4 Tips To Choosing A Modern Bathroom Vanity

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Choosing a vanity for your bathroom may not exactly be a glamorous task, but it is a task that needs to be done nonetheless. There's no denying the fact that a bathroom vanity either makes or breaks the design of your bathroom. If the vanity is placed in an awkward space, uses poor or mismatched materials, or does not boast of enough storage space, the rest of your bathroom will greatly suffer. Without straying away from the topic any further, here are 4 tips for choosing a modern bathroom vanity! If you are looking for bathroom vanity units in the UK, you should start your search here, bathroomcity.co.uk!   

Tip 1: Opt for custom designs

If you are prioritizing efficiency over everything else, you should perhaps opt for a modern custom vanity. Contrary to popular belief, modern custom vanities aren't always more expensive than factory-made vanities.  What gives modern custom vanities the upper hand is the fact that they can be tailored to suit your needs, requirements, and configurations. For instance, if you don't want the bowl to be placed in the middle, you can go ahead and tell your custom builder to fix it. In addition to that, you can also put electricity in the cabinet box i.e. if you want to keep the hair dryers, electric toothbrushes and other necessities ready to go. You also get to choose your vanity materials and play around with different styles and designs when purchasing a custom vanity.  

Tip 2: Storage

You will need to take into account the products you truly use to help you decide how much storage space you will require in your modern bathroom vanity. When selecting a modern bathroom vanity, it is always suggested that you to add about 30 per cent more space than you think you´ll require. Doing so helps take care of your current needs and also gives you extra storage space for more products that you may need in the future.

Tip 3: Size and scale

It is ill-advised for you to attempt to cram a huge modern vanity into a small bathroom. Even if you have extra storage needs, you should never select a modern bathroom vanity that is too big for your bathroom. In addition to making your bathroom feel cluttered and small, an oversized modern vanity can largely overpower your space. Plus, such vanities may not be completely functional and practical; there must be enough room for the drawers and doors to open and shut.

Tip 4: Choosing the design

When selecting a modern bathroom vanity, you should ensure that it not only blends in well with your bathroom style but also accentuates the other furniture and accessories in the bathroom. When choosing the vanity, you will need to focus on the design, finishes, materials used, configurations, and faucet colours.

Choosing The Right Bedding for the Bedroom

Photo by Nik Lanús on Unsplash

Over the past few months, we’ve been slowly redecorating our bedroom with fresh paint, new furniture, and the ultimate Simba mattress and Ottoman bed. Now, I’m on the hunt for stylish, high-quality bedding to complete the transformation. Join me as I share tips and ideas for creating a cosy, beautiful retreat.

We spend a significant portion of our lives cosied up in bed, whether it's for rest, relaxation, or sleep, so I firmly believe that it’s absolutely worth investing in high-quality mattresses and bedding. Doing so can help create that perfect, comfortable sanctuary where we can unwind and truly recharge our minds and bodies.

Below are some points I've considered when choosing my new bedding

Material

I prefer 100% cotton, ideal for not having to iron - I'm rubbish at ironing bedding. Cotton also gives you durability, comfort, and breathability. Plus, it’s low-maintenance and doesn’t need ironing, making it perfect for busy lifestyles. Investing in quality cotton bedding can transform your sleep experience while saving you time and effort.

Thread Count

This is the total number of threads woven into a single square inch of fabric. Generally speaking, the higher the thread count, the softer and more luxurious the sheet will feel against your skin. Good quality sheets typically range anywhere from 200 to a high-end 1000 thread count, offering varying levels of comfort and durability for a better night's sleep.

Fit

It goes without saying that you should always make sure to buy the correct size sheet for your bed. I personally prefer fitted sheets, as they help to ensure a smooth, snug fit that stays in place throughout the night. Plus, let's be honest—I simply don't have the desire or the time to do those complicated hospital corners with unfitted sheets. Fitted sheets make my life a little easier and more comfortable, allowing me to focus on other important things instead!

