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Do You Really Need A New Fitted Kitchen?

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Are you currently agonizing over whether or not to splash out on a new kitchen? The kitchen is said to be the heart of the home, and naturally you want yours to look good and be practical to work in. However, a new fitted kitchen can be a major undertaking that can cost thousands and leave your life in chaos for a few weeks while the work is completed. If you really want to give your kitchen a new look there may be ways to go about it that will be less intensive, however there are some situations where the only option is a full remodel. Here are some points to consider if you’re not sure whether to move on that new kitchen or make some more superficial changes instead:

How Do You Feel About the Layout?

The layout in the kitchen in the one thing you can’t really change without a refit, and if you have counters in places you don’t want them or a breakfast bar or other fixed area you would rather not have to deal with then there really isn’t any way to get around the need for a professional remodel. However, if what you want to do is add something to the layout (for example you’d like to add an additional work surface or a place to eat), then you may be able to do this with non fitted furniture. Think about the ideal layout of your kitchen, and whether getting there can be achieved without removing anything that is currently there.

Are the Things You Don’t Like Down to Appearance or Age?

If you simply don’t like the look of your counters or cupboards, you can often change them without changing the fitted parts. New fronts for drawers and cupboards can be ordered to size, giving you the look people go for with custom kitchens while also keeping the foundations of your existing kitchen structure. You can also get new counter tops. You can often install things like this yourself or use a local handyman or casual builder rather than needing to pay the kind of money you’d pay for the work on a new fitted kitchen.

However, if it is the appliances that are old and unpleasant to you now, and they are built in to the fitted kitchen, you may have to go for the remodel option. Some kitchens have appliances that can be easily replaced, however with a lot of modern styles you have things like stove tops built in to counters, and this can make it difficult.

Is There Damage?

If parts of the original kitchen are damaged or have aged to the point where they are hard to keep clean, a refit is going to be inevitable in the near future to rectify things. You may be able to spruce up the kitchen with some superficial changes in the short term but broken cabinets and counters will ultimately need to be replaced properly, so you might as well take the plunge now if you can afford to. Damage caused by things like floods absolutely must be addressed immediately, however in most cases you’ll get help with this from your insurer.

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The author of this post, Gary Mint, is an experienced interior designing consultant. He likes writing and is always shares his creative ideas with others through his blogs. Every weekend he goes for camping and likes being close to nature.

5 Inexpensive Ways To Update The Look Of Your Living Room

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No matter how much you enjoy the look and feel of every room in your home, eventually your decor is bound to get routine, and eventually even turn into that ugly cousin of routine: boring. This is especially true for your living room, where you and your family spend so much time while at home.

Fortunately, the living room – unlike, say, the kitchen or bathroom – is one of the most easily changeable and updateable rooms of just about any home. These are a few ways in which you can breathe new life into one of the most frequently used rooms of your home:

1. Minimize and Reconsider

An effective way to update a room is to take serious and comprehensive stock of how it is decorated in the first place. This means not only considering what you need and what you can do without, but literally “robbing” yourself by taking everything out of the room, up to, and maybe even including, furniture. When you start putting things back, you will begin to get a solid idea of what you need and what you could do without, and where you need to make additions or other changes. Although this method might seem labor intensive, when you are finished you are likely to find all of the work that you put in more than worth it.

2. Contemplate Window Treatments

The window is an oft overlooked part of the decor of a room, partially because changing the window itself is not always an option. But when altering the window itself is not possible, window treatments can be just as, if not even more, effective. New curtains, blinds, valances, etc can really help to update the look of any room. The options are numerous, and the right window treatment can be surprisingly transformative for the feel of an entire room.

3. Do Not Ignore Your Windows

Speaking of windows, your living room windows provide much more than just light and an opportunity for decorative updates through window treatments. The reason that you are updating your living room decor is to enhance the experience of spending time in the room, and a big part of that experience can be enjoying the view. Especially if you redecorating for the spring or summer, consider refocusing your furniture around your living room windows to take advantage of the light, view, and proximity to your home’s outdoor space.

