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Top Tips from the Experts on Getting that Genuine Show Home Vibe

It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to sell an old home or looking for buyers for a new build – you want to be sure to attract as many buyers as possible who can’t resist making a bid for the property! But any interior designer will be quick to confirm one thing – your home has to look just right for it to attract buyers, and for this, you need to create just the right show home. Show homes exist to let everyone viewing a property see themselves living there, and even though show homes are staged, they offer a glimpse into a life that everyone could have. Transforming a house into a well-loved show home takes some careful thought and planning, however, and you have to decorate it to please almost everyone who walks in, which is easier said than done. So what could you do to get that expert show home appeal? Following are some top tips from the experts on getting that genuine show home vibe.

• Let the light in

When it comes to creating a genuinely unique show home, one first tip from the experts is optimising the light that comes in. Ensure you have enough natural light shining through, but if this is lacking, you can play around with other options, such as lamps and other accent lights and overhead lights. Lighting sets the stage and sets the mood, and it can make a world of difference in how you perceive each space in your show home. Above all, don’t forget to have the proper (and perfect) lights for the kitchen island, the living room, and the hallway. Use full-on pendant lighting for the space, and for a sitting area, you can have more subtle light fixtures such as downlights and wall lights.

• Choose textured pieces

It’s not all about what your viewers can see, either – it’s also all about what they can touch. That said, choose textured pieces. You can choose textured fabric, and it’s an easy and effective way to inject some style and personality into a room or space. You can go for textured fabric when choosing your cushions, duvets, and throws, as showhome interior design experts like Blocc.co.uk say, and you don’t have to stop there – you can choose more textured fabrics for your curtains and bedroom headboard! The headboard is often overlooked, but you’d be surprised at the incredible variety of fabrics you could have for the headboard, and it looks elegant and stylish. Some materials, like velvet, have been recently trending, and natural fabrics are what’s in, including silk, linen, and wool.

• Decide on neutral colours as a base

Whilst it is generally believed that you should not be afraid of colours that pop, it is also thought that you are better off staying with neutral colours as a base. This is because you wouldn’t want your show home to look overdone and over-decorated, and you can be more subtle with a neutral base tone such as natural shades of stone and earthy hues. You can use this as a base for your walls, and you can then add that pop of colour with your chosen furnishings, sofas or couches, cushions, and bed linen.

• Know that less is often more

Less is often more, so when choosing accessories and ornamental elements, choose them wisely. Also, pick pieces that complement the current colour or materials in the room.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

 

What smoke alarms do you need in your home?

Everyone knows that in order to stay safe from fires in the home, a good smoke alarm needs to be installed. What you may not know is that there are more than a few on the market and they all have different benefits and belong in different places within the home.

You may now be wondering “what kind of fire alarm do I need?”. Well here’s a handy guide that will help you work out exactly what kind of system you’re looking for, so you can go into discussions with a professional, with something of a clue of what you’re looking for.

If you are in need of fire alarm installers in Sunderland, check out CDS Fire and Security. They provide a variety of fire alarm solutions for the home and even commercially.

Ionisation Alarm

This type of alarm is the cheapest to purchase and install. They are very sensitive to small particles of smoke produced by flaming fires, often caused by paper and wood. They are not as sensitive to thick smoke produced by slow burning fires that give off larger quantities of smoke before a flame occurs.

It has been noted that these alarms are often over-sensitive when placed next to a kitchen. Most experts recommend that they are placed in stairwells, landings or offices.

Optical Alarm

Also known as a photo-electronic alarm, the optical alarm is a more expensive and more effective system. Designed to detect large amounts of smoke produced by long burning fires, like foam-filled upholstery and overheated wiring. They are not as sensitive to fast flaming fires.

This system can be installed near a kitchen, but it is highly recommended for lounges, bedrooms and hallways. Don’t place this alarm too close to a ventilated bathroom – it can sometimes mistake steam for smoke!

Heat Alarm

A heat alarm, as the name suggests, detects changes in temperature and is insensitive to smoke. Therefore, this alarm is ideal for the kitchen. As this alarm can only cover a small area of the room, more than one may be needed for a larger vicinity. You can even consider this solution for your garage.

This alarm is triggered when the room temperature reaches or exceeds 55℃. The specific nature of this alarm means that false alarms are almost always mitigated.

