A2Bcrafts

4th September 2019 Garden

How to Organise Your Garden Shed

Organising your garden shed is often harder than it sounds. Garden sheds sometimes turn into a dumpsite for garden equipment and items we don’t want to store in the house, but don’t want to do away with completely either. However, the accumulated items in our garden shed can be very inconvenient, especially if we’re looking for something important. Freeing up shed space can also help you be a more efficient gardener.

So let’s have a look at the best ways to organise a garden shed.

Start with decluttering

The first step to organising your garden shed is by tackling the clutter. Start by taking everything out of the shed, and be ruthless in weeding out the things you can part with. If you haven’t used the item in over a year, it’s safe to say it’s fine to give or throw away. The English Garden recommends devoting a whole day to cleaning your shed to ensure that the decluttering is done properly. In setting aside a good amount of time to organise your shed, you save yourself the hassle of constantly looking for items in the future. In the long-term you will save yourself a lot of effort.

What not to store in your shed

When you’re deciding what to keep and what to throw away, it is best to know which items shouldn’t be stored in a shed. Country Living explains that temperature and moisture must be considered when storing something in a shed. Insulation, mould and humidity means that there are some household items that won’t store well. Canned food, wine, photographs, paint and glue are all subject to damage due to the temperature and humidity. Clothing and bedding can also be damaged by moths, and electronics run the risk of rusting. When decluttering your shed, make sure that none of these items are left behind. If you are using your shed as a storage space it should be functional and not a dumping ground.

Making the most of storage space

After you’ve decluttered your shed, the next step is to create storage space. There are many DIY upcycling projects that can create more effective storage units for your shed. Instead of placing small wooden crates on the floor, consider hanging some of them on the wall by suspending them on sturdy hooks. You can place anything from small tools to plants in them for easy access. You can also use hooks to hang larger tools on the wall, giving you more floor space. If you have fruit crates, you can also consider mounting them to the wall for extra shelves. With a fresh coat of paint and some woodwork, you can also transform an old ladder into shelves for a storage unit that maximises vertical space.

Storing valuable items

If you are leaving valuable items such as bikes or expensive garden equipment in your shed, it’s best to make sure that they’re properly stored and protected. This may mean upgrading your shed, especially if the current structure needs a lot of repairs. Investing in or building a metal shed is the best way to keep these types of items safe. Screwfix’s collection of metal sheds details how most models come with multiple padlock points for extra security. Aside from keeping your valuables secure, metal sheds are much harder to break into from the sides compared to wooden structures. This is something to keep in mind if you want to keep valuables safe and secure in your garden shed.

Repurposing a garden shed

With a decluttered and properly organised garden shed, you should consider using it for more unique purposes. You can transform freed up garden sheds into a small home bar, a tiny summer house, an indoor garden, or even a hobby room—the possibilities are endless. When it comes to DIY shed building creating or repurposing a shed on your own means that you have complete control over the design. However, it’s still vital to be thorough in order to achieve quality results. Being hands on with organising your garden shed means that you now have free reign on how to make the best use of your space. Just be careful that bad habits don’t creep back in and a year later you are back to square one.

9th April 2019 D.I.Y

Ultimate Decluttering Guide

Decluttering is one of the habits that you should want to have in your life. There are already millions of homes filled with so much clutter that their houses already look like a hoarder’s. For generally clean people, this is not a problem but for the majority of us, clutter is a serious problem.

We all want clean and spacious houses but the truth is our lifestyle and consumer behaviour does not allow us the ideal situation. The idea of decluttering can be quite too much especially when you realize the sheer amount of items that you have.

According to the LA Times, the average households over 300, 000 items. This is an astounding number of items given that the average space of a house is just getting smaller and smaller.

A minimalist lifestyle is ideal especially for young professionals who still have no kids. Most of them need only the bare essentials so it would only be best to start decluttering from now.

Here is a comprehensive decluttering guide that you can follow to ensure that your house does not look like a hoarder’s house.

Start Small

Decluttering can be overwhelming. Items piling up do not get rid of themselves and often, this clutter can hold up to months and months of unnecessary items. Start off with a small space just to get yourself going. Tackle a kitchen counter or a dining table first and then work towards the bigger space afterwards. You need a sense of motivation to keep yourself inspired. Cleaning can be a boring, back-breaking task and keeping yourself motivated will be hard.

Perhaps starting with only your walls can help, since this is the first thing that draws everyones attention, this way you’ll be motivated to do the rest of your home once you start noticnig the benefits of decluttering. Because you’ve now got free wall space, how about expanding your room with wall mirrors and creating a space that feels large, warm and not so claustrophobic anymore.

Work Slowly and in Increments

Work Slowly and in increments so you do not burn yourself out. Instead of using up the entire day just for decluttering, make it a habit instead. You can do an hour or two per day just for cleaning up or you can spend an afternoon on a free day. Don’t rush yourself. It’s better to have steady progress than a rushed success.

