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● Laura Thornberry ●

 There are so many different interior design trends out there, each offering something different for your home. Many of these are new, modern takes on classic styles, but some trends are so timeless that their influence can be seen across countless interiors. The industrial interior is a classic look for any home, offering sharp features and deep colour contrasts full of character. Despite its traditional roots, the industrial look feels right at home even in a modern interior, offering depth to any minimalist design. 

So, how do you pull off the industrial look in your modern interior? 

Here are some key points to consider for your space. 

modern industrial kitchen interior
 
Cold Walls 
One of the fundamentals of an industrial-style home is the use of colder walls, such as exposed brick, metal or flat concrete. If your house isn’t blessed with these features, a cold stone pain or wall-effect wallpaper can help you achieve the look. Having cold walls is the first step to creating the deep contrasts associated with the industrial style. If you’re concerned that it might be a little too unwelcoming for your space, don’t be - you can easily negate that feeling by adding fabrics and bright industrial wall lights available here in the UK. 

A modern industrial kitchen interior

Strip Your Interior 
The industrial style can work alongside a range of different designs. However, for a modern look, industrial interiors work best in minimalist spaces. Try to strip your interior back to its bare essentials to achieve a truly efficient, industrial-style home. Not only does this step help bring more focus to your space’s most important features, but it can also quickly and easily make your home feel brighter and bigger! 
 
Expose Edges 
Another key trait of the industrial style is being slightly rough around the edges. While a modern industrial look can be more refined, it still benefits from having defined corners and angles on show. If you have older, bulkier furnishings (such as a dining table or TV cabinet), position them so their edges become more prominent. This look is particularly powerful for older pieces, allowing their character to flow through the room. 

An industrial-style wooden table with metal chairs
 
Natural Elements 
While the industrial style is commonly associated with cold, rough metals, it actually has a much wider scope. While metal should play a part, the industrial look can also benefit from the use of natural woods and fabrics to create a warmer home. Metal pairs wonderfully with the textures and depth of woods and high-quality fabrics. Contrasting the industrial look’s cold tones with pops of colour from warmer features is a great way to create a cosier living space. 

Recycle and Upcycle 
The industrial look is the perfect way to breathe new life into older items. Once-loved furnishings can have heaps of character, making them right at home in a dynamic industrial interior. If you have an old table or cupboard, consider giving it a light touch-up (without hiding that much-loved character) and making it a centrepiece of your new interior. If you want to get super creative, you could turn something old into something completely different - quirky furnishings, particularly using metals or woods, can work wonders in an industrial space. 

"Industville is an award-winning designer and manufacturer of industrial lights and furniture. Using high-quality raw materials, they pride themselves on bringing authentic, hand-finished products to customers. Industville has worked with a variety of homeowners, interior designers and distinguished retail, leisure and hospitality companies around the world, such as Tissot, Watchfinder, Next, Costa Coffee and Café Nero."
 
What is your favourite aspect of the industrial style? 

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 The reality of working from home has become recently much more popular over the last year than ever before. Due to the current global coronavirus pandemic, many of us are swapping the daily commute to the office, and instead making it a trip to the home office, dining table or lounge. It's definitely a massive lifestyle change for some people, but there are a number of things you can do to make this swap easier and more comfortable.

If you’re currently working from home and will be continuing this for a while, setting up the perfect home office space to work in can make all the difference to your working routine. It’s where you'll be going daily and will be spending a large part of your day there, so you want to make sure you’re going to be as productive as possible and get your job done without any distractions.

home office decor

One of the most important things you can do whilst working from home is to separate your work and home life. This can be extremely difficult for some people, but with the right mindset, a regular daily routine and having set rules put in place, you can still remain motivated and productive whilst you're out of office. Simple things like getting out of bed and getting dressed, working from your at home office or even a desk and not your bed, are just some easy changes to make to get you setup correctly for working from home. By making these changes, it helps you to keep your working routine without being too relaxed, and can help you get the right work time and home time balance.

If you sit in your chair all day for long periods of time, it is absolutely necessary to have a quality chair. Investing in a comfortable chair is probably one of the best things you can do, both for comfort and for health purposes. Having an uncomfortable and unsupportive chair will be causing you back aches and pains, leading to poor posture and slouching. Home office and executive chairs are probably your best option whilst working from home, as they are designed ergonomically to provide the best comfort and support for all day use, as they supports the lower back and promote good posture. Executive chairs are made to look good, helping to make your at-home office look more professional and chic.