4. Utilize the Power of Pictures (and Frames)

If you do not have the time or money for a complete room overhaul, simply changing what is on your living room walls might just have the dramatic effect that you are seeking for your room’s decor. Go through your photo albums – and the pictures you have stored electronically on your computer, phone, and other devices – and consider what you would like displayed, and/or what would look best on the walls of your living room. Great frames of all kinds are available at discount stores, and here is a secret: with the right frame, sometimes you do not even need a picture.

5. Get Adventurous With Paint

Painting is an extremely common way to update the look of a room, so common in fact that it is often dismissed by those looking for a more original way to decorate. However, a new color does not have to be a cliché. Think about bright, original hues for your living room. If you fear what might happen when you actually commit to a color, you can use an online painting simulation program to get a good idea of the final result.

These are all ideas to consider when trying to either trying to “reinvent the wheel” with your living room’s decor, or simply spice things up a little.

Nicole is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about home decorating. For great window treatments, she recommends venetian blinds from Super Blinds Mart.






Top Bedroom Trends For 2013

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The bedroom is the place where we spend a lot of our time, and even though for the majority of this time we are asleep, it is important to make sure that the bedroom is a room that makes you feel comfortable and at home. These are the top bedroom trends for 2013 that can transform your bedroom into a room that will kick start your day and leave you in a great mood.

Inspiring Wallpapers

One of the biggest comebacks this season in bedroom design is wallpapers. 2013 designs in wallpapers are all about very dramatic colours and patterns. You should choose great metallic colours in various patterns. Big patterns are a must this season, for instance great flower patterns can create a dramatic yet romantic look for your bedroom.

You can balance this dramatic look by choosing more neutral accessories and colours for bed sheets and furniture.

Wooden Flooring

Top 2013 bedroom trends include wooden flooring instead of whole-room carpets. Hardwood floors come in many colours and help create a dramatic look in the room as well as improve the sell out value of your home. You can add big rugs to provide comfort into your bedroom. Rugs are also great because you can replace them easily and thus change the look in your bedroom quickly.

Your Own Personal Spa

Top bedrooms in 2013 are all about creating a personal spa-like look and feel. This is shown in big dramatic headboards that create a hotel-like look in your bedroom. Adding small personal touches such as minibars and music components to the bedroom also creates this hotel and spa inspiration..

You should get rid of multiple decorative pillows as 2013 is all about having one bed-wide pillow on your bed. These wide pillows are often placed in spa environments and are thus favored in 2013 style guides.

Serenity And Calmness

BedroomBecause bedrooms are for relaxation and sleep it is important that you make sure that you create a serene and calm look in the bedroom. This serenity is also present in bedroom trends for 2013.

A calm and serene look is best achieved by choosing natural and neutral colours. HGTV recommends that you choose calming fabrics as well for your bedroom.

This means that you should incorporate silk and cotton into your bedroom in simple colours. You can create a serene look by making sure that all furniture is well matching and this also creates a hotel feel to the bedroom.

Simplicity And Functionality

Bedroom trends for 2013 are all about simplicity and improved functionality. You should utilise your bedroom space fully and make sure that you don’t have too much clutter around. This will ensure serenity in the bedroom. Top trends in bedroom furniture are all about functionality. You can look for functionality tips and products from the Superglide website.

You should also make sure that your bedroom offers you all the functions that you want from it. In 2013, bedrooms are all about personal functionality.For instance you can have your own personal meditation spot in the bedroom.

These great bedroom trends can create a great look for your bedroom this year. You should also look out for some great inspiring pictures that can give you more great ideas and tips.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900430722.jpg

Terance Nichols writes about home improvement on his free time. He has years of experience in the field and he knows all the industry secrets.

Tired Of Your Living Room? Give The Walls A Makeover

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Does your living room seem bland or out of date? Changing the walls in your living room can make a huge difference. Best of all, there are so many options to choose from. Not only can you paint the room, but you can get creative with your own photography. So, what you are waiting for? Give your living room walls a much needed makeover.

