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The corner sofa makes a comeback

December 6, 2011 By

Corner sofas used to be considered the height of sophistication and opulence in the 1970s and early 80s.

Then they became something of an anathema. But they’re back now with a vengeance, bigger, bolder and better than ever it seems.

The great thing about corner sofas is that they use the available space in a room far more effectively than two “normal” free-standing sofas do. But they can also be awkward to fit into a living room; it all depends on the size and nature of the room available. Basically, they work better if the room has a corner, without doors or important fixtures etc. that the corner sofa can neatly back into.

In these cases – as a large piece of space-saving furniture, corner sofas do a great job. Most families don’t need any other chairs or armchairs to go alongside, and filling up the corner of a lounge makes it look a lot larger than it actually is.

There are a lot of corner units out there that also incorporate a sofa bed – which actually makes it possible for three people to sleep comfortably when needs-must, as the double sofa bed takes a couple, whilst the remaining “single” sofa leaves room for a single person at the side; useful for when families are sleeping over as guests at Christmas – or after all those wild parties!

There are also corner sofas that incorporate recliners into the sofa, whilst others have a chaise-longue instead of the second sofa on one side.

Also – a large square-shaped poof that wheels into the corner of the corner sofa can make a nice big platform area for the whole family to settle into in front of a movie on those long, cold winter nights.

Anyway, the corner sofa has certainly made what seemed an unlikely comeback a few years ago.

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Upholster your own sofa

December 5, 2011 By

Upholstering your own sofa is a realistic option if you’re feeling the financial pinch like so many others are at the moment; here’s how to do it.

Look over the sofa to see which part of the material will logically come off first (usually the back or bottom). Carefully remove it by prying it loose. Now remove all other sofa covering material always keeping a note of the order you did it in and which pieces go where (trying to keep them intact if possible).

Now choose your replacement fabric. Medium-weight, soft fabrics are easiest to fit. Use loose measurements and simply buy enough; you’re saving a fortune anyway and fabric can be bought cheaply.

Take all the pieces of old covering and flatten them out (opening out any darts or seams). Now place the shapes on your new fabric leaving an extra inch around each piece. Cut out all the new sections and fit them – reversing the order in which you stripped off the old pieces.

Use a good quality staple gun to attach one side of the first piece of material to the sofa in the same way in which the old cover was fastened. Now pull the cloth from the opposite direction and staple down the opposite border. Now fix the third side, pulling it from the free edge and fastening it down too. The new cover should be taut, without wrinkles, but not so tight that there’s no give in it.

The main thing to remember is not to go to all this trouble with sofas that don’t really deserve it. In other words, sofas can be so cheap to buy these days, that you really have to love the old one and it has to be good enough quality to warrant the effort.

But if it is good quality – then reupholstering it yourself is very cheap – and not half as difficult as you might think. Have a go – what’s to lose really?

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How to avoid a kitchen decorating disaster

November 30, 2011 By

When you’re busy decorating your home, the last thing you need is for something to go wrong. But inevitably, something won’t quite go to plan and you’ll need to salvage the situation quickly, to avoid it getting any worse!

 

As well as it being inconvenient to suffer from a decorating disaster, it can sometimes prove to be costly, so how can you avoid them altogether?

 

Let’s start in the kitchen. Whether you’re in the fitted kitchens crowd or you’ve got free-standing kitchen units, you can still experience some decorating disasters.

 

When you’re updating things around your kitchen, you should be trying to go for timeless and neutral designs, to avoid the room looking dated before its time.

 

While some work surfaces and flooring styles may be perfectly on trend now, they might not be next year. You want to make sure whatever you choose isn’t going to age your kitchen prematurely within the next six months. Go for fashionable stuff, but don’t go for fad trends, instead go for contemporary designs which aren’t likely to get dated quickly.

 

When you’re deciding which kitchen cabinets to choose, you need to think about the material they’re in as well. Only opt for designs that aren’t going to look silly in a couple of years’ time. Classic colours and styles will age far better and you can still add a modern slant to your kitchen, by choosing on-trend appliances and accessories for it.

 

As long as you get your kitchen from a reliable source, such as http://wrenkitchens.com, you can be sure it’ll last for a long time, which means you don’t want anything too quirky that’ll go out of date.

Filed Under: Home Improvement Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling Tagged With: ,

Which Mattress is for Me?

November 28, 2011 By

In recent years the development in technology around mattress construction has grown massively, and we are now in a fortunate position when it comes to achieving maximum comfort in bed. Most people keep their mattress for around ten years, so compared to the last time you went shopping for a new bed you might be in for a shock at the choices on offer today.