Get Organized

After cleaning and organizing each area, decide immediately what you want to do with the items that you’ve deemed unnecessary for your daily life. Create 4 piles: For Self-Storage, to throw away, to donate and to sell. One mistake that often occurs from people deciding to declutter is that after they declutter one area, they just bring the items to another area. Make sure that the items you decide to throw out goes straight to the trash or you’ll just end up with a big pile of stuff that you can’t throw away.

Rent a Storage Facility

“One of the best actions to do when decluttering is to rent a storage facility” – WhatStorage?

Let’s face it. We all have items inside our homes that we can’t really part with. These items hold too much sentimental value to us or may still be useful in the future. However, keeping them inside our houses can be too troublesome. Renting a cheap storage facility to store them in would be the best solution for you. Self-storage facilities are a cheap and versatile solution to your storage problems. You can find a storage facility almost anywhere.

Enjoy Decluttering

Try to enjoy the little things about decluttering. For example, having a spacious house afterwards. Once you start enjoying, decluttering would very much be easier and faster. Focus on what is important and always remember why you decided to declutter.

It may be hard to let go of your items especially those with special memories associated with them. However, there is an adage, “Keep the memory but let go of the items.” This means that you can still reminisce without having to keep your house filled with unnecessary items. Here are some tips to help you let go of the items that you have.

Whilst decluttering, don’t forget to take into account what else you may need to add to your home now that you’ve freed up plenty of space. One great way is by Re-Designing your Home with Hand Carved Furniture to give it a more complete look now you’ve removed all the useless items from your interior.

Be informed of the 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule is the phenomenon that occurs in most people. It states that out of the 100% of items that we own, we only generally use 20 percent of it in our day to day lives. This can hold true for clothing, games, computer parts, books, tapes, toys, etc. Now that you are aware of this, make sure to get rid of the 80 percent that is basically just clutter.

Don’t Think About Their Past Value But Their Present/Future Value

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article that on average, Americans spend over $1.2 trillion annually on unnecessary items — this ranges from decorative items to stuff that they impulsively buy and do not use.

Often, people don’t get rid of their items because they are aware of the item’s past value. However, this should not be the case. Look at your stuff with its present or future value instead. There is no use in thinking of value that has long past.

Is the item still worth anything to you? Does it still have utility? If not, then what is it even doing inside your house?

Check Your Appliances If They All Work

Another factor that adds up to the clutter in our homes is broken appliances that “we swear to fix on our free day.” Let’s be real. Most of these appliances are too broken to fix or would cost less to buy a brand new one. Throw them out and enjoy the extra space.

1st April 2019 D.I.Y

Home Improvements: What to do with shells from the beach

When you think of home improvements, you would most probably think about them costing you a dime or two. Well it doesn’t have to be that way, all it takes is getting your hands dirty, some elbow grease and our help to improve your home in a number of ways by using the seashells from your favourite beach.

You’ve most probably collected shells before with your little one, perhaps for one of their own art projects or easy shell crafts they can do at home. But we bet you’ve never collected them to improve your home. There are plenty of ways you can use shells to add attention to detail in a bathroom or dining area, keeping you up to date with the latest home decorating trends 2019.

Here are just some of the things you can do with them.

But before we get into that, you’ll want to know how to properly clean your shells so you can get a spotless look which will match perfectly with the rest of the home…

How to Clean Shells from the Beach

There’s actually quite the debate always going on about how to clean seashells from the beach, do you use baking soda? Regular fresh water? How about the water the shell was found in?

There are many different opinions across the web, here is ours;

MURIATIC ACID, shells will finally have their natural colour back and you’ll see a more beautiful side to them!

But don’t worry, muriatic acid for those of you who don’t know is just another word for hydrochloric acid. Which can be found in many household products such as toilet bowl cleaner and tile cleaner. This exact acid can be used to clean your shells.

Here is a safe solution for you and your shells and how to get them clean;

¼ cup of muriatic acid and ¾ cups of water.
Dip for a maximum of 3 seconds and neutralize in fresh water straight after.
Avoid contact with skin and stainless steel

If you want to see the process of cleaning shells from the beach and you want to be mesmerized by the dirty to clean to shells, check out the how to bring back color to seashells tutorial.

How to make Seashells shine

It’s one thing cleaning your shells and making them look like they would in the sea, but it’s another thing completely to have them featuring their natural shine. With some mineral oil, you’re going to want to rub over the shell to give it a deep clean, it does 2 things:

It restores the natural shine of the shell
It preserves the shell

How to keep Seashells shiny

Finally you’ve got that shine back, but how do you go about keeping that beautiful shine so that after you’ve created your masterpiece, you can be happy knowing nothing is going to ruin ti design?

You can spray satin-finish polyurethane or coat with clear nail polish. Although this may be a lengthy process for each shell you have, you’ll be able to reverse the shells organic shiny look and give it an even extra glossy shine.

