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Budget-Friendly Home Renovation

September 27, 2018 by admin

Tackling a home renovation is more challenging than it might seem. Not only do you have to plan everything and keep track of your progress, but you also need to choose projects that will offer you great value for money. Without a proper renovation approach, your remodelling project can quickly turn into an expensive nightmare.

Decide whether to hire professionals

Depending on the type and scope of your renovation, you’ll have to decide whether to hire contractors or DIY. Undertaking a renovation on your own can save you a significant amount of money. However, if you’re not experienced in the field, you risk making an expensive mistake. In addition, certain projects require professional experience, especially those that entail structural changes.

Create a budget

Although you cannot know exactly how much money you need for a home renovation, you should still create a budget. When creating a renovation budget, you should always set aside an amount for unexpected costs. Once you’ve set up the budget, you should stick to it because renovation costs can quickly get out of control. In addition, you should shop around before buying materials and other items. There are great discounts and offers, you just need to find them.

Plan your renovation

Another great way to control your expenses is to plan the remodelling project in detail. If you’ve decided to take on a DIY project, you need to act as a project manager, which entails developing an efficient, time-effective plan. Aside from creating a timeline and defining different stages of your home renovation, you should also find a way to monitor your costs in order not to exceed the budget.

Rent, don’t buy

You should find different opportunities to cut your expenses where possible. Renting the pieces of equipment that you don’t have is typically more affordable than buying new ones. For example, you can rent portable and stable scaffolding for the duration of your renovation. Chances are that you won’t frequently use certain pieces of equipment, so you can save a lot of money by renting them for this particular occasion.

Choose projects that will pay off

When renovating your home, you should go with improvements that will pay off in the long run or that will increase the value of your home. For instance, instead of wasting a fortune on building a sunroom, you should design a wooden deck. Certain improvements won’t cost you much, yet they will bring great value to your home. Painting the interior is one of the most affordable remodelling ideas that will make a big difference in your home.
If you’re remodelling your home in order to sell it, you should go with projects that will help you recoup your investment. Replacing your garage door, painting the façade, insulating your home properly, implementing minor bathroom and kitchen upgrades and sprucing up your landscape are some of the most profitable home remodelling ideas.

Repurpose

Repurposing is both eco-friendly and budget-friendly, so you should definitely consider reusing your old materials. You can also buy repurposed materials at a much more affordable price. For instance, you can purchase second-hand shingles in excellent condition if you’re renovating you roof. You can also find slightly used fixtures for your home, especially if you’re aiming for a vintage look. This will help you enhance the sustainability of your property while also cutting your renovation expenses.

Go green

Before dismissing green improvement because they might be more expensive at first, you should consider the long-term merits that they offer. By implementing green improvements in your home, especially those that can boost its energy efficiency, you’ll be able to cut your energy consumption and increase your savings. In addition, if you ever decide to put your home on the market, eco-friendly updates will certainly pay off because they will increase the value of your property substantially. You can start small by installing LED lighting or replacing your leaky faucets with low-flow models. Afterwards, you can consider going with major green improvements, such as installing a solar system.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to cut your renovation costs while still getting excellent results.

Clever Ideas for Small Baths

May 4, 2018 by admin

It’s true that small bathrooms can be a challenging design project, especially if you have a family. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot make the most of the space you have, and still create something beautiful, relaxing and functional. There are various tips and tricks that can make designing a small bathroom a truly rewarding process with satisfying results. If you too are struggling to find the best possible solution for your bath, check out the following possibilities.

The question of storage

Usually, storage is the biggest issue when it comes to small bathrooms, but you can approach this task creatively. In the end, if you don’t have enough storage space such as cabinets, don’t feel the need to stuff your bathroom with more cabinets. If the space is small, this won’t look or feel good. Instead, you may utilize vertical space by installing floating shelves. Open shelving looks infinitely better in small bathrooms, and it allows you to grab whatever you need instantly. This is especially important for families with kids. What’s more, colorful towels or bath products can add a personal touch to the overall bathroom design. If you have a bit more space though, you can use storage ladders instead of shelves, or stack wooden/woven crates for an affordable cabinet alternative.

Functionality and order

Functionality and order are two most important features of a small bathroom if your goal is to make it feel pleasant and relaxing. Basically, everything in your bathroom should have its purpose so declutter and remove things that simply make a mess with no real use. Once you do that, it’s important that you create order in your bathroom. You should have a designated place for everything. For example, cleaning agents can be under the sink – if you don’t have a built-in cabinet already, you can use a crate, or any other type of container that fits the purpose. You can use a sink curtain to block these cleaning agents from view as well. Another example are your bath and beauty products. Instead of having everything in a total mess, you can get an angle suction cup shelf that will help you divide your shower products from hair ones, etc. If this is not possible, even a hanging door rack can be useful for this purpose. Just make sure that you keep only the necessities, and know where they are at all times.