Combined Alarms

Sometimes the best solution is to combine some of the alarms listed above. Some of the most common combinations are Optical and Heat and Smoke with Carbon Monoxide.

Combining an optical and heat alarm further mitigates the risk of false alarms, as well as increasing the speed of detection. A smoke and carbon monoxide combination kills two birds with one stone. The two necessary alarms are combined into one unit, saving the homeowner money, as well as taking up less of your living space.

This guide will hopefully have left you with some idea of what approach you should take when you are designing a fire alarm solution for your home.

 

Providing a Kitchen with Style

A kitchen is a place where we find ourselves rushing around cooking dinners, preparing the kids lunches, putting away our shopping and doing various washing up chores. It stands to reason that this room needs a durable, sustainable solution for a floor – one that doesn’t require numerous hours of the day to keep clean.

Surely the best option is luxury vinyl flooring for durability and style. Let’s see why.

Quick Cleaning

Food is possibly the messiest item the kitchen faces and whether it be sauce, drinks, cooking oils or various ingredients to dinner, there is always spillage or the dropping of food on the floor.

Stains are commonplace after multiple clean up attempts, the difference with vinyl is that it offers easier cleaning with the extra satisfaction of stain-resistant design. All it takes is a quick sponge down with warm soapy water, possibly mixed with a little vinegar.

It also nicely provides a cushioned padding in its manufacture, with plates shown to land with a bounce instead of breaking in most cases. Certainly, a change from buying new sets.

Easy Installation

No matter if you go with vinyl tile or vinyl planks, the uninstallation and reinstallation of vinyl flooring are relatively easy compared to any real hardwood or stone. We all dread having to pull up large sections of the floor should a singular section be damaged, so it comes as a great relief that these can be done singularly.

You also don’t need to have a professional fitter to install the flooring or even an occasional replacement. It is very simple to undertake yourself and save a fair chunk of change on hiring a pro.

Style

A great little benefit to Quick-Step luxury vinyl is that you can be as creative as you want and no one will be able to tell any difference.

If you have a fondness for light or dark wood design then there is no end to shades, styles and palettes available. If you like the feel of stepping on a stone or marble floor there are plenty of intricate designs that are indistinguishable.

Care

The kitchen provides space for being creative, from food to decor to planning everything for family living – it all stems from one room.

For a room in your house that provides a lot of care for the family, a kitchen floor requires a secure and sustainable solution without the need for constant attention, expensive chemical cleaning solutions or repetitive repair every few months. Luxury vinyl flooring is an option that frees you up to dedicate your time with your family and other things that need your attention, whilst keeping a sense of style that lasts for decades.

 

All About MommyHood

Being a mom is special. In an instant, you create a life-long connection with someone who will be forever part of you. It is, indeed, a wild journey; there are times when you feel on top of the world, and moments when you feel that you cannot go on. Here are the things that no one told you about:

It’s normal to feel sad

Yes, really. Baby blues and post-natal depression are very common, even if not many parents talk about it. You have to adapt to an entirely new life, not to mention that your body is going through many changes and a roller coaster of hormones. If you combine this with sleepless nights and the feeling that your time does not belong to you anymore, it is understandable why you feel this way.

It will go away and things will improve from month to month, but don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

It takes a village

Many people around you are willing to help, starting from your close family to your friends and even co-workers. Whenever you need a break, ask them to stay with your child for a few hours. Even if you don’t need immediate assistance with something, you can feel relieved if someone is helping you with your chores or small things around the house.

It takes a village to grow up a child, and you should build this village around you and accept all the help you can get.

Everything will pass

There are times when you face more challenges than usual; your baby might have a growth spurt, you may be very busy with work or there could be weeks without you getting a full night of sleep. It does feel overwhelming and you don’t know when you will have your life back.

Here’s the good news: it will all pass. In a few months you will be in a completely different stage of your life and you will completely forget about these negative emotions. It gets better and better!

The only opinion that matters is your own

We know how many advices you get when you are a parent. There are people telling you how to put them to sleep, how to feed them, what medicine to use or not and a million of other things. The majority of these opinions come from a good place, but this does not mean that you have to follow them if they don’t feel right.

You know what’s best for your child and what matches your expectations and goals. Trust your instincts!