Pattern

I've still not made my mind up yet about whether I want plain, simple sheets or if I should opt for sheets that have lovely, eye-catching patterns. I do know that deep down, I want to embrace whites and soft, light pastel colours in my bedroom decor, steering clear of anything bright or too vivid in color – which is the complete opposite of what I currently have.

Thus, I have a rough idea of what I want for my bedroom decor, but I still need some visual inspiration to help refine my choices. Recently, I’ve been exploring the Julian Charleswebsite, which features a stunning selection of bedding. They offer some lovely options that really catch my eye! I’ve spotted a few pieces that I genuinely like, but now I just have to take some time to narrow them down to find the perfect set.

8 Ways to totally Re-Invent your Bathroom

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Whether it’s an issue with lighting, problems with the hot water, or a drippy tap driving everyone crazy, something always needs fixing in the bathroom. Sometimes, when it comes to decorating or transforming your home, the bathroom can often slip down to the bottom of the priority list, which is funny, because when it comes to home necessities, it is probably the one room that we all need the most (without going into too much detail). For a space that we spend a lot of time in, it can be a bit depressing if it’s dated, dull or shabby. There might even be some of you that have had a spur of motivation, begun a complete bathroom overhaul and then life got in the way. Your bathroom may now be half tiled, have bare floorboards and no storage and some of you might be all too familiar with a cold shower. If this is you, it is definitely time you did something about the situation.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Basically, now is your excuse to get a big, fancy mirror, as these things are not only practical but can also look really great in the bathroom. When choosing a mirror for your bathroom, you want something that is going to be extremely clear and precise (because it is often here that make up will get applied!) but also something that is also going to look nice and fit in with your bathroom’s design. Backlit mirrors are a great choice because rather than having an ugly, overly bright light hang over the top of your mirror, the light is hidden inside and provides perfect, soft illumination, plus you can feel like a film star whilst applying your foundation – total win.

Get Creative with Storage

Most bathrooms are typically small in size and so storage can often be an issue. Even if you have a fair sized bathroom, I can guarantee there is all kinds of rubbish that falls out of your bathroom cupboard when you open it, shampoo bottle after shampoo bottle gather dust on the side of the bath, and towels are stuffed awkwardly on the radiator. A simple storage solution would be to have some cabinets fitted and put everything away neatly. However, this can risk your bathroom looking a little ‘too’ clean (is there such a thing?) and a little clinical. Using creative storage solutions such as wicker baskets to store toilet rolls, cute mason jars to store make up brushes and shelves to house your rolled up towels means that you are killing storage and decoration with one stone.

Get rid of the Shower Curtain!

Shower curtains are finally becoming a thing of the past, and if you are still clinging tightly on to yours, it’s time to get rid. Not only do they just look a little 90’s, they also gather all kinds of dirt and grime, and they are an absolute pain to clean – basically, they rarely look good, and there are some great alternatives that will spruce up your space in an instant. If you like a minimalistic approach, then a plain glass screen will do the job just as well, and whilst it may get a little grubby through steam and fingerprints, a quick wipe with glass cleaner and it will look like new again. If you want something a little more creative, you could forget the idea of containment altogether (curtain or glass) and opt for a wet room. Open plan can often allow for small spaces to appear bigger and a wet room is a stylish, contemporary alternative to the traditional bathroom. You can also have a lot of fun with the décor and create dimensions using tiling techniques.

Go all green Fingered

Plants are a great, natural decoration for any part of the house, but they work particularly well in brightening up bathroom décor and adding a fresh feel to even the pokiest of spaces. Greenery can also create a fab sense of tranquillity, making your bathroom a relaxing and mindful space. There are a range of different house plants that will thrive in your bathroom environment and due to low light and high humidity, it is probably the best place in the house to have them. Orchids look great placed in the bathroom and will automatically give your loo a luxurious spa feel! If you want to go a bit greener, then something as simple as an Ivy pant will provide a fresh pop of colour – especially if your bathroom is white!