Design around the bathtub

When you’re redesigning any room, you should determine a focal point and continue the process from that point. The same goes for your bathroom. Even if your bathroom space is small, you can benefit a lot from a nice bathtub when it comes to both functionality and looks. After all, there are plenty of small and stylish bathtubs available on the market today. What’s more, having a bathtub is very important for families with kids, as the tub allows you to have more control over the kids as you’re giving them a bath, or have to reach for something from the previously-mentioned open shelves. Once you deal with the choice of tub, the rest of design will be easier to plan out as functionally and beautifully as possible.

Creativity to maximize the space

Your choice of colors and other accessories can affect the size of your bathroom visually. So, why not make your small bathroom visually larger and definitely more appealing? In general, keeping the main palette theme in your bath clean and neutral is the best choice. White and other neutral shades are perfect, but you can always add a pop of color. You can do this with bathroom floor tiles if you’re up for a more striking look, or other details such as towels, shelves and hanging racks, curtains, mirror frames, etc. Speaking of mirrors, don’t hesitate to use one that’s as large as it can be for your small bathroom. It will reflect the light, making the space appear bigger. The same thing happens with glossy finish tiles, so if you’re planning to add retiling to the design process, keep this in mind.

Just because your bathroom is small in size doesn’t mean that you should automatically give up on making it as practical and pleasant as it can be for you and your family. The important thing is to work with what you have in order to create the best version of that space. As it’s one of the most important rooms in one’s house, don’t hesitate to put some effort into making your bathroom suitable and comfy.

Family Activities – Tyre Recycling Projects

March 20, 2018 by admin

Replacing your tyres leaves you with four old tires. Throwing or giving them away is one option, but there are other options, ones that are much more interesting and useful. If you’re the creative type, you’ll know exactly how to recycle your old tyres, but even if you aren’t, there are things you can make from tyres that don’t require any special skills. Plus, if you include your whole family in the project, you’ll get to spend quality time with your children while creating something together.

When and how to replace your tires

Replacing your tyres is the basic thing you need to do for your own and other people’s safety on the road. How often to replace them is determined by your driving habits and tyre maintenance, but also by the state of the roads. It’s important that you inspect the condition of your tyres at least once a month, checking the tread depth, looking out for uneven wear patterns, bulges or blisters on tyre sidewalls, lacerations, flat tyres or tread punctures. It would be best to replace all four tyres at the same time, since it’s important that they all match. You can find a great tyre dealer with a wide selection of premium tyres here. Make sure you go through the vehicle’s manual or talk to a professional before making a purchase, so that you’re properly informed of what exactly to buy. And as soon as you replace the old tyres with the new ones, the fun can begin. Here are some ideas for recycling tyres.

A dog bed

If you have a dog, use a tyre to make a bed for them. It’s an easy project and you can include your children by allowing them to paint and decorate the bed to their own liking. All you need is a used tyre, some paint and a cushion to place in the middle of the tyre, so that your dog is always soft and warm.

A tic-tac-toe table

This is another fun thing to do with your kids and for them at the same time. Use an old tyre, paint it the colour you and your children like and shape a wooden board to fit the centre of the tyre. Draw a hash and, instead of X’s and O’s, pick some stones of approximately the same size and use some paint to turn them into bees and ladybirds, or simply paint them two different colours. Let it dry and play a game or two with your little ones.

Garden chairs

These will go great with your new tic-tac-toe table. All you need are two (or more) tyres, two types of rope, glue and some patience. If your children help you with this one, pay extra attention to how they use the glue. You don’t want their delicate little hands glued to the tyre, or the rope at the end of the day.

Rocking chairs

Turning old tyres into little rocking chairs for your kids is a simple task, but a very rewarding one, since they’ll probably love them and spend a lot of time on them. Cut a tyre in half, paint it, cover it with a wooden plank and add a handlebar. Instead of a classic handlebar, you can turn it into an animal head, to make the rocking chair even more appealing to your children.

Tyre swings

You have an old tree in your backyard? Perfect. Find a stable branch and hang one or two old tyres on it using some rope. Of course, you get to decorate the tyres, or better yet, your children do. Make them nice and colourful, so that they make your kids cheerful as soon as they look at them. After only a few minutes on the swing, your child’s mood is bound to improve, so be prepared for some joyful giggles.

A sandbox

When it comes to this particular project, the bigger the tyre, the better. Paint it, find a nice place to it in your garden, fill it with sand, stick a parasol in the middle to protect your children from the sun, and that’s all. Let them bring their little shovels and other plastic tools for hours of carefree play.

A seesaw

This is a perfect project for families with two or more children. If you build a seesaw, two children can play on it at the same time, avoiding an argument over who wants to go first. Use half a tyre, a long wooden plank and two handholds for each end of the plank. Pick a colour, or pick as many as you want, sit back and relax while your children play.

