Modern life is rubbish

All the stuff that make today’s lifestyles so convenient can easily be distracting, especially in the bedroom. The very first stage of making your beautiful boudoir is to get rid of any traces of technology and practicality. Ban the TV and relocate the hair-straighteners since there’s no glamour in gizmos and gadgets. Hide as much of the clutter as possible with bedroom storage that will go in drawers or cupboards but display your most prized perfumes and place your rings and necklaces on show with a jewellery tree.

The essence of boudoir

This style evokes an opulent, sensual and rich lifestyle so colours such as purple, pink, gold and black give the perfect look. Your room can be as flamboyant as you desire, but wall coverings will give the most striking change so use pink and purple wallpaper with a strong pattern. Using bold floral prints and stunning damask will give your room a feeling of femininity and extravagance.

Materials play an significant role in the boudoir bedroom. Diverse textures and finishes produce an intimate feel so incorporate plenty of colourful cushions with mixed fabrics created from rich and heavy materials. For an air of sensuality, floaty materials like silks and organza can be draped throughout the room.

If you like the Moulin Rouge style of boudoir, opt for bohemian elegance by including vintage furniture pieces and elegant swagging around the windows. Dress your bed in silk and satin and place candles round the room to spark the romance. Colours to go for include scarlet, gold and black. For a 60s style boudoir, synthetic animal skins with deep pile carpets and fun cartoon’ish furnishings will establish a naughty, fantasy themed room. Choose a blend of black, white and red colours throughout the room.

Lighting the passion

Light plays an important role in creating a sultry ambiance. The boudoir look embraces extravagance and so should your lighting fixtures. Vintage crystal-drop chandeliers are perfect for the dramatic centre piece while antique brass and crystal wall lights controlled by dimmer switch will create the right mood.

Arriving at the decision to do a little reorganisation, redecoration or remodelling of your kitchen can sometimes seem like you are cooking up a storm of problems. If you’ve ever felt too overwhelmed to try an overhaul of the kitchen, this approach to the challenge might help.

Rather than contemplating the kitchen as one big project, break it down into small, manageable and practical mini-projects. Trying to do everything at once is a sure-fire way to get you hot under the collar without being anywhere near an oven.

To begin with, have a plan. Focus on what you want to achieve with certain aspects of the kitchen by answering a few basic questions.

What do you need to improve?

It’s not always the case that each part of your kitchen calls for improvement. You have thoughts of what you’d like done but occasionally financial constraints won’t allow it therefore be honest and realistic about what has to change. A quick reorganisation of the kitchen will usually enable you to understand what’s lacking or what needs adding to.

Do you have adequate storage?

Most people will answer ‘no’ to this question since we generally all want additional places to store things. Nevertheless, despite an entire redesign you might find space is tight (particularly in smaller galley kitchens) so consider what extra kind of storage you need – more space for kitchen appliances? Extra storage for food? Extra wine storage? Spice racks?

New units?

In a perfect world it would be nice to have totally new kitchen units however the time and cost involved may be prohibitive to some people. Fear not, a major overhaul of your cupboards isn’t always necessary and you are able to produce a dramatic transformation simply by painting existing units or by replacing doors or door furniture. Of course, if money and time is not the issue, new units can set the style and tone of the kitchen – just consider how the new look integrates with the rest of your home.

What do you do in your kitchen?

Not such an unusual question to ask but maybe it requires breaking down into parts:

Do you like to cook? In which event you need a good food preparation area and all your appliances within a practical distance. If cooking a large meal is currently a major hassle then maybe it’s time for a more substantial range cooker and some more work surface space. If space is tight take full advantage of what you have with extra worktop storage.

Is it the family hub? For many families, the kitchen is where everybody congregates so perhaps a central island can be built to give you additional countertop space, storage and somewhere for everybody to sit and stay out of the way!

Does the kitchen have a dual purpose? In some homes the kitchen is also a place to study or entertain. If that’s the case you’ll want a larger area for eating or even a separate desk for working at.

Have you thought about the walls?

One of the dramatic modifications you can make to any room in your home is a change of wall colour and the same applies to the kitchen. Kitchen wallpaper goes one step further than mere colour by adding textures if you wish. Wallpapering is a cost-effective way to create a new design but with the least effort. You’ll be amazed how much difference it makes when the walls are redone.

