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Let Your Imagination Run Wild With 5 Cool Ways To Change Your Garden This Summer

by Trish

Don’t tell me you’ve not looked out at the garden recently and tried to come up with some amazing ways to make it better. It’s the same every year when you look out of the window and there is snow lying everywhere. You start to get a little depressed because you can’t go outside and your imagination starts to run wild. Have you ever done something about it before, or does next winter come around before you have the chance to do anything?

You should make this year different because you will feel great when the sun is out and you spend time outside. The last thing you want is to be sitting in a garden that you don’t think looks nice. It completely ruins the moment, so you shouldn’t let it. Think about everything you would like to do and run with your favorite idea before it’s too late. We can even look at some ideas together so you can get that imagination of yours running wild again.

Add some decking

Fiberon Tropics composite decking

You could choose a little corner of your garden and add some decking, or you could even have some running off the house. When it’s nice outside you could put out a table and chairs so the family can sit around and eat their meals while relaxing in the sun. You could always put the furniture on the grass, but when you have decking it looks a lot better. If you had a nice seat out there you could also sit and read books when you’re not at work.

Get rid of the crap

You might have some things inside your garden that you don’t want to be there anymore. If it’s something big like a hut you maybe haven’t got rid of it because it’s too much work. This year could be different and you could go outside and start knocking it down this weekend. Get rid of everything else in your garden that is making it look a mess. Even if you don’t replace anything it will still look a lot better when the crap is gone.

A kid’s playhouse

Old playhouse

If you have young children you might want to do something nice for them because they will be using the garden a lot more than you during the summer. You’ll have to think about the kinds of things they might like. You could put a playhouse in the corner and they will love it whether they are a boy or a girl. If you think back to when you were a child I bet it’s something you loved. You could even turn it into a tree house if your child is a little older.

Let there be light

Even though the sun sticks around longer in the evenings during summer it won’t be there all night. Eventually it will be gone and your garden won’t be suitable to spend any time in unless you add some lighting. When your garden is light up it looks beautiful and you can stay outside as late as you want. You have a huge number of options available to you and perhaps it’s best if you looked hard before you decided how you would light the place up.

Grow some vegetables

sun gold tomatoes

If you have enough time to spare you could take up a new hobby. It’s quite enjoyable growing your own vegetables and eating something you have grown yourself always tastes a little better. A nice little vegetable patch in the corner of the garden will look great and it could come in very handy. When you’re cooking dinner you can run outside and pick something straight out of the ground if it’s ready.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

The author of this article, Sharon Anderson works for Country Cubbies. Country Cubbies is Australia’s leading cubby housemanufacturer with a huge range of cubby houses and children’s play forts.

Filed Under: Garden decor, Gardening, The yard Tagged With: chairs, cool, deck, Furniture, garden, imagination, light, lights, patio, plants, playhouse, summer, table, tidy, vegetables

A Quick Guide To The Many Types Of Shower Enclosures

by Trish



When deciding to fit a new bathroom suite, many people are taken aback at the amount of alternatives available when it comes to shower enclosures.


Often, people simply think of a shower enclosure as the square cubicle in the corner of the bathroom, or even don’t think of a shower enclosure at all as they have a shower unit attached to the wall to go along with their bathtub.

Here though, I give a quick rundown on some of the shower enclosures available and each unit’s advantages.

Space Saving Option: Bi Fold Enclosure

If you are pushed for space when fitting a new bathroom, the best option for you could well be a bi fold shower enclosure, the reason being that the door folds inwards and across the shower unit, rather than the usual out swinging door which requires the room to be able to open it before you can take a shower.

Skip the Formalities: Walk In Enclosure

Very similar in essence to a wet room, which I discuss further below, a walk in enclosure is a good way of giving your bathroom a modern edge to it without the usual compact environment of shower enclosures.

Skip the bother of a door, and get straight down to business in your great new shower unit, pick a frameless offering to give your bathroom a real edge to it.

Slide To The Left Slide To The Right: Sliding Door Enclosure

Another space saving option; the sliding door enclosure once again cuts out the need of a door which opens outwards, taking up valuable space, which as you know is often not available in your bathroom.

