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5 Reasons Why Art Is Important In The Home

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When most of us think of art, we imagine paintings in a gallery or statues at a museum. However, the fact is that art is all around us, and it can easily be incorporated into your home with the help of los angeles interior design firms. Here are the five reasons why adding art to your interior is essential:

#1 Makes Your Space Personal

Your home is where you live, but what differentiates your space from anyone else’s? What about your house is personal and unique to you? If you can’t answer that question, then art can.

Picking out a piece of art for your home means that you are making a personal choice about your living space. It’s something that is part of your personality, which can help you feel more at home than if you had blank walls.

#2 Creates Memories

Buying and curating art isn’t about finding the “best” pieces. It’s about locating something that speaks to you on an emotional level. If you put your heart into finding the right image or piece, then the memory of it will enrich your home on another level.

#3 Adds Color and Texture Without Commitment

Since many of us rent our living areas, we can’t do a whole lot to change the appearance. However, adding a few choice pieces of art enables us to dramatically alter the aesthetic of our home without making a huge commitment.

#4 Invokes Feelings

Art can do so much more than brighten a wall or enhance the aesthetic of a room. Some pieces tell a story, making them an integral part of your living experience. The right art can add value to your home and your life.

#5 Enables Customization

We all go through different phases and moods, and art can reflect this better than anything else. With art, you can adjust the layout and appearance of a room instantly, and you can change it on a whim. Putting a painting on a different wall can have a significant impact, and it doesn’t require any effort.

Overall, if you don’t have any art on the walls, then you are missing out on a truly enriching experience. And remember, you don’t have to go on a worldwide search or spend a fortune to start enjoying beautiful artwork in your home.

Four Household Dangers You Need to Watch Out For

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Young children and pets seem to have a knack for finding and exploiting all the dangers you never noticed before in your household. As soon as it might hurt them, they zero in on it and terrify you when they start playing with whatever hazard it is. That is why everyone should look out for and rectify these five household dangers before you bring in young anything, whether it is a child, a puppy, kitten, or even a pet rodent that you intend to let run around:


  1. Mold

Mold isn’t dangerous on its own, per se, but they can be dangerous and can trigger asthma attacks and other health concerns. Mold in general should be taken seriously as well, as it indicates a leak somewhere in your home. Over time this mold will turn to rot, so it is important to get it checked out immediately.


  1. Fire Hazards

There are many fire hazards in the home. Ensure that all your appliances are in working order without any malfunctions or reasons for concern and that you don’t have any exposed wiring where an errant kid or pet can play with them. A young child doesn’t have to play with a fire hazard for it to not become a safety issue. If you have an old, trying stove then replace it immediately for a newer and safer model. You should also ensure that your fire alarms and your carbon monoxide alarms are fully operational.


  1. Insect Infestation

Insects are, in many ways, worse than rodents. Rodents typically stay inside their nest during the day and come out only when people are away or sleeping. Insects, on the other hand, come and go as they please. The worst ones are bed bugs or other flesh-eating insects like lice or ticks. These are the ones you really need to be wary of, as they can cause severe allergic reactions and anxiety that makes it difficult to sleep at night. When a pest has invaded your home, you need to contact Reynolds Pest Management Pest Control to ensure the problem is entirely eradicated. If a substandard job is done, then the pests can and will come back.


  1. Rodent Infestation

Rodents carry diseases and can infest and create nests inside your home. If they don’t carry diseases, then there are other dangers as well. Rodents will eat through your food, your wiring, and other areas of your home. Once their urine dries it is very difficult to see, meaning your counters could be covered in waste. The key to getting rid of a rodent infestation is to watch out for the signs and to take the necessary steps as soon as you see chewed food or wiring, feces, or the rodent itself.

There are many household hazards in the home. The steps and measures that you take depend on your home and the age of the young child or pet that you are bringing into your home. Watch out for mold or other structural issues, fire hazards, and signs of pests and you’re off to a good start.

Boost Your Bedroom’s Beauty – Some Tips When Renovating and Decorating

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Often people settle for drab decor when it comes to their bedroom. Their content to just sleep in it, and leave the rest of the house to look glamorous. It’s a room that may not get as much publicity as the other rooms, so it gets thrown on the back burner of rooms to transform. You don’t have to worry about sky high costs that come with redesigning your chamber, there’s ways to decorate and bring beauty into your special space without breaking the bank. Bedding and curtains are one of the best ways to make magical modifications in your bedroom. With Julian Charles there’s a selection available to fit everyone’s taste. Here’s some ideas to consider when renovating your bedroom.

