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Turning A Hectic Home Into A Peaceful Retreat

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Many of us are completely overwhelmed by the time we come home and there can be little-to-no time to keep our place looking the way we’d like. One of the best words of advice we can offer those of you who just want a place to relax is to enjoy each moment you have with your family. The little moments come and go and before you know it, you may have just missed out on a lifetime. Instead of looking at the full picture – such as all the home improvements you wish you could afford today – begin with the smaller pieces. No home is going to be 100% clean, 100% of the time. It’s impossible and you’ll drive yourself crazy striving for that kind of perfection.


No More Hiding in the Dark

Especially when you have a day off, it can be extremely easy to want to curl up in bed and sleep the day away. When you have a dark room, it’s much more difficult for your body to want to wake up each and every day. As much of a change as it may be, open up those windows bright and early in the AM. Stick with your regular work schedule as closely as you can. You’ll feel much more refreshed and motivated to take on whatever today brings if you have the sun shining in and a nice breeze flowing through your home.

Have a Cleaning Buddy

Sometimes cleaning our own homes is difficult because we don’t view things as others would. Bringing a friend into the equation to help out around the house is going to mean much better results because they are going to notice the things you’ve become too accustomed to, to notice. Sometimes just having someone talking to you as you clean or playing music in the background is going to make for a much more enjoyable experience. We don’t recommend working in silence, unless of course, this feels like a break for you.

It’s Okay to Ignore the World

While we aren’t saying you should never answer your phone and hide in your apartment on your days off, technology can be stressful. Is it really going to be the end of the world if you take a few hours and shut that ringer off? Allow yourself the luxury of lying on the couch, curling up with a great book or watching that movie you’ve been dying to see. Make sure you create time to enjoy your home, instead of it always being associated with a fast-paced life style. Choose a day of the week where there is zero cleaning allowed (other than minor pick-ups, of course such as toys or placing laundry in the laundry basket). If all you think of when you picture home is a cluttered mess and stress, then it’s time to add some fun to the mix and this may mean hiring a babysitter once or twice a month to get that much needed one-on-one time with your spouse.

Martha Illingworth is a leading supplier of verticl blinds in NYC. She fancies writing on topics of home improvement and suggests several useful tips that can make one’s house a peaceful place to live in.

Fireplaces Can Be Seriously Cool

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There is something truly magical about a functional fireplace in the living room of a family home. You just seem to gravitate towards this feature as the heat and flames capture the entire room’s imagination. It makes you think about years gone by, when you were a youngster on vacation, or maybe visiting your grandparents for Christmas. You dare not get too close, but you can’t resist and eventually feel the warm glow against your skin. Fireplaces seem to be making a renaissance in modern homes, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Here we take a look at the practical reasons why you should think about fireplaces when you next get the home improvement bug in your system.

 Great In Bad Weather Conditions

Fire Angel

Whether your fireplace is set up to burn wood or coal, it is totally independent on external power sources. For some reason, power cuts tend to be more frequent during the winter months. Instead of being huddled around a solitary candle, you can be as warm as toast in front of your beautifully flaming fireplace. Don’t be surprised if you hear a knock on your door though, the neighbors will probably be queuing up for a slice of the action.

Multifunctional Options

Some fireplaces are designed so that they can power a cooking stove as well as heat your home nicely. You can make a lovely winter stew in the morning and keep it simmering for days as you smile, knowing the gas or electricity bill will not be affected. You can pretend to be on an exploring trip with your kids and get hold of some marshmallows on sticks, and heat up some hot chocolate on the stove.

Ambience With a Warm Smile

1991 X-mas

As we have already mentioned, the fireplace is one of those features that just keeps on giving. It is a living entity in your front or back room and your entire family will wonder how on earth they managed without it before. Imagine the scene at next Christmas Eve, your children and faithful dog all curled up around the fireplace as ‘Santa’ carefully hangs the festive stockings, pure magic!

Form with Economic Functionality

As well as the beauty of your new focal point, you can look forward to lower fuel bills in the immediate future. If your fireplace is a standalone model, it will happily heat your front or back room for the price of a bag of coal or wood every week or so. If you connect the fireplace up to your heating duct system, it will move the heat around your home. You will soon recoup the cost of installing the unit. If you can install or design a fireplace that heats your home and also cooks your food, you will be taking a big step towards becoming non-dependant on the big utility companies that hike up the charges whenever they see fit. In the summertime, you can clean out the furnace and the fireplace will still add a touch of class to your living room.