Old Faithful: Quadrant Enclosure

Typically designed to fit into the corner of a bathroom, a quadrant enclosure is often the go to pick when it comes to shower enclosures as not only does it save space, but the unit itself can be quite spacious too. Therefore you can take a shower in spacious peace, while knowing that the space in your bathroom can be used more effectively too.

A Showering Of Alternatives

Of course alternatives to shower enclosures include opting for a bath instead, combining the two into a shower bath or you could ditch them completely and go for a wet room which in essence can turn your whole bathroom into a shower enclosure, unless you opt for a frameless unit to divide the shower from the rest of the bathroom

Louisa Jenkins is an interior design expert. She offers advice for people looking at shower enclosures as well as suggesting alternatives such as wet rooms, shower baths or even just bathtubs.

Filed Under: Bath and Shower, Home Improvement Tagged With: bathroom suite, Bi Fold, Enclosure, Guide, Quadrant, Shower Enclosures, Sliding Door, walk in

Garden Projects For You To Take On This Year

by Trish

It is a new year, so that means it is time for a new garden. Many homeowners will forget about their garden when it comes to redecorating, even though the garden is one of the key areas of any home. Do not waste another year putting off using your garden, instead plan ahead and turn your garden into a beautiful area that is perfect for you to relax in during the summer months.

To help you make a start with your garden transformation, I have listed some garden projects that you may want to take on in 2013.

Vegetable Plot

2013 is the year of turning green, and what is more perfect than creating your own vegetable plot? Not only can you save a fortune by growing your own vegetables, but you also know exactly where they have come from.

Homeowners that decide to grow their own vegetables usually decide to do this just as part of a fun summer project, they soon realise that there are many benefits from growing your own vegetables.

You will need to invest a lot of time into your vegetable patch making sure that your vegetables grow well.

Invite Wildlife

During the summer months you can expect to see plenty of wildlife make their way through your garden, as long as your garden is wildlife friendly. There are many ways you can encourage wildlife to come into your garden, one of the most popular ways is by providing food.

If you love to watch birds fly by, why not get a bird table and some tasty bird treats. If you want birds to come into your garden even faster, purchase some coconuts and leave half a coconut out as this is something they love.

Water Feature

If you want a bigger project in your garden, why not think about creating a garden pond? Not only will it look fabulous, but it will also attract wildlife to the garden. It is important that you make your pond safely; this will ensure that you do not put any one at risk through unstable surfaces or flooding.

It may be worth calling out an expert to come and create the garden pond for you as it will look a lot more professional and stylish.

Garden Furniture

There is not much point in having a stylish garden area, if there is nowhere for you to sit and admire the work you have done. You may want to consider creating your own garden furniture as part of one your projects, however you should be prepared as this can take a long time and will also cost quite a bit of money.

Kerry loves gardening and decided to create a garden pond ready for summer 2013. She also brought some trendy rattan garden furniture from http://www.oakita.co.uk/

Filed Under: Garden decor, Gardening, The yard Tagged With: birds, garden, Garden Furniture, Garden Projects, pond, summer project, Vegetable Plot, water, Water Feature, Wildlife

Knockout Interior Designs That Your Apartment Will Love You For

by Trish

If you have just moved into an apartment and feel that you need to stamp your own identity on it, this article can help you to decide on how to proceed. Apartments are often less spacious than conventional houses and can be limited when it comes to personalizing the space to your tastes. But this need not be the case and here we discuss some clever touches that can create a tasteful bespoke design feel for your apartment.

The Idea Of Interior Design

Modern design ideas tend to follow the trend of a minimalist spacious area instead of lots of clutter and excess furniture. This may not tie in with your own ideas but it is an easy route to follow and you can always add at a later stage. Using neutral colors and plain walls adds up to a stylish and elegant theme for your apartment or house.

