Category Archives: Home Renovation

An Ultimate Home Renovation Guide

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Category : Home Renovation

Have you ever decided to renovate your house but confused about where and what to begin with? Should you start with remodelling your living room, your kitchen, or your bathroom? Should you start by demolishing unused spaces, repainting your faded walls, replacing old windows or installing new plumbing systems?

If you are looking for answers to these questions, then you are in the right place.

What are the first steps you need for a home renovation?

Firstly, make a to-do list. List down all the changes that need to be carried out. Analyse all the aspects of your house which require serious remodelling. For example, if notice water stains coming from the roof, you need to repair your roof. If you are getting frequent electrical surges, you may want to check for faulty electrical appliances or consider rewiring your entire system. These issues are among the more common signs that your home needs some TLC.

Secondly, prepare a budget. House renovations are usually expensive projects that require significant investments. Taking into consideration your to-do list, try to analyse and calculate approximately how much the entire job will cost. For example, the expenses for the remodelling of the kitchen could include the cost of adding new quartz countertops, new vintage kitchen faucets and new sleek kitchen appliances. Now, compare your estimated expenditures with your actual funds to see if your renovation project is feasible.

Once you have your budget set, try to prioritise the rooms that desperately need remodelling. For example, if you have a limited amount of resources available, you might want to cross out some minor renovations for next time and focus on the most significant ones.

Who will carry out the renovations?

You can hire professionals for a home renovation. If you recruit a contractor, they will help you with the where, when and how of starting your renovation project. You can also hire an interior designer or architect to get more creative and appealing house concepts. A 2015 survey by Houzz’s staff noted how high-quality results were obtained due to contractors and design-build firms.

However, if you have some DIY skills and equipment, and if your project is small enough, you might be better off handling the renovation yourself so that you can save money.

With the high number of online interior design services and DIY home renovation ideas available to you, you can quickly develop interesting ideas for your home renovation. In addition, you can research the items that you need to buy and look for the cheaper prices. This is known as a cost-saving strategy for all homeowners.

Start the Renovations

Once you have established your priority list, budget, plan, and strategies, the work can begin.

First, it is essential to clean out all the clutter and junk to create more space. Then, as per the design crafted by the contractor or by yourself, the demolishing or remodelling process can start. New plumbing systems are installed, roof leakages are repaired, damaged windows are replaced, fresh paint is applied, concrete floor covering is installed, and brand-new furniture and appliances are arranged.

However, one vital thing to keep in mind while renovating is the budget. According to the 2017 statistics of Houzz, 46 percent of homeowners had exceeded their fixed budgets. Most of the time, it can happen that you have exceeded your set budget. Or, other unexpected issues can arise.

The only way out is to have a backup plan.

A backup involves arranging extra equipment, resources and support of people ahead of time and before the renovation project starts. You make preparations in case your ideas fail or your project turns into a never-ending nightmare. It also ensures that you do not get stuck and do not have to pull your hair out.

According to several home renovators we’ve spoken to: “renovation is like pulling a loose thread on a cheap sweater- the job keeps unravelling.”

Do you have the same opinion? Please share your comments.

How to Renovate an Old House (Part 2)

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Category : Home Renovation

This post is a continuation of Part 1 on How to Renovate an Old House. Lately, we have gone through Facade work, Work on the walls, and the facade’s Materials.

This post will now cover:

    • Renovation of the roof of an old house
    • Renovation of the openings of an old house
    • The interior work

Renovation of the roof of an old house

The renovation of an old roof depends on the materials it is made of and its condition. From simple cleaning to the pure and simple replacement of its covering, the operation requires a professional roofer’s services. Firstly, the roof is a structural element of the house that requires the most outstanding care and because roofing work is dangerous and requires specific know-how and equipment.

Tiles

It is the most used coating on roofs in the USA. But the incomparable durability of the material means that some parts that are more than a hundred years old will sometimes be challenging to replace identically.

Suppose cleaning, defoaming, and treatments are not enough, and too many worn parts need to be replaced. In that case, one should consider completely redoing the roof and choosing tiles that respect the building’s original architecture.