Easy And Healthy Family Dinner Ideas

Family dinners tend to be challenging when children are involved. They tend to have strict preferences compared to adults, and you have to keep your meals interesting, delicious and healthy at the same time. Since you don’t always have time to cook something separate for every generation, here are some ideas that will save you some time and effort!

Vegetables Pasta with ground Chicken

Why vegetables pasta, you may ask? It’s simple: they are naturally colorful and bright and they can easily find a place on your child’s list of favorite foods. Besides, they will get some vitamins and minerals without having to convince them to eat their veggies.

Even those children who don’t particularly like meat easily accept ground chicken; it blends really well with the pasta and it is easier to cook, since you don’t have to spend time cutting it.

Bread Pizza

Your children are in the mood for Pizza, but you don’t want to order or spend too much time making the dough? Use whole grain bread!

It’s quick and easy; use toasted slices of bread and add the toppings you would add on their favorite pizza. Place them in the oven for 10 minutes (or a bit more, depending on the topping) and serve with fresh tomato sauce. Your entire family will love it!

Crunchy baked potatoes

I don’t know many children who don’t love potatoes. Cut your potatoes into finger-sized pieces, boil them until tender (but still a bit hard inside) then place them on a baking tray. Smash them with a cup, sprinkle some grated parmesan, olive oil and spices and put them in the oven for 30 minutes. They are quick, healthy, crunchy and delicious. You can also make a healthy dipping sauce to serve together or you can use them as a side dish for your protein.

Chicken Schnitzel on a Stick

First of all, make sure you use sticks that are appropriate for your child’s age; there are special ones that don’t have a sharp end.

This meal requires 30 minutes or less of preparation, it is healthy and fulfilling and it will be very fun for your children to eat their food from a stick. If you want to take it a step further, you can add some veggies on top, as they might be more willing to eat roasted vegetables instead of fresh ones.

At Home Job Ideas For Moms

Stay-at-home mothers perform dozens of jobs at the same time: they are teachers, nurses, chefs, professional cleaners, therapists, gardeners, drivers and so on. Even so, these jobs don’t come with a paycheck, so a real job might be necessary. Here are some ideas of at-home-jobs that will allow you to work and take care of your family at the same time.

Freelancing

Many mothers choose to work as Freelancers, because it allows them to choose when, how and how much they work. There are many skills on demand from design to writing, translations or data entry. As long as you have basic computer skills, you have a great chance to get your first freelancing project without too much effort. Who knows, maybe it will turn into a long-time career!

Hand-made creations

You feel like you are talented and you could actually make money off what you make, no matter if we talk about raisin earrings or braided bracelets? Then it’s worth giving it a try! E-commerce is now more popular than ever, and you can easily find a platform where you can sell what you make. Besides, you can choose how much time you want to dedicate to your gig and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home.

Online promotions

Many brands offer per sale commissions. This means that you promote their products, you send them customers through affiliated links and you get a small part of every sale. The more time you dedicate to this, the more money you can make. This type of job is a match for you if you have many online friends that you can advertise the products too, or if you have many friends or family members who are willing to try your recommendations.

Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants are more and more popular in the last few years. Many business people need someone who can tackle their to-do list. Most of these things only require a computer and/or a mobile phone, and you can easily squeeze them into your schedule in the evenings, or when your children are in daycare.

Make sure you are very clear with your client from the beginning. They need to know how many hours per day you can dedicate to this project and that sometimes, emergencies may occur and you may need to handle them. Most of the time they just want the job done and they give you complete freedom regarding your working hours.

Fun Home DIY Projects

For a parent, it is very important to know how to stimulate the imagination of your children. The more you teach them how to create things by themselves and how to come up with solutions for small problems, the more confident they will become. If you have to spend some time indoors but you still want to have fun, here are some DIY projects that you can do together!

DIY Kinetic Sand

You definitely saw many fun videos of Kinetic Sand, but it is not widely available or maybe it is not the best time to visit the store. Well, you only need regular sand, corn starch, dish soap and food coloring (optional) to create your own. For every cup of regular sand, add ½ cups of cornstarch, a tablespoon of soap, a few tablespoons of water and food coloring. Mix them all together and enjoy!

Pasta crafts

We all have some old pasta left in the back of the cupboard that we will probably end up throwing. The good news is that you can use it to entertain your child instead! You can color it with pencils, you can apply liquid paint, you can use it to make necklaces (you should boil it for 3 minutes for this) or you can glue some of them together and make colorful flowers. The possibilities are endless, and it costs virtually nothing!