Hopefully these tips will go some way to making the process of redoing the kitchen slightly easier. Go to it with a positive attitude and a plan and you’ll have a new look faster than you think!

Colours and coverings

Selecting the most appropriate colours can help make the entrance to your home as light and attractive as possible. Dark hallways can be a bad idea in smaller homes so heavy and strong colours on the wall need to be avoided. On the other hand, should you live in a period property that has far more space, then classic colours that are in keeping with the general décor (like greens and reds) can enrich the look. For narrow spaces, select neutral colours on the wall.

Changing the colour on the walls will make a significant impact on the sense of space. Some people like to continue the colour scheme used in connecting rooms while others select a colour that complements and gives a different look. Wallpaper has undergone a huge design revolution recently and wallcoverings with neutral colours and embossed designs look fantastic. If you’d rather paint but need a cool feel, wall stickers can bring some interest to the walls.

Adding to the walls

With many hallways being narrow and long there’s usually a premium on floor space so utilise the walls to create your design statement. A properly placed mirror reflects light and helps to make your hallway look bigger – given the space is the entrance/exit point of the home, a mirror also allows everyone to check how they look when coming or going.

Photos are also a great idea to give your home an individual touch. Black and white prints offer a real chic appearance while a selection of different sized photo frames give your hallway a gallery feel. If you’re going to add a piece of art to the walls, make sure it will be lit correctly to benefit from the full effect – a long, narrow picture light will provide you with the right look.

Get the right light

As with other spaces in your house, natural light is always preferable so if possible use glazing in interior doors to permit light to enter the hallway from other rooms. For artificial light you’ll want to consider the height of your ceilings. For people with low ceilings, wall uplighters will give the impression of height while for taller hallways you can install feature lighting like pendant lights or a luxurious chandelier.

Storage space

As you enter and exit the home you will need a place to hang up your coat, pick up your keys and grab your shoes and bags so a few hallway storage pieces can make life easier, keep everything tidy and look great too.

For your hats and coats, wall hooks are ideal for compact spaces while a coat stand looks great if you have more floor space to play with. Keep all your keys, letters and small items to hand with a wall storage unit and prevent people tripping over discarded shoes with a shoe storage unit

Range cookers

Modern range cookers are built with the latest intelligent technology to make sure your cooking experience is as easy and functional as possible. Advances in the systems used to operate range cookers means your oven will be convenient, versatile and economic.

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is the amount of flexibility you’ll require from your oven and hob. Consider what your cooking habits are likely to be and then choose a range cooker that will provide enough burner types, sizes and numbers as well as enough ovens to cope with the demands placed on it. Make sure that the size of range cooker you buy can fit in the space allocated in your kitchen.

Once you know how big your range cooker needs to be, you’ll have to make a decision on fuel type. In many respects this will be dictated by the supply to your home but you should also consider what best suits your cooking needs. Gas and electric cookers – known as dual fuel range cookers – are the most common type with gas burners on the hob and electric ovens. Gas offers the best controlled heat when cooking on the hob and electric ovens are best for speed and multi-functionality. If you go for a four oven range cooker you’ll have the option of using a conventional oven, fan oven, simmering oven and ceramic grill.

Your range cooker should have a variety of systems to aid your cooking experience. One of the most practical pieces of technology fitted into modern ovens is the electronic programmer. This is of great benefit to people with busy lifestyles or families as you have the option to program when the oven is to start and finish cooking. Features such as fast pre-heat can bring the oven up to cooking temperature quicker than conventional ovens saving you both time and money.

Aga – king of the range cookers

There’s one name that is synonymous with quality kitchen appliances and that is Aga. Aga range cookers are the modern extension of the iconic heat storing Aga offering the same classic looks and build quality but with all the options you’d find on a range cooker.

Aga have refined the control systems for their range cookers to give you total confidence that you’re cooking food at its best. The easy to clean surfaces, dye-cast solid doors and multiple ovens provide the ultimate cooking appliance for any kitchen.