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Today’s guest post is courtesy Mark Whinehouse, a dealer of marble in New York. Home renovation is an issue very close to his heart and wishes to have a fireplace for his home. When he is in the peacuful confines of his home, he lets his creative juices flow and writes about home improvement.

Electricity Can Kill – Be Safe In Your Home And Garden

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Electricity is a wonderful thing and it can bring us heat and light, and even power our favorite home appliances. But it can also be dangerous when not respected or maintained properly. Even a badly wired plug can cause instant death if you are unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. We should be vigilant in the family home, especially with young children. Here we talk about ways to make your house as safe as possible as far as electricity is concerned.

Child Friendly

It can be heartbreaking to read about an infant who was electrocuted when he stuck a fork into an electrical socket. Kids are very curious and this type of tragedy happens very often these days. Why take the risk, just install a plastic safety cover on all of your plug sockets. Do the same for your extension sockets because you never know when tiny hands might start to pry.

Overload

Try not to add too many plugs to your input sockets, they can cause a power balance and possibly even an electrical fire. Try to employ some extension leads or ask your local electrician to add some extra electric outlets. Test the surface temperature, if the plug feels warm, you should turn the switch off immediately.

Cord Condition

Check all of your appliance cords to see what type of condition they are in. even your hifi system can cause an electrical fire if the cords are frayed and electrical sparks escape. Any sign of serious wear and tear and you should replace them immediately.

Common Sense

It may seem attractive and tidy to run your extension leads under your carpets, but this is a very dangerous idea in practice. These cables were not designed to have heavy feet walking over them on a regular basis. If you are using too many extension leads, it is time you seriously added to your wall outlets.

Garden Power

One of the most common places for serious electrical accidents is your garden. The lawnmower is the biggest culprit, be extra careful when using one with an electrical cable. There have been many incidents that have resulted in the death of careless gardeners. Always be aware of the location of your electric cable when thrashing around with those sharp blades.

Electrician Checks

It is good practice to ask your local electrician to perform health check of your home every couple of years. You may think he will be touting for business, but he should be able to alert you to any potential electrical nightmares before they ruin your day, or even worse.

Fuse Box

If your lights or appliances stop working, before you do any investigative work, ensure that the power to your fuse box is removed. Many people have had fatal shocks when doing something as simple as changing a light bulb. If you are not comfortable carrying out one of these repairs, you should call on the services of someone who is familiar with electrical maintenance.

Today’s guest post is courtesy Radek Johnson, an electrician by profession. He understands that electricity is a blessing, but also advises people to be careful and not underestimate its devastating effect. He believes that certain good practices like switching off power cords when  not in use go a long way in ensuring safety.

Areas Of A Home Most People Overlook When Decorating

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If you’ve been a homeowner for quite some time, then you can probably relate to just how much a room can change with the help of a few minor tweaks. Those new blinds and freshly painted walls can take a room from feeling outdated, to exciting and new. However, there are some areas of your home that you may be neglecting without even realizing it. While you may feel you’ve thought of everything possible to make your home look exactly the way you’d like it, at least one of the items we mention today has probably slipped your mind.

Putting Focus on the Not-So-Minor Details

Locked

While most home-improvement gurus are going to tell you about the importance of color, wall and yard decor, what many of them fail to mention are the upgrades that make a home look more aesthetically appealing. Sure, that perfectly themed bedroom may be stunning on the eyes, but can you imagine how much nicer the room would be if the doorknob matched as well? What about those towel holders in your bathroom? They’ve been there for quite some time and stick out like a sore thumb. These days, there is what seems like an endless number of possibilities because not only is shopping around easier than ever but so is having items custom-made.

Simplifying the Day

Warm Books for Cold Days - Chicken Soup for the Soul Books

The smallest changes can make the world of a difference. Not only that but they can make your life easier. Not have a place to hang your jackets near the front door? Why not install a barely-noticeable rack on the wall? You can choose to have it match the picture frames located on the same wall so even when they aren’t in use, they still blend nicely with the scenery. What about those books that always seem to fall over underneath your coffee table? A few matching bookends can not only give your guests another object to enjoy, but you won’t have to worry about falling books day in and day out.

Safety and Beauty Can Go Hand in Hand

When many adults think about safety, the last thing on their minds is design. A safe home means less time worrying about the children, the pets or any guests you may have staying the night. While you’re making upgrades to improve the security of your residence, why not do a bit of research and figure out if you can’t locate options that are not just going to offer the functionality you’re looking for but also the visual appeal that you’ve worked so hard to create throughout your home?