Slates

Widespread in the North and West of the USA, slates also make up a very durable roof covering. Therefore, as with tiles, replacing the most worn parts with the same size models is challenging.

For maintenance, lightly leached water and an anti-foam treatment are sufficient.

Thatched roof

A thatched roof is very authentic and very insulating but less durable. It requires regular maintenance and must be completely redone every 40 years. It implies specific know-how that only a thatcher will be able to accomplish.

Gutters

Fundamental to the durability of roofs, the proper evacuation of rainwater must be the subject of particular care. Once the gutters have been cleaned and unclogged, they must be checked for water tightness, the slightest leak must be traced, and the most damaged segments must be replaced when necessary.

Note: Complete roof renovation is an opportunity to insulate it from the outside and check the roof structure’s general condition. By exposing the surface, you can access these usually inaccessible parts of the building. In an old house, it will be necessary to make sure that the structure is not damaged and improve the insulation to get closer to today’s thermal standards.

Renovating openings in an old house

This is a delicate point in the renovation of old houses. Unless you have a large budget, it is impossible to preserve old joinery without sacrificing the house’s thermal comfort.

In other words, you will have to choose between keeping your old doors and windows that are not very resistant to outside temperatures and noise or replacing them with current models that are more insulating.

Good to know: when the trees on the property are indicated on the house’s cadastral plan, their felling must be reported to the town hall, which may sometimes order them to be replanted.

The interior work

Unless your home is a heritage property, what you do with the interior is your business. It’s up to you to choose the level of comfort you hope to obtain, taking care to secure the building.

Structure of the building

 

The load-bearing walls, bracing beams, floors, stairs, and chimneys must be thoroughly inspected. Renovating an old house is often an opportunity to update its structural elements. Therefore, it is essential to take advantage of this opportunity to clean and treat them (insecticides and fungicides for wooden beams, anti-rust for metal beams) and to replace them if necessary.

Electricity

It is essential to consider the electrical network in the renovation of an old house. For example, the internal structure of cables, plugs, and switches must be brought up to current standards for obvious safety reasons.

Therefore, it is imperative to entrust this work to a professional electrician to remove the old circuit and install the new one. His intervention will also allow you to prove to your insurance company that the house is adequately secured.

Insulation

In an old house, insulation is sometimes non-existent or provided by obsolete means. To guarantee a correct comfort level without exploding your heating bill, you will have to act by reinforcing it.

If the facade is beautiful, it is from the inside that you will have to proceed by fixing insulation against the walls before partitioning them. If, on the other hand, the facade requires an exterior lining, then it will be possible to preserve the interior walls.

Heating

An old house also means old-fashioned heating. Between the chimneys open to the 4 winds and the boilers of another age, an old house’s renovation also involves replacing such equipment.

Fireplaces can be closed by inserts or even replaced by stoves for more efficient heating.

So, that’s it for the renovation of an old house. Should you have more tips and ideas, please remember to comment below and share this post with your friends.

Everything You Need to Know About Murphy Beds

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Category : Home Renovation

Murphy beds also known as hidden beds are unique and creative pieces of furniture. If you are looking for a bed for small spaces, such as studio apartments where you need to use every corner, the Murphy beds are the ideal option. Designed to fit perfectly on the wall, when closed, they give the illusion of being a closet, making them fit perfectly into the decor. Although the concept is similar, there are different types of murphy beds, which meet different needs.

If for reasons of space you need a bed that you can pick up and hide in no time, either because you have a studio flat or because you don’t have much space to receive guests, murphy beds are the option for these needs; thanks to its smooth opening and closing mechanism. If you are thinking of choosing the simplest design that looks like a closet, you will have single or double beds. The size can be based to your personal preferences and the beds can be opened vertically or horizontally. Because they are attached to the wall, it is wise to consider the wall’s size before opting for a single or double bed. You can even use two separate beds for shared rooms.

Today’s designers have succeeded in applying the basic concept of the murphy bed in countless models. You can get beds that just fit into a niche in the wall or complete shelves that house the folding bed in the middle. In the same way, some are shelves and have a desk and additional storage space so that when closed, it looks like a modular piece of furniture with lots of shelves.