The timeless design of an Aga range cooker will become the focal point of your kitchen. The models available have been designed to match the size of standard kitchen units and there is a range of colours to suit most tastes. Investing in an Aga will provide you with a cooker that has longevity and one that offers perfect cooking results.

One of the main questions asked by anyone looking to invest in one of these cookers is “what’s the difference between an AGA and a Rayburn?” In this article we’ll explain the basics.

Aga cookers explained

Since its original design, the AGA cooker has been manufactured in the same way, using cast iron for the oven casing and enamel for the frontage and oven doors. These materials give every single cooker a unique characteristic surface and a durability that will last for decades.

Underneath the classic looks is a heat storage cooker that steadily transfers heat from the core to the oven and hotplates so it’s always ready to cook. The high insulation levels of the outer casing combined with the hallmark insulated covers over the hotplates ensure that fuel is used economically. The AGA oven can be powered by a number of heat sources including gas (natural or propane), oil or electricity but whatever you choose, the cooking characteristics remain the same.

While remaining true to its traditions, technology hasn’t been forgotten and the Aga now has cutting edge components to ensure its working life continues to have longevity while also conforming to environmental standards. In 2006, AGA introduced the AGA Intelligent Management System (AIMS) to help ensure the correct amount of power is available when you need it. This results in fuel savings by having active periods in the day when you need the right temperatures for cooking and ‘holiday’ modes when you want the cooker to stay on low energy settings or even shut off while you’re away.

If you prefer the idea of a conventional oven, grill and hob but want the styling of an Aga then you needn’t miss out on this iconic cooker. AGA conventional cookers have all the features of a conventional oven but the timeless looks of a classic AGA.

Rayburn cookers explained

You may have heard people say that an Aga can provide hot water and central heating to your home. To all intents and purposes this is true but what they are actually referring to is a Rayburn cooker. The Rayburn is the versatile workhorse of the Aga family and certain models can indeed provide your home with heating and/or hot water.

Built using the same materials and exacting standards as the AGA, the Rayburn is supplied in either a cooking only option or as a range cooker that also provides you with heating and/or hot water. The Rayburn cookers can be powered by oil, natural gas, propane gas or wood and solid fuel with the option of either a conventional flue or power flue. Your next choice is between the cooking only Cookmaster range or the versatile Heatranger series.

The Cookmaster uses the same indirect heat technology as the Aga to provide cooking that will retain all the natural flavours and juices of food rather than allowing it to dry out. This gives you healthier and more delicious eating. The Rayburn Heatranger series gives you all the features of the Cookmaster but with the added benefits of hot water and/or central heating. This saves you space by having all your needs for a home environment but in one compact unit. The thermostatically controlled unit automatically maintains a constant temperature transforming your kitchen and home into a welcoming and warm place to live.

Type of fabric

The type of care that is required will depend greatly on the type of yarn. If you have an alpaca fibre you will need to care for it differently than cotton. Hand dyed yarns will need additional care in comparison to natural fibres. If you are the one who made the outfit, check the label on the skein of yarn for any special instructions. If you received it as a gift and it is possible, ask the person who made it what it is made of and how it should be cared for. If you are unsure, handle it as if it were regular knitting wools. Regular wool should be hand washed using cold water and lain flat to dry, making sure you shape it before it dries. Washable wool can be washed in the laundry as can cotton, linen and ramie, using the gentle cycle. Synthetic fibres can be laundered with the rest of your clothing.

Washing tips

Although there are some fabrics that can be added to the washing machine, it is recommended that most hand knitted items be hand washed. Knitting wools such as alpaca wool must be hand washed. Start off with cold water and use a mild detergent. You may choose to purchase special detergent designed specifically for wool knitting yarn. This type of detergent contains lanolin that will keep the wool water resistant. Gently agitate the water around the garment and rinse thoroughly. Do not wring the item, as this will cause it to become misshapen. If you cannot hand wash the clothing, wash it on the gentle cycle using cold water. Hand dyed wools should be washed separately.

