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● Laura Thornberry ●

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.

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.

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.


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.



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.



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. 


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.


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.

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 decor tips do you have?

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 With many companies trying to figure out how they will enable their employees to effectively and efficiently work from home, many homeowners are looking for ways to re-evaluate their necessities. Many people are looking to get more space for a home office. You probably need a bigger home when working remotely if your home doesn’t offer enough space for a home office.


•Factors to Consider before Buying a Bigger Home•

The affordability of the home

It is common sense that bigger homes always come with larger price tags. However, the sales are not the only thing that is inflated here.  There are bigger property tax payments, larger insurance to protect the home, and utility bills. Bigger homes are expensive to heat and cool compared to small ones.

Prior to buying a bigger home, consider all the added costs that come with the purchase. Learn more about the current household budget and decide whether the bigger home's real cost fits in. Use a house loan calculator to approximate your monthly mortgage payments. Additionally, compare mortgage offers from various lenders to make the most of your buying power.

What you are willing to sacrifice

Maybe, you love living in or near the city, but you find bigger homes in a problematic locality. Keep in mind that finding a bigger home in the city comes with a high price tag. You will ultimately have to leave the city and look for a home that fits your budget.

Are you ready to sacrifice that? Because moving far from the city will also mean extended commute hours to work, and you will spend more time in your car to get to your beloved restaurant and shopping hubs.To get the extra space you need, for example, the bigger back yards, extra bedrooms, and a luxurious bathroom suite, you will have to sacrifice the convenience and pleasure of living in a big city.

How much more space you need

When selecting a bigger home to buy, consider the way your family lives. You won’t need a more oversized kitchen if your family doesn’t do much cooking. Go for a house with just enough space that you need. If it is an extra bedroom, you probably won’t need a two-car garage.  If you are buying a bigger home to find space for a home office, just pick one with an extra one room, depending on the size of your home office.

Once you are aware of what you want, start focusing on the beauty. As you go about your daily life, deliberate on the various types of houses you see and make notes on the ones that amaze you. Ideally, you will need a home that will give you the extra room for your home office without going overboard.

The equity in your current home

Home equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and the current worth of your home. It is crucial to consider the equity you have in your current home if you want to buy a bigger one. If you built up equity in your current home, you could be lucky to evade a huge mortgage payment. When selling your home, you can apply the profits to your down payments and lessen your mortgage payments on your bigger home.

The current condition of the market

It is always a sellers’ market or a buyers’ market. This means that the market can favor the seller or the buyers. But who gets the most out of the market situations? If you want to buy a bigger home, you will have to wait for the time when the market is in favor of the buyers; this equals to lower interest rates and lower home price tags.

But what will happen when it is time to sell your home? It would be best if you always keep your home's resale value in mind when shopping for a bigger home. You might be looking for a home that is big enough for your entire family, but if your home has excess irrelevant features, you might just turn away any potential buyers. You will struggle to sell it for a price that will give you a profit.

Bottom Line

The Coronavirus pandemic has homeowners re-evaluating their needs. This is particularly true for individuals or parents working from home and families that have children who have started remote learning. Remember to take care of your eyes as you work from home, and get a bigger home with adequate learning space and office space sounds impeccable. 

With the right research, it is possible to get a bigger home within your budget. Use the above tips as points of considerations when buying a bigger home.  

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We all feel the need for improvement, through personality, profession and particularly in how we live. Improving the homelife is seen as a constant state of overhaul, including clearing out older designs or replacing items within the house that are more “you”. So when it comes from changes from the ground up, Amtico luxury wood effect vinyl flooring offers perfection in the long run to stabilize your growing lifestyle changes.

amtico flooring

Popular Brand - No matter if you choose a home that is stylish or professional in appearance, Amtico presents a flooring option that is a fraction of the price of what a real hardwood floor would cost in installation. It’s not just money that it saves but also time. Installing vinyl flooring is a much shorter exercise than installing hardwood floors and can even be done by yourself if you fancy the challenge on a lazy weekend.

