Author: SPC Web

Your kitchen is probably going to be the busiest room in your house, and that is especially true if you have a large family as there will always be someone who is in the kitchen at any given moment.

For the person who is responsible for the majority of the meals prepared in the kitchen, the kitchen is often seen as a very personal space. That is why it is important to make sure that this busiest and most used rooms in the modern home, is decorated they way that you want it.

Curtains can bring fresh new look

One of the simplest, but often most dramatic of all changes that you can make to your kitchen is to replace the old curtains with new ones. New curtains can change the whole look of your kitchen and even this one simple alteration can give your kitchen a whole new look.

Accessorize

Great decorating ideas for your kitchen include fresh accessories. During heavy use, your kitchen accessories can become old and prone to being damaged. That is why you need to think about replacing your old and worn out accessories with newer ones, as this will also go some way to changing the look and the feel of your old kitchen.

Items such as, kitchen towel holders, bread boxes and even storage boxes can make a dramatic difference to the feel of your kitchen. Another thing you can do is to buy yourself a new state of the art kitchen appliance, such as a new coffee machine or even a bread maker.

A new coat of paint

A new paint scheme could be just the thing to brighten up your tired looking kitchen, and it is amazing just what a fresh coat of paint or a new colour scheme can do to the appearance of your kitchen, especially when done in conjunction with the other ideas already listed here. Instead of painting the walls in one plain colour, you can add a personal touch by adding a border or by using stencils.

Artwork is something which a lot of people neglect in the kitchen, but it is a good way to liven up the walls of your kitchen, whilst at the same time giving it character.

By adding your personality to what is probably the busiest rooms in your home, then you are turning your working space in to more of a living space.

There are several reasons why paint will crack or peel. Fortunately, we’ve compiled the following list of the three most common explanations for this issue in order to help you figure out the exact source of your problem.

Moisture may be seeping in

If the cracking or peeling is occurring on interior walls or ceilings, it may be a result of moisture seeping in from outside. If the paint on your ceiling is cracking or peeling, a leaky roof is more than likely to be the source of your problem. If this is the case, you must find and then eliminate the source of the leak before applying a new coat of paint.

On a smaller level, condensation may also cause paint to crack and peel. The edges of metal casement windows are especially prone to cracking and peeling for this reason. In order to prevent this from happening, install storm windows and apply caulking to the frame.

An unprepared surface

If your paint is cracking or peeling even though it’s recently been painted, it may be due to a failure to properly prepare the surface before painting it. Before you apply a base coat to any surface, it is essential that you properly clean it and also ensure that it is not moist at all.

Washing the surface is an essential part of the painting preparation process in order to prevent the final coat from cracking and peeling over time.

Brittle coats

If you paint over surface multiple times, the older coats will become brittle over time, thereby reducing the coats’ ability to bond with one another.

This ultimately can result in the cracking or peeling of the outermost layer of paint. In order to remedy this problem, you must completely remove all of the old coats of paint with the use of paint remover prior to applying a new coat to the surface.

Alligatoring

“Alligatoring” is a term used to describe the developments of fine cracks in a coat of paint, causing it to resemble the skin of the animal that shares a namesake with this term. This problem is caused by paint being applied too quickly to a surface, which prevents the paint from expanding and drying properly.

In order to fix this, all coats of paint must be removed completely and then the surface must be painted anew. Make sure to leave enough time in between the application of new coats in order to prevent this process from ruining the final coat.

Whether working in the office or from home, it’s always difficult to make the most of your space. You don’t want to be taking up too much room, but you don’t want to be cramped either. Not to mention the importance of properly storing personal belongings and supplies! This guide will help you make the most of the space you have, as well as helping you choose the proper desk and storage facilities.

Choosing the right desk

You’re going to be sitting at your desk for long periods of time throughout the day so it’s important to choose a good one, consider what type of workspace you need.

• Firstly, don’t assume bigger is better with a desk, you may end up spending more on a big desk which just ends up using space and gathering clutter than being a productive work place. Look at your current desk or place of work and measure out the amount of space you use and use this to reflect your next choice of desk.
• With multiple or large computer screens you’re going to need space for a keyboard as well as spare space. Consider getting a desk with a pull out portion underneath; you can store keyboards and other items here while keeping the top of the desk free. Look at different desk accessories and see if you can find any to help you be more productive.

Making the most of your floor space

Create a floor plan of your working space and look at the area you’re working with. Take into account furniture, walkways and other decorations.

• Give yourself a 150cm (about 60 inches) space behind your desk where your chair would be. This gives you room to move around comfortably and have a pathway too.
• Try to avoid cramping everything together if you can. And open space helps create an open mind and hopefully a better mind-set to help you work.
• With wires and electronics, you can usually find accessories to help keep them tidy and out of harm’s way. If you don’t mind spending a little extra, look for wireless options, which tend to be quicker and help keep things orderly.

Using the proper storage

Storage is a vital part in optimising your office space, and fortunately there are thousands of different types and styles of storage facilities you can use.