Shades And Colors

It is better to shy away from too many colors and perhaps pick a couple of tones for your entire interior. The colors should not take over the feeling of your apartment’s mood but rather try to emphasize the overall ambiance of the home. Pick a powerful color for your accent wall and use a neutral shade for the other walls. Think about the color of the floors and any large furniture before deciding on your ideal combination.

Furniture

You really need to continue the theme you have kicked off with your color choices for the walls. The furniture should be presented in a less bold tone and again a neutral shade would work well with the accent wall’s theme. Think about low and long shapes when considering your seating arrangements. Metal and glass are always welcome in a modern designed interior and seem to never go out of date. With your bedroom you can afford to throw caution to the wind and opt for a huge leather style divan plus a bodacious headboard.

Lights

Think about a low key fixture but with plenty of power and control options. You can really set the mood with a versatile dimmer switch style option. The lighting should be spaced evenly through your home with options for combination illumination choices. A few lamps can add to the room, especially if their colors are complimented by the walls and furniture.

Decoration

A few simple photo frames featuring your family are always a good conversation piece, but do not get too carried away with this theme. Less is definitely more when it comes to adorning your walls with fixtures. Why not invest in some large plants for your hallway and perhaps one in the bathroom area? They will give your home a natural and exotic edge that can be hard to achieve with an apartment’s lack of garden area.

Wood And Metal

Think about some classy home appliances for your kitchen and splash out on a steel fridge and matching oven and hob sets. They are easy to clean and always lend a classy quality to any home.

Today’s guest post is submitted by Patrick Armstrong. He is a successful real estate agent who loves writing. He is really excited about the new apartments in Prahran.

Filed Under: Home Decor, Home Improvement, Interior Design Tagged With: apartment, colors, Decoration, design, Furniture, Interior Designs, Knockout, lights, neutral, Shades

The Risks Of Going Without Home Insurance

by Trish

While home insurance is not always required, this does not mean it is not something you should look into. You work extremely hard for the things you have and in the blink of an eye, all of those things could be gone. Without home insurance, you would literally be left with nothing. We don’t want to scare you but it seems as though many individuals simply don’t understand just how risky it is to keep their homes uninsured. Here are some of the things that being covered will protect you from.

Fire Damages

While a fire may not have ever happened to your home in the past, this does not guarantee that it won’t happen in the future. Some of the most common causes of fires are from appliances such as stoves and fridges. Even seemingly harmless items, such as electric blankets can spark and cause a fire. Make sure your home is up to safety codes and that you always pay for proper inspections so you do not end up having no choice but paying for such damages out of the money you have been working hard to keep in your savings account.

Natural Disasters

Mother Nature isn’t always something we can predict. Forest fires, hurricanes and floods are only a few of the disasters that can affect any homeowner, even those that do not have home insurance. The difference between those who have coverage for such events and those that do not? The individuals who do not have a home insurance policy are going to end up losing much (if not everything) they have accumulated over the years. This may mean they literally have to start from scratch, with just the clothes on their back and no home to shelter them. Starting over is tough and scrambling to stretch your budget now may be the best option for you and your family.

Injuries on Your Property

While it’s not exactly fun to think of the worst case scenarios, sometimes it’s important to think outside of our comfort zone and into the world of ‘what ifs’. Accidents, such as trips, slips and falls can occur and when/if this happens, there is a chance you could be sued. What many people don’t realize is a simple injury can mean millions of dollars of debt without the proper liability coverage.

The Good News: Getting Better Prices

There are many factors that companies take into consideration when setting up a new home insurance policy. Homes that have fire alarms or are close to fire or police stations are less expensive to insure. Having a security system installed can also lower your rates. Again, these types of things are going to greatly impact your future. What may not seem like that big of a deal today, could end up really hindering your ability to get the things you want, accomplish the things you’d like to and give your family what you feel they deserve.

This article is submitted by George Smith-Davies. He is a freelance journalist who loves writing about different investment and insurance scams. You can read all about the different insurance policies available here http://www.contentsinsurance.org. You can also follow him on Twitter.

Filed Under: Home and family Tagged With: Fire Damages, Going Without, Home insurance, Injuries, Natural Disasters, Risks

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