Among the most popular choices of vinyl is the wood variety, but that doesn’t mean that the choices are slim. Among the lowest price Amtico flooring on offer within the woods range is enough different designs and palettes to fuel your appetite for distinct vision.

amtico flooring

Partner in Care - When it comes to the look and feel of luxury vinyl tiles, Amtico adopt a customised printed film over their flooring sections that perfectly replicate the design of wood and stone. 

By employing a protective coating against scratches and scuffs, a urethane coat is applied to the film to provide its unique polished finish resulting in little maintenance being required. Whenever you choose a floor for your home, compatibility is key to matching its existing rooms. LVT provides versatility and is able to be fitted on a large variety of subfloors from timber to concrete, so those rooms posing a challenge in other flooring can be easily adopted with vinyl.

amtico flooring

The Choice That Makes Itself - If you choose the cheapest Amtico flooring UK for your home then you are choosing the perfect partner in keeping your home looking outstanding. No matter if your selection comes from signature, Amtico Spacia or abstract designs you have the long lasting satisfaction that Amtico prides itself on with a warranty that far surpasses other options by as much as two decades. That is a commitment to quality and assurance.

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People all across the world are becoming more environmentally-conscious, more eco-friendly and helping to contribute to a more sustainable way of living. By making some changes into your day to day lifestyle, not only are you helping to protect the environment, you can even save you money at the same time. Here are some easy and small changes you can make in your everyday life to help live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
eco friendly recycling

Recycle Where Possible - This is probably one of the easiest and quickest ways to become more eco friendly and make a bigger impact on the environment. Recycling simply prevents the waste of potentially useful materials and allows them to be reused and made into something else. Materials like plastic bottles, glass jars, paper, cardboard and metal can all be recycled and reused, helping to decrease the amount of landfill waste and allowing these recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products.

Avoiding Single Use Plastic - Eliminating single use plastics from your life is a perfect place to start and is something that doesn't have to be hard work to maintain. Some changes that can be easily added to your day to day life include investing in a reusable water bottle, using metal straws, purchasing loose fruit and vegetables, using reusable canvas shopping bags for your weekly shop. The list is endless, but just adding a few of these to your normal routine will slowly begin to help the environment.

Less Food Waste - Being more mindful of the food we purchase and consume can have a good impact on our environment, as well as your bank account. One of the simplest ways to avoid food waste as a consumer is to buy less. Simply things like batch cooking/freezing, trying out new recipes with ingredients you already have, checking your cupboards for ingredients before going food shopping, writing a shopping list, and even growing your own food can help you become more eco-friendly and eco-conscious.  

insulated home

Replace Old Windows / Insulation- Investing in new double-glazed windows can help to make your home more energy efficient - meaning that your home retains more of its heat, and you'll save money on heating. Good insulation means you don’t need to burn energy reheating the home all of the time. As well as changing existing windows, insulating your walls, roof and flooring can have a big impact on keeping your home warm and can save you money in the long run. Three Counties Windows specialise in windows, doors and conservatories, offering high performance and cutting edge technologies to get the best out of home improvements.

Turn Off Electricity - Another simple task that can be done everyday, and help you save money. By checking all appliances, electronics, light switches and plug sockets are turned off when not in use or when leaving a specific room of the house that isn't occupied. We can also draw open the curtains and use natural lighting to keep our rooms lit up and save electricity this way.

Hang Clothes Out To Dry - Avoiding using the tumble dryer is a perfect way to save money on your electricity bills as tumble dryers are one of the most expensive appliances to run in the home. When we get the occasion sunny warm autumn/winter day, it's a great opportunity to allow your clothes to air dry on the washing line.

Invest In A Compost Bin - By simply having a compost bin in your garden, you can recycle your food waste and turn them into compost. There's so many food items that can be composted, you would be surprised. From potato peelings, banana skins, egg shells and much more, this tip will have you cutting food waste dramatically and help you make your own compost for your garden.

What changes have you made to become more eco friendly at home?

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When it comes to bath bombs, you've probably been purchasing from the likes of LUSH and Bombs Away Cosmetics... But have you heard of Suezbana??? 

If the answer is no, keep reading!