The wall units can be designed according to the size of the room and your wishes. Usually, the attached wall unit consists of vertical shelves of the same size on both sides. The lower part of the vertical frames is generally designed as a side table. Besides, the shelves on each larger side can be extended to form a steeper set of shelves. In case you need a study table or computer desk, one side can be extended; in short, you can adjust it as you wish.

Now, the finish for Murphy beds is very varied. For example, you can close it with glass doors, laminates to match the decoration, and cabinet-like doors, although you can leave the shelves open. It all depends on your taste and the budget you have. Explore all the options. You can decide on models that come ready to assemble or contact your trusted carpenter to design a unit at your convenience.

You must evaluate all these points before deciding on any folding bed option that you can find in the economic model. On the other hand, it is worth noting that this has improved significantly over the years, thanks to new technologies and comfort systems.

Home is where the heart is. A house becomes a home with its people, their feelings, and their union, and each one reflects the personality of its inhabitants. Who wouldn’t want theirs to be more spacious, bright, and homey? Although a large house is the dream of many, you can make the most of small spaces, optimizing all the available space with murphy beds!

If you want to create a convenient, functional, and flexible space, the team at Murphy Beds and Storage Solutions provides custom or pre-built Murphy Beds to ease people’s lives. Whether you’re looking for a bed with a specific use or need a bed for a small space, their murphy beds can be tailored to your requirements. Contact them for more information!

7 Simple Ways to Enhance Your Existing Kitchen

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Category : Home Improvement Home Renovation

There are several solutions to renovate your kitchen, creating a new and modern environment.

The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in a house, and it’s essential that you feel comfortable carrying on your tasks in it. If you are tired of your kitchen but cannot build a new one, the existing one’s renovation is possible. But how to beautify an old kitchen?

Giving the kitchen a new life is possible. There may be several reasons you want to change or transform it, but with a few small tricks, your kitchen will have further details, giving your surroundings a fresher and more modern air.

Let’s see how to do this in a simple and economical way.

1) Paint

The first way to give a new life to your kitchen is to change the color of your doors or walls. If the furniture and other accessories are made of wood, it will be easier to do. Just choose the most appropriate color and start painting. The colors to choose from are varied: pastel shades, neutral colors, white or black to give your kitchen a touch of modernity, or you can opt for bright colors or contrasting chromatic effects. This will add a touch of freshness and vibrancy to your surroundings.

Anglo-Caribbean Splendor | Kitchen styling, Moroccan interiors, Moroccan style interior

2) Change the Floor

The floor is one of the most characteristic elements in the room. The change itself can create the impression of living in a completely new, different environment than the previous ones.

If you do not want to incur high costs, you can opt for laminate. Modern and economical, it is applied directly to the previous floor, avoiding masonry work. Some different colors and sizes fit perfectly to any need.

The same operation can be done on the walls. The trend is especially integrating a wall chalkboard into the kitchen. The walls, preferably only one, can be transformed into huge, practical, and original boards.

3) Cover the Ruined Furniture

If the doors and kitchen furniture are old and worn out, furniture curtains are an excellent solution. Simple and economical, they are available in different colors, shapes, and sizes and give your kitchen a new style in just a few steps.

24 Best Kitchen Cabinet Curtain Ideas and Designs for 2020

4) Change the Splash Guard

Splash guard is a fundamental element in the kitchen. It protects walls from dirt, making the environment lively and colorful. Its replacement is straightforward and will immediately give your kitchen a new face. The use of materials such as resin or glass allows for creating a modern and customized environment.

Kitchen Splash Back - Free photo on Pixabay

5) Lighting the Environment

An excellent way to modernize the kitchen is to light the environment. Eliminating bulky hanging cabinets, replacing them with open shelves and containers will give new light to the environment, make them more aesthetic, and better organize the space.