3 Ingredients Playdough

Playdough is a great way to keep your child entertained for hours. Instead of buying the store version (which can be toxic, especially for small children who taste on everything and anything) you can make your own. Bonus: it is much easier to clean the DIY version from the carpets.

You need ½ cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of baking soda, ¾ cups of water and food coloring or essential oils (optional). Mix them all in a saucepan and place it on low fire, while mixing continuously. After a few minutes, it will start to thicken. When it reaches the desired consistency, place it on a cool surface and allow it to cool down. That is all! You can make as much as you want in any color you want!

Sensory boards

This is a great activity for younger children. On a thick cardboard, apply various items that seem usually interesting for your child. Zippers, faucets, handles and hinges, door locks, chains, LED lights, lids, create small doors that open and close, pieces of materials that feel different (fur, artificial grass, wool) and allow them to explore and learn new skills. You will be surprised how interested they are in ordinary things!

How To Increase The Value Of Your Home?

The Real Estate industry is moving very quickly, and it can be a challenge to maintain high the value of your Home. While there are many things that you can’t control and that are taken into consideration, such as your neighbors or the schools in the neighborhood, there are other things that will definitely help you. These are the main things to consider:

Keep your front lawn as beautiful as possible

Sure, this may require a few weekly hours of work from your family and a small investment in lawn, but it is what any visitor sees first. Luckily, there are many plants and arrangements that are made to last with little to no care, so the only thing left to do is to water and clean them.

If you don’t have the time to do this on your own or you don’t feel you are particularly good at it, for sure you can find someone in the neighborhood willing to make a few extra bucks.

Don’t postpone repairs

When there’s something that needs to be done, do it with the first chance you get. The more you postpone fixing things around the house, the more damage is done. Water infiltration, cracked walls or stained paint will go worse and worse as the time goes by, and it can create serious issues if you ignore them for long.

Yes, you may have to make an effort to fix all problems immediately, but you will be thankful you did so on the long term.

Invest in high-quality materials and furniture

Your home is not the place where you should save money if it affects quality. Sure, there are times for crafts, but only if it does not potentially damage the value and safety of your home.

Spend some extra bucks and buy strong, sturdy and long-lasting furniture instead of the cheap and light one. Hire professionals to work on your electric grid instead of asking your friend to make it for you.

Don’t invest in superficial things

Sure, it is very nice to come home to a bedroom that has all the right candles, blankets and pillows, but is it the best business move? In reality, when you sell your home, they won’t be interested in buying these things. Don’t spend too much on decorations, especially in those that need to be changed in the next season. A fur blanket is nice, but it will not be as comfortable in the summer.

How To Be An Entrepreneur And A Mom

Motherhood can turn your life upside down, but it will also be a fascinating and exciting adventure. Becoming an Entrepreneur too will take even more of your time, but it will also fulfill your ambitions and goals and it will teach your children that with hard work and desire, you can achieve anything. Are there are tips and tricks to combine them both successfully and still have time for yourself?

Improve your time-management skills

This is probably one of the most important things when you decide that you want to be an Entrepreneur, especially if you are already a Mom. You have to learn how to divide your time fairly between your family and your business, and how to tackle your to-do lists every single day.

If you find yourself being busy without being productive, it is time to create a schedule for yourself. While emergencies will still appear, you will know when you should focus on your children, when you should manage your business and when you have an hour to relax.

Delegate

Mothers have the tendency to take everything upon themselves, from small tasks to important ones. In order to have enough time and energy to invest in your business, you need to know when and what to delegate. Your friends and family will be happy to help you with simple tasks like bringing your groceries or running an errand. You don’t have to do everything; focus on important things!

Set realistic deadlines and goals

You have your own rhythm and priorities, and you should not compete with anyone. It does not matter how fast you should do something, according to other people. If you need two months instead of one to launch a new product, then this is how it will be. If you don’t have time to cook every single meal from scratch and your family gets takeout once per week, that’s great! As long as all of you are healthy, happy and on a path to success, details don’t really matter.

Be creative

Sometimes, you will have to pack your orders while reading a story to your baby. You can answer e-mails when you wait to pick them up from the kindergarten or you can check bills while they are playing in the sand. You have to be creative to adjust your lifestyle and to find new ways to combine the best of both worlds.