Getting plenty of natural light into your office space is extremely important for various reasons. Not only does natural light help us to focus better, but it can boost concentration, alertness and productivity, enabling us to get more done during the day. As well as keeping you productive, natural light is extremely beneficial for the health of your eyes, as it decreases glare from your computer screen and causes less strain to the eyes.

Something to consider is adding some greenery and plants to your at-home office setup. Home office plants can offer a number of benefits from reducing stress levels, boosting your overall mood, and improving perceptions of the workspace. If your office looks calm and welcoming, you're bound to want to spend more time in there, helping to boost your creativity and productivity.

Keeping your desk clutter free and tidy allows you to be more productive allows you to fully concentrate on the tasks at hand. Having a tidy workspace will allow you to find what you need, when you need it, without added stress and with no more wasted time looking for misplaced documents. Keeping on top of any mess in your office should be a priority as it will lead to fewer distractions and fewer mistakes whilst working at home.

Are you currently working from home? What tips do you have for setting up your at-home workspace?

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When it comes to home renovations and refurbishments, there are so many tasks to consider when wanting to improve both your indoor and outdoor spaces, it can be hard to decide what you want. Many people want the interior of their home to be absolutely perfect, but may forget the about the exterior spaces, which is also a very important feature of your home. 

Something worth considering is installing outdoor lighting in your home. Outdoor lighting helps to make the most of your outdoor space, and it's particularly useful in the summer months. Outdoor garden lights are also one of the most efficient types of lighting you can install to add extra brightness to your house exterior. A great lighting design will improve your home in a number of ways from security purposes, safety and the overall aesthetic of your home. As well as this, outdoor lights are usually waterproof and extremely durable, which makes them long-lasting, affordable for any budget and they will require a lot less maintenance which makes them a good long-term investment. 


SECURITY
One of the main reasons to consider installing outdoor lighting in your home is simply for security purposes. By placing lights around your home, with products such as floodlights and motion sensor lighting, can be a simple, yet effective security measure, to reduce your properties risk from attempted break-ins and burglaries. Having a well-illuminated and lit home is a safe and secure home that won't cause you any worries. You can find a variety of outdoor motion sensor lights in different styles that fit your budget and will be suitable for your home. 

CREATES A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE
 Make sure to take advantage of your entire property, as your outdoor spaces are just an extension of your home, and can be the perfect place to spend some time in the sun. Installing some much needed decorative lighting can help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere to your outdoor space, making it more inviting both day and night. They add a lovely warm glow to your garden, and are an perfect feature for those who enjoy evening entertainment. This can also be useful for those who have spent a number of hours redesigning their gardens and want to use lighting to draw interest to specific focal points in the garden, such as sheds, water features or ponds and patios/decking areas

INCREASE HOME VALUE
Outdoor lighting is an easy and inexpensive way to increase the value of your home, for very little effort and maintenance. By adding outdoor lighting to your homes exterior, you make it stand out both day and night, making it appealing to others that pass by. This can be an essential idea to consider when you're looking to sell your home, as you want your property to look inviting at all times of the day.

GARDEN EVENTS/HOSTING
One way that you can increase the amount of time you spend in your garden in the evenings is to install outdoor lighting, which is perfect to illuminate your outdoor space during the darker evenings. Outdoor lighting enables better visibility, making outdoor activities easier at night. During the summer months, it's nice to host outdoor picnics, barbecues and have your friends/family rounds for some drinks, and having the perfect choice of lighting can help you enjoy your outdoor space. Whether you opt for patio lights, decking lights or just some cute decorative lights, there is a huge range of possibilities to suit your outdoor space.

SAFETY 
Finally, outdoor lighting can be an extremely useful safety tool in your home by illuminating any dark areas of your property. For example, for homes with garages, garden steps, paths and alleyways, or even outdoor areas that may become slippy/flooded due to bad weather, installing lights can help make these areas easier to navigate and safer to enter. This can be extremely useful for young children, elderly relatives, anyone that suffers with mobility issues or even those who are unfamiliar with the layout of your home.

Do you have any outdoor lighting installed in your home? Would you consider it in the future?

