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Bathroom suites

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:31:12 +0000

What a great invention when first the bath appeared once not that many years ago people use to take the big old steel bath into the kitchen to fill up ready for their weekly soak. Oh what joy that we have moved into the age of bathrooms and bathroom suites, no more cold November nights trotting off into the yard to use the loo. What a delight it was for those who first were there when the idea of bathrooms and bathroom suites sprung forth into existence.
Now the choice is endless, what do you fill your bathroom with, what is the right bathroom suite for you? Should you consider what others may think about the colour of your loo? Bathroom suites can be a personalised statement if you wish it to be. Back in the 1970’s it was cool to have a burgundy suite or even a dingy green.
Here in the new century the choice of bathrooms suites is fantastic, much like everything else, so how do you choose the right bathroom suite for you should it be white should it be large should you install a shower? Well let’s take the basics, if you have a smaller bathroom it is best to opt for a white or at least a neutral colour bathroom suite and if you stick with sliver taps and drains you’re suite will fit right in.
If you have a large wallet and a large bathroom you may consider a Jacuzzi corner bathroom suite a real statement in a penthouse apartment or a footballer’s wife style house in Essex. The best bet is to keep in the theme of the house, flat so if you have an Edwardian home stick to an Edwardian bathroom suite. This way your bathroom suite won’t look out of place and you won’t have problems when you come to sell your beautiful home.

Tips on Saving Water

admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:09:09 +0000

Using excess water or having leaks can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in wasted water. A simple toilet leak can use 50 extra gallons of water a day, and a faucet leak can waste up to 5,000 gallons a year. We’ve got some tips for keeping that water bill down.

Saving water indoors

Think you might have a leak? Check by reading your water meter before and after a 2-hour period when water hasn’t been run in your home. If the reading isn’t exactly the same, you’ve got a leak.
If you’ve got a well-water system and the pump comes on when no one is using water, you have a leak.
Find out if the toilet is leaking by putting a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If the color leaks into the bowl, replace the flapper.
Get those dripping faucets repaired. Usually it’s a simple matter of replacing worn washers. Check all the washers in the house and replace them all at once.
Replace “sticky” toilet handles.
Make sure the flapper ball in the tank seats correctly.
Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket or ashtray. Avoid unnecessary flushing.
Install faucet aerators to slow the flow of water.
Rinse vegetables over a large bowl and reuse what would have gone down the drain to water plants.
Keep drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid letting water run until it gets cool enough to drink.
Defrost foods in the microwave instead of under running water.
Insulate water heater and water pipes. (65% of the water you use is hot water.)

Saving water in the bathroom

Don’t let the water run continuously when you are shaving, brushing your teeth, etc.
Replace two-handle systems with single-lever faucets.
Shower instead of bathe.
Install low-flow showerheads that reduce water use up to half but still give a great feeling shower.
Get a showerhead with a “shower off” button to conserve water while you lather up.
Take shorter showers. Five-minute showers per day for a four-member family use about 28,000 gallons of water per year.

Saving water in cleaning

Older standard washing machines use up to 50 gallons of water per load, Newer models use only 11-30 gallons.
Don’t wash half loads, and if you do, adjust the water level.
Presoaking prevents having to re-wash heavily soiled clothes.
Soak dirty dishes instead of rinsing each dish separately.
If you’re washing dishes in a double sink, wash them all at once and rinse them all at once.
Replace an old, water-inefficient dishwasher. You can save 10 to 20 gallons of water per wash cycle.
Select the water-saving cycle on your dishwasher.

Saving water outdoors

Landscape with plants that need less water.
Don’t overwater. Buy a gauge to measure the rain your lawn gets.
Water lawns during the time of day when temperature and wind speed are lowest to reduce evaporation.
Put a timer on your sprinklers so you don’t forget to turn them off.
Over-fertilization increases your lawn’s need for watering. Don’t over feed.
Use a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler system to better target the water to your plants.
Mulch plants well to retain moisture.
Make sure your sprinkler system isn’t watering the sidewalk, driveway or street.
Set your lawnmower blades to 3 inches or higher to encourage you lawn to grow deeper roots and hold moisture better.
Use water-saving filters in your pool.

Floors & Stairs

admin — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:17:58 +0000

Floors & Stairs

Flooring sets the tone for the look and feel of a room. But beyond appearance, the choice of a certain flooring material should be based on how a room is used. If you must walk through a room from the front door to get to the rest of the house, the flooring in that room should stand up to heavy foot traffic, including the possibility of tracked-in mud. If you like to cook elaborate meals, the kitchen’s flooring should be kind to your feet. In this section of HomeTips, you will find helpful information and guidance on not just how to choose flooring materials but also on how to install the flooring you do select.

Kitchens

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:05:49 +0000

“Home is where the hearth is.” What this saying basically comes down to is that a dwelling is not a home without a kitchen. Since prehistoric times, dwellings were literally built around the hearth–the cooking and heating center of the home.

Nowadays, the kitchen is where meals are prepared, snacks are sneaked, families come together, and homework and other projects are tackled. The “hearth” is still the “heart” of the home

Bedroom Tips

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:59:39 +0000

Are you feeling uninspired by your boudoir? Is your bedroom more reminiscent of grandma’s abode than the romantic getaway you envisioned? Then it’s time to turn up the heat by introducing some spicy décor elements into your nest.