Decorating with Seashells in a Bathroom

Just like using old storage pallets to create your very own DIY furiture, there are plenty of ways you can use seashells to bring out a natural vibe in your home, especially in the area of your bathroom where these shells will fit the most.

Here are some end results, from the people who are already using this cost efficient way of bringing stylish design to their homes.

Seashell Display Jars

You’ve probably seen plenty of these from the image above, seashell display jars are one of the most common and probably the most stylish way of bringing the beautiful gems of the ocean into your home. Without compromising on the design of your home.

The best part about beach in a jar is that there is no limitation to what you can do and no two jars look the same so this way you can have something unique that only you own.

Jars with sand and shells are not limited to a bathroom, although we think they do look the best in there, these wonderful creations can also work to work with their environment, making them great in kitchens and lounge areas that feature ocean colours.

Now, we bet you’re excited to go ahead with going to your local beach, picking out some decorative shells and making your own sand and shells in glass jars. But we also know you’re probably wondering how the hell you go about gluing your shells to glass? Or how you even managed to get the sand to stick without it looking complete without purpose?

Read on to get some pro tips on how you can achieve your seashell in a jar dreams.

How to Glue Shells to Glass

Less is always more, as they say. Applying glue to shells is no different, there are many different techniques and practices for going about this. You’ll need some form of hot glue, typically that will from one of the craft glue guns from your local craft store.

Once acquired, you’ll want to squeeze a sizeable amount of glue on the outside of the glass, then you’ll want to take your best looking seashell and press down firmly on the glue. Hold for a minimum of 60 seconds to ensure the glue can harden around your shell. Repeat this process till you’re happy with your final design.

How to Glue Sand in a Jar

It’s important you get the consistency right, with to much glue you’re going to look you made this with a blindfold on, alternatively with not enough glue your sand won’t stick to the glass and you won’t get the desired effect.

To get the desired look, you’re going to want to follow our golden rule:

For every 1 cup of sand, you’ll want to have 1 cup of glue.

Doing this, you should get a thick mixture, with a little mixing you’ll be ready to add your gooey sand to the surface of your jar, spread out evenly for a balanced finish.

Other creative uses for seashells in your home

Beyond the basics of using shells and sand to make glass shell jars, there are other creative uses for seashells that you can use within your home, outside of the bathroom area.

As a side note, seashell crafts for adults is fun but it’s even more enjoyable once you get your kids involved. Allowing them to help you create something that is going to be a cherished part of your home for potentially many years.

Seashell Display Case

For collectors out there, this is one of the ways you can proudly put your favourite seashells on display.

These seashells were probably left over from your glass jar projet, you’ve probably thought to yourself ‘these are just too beautiful to use’ and instead just threw them in a draw never to be seen again.

Making something out of them and putting them on display gets you the best of both worlds. You can admire a natural resource whilst adding a personal touch to your home, wherever you choose to feature your brand new display case.

There are many ways you can come up with to add shells to a display case, one of them would be to use a wooden, sort of like a larger display cause would be used from and assigning compartments for your favourite seashells. Maybe in order of size, type, or even colour.

We have yet to cover how you’re going to manage to add shells to the display cabinet, so here’s how to glue shells to wood.

How to Glue Shells to Wood

Just like glueing to glass, you’re going to want to get a hot glue gun from your local craft store, so that the shells you attach will stay attached. However it is advised that you clean your wood before hand as dust and other particles can be visible even after the job has been completed, mostly this goes unnoticed with glass surfaces.

Seashell Shadow box

Similar to display cases, using a shadow box to display your shells will offer you another way of bringing in the natural design. However, these should be used as an alternative if you truly take pride in the design of your home, and you’re looking for a way to add shells that won’t compromise the general design.

This is because, unlike display cabinet, shadow boxes feature a more organized finish making them ideal for people who like to have a modern home looks like each decor piece was placed with purpose.

Shell Shower Curtains

You’ll most probably see some form of shell shower curtains in your home, but I bet they are all printed designs and not the real thing. Well why not use the real thing and create some fabulous curtains from them?

Whether you start off with a blank curtain or you use a shell design that is going to compliment the actual shells which you’re going to feature. However you choose to go about this fun craft, make sure to glue everything down properly and have some fun with it.

Seashell Animal Crafts

With seashell crafts, with usually think about larger designs, whether that’s shell curtains or seashell jars. But what about little dinky ornaments that can fit on any tableside in your home that can bring you some unique style that has been made from seashells?

These little dicnky ornemants are seashell animals, whether you’re a lover of foxes, ladybirds or any other animal in existence, we are sure you can achieve the design with a couple of sea shells, some paint and a great deal of imagination.

How to make Seashell Animals

Now, this would depend on what sort of animal you’re looking to create. Thankfully we live in the age or internet so having resources for this information won’t be too hard to find, however we want to give you a head start, here are some tools you’re going to need if you want to create one of these beautiful pieces for yourself.