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Are you thinking of making improvements to your home in the future? Making improvements to your current or new home can be a difficult challenge to get correct, but with the right planning in place, the process can made be a lot easier and smoother. Home improvements and renovations are often expensive, disruptive and stressful, so it’s imperative and important that you take every possible step to suitably prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

Maybe you’ve got some home improvement projects of your own that you're currently thinking about and unsure where to start. With the warmer weather on its way during the spring and summer months of the year, many people start to think about decorating, transforming their homes and making their home dreams a reality. Whether you're adding an extension, rebuilding your kitchen space, changing your garden space or giving your bedroom a makeover, there are a number of things to consider before jumping straight in.

modern home furnishings

HAVE A DETAILED PLAN
Whatever the size and scale of your home improvements project, it can really help to get your layout thoughts and design ideas down on paper, to help plan and visualise your proposed suggestions. Having a number of drawn out plans and sketches can help you figure out what is best suited towards your needs and will also help you work out how to get the most out of the space you're working with. It's also quite essential to make notes of the amount of space you have, so taking measurements will help you to figure out your future layout plans and what will work where. Another important part of the planning process is to keep a list of everything you're doing or planning to do, and tick if off once it's complete as this will help you to keep on top of the overall project.

COST AND BUDGET
Many home improvements come at a high cost, so it would be best to have a reasonable budget/enough savings in place for your projects. The cost of home improvements will also be looked at during the planning stages of your projects so you can estimate the costs of each step of the plan. You'll obviously be looking around to get the best deals, best materials, and if you're hiring professionals, you'll want the best quotes for the job. Whether your budget is big or small, the cost of your home renovation plans can quickly add up, so it's important to make your future plans work in a way that is financially sustainable for you.

CONSIDER SELF-STORAGE
Whether you're only decorating one room of the house or making improvements to your entire home, self-storage might be something worth looking into to free up some much needed space to allow you get work started. Now Storage self storage in Reading offers self storage solutions for both personal and business use, and can tailor the cheapest quote for your personal needs, which could be very handy for keeping larger items safely stored during the home improvements process.

DO YOUR RESEARCH
Every home project starts with extensive research, carried out long before you commit yourself to spending any money. You can research your desired home improvement plans through various means, whether that's viewing houses for sale/your dream home for interior ideas, looking online on websites such as Pinterest, or even looking through home magazines and catalogues. Making sure to do enough research into your future home improvement projects can save you time, money and energy. With making changes into your home a reality, it's important not to rush into anything, as this is usually where things go wrong and complications happen due to poor planning and research. 

HAVE REALISTIC TIMEFRAMES
We all know that home improvements don't happen overnight. All building work, renovations and DIY projects can take a substantial amount of time, depending on what ideas you have in mind. Again, it could be worth while using your plan as a way to measure the amount of time each job requires and if you have any specific deadlines that need to be met.

THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE
If you think that you may wish to sell your house in the future, it may be sensible to think about how the proposed home improvements you wish to make could affect that. There are many home improvements that you could plan for and implement that can really benefit and add value to your home. If you don't believe that your current space is your "forever home", this can change and impact the home improvement plans you currently have. 

What home improvements are you planning for the future?

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 Recycling at doesn't have to be a time consuming and complicated process. The best place to begin making a difference to the environment is right in your very own home. You'd be surprised with the amount of household packaging waste that can actually be reused and upcycled. By putting more thought into the way you manage your household waste, you'll be able to save money, reduce the amount of waste you're piling up and have a less damaging impact on the environment. 

Being more eco-friendly, sustainable and preserving our environment are becoming more important and more necessary than ever. Simply by incorporating a few small changes in your daily routine can really help look after our environment and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and our oceans.

home recycling

Glass Jars
You can recycle any glass jar for a number uses, but I've found that some are more useful than others based on their size and shape. Glass packaging is definitely better than purchasing plastic, so next time your in the supermarket, see if you can be more sustainable with the way you shop. Some good examples of glass jars that a great to be reused include pasta sauce jars, dessert pots, chutney and jam jars and salad dressing bottles. These glass jars can be used for a multitude of things including storage for dry food items, containers for your overnight oats, or making your own jams, chutneys or sauces to be stored away.

Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard makes up a huge percentage of household waste from Amazon parcels, shoe boxes and cereal boxes, you can often find yourself stacking up quite the mountain. However, cardboard boxes can be extremely handy in the home and can be reused and recycled for a number of things. For example, cardboard boxes can donated to small business or even be used for storage, presenting birthday presents and gifts, and even artwork. Bespoke packaging is totally custom-designed, and could be something to research/be of interest if you're using your cardboard boxes to present gifts for loved ones. You could design and tailor the box for any occasion, and it could end up being a completely unique gift box that didn't cost a penny.

