

The wall-mounted shelves gave me plenty of floor space, and the color combination is invigorating and pretty. Knowing that my husband would christen my new office with our family tradition of a Norfolk Island Pine tree, I chose the pot for it when I chose the other furnishings.

The modern lines created by the shelves, and updated lift from the colors are easily complimented by the streamlined, large plant pot. Pure white glaze, with a slight terra cotta tone showing through at the edges and square corners, make this the perfect piece for my very own room. Adding some bonsai techniques that gracefully arch the trunks over the linear pot, and I have a lovely, natural addition to my office.

You can do the same thing. Plant pots are available in every finish, every color, and every style. Glazed pots, like the one I bought, have a more formal, controlled look. Raw finishes, such as unglazed terra cotta, bring an earthy look to your rooms.

More Than Plant Pots

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Interestingly enough, when I bought my large pot for the tree, I found matching ones in smaller sizes. About the size of a tin can, these are great for organizing my desk items such as pens and paperclips.

This triggered other ideas, and the rest of the house is now populated with various plant pots made of different materials that hold everything from crochet materials to decorative ornaments. My granddaughter even has a plant pot on her dresser. She painted it herself, and keeps hair bows in it.

Choosing Size

How do you choose the right Large planters uk for your home? It depends on the use. Generally, the diameter of the pot should be roughly 1/3 the length of the plant. If, however, you are going to use it for storage, you can select size and shape accordingly. Books stack nicely in square pots. Choose a pot shallow enough for the book spine to show above the edge, and lay the books in with the spine parallel to the floor.

Think outside of the box, and you’ll find other kinds of ways to use plant pots in your home.