Firstly, an evaluation of your furniture and décor are in order. If your furniture and accessories are hand-me-downs, or look as if they’re ready to be read their last rites, then it’s time to cast them away to your local charitable organization and go shopping for some newer and more attractive counterparts. When selecting new furniture ensure these pieces are reflective of your aesthetic style, are well-built, provide ample storage, and suit the scale of your room. Always purchase the best quality that you can afford.
The most notable focal point in any bedroom is, and should be, the bed. So consider painting the wall behind the bed a tint or tone of red as a dramatic counterpoint. Red is the colour of love and energy and so its use in a couple’s bedroom is perfect, provided that it is used judiciously (a little goes a long way). The rest of the walls should be painted in softer hues, such as sandy brown, mushroom grey or butter cream.

Selecting a bed must reflect your style, budget and suit the scale of your room (no king size beds in a small room). For a contemporary look consider a padded headboard in a luxurious fabric. It will offer you comfort, style and texture. Imperative for any bed is purchasing the best quality mattress and box spring that your budget can allow. Pillow top mattresses are wonderfully comfortable and can make your bedtimes truly ethereal. Of course buying the best quality linens you can afford is essential.

Egyptian cotton sheets in thread counts upwards of 350 are fit for a king and queen and of course as this is your palatial suite, spoil yourselves, you’ll be thankful you did. Also, buy the best quality feather pillows in either natural feathers or synthetic (if one is sensitive to allergens). They will make your bedtime experience that much more enjoyable. And finally, no bed is complete without a beautiful duvet and coordinating shams in the best quality cotton. Incorporate some cushions in silk, and voila! A beautiful bed that will beckon you to stay the night!

Overhead lighting should always be controlled by a dimmer switch. This allows you to set the mood and feel of the room. Task lighting is equally important; these would be the lamps that flank your bed on the night tables. Consider purchasing tri-lights, as they too, allow more flexibility with the quantity of light. And lastly, nothing is more romantic than the addition of candle light. The flicker of candle flames casts a glow that is warm and inviting, but do make sure that these are contained within glass lanterns. An unexpected fire is not the kind of excitement one desires in any room.

The rest is in the details. The right accessories will transform your space into a truly beautiful and inviting room. Incorporate elements that appeal to all the senses. We’ve already spoken of the addition of candles, and luxurious linens. Next add some wonderful artwork to your walls, a crystal vase for sparkle, and fill it with some beautiful fuchsia roses and tiger lilies for romance and fragrance. Add some mirrored objects for interest and lastly turn on some music and treat yourselves to a box of champagne truffles. Enjoy!

Wood Floors

admin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 02:00:47 +0000

Wood Floors

Whether you’re thinking about installing new wood floors or you just want to take care of the ones you have, you’ve come to the right place. This section of HomeTips will guide you through the intricacies of sorting through the various types of wood flooring materials on the market so you can make an

informed buying decision, offer you step-by-step guidance for installing the material, and teach you how to repair and care for your wood floors so that they offer lasting durability and practicality.

From the deep, rich tones of oak and walnut to the bright, contemporary look of maple and birch, nothing quite matches the natural warmth of wood. That is, no doubt, what makes wood floors a clear favorite when choosing between wood and other popular floor options.

So jump in. You’ll find that there are many different species of wood used for flooring and each has its own advantages and disadvanges. And you’ll see a wide variety of applications where wood floors make sense, for nearly every room of the house

Going Green at Home

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:14:43 +0000

As consumers, we are consistently obligated to make choices. We look for products which are pleasing to the eye, well made and not too expensive. More and more, we ask to know where products are manufactured and seek assurance that manufacturing processes are not wreaking havoc on the fragile equilibrium of our planet.

Until very recently, seeking out products which were both eco friendly and aesthetically pleasing was no easy feat. Fortunately, designers everywhere are increasingly committed to sustainable development and have begun to consider greener alternatives. This had led to the spawning of extraordinarily creative solutions to any number of environment-related challenges. Growing quantities of goods are being produced from recycled or renewable materials such as bamboo. Others are being designed to take up as little shipping space as possible, thereby reducing the amount of fuel required to transport them. What is more, many of these same goods—manufactured in locations around the world—now qualify as eco-aesthetic. And that’s a good thing! Companies closer to home have also begun to market decidedly greener products. For example, Laurentide Inc., a leader in the paint recovery and recycling sector, is one of only a handful of companies in the world to produce paint from unused portions of recycled paint materials. Boomerang brand paints ( http://www.boomerangpaint.com ) offer quality paint in a rich palette of trendy colours inspired by nature, designed to suit your style and to be consistent with greener values.

So if your sense of ethics is keeping you from realizing the décor of your dreams, the new trend towards sustainable decorating products will help you update your interior with a clear conscience. Simple steps like choosing recycled, sustainable products and ore ethical consumer goods are easy ways to do our part for the environment.

Bathroom Accessories

admin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:41:15 +0000

Beyond the sink, toilet, bathtub, shower, and other basic fixtures of a bathroom, accessories can add to a bathroom’s functionality and style.

A great vanity light can offer just the right light for makeup and grooming. Coordinated towel bars, towel rings, and wall fixtures can lift a bathroom with both form and function. Heated towel racks, in-shower caddies, storage shelves, and the like can create an element of luxury. And even toilet paper holders, soap dispensers, integrated trashcans, and clothes hampers can get the job done with style.