•  If you are looking for storage for around your desk, there are great options for shelving and racking systems. If you have space, take advantage of the room underneath your desk! Not only to the keep things ordered but it frees up space on top of your desk, just be sure that you have room left over for your legs to fit comfortably.
• Properly measure out the space you’ll need to store items and use those measurements to invest in a sturdy shelf! Shelves take up little room and are easy to access, whereas boxes and such tend to take up a lot of room and are difficult to go through when you need something.

 

For a lot of people, their living room is the one area of their home that gets the most use, and it is often the first room that visitors to their home will see. This is why a lot of people are constantly looking at ways in which they can freshen up the look of their living room on a regular basis.

With money tight for a lot of people right now, decorating a living room on a budget has become something of a necessity, and in this article, we will take you through some of the ways in which you can spruce up your staid and tired old living space, and give it a fresh new look.

Rugs

Bare floors and can’t afford to fit carpet? The answer to this problem is to use large rugs. Rugs can really brighten up a living space, especially if your living room is on the large side. Rugs look especially great when placed on to hardwood flooring, and they can define each area of your living room.

Wall Art

Walls can be spruced up with a lick of paint, however, minor adjustments such as adding wall art and mirrors can really make a difference here, as can clocks. A really nice wall mounted clock or even a grandfather clock can really add character to a living room.

Lighting

A small change in the way in which you light a room can make a massive difference, and just by making changes to the lampshades, or the position of freestanding lamps can make a lot of difference to the mood of the room. Candles can also make a big difference to a living room by giving it much more individuality and character.

Focal Points

All well designed rooms have a focal point, whether it is a Victorian looking fire surround and hearth, to having a large picture window. If your living room does not already have a focal point then you can easily make one by simply adding something of interest, such as an old cast iron stove or ornament, something that has character and can be a talking point.

Finally

As you can see, there are a number of ways in which you can transform the look and feel of your living room, without the need to buy expensive furniture, and just a few simple cosmetic changes can make all the difference.

 

If you are redecorating your bedroom, then you might well be considering adding a bit more style to it by introducing a mirror. The first choice that you will need to make when it comes to buying a mirror for your bedroom is whether you wish to have a vanity mirror, a freestanding mirror, or a wall mounted mirror.

The Various Types of Mirror

For practical use, that is for looking at oneself in the mirror to gauge how an outfit looks, freestanding mirrors are often the best solution, and you will often find these types of mirrors in the clothes shops. A vanity mirror will be one that is attached to a vanity or dresser, and these are often ideal for women that wish to sit down whilst applying makeup.

A wall mounted mirror speaks for itself, although they are a good item if you are looking to add the illusion of space to a small or cramped bedroom. Once you have made your choice, you will then have to decide on which design, shape and colour of bedroom mirror that you want.

Think About your Existing Bedroom Decor

When the times comes to go out and buy a mirror, you will need to think about how it will fit in with the other items of furniture that you already have in your bedroom. The mirror you choose should fit well, otherwise it is just going to look unsightly and out of place, and distract the eye.

Choosing a Freestanding Mirror

For the most part, a freestanding mirror will consist of two parts, and these are the stand, and the mirror itself. Typically, a freestanding mirror will pivot at the centre, allowing it to be adjusted, which will allow you to view your entire body, or just a certain part of it.

When choosing a freestanding mirror, make sure that you get one with a good strong base, and a strong pivot that will allow for easy movement. Also the mirror itself should be thick enough so that it does not warp and thus distort your image.

Choosing a Wall Mounted Mirror

Warping is also something that can seriously affect wall mounted mirrors, therefore, it is important that you find one that has some strong attachments and fixings on it, in order to lessen the chance of warping affecting your image.

 

If you are planning on decorating your daughter’s room in the near future, then you might be stuck for some original ideas. Depending on the age of your daughter, getting the decor just right is going to be somewhat difficult, not to mention complicated.

Just because your daughter is interested and obsessive about something now, does not necessarily mean that she is going to feel that way for a long time. In this article, we will take a look at some of the more common factors to consider when decorating a girl’s room.

Paint and Wallpaper

As a rule, paint is probably a better option than wallpaper if you have a very young daughter. Younger children have a tendency to scribble and draw on walls, and if your daughter is very young, paint should be your first choice.

In fact, a lot of paint manufacturing companies now specialise in offering paints for children’s rooms, which can be wiped clean, should they scribble or just get grubby finger prints everywhere. Wallpaper is a better option for when your daughter is more mature, and there are a lot of options out there

Blinds and Curtains

When the painting or wallpapering has been completed, you can accentuate it by the addition of blinds or curtains, which compliment the colour scheme you have chosen. In fact, a lot of people often choose to have both blinds and curtains for added style and for better privacy.

Furniture

Adding a table and a chair is a great way to make sure that pens and other implements find their way on to paper rather than your freshly decorated walls.

For younger girls, a desk will give them plenty of room to let their artistic side flourish, whilst for older girls, a desk will give them somewhere to do their homework. Another addition that will go down well is bunk beds. Bunk beds are ideal for when your daughter has a friend over for a sleepover.

Lighting

Something which is often overlooked by a lot of parents when the time comes to decorate their daughter’s bedroom is lighting, yet lighting a child’s room correctly can be just as important as any other room. You can opt for bright lamp shades, spotlights and do not forget a night light for those younger children who might find the dark a bit too enveloping.