Category: Guest Blog Posts

Blinded by the light? Try switching to LED illumination Switch to LED illumination to avoid Blinding by the light

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

We all know what we like when it comes to designing our homes, but how much do we know about the effects of lighting on our surroundings? Over traditional lighting, LED illumination brings:-

Contemporary ideas
Improved function
Serious savings on energy


Scope for new ideas
Decorating our homes takes time and considerable effort in getting the look we want, be it traditional or contemporary. But once the paint pots and brushes are cleaned up and the dust sheets are off, we can sit back in our favourite chair and revel in a job well done. However, one crucial aspect of our decorating scheme is often found to be lacking: this is lighting. Fundamental to enhancing our surroundings, improving the impact of other well-thought out details such as that hand-blocked wall paper or bespoke staircase, is good lighting. Since the eye is always drawn to the brightest point, it’s important to consider what we want to highlight and the reasoning behind it. The scope for new ideas is only as limited as one’s imagination and is particularly relevant where LED lighting is employed; since, amongst other things, LED lighting is available in a range of colours in addition to being able to mimic the effects of natural light. Essential constituents of any decorating scheme are light, shade and reflection; to achieve atmosphere we need a degree of shadow that gives variation or texture.


Improved function
Improved functionality of any space is paramount if we are to get the best use of it. A dark and gloomy room is less likely to be used than the one that is bright and airy. LED lighting goes further than traditional lighting in improving the effects of both artificial and natural lighting. An LED light switch is a good place to start when looking to improve function – there’s nothing more irritating than having to fumble for a light switch in order to find our way into a room! In contrast and without any glare, LED type switches make a stylish addition to the room, enabling to simply fill the space with a natural brightness, bringing with it a sense of harmony. LEDs used in tandem with other design features will work to improve the overall function of these ideas. The point of setting a beautiful porcelain artefact in an alcove, for example, is further enhanced with thoughtful lighting to bring the piece into focus and easier to appreciate.


Long term efficiency
If you use an LED light switch for LED illumination, you will find a greater degree of efficiency overall. Although the initial outlay for the fixtures and the bulbs themselves can be at a premium, the expense will repay you with longevity and reliability, since there will be fewer occasions on which you will have to replace bulbs. LED bulbs can last up to as long as 25 years before they need replacing. They can be up to 89% efficient and are varied in wattage, colour hues and light coverage. Since they run on a very low wattage to start with and don’t need time to ‘warm up’ it makes their efficiency even more attractive. Performance on this level likewise means that they are cost effective on energy – of paramount importance in today’s world; and one factor there’s no reason to ignore.

Compared with conventional energy-saving bulbs, LED bulbs are far superior.

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Make Your Outdoor Décor Standout through Metal Arbors

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Outdoor décor is one of the most important aspects of any home’s design and style. A beautifully built and well-maintained garden or lawn can set the tone right for the rest of the structure. In this regard, an element that can provide both elegance and practicality to your landscape décor is the metal arbor. These arched gateways can lend some extra beauty and charm to your outdoors in particular and your house in general.

Perfect Arbor for Your Landscape:

Following are some of the ideas that will help you to find a perfect arbor for your landscape.

·         Hoop Arbor with Pergola Frame:

You can make a metal arbor a beautiful entryway to any part of your landscape. For instance, a steel hoop arbor in combination with a pergola frame and draped by a canvas will become a fascinating contemporary style outdoor dining room. The pergola makes the entrance even grander and the canvas provides a bit of shade to the majestic entrance. Furthermore, you can also match the patio sets with style of arbor to create a stunning alfresco.

·         Gateway to a Patio:

Similarly, a metal arbor can also become an elegant and practical entryway to your open patio area. You can also use the arbor to define from where the garden starts and patio ends in addition with sparing some place for dining as well. In this regard, a detailed designed arbor will create a sensually pleasing aspect while the metal will ensure that the settings last for years to come.

·         Adorable Tunnel Arbors:

A tunnel arbor is a sensational idea to lead to a beautiful garden that lies beyond. This extended piece of structure will add a bit of drama to your yard allowing you to anticipate what you are about to see. You can connect the landscape with arbor with lush green plantings, both high and low. The arched arbor will impart an unparalleled beauty and grace and withstand any sort of weather as well.

·         Simple Arbor Designs:

A simply designed arbor will provide a perfect and enchanting gateway from front of your yard to back. For instance, you can create a soft appeal by climbing greenery on both sides of the arbor. This simple setup informs the visitors about lush greenery to come. Furthermore, it is better to use detailed designs in the arbor rather that straight lines to enhance the curb appeal of the structure.

·         Grand Garden Entrance:

An extremely high arbor that is flanked on both sides by low walls can act as a grand opening to any garden. For instance, you can create a perfect and scintillating backdrop for the metal arbor by using a timber gate, a custom iron and Cotswold-styled brick walls. This high archway will be quite alluring for the visitors who will wonder what lies ahead for them.

·         An Elegant Frame:

If placed correctly, an arbor will be an elegant frame from your patio to your garden. For instance, well controlled vines climbing the archway will connect arbor nicely with rest of the garden. Furthermore, if are lucky enough to have a circular patio, it will echo the curves of the arch fascinatingly.

Conclusion:

Arbors can really make your outdoor décor standout from the rest. They cannot only make your garden enticing and beautiful but will also increase the overall curb appeal of you house.