Suezbana is a brand of Total Beauty Ltd, specialising in crafting natural handmade beauty products from scratch. A brand with A LOT to offer; from body lotions, showers gels, shaving soaps, creams, body butters, hair products, mineral makeup, aluminium free deodorant and home fragrances, there is so much variety, you'll be spoilt for choice.
SueZBana Bath Bombs Gift Set
I was kindly gifted the Suezbana Bath Bomb Gift Sets Series 2*. There are 6 Large Bath Bombs included, packed with added Essential Oils and Coconut milk. As soon as I opened the box I was blown away by the mixture of scents and the bold, beautiful colours. With a wide range of unique scents from floral to fruity, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 
SueZBana Bath Bombs Gift Set
Included in the Suezbana Bath Bomb Gift Sets Series 2 are the following bath bombs;

Violet - a fresh and floral Lavender based bath bomb with a deep, rich purple colour. The perfect, dreamy scent for relaxation and pampering, followed by a good night's sleep. 10/10 from me!

Ella - bursting with fluorescent pink and green colours, this scented bath bomb has subtle hints of florals and Watermelon, a perfect summer bath bomb scent. Personally for me, this bath bomb could do with a stronger Watermelon scent that would make it even better.

Ava - If you're a lover of Raspberries, this one is for you! Packed with a super sweet punch, this bath bomb has it all; sweetness, sourness, freshness and fruitiness, it's one not to be missed.


Gracie - a bath bomb bursting with aromas of juicy fresh Peaches and exotic Papaya - it'll have you dreaming of sun, sea and sand as you are whisked way to a tropical paradise.

Lily - for me, this bath bomb didn't really have a distinct scent that I could pick out, but described on the box as Tantalising Pinacola, it would have creamy and coconut-esque aromas.

Lexi - a bath bomb with such a bright, bold and vibrant blue colour, it'll definitely turn your bath into a beautiful ocean! Packed with subtle hints of Blueberry and some fizzy sherbet; this bath bomb is like sweet heaven.

RRP £19.98 
Set of 6 Gift Set

If you love bath bombs, why not catch up on my posts featuring LUSH and Bombs Away Cosmetics

Have you heard of Suezbana before? What are your favourite scents for bath bombs?

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Reed diffusers are extremely popular in home fragrances right now. With an amazing variety of scents available, they are a great way to add constant fragrance to your home, and they will give you a scent that's much longer-lasting than a candle. As they lightly release the scent throughout the room without flames, making them more practical and much safer to use in the home.

I decided to head to my local Primarks homeware department and pick up a Reed Diffuser, to try out for myself and see what all the fuss was about. I opted for the very fruity and refreshing sounding "Pink Lemonade" diffuser, which just screamed Summer to me!
Primarks Pink Lemonade Reed Diffuser
 Reed diffusers are so quick and easy to use... Simply remove the stopper from the top of the glass bottle and insert the reeds into the fragranced diffuser oil. The reeds soak up the scent, emitting a pleasant and fresh aroma around your home. You will need to flip the reeds over, around once a week, to avoid them drying out so that the scent of the diffuser oil can continue spreading throughout the room.
Primarks Pink Lemonade Reed Diffuser
The scent of the Pink Lemonade Diffuser is described as Rhubarb and Lemon, which to me is a perfect combination for a truly summertime fragrance. The sweet and sugary Rhubarb, combined with the zesty, zingy and citrus Lemon, makes this such a refreshing and uplifting aroma to have in the home. Super fresh and extremely fruity, it's definitely one homeware product to pick up on your next Primark trip!
Primarks Pink Lemonade Reed Diffuser
The 100ml Pink Lemonade Reed Diffuser from Primark has great lasting power. It will keep your room smelling fresh for up to 8 weeks! That's a whole TWO MONTHS! Primark have plenty of other available scents in their homeware range, so if Pink Lemonade isn't for you, there will definitely be something to suit your preferences. From Madagascan Vanilla to Vintage Blossom to Sea Salt and Lavender to Pomegranate and Fig, there is a huge variety of fragrances perfect for any home!

RRP £3.00 100ml
Also available £1.00 30ml

Have you tried Primarks Reed Diffusers before? What scents have you tried/would like to try?
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