6) Buy New Appliances

It is undoubtedly an operation that involves some economic expenditure, but very little is needed to renovate your kitchen. The appliances are an integral part of the environment, and their purchase certainly has a lower cost than remodeling the entire kitchen. The catalogs to choose from are different, two or three new appliances are sufficient, placed with care, and designed to give new life to the environment.

7) Give New Life to Furniture

Kitchen furniture is essential. As we have already seen, they can be painted or covered, but there are other solutions. If they are made in white for the table and chairs, you can get a silage effect, typical of country chic style. Alternatively, you can create DIY furniture and shelves, functional and perfect for reorganizing your space.

If the furniture accessories are no longer suitable for you, you can choose to replace some of them. It can also be wonderful to keep the table and change the chairs, perhaps buying them in a more modern and exceptional style and design.

Do you have any other tips to help renovate an existing kitchen? Share it with us in the comments below!

Which Paint to Choose for Baby’s Room

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Category : Home Renovation

Summary

    – Paint for baby’s room: the most fashionable colors

    – Criteria for choosing paint for baby’s room

    – Paint for baby’s room: points of sale and prices

As birth approaches, many preparations are to be expected. Among them are the layout and decoration of the room of the future child. Many questions then arise: what color to choose? What type of paint should be used? How to ensure the future baby’s safety while offering a room that is both soothing and welcoming? The point now.

Paint for baby’s room: the most fashionable colors

To make the baby’s room soothing and to facilitate his rest, it is advisable to turn to the following colors:

    – White: classic, this color has the advantage of being neutral and can be easily decorated with pictures, drawings, or photos. Similarly, white can be chosen matt, satin, or gloss.

    – Pastel and neutral colors: chosen in light shades, they bring calm and serenity to the baby’s room.

    – Blue or pink: these are the traditional colors according to the sex of the child.

    – Colors that evoke a specific universe: blue for the ocean, green for the forest, gold for dreams, etc.

Caution: since the eyes of infants are particularly sensitive to bright colors, it is advisable to avoid, during the first year, very bright colors such as red, yellow, or fuchsia.

Criteria for choosing paint for baby’s room

Before you start designing a baby’s room, it is recommended that you pay attention to the following points:

    The paint’s composition must be free of toxic agents or solvents to prevent irritating the bronchial tubes or cause any other intoxication if the baby swallows it. The colors known as “mineral” paints are those that represent the least danger for the smallest.

    – The maintenance: the room will be one of the places of life among most important for baby; the painting must thus be easily washable in the event of spots or degradations.

    – The amount of paint to buy will depend on the space to be painted, expressed by the manufacturers in yield per square meter.

    – The respect of quality standards such as Eco-label.

    – The color of the furniture intended to decorate the baby’s room so that the whole is harmonious and coherent.

Tip: if the work is done shortly before the child’s birth, it is recommended to have it done by professionals to limit any fatigue to the future mother.

Painting for baby’s room: points of sale and prices

Paint for a baby’s room can be purchased in:

    – all DIY stores;

    – some stores specializing in the sale of childcare accessories;

    – on the Internet.

The budget to be planned depends on the price of the chosen paint and the walls’ surface to be painted. Average prices vary between:

    – $10 to $15 for an entry-level 2-liter jar of paint;

    – $30 to $40 for a 2.5-liter pot of ecological paint without toxic particles, allowing you to paint about 20 m².

Please note: additional costs are expected if you wish to apply several coats of paint in the baby’s room.

For more information on the baby’s room, please click here:

 How to Decorate Baby’s Room (Part 1)

How to Decorate Baby’s Room (Part 2)

Hope this post has pleased you! Do remember to drop a few comments below to share your thoughts and experience. We would like to hear from you also! Do not hesitate to request to read on something particular. We will revert to you with as much information as needed.

7 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Washbasin

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Category : Home Improvement Home Renovation

The washbasin is probably the most essential part of the bathroom. We use it for numerous things such as brushing our teeth, shaving, washing our hands and hair dyes, etc. There are many factors to consider before choosing the right bathroom sink for your home. Here are some tips that may ease the process for you!