Hot glue gun
Some of your favourite paint and paint brushes.
And a creative mind

If you’re unsure what to create, perhaps you don’t have a favourite animal or you’re just looking for a unique idea, here is over 100 seashell animal crafts to inspire you.

Broken Seashell Crafts

When we’re looking for seashells, we usually look for the most pretty and eye catching ones, I mean that’s just the way we are naturally as humans to seek out the most beautiful thing as possible.

But that means we waste materials that could add to our home, such as broken seashells.

Broken seashell crafts are unique in the sense that they take something that seems to be at the end of its life time, soon to be washed away or thrown away and turn it into something that is elegant yet charming and a piece that could become a great addition to a bathroom, lounge or bedroom area in a home.

18th March 2019 D.I.Y

How to Cover Unsightly Boiler Pipes

Check latest price of radsnaps here

Although we are deeply grateful for the warmth that boilers provide, they’re certainly not the most alluring item you will have in your house. They don’t add much to a room’s décor. The pipes mess up the interiors and make rooms look lousy. Actually, they are an eyesore and can neutralize the elegance in any captivating décor – unless of course your home is of the rustic style, then move along because boiler pipes can add to the design of the home.

Otherwise, to counter this effect most homeowners often find themselves investing in false ceilings, new cabinet designs and even reconstructing and breaking down walls just to ensure that the boiler pipes are not exposed. Though very effective, these approaches are very expensive and need a lot of time to implement.

What’s more, you will need to hire qualified professionals who charge exorbitant amounts for these sort of ‘home improvements’. This essentially means that if don’t have deep pockets or know the right people, you will have to put up with unsightly bathrooms and rooms that look like dreary for a very long time! Very depressing right?

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to salvage the situation affordably. Read on to find out about interesting but cheap ways on how to cover unsightly boiler pipes:

Conceal with design tapes or radiator pipe sleeves

Design tapes can transform unsightly pipes from an eyesore to beautiful and attractive pieces. You can find decorative tapes at local stores for a price tag that won’t break your budget. Try them today and watch as your space changes from drab to fab!

You can use radiator pipe covers that come in various decorative colours, like these chrome radsnap radiator pipe sleeves/covers below delivered fast from places like Amazon.

chrome radsnap radiator pipe sleeves and covers — Chrome radiator pipe sleeves

Check the latest prices on radsnap radiator pipe sleeves here

Radiator pipe collars also known as rad rings or pipe roses are a nice finish for the base.

Check the latest price on these pipe collars

Box in the pipes

Consider boiler casings if you want to spruce up the pipes underneath the boiler. They are specially designed cases that cover the pipes completely concealing them safely and giving the house a tidy appearance. Just ensure that pipework, as well as the boiler, have enough ventilation and that the casings you use meet the standard requirements.

Check latest prices on this thermopanel boxing

Use DIY chalkboard covers

If you have time, why don’t you create your chalkboard cover (You will need to be an expert DIYer)? Create an MDF frame that goes around the boiler and the pipes then box the entire unit. For a practical cover that keeps the pipes discreet, use a lick of chalkboard paint.

Cover them with fake foliage

This is an amazing boiler pipe cover that will definitely give your home a tropical feel. Fake foliage offers a seamless solution to ugly pipes blemishing your home décor. For those who can afford real foliage, go for creepers and climbers. Though they require some effort and time in conditioning, watering and pruning them, they look excellent!

Check the latest prices on fake foliage here

Paint the pipes in lively colours

Don’t just paint them like everybody else, do it with a twist! You can get ideas from your kids or spouse. Help each other with ideas and skills and you will be surprised at how creative you are. The results will definitely be spectacular. Not to mention you will spend time with your family and have memories to treasure forever whilst adding a unique touch to your home that the entire family can be proud of, since they were a part of it.

Check the latest styles & prices of radiator paint here

Conceal with a Curtain

One convenient way to hide your unattractive boiler pipes is to hang some fabric or a small curtain in front of them. This way the pipes will not only be easily accessible in case of a malfunction, but you will also not see them whenever you visit this particular room. Don’t forget design matter, so don’t just use a random curtain to hide the pipes, ensure it will complement the space in its own right too, as to not draw unnecessary attention towards it.

Check out these ranges of curtains here

Factors to consider

Now, before you choose any concealing method, it is important to consider a few factors:

Which approach is the best for me?
Where is the boiler located?
What happens there and how exposed are the pipes?
Should you camouflage, detract or integrate them into the room’s décor design?

These should be answered before you start buying what you need to cover your boiler pipes, simply because even if you like the idea of let say…painting over them, they may not look right in your home. You’ll want to have a great balance of doing something you like and that you’re going to enjoy creating whilst making sure whatever it is your doing works for the home, since this is the purpose of the project after all.