Bedding

Sleep is one of the most comforting, reward, and generally helpful things a person can receive, but the bedroom is a place that should be luxuriated in and prized, not only slept in. It’s a space where you can be alone, and unwind,  and you want to do that in a place that’s pleasing to the eyes and that’s not just accumulating ancient accessories that you’ve dotted in there to fill the space.

Bedding is one way to bring that brilliance back into your room again. It can be the first thing that adds more flavor and flare to a bedroom that’s become distasteful. New bedding can instantly give a room a whole new image, from stifling to spacious, shabby to chic, bland to beautiful. Get the style that suits you and instantly feel and see the difference.

Think of what other accessories could shaz up your bed, from the textures of the sheets, whether patterned, colored or whatever special factor you’d like. You could purchase more pillows for extra comfort, maybe even in different shapes and sizes. Applying bed skirts could add a luxurious flair to a bed as well as conceal any clutter. Or you might like to spice things up with a bed runner that brings out even more contrast in the room.

Curtains

When you close your curtains do you feel like closing your eyes too. You don’t have to look away from your worn out curtains that are desperate for a change, but you can replace them today with resplendent drapes that will leave you gazing. Your curtains can either accentuate or attack the rest of the decor in your room, so make sure you pick the right ones.

Your curtains serve as a piece of art in your safe space, and with the right ones they can leave you feeling serene instead of stressed. You can have light curtains that offer life to your room, or modern ones that cause you to muse. It’s whatever tickles your fancy.

From imogen, to paisley white, that makes your room feel like paradise, to harrison or blossom silver that makes you feel at ease. Daydream about your perfect curtains no longer, there’s a range of opulent designs available to make you love your luxurious space.

Additional Aims

It’s time for you to #RenovateRedecorateInspire. You can reveal your personal side with canvases and colors that make you feel comfortable. Let the walls stand out with a coat of fresh paint. You might even like a new side cabinet, or lamp, or other accessories that will spice things up abit. Check out this ebook for more tips and advice when making small affordable changes to your home.

How You Can Easily Stay on Top of Kitchen Maintenance

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Your kitchen is often the hub of activity in your home. It’s where people gather, where food is prepared and enjoyed, and it tends to be a source of warmth and comfort. With that said, keeping your kitchen in tip-top shape can help to ensure that meals go smoothly and everyone can enjoy themselves. This is exactly why you want to be sure you’re staying on top of your kitchen maintenance.

So, what exactly is kitchen maintenance? What should you be doing, how should you do it, and how often should you go about this maintenance? Let’s take a closer look.

What is Kitchen Maintenance?

When you think about the room in your house that takes the most beating and has to work the hardest, the kitchen is the answer. It is used many times a day by everyone that lives in the house. That means all those small and big appliances are constantly working without getting much of a break.

Kitchen maintenance is kind of like a doctor’s check-up. It’s a chance for you to examine the appliances, make sure they are running properly, and have them fixed if there are issues.

Kitchen Maintenance Tips

Kitchen maintenance doesn’t have to be a monthly, bi-monthly, or yearly thing; it can happen on a daily basis. Kitchen maintenance starts with the smallest of things and then goes from there. The main goal is to keep things clean, working properly, and identify problems before they become a big issue. Here’s a look at some simple kitchen maintenance tips you can start to use.

  • Clean up on a daily basis. What this means is that you’re cleaning off the counter, cleaning out the dishwasher, cleaning out the sink, etc. This prevents food from building up on surfaces, which can start to stink and even get mouldy. A good example is a dishwasher. If you don’t have enough dirty dishes to justify running it daily or every-other day then it’s probably better to hand-wash them so the food doesn’t stick to things and start to decay.
  • Be mindful of how your appliances are performing. If your fridge is starting to make some funny sounds or your oven doesn’t seem to be cooking properly, then it’s probably time to call in a maintenance and repair person. It could be a very simple fix or something a bit more involved. Appliance repair specialists will have the tools and knowledge to assess and then fix the problem. It’s much better to call them in as soon as the problem starts so it doesn’t get worse and more expensive to fix.
  • Make sure you are using the proper cleaning products and tools. If you aren’t using the right cleaning products to clean your oven, for example, then grease and grime will just continue to build and eventually cause your oven to stop working properly.
  • Speaking of cleaning it’s also wise to perform regular deep-cleans of your appliance. This doesn’t need to be done weekly unless there is a spill, but once a month, give your appliances a really good clean. This means emptying them out and making sure you’re getting in all the cracks and corners.
  • The final tip is that you ask everyone in the house to be following the same habits so that the kitchen is being treated well by all.

