Home and family — Page 8 — Home and Garden Diva

Turn Your House Into A Home By Making It As Comfortable As Possible To Live In

Sometimes it feels like you’ve been living in your house for years and it’s never felt like a home. From the moment you unpacked the boxes and found your belongings somewhere new to stay, there was just something different about the way you felt. In your old home you would feel more relaxed than anywhere on earth. Times have changed and even though you can relax it’s just missing that spark. It’s not uncommon for that to happen to a huge percentage of people who move house. For some people, everything falls into place. For some it doesn’t.

It doesn’t always have to be like this. Your new house will never be the same as your old place and you shouldn’t try to force it. Instead you should look around and see what changes you can make that will turn the new place into somewhere you can love. There’s 3 main places you should start. The 3 places where you should feel more comfortable than anywhere else. The bedroom, living room and the bathroom. We can take a look at some things you can do to each of them to turn your house into a home.

You should look forward to bedtime

For some reason that’s unknown, people are prepared to spend their whole life sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress just so they can save themselves a little money. Think about how much time you spend in your bed. Unless you have insomnia it will be more than any other place in the world. 7-8 hours per night is a lot of time. That’s why you should buy the best mattress you can possibly afford. This won’t seem like a terrible idea after the first night you lie down. You won’t want to get up.

It’s the same with sheets and pillows. Have you even thought about buying new ones? Even if you were to spend a lot of money on expensive sheets it still wouldn’t come close to the amount you spend on crap. If you skip a few cinema nights you will have the money to buy silk sheets. The kind that makes you feel like heaven when they touch your skin. And you want pillows that instantly relax you as soon as your head hits them. You won’t regret it.

Living rooms should be luxurious

It’s the same idea with your living room furniture. You can pick up a nice couch for cheap, but if you spend a few extra hundred dollars you could have something that is a pleasure to sit on. The kind that makes you fall asleep when you’re watching TV. You’ll probably have the same one for a good few years. Wouldn’t it be great if you spent a bit more money on the best one you could afford?

Who cares about a nice little hardwood cabinet to keep your ornaments on? You don’t sit on that. Just buy a cheap one and spend the extra money on what you will really get the use out of. It’s nice to have a living room that looks beautiful, but you don’t want to sacrifice your comfort for a nice bookshelf. Spend that little bit extra on curtains that don’t let any light in. When you close them and settle down to watch TV it’s a lot easier to get cozy.

A bathroom is not for going to the toilet

Yeah, you go to the bathroom to use the toilet, but then you close the door and don’t bother going back in again. It’s easy to turn the bathroom into somewhere you’ll love. Firstly, it depends if you use a bath or shower to wash. If you use a shower you should have a lovely powerful one that could potentially rip your skin off when the water touches it. It feels so much better. I mean a powerful shower; not when you’re skin gets ripped off.

And if you use a bathtub it should be one that you can sink right into. A big deep one like the ones you see in 5-star hotels. They don’t cost 10x the price. Not if you look for a good deal, but it’s somewhere you can relax to your hearts content. If you love using the hot-tub when you go to a health club, you have to ask yourself why you don’t have a bathtub with a jet stream built in. Always aim for maximum comfort before anything else.

Christina Appleworth is an expert interior designer who suggests the liberal use of web blinds for home improvement purposes.

Luxury Mattress and Bedding Sets to Pamper Your Inner Diva

by Trish

Who doesn’t want to stay even for just a night at a spa hotel, right? The luxurious room and the equally luxurious mattress and beddings are enough to make you want to extend your stay. They’re also probably enough to make you feel pampered as you fall asleep at night.

If you want to experience the same luxury at home, then why not start by looking for a luxury mattress? In addition to this, you also have to look for the perfect bedding sets to complement your expensive mattress.

Tips in Choosing Luxury Mattress

There are so many factors that you need to consider if you’re after a luxury mattress. For one, you have to consider the size of the mattress. If you want a comfortable and restful sleep at night, then be sure that the mattress can easily accommodate you and your bed partner with lots of space to spare. You don’t want to fight for bed space in the middle of the night, nor do you want to sleep curled up in an uncomfortable position just so you fit the mattress.

In addition to mattress size, you also have to consider the brand of the mattress. Always purchase mattresses made by trusted and reputable brands. Yes, they may be more expensive than common non-branded ones, but if you consider the materials used, the durability, and the technology that came with its production, you will find that it is worth your money and more.