Your Budget

Finally It is very important to consider these factors beforehand so as to help you pick the most stylish and appropriate solution for both you and your house. Also, when doing this, keep in mind that ventilation is very important. Be careful with what you cover and it should not interfere with the boiler’s functioning as well as your ability to access its internal parts.

Final Thoughts

Every apartment or house whether small or large has something that is plainly ugly, oddly placed or just weird. While these small problems may drive you nuts, stay they must because they are valuable as they are a part of the character of your home, which could offer a unique look when decorated properly using the tips we have just discussed.

Ultimately, the only viable solution is to be creative and make it your own. Luckily for you covering boiler piles is not that difficult, especially if you follow these handy tips. Good luck!

15th March 2019 Interior Decor

Master bedroom trends and home decorating trends 2019

When you hear the term luxury, what pops up on your mind? It definitely has something do with lavishness, richness, great comfort or splendor. How about you have all these combinations in the heart of your home, the bedroom! The following article will mention a few bedroom decor trends 2019.

The bedroom as you know is the most intimate room of the house, and after long day of breaking that sweat, you always look forward to having some quiet time in a calm space, with some good ambience.

Welcome aboard as I introduce you to the master bedroom trends 2019 you may want to incorporate in your bedroom this year. Why not welcome this year with a sense of style and more so, take it a notch higher by spicing up the bedroom furniture designs.

So, let’s take a look at the bedroom decor trends for 2019 and get inspired to have a gist of great ideas on how you can remodel your bedroom.

Chic shadow bedroom ideas 2019

Break the monotony of a dull-looking bed and be bold enough to make your bed a dream oasis. It’s very simple yet the end result gives your room an elegant touch. Get an outstanding head board painted with dulux chic shadow silk that can be used on other items in the room to create uniformity. Another popular color for 2019 is the Dulux goose down paint available from amazon.

Dulux Chic Shadow Silk

Dulux Goose Down Paint

Padded or Crushed Velvet Headboards

It should be large enough to allow you to comfortably lean against in case you want to read or just to relax before you sleep.

Going for a cushioned headboard has become one of the most sought-after trends today. This does not mean that you have to purchase a bed which has this design.

Save those extra coins and do it yourself by going online to check on DIYs of how you can make your own customized padded headboard.

Another tip on adding some zest on your bed is adding the number of pillows other than the traditional two pillows you already have. Normalize your room by harmonizing the range of colors that connect the furnishings together.

Rose gold bedroom ideas

Beds with a Skinny Frame

You could start by installing a bed with four posts in your bedroom. This could create an overwhelming effect on the rest of the furnishings in your room.

Picking a white colour or bright coloured walls and if you want to get a good contrast colours go with a darker bed frame.

You could also consider creating a balance in the colours and use differently sized furniture for instance pairing a thinner frame with some outstanding side tables and finish it up with some similar wood.

Bed-side table

There is a wide variety of side tables you can select such as the classic cocktail table, mirrored table, vintage-modern set, sleek storage and the teakwood cube side table.
Not only do these add style, but can also be used to store up your valuables.

Curvy designs

A popular trend you could get a hold of is chairs with a rounded back which will give some edge to the general look of the room.

Black and white bedroom ideas for small rooms

If your bedroom is not that spacious, you may want to create an illusion of room that looks large. The best way to go about this is to avoid having furniture such as a wardrobe or a walk in closet which may take up more space.

At this point, I would suggest getting furniture pieces that are easily convertible. Have a bed with drawers beneath it or add a chest piece at the bed’s foot that can also be used as a seat and for storage.

Black and white striped bedroom with storage

This is another trick you can use to get an impression of a larger sized room. Place mirrors to the closet doors or against the wall to do that.

If you also want to maximize on space don’t go for king size bed but instead, get a smaller sized bed. Also if you can get a ceiling fan that has lights, or suspended light fixtures, instead of having a night stands that will help you save on space.

Black white and gold bedroom ideas

Once you revamp the look of your bedroom putting all these suggestions into consideration, I assure you will find great satisfaction in spending quality time in your bedroom. Keep up with the trends 2019 get ready for the ultimate makeover and maybe make it a lovely black and gold like the room above!

11th April 2018 DIY Interior

3 steps to planning the perfect kitchen

Here are some great ideas for creating the perfect kitchen, in collaboration with Ideas for Living.

Designing a new kitchen is an exciting process as well as one that can swamp homeowners with choice. Understandably, many homeowners often get carried away with the desired look and finish, creating look-books and colour schemes and experimenting with different styles. Whilst this is an exciting part of the process, it is important to plan carefully and look beyond the aesthetic in order to achieve a space that truly works for you. Planning a new kitchen should always start with three key considerations:

#1 THINK ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR KITCHEN – HOW CAN YOUR KITCHEN WORK FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE?

Firstly, think about what goes on in your kitchen and how you want to use the space. Consider factors such as whether you need to include a dining area for entertaining or a space that can double up as a home office or study. Are you a gadget geek like Dean Signori or a serious foody? Will the kitchen be the focal hub for the family? Designs and solutions exist to meet any of these needs and more.

