Thursday, 16 Aug 2018

I went to my sister’s house a few weeks ago, and I was surprised at how different it looked. She had ordered plantation shutters for her living room and dining room, and they really made both rooms look so much nicer. She had department store shutters in both rooms before. While they were decent, they were nothing like what she has now. I asked her where she got them from, and I was not surprised when she told me that a local company had come out and installed them for her. It was just obvious that these were of a quality that cannot be purchased of the shelves at one of the local home centers.

She was really excited about the price that she paid for them, and I could see why once she told me. She showed me the website where she got them, and I was happy to see that they were still having a really great sale on them.… Read the rest ...

Christmas is one of the most celebrated days in the calendar. Many people spend this time in the company of family and friends. For this reason, many of us try to decorate our homes, entrances, and everything else to get to the Christmas mood. For some, searching up ‘upholsterers near me‘ and fixing up the worn and torns around the house, buying a console table at the home’s entrance, twinkling lights, and a Christmas tree are standard items during this season. You can also add a couple of twinkling lights to the interior décor to help illuminate the area. Scented candles (cinnamon, etc.) can also be used inside bronze lanterns to create an inviting/warm environment for all, including the guests.

Lights

You could also make use of battery operated tea lights (in glass jars) instead of a string of fairy lights to create the mood as well. While fresh blooms may come in handy for decorations during Christmas, it would be advisable to use realistic faux flowers instead. This is because faux flowers do not wither hence can last through the holidays. Some foliage would also be a welcome idea and especially when used in the hallway.

Foliage

It would also be a great idea to place festive foliage along door frames and bannisters as a way to light the way into the house/party. Eucalyptus and pine, among other aromatic greens, can also be used to bring about fresh fragrances to the party as well. Be sure to use these aromatic evergreens in high-traffic areas to help them release these fragrances when someone passes by. Even delicate yet aromatic herbs can be used to serve the purpose as well. The best thing about using these evergreens is that you can still add fairy lights to the same to add some radiance and sparkle.

Dress Up the Table

You may also want to dress up the table as well. With everyone dressed for the occasion, why not dress up the table to match the mood. The table arrangement, too, needs to be on point as well. Consider including some foliage to the mix to avoid a cliché arrangement. Pinecones, evergreens, and willow twigs would be helpful in creating a striking centrepiece. If twigs are hard to come by, you could then try filling a large glass vase with foliage, berries, or even flowers on the table alongside tapered candles. … Read the rest ...

Limestone is essentially a non-metamorphosed marble when you look in purely geological terms. There are a number of forms of marble which come from limestone that has been placed under extreme heat and pressure. However, when you look at these stones in design terms, they are very different. Each has their own practical and aesthetic properties with limestone being the more desirable stone when compared to rivals.

The Appearance

“Marble has a distinctive clear veining when you look at the patterns, but limestone is more granular. While there is a difference, the relationship between these stones means that they will be reminiscent of each other. This means that if you find the natural grain of stone appealing, but feel that marble is too harsh for your kitchen, you should turn to limestone instead,” says architects in Ascot.

The Pliability

Limestone is a great material if you have a kitchen design with curves and unusual shapes. This is due to the fact that it is more pliable and softer than other types of stone which allows a more diverse range of shaping options. However, it is important to note that the softness of the stone can also be a disadvantage.

As with other natural stone, limestone will be sealed before it is installed in the kitchen. However, the surface will still be susceptible to discolouration and scratches. This means that extra care will need to be taken when working on the surface.

The Durability

When you compare limestone to non-stone alternatives, you will find that it is more hard wearing. While care will need to be taken with the stone to avoid damage, it is still one of the popular stone choices for the kitchen. The durability of the stone is in some ways due to the growing popularity of the stone in the kitchen. When you use this type of stone to refit your kitchen, you will actually be adding to the value of the property as it lasts physically and aesthetically.

The Colours

Limestone remains very natural in its colouring as it offers hues of white to beige and grey. This is ideal as it allows the material to fit into a range of different kitchen styles. A traditional country kitchen can benefit from the tan shades of limestone which will highlight the wood in the design. Professional and modern kitchens can benefit from the bright and … Read the rest ...

Planning a commercial kitchen can be a fun and exciting time. How you focus the kitchen will depend greatly upon the proposed menu and the required equipment to prepare said menu. Let’s take a look at some of the unique features from various kitchens in and around the world, compiled by a showroom of quartz worktops in Twickenham.

Japanese

Let’s start with Japan. Here they have a Japanese Teppanyaki. There is one located by Saint Paul’s near London. What is so unique about Teppanyaki? You’ll be greeted with a Japanese bow and served green tea at a communal table. In the center of the table is a hotplate where your meal will be prepared. It will be prepared by a chef wearing a 6 inch tanto knife. This is the knife that is used in ritual suicides. It hands from a scabbard at his belt. You’ll hear this clanging against the grill as he flips his spatula and makes crosses in the air.

