Creating a Boudoir Bedroom
For the romantics, the lovers and the more adventurous types of decorators among you, there clearly can be no sexier design statement than creating a boudoir style bedroom. Whilst the bedroom aspires to be a place of rest, it should also be considered a room for enjoyment. If all of the muddle, discarded laundry and empty coffee cups are dampening the passion in your bedroom then it’s time for some opulence and decadence to ignite the flames.
Modern life is rubbish
All the stuff that make today’s lifestyles so convenient can easily be distracting, especially in the bedroom. The very first stage of making your beautiful boudoir is to get rid of any traces of technology and practicality. Ban the TV and relocate the hair-straighteners since there’s no glamour in gizmos and gadgets. Hide as much of the clutter as possible with bedroom storage that will go in drawers or cupboards but display your most prized perfumes and place your rings and necklaces on show with a jewellery tree.
The essence of boudoir
This style evokes an opulent, sensual and rich lifestyle so colours such as purple, pink, gold and black give the perfect look. Your room can be as flamboyant as you desire, but wall coverings will give the most striking change so use pink and purple wallpaper with a strong pattern. Using bold floral prints and stunning damask will give your room a feeling of femininity and extravagance.
Materials play an significant role in the boudoir bedroom. Diverse textures and finishes produce an intimate feel so incorporate plenty of colourful cushions with mixed fabrics created from rich and heavy materials. For an air of sensuality, floaty materials like silks and organza can be draped throughout the room.
If you like the Moulin Rouge style of boudoir, opt for bohemian elegance by including vintage furniture pieces and elegant swagging around the windows. Dress your bed in silk and satin and place candles round the room to spark the romance. Colours to go for include scarlet, gold and black. For a 60s style boudoir, synthetic animal skins with deep pile carpets and fun cartoon’ish furnishings will establish a naughty, fantasy themed room. Choose a blend of black, white and red colours throughout the room.
Lighting the passion
Light plays an important role in creating a sultry ambiance. The boudoir look embraces extravagance and so should your lighting fixtures. Vintage crystal-drop chandeliers are perfect for the dramatic centre piece while antique brass and crystal wall lights controlled by dimmer switch will create the right mood.
3 Alternative Things to Sit On For Your Home
There’s a lot to be said for sitting down on a comfy sofa, putting your feet up and stretching out to enjoy a night in front of the TV. For most households, a three-piece suite from the local household furniture superstore is enough to serve your living room seating needs, but how about the rest of the house? And what happens when you need some overflow seating during visits from friends or when you throw a party? Here are 3 alternative things to sit on that are secure, extremely versatile and look pretty cool too.
Beanbags
Still consider beanbags as overblown floor cushions that are manufactured from cheap material and difficult to get out of? Obviously you have not been introduced to the Fatboy range.
Beanbags aren’t just additional seating options for the living room, they can be used as a sofa replacement in student digs, a chill-out chair for a teenager’s bedroom or even a spare bed if you want to put up your mate overnight. Have one or two of these cool seating options convenient for impromptu events or any time you’ve got more visitors than your permanent seating can cope with.
Hammocks
The simple mention of the word conjures up images of hazy summer days, swinging between two trees beneath the shade of branches while enjoying a long, cool drink. Yet isn’t a hammock just for the warmer months? In fact, it’s not. And before you ask, no you won’t need two trees to tie it to either – at least not with modern hammock technology because a steel-frame manages things.
A hammock can easily be placed in the house as out and should you be short of furniture in your conservatory it’s ideal. When you do need to take it easy in the great outdoors, or when you need something a bit more comfortable than the standard bistro chair and table set in your garden, then a hammock is a good substitute.
Gaming seat
Okay, this one may appear like it’s simply for the gamers and geeks but as a substitute seating choice it’s as adaptable as they come. Should you be of the Playstation or Xbox generation then you may be all too familiar with sitting forward on the sofa, straining to get nearer to the action. Instead of attempting to drag your sofa a couple of inches closer to the box, pull up a gaming seat.