Whilst a kitchen must meet the needs of your lifestyle today, it is also important to project what your lifestyle will look like in the future and make sure your kitchen fits this brief too. Will you have teenagers in the home who will benefit from open plan living? Will you require solutions that are adaptable to different levels of mobility.

#2 THINK ABOUT YOUR IDEAL LAYOUT – CREATING AN EFFICIENT WORKSPACE

Once you have defined the function of your kitchen, the next step to think about is layout. The path between your oven or hob, fridge and sink is the one you will tread most frequently. This is known as the working triangle and it should be given careful thought to achieve optimum kitchen efficiency. There is no limit to the functionality of today’s kitchens, the challenge is to make the space work perfectly for you.

#3 MAXIMISE EVERY INCH OF SPACE– CLEVER STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Step 3 is to maximise every inch of available space. Think about the different dimensions of your kitchen – not just width and length, but height and depth too. The key is to make the most of what’s available. Clever functionality such as vertical storage units, tables that fold into drawers or pull-out shelves that provide access to tricky corner space can transform kitchen storage.

The choice of styles and solutions can be overwhelming so consider partnering with experts in the field like Häfele. They don’t sell directly to the consumer, they choose to partner with the finest kitchen studios across the country in order to make homes smart, well organised, flexible and future proof. Their Ideas For Living website not only inspires homeowners with ideas and solutions to create their ideal kitchen, but also provides a direct link to their UK-wide network of Studio Partners, who have the knowledge and expertise to transform wishes into a beautiful and functional reality.

Discussing your kitchen ideas with a hand-picked experts can really help you to define your needs, and to create a space that incorporates your chosen style into a design that works for your lifestyle, now and in the future.

This post was first seen at lovechicliving

4th April 2018 D.I.Y

The DIY Mistakes Interior Designers Wish You You’d Stop Making

Deep down, we all fancy ourselves as a bit of an interior design/DIY guru. After all, pretty cushions are pretty cushions, and when it comes to painting a wall, how hard can it be? Right?

RIGHT?

But if you take the time to watch pretty much any renovation reality show, you’ll quickly realise even the most capable (or not-so-capable) DIY decorators aren’t immune to making some pretty epic stuff-ups.

So we spoke to three Aussie interior designers at the top of their game to find out the most common DIY mistakes they see on a day-to-day basis… in other words, what NOT to try at home.

Darren Palmer
Interior Designer, judge on ‘The Block’ and author of HomeSPACE.

“I truly believe the biggest mistake DIY’ers make is not setting a brief. By working out exactly what they need to achieve, what their family requires and what they need to add or subtract from the home to make it work properly as well as considering things like style, mood and budget, people are able to create a plan and plot a path.

“Without the briefing process and having a document to adhere to along the way you can end up with a completely different, or at worst a completely disparate, result than you intended.”Don’t just dive in head first without a plan.
Don’t spend more than you have or more than you should
Don’t worry about what your friends think if you love it
Don’t please only yourself if you plan to sell your property within the next 2 years.
Don’t fall in love with one solution. there are always myriad options and plan b is often better than your first intention.
Don’t be timid. Use your character and personality to inform decisions and commit to them wholeheartedly. It’s not the risks you take that you regret, it’s the chances you missed that keep you awake at night so just have faith, plan and commit to a bold solution that you are passionate about.

Vivian Panagos
Interior Designer and Blogger

“The most common DIY decorating mistake that I see is not taking the time to space plan and draft a furniture floor plan before buying ‘big ticket items’ like a sofa. Furniture needs space to “breathe” and often I see a too-big-for-the-room sofa pushed up against a wall because that’s the only way it will fit in the space or coffee tables that are difficult to navigate around.

“Pushing furniture away from walls and allowing the right amount of space to move freely makes a big difference to how a room feels.

“What you don’t have in a room is just as important as what you do have and a floor plan can help you work through any space planning issues by experimenting on paper before committing to the real deal.”

Jen Bishop
Publisher of Interiors Addict and Reno Addict.

“I think something many people get wrong is being in rush! When you move house or decide to make over a room, it is so tempting to want it all done in a week. We have all become too used to have things immediately!

“The worst thing you can do is go out shopping one Saturday (or worse, online) with the mission to get everything you need for your new kid’s bedroom or living room. It will end in disaster! Even worse if you try and get everything from the same shop.

“Great, authentic, unique interiors which you’ll love coming home to, take time. The best decisions are the ones you sit on for a couple of weeks or even months and keep going back to. This also gives you the time to save up for the couch you really want rather than making do with the cheaper one just because it’s on sale. So my top decorating tip is always to take your time and buy things you really love.