Egg Boxes
You may never have thought of ways egg boxes can be reused in the home, but there are a few simple things you can do than require them. Firstly, if you have children, you can use the egg boxes for arts and craft activities to keep them occupied. They can be cut up and made into different models or even used as a paint palette. Another idea for reusing egg boxes could be using them as storage holders for little bits and bobs you have lying around the house. For example, you could use them for storing jewellery, stationary or even decorative tools such as nails, nuts and bolts.

Glass Bottles
Glass is better than plastic when packaging pretty much anything. It's definitely much stronger, more durable and can be reused in a number of ways, you'd be surprised. Make sure to rinse them out before upcycling into something new. A few creative ideas include using the bottle as a vase for flowers, use them as candlestick holders, insert some fairy lights and use as a table centrepiece or even fill them with oil and add chilli or garlic to infuse with flavour.

Wine Corks
For those who love some wine in the evenings, saving the corks for your bottles could come in handy, especially if you're very artistic and creative. Wine corks can be used for a number of quick and easy DIY projects, where the end result can be simply stunning. You can create your own cork stamps, use the corks to decorate picture frames or even create your very home art installation feature by filling a large glass container with plenty of wine corks. 

What other ways do you recycle your household waste?

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 When winter winds pound your home, you know the time has come to add some cheer and cosiness to spruce up the interiors. This seasonal change reflects in every room and alters the way they usually look. To make your private burrow visually appealing, try out these basic cosmetic improvements, that will keep you warm and snuggled up, till well after Santa has bid goodbye.

cosy winter home

Set the tone with the living room
The living room is the best place to relax on the sofa with a good book in winter, and is normally a place you spend a lot of time in. Since comfort and warmth is the priority, pile up your sofa with cushions and blankets or add a stylish throw. Roll out a carpet to keep your feet warm with a rug that matches the colour scheme of the living room. To avoid a running nose, put on some socks and strut around in total comfort.

Update the bedroom
If you want your bedroom to replicate the vibe of a luxury hotel give it a quick upgrade by layering it with throws and pillows. Curtains, throws along with velvet pillows, will not only add a touch of luxury to any room but will convert it into a place of cosy refuge till the temperature starts to rise again. Moreover, these simple accents can be easily removed whenever necessary.

Infuse cheery colours
A splash of colour can instantly change stark and cold spaces into a cheerful environment. Add a few bold designed pillows or a bright throw to get rid of the winter blues and glam up the room. If you mix the right warm terracotta and cool grey tones, the shades can last you well up to spring. The best part is that they are hardly a major investment.

Don't forget the kitchen
Winter months take their toll on the kitchen, so it is important to give a little makeover to this place as well to give it a new look. You can add a patterned shade to your kitchen windows, to make it look bright and cheery for many days. You can even stitch your own curtains by purchasing the fabric and colour of your choice and hang it from the rods using clip-style curtain rings.

Install a good curtain
Curtains help insulate a room by preventing the loss of warm air and in turn beat the cold. Thermal curtains are not only aesthetically pleasing, they also provide the utmost privacy as they are made of thick materials. Select the style that complements your room the most, and determine the correct length to increase the look of your windows.

luxury bath pamper

Transform the bathroom
After returning home exposed to freezing temperatures and hostile winds, it is the time to treat yourself to the luxury of a steaming hot bath. Turn your bathroom into a spa by putting on the stereo, light scented candles, add a few drops of your favourite aroma to the foam and enjoy a steamy downpour in the backdrop of a printed shower curtain. When you finish, wrap yourself in a soft fluffy towel featuring your favourite print.

Add a touch of greenery
How do you get some freshness into your home with all windows closed and the outside world is like a part of the North Pole? Exotic plants will purify the air and add a touch of greenery into your interiors and allow you to drift to sleep dreaming of warmer climes. Try adding plants like lavender, eucalyptus or jasmine to infuse a nice aroma into the surroundings.

What features would your cosy winter home have? Do you have any other tips?

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The most important decision when beginning to create and make your dream garden a reality, is simply deciding what type of theme/layout you would like to create in the space that you have. Gardens coming in all shapes and sizes depending on where you live and what type of property you own, so it's definitely important to think ahead and plan what you want to ensure it fits nicely. 