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Selling Your House? Smarten Up The Exterior For The Best First Impressions!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

As we all know, first impressions are everything. And this is never truer than when we are talking about houses. If you are planning to sell your house then the single most important thing that you can do to impress viewers is to smarten up the exterior. When a potential buyer visits to carry out a viewing, they will be immediately put in a favourable mood if they like what they see on the approach. Here are some great ideas for making the outside of your house win prospective purchasers:

Tidy Up the Driveway

Driveways often get a little scruffy with weeds growing through concrete or between paving slabs. Head out with a load of weed killer and blitz the unwelcome weeds. Then, tend to the flowers and plants that are meant to be there. Finish off by giving the whole area a good sweep, and then using a pressure washer to thoroughly clean the driveway. Putting a few pot plants along the driveway will help to add a splash of colour to the approach to your house.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

You’ll be amazed at the amount of difference a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of the property makes to the overall look. Old paint that is faded, stained or peeling off sends out all the wrong messages to a buyer, but a freshly painted house suggests that you take as much care with the inside of the house as you do the outside. It will also help set off the windows and doors, and generally bring the whole house together. If you’ve a head for heights then you can paint your house yourself quite easily, but if you’d rather leave it to the experts then call a professional painter and decorator in – it shouldn’t take them long, it won’t cost you much, but the difference will be massive. Your prospective buyers will head to the front door and wait there until you answer it. So, make sure the door is freshly painted so that it looks nice and smart (you might as well paint the window frames too while you’re at it!) and make sure that the doorbell works properly. You might even want to consider getting a new front door if yours is past its best.

Window Boxes

Window boxes are a beautiful addition to the front of any home – they add a splash of colour and make the whole place look far more homely. Choose plants that don’t grow too high otherwise you will risk obscuring the view from the windows. Plant up a window box for each front-facing window, and put it up using secure brackets that won’t weather or deteriorate. Choose a mixture of colours for added impact.

Smartening up the outside of your house is a great way to make sure that your potential buyers get the ‘wow factor when they come to see your house for the first time. Your next step is the small task of sorting the interior out!

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What Are The Options When It Comes To Retirement Residencies?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Retirement is a major life change for just about anyone, and it is a time a lot of people look forward to during their entire working lives. Financially free (assuming they have saved well), and still young enough to have some fun, newly retired people and couples often seek to make big changes to the way they live to accommodate the new amount of free time they now have! A newly retired person or couple may only be in their late fifties or sixties, so there is still a long time between this stage in life (as long as there are no major health issues) and the need to be dependent on family or carers, however many people prefer to downsize from the homes they lived in as working people to free up more money, and move into places with a greater sense of community and fun to help them enjoy their spare time, keep them social, and give them organized fun activities to do. For these reasons, retirement communities are very popular.

But what sort of places do retirement communities offer, and what can you expect if you move to one?

Bungalows, Chalets and Other Fixed Buildings

In general, if you decide to sell up or rent out your old family home and move somewhere smaller so you can have some more money to play within your golden years, you are going to want to buy or rent a small property in a retirement community that appeals to you. Whether you want to stay in the city you live in or relocate to somewhere sunny and a bit more interesting, you should be able to find plenty of locations geared towards your age group where there are attractive bungalows or chalets you can choose to live in. These kinds of communities tend to be served by all kinds of great facilities making it easy to socialise with other residents and have fun, whether this means a pool, a games room, restaurants, cafes and bars, or beautiful green picnic spots. The properties themselves tend to be well equipped and ready to use, though it is possible to add your own flair with things like soft furnishings to give the home you have chosen your own preferred colour scheme and look and feel.

A Mobile Home

Another good option if you want to move to a cheaper property that still gives you all the things you need and desire as well as pleasant space to spend your time is to buy or lease a mobile home. Mobile homes are somewhat like boats on the inside, with all the furniture and fixtures you are likely to want but on a slightly smaller scale than in a house. Some can be pretty fancy, so don’t be put off by the idea of a ‘trailer’ – there are a lot of luxury mobile homes in well served, well-designed sites made exclusively for retirees, so you can still have a comfortable, classy life living in one!

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Looking For A New House? Here’s How To View Houses Efficiently!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Looking for a new house can get a little overwhelming, and it’s not long before they all start to blur into each other. Who can remember which house had how many bedrooms, or which was the best decorated? If you are spending a lot of time viewing houses then it can very easily start to get complicated, so you need to make it as easy for yourself as possible. There are some things you can do to make the process a lot more efficient, and we’ll give you a few ideas here:

Take a Camera

Sure, the estate agent will have their own photos to flick through, but when you are thinking over the properties you have seen it will really help if you can look at all the flaws of a property as well as the good bits. Take a camera along with you to every viewing, and be very organized about where you store the pictures that you take. Keep a folder for every separate house on your computer, and make sure all the pictures go into the right folder. That way, when you are considering all of your options, you can make sure that you are making informed decisions.

Take Notes

Whether you take a pen and paper, or you make notes on a smartphone or tablet, make sure that you keep a record of everything you think about when looking at each house. Write down details such as what the plumbing system is like, what fuel is used, and how the décor is, as these are the sorts of things you are likely to forget when you leave the place. The more detailed the notes, the better. Either save your computerized notes in the same folder as the photos or if you have a hand-written list then take a photo of this and save it into the folder. You are building up portfolios of each property the way you see them, not the way the real estate agent sees them.

Make Checklists

If you are really organized you could draw up a checklist and tick off all the things you see in a property. This will help you make sure that you don’t miss anything. The more information you can put into the checklist the more you will remember, and it’s also a really great idea because it will help you stay focused on the things you can’t compromise on such as location and the amount of bedrooms. Take a blank checklist with you to every viewing and make sure that every little detail is written down. You’ll be so glad you did when you get home and start sorting through all of your options.

Buying a house in Orlando is a complicated affair and it takes a lot of work and thought. The more efficient you are at the viewing stage, the sooner you will identify the house for you. From that point on you need to be totally sure of your decision, and if you know that you have done all your research you will find that you feel far more confident about things.

 

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