1) Choose a Model That Suits Your Style and Interior Design

In general, there are two different types of washbasins: a standard washbasin or a furniture washbasin. A classic washbasin is placed separately in a room (without a bottom cabinet). In contrast, a furniture washbasin is a washbasin that, as the name suggests, should be placed on a cabinet’s base. The second option allows you to choose between a surface-mounted washbasin and a built-in washbasin. The surface-mounted washbasin is placed on top of the cabinet base, while the built-in washbasin is built into the cabinet. Therefore, the built-in washbasin often looks denser than a washbasin installed on the surface.

2) One or Two Places of Use?

The choice of washbasin depends not only on your wishes but also on your bathroom’s capabilities. Do you use a toilet with a lot of people? Then you can avoid having to wait for each other in the morning when you are in a hurry with a washbasin with two places of use. Is your space limited, or do you live alone? Then a washbasin with one place to use is enough.

3) Single or Double?

There are different types of washbasins. For example, you can choose between a single or double washbasin. While a single washbasin consists of one part, a double washbasin consists of two parts. You only have one drainer with a single sink, while a double sink has two separate drainers.

4) What Kind of Design Are You Looking For?

A washbasin can have different designs, from round and square to flat or very deep. The choice depends on your personal preference and bathroom style. For example, the elegant square model fits perfectly into a modern bathroom, while the “wavy” design is better suited to a rustic bathroom style. Do you have a designer bathroom? Then choose an additional flat washbasin.

5) Types of Materials

You can choose from different models and sizes and have a wide choice when it comes to materials.

6) Choose a Practical Washbasin

Of course, appearance is essential. But also pay attention to practical aspects such as ease of cleaning and storage. For example, dirt is more likely to get stuck in sharp corners than when the washbasin has a round design. There are washbasins with a repellent coating to easily remove dirt and deposits from the surface. This ensures that the washbasin will stay beautiful and clean for longer. Want to put a lot of toiletries on the edge of your sink? Then choose a model with enough space around the sink.

7) Complete Your Washbasin

You are not there yet with the sink alone. The water must be drained; for this, you need a siphon and a drain plug.

A Cabinet Base

Of course, the furniture washbasin is not complete without a base cabinet. Choose a suitable model from different colors, materials, and sizes.

Siphon
A single washbasin needs one siphon, and a double washbasin needs two siphons. Make sure the siphon fits. Some base units do not have adequate recess and therefore require a space-saving siphon.

Drain plug
Again, the type of sink determines how many drains plugs you need. One sink requires one drain, and a double sink requires two drainers. You can choose between a lockable and a non-lockable plug.

Let us know if these few tips have helped you in the comments below!

Renovating Your Home Over the Weekend

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Category : Home Renovation

Feel like your house needs a makeover? Are you trying to see the same decor or the same hallway? In this case, it is essential to proceed with renovations because they will increase the beauty and value of your home. If you want to add to the beauty of your home, you should consider renovating it. Renovation projects make your home more comfortable and beautiful. If you are renovating your home to give it a modern look or change its appearance, you need to be aware of new trends that will add value to your home. You need to focus on aspects that are both fashionable and popular.

Today, there are many popular trends, such as energy saving applications, ecology and some trendy European styles. Design laminates are a popular trend in kitchen renovation, and even wood is famous for kitchen countertops and beams. Lighting is another attractive way to renovate that is also inexpensive. You can light up a certain area and use dimmers to make it look nice. And they help you adapt your home to your changing needs.

However, homeowners avoid making aesthetic changes because of the time it takes. Renovation projects are notoriously long and expensive. But don’t be discouraged. You can make your home attractive without spending several hours remodeling the kitchen and improving the bathroom.

Home Renovation Projects: Spend Less Time; Get More Results

Just as a new hair color can change your appearance, a quick renovation project can transform your home. Here are some projects you can complete over the weekend:

– Welcoming a new color

Painting a room is the easiest way to give it a makeover. You can paint the walls of the room in a trendy color to revive the area. If you are short on time, consider an accent wall. Colour a single wall in a bright color and make it the center of attention by using beautiful posters and photo frames.