Perhaps the greatest innovation has been memory foam mattresses which are made from an ultra modern material which is proven to offer health benefits as well as comfort. If you are looking to replace an old, uncomfortable mattress then a memory foam option could be just the thing for you. The essential difference is that the foam the mattress is made from moulds around your body and supports the spine in a natural position. They feel slightly unusual when you lie on them for the first time but very soon most people come to appreciate the comfortable position you are able to relax in – the only way to find out if they are right for you is to have a try.

Many high street retailers such as http://www.sleepmasters.co.uk stock memory foam mattresses, and they also offer expert assistance in why this type of sleep surface could be the right choice for you and your partner. Do not try to buy this type of bed online unless you have visited the showroom first – it is impossible to gauge your reaction to any mattress via a photograph so don’t be shy, go and lie down on a few before you decide which one to buy. We spend an awful lot of time in bed so make sure you get it right and don’t regret your purchase. A good night’s sleep is essential for health and wellbeing so invest in yourself and sleep well.

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Decorating Is All About Accessories

November 21, 2011 By

When we are considering our decorating plans it is all too easy to get caught up in a wealth of paint choices, wallpaper designs and fabric finishes. These are all important elements of course but a fabulous interior design scheme is never complete without those special finishing touches, so don’t forget to accessorise the room you are decorating in order to really bring the look you are going for together.

In the bathroom this might be candles or found objects such as driftwood; in the living room it could be personal pieces such as family portraits and photos of holidays or special occasions. For the bedroom the finishing touches should be centred on bed accessories, and making the bed as the focal point of the room as desirable and inviting as possible. After all, a bedroom is your personal sanctuary; the place to retreat to for rest and rejuvenation, and your bed is the most important piece of furniture in there.

If you’re starting a bedroom scheme from scratch then you may wish to purchase a new bed. Visit Sleepmasters.co.uk for expert advice on the right bed and mattress for you, there are helpful consultants on hand to discuss your options with you and a wide range of beds to suit most tastes and budgets. Once you have made your selection then make sure you treat yourself to new bedding as well – there can be nothing more disappointing than having to put an old, worn out duvet and squashed pillows dressed in washed out, faded linens onto your brand spanking new bed.

With winter upon us it is all about snuggling up and keeping warm too, so invest in a great throw and matching cushions to accessorise your bed linen and enjoy the added comfort. Bedrooms always look great with ornate mirrors, decadent light fittings and homely touches such as pictures and candles. Create the perfect space to unwind and enjoy the best sleep you ever had!

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How to pick the best shower for you

November 21, 2011 By

When getting a new bathroom fitted, or redoing an existing bathroom, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what type of shower to have fitted. And there’s certainly a lot to choose from! Take your time to consider all of the available options before making your purchase to ensure you select the ideal shower for you.

 

Electric showers are found in most modern houses these days and benefit from the fact that they do not run off the water boiler, so you won’t find yourself suddenly having an ice cold wash; electric showers can always provide hot water.

 

Mixer showers are those which are fitted to the bath taps and temperature is controlled manually this way. These are probably the most basic type of shower, but they suit lots of people as they allow temperature to be controlled easily and are low cost, using less energy. However, you may well suffer from decreased water pressure and sudden blasts of cold water when someone else in the house uses water elsewhere!

 

Power showers are those that are fixed with a system that increases water flow, giving a more satisfying shower experience for many. Power showers can be both mixer showers fixed with booster pumps and showers connected to a mains hot water system.

 

As well as the type of shower function that appeals to you the most, there might be other factors you need to take into consideration. For the more mature consumer, people with disabilities and anyone who is worried about slips and falls in the bathroom, mobility showers can be a good solution. There’s a wide range available at www.mobility-plus.co.uk so you’re sure to find something that suits your needs.

 

Whatever type of shower you decide to opt for, make sure it comes with a product guarantee and is fitted by reputable professionals.

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The easy guide to flat pack furniture

October 26, 2011 By

As anyone who’s ever attempted to build their own flat pack furniture will know, ‘easy assemble’ can be a subjective term!
Many a weekend has been spent by many a couple traipsing around the shops for the perfect bathroom cabinet or the ideal modern coffee table, and that’s not where the fun ends! Once you’ve found your perfect pieces of flat pack furniture, you still need to get the things home and assemble them.
These can certainly be testing times! There’s nothing like spending an hour putting together a piece of dining furniture, only to find that you’ve built the whole thing upside down and you have to start again. Or getting to a pivotal moment in the process of constructing a table, only to discover that a vital screw is missing, and where is this ‘part D’ anyway?!
It’s enough to make you give it all up and call in the professionals. Or buy your furniture ready-made!
Don’t be disheartened however. The best piece of advice I can offer when attempting your own flat pack furniture is to take your time, and work methodically and slowly. Begin by laying out everything in front of you and making sure you’ve got all the pieces and parts that you should have. Better to discover something’s missing now than when you’re at a crucial stage of the DIY! Make sure you have enough space and time, and be realistic about what you can achieve in one day. Don’t over-face yourself by trying to make every piece of furniture for every room in your house on your own and in the space of five hours – Rome wasn’t built in a day!
Many pieces of self-assemble furniture take more than one person to make, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. And remember, it might be stressful now, but it’ll all be worth it when you’re sat with your feet up on your brand new self-assembled coffee table!