It’s very important that you choose a luxury mattress that not only provides you comfort but also supports your neck and back properly. The higher the coil count, the more expensive and luxurious the mattress is, but the better comfort and support it will also give you. Also, it’s advisable that you choose mattresses with a thick but firm padding.

Tips in Choosing Luxurious Bedding Sets

When it comes to choosing luxurious bedding sets, be mindful of the thread count. As a general rule, the higher the thread count of the bedding set, the more luxurious it is. However, the more luxurious the bedding set is, the more expensive it becomes. If you’re after comfort and durability though, then go for those with a higher thread count.

Much like you would choose a luxury mattress, you should also take into consideration the brand of the bedding sets. Branded bedding sets are made from expensive fabric, so you can be assured that it will always give you a luxurious and restful sleep at night. Fabrics to choose include cotton, silk, as well as sateen. For warmth, go for fabrics such as wool as well as flannel.

Finally, choose the right size of bedding sets for your mattress and pillows. It will be a waste of good money to purchase bedding sets that won’t fit your mattress and pillows.

Luxurious mattress and pillows covered in equally luxurious bedding sets will always make you feel pampered. Because these can be pretty expensive, you have to know how to take care of them properly, so always use the right products when cleaning and washing them. See to it that you store the bedding sets properly so they won’t get easily damaged.

Jennifer Dahlman writes for http://www.ParklaneMattresses.com, a trusted and reputable provider of luxury mattresses. If you want to learn more about mattresses, be sure to give their site a visit.

Five Feng Shui Techniques That Will Help The Energy Flow In Your Home

by Trish

The art of feng shui is a way of decorating as to bring positive feelings and joy into a home. When you fung shui your home a person can find health and prosperity. Feng shui can be used in a variety of environments from office building to homes. The following feng shui home techniques will help you to enjoy your home more.

There are five ways that you can fung shui your home.

Clear Clutter: The first step is to clear the clutter, this means removing everything from the house that is not wanted. This can be done by organizing and then discarding the unwanted items. This is one of the most important steps and is a must.
Change Colors: The second step is to change the colors; this can be done by applying a coat of paint. Color is important when it comes to fung shui your home. There are five elements of color Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The colors of fire can be seen in Red, Orange, Purple, Pink, and Strong Yellow. The colors of Earth are seen with Light Yellow and Beige and other Earth or Sand colors. Metal is the third color in the feng shui home technique with the colors of Gray and White. Fourth feng shui home technique color is water which is found in Blue and Black. The final color in fung shui is Wood featured in the colors Brown and Green.
Organize the Room: The third step is to organize the bedroom to allow for positive airflow by ensuring that your feet do not face the door when lying on the bed. The bedroom must also have an equal number of items beside the bed.
Close the Lid: The bathroom is the fourth way can be accomplished by closing the lid on the toilet and the door closed is a way to keep the good luck from going down the drain.
Clawfoot Bathtubs: The fifth way to fung shui your home is in the bathroom by adding clawfoot bathtubs. The clawfoot bathtubs which feature round corners can add a balanced flow.

A person can find that using these feng shui home techniques will help fung shui your home. A happier, healthier and more prosperous home can be achieved when using these tips. The addition of clawfoot bathtubs to your home will help with the flow of energy in the bathroom.

Lila is home decor specialist and blogger. For more information about improving your home please visit simplybathtubs.com

The Best Entres to Match Your Meal

by Trish

Entrees are not something that appears only when you invite guests for dinner. They can be a terrific way to try new flavours. When paired with your main meal, entrées can be a tasty way of satisfying hunger.

Steak – Prawns and Broccoli with Brew

Seafood and beef have always been a terrific combination. If you are thinking of serving steak, then this recipe will be the perfect entrée for your meal!

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

30 prawns, peeled and cleaned (five per serve)
5 clove of garlic, minced
1 shallot thinly diced
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 cup of tea, brewed and cooled (use 2 teabags)
Pepper
1 broccoli cut into florets
3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons of olive oil

Method:

Combine 4 minced cloves of garlic, minced ginger, the cooled tea, pepper and diced shallot then add the prawns. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Mix together the olive oil, garlic and parmesan and coat the broccoli well. Place the broccoli onto a lightly greased tray and place it into a 350’F oven for 20 minutes.

Remove the prawns from the marinade and measure out ½ cup of the liquid. Take the broccoli from the oven, mix through the ½ cup of marinade and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.

While the broccoli bakes, grill the prawns quickly. When ready, toss the prawns together with the broccoli and serve.

Chicken – Chorizo Couscous

Any chicken dish will love this entrée. It is sure to have people wanting more!