You Don’t Have to Go with the Majority

A perfect example of this would be household locks. It can be so easy to grab the first solution you come across, install it and go about your day – as most homeowners do. However, there are a wide range of good-looking solutions. Instead of sticking with the medal door handles you currently have and the mismatched deadbolt, why not spend a few extra bucks and get a completely new set? A lever may be more up your alley than a standard knob. While silver and gold are two of the most common colors, don’t be afraid to experiment a little. Choose a style that will compliment the rest of your home. The same goes for your deadbolt. Have you considered one that allows you to peak outside before completely unlocking your door? These are great when trying to keep little ones inside, while still being able to speak with the mail man or see if company has arrived.

Let Your Imagination Run Wild

Sage (111 / 365)

Once you begin noticing the items you typically didn’t offer a second glance, ideas are going to begin forming. Even something as simple as adding new hinges on your doors can mean a much better overall design. Walk through your home and take note of what objects you use but maybe haven’t truly ‘looked’ at in a while. Install a new towel holder or change the style of your blinds so they better match the rest of the home. Try not to reach for popular brands or companies because these are often going to offer the most expensive prices. Locate discount shops and ask local home improvement stores if they know where you can find different solutions. Much of the time, they are more than happy to work with you and potentially even offer you discounts in order to have your purchase with them, instead of the competition. Ask them if they would be willing to sit down with you and draw out room plans while you’re at it.

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Ron Gatting is a Interior dseigner by profession and also the author of today’s guest post. A fun loving guy, he likes to reinvent himself through his work by trying out new design ideas. He believes in compactness and effciency and trusts none other than adh.com.au for providing building materials. He has written several articles upto now on various topics and this is his latest one on home decor.

3 Ultimate Chill-Out Zone Ideas For Your Home

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Ah, the woes of modern life! We all seem to be caught up in an endless sequence that involves juggling work pressure, dealing with financial issues, family, and other social obligations, all at the same time. All these factors cause a lot of physical stress and mental strain, majorly due to lack of adequate sleep and poor eating habits – basically, a rather unhealthy lifestyle. In such situations it is imperative to take some time out to relax, unwind and refresh yourself. But once again, by the time your weekend off approaches, you’re hardly left with any energy to go for an outing, isn’t it? You’d rather stay indoors and laze around. Not a problem. If you don’t have the energy to step outdoors to loosen up a bit and indulge in some fun and recreation, why not bring the fun and recreation home to you instead? Yes, it is possible. Have a look at the following few home recreation ideas to build your very own chill-out zone at home!

A bar in the basement

Have you got a basement at your property? Has it been lying neglected and abandoned for as long as you can remember? Why not give it a brilliant makeover and turn it into an amazing bar! Imagine chilling in your basement with your mates over the weekend, enjoying a few pints and watching your favorite sport on television. You could utilize your personal bar to host small parties and gatherings to socialize with family members or close friends. Or maybe on a weekday, after a tiring day at work, you could just unwind in the bar with a soothing glass of wine. Sounds tempting, doesn’t it?

Swimming pool in the yard

Swimming in color

If you have a large backyard or even if you have an extended terrace, you could consider getting a swimming pool constructed. Depending upon the amount of space available there are plenty of interesting swimming pool designs you could choose from. Whether you want to relax in the pool on a hot Sunday afternoon, have a pool side barbecue party with your friends in the evening, or just have a fun session in the pool with your kids and wife, getting a swimming pool constructed at your property is one decision you will never regret. Moreover, it will also go on to add to the aesthetic value of your home.

A gaming room – up in the attic or out in the garage

wall invaders

When it comes to relaxing and unwinding, nothing comes close to the ultimate chill-out zone – a gaming room! How about cleaning up your attic and turning it into a fantastic gaming room? Or maybe you could take up the same project in your garage instead, if that’s more convenient. Having a personal gaming zone at home can be epic – an ideal way to escape from daily stress, office tensions and pesky partners! The main things that could go into your game room would be a pool table, darts, a television set for gaming and movies, a couple of cozy sofas, a mini fridge to store soft drinks, milkshakes or beers, and a few table games like Checkers, Uno, Jenga and Monopoly.

So say goodbye to stress and anxiety by investing in these incredible home relaxation and recreation ideas – a permanent solution to all your modern life woes.

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Jennifer Atkinson is a house wife and loves to keep her home neat and tidy. Along with the usual activities that she undertakes to keep her house clean she also has a chill out zone i.e a swimming pool in her house where she unwinds after the days work. She suggests using the services of Sunbreaker pools if you want to construct a swimming pool at your place. She also likes to blog about various household issues.

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