Put on your Overalls

It can sometimes be all too tempting to keep it plain and simple when it comes to bathroom decoration. Whilst this might work for some spaces, if your bathroom is a considerable size, you might want to tone down the white with a bit of bold colour. Giving a lick of paint to bare walls can really enhance the mood of a room and you will be surprised at the different it can make to its overall appearance! Why not go for something a little crazy like a bright pink or maybe a patterned wallpaper? Go on, be brave!

Spruce up your Bath

Of course, everyone dreams of a huge, standalone bath, full to the top with bubbles and candles, but in reality, a lot of bathrooms are simply too small and so if we want the luxury of a bath it has to be fitted in. But not to worry! There are still plenty of ways to make a fitted bath look chic and expensive. If your existing one is looking a little tattered, why not re-tile around it? Big, white tiles with dark grouting can immediately make for a funky look or why not fit a new tap onto your existing tub? Big, gold vintage taps can immediately turn a basic bath tub into something grand and upmarket.

Be a little Daring, Darling

If there is room for it, why not buy a piece of funky, modern furniture to sit in your bathroom such as a patterned chair or stool or even a big piece of elaborate wall art? When it comes to wall art, the bathroom is definitely a space for quirky, funny pieces that you wouldn’t necessarily hang anywhere else in the house, so why not go a little crazy?

Out with the Old, In with the New

If you want a fresh, new bathroom, you’re going to have to just bite the bullet and do it. Bite the bullet and bin any shabby, threadbare towels and grubby bath mats and buy completely new. There is only so long that towels and bath mats can stay looking fresh, and sometimes the accessories in a bathroom can really contribute to its overall look and feel, particularly if you have opted for the on display storage solutions I mentioned earlier. When buying new towels, you don’t have to go totally expensive – shops such supermarket home ranges or stores such as Wilkos and Matalan do really nice towels and other bathroom essentials for really reasonable prices – just make sure you choose a colour scheme and stick to it!

What Are Oilcloth Tablecloths And How Can They be Useful Around Your Home

If you are wondering what oilcloth tablecloths are and how is it different from the other tablecloths, then worry not as today will be the day that you will be able to differentiate all those types of tablecloth.

Oilcloths have been around since the 19th century. It was first used as floorcloth to cover the floorings. It was very popular back then because it was cheap and easy to maintain. With its waterproof and stain-proof features, people can easily clean oilcloths with damp rugs and other types of cloth. It was mistakenly called linoleum back then.

Oilcloth was also used as a substitute for expensive leather and was used as the outer layers of leather luggage bags, shoes, and other leather-made merchandise.

Today, most people confuse oilcloth tablecloth with PVC tablecloth, especially when one mentions PVC oilcloth tablecloth. And we totally understand why people commonly mistake the one with the other one. The main reason why people make that mistake is because both clothes have the same feel to them; they feel waterproof and plastic. But if you investigate further, you will discover that there are significant differences between the two that will certainly help you in identifying the difference. We will discuss below;

First of all, oilcloth tablecloths are made from 100% cotton and then coated with PVC to make it waterproof, while PVC tablecloths are 100% plastic. Because oilcloth tablecloths are made from pure cotton, it will feel a lot softer and will fit better on your table as compared to PVC tablecloths. Oilcloth tablecloths will also be able to smoothen out the sharp edges of your table, while PVC tablecloths will only add sharper edges to your table because plastics cannot easily fold and are less malleable than cotton.

Oilcloth can be very useful in your home for various reasons. First of all, you can use an oilcloth tablecloth as your table cover to save time and effort in cleaning stains and food spoils. It also protects your precious table from the usual wear and tear. Stains on wooden tables can be very hard to deal with, water also softens it and aggravates its’ wear and tear. Metal tables, on the other hand, can get rusty with food stains and water spills. It is only by using a tablecloth that you can save the table from damage and maximize its longevity. And of course, you can even enhance the look of your table and your kitchen with various oilcloth tablecloth designs available in the market.