Essentially, your garden is an outdoor extension of your home, it's the area of the house you would spend the most time in during the warmer months of the year, so you'll want to make it as aesthetically pleasing and welcoming as possible. This doesn't have to prove costly, as there are a number of tips to take into consideration, for your dream garden to be created on a low budget. When you do your research and plan things well, you can figure out your layout/design, find building materials suitable for your budget, and ultimately have your dream garden exactly how you want it. 

With the resources out there today, you don't always need to hire professionals and many gardening jobs can be done by yourself. Looking online for help and tutorials is a great place to start if you're ever unsure about certain tasks. You'll be able to learn new skills, and feel a sense of accomplishment when you can finally look at your finished garden, and feel extremely proud that you were part of the successful process.

garden design landscaping

Search for Inspiration 
Before designing your garden, looking for ideas and inspiration is something that can really help open your eyes to a variety of themes, styles and layouts that you could potentially bring to your own back garden. There's so many possibilities for what kind of atmosphere you want to create in your dream garden, it can be a real struggle to know exactly what you want. However, there is so many places you can seek inspiration from, and some of them are even free or just require internet access. Pinterest and Instagram are both great online resources when it comes to finding inspiration for certain tasks. You simply type in what you want to look at, and thousands of results come up. Another place to find inspiration is by exploring the area around you. Have a look at neighbours front gardens, have a walk around a local area or even visiting parks. There's so much variety in the environment that it will definitely help you narrow down your design inspiration for your dream garden.

Measure Up and Plan Your Layout
Having a rough layout guide and taking measurements of your garden area are definitely ideal methods of beginning to create your dream garden. This allows you to understand what space you have to work with and also to be able to visualise on paper what elements you could bring to your dream garden before starting any work. You will also be able to come up with multiple drawn plans, helping you to try out different design/layout options before you commit to the final design. You could hire professionals for this, but keep the costs low by doing it yourself. All you need is a tape measure, some pens and paper and you're good to go.

Consider Adding Multiple Textures
Creating your dream garden space doesn't just have to be a grassed area and nothing else. Consider adding multiple textures and materials to create a dynamic atmosphere and interesting look. Adding things like grass, gravel, concrete slabs and wooden patio areas help to add texture and create interest in your outdoor space. With your outdoor space more inviting and exciting, you're bound to want to spend more time outside and admire your handy work.

dream garden

Incorporate Plants
Adding greenery, shrubs and flowers to your garden is the perfect way to inject some colour, texture and life into your outdoor area. This helps make your outdoor space that little bit more colourful, inviting and appealing. It's also a key visual element when planning your garden set up, and you should pick the right plants that you feel will be suitable, manageable and maintainable for your lifestyle. Things to consider whilst deciding on the plants you would like to use include the area where you live, the weather conditions and the amount of space you have.

Create Seating Areas
Don’t forget to create a space to enjoy your efforts. Having somewhere comfortable and welcoming to spend your time in the garden is an essential must have, and something that can be made quite affordable when on a budget. A patio or concreted area is a perfect set up for your garden furniture and a lovely place to relax and look out across your beautiful garden. Choosing a professional domestic concrete supplier might be a great idea for this, as they will offer you the best pricing quotes and use high quality materials to ensure longevity of your building works.

Paint Outdoor Buildings and Fences
Finally, if you're garden is in need of a freshen up, adding a splash of paint to garages, sheds, and fences could just be the answer to all your dream garden needs. By doing this, you can really liven up your outdoor space and give it that TLC it really needs. These outdoor buildings could be the main focal areas of your garden, so it's important to keep them in good condition and well looked after. Paint can be found very affordably at any DIY or home store, and it might be just what you need to make your outdoor garden space go from 0 to 100.

What features would your dream garden have? What low budget tips have you used? 

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Ready to buy a your first home? Buying a home is one of the most significant and important financial decisions you'll make in your lifetime, and you need to make sure that you know what's going on. 

It's definitely an extremely exciting time during anyone's life but it can also be super stressful if you aren't well informed about the buying process. It's also a great goal to have set yourself, but there's definitely a lot of work involved in the house buying process to make it actually happen.

First time home buyer

First things first, savings. It's important to have a substantial amount of money saved up to make sure you're financially stable and to help you secure your first home. Once enough money has been saved, it's then time to decide on the budget that you can realistically afford, and will be able to manage payments for. Take a look at your finances to see what you can save each month, and how long it’ll take you to get to your target. Saving up for that house deposit can be an extremely difficult challenge, but it's what is needed to make that dream home a reality. 