– Make the floor look fantastic

In the past, homeowners were unaware of the possibilities of flooring when renovating their homes. Today, however, the situation is different. You can paint concrete floors and make them bright. You can opt for stained floors or use a stencil to create beautiful patterns. If you have a wooden floor, make sure you polish it with a quality product.

– Increase the number of storage spaces in the kitchen

Whatever the size of your kitchen, your family will welcome additional kitchen space. If there’s a corner in the kitchen that you can use for shelving, think about it. You’ll be happy to see how easy it is to install shelving and cabinets. You can paint them in a color that matches the theme of the kitchen and give the cooking area a nice look.

– Play with lighting

Lighting can make or break the appearance of a room. Feel free to use different lighting in the same place. Think about task lighting, ambient lighting and accent lighting to enhance the beauty of a room. Install an elegant chandelier or pendant to give the room a sophisticated look.

Home renovation projects don’t have to be a six-month adventure. You can take on a few quick projects over the weekend and enhance the beauty of your home. If you think your home needs improvement, don’t hesitate to undertake renovation projects. And don’t forget that if you need expert help, you can count on the services of a professional home renovation contractor.

So don’t worry about transforming your home. Unleash your creative side over the weekend and beautify your home.

You want the help of an expert to carry out your renovation project? CASS-A-BELLA CONSTRUCTION is there to help you. Hire Toronto’s favorite home renovation expert to give your kitchen a new look, improve the basement and renovate the living room.

Types of Fabric to Choose for Your New Couch

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Category : Home Improvement Home Renovation

Who doesn’t love a nice sofa? At the end of a tiring day, you can sit, lie down, play with the kids, watch a movie, the uses are countless! This is why choosing the right fabric for your sofa is also very important. Let’s have look at the different types of fabric and choose yours based on what you are inspired by and what you expect your couch to have so that your family can use it.

Simply put, you can find the following types of sofa fabrics available in the market: suede, leather, jacquard, chenille, linen, linen, suede, velvet, in addition to synthetic materials. Noble fabrics such as silk, for example, can be used for sofas, but it is best to limit them to pillows and decorations, as they can be challenging to clean. You want your sofa to last as long as possible.

1) Leather

Leather is ideal for those with animals and children at home and those who prioritize the practicality of cleaning and the design. Besides, leather will complement any type of décor.

Pros: Leather is beautiful, can adapt to cold and heat, and very easy to clean. You simply have to wipe with a damp cloth and that’s it!

Disadvantage: The only drawback is that it costs more than other fabrics and synthetic leather itself. However, the durability is quite long, so it’s worth the investment.

If you like synthetic leather, some options mimic leather, such as PU, Corino, and Court Van. However, with synthetic leather, you need to pay more attention, especially to avoid drying it out and get the undesirable “cracking” effect.

Sofá reclinable de cuero #furniture | Living room recliner, Living room leather, Leather living room set

2) Chenille

Chenille is a very distinctive fabric, usually with lines and checks, and its composition includes cotton, silk, and wool. It was once one of the most commonly used fabrics for sofas, but with the advent of the very similar suede, it decreased, mainly due to cost issues.

Pros: comfortable and velvety to the touch.

Disadvantages: it absorbs dirt quickly, it is difficult to clean, and has a lot of folds, making it unsuitable for people with allergies, respiratory illnesses, and animals.

Furniture - Gray Velvet Sofa - on White | Welcome to our photo gallery! | Flickr

3) Suede

Made of polyester, this fabric is one of the most widely used types of sofa fabric today. It is ideal for those who prioritize comfort.

Advantages: low cost, comfort, velvety softness, a wide variety of prints and colours, and durability.

Disadvantages: the material is highly absorbent, so there is a significant risk of stains, and cleaning deep stains is complicated. However, there’s nothing that can’t be fixed by waterproofing.


4) Velvet and Suede

Like trendy linens, velvet and suede are the new darlings of the sofa. They are irresistible!

Advantages: perfect for cold places, they are malleable and very comfortable fabrics, not to mention delicious too! And above all, they are beautiful to meet your eyes. And best of all, they are lovely to meet your eyes.