Flower pots

There’s nothing as easy as turning used tyres into flower pots. Simply fill the centre of the tyre with some dirt and fertilizer and plant whatever you choose inside it. Leaving the tires black is an option, but why do that, when you can colour them, or even place them one on top of another to make a Minion, a frog, or even a well.

These recycling projects can be a lot of cost-free fun. They can turn your garden into a beautiful and fun place for your whole family. So, start today and make some wonderful memories in the process.

Bringing The Outside In And Other Great Winter Decorating Tips

December 21, 2017 by admin

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With winter well and truly setting in throughout parts of Ireland and the UK, you will probably find that you keep trying to stay warm, even when indoors. This winter is packing a particularly powerful punch and with it comes dreams of warmer climes and spring weather. But what can you do in the meantime to make sure you create a warm and cosy atmosphere inside? Check out a couple of our top interior design tips for winter, some of which we have borrowed from Chill.ie and their great suggestions on home interior decorating tips for winter.

Bring The Outdoors In

One of the top trends this season is to bring the outdoors inside. This can be done in a number of ways, with small trees in the corners of your living spaces or dining room, pine cone accents on tables as decorative choices or by gathering up long twigs and sticks and propping them up in the corner, tied together with a pretty bow then accented with fairy lights, these are all awesome ways to bring the outdoors indoors and can help create a nature based cosy atmosphere, reminiscent of log cabins in the woods with snow all around.

Colour Blocking

Colour blocking is one of the easiest things you can do in a space to brighten it up and make it more cheery. Colour blocking includes selecting one or two colours and placing bold accents of said colours in places around the room in terms of throw blankets, artwork, cushions and rugs or lampshades. This can help bring some life and warmth into a space that is monochromatic or feeling a bit bland and dull. Which colours will you choose? Remember that cool colours can “cool off” a space while warm colours can “warm it up”. For those who don’t know, cool colours include shades of blues, greens, greys and violets while warm colours are those with red, yellow, orange and neutral tones.

Light Just Right

It’s no secret that lighting can make or break an atmosphere. If you’re going for cosy and warm, having lighting that is next to spotlight level can really take away from the ambience that you’re trying to create. Instead, stick with lower level lighting for those spaces you’re trying to warm up against those cold winter nights. Consider creating some unique decor by filling mason jars of different sizes with wads of battery operated fairy lights. This can create a lovely piece for a mantle or side table and looks fantastic in any space it’s in. Great for bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms or anywhere that you want to create a feeling of being cosy and at home.

So whether you want to spruce up a space for good, or you’re looking to bring in some bright colours to make it a warmer atmosphere over the winter months, these tips will get your home looking fantastic! Try out some easy to do changes today and revel at how different the space appears when you put in a bit of time and effort. You might be surprised at how little you need to actually do to make a space pop with warmth.

Must-Have Kitchen Appliances and Tools for Busy Parents

December 4, 2017 by admin

As a parent, your life is extremely busy and there is no such thing as a quiet and relaxing day since kids keep you on the go at all times. What this means is that parents are always happy to find ways to make their day smoother, easier, and just more convenient overall. Because so much of our time is spent in the kitchen preparing meals, wouldn’t it be great if there were some kitchen appliances and tools designed to make life easier for busy parents?

Not to worry as that’s exactly what we’ll be covering here as we take a look at the top must-have kitchen appliances and tools for busy parents out there.

Garbage Disposal Unit

Kids are notorious for leaving all kinds of food on their plate after each snack and meal, so to make your life easy, it could be wise to invest in a garbage disposal unit. Using one of these will help to cut down on the amount of waste your family produces, as it takes all those leftover food items and makes short work of them.

While the 1 2 HP garbage disposal unit is a popular size for most kitchens, it’s a good idea to do a little research on what size unit would be best for your needs.

Food Blender

No matter how young or old your children may be, the food blender is another one of those must-have kitchen appliances. While your children are still very young, you’ll be able to make homemade baby food in the blender, which is healthier and more economical than store-bought food. With toddlers, you can hide all kinds of healthy ingredients in smoothies; and then as busy teens, those same smoothies can be packed full of their veggies and fruit for the whole day.

Blenders come in all sizes, price points, and with various blending pre-sets. Make sure you give thought to what you want it to be able to do beforehand so you know what features are important to you.

Slow Cooker

This is one of those kitchen appliances that you may not realize how important it is until you actually get one. Slow cookers can completely transform the way you prepare and cook your meals, massively cutting down the amount of work and effort on your part. Create delicious pasta, stews, chilis, roasts, and so much more.

As their name suggests, slow cookers work by slowing cooking your food over the span of six to eight hours at a low temperature. They create dishes that are fall-off-the-bone tender, which also means you don’t have to do much in terms of chopping and preparing in advance. Allow the slow cooker to break things apart naturally as it cooks.

Make Your Life Easier

Each of these kitchen appliances is sure to make your life as a busy parent much smoother and easier in the kitchen. When you spend less time in the kitchen preparing, cooking, and cleaning up after meals, it means you’ve got more time available for all the other things in your life.