Drying tips

After all the suds are completely out of the fibre and the water runs clear you can start the drying process. You can gently press the garment to remove excess water but do not wring it. Support the piece and transfer it to a towel and lay it down. Roll the towel and press down gently to remove as much water as possible. Then, place the garment on a large, thick towel and shape it. Gently press the edges into the appropriate shape. If there are any buttons or collars, make sure they are in the proper position. It will typically take an entire day of air drying before the garment is ready to wear or be stored. If after twenty four hours it is still damp, transfer it to a dry towel and repeat the process until it is dry. You can then store it by folding it gently. Do not hang it or the weight will cause it to stretch and become misshapen.

Ethical cooking and dining

Whether you’re cooking the family meal or you’re having a dinner party for friends, there are a few easy steps you can take to ensure a successful and ethical dinner:

Ingredients

We’ve already mentioned the popularity of free range eggs and sales are now hitting the £2 billion per year mark. Battery egg sales are plummeting and by 2012, eggs laid by caged hens will be a thing of the past as a ban is due to be implemented. All the major supermarkets are joining in to support free range produce because the demand from the public is stronger than ever.

Take an interest in where your ingredients come from and how they were grown or raised. Free range and organic produce is not only more ethically sound, it is also more nutritious which can only be a good thing for health.

Try to buy produce that is in season. We’ve become so used to having any type of fruit and vegetable at any time of the year but the fact remains that buying produce that is in season is more cost-effective, fresher and better for the environment.

Environmental impact

Actively seek out information about your food. ‘Food miles’ is an often used phrase and relates to the distance travelled from source to point of purchase. Be aware however that fuel consumption is not always judged on distance. A container ship full of apples travelling from another country can use less fuel than trucks driving hundreds of miles up and down this country. Buying locally is best to maintain freshness of food but don’t be over-enthusiastic as many poor countries rely on income from fruit and vegetable exports.

If you’re buying fish, find out how it has been caught and whether the stocks are sustainable. Fish is a rapidly depleting food source across the planet and some of the methods involved in fishing are detrimental to animal welfare and the environment.

Meat farming is having a major impact on the environment. While you don’t necessarily have to abstain from eating it, having a few meat free days every week can make a big difference. Did you know that a steak dinner for a family of four is roughly equivalent (energy wise) to driving around in 4×4 family car while leaving all your house lights on.

Grow your own

It is possible to become self-sufficient by growing your own vegetables and fruit. If you’ve a garden, patio or even just a window box, you’ll be amazed at how much you can actually grow yourself. Why not buy an organic garden gift voucher and grow your own tomatoes, peas, courgettes, runner beans and even strawberries.

Serving your food

You can even be ethical in the way you prepare and serve your food. Buy plates, utensils, chopping boards and bowls made from sustainable materials such as bamboo. Bamboo is a fast growing plant which is easily renewable therefore having very little impact on the environment. There are a number of stylish bamboo products for the kitchen and home.

Whether it’s to theme a nursery, update a child’s room or enhance a living space, you can have any style or design, tailored to suit your specific taste and budget.

The Design

As an experienced muralist, all of my murals are drawn free hand with no stencilling or projections involved. This allows me to transfer your ideas directly onto the wall with no scale or design restriction. I can work to all scales and budgets, producing either simple colourful wall murals to enhance a style of room – or completely theme a room in intricate detail. No project is too large or too small, and every project is treated with the same personal care and attention. When producing an interior scheme I can either translate your specific ideas directly or if you would prefer I can produce imaginative design creations for you. You may already have a room decorated and decide you want to take details from a border, curtains or duvet cover and create a mural to finish the room off.

The Price

There are a number of factors to consider that will determine the price of any given mural. The size of the mural, the detail, the wall texture and whether or not there is a ceiling involved – all have an impact on the costs. Prices start from as little as £65.00, so please use my contact page or phone me directly to arrange for a free consultation or guide price over the phone.

I am a fully qualified designer specialising in hand painted murals for interiors. I have always been creative and started painting murals when I was 14 in my own bedroom and then I found all of my friends wanted one. I went on to University and qualified with a Ba Hons in Design – Surface Pattern.

I worked as a designer for commercial companies but when I had my first child I decided that the nursery just had to have a Winnie The Pooh themed mural. As friends started to see my son’s room – my mural business began and it is the most rewarding and satisfying of jobs I have ever done.

As well as painting murals in people homes I have also been commissioned to produce murals for the National Health Service and other commercial properties, which have been featured in the local press.