Cons: You need to constantly monitor the cleanliness of the sofa because any stains and dirt will appear on these fabrics. Not the best for those who have small children at home or pets.
New York Corner Sofa 3D-Modell | Saba Italia, Italy

5) Linen

Whether it’s decorating or fashion, linen has brought it all back! It’s a beautiful and elegant fabric, but it has its quirks. Check it out.

Pros: excellent for warm places, even though it’s partly waterproof, it doesn’t absorb dirt and moisture similar to suede, chenille, and twill, and can be cleaned up daily with just a damp cloth.

Cons: It is not practical to clean, as it is a more sensitive fabric and has a greater risk of staining, so the help of a professional company for a complete cleaning is ideal.

furniture, modern, luxury, indoors, house, room, design decorations, sofa, domestic room, pillow | Pxfuel

If you don’t want to invest in a sofa right now, you have the option to cover it with another cloth. That way, you can give your furniture a new look without spending so much money. It’s always good to change the look of your home. Often, one detail can make a massive difference in the environment.

Creating the Perfect Home Office Space – Your Ultimate Guide

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Category : Home Improvement Home Renovation

Creating a work area at home is easy if you know how to take advantage of the space by choosing the best location and the essential elements so that your home office is as functional as it is decorative. A few days ago, we saw how to set up a dressing room. In today’s post, we show you how to set up an office or a home office.

Home Offices, a Growing Trend

That your workday takes place, in whole or in part, in your own home is something more and more common, but for it to work, this practice requires a specific place where you can find the tranquility and concentration you need. Using the same dining room or kitchen table to place your computer and work is not a good idea.

Creating a work area at home requires looking for a suitable place and making a small design of what you need to feel comfortable while carrying out your work. The table’s size, the type of chair, the elements to keep your papers in order, the ideal light to not “leave your eyelashes” or those small details that will make your work easier… everything influences your office at home is perfect.

What to Consider When Designing a Home Office?

The first step to integrating the workspace into your home is to find the right place. If you have a small independent room, perfect, but it is also possible to take advantage of a few square meters that you may have wasted. For example, a hole under a staircase, a corner of the living room that has been “soulless” or a space that has been between two columns and in which you have never really known what to put.

Whenever possible, ensure that your home office is not in a passing place to avoid distractions and focus on your work. Also, if you have the opportunity to place your table, the main element of the office, near a window that provides natural light, do not hesitate. That’s the best place.

How to Define Your Workspace?

It is another crucial detail to clarify that this small part of the house is your office. Don’t think it’s silly. You must separate the workspace from the rest of the room. It is something even psychological. When you are in that place, you are working, you know it, and it is also a way for the rest of the family members to know (if I am here, “don’t interrupt me”). You have different useful elements and simple decorating ideas to achieve it.

Imagine that you want to put your office in the living room, you can, for example, you can place it in a corner that has no use whatsoever and distinguish it from the rest of the room by simply placing a practical vegetable fiber carpet or flooring that part with tiles of a slightly different color from the rest of the room.

It is even easier to use a screen or a low shelf, which can also be used to place books or folders that you use in your work, as separate elements. Now you have beautiful glass “curtains” perfect for integrating your office into a modern-style living room, achieving the insulation you need while including an innovative decorative element.

Another simple idea is to paint that small space’s walls in a different tone from the rest of the room. For example, a beautiful living room in elegant petrol blue and your work “corner” in a light blue style, which is harmonious, makes it clear that this is a different space.

Basic Furniture

A home office does not require a large financial outlay on furniture. The essential thing is a table with the appropriate size, an ergonomic chair where you can work comfortably, and some elements that ensure that you can maintain order in your home office.

Before purchasing a specific table, take a good look at the available space. Maybe what is excellent for you is a simple shelf with the exact length and width enough to fit perfectly in the area you have (you can buy it to measure and place it with two “trestles” type supports or columns.

Perhaps what suits you best is a glass table. Make it visually “lighter”, for example, in a bedroom or living room, and you also have semi-circular or “L” -shaped desks perfect for fitting into the corners of any room.