Never paint a room without first trying out some decent sized sample pot patches on the wall, or a few walls, and looking at the effects at different times of day.
“Another mistake we all make is buying things because they’re on trend. Yes, copper, Mongolian sheepskins, fiddle leaf figs, knot cushions and Scandi coffee tables may be all the rage now, but what happens when the magazines have different things next year? By all means buy on trend items but make sure your investment pieces are classics.

“Something you must never do is paint a room without first trying out some decent sized sample pot patches on the wall, or a few walls, and looking at the effects at different times of day, in daylight and artificial light.

“Another mistake to avoid is buying furniture without measuring your space first. The best plan is to mark out your new lounge or rug with masking tape on the floor so you can see how big or small it will feel in the space and if you can walk around pieces comfortably.”

If you’re interested in continuing reading this post, please go to the original article which can be found here at HuffingtonPost!

20th November 2017 D.I.Y

Creative ways to hide ugly parts of the home

Here is something about living spaces though unfortunate, that is a proven fact-99 % of all of them probably have something that is either oddly placed, weird, or merely plain ugly! Whether it is that luxurious apartment across the street, or the secluded bungalow adjacent to the park, every living space possesses some common persistent minor concerns (pipes cords, vents, accessories) that do not necessarily add to the beauty aspect. And while these little ugly problems’ might be annoying and somewhat embarrassing, most are a must stay, especially for you the one paying the rent or mortgage. The best and only solution, however, is getting creative.

If you are in search of some creative ways to help you conceal your home’s eyesores, here are several tricks to get you going.

Fake Rocks

Are your outdoor pipes ruining your otherwise well-manicured lawn? Do away with these necessary eyesores with the help of fake rocks! Easily purchasable online such as on Amazon, these accessories will ideally blend well into your lawn or garden effortlessly.

Air Vent Cover

Although they may appear messy or even ugly, some fixtures and accessories simply cannot be eradicated from home, and one such fixture is an air vent. In most cases, these immovable accessories are not any pleasing to look at. Nonetheless, one easy way to conceal this eye sore is nailing a standard decorative rug on the house wall like these from ZARA, just above the vent. Although this will not ensure it is out of sight, it will nonetheless dress it up pretty well. Be sure to leave it fairly loose or use one that can let air pass so that you dont fully cover the vents air flow.

AC Unit Curtain

If it is yet to come, it is of course just around the corner. With summer comes several annoying and embarrassing concerns around the house, and few can match the unsightly and obnoxious AC Units. Other than the difficulty they pose during installations, they look horrendous in your house windows. A simple fix, however, is to cover it with an appealing yet functional half-window curtain to create a refined cover-up.

Decorated Dryer and Washer

As we would all agree, trying to make an item as large as a dryer or washer disappear entirely from sight is difficult. What then do you do? Bring them to the front instead! As crazy as it sounds, you can use simple decorations such as classic colored tape to add polka dots or fun stripes patterns to jazz these accessories up.

Hidden PEX Manifold

While a PEX Manifold is an integral fixture for the overall functionality of a homes heated floor plumbing, this is not to say that they are appealing or something that you want visible. For a quick fix, you may need to incorporate a bit if your DIY flair. You can hide this necessary evil directly behind a characteristic shabby chic radiator style cover or encased wooden unit, and only you have to know about it. However, in a statement from someone more experienced in these systems…

Brett from https://consumerhomedecor.com says that although these parts may be very ugly and are often hidden during the house build, they should be somewhat accessible in case of a leak or need for extension. The last thing you want if you are unlucky enough to have a leak of some kind is to have to break down other parts of the home/walls to get to the pex manifold so try and make a removable cover or access point.

Copper Boiler Vent Cover

While your hose cannot function without them, boilers need vent covers and may at times seem very ugly particularly when they are spoiling the beautiful garden appearance being in line of sight looking out down the garden from the side of the house. However, by placing a simple copper boiler vent cover round these eyesores, like this one from Luxury Metals you can ensure they blend in very well in fact become quite an attractive piece.

Boiler Pipes

On top of boiler vents, we also have boilers pipes. If you’re unfortunate enough to have this eyesore in your home you will be already to familar with how they give you an unfinished look in a space that would otherwise look beautiful. Thankfully for you, we’ve already have a great article on how to cover unsightly boiler pipes that will really serve as a godsend if you’ve had exposed pipes like this in the home for a while and you haven’t quite yet decided whats the best way of ‘removing’ them from your interior.

1st September 2017 D.I.Y

DIY shed building – should you do it?

A shed is simple roofed structure or building usually made of wood where gardening equipment or tools can be kept. This building is usually made within the homes back garden for particular purposes depending on the intentions of the owner. The sheds differ in the simplicity of their structure and to the size, from the small sized roofs to the large structures with either windowless walls or toughened plastic or glass. Some people have also been known to turn them into bars which is a trendy idea that people keen on home brewing tend to do as a hobby and are a great way to relax after a hard days work, often referred to as a man cave.