Not only will a gaming chair take care of your comfort while challenging the latest level of Halo, it’s versatile enough to turn into a footstool or an occasional seat for social events if you require further places for friends to park their bums.
Cooking Up a New Kitchen
Arriving at the decision to do a little reorganisation, redecoration or remodelling of your kitchen can sometimes seem like you are cooking up a storm of problems. If you’ve ever felt too overwhelmed to try an overhaul of the kitchen, this approach to the challenge might help.
Rather than contemplating the kitchen as one big project, break it down into small, manageable and practical mini-projects. Trying to do everything at once is a sure-fire way to get you hot under the collar without being anywhere near an oven.
To begin with, have a plan. Focus on what you want to achieve with certain aspects of the kitchen by answering a few basic questions.
Myths about Aga Ovens – Part One
Many people would like to own an Aga oven and with the selection of models available these days it’s possible to enjoy an iconic range cooker from one of the world’s most well known manufacturers. Regardless of whether you are considering a classic heat storage cooker or a dual-fuel option, there’s the perfect oven to suit your needs. For those people looking for the simplicity of a traditional Aga you may have stumbled upon a few naysayers as to the benefits.
To begin with, owners believe that there’s no better method of cooking food and the background heat from the oven keeps much of the home warm for seven or more months of the year. And who could resist leaning against the towel rail on a nippy winter’s day? Nevertheless, several doubts associated with these kind of cookers still remain and many stem from a lack of information about how to operate them. If that’s the case then going to an Aga demonstration is time wisely spent.
Below is part one in a list of typical misconceptions about Agas and the specifics that should help to put your mind at ease should you be thinking about making a purchase.
Giving Your Hallway the Wow! Factor
If you’re thinking of decorating, the hallway can be the forgotten area of the home since it is usually seen as a space to be passed through to be able to reach connecting areas. Being a ‘transient space’ has its disadvantages as homeowners would rather spend time, money and effort on decorating ‘living spaces’. That’s a real shame because it’s the first part of your house that visitors are greeted by and who doesn’t want to create the best first impression? With some forward planning, the right wallcoverings, lighting and storage, your hallway can acquire the wow! factor.
Colours and coverings
Selecting the most appropriate colours can help make the entrance to your home as light and attractive as possible. Dark hallways can be a bad idea in smaller homes so heavy and strong colours on the wall need to be avoided. On the other hand, should you live in a period property that has far more space, then classic colours that are in keeping with the general décor (like greens and reds) can enrich the look. For narrow spaces, select neutral colours on the wall.
Changing the colour on the walls will make a significant impact on the sense of space. Some people like to continue the colour scheme used in connecting rooms while others select a colour that complements and gives a different look. Wallpaper has undergone a huge design revolution recently and wallcoverings with neutral colours and embossed designs look fantastic. If you’d rather paint but need a cool feel, wall stickers can bring some interest to the walls.
Adding to the walls
With many hallways being narrow and long there’s usually a premium on floor space so utilise the walls to create your design statement. A properly placed mirror reflects light and helps to make your hallway look bigger – given the space is the entrance/exit point of the home, a mirror also allows everyone to check how they look when coming or going.
Photos are also a great idea to give your home an individual touch. Black and white prints offer a real chic appearance while a selection of different sized photo frames give your hallway a gallery feel. If you’re going to add a piece of art to the walls, make sure it will be lit correctly to benefit from the full effect – a long, narrow picture light will provide you with the right look.
Advice on Buying a Range Cooker
When it comes to buying the ultimate cooking appliance that will add a touch of class and quality to your kitchen there is no better oven than a range cooker. For amateur and professional cooks alike, range cookers provide all the necessary features to ensure food is cooked to its absolute best. There are a number of manufacturers of range cookers such as Aga, Rangemaster, Brittania and Falcon, but before you go investing in a new range cooker there are a few things to take into consideration.
Range cookers
Modern range cookers are built with the latest intelligent technology to make sure your cooking experience is as easy and functional as possible. Advances in the systems used to operate range cookers means your oven will be convenient, versatile and economic.