Serves: 4

You Will Need:

2 chorizo sausages finely diced.
1 sliced onion
2 cups of French beans
1 diced tomato
½ cup pitted black olives (can be omitted)
A little olive oil
Couscous

Instructions:

Follow the direction on the packet for couscous and make enough to provide 2 servings.

Top and tail the fresh green beans and blanch for only a few minutes. Drain.

In a frying pan, heat a little olive oil and brown the chorizo sausage. Add the onion and stir until the chorizo is crispy, fragrant and falling apart and the onion is soft. Add the black olives and the tomato. Stir through. Add the green beans and warm through.

To serve, spoon couscous onto the center of a plate and pile the chorizo bean mix on top.

Seafood – Savoury Pancaked

These tasty savoury pancakes are surprisingly simple and will definitely be the perfect way to herald in your seafood main.

ingredients:

¼ of a cup of all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons of milk
1 egg
1 sliced onion
A little butter
A splash of olive oil
1 packet of smoked salmon
1 tub of crème fraiche
Dill or chives to garnish

Method:

Slice the onion finely and sauté until soft. In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, egg and milk to make a batter. Stir through the cooked onions.

Place a knob of butter in the frying pan and cook palm-sized pancakes. Put three pancakes on each plate.

Spread each with crème fraiche and top with a generous slice of smoked salmon and garnish with some dill or chives.

David is the manager of Flying Fish Restaurant in Sydney, Australia. David prepares the menu at Flying Fish each day with his head chefs, selecting dishes made with the freshest ingredients available, always making sure there is an entree to match the main meals on offer. For more information on Flying Fish, visit their website here: www.flyingfish.com.au

Eight Tips For Home Office Design

by Trish

If you love to telecommute, you’ll love having a home office but only if it’s designed correctly. Home office design isn’t particularly complicated but it does require quite a bit of careful thought and planning. If you’ve recently decided to convert a room into an office, here are eight tips for getting the most out of your decision.

Spaciousness is Key

Space is everything when it comes to home office design. Considering the purpose of the room is to provide yourself with somewhere to lock yourself away for a few hours, a cramped space is not something that you want. If your choice of room is up for debate, go with the larger option. If it’s not, maximise the space that you have available to you by keeping your furnishings to a minimum.

Invest in a Quality Chair

If you’re going to blow your budget on something, make it the chair. When it comes to office chairs, you really do get what you pay for. And when you consider the amount of time that you are likely to be sitting in it, it’s worth paying a lot. Consider the ergonometric variety and never buy before you try.

Storage Space Matters

Regardless of how neat you consider yourself to be, if you don’t have space to put anything, you can expect to be working in a pretty messy environment. Storage space is therefore not something that you can afford to skimp on. Sleek filing cabinets will not only make you feel like a professional, they’re also the perfect solution to your document storage needs.

What do You Need?

Take a look online and you’ll find all manner of fancy desks and storage units. Before purchasing anything however, it’s important to ask yourself exactly what you need. Do you use a laptop or a desktop? Does your work require ample desk space? What items do you need to have easy access to? If you don’t take the time to answer these questions, you are highly unlikely to end up with a home office that meets your needs.

Don’t Work Against the Wall

The last thing you want is a desk that faces a blank wall. If your home office has a window, that’s where your desk should go. If not, it should face outwards, preferably towards the door.

Tame Your Wires

Despite the popularity of wireless internet, wireless power has yet to be invented. This means that your home office is never going to be completely free of tangles. You can however keep such tangles to a minimum with cord winders, tubing and conveniently placed holes in your desk.

Choose Colours You Love

One of the benefits of telecommuting is that you don’t need to work in a stuffy office environment. Don’t make the mistake of creating one at home. Beige has no place in a modern home office. Choose colours that you love. It’s also worth noting that different colours tend to have different effects on different people. Try to establish what colours are most likely to keep you calm, and of course, productive.

Keep Things Bright

Finally, if you want to minimise eye strain and generally stay productive, ample lighting is very much required. To make the most of natural light, you should try to keep your windows as bare as possible. And when it comes to artificial lighting, don’t rely exclusively on the ceiling variety. Additional lighting in close proximity to your desk is very much recommended.

Ed Markwell is an interior designer with a passion of protecting the environment from global warming. He recommends replacing older models of gas boilers with new ones to slash energy use by 50%.

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Steak – Prawns and Broccoli with Brew

Chicken – Chorizo Couscous

Seafood – Savoury Pancaked

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