Something else to consider is income protection. Income Protection is one of the most important insurances, as without a regular income you could be hard-pressed to pay the bills. It simply pays out a percentage of your salary if you’re signed off of work through illness or injury, so whether you’re self employed or work for someone else, have a family or live alone, this could be something to look into.

When deciding on the type of home you want to buy, it's really important to think about the long term future of where you want to live. There are many options to consider; are you buying for yourself? Will you be living with a partner? Do you see yourself having a family in the near future? Will you have pets? All these things will make you think of the amount of space you will require, and sometimes it's better to pick something that will reflect your future plans. 

Another important factor to consider when buying your home, is choosing the perfect location for your needs. This could be depending on your job, your budget or your lifestyle. It might also be wise to look at a few different areas and see which you like the look of the most, and has the best environment for you. Similarly, once you begin the house search in the areas you've selected, it's important not to settle for just one house, you should ideally view multiple properties to get better judgement of what you can get for your money, and what type of property will work for you and your needs.

One of the main things throughout your first home buying journey, and one of the most important and necessary things to do is to simply ask questions. There may be a whole array of silly questions, important questions, or even things you just don't understand, but as a buyer, you should make sure that you're fully confident when starting your journey into purchasing your first home.

Have you purchased your first home?

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 Is it just me, or do we seem to spend so much time during the winter dreaming of summer? Summer is 100% the perfect time of year to really relax and indulge in what you really love doing in the garden whether that be gardening, cooking, playing games, outdoor arts & crafts, or even sunbathing on those really warm summer days.

 Especially as the garden really becomes an extension of our homes during the summer, and we spend many hours soaking up the sun outside. It's definitely important to make sure your garden looks well looked after, and the best part about it is that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money to have a successful transformation. 

So ultimately, it’s really worth taking some time now to tidy up and prepare for the summer months and here's a few tips to get you started on how to get your garden summer ready!

cute summer garden furniture

First things first, get the lawn mower plugged in and get grass cutting, as this is the first essential job in transforming your garden, especially after a cold winter where it's been left untouched. Mowing is the key to a healthy, fresh lawn, and can help keep your garden looking neat and tidy, as well as keeping out any weeds. Plus, it just makes your garden feel more welcoming and attractive, that you'll be wanting admire it more and spend the summer months in it!

Now, is it really summer if you don't have the barbecue out at least once a week? Barbecues in the summer are just the ultimate chilled out, culinary experience, and a great way to enjoy great food, great company, as well as great weather. For me, barbecues are a great time to experiment with new ingredients, recipes and marinades. From grilled meats, vegetables and kebabs, to burgers and hot dogs, as well as side salads and pastas, there's so much choice with what to cook, you'll definitely be spoilt for choice! 

During the summer months, we spend a lot of time outdoors, so it's definitely important to have some comfortable furniture at the ready, and easily accessible for when the weather starts to pick up and get warmer. Garden furniture can really help transform your garden, and can make you feel like you're living the dream in some idyllic beach resort, when in reality, it's just from the comfort of your back garden. With the addition of some luxury rattan furniture, you can bring that stunning vacation spot a little closer to home whilst relaxing in style. 

Another quick way to transform your garden is including flowers to bring some vibrancy and colour to your outdoor area. As well as this, they help to make your garden space, however big or small, feel welcoming and they can also help you to feel calm and relaxed, plus they are extremely pretty to look at.

Finally, to give you that real vacation feel, inflatable swimming pools are just a must have! Inflatable pools are the best way to cool off in your garden and enjoy some much needed family fun during the summer. They give you that pool side/beach feeling from the comfort of your garden, without the travelling and the expensive holiday price tag.

What ways will you transform your garden for the upcoming summer months?

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Have you ever thought and dreamt about how your dream home would look? I know I certainly have. I've always been one to browse online homeware stores or look at Pinterest boards, and fall in love with so many things that I would love in my dream home. And I've thought to myself that the first step in making your dream home a reality is making a plan and figuring out exactly what it is that you want.

Dream Home Kitchen

One feature of my dream home would definitely be a large kitchen and dining space. I enjoy cooking and having friends/family around, so having a spacious kitchen is something I would have to have. My dream kitchen would have a very modern and minimalist feel, whilst have plenty of storage space and a large kitchen island. The kitchen/dining area would be a large focal point of the house, and would be one of the areas that would be used for cooking, eating and entertaining guests.