Italian

You’re in for a real treat here. The famous pizza ovens and their pizza peels aren’t the only unique items in this kitchen. You’ll find baking ovens and grills as well as deep fryers and ranges. Broilers and wood fire ovens round out the mix of ‘appliances’. Unique toppings will depend greatly upon where you are ordering your pizza from. If you’re in Australia, for example, you may dine on kangaroo, crocodile or emu pizza. In India, you’ll have pickled ginger along with some minced mutton and maybe paneer. Those in Sweden will have peanuts, chicken, pineapple and banana on their pizza.

Indian

Renowned for fabulous food, the kitchen is sacred in the home. India has a new thing that it is celebrating, that of the largest solar kitchen. With the ability to cook up to 650 degrees, these 84 receivers are amazing. At the peak of the sun, the kitchen here can produce well over 30,000 meals in a day. That’s a lot of food.

Moroccan

Want an outside kitchen? Then perhaps this will intrigue you. Moroccan kitchens are mainly out of doors. A lot of Eastern and African cultures use earthen ovens and cooking pits. Simple cooking structures date back to ancient times. A pit in the ground traps the heat and will be utilized to steam or bake the food. After the fire is built, it’s left to burn down to a … Read the rest ...

How about a jungle! Borneo is home to some of the world’s top species-rich and unique equatorial rainforest. Importantly, there are plenty of prime patches of rainforest that are accessible from modern cities.  If you’ve dreamt of having a once in a lifetime expedition adventure into a real equatorial rainforest, Borneo will fulfil even your wildest dreams.

Ancient Rainforests

The rainforest jungle that covers the island yield an aura of adventure, remoteness, and untouched natural beauty bringing you close to impenetrable foliage while streaming river guide you to the ‘heart of darkness’. But take a little closer look at the landscape and nuances spring to mind. The lianas, the orchids, and the pitcher plants that cover the lowland section of the forest give way to the decorative rhododendrons and conifers that cover the picturesque Mt Kinabalu. While there are sights and evidence of deforestation, a significant part of the Bornean forest still remain untouched thanks to the conservation projects which are in part funded by the tourist economy.

Dunum Valley Conservation Area has to be on every wildlife enthusiast, nature lover, naturalist, bird spotter bucket list. A Danum Valley tour is a must as it is recognised as one of the best rainforests in Borneo. The 438 square kilometers (or 170 square miles) is Malaysia’s largest lowland rainforest that remains virgin and untouched. It is a popular destination for researcher including David Attenborough, who go to the Conservation Area to study the unique species of flora and fauna found there. If you appreciate the beauty that is mother nature, Dunum Valley Conservation is must visit destination.

Jungle Wildlife

After a visit to Borneo, you are assured of going back home with memories of interacting with wild animals; memories that will last your lifetime. Whether you come across an orang-utan swinging and playfully jumping through the rainforest’s canopy, coming into contact with a cold gaze of a saltwater crocodile, or spotting the Irrawaddy dolphin in the water of the South China Sea, you are assured of sighting animals you will find nowhere else. However, you do need to be in the company of a good guide to spot the full plethora of wildlife. Since jungle animals are shy, they make it hard for you to spot them.

Having a good guide will help understand the natural surrounding far better; they make easy for you to tell difference between the vine snake … Read the rest ...

There are lots of different types of windows, and if you are unfamiliar with the terms, it can be confusing to sort through them. If you’re looking to replace windows or specifying for a new build, here’s what you need to know about casements.

A beginner's guide to casement windows

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Windows for all

Some older properties may well have sliding sash windows, but in recent years, casement windows have been the most commonly used variety. A casement is essentially a frame containing a piece or pieces of glass that open on a hinge.

It’s a style of window that can be found in everything from country cottages to modern homes. Frames can come in a variety of materials. Early 20th-century buildings may have steel casements. Wood is probably the most common material, but aluminium and UPVC are also widely used. Casements are more common, so they are generally cheaper to fit than sliding sashes and other types.

Casement types

Casements from suppliers like https://www.firmfix.co.uk/windows/casement-windows/ come in a variety of styles. They can be flush with the window frames of the property – a style popular in older properties – or they can be rebated. Rebated casements offer improved weather protection, making them a good choice in exposed areas such as coastal regions. They can also help the visual interest of the property by avoiding a completely flat frontage. Rebated types have been the most common variety on new builds since around the 1960s.

A beginner's guide to casement windows

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Modern casements are supplied in a variety of energy-efficient materials that can help you to save energy and cut your carbon footprint. They also offer good security with built-in locking systems. A wide range of frame types are on offer, allowing these windows to be used in both old and modern buildings.

Casements usually open outward and can be hinged from the side or from the top. On upper floors, there is usually a restrictor to prevent you from opening the window too far, but this can be overridden in the event of an emergency. There are specialist types that allow the window to open inward. These and “tilt and turn” types are popular in flats as they allow you to clean the exterior glass from the inside. French casements – sometimes called French doors – offer an unrestricted view when open by virtue of having no centre post.… Read the rest ...