Following our initial contact by phone, I would arrange to come and meet with you to view the room you intend to have the mural painted in. We would talk through your ideas, and at this stage if you needed inspiration I would also bring along ideas, pictures, and books to look at. For children’s rooms, every child has a favourite cartoon character, theme, TV character or book so this would be our starting point. If your child is old enough I always like to ask what they would like to see in their room so we make sure the mural makes everyone happy.

Once you have decided on the size and design of the mural that’s when I can provide you with an exact cost. My price is always inclusive of all materials and time – so no matter how long it takes me to complete the mural – the price will remain exactly as quoted (prices start from as little as £65).

When I come to paint the mural – the whole design is sketched out on the wall, ceiling or cupboard etc. in pencil first, and it is at this stage that I always make sure the client is completely happy with how the design looks before any painting begins – as once the design is painted changes are hard to make!

Your custom hand painted mural can usually be finished within a few days depending on size and detail level. The paints I use are waterproof and non-toxic and are therefore ideal to be used around children and babies.

Geopathic stress is natural radiation from the Earth that comes to the surface, but is altered along the way by electromagnetic fields caused by underground water, collections of certain minerals or fault lines. This radiation can be responsible for conditions ranging from infertility, cancer, migraines, joint pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and insomnia. The World Health Organisation also recognises Sick Building Syndrome is a result of geopathic stress.

Practitioners are available that can rid buildings of this radiation, or alter the building or its contents in such a way that the radiation is longer an issue. One such method is ‘dowsing’. In dowsing, a dowser uses tools and intuition to seek something (for example a water source, in ‘water dowsing’) – in this instance, the unconscious mind seeks the radiation that is infiltrating a building or room. Once the streams of radiation are found, methods are used to rid the radiation or move it, or alter the room or building so that the geopathic stress is no longer an issue. For example, if someone is suffering from insomnia, a dowser locates any geopathic stress and may find that the bed is lying on a geopathic stress line. By simply moving the bed, the sufferer will find they not only sleep better, but they have increased energy levels and become headache free. Another method that can be used in healing sick buildings utilises channelled energy to eliminate the negative energy (this can also be used on a person). This is known as ‘vortex healing’.

Another healing method is the ‘Alexander Technique‘. This is used to treat people, usually suffering from physical pain and/or stress caused by poor posture. By gaining awareness of how we stand, walk, sit and move in general, we can prevent issues that may arise as a result of poor habits, such as slouching. With this technique, the patient is taught to ‘treat themselves’ by monitoring their posture with a view to curing and preventing problems caused by it. It has been said that after learning how to use this method, patients not only find their pains have decreased (or disappeared), their overall posture is improved and they find more energy and suppleness. This then extrapolates to all areas of their lives.

These healing properties – the Alexander Technique, dowsing and vortex healing – can all work together to help heal sick minds, bodies and buildings. In the fast-paced world we live in today, we need all the help we can get!

The need to care for such leather finishes has lead to the creation of specialist leather care products such as Liquid Leather which clean, soften, protect and restore all leather articles from jackets, handbags and saddles to car and domestic seating. The Liquid Leather products are available with Scotchguard ™ for water and dirt repellence and the latest formulation even adds the traditional "smell" to new and old leather products. A full spectrum of leather colours can be treated with Liquid Leather and the range also includes specialist leather furniture care products such as Scuff Master leather dyes which are able to cover unsightly "scuffing" or rubbing that can often result in areas of heavy or continual usage.

Soap and water MUST NOT be used to clean leather as it will shrink and harden it. Greasy, waxy oils, pastes and balsams will attract dust and dirt which adheres to the finish. Liquid Leather is recognised as the best way to care for and preserve your cherished leather products, a fact that is borne out by the impressive list of those who use it.

The Liquid Leather products are manufactured by Gliptone Leathercare UK and are used or sold around the world by: Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Ferrari (Maranello Concessionaires), Aston Martin, TVR, Bristol Cars, Saab GB, the largest leather furniture manufacturers and retailers including DFS, Furniture Village, hundreds of furniture repair technicians plus most of the "CE" accredited made to measure motorcycle leather clothing manufacturers. Liquid Leather is the only product recommended by the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club Interior Care and Renovation Seminars.