Another feature I intend of having in my dream home would be a cosy conservatory. Building a conservatory is a great way to add extra space, as well as extra value to your home. This space in the house would provide some much needed piece and quiet, as well as a place within your home where you can completely relax. As conservatories are primarily made of glass, they are a great for producing natural lighting and way of enjoying a bright room from all angles. They can also be made super welcoming and cosy during the darker nights, adding some fairy lights, warm blankets and comfortable sofas. When designing and planning your conservatory layout, it's important to work out what materials you'll need. Heat soaked glass can be used for a number of applications, and could be perfect to use in conservatories where you'll need additional strength glass to help combat extreme weather conditions, as well as potential break ins.

One selling point of any home would be a spacious garden. Large gardens, especially during the warmer summer months of the year, are just absolute goals. Some features that would be involved in my garden makeover plans would include a patio area with seating that's perfect for barbecues, a well kept grass area with plenty of flowers, maybe even a hot tub too! I would really love it to be super simple and maintainable, yet still colourful and vibrant all year round.

Finally, a cinema room in the house would just be the ultimate dream. This space in the house would just be the perfect chill-out zone from when you want to relax and unwind. I'd definitely keep this room quite simple, but I would definitely love a darker coloured room, preferably navy, and some gorgeous panelled walls. I think this could be super stylish yet minimal. Not forgetting to make sure to have a super comfortable sofa, some ambient lighting and not forgetting a drinks/snack bar for when you get hungry mid film! 

What features would you plan for your dream home?

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 Everyone looks forward to that moment when they can quit their 9 to 5 jobs and focus on other adventures or endeavours. However, this is a dreadful moment for some individuals as well, as they have nothing to fall back on when the pay checks stop rolling in. If you have multiple income streams to cater to your post-retirement needs, then you are on the right path to living your dreams after retirement, or else, you may have come up with ways to generate income. Traditional loans may look ideal, but they put you on the spot in the long run. However, there is one that gives you financial security with less risk – a reverse mortgage.

mortgages and finances books

Introducing Reverse Mortgages

A traditional loan provides you with the money you need to meet specific needs. However, please don’t get caught up as it comes with its downsides. First off, there is an agreement between you and your lender in which you must meet a defined monthly payment plan. Failure to do that may cost you your credit score or, worse, your home; this is the last thing you want as a retiree.

On the other hand, a reverse mortgage puts money in your pocket. So, instead of paying your lender, it is the other way around. Your lender pays you while you keep the title to your home. And guess what? You get to choose what means through which you can receive your reverse mortgage funds. But how can you access this loan? Let’s find out.

Processing a Reverse Mortgage

The first condition that comes into play when procuring a reverse mortgage is the borrower’s age. You must be at least 62 years. For this reason, it is called a retirement loan. Another factor to consider is your home; this should be your primary, permanent residence. Kindly note that vacation homes or rental apartments do not count. Once these two conditions are in place, your lender will consider your creditworthiness using a reverse mortgage calculator. This estimation tool determines your capability to take care of the home.

But that’s not all. Your lender will factor in your home equity, still using the reverse mortgage calculator capabilities. In this case, your home’s age, location, condition, market value, and interest rate come into play. According to federal law, you can take out up to 60% of your home equity, as there are other costs to cover, including current mortgage (if any) and closing fees.

brick houses

Receiving Your Reverse Mortgage Funds

You can set up your reverse mortgage cash in any of the three options. One way to do so is by receiving it in monthly payments; this works well for those with monthly budgets that need settling. You can consider it as your post-retirement income. This monthly income will run until there’s nothing left in your balance. Another option is to set your funds as a credit line; this works like a credit facility where you can borrow money at any time. However, bear in mind that there is a limit to the amount you can take. 

Finally, if you have several bills to take care of at once, it will be ideal to receive your payment as a lump sum. Some may decide to set up their payment plan using all these options

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 Are you looking for your dream home? Finding something that is suitable for your personal taste is very tricky, but something that would be super cool to do is to create/build it instead. Not everyone will be able to do this right away, but if it’s something that you are interested in, then nothing should get in your way.

Save up if money is the issue, and eventually you will be able to jump on this bandwagon as well. It’s a waste of time searching for the perfect home because you’re likely never going to find it. In this article, I'm sharing some of the ways that you can create your perfect home, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.

building dream home


Have A Plan
First, you need to make sure that you have a plan in place for this. It’s essential that you know what you want from the home, how you want it to look, what materials you want to use and so on. Of course, you don’t have to have a solid plan or have every single thing worked out, but a brief idea is going to be better than nothing. This way, when it comes to talking to the professionals about what it is that you want, you’re going to have an easier time explaining. 