It’s important you don’t pick just one of these tips to follow. Rather, you need to follow them all. Remember, your kitchen takes a lot of abuse so if you want it to stay in tip-top shape, you need to put a little work into it.

Things to Do to Get Your Home Prepared for the Cold Weather

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School is back and session and that means one thing…the cooler weather is just around the corner. As beautiful as the fall can be and as magical as the winter weather might look, getting your home ready is imperative to surviving the harsh elements throughout the cold season. If you haven’t started preparing, now is the perfect time to get your home ready for the cool weather ahead. Here are some suggestions for getting ready:

Weatherize the House

During the fall and winter, the heating bills tend to surge due to the cost of gas and oil. You can reduce the amount of energy you’re using in your home during the cooler months by improving its efficiency. Over time, every home loses efficiency (some even start off inefficient). Cracks in the walls, around the windows and doors, and issues in the property’s foundation can quickly become ways for cool air to get in the home and your warm heat to get out.

Weatherizing your home essentially means finding and plugging those airways so that you can keep the cold air out and your heat in. Here are some suggestions on how to weatherize your home:

  • Place weather stripping around the doors and windows
  • Put plastic around windows that have cracks or let in a lot of cold air
  • Reinsulate the basement and attic
  • Fill in cracks with calk
  • Fix any foundation issues

Service Your Heating System

You’re going to rely on your heating system a lot during the fall and winter. A heating system that isn’t properly maintained will eventually lose efficiency. This isn’t good for a few reasons. First, it will cause the heating system to work harder to generate heat through the house. Second, it will cause your heating bills to increase. Lastly, it could lead to serious damage. Contact a company that specializes in heating repair and maintenance. They can check for any underlying issues and complete routine maintenance like cleaning the ventilation system and changing air filters.

Get the Gutters Cleaned

Having the gutters cleaned at least once or twice a year is necessary for the structure and integrity of your home. When gutters aren’t cleaned, they fill up with debris like twigs and leaves from nearby trees. This debris then clogs the gutter system preventing it from properly navigating rain waters away from your house. When the water isn’t properly routed away from the house, it can saturate the ground around it resulting in serious foundation issues.

If you’re not afraid to grab a ladder and clean them yourself, then by all means, get up there and do it. However, if you’re afraid of heights or have never cleaned the gutters before, it’s best to contact a roofing company for assistance. Not only will they clean your gutters, they can assess your roof to ensure that it will withstand the rain in the fall and the heavy snow and winds in the winter.

Tend to the Garden

Another home improvement task you’ll need to do before the winter comes is tending to the garden. Most of the garden chores you can do yourself unless you happen to have a black thumb. Towards the end of fall you’ll need to start cleaning up and covering up your garden for the winter. Start by getting rid of the dead stems and foliage from your flowers and/or veggies. This prevents them from harboring diseases and insect nests during the winter. Then, get rid of any weeds and debris before the ground gets too cold to deal with. Till the soil and then add compost to the soil. The fall is also a good time to dig and box any raised beds, create a cold frame, and complete any other general gardening repairs.

Home Décor

Some might consider making changes to the home’s décor to bring sort of a warm feeling to the cooler seasons ahead. Some home décor ideas can actually help to make the house feel warmer and save you money. For instance, putting up thicker window treatments can help to keep the cool air out. Switching to heavier bedding minimizes the need for the heat to be turned up too high when it’s cold at night. There are a ton of home décor ideas you could try for the fall and winter.

Well, you’ve got a laundry list of things to complete before the cold weather arrives. It’s a good idea to get started on these things sooner rather than later. As unpredictable as the weather can be at times, you don’t want the cold season to come upon you and you’re not prepared.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!