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is the amount of flexibility you’ll require from your oven and hob. Consider what your cooking habits are likely to be and then choose a range cooker that will provide enough burner types, sizes and numbers as well as enough ovens to cope with the demands placed on it. Make sure that the size of range cooker you buy can fit in the space allocated in your kitchen.
Once you know how big your range cooker needs to be, you’ll have to make a decision on fuel type. In many respects this will be dictated by the supply to your home but you should also consider what best suits your cooking needs. Gas and electric cookers – known as dual fuel range cookers – are the most common type with gas burners on the hob and electric ovens. Gas offers the best controlled heat when cooking on the hob and electric ovens are best for speed and multi-functionality. If you go for a four oven range cooker you’ll have the option of using a conventional oven, fan oven, simmering oven and ceramic grill.
Your range cooker should have a variety of systems to aid your cooking experience. One of the most practical pieces of technology fitted into modern ovens is the electronic programmer. This is of great benefit to people with busy lifestyles or families as you have the option to program when the oven is to start and finish cooking. Features such as fast pre-heat can bring the oven up to cooking temperature quicker than conventional ovens saving you both time and money.
AGA & Rayburn Cookers Explained
The king of range cookers is without doubt the AGA. First introduced to England in 1929, it quickly became the cooker of choice for English society, particularly for those who lived in medium and large country houses. Now the AGA range cooker, and the versatile Rayburn range cooker, can be found in rural and urban homes up and down the country.
One of the main questions asked by anyone looking to invest in one of these cookers is “what’s the difference between an AGA and a Rayburn?” In this article we’ll explain the basics.
Knitting – the Worlds Oldest Hobby
Knitting really is one of the worlds’ oldest hobbies and there are a few reasons why knitting needles continue to click throughout the world. One of the main reasons is due to the fact that it is a productive, yet extremely relaxing pastime.
There are many people that knit to make money and then there are those that knit for their family members and to give as gifts to either family or friends. The most wonderful kind of knitting comes from the heart, and each year, thousands of enthusiasts knit babies booties, shawls and gorgeous cardigans that they then donate to raffles, maternity wards in hospitals and for local charities.
If knitting has been your hobby for a long time, chances are you are familiar and confident with all types of knitting patterns, knitting accessories, knitting kits, and have worked with various types of wool knitting yarn.
Double Glazing Cost Comparison
We’ve all heard the hullabaloo about global warming and climate change. And whether you believe it or not, the fact still remains that you can save on your utility bills and help do your bit against pollution by undertaking some simple changes in and around your home. This can include installing Double glazed windows – where two sheets of glass are separated by a thin vacuum (or gas-filled space) to reduce the amount of cool or warm air entering or leaving your house. Double glazing can mean in winter your heater is not wasting its time by warming the air only to have it escape through the glass in your windows. Or, cool air filtering into your house won’t need to be heated, thus decreasing your bills. The reverse applies in summer. The cool air is kept in, and the warm outside air is kept out. When you think about it, it makes sense. Even if you don’t care much for saving the planet, you will more than likely care for the money leaking from your pocket – and double glazing can help stem that flow.
Joanna Perry Hand Painted Murals
I create original hand painted wall murals to enhance any room. I’m based in Cheshire and cover the whole of the county and the North Staffordshire area. My contemporary and children’s murals at www.kidswallmurals.co.uk are an exciting and original alternative to wallpaper as well as a cost effective solution to re-decorating a room.
Whether it’s to theme a nursery, update a child’s room or enhance a living space, you can have any style or design, tailored to suit your specific taste and budget.
The Design
As an experienced muralist, all of my murals are drawn free hand with no stencilling or projections involved. This allows me to transfer your ideas directly onto the wall with no scale or design restriction. I can work to all scales and budgets, producing either simple colourful wall murals to enhance a style of room – or completely theme a room in intricate detail. No project is too large or too small, and every project is treated with the same personal care and attention. When producing an interior scheme I can either translate your specific ideas directly or if you would prefer I can produce imaginative design creations for you. You may already have a room decorated and decide you want to take details from a border, curtains or duvet cover and create a mural to finish the room off.