The sheds are made from different materials, including metals or wood, while others made from pure rocks which is a lot less common than wood or metal due to the precision needed and the extra cost although it definitely looks amazing done with rocks. While those made for farming materials or for industrial storage are in most cases large and are built over wooden frames, those for home and garden storage tend to be wooden flat-pack or custom built from wood as it is much cheaper and easier to do and can last a very long time when properly protected from the elements with a protective covering like creosote and felt.

Pros and Cons of building own outdoor sheds

Advantages

The top most advantage of building a shed is that the individual will have complete control over its structural and aesthetic design. Doing this means that you can build in added features that fit your exacts needs based on the items you intend to store there or for the plan you have in mind overall, whereas with a bought shed your constricted by its preset dimensions and features.

In addition to this you may take your time when building the structure according to your own schedule rather than that of a professional who may be booked up for weeks which is quite common for local tradesmen. Be cautious of the weather though in this approach as you may attract spores and damp if left exposed during a rough, wet and windy period. It is a good choice to use pressure treated wood. Pressure treating is a preservative process that helps wood withstand the elements and wards off termites, microorganisms and fungal decay.

These are chemicals likely to be used in pressure treated wood:

Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ) (click here to learn about ACQ)
Copper Azole (CA) (click here to learn about CA)
Micronized Copper Azole (MCA) (click here to learn about MCA)

Disadvantages

Christopher Loft from Cad Joinery says that “the major disadvantage of having your typical home owner build their own shed is the lack of professionalism and training they have”. A professional will always have their work done according to the specifications required in the field of joinery. However, if an individual who lacks the professional training tries to build a shed from scratch, even a flat-pack, the result may not be as appealing or structurally sound as that of someone in the joinery profession, because of a lack of understanding in the construction process and lack of proper standards. A professional joiner will almost always be listed on bwf.org.uk and so must abide by a professional process to ensure they can be trusted to do a good job, especially since their reputation is at stake.

A number of things can, therefore, be noted from this, for example, the general resulting quality of the shed may be poor. This may result from the usage of low-quality materials which would not have been used if it was a professional carrying out the build. This could in turn incur more cost for repairs as more money might be needed to correct issues or replace wrongly used materials.

Moreover, the choice of location of the site also comes into play. A professional builder will be able to detect locations suitable for building such structures depending on its nature, whether wooden or metallic sheds and spot any potential risks hazardous to the structure in the long term such as subsidence, rot or incorrect placement which may hinder future maintenance like being too close to a wall or fence.

Where minimal skills are held by the homeowner, it becomes difficult for the individual to detect such minute precautions which may lead to bigger and more dangerous problems, if not prevented. For example, a wooden shed cannot be built in a higher place prone to heavy winds. The winds may bring down the structure affecting the cost to the owner.

Tools & Materials

If you are going to do this yourself you have the added cost of materials and tools, a builder will already own their tools and can cost the build efficiently. A home owner if doing something like this for the first time might not have all these tools or materials and the cost of doing a one off build would be highly inflated and maybe not worth the hassle unless you plan on doing more D.I.Y projects in the future and being able to reuse your tools.

Here are a few reviews and tips of various tools you may need to buy:

Decision

Whereas the individual always has an upper hand of creativity in the choice of design in building their own shed, it is required that the individual in question should plan more thoroughly in doings so. The individual need to have a plan for materials, layout, maintenance, organization and must be aware and be ready for challenges which may arise during the whole process.

29th June 2017 DIY Interior

Flower Chandeliers & Hanging Flower Arrangements

A fabulous trend going from coast-to-coast is hanging flowers. From the ceremony to the reception, these hanging blooms, are making a statement.

One of the trends is called the upside-down garden. It’s where you take hundreds of flowers, and hang them from the ceiling, making a sea of of flowers, transforming your ceremony or dance floor into a lush garden above them. Almost like your floating above the ground.
Another flora trend is flower chandeliers. Imagine gorgeous blooms, overflowing and draping down off of a chandeliers, or circle hoops over your heads, or dance floor. They are sure to set the mood, to your nuptials and will have your guests staring in awe!
Inverted Centerpieces. Does your venue have tall ceilings? A great idea is to have inverted centerpieces, which where you suspend your table center pieces above your guest, drawing their eyes upward. These look great with long tables, and can really take your wedding to the next level!
Curtain of flowers. Have a curtain of flowers draped as your backdrop for your ceremony looks stunning. You can even have it as your back drop of your sweetheart table. Flowers draping from top to bottom, add a bit of modern flair. A great idea is to have them monochromatic, and start lighter at the top, and grow dark, as it goes to the bottom. Another idea is to hang them in picture frames. They will look like framed works of art.
Hanging glass globes look very modern, and look absolutely amazing. You can have them as your backdrop of your ceremony, or suspend them across guest tables. In each globe your can put a single flower for bright glam look, or add more lush greens and succulent for a more of a garden look.

The article Hanging Flower Arrangements was first posted by http://leighflorist.net

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