If you try to remember everything without writing it all down and having a plan, then you’re likely going to miss bits out. You don’t want to suddenly remember half way down the line when it’s too late. As such, just ensure that you’re writing down a plan as you think of new ideas.

dream home plans

Hire Professionals
Once you’ve got some kind of idea as to what you want and you decide you’re definitely going ahead with this, you need to hire some professionals. You don’t need to hire everyone at once because there are certain things which will need to be completed before others. We highly recommend that you hire an architect first and see what they have to say about the project. They will be able to design you a fantastic house that meets your needs and expectations, whether you live in Brockley or anywhere really, as long as there is land, there is a way.


dream home

Let’s Get Going
As soon as the final plan is in place and you’ve got the teams that you need, it’s time to get going to make the plan a reality. Make sure that you are overseeing the process so that you can be sure everything is the way that you want it. Remember that you are in charge here because it’s going to be your home. If there is something you want to change partway through, speak to the people that are completing the work and see if something can be worked out.

Hopefully you have found this article helpful, and now see how you can create your dream home, rather than looking for one. We wish you the best of luck and know that if you follow these steps, you’re going to get exactly what you want.


Would you consider building your own home? What interior plans would you have?


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Nothing beats redecorating a room and feeling like you've walked into a brand-new house. Whether you're renting your home or just in need of a freshen up to your current interior, there are lots of things to consider before making changes. 

home and interior decor tips

Firstly, is there anything better than adding an array of plants to your home to help add some colour and make a focal point to any room. Plants are the perfect accompaniment to any home, whether you pick a fresh bunch of flowers to display on your worktops, cacti and succulents for your shelving units or even a large piece of greenery to place in a corner of a room to make a statement. There's so many possibilities of where/how to make plants a feature of your home, I'd definitely recommend getting a good selection to help make a house feel more homely.

Candles. A perfect way to create a welcoming and calm atmosphere. The flicker of candlelight produces a lovely ambiance that simply cannot be replicated. Nothing feels more relaxing and warming than this. They are perfect for the darker, colder night to help make the home feel super cosy. Not only can they be used to light your homes in the evening, but some candles look super luxurious and sleek, that they could even be made to be decorative features on coffee tables and bookshelves. As well as coming in a huge variety of scents, there is definitely something for everyone.

Whether it's cushions, rugs, throws or blankets, soft furnishings are an easy way to update a drab looking sofa or add colour to a boring bedroom. These home accessories are a perfect addition for adding colour and texture to any room of the house. Rugs are perfect for covering up any boring old carpet or floorboards, and to add some excitement to any dull room.

home and interiors

Wall hangings, artwork and framed prints are a great way of injecting some personality and colour into any space, as welling as provide a focal point to each room. They are the perfect decorative feature to add to any room of the home, depending on your chosen interiors theme. There's so many styles to choose from, including bold graphic prints and monochrome styles, you'll be spoilt for choice. For renters, just make sure to double check the rules about wall hangings, but usually any good landlord will compare landlord insurance policies to ensure they are protected for this. Alternatively, if wall hangings aren't permitted, using command strips or even making use of surfaces to prop up your artwork, such as shelving units, bookcases, dressing tables and worktops, could work just as well.

If candles aren't your thing, or you're worried you'll forget to blow them out, reed diffusers are a great way of adding some fragrance to your home and keeping it smelling fresh. As they lightly release the scent throughout the room without flames, making them more practical and much safer to use in the home. With an amazing variety of scents available, you'll bound to find something to suit your preferences. Personally, I tend to go for very fresh, clean scents as I find these very welcoming and uplifting.

home and interiors

Lighting plays a vital role when trying to create the perfect atmosphere in your home. During the day, we obviously want to let in as much natural light as possible. This can help to make rooms feel larger than they actually are. But during the evening, lighting features such as dimmer switches, lamps or even string fairy lights can help to evoke a warming, relaxing and cosy ambience.

Lastly, to give your home some finishing touches, decorative ornaments can help to add some interest to areas of the room that may require some attention. These can help to add a personal touch to your home's interior and to show off your own personal tastes when it comes to homeware and interiors. Pieces such as vases, sculptures, trinket dishes and figures, just to name a few, really help to add some character to a room. The good thing about these ornaments is that they are easily interchangeable, so if you're not happy with the placement or style, you can swap it from something else that is much better suited.

What home décor tips do you have?

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