Engineered oak flooring adds a classical charm, warmth and character to any house. It is built using 4-12 multiple layers of ply that are cross layered, pressed and glued together. The inner layers which are called the core layers are built using soft plywood or hardwood. The top hardwood layer is then glued and pressed on the top of the core layer. The benefit of using engineered oak flooring is that it is more resistant to lower and higher moisture levels than the wood flooring which is solid. Thus, it is of great use in the damp basements or in regions where there is higher or lower than normal levels of humidity. Also, the engineered flooring ply can be glued directly upon the concrete slabs or over a wood subfloor. Moreover, the resale value of engineered wood flooring is the same as solid wood flooring. Continue reading
Category Archives: Decorating
Using lamps to create the perfect ambience
When you’re buying a lamp or a set of lamps for your home, it’s important to make sure you consider all of the options and do your homework first. Lamps can be used to create the perfect ambience in your home, so you need to choose the right bulb too. Having lamps that come with different light settings or even a dimmer switch can be a very nice idea because you can turn the light up or down as required. You also need to think about the positioning of the lamps. Do you want it to be tall and freestanding or do you want it to sit on your coffee table or beside your bed? There are so many different options; some retro, some modern and some shabby chic, so have a good look online to see what kind of style you’d like. Then, when you know what you’re looking for you can narrow down your store and buy the perfect lamp for your home.
Decorating a part furnished property
When you’re renting it can be nice to have a part furnished property because it means half the furniture is already there, you just need to bring the smaller extra items. The problem, however, comes when you’re looking to stamp your own style on the property. As an example, you may have a red sofa, purple walls and a blue kitchen whilst all your furniture is in matching lime green. There are some things you can do to pull a theme together though. Firstly, ask your landlord if you can paint, if you choose a colour he or she likes you’ll only be doing them and yourself a favour. Buying a throw or a cover for a sofa is a good option to cover up any colour you dislike, whilst adding bookshelf to walls with horrible wallpaper will cover it up and add style. There are many ways to make you own stamp in a property that comes part furnished, and it’s the small things you do that make a big difference and save you lots of money on decorating.
The Basics of Installing Vertical Blinds
Some people decide not to buy vertical blinds because they don’t want to pay someone to install them. The common misconception that they are terribly difficult to install makes people reluctant to do it themselves. If you’ve been avoiding these convenient and attractive blinds because you don’t want to install them yourself – and don’t want to pay someone else to do it – you should look over the steps for installing them. You’ll see that it’s not as difficult as you may think.
Steps for installing them
Unlike Roller Blinds, their installation involves more than one or two steps. However, by taking your time and following each step as directed, you’ll have your new blinds up in no time.
Gather Tools – In order to successfully install them, you’re going to have to have the right tools. At minimum, you are going to need a level, a drill, a screwdriver, a tape measure and a pencil. You might need some extra tools to complete the job, dependent upon the blinds you have bought; make sure to refer to the instructions that came with them to find out exactly what you’ll need.
Gather Materials – Sometimes, vertical blinds come with everything that you’ll need in order to install them; other times, you have to collect various things on your own. You’re going to need clips, ends, valance corners, the head rail, vanes, clips and brackets and screws. Make certain that you have everything you need easily accessible to ensure you’re not running around from room to the other trying to find what you need during the installation process.
Decide Where to Put Brackets – Take the head rail and decide where you want to place the brackets. They need to be evenly spaced and approximately 8 centimetres from the ends. Use an online resource to figure out how many brackets you will need.
Mark the Position of the Head Rail – Locate the exact place on the wall where you want the head rail to be. Because you’ve already marked out the positions of the brackets on it, marking their position on the wall should be your next task.
Screw Brackets into Wall – Use a drill bit to screw the brackets into the wall. Use nuts and bolts to attach the mounting clips to the brackets. The centre clip should be 4 centimetres from the wall.
Snap On Head Rail – Without everything securely in place, snap the head rail on. To do that, just slide it onto the mounting brackets.
Hang Blinds – Finally, you just need to snap each blind onto the inside of the head rail. This process should go quickly.
There are many choices when it comes to choosing vertical blinds whether custom made or from a retail store, and the task can be a daunting one. With the right knowledge and some experimentation however, you can choose a vertical blind that is perfect for every room in your home. Choosing a vertical blind that is functional and that compliments the style of your home will ensure your happiness with your decision for years to come.
Decorative blinds for your home
You no longer have to have boring wooden twist blinds or plain roll down blinds for your kitchen or bathroom, there are plenty of decorative options to choose between. If for example you needed some blinds for your office, why not consider a pull down blind which reveals a map of the world? Not only will it come in handy from time to time, it will also look the part and give your home office a more executive feel. If your kitchen looks pretty old with netting or waterproof curtains, you may want to have a restyle with floral pull down blinds. These not only allow fresh daylight into your kitchen, they’re easy to clean and very easy to roll up and down. Decorative bathroom blinds can be finished the match the colour of your tiles, and there are plenty of patterns to choose between too, including those with sailing boats, bubbles and waves.
Creating a positive vibe in your home
We all know how important it is to create a positive first impression in your home, but it’s just as important to make sure the vibe is uplifting and happy. Your home should be welcoming to new and returning visitors, and you can create a heavenly space with lots of bright and warm colours. Having pure white walls and grey furniture can be modern and minimalist, but it doesn’t give any insight into your personality. Choosing the colours that represent you and your individual style is always a good place to start. Don’t stick to a theme too much; otherwise your distinctive personality will not shine through. A positive vibe is all about warm colours, paintings, photographs and comfortable furniture. When you have all these in place, you’ll have a happy home.
Making your kitchen more industrial
Many restaurants and gourmet burger joints are going for the industrial look right now, and it’s a trend that can be carried over to our kitchens. Stainless steel appliances like grills, coffee makers and chef drawers can add a touch of industrial action into your kitchen, whilst metal chairs and tables from reclaimed wood and metal can complete the look. Low hanging light bulbs with metal lamp shades can take the look even further and these items can blend wonderfully with other shabby chic furniture and accessories. This type of look is a cross between a classic diner and a rundown shack, but it’s a popular look right now, incorporating new and old furniture to create an industrialised theme. That said, if you do choose this theme, you run the risk of creating a kitchen hat looks a lot like a modern day restaurant.
New spotlights in the kitchen
We had a few problems with our kitchen lights of late, whenever we’d replace a bulb, the other one would go. then a day later we’d see it flashing again, even though the bulb is brand new. We honestly did find ourselves constantly changing them, even with energy saving bulbs! After calling an electrician and having a few cables sorted out, we thought we’d get some new spotlights too. They’re smaller than our previous lights, but we’ve now upgraded to LED bulbs and the results have been incredible. The kitchen is lit up like a photography studio, and we haven’t had to change a bulb in months. It’s amazing how much difference a new set of lights can make, and we’re pleasantly surprised by the performance of our new kitchen spotlights.