Go Bold With New Paint Colors

Paint is something you can have fun with. Because paint is so affordable, you can take the risk to throw a bright pink or ocean blue color on the walls. If you don’t like it, you can always paint over it. Look for inspiration in magazines, fabrics, favorite accessories, etc. Also, check out the new paint lines at your favorite home improvement store.

Create an Accent Wall

If you’re afraid to make a bold change on all the walls, choose an accent wall to paint with a different color or some other type of design. The accent wall will also be the focal wall. For example, if you have a fireplace, this will be your accent wall. This can be a great way to make a big change without becoming overwhelmed. Creating just one accent wall will prevent the room from seeming too bland without making it chaotic.

Invest in High Quality Wallpaper

High quality wallpaper can be found in rich colors and unique designs with detailed textures. However, high quality wallpaper is expensive. This is why many people choose to only use it on an accent wall. When doing this, you want to match paint to a color in the wallpaper for the surrounding walls. This will give you a big wow for very little money.

Bring in a Mural Artist

If you want something truly unique, hire a mural artist. A mural can be anything that fits your personality. It might be a large oak tree and an open field or even a city graffiti scene. Always get samples of previous work before hiring someone. This will be expensive, but will give you a look that will be unique to your home. Make sure you double check with family members who are artists. You may have a family talent who can do the work for a little less than an unknown pro. You should also ask if they’ll give you a discount for allowing you to put their work into a portfolio.

Turn the Walls Into Scenery

Last, but not least, you can have photos transferred into wallpaper panels. If you have scenic photos from a favorite vacation, use them. This would be a great idea for a focus wall and would again be a very unique option. One tip though is to have the wallpaper professionally hung to get the panels even.

Your living room doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many great ways to add the wow factor and many will provide a unique look that no one else will have. Best of all, many of these options are affordable on any budget.

About the Author: Marianne Branch and her husband just remodeled their entire living room. The ordered sofas from HomeQ but they had a mural painted on the wall by a local artist. Now their living room is a relaxing beach oasis!

Pros And Cons Of Different Tile Materials

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Tiles have been made by man for over 4000 years – with such a rich history and reliable reputation, it’s not surprising that many of the original materials used through time still remain today, along with many by-products and variations that have evolved with them.

Each tile type has its own set of pros and cons, making each suitable for different uses.

There are three main categories that tile material can be broken down into; ceramic, quarry and stone. There are more categories and variations within these categories, but here are the main pros and cons that you will need to know when picking a tile to suit you and your home.

Ceramic – Ceramic tiles are seen as great value for money, although they may not be the cheapest tile to purchase, their long-lasting and durable qualities mean they can last the life of your home and increase its value. You can find cheap ceramic tiles at discount flooring outlets or end of line ranges if you fancy some bargain-hunting. Ceramic tiles are long-standing, low maintenance, can stand high traffic and, because they are made from scratch, can be found in a variety of colours and shapes.

One drawback of ceramic tiles is that they are porous – a glaze is applied to the tile and hardened in order to make it non-porous. It is not advised that ceramic tiles are DIY-appropriate, they require professional installation and because of their hard nature, ceramic tiles can chip upon impact.

Ceramic tiles come in many varieties, including; earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, glazed, unglazed and mosaics.

Quarry – Quarry tiles are, by comparison, quite inexpensive because they are quick to produce and don’t require a glaze on the top layer of the tile. They are thick and durable, meaning they are good for high-traffic areas.

However, because there is no glaze, quarry tiles tend to be very porous, which doesn’t make them very good for floors or kitchen surfaces. The lack of glaze also makes them susceptible to stains, they need to be sealed and polished regularly.

Stone – Stone tiles are the most natural in their look and style, they include materials such as limestone, marble, granite and slate. Although they may not be the most functional of tiles, it is their aesthetics that makes stone tiles a winner – their varied colouring and texture of natural stone, which cannot be re-created with ceramic.

However it is their look and style that can provide a drawback. Because they can vary so much, if you ever needed to repair a floor, you may struggle to find a perfectly matched tile. It is advised that you buy extra when you initially purchase your stone tiles.

Beth has a tiled wall in her bathroom, which she created with some decorative wall tiles from http://www.fitcreative.co.uk.

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