Many of these desks occupy very little and include storage elements such as built-in filing drawers or retractable trays to keep the laptop when you are not using it that comes in handy. If you need more space to place all the elements you use in your work, a few simple shelves on the wall can be as practical as decorative.

Finally, you only have to take care of those little details that make your work more effective and pleasant. A beautiful plant that adorns your table, some trays that can be stacked and allow you to keep the papers in order and, of course, a floor lamp or a flexo, so that you have the ideal lighting at all times, are some that will allow you to personalize your workspace, perfectly integrated and in harmony with the rest of your home.

Comparative Swimming Pool Linings: Possibilities and Prices

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Category : Home Renovation

Pool linings imply the liner, the reinforced PVC membrane, the polyester, and the coating that ensure a good water-tightness of the pool (they are referred to as “independent of support” below).

There are also pool linings, for example, the tiling and the paint which are dependent on the substrate and they do not ensure the waterproofing of the pool.

Criteria for choosing a swimming pool coating

Several elements determine the choice of your pool’s lining:

Depending on the structure: you can’t put just any liner on just any structure.

According to your budget: if the liner is the most used liner, both in the case of kit pools and masonry pools, it is undoubtedly because the quality/price ratio is the best. Paint is the cheapest liner, but it is not permanently watertight and needs to be redone very regularly. Tiles and stones are the most expensive coatings because, in addition to their own price, they require prior waterproofing.

Depending on the shape of the pool: some coverings are incompatible with certain pools. It is hard to imagine a natural swimming pool covered with tiles.

According to your taste: since this is what will be seen in the end once the pool is finished.

Comparison of pool linings: possibilities and prices

This table is not exhaustive, which is why we recommend that you seek professional advice to guide you towards the most appropriate choice for your pool (shape and materials).

If you wish, we can help you find a pro near you.

Comparison of pool linings

Lining

Type of pool

Durability*

Ease of maintenance

Indicative cost for an 8 × 4 × 1.5 meter pool

Waterproof

Coated

Poured concrete pool

More than 50 years old

xxx

$25 to $60 the bag of 25 kg

Shotcrete pool

Modular form pool

Liner

Wood

Between 15 and 20 years

xx

Approximately $1,200

Poured concrete

Cannot stand too hot water

Shotcrete

Modular formwork

Modular panels

Reinforced PVC membrane

Wood

Between 15 and 20 years

xx

About $2 000

Poured concrete

Cannot stand too hot water

Shotcrete

Modular formwork

Modular panels

Polyester

Wood

Between 20 and 25 years

xx

Approximately $6 000.

Poured concrete

Gel coat to be replaced every 10 years

Shotcrete

Modular formwork

Not waterproof

Tile/

mosaics

Poured concrete pool

More than 50 years

xxx

Approximately $5,000 to $6,000

Shotcrete pool

Joints have to be replaced when they get damaged (about once every 10-15 years).

Modular form pool

Painting

Poured concrete

Approximately 5 years

x

Approximately $1,500

The following table will tell you which type of lining is suitable for which type of pool.

Type of pool

Swimming pool lining

Independent of the support

Dependent on the support

Liner

Reinforced PVC membrane

Polyester

Coatings

Tiling

Painting

Poured concrete

Yes*

Yes*

Yes*

Yes

Yes

Yes

Shotcrete

Yes*

Yes*

Yes*

Yes

Yes

Yes

Modular formwork

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes**

Yes**

–

Modular panels

Yes

Yes

Yes

–

–

–

Wooden swimming pool

Yes

Yes

Yes

–

–

–

Hull swimming pool

–

–

–

–

–

–

Above ground pool

–

–

–

–

–

–

* Concrete must not be water repellent in order to absorb the water from capillary perspiration of the coating and avoid leaving stagnated water.

**Outside installation, for an 8 × 4 m pool.

Should you wish to read more on pool lining, this post was recently published: How to Renovate the Liner of a Swimming Pool.

Hope the postings on this blog are to your taste. Remember to leave your comments in the section below and do not forget to share it with your friends.

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