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Flat Pack Fun

October 17, 2011 By

 

If you have ever bought bedroom furniture you may well have experienced that awful sinking feeling when it arrives and you are rudely reminded that it is flat packed and needs assembling. Euphoria banished you are now faced with the sobering thought of trying to turn the pile of bits of wood and packets of baffling fixtures into the beautiful pieces which you so carefully selected in the shop.

For all those expert DIY-ers out there, stop laughing, this is a real problem. Many people who find themselves in this situation go in one of the following ways: 1) call a friend or relative with a reputation for swift, competent assembly. 2) pay a professional to come and do the job for you – oh the shame. 3) have a go, fail and give up, get the wine out and then resort to either option 1 or 2 above. 4) have a go and actually manage to achieve something which you never thought you could do!

Some projects come with an in-built excuse to get some assistance – phew – double beds for example are difficult one person builds as due to their size alone it is tricky to assemble the elements without another pair of hands. If you do attempt to put together your flat pack furniture, either alone or with some friendly help, then the main advice I am able to offer you is that it is always a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Bedroom furniture is actually a good place to start as a beginner in assembling this type of kit. Start with the small items such as bedside tables so that you get used to the work and build some confidence. Move onto the more complicated pieces next, and before you know it you will have done the job! Building your own furniture can be a rewarding experience so be brave and give it a go.

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How To Knock Through A Wall

October 17, 2011 By

Understandably, when it comes to DIY, we all prefer to stick to the smaller tasks that don’t put at risk our home and contents insurance; putting up shelves, installing that new TV bracket, and hanging a new painting are all fairly easily achievable tasks that most people have the ability, and time, to complete to a decent standard. However, for many of us, bigger tasks such as knocking through walls, simply need to be faced at some point in our lives.

So, in the case of knocking through walls, just how difficult is such an activity? It sounds pretty hard, but is it that tough in reality? Should we be scared?

The simple answer is “no”, as long as careful preparation is carried out and good time spent on the actual DIY procedure; this definitely isn’t one to rush!

The first thing you need to do is seek advice from the experts. Sometimes, just one consultation is enough. You’ll also be able to ask any questions you have about which tools and equipment to use to guarantee the best outcome. Architects or structural engineers are the best people to go to as they’ll be able to understand your project as well as your individual needs and advise as appropriate.

Knowing what wall you’re dealing with is also crucially important. Is it a partition wall? If so, get ready to get your hands dirty! Is it a stud partition wall? If so, count yourself lucky! If you don’t know the answer to this question, ask the experts.

Make sure you work out all your measurements before even thinking about taking out your tools and, on the subject of tools, make sure you purchase from a reputable DIY store!

Ultimately, if you work methodically and slowly, there’s no reason why you’ll be left claiming on your buildings and contents insurance!

Filed Under: Home Improvement Remodeling

All Eyes On The Floor

October 7, 2011 By

When you renovate or re-decorate any of the rooms in your home the one thing which quite often gets left in place is the flooring. A lot of the time this is down to the cost of replacing a large area of carpet or wood floor, or the difficulty of removing permanently laid tiles. With this in mind, when you choose new flooring you should remember that it may well outlast everything else in the room and should therefore be of the best quality you can afford.

Neutral flooring is often a good idea to allow flexibility alongside other decorative features like engineered wood flooring and of course for rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen you need to make sure that the practical aspects are covered too. Choosing the right hardwood flooring for your kitchen may initially depend on whether you are starting from an empty room or working around existing assembled kitchens. If you have to fit the floor to the units then you may need advice on what will work in terms of material depth and installation method.

For a luxury kitchen project where you are working from a blank canvas you are freer to base your choice around aesthetic appeal. Taking into account the need to keep the surface hygienic and also the requirement for a durable finish which will cope well with heavy traffic, the options will include wood, laminate, stone and tiles. Keeping the floor clean, especially if you have pets, will be a priority but you may also wish to consider the warmth underfoot if you are usually barefoot around the house and also what will happen if you drop a favourite plate – some surfaces are more forgiving than others.

One last thought on colour: unless you love spending the days mopping then avoid white or any other plain colour and go for some sort of patterned effect as it will be much more forgiving.

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