Oilcloth tablecloths are also very easy to maintain. It can easily be washed with a wet cloth or with soap if there are hard stains to remove. Furthermore, they are long lasting and environmentally friendly compared to other products.

Because oilcloths have many uses, they are usually sold in rolls to custom fit according to the customer’s need. Other uses of oilcloth include:

•          Shelf coverings

•          Curtains

•          Seat covers

•          Placemats

•          Grill covers

•          Patio umbrellas

•          Wallpaper coverings

•          Desk protectors

•          Garage covers

•          Car covers

•          Aprons, gloves, bags

Five Ways To Beautify Your Kitchen

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Giving your kitchen a makeover takes time and effort and it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that a little attention to detail can go a very long way. Once you understand that, you can understand that you don’t necessarily have to rip out and replace all of your counters and cabinets just to have a beautiful kitchen.

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A beautiful kitchen is about maximising the space you have with your taste. So, if you are a lover of rustic antiques like the ones shown here, then you’ll be fairly likely to have wooden kitchen worktops and make use of scrubbed wooden dining tables. If you prefer something a little sharper and sleeker in looks, go for black marble or granite worktops instead. Your kitchen’s look is all about you and what you like, so you can enjoy the room as you see fit. Beautifying this space is about the little details, not the huge changes. So, how can you beautify your kitchen?

1. Update your cabinet handles. Draws and doors often come with handles when you have a kitchen installed or you move into a new home. A simple change from chrome handles to wooden knobs can make such a difference, especially if you are going for a warm, rustic charm in your kitchen.

2. Use light colours. Dark colours can shrink a room right down and if your current kitchen is on the dark side, swap for something pastel. A lick of paint can give a room a freshness it needs and when the natural light floods through, everything brightens up.

3. Metallic is in! Switch out your dated plastic sink and drainer and replace them from a variety of stainless steel sinks. Sleek and modern, metals in the kitchen can match beautifully. Your appliances and oven can all be in sync – no pun intended – and your sinks can match them, too!

4. Kitchen lighting is known to be quite harsh and bright. Strip lights are very fluorescent and of course, in a place you need to be able to see clearly while chopping and preparing food, it’s helpful. However, by changing over your lighting you are changing the mood of the space. Spotlights over the cooking area and low-hanging drop lights or chandeliers over the eating area give the entire room two entirely different looks.

5. Flowers are a beautiful way to change the look of your kitchen. It’s not just the colours, but the shape of the vases you use. Use several different types of vases for a different look wherever you place the blooms.

Beautifying your kitchen space isn’t about total replacement. It’s all about making it look homely, welcoming and perfect for your family. Put your stamp on it, as when children take over other rooms in the house you need a solace. Sure, it’s a place to cook, clean and eat, but it’s nice to be able to go into the kitchen to find your zen while you witness the stampede from there!

Plastic Coloured Splashbacks for the Bathroom

We've very nearly finished the extension work, with just a few bits and pieces to finish and to complete the play-room.  Then later in 2017 I hope to renovate the bathroom and the en-suite - this is our next rooms on the list for renovation.

On my dream list, is to fit the walk-in shower with acrylic splashback - a green coloured splashback. With it being plastic, it's much cheaper than the glass splashbacks, but still gives you a stylish and high gloss finished appearance. Adding a splash of colour to the bathroom.

Plastic splashbacks are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to other wall coverings as plastic can be formed and moulded into just about any shape. They offer a more vibrant and bold finish, with an array of colours and/or patterns to choose from.

Splashbacks offer a more modern, sleek and unique finish.

As well as their appearance, the other benefits plastic splashbacks offer:

• Fully shatterproof
• Quick and easy installation - either screwed or glued to the walls (as long as the wall is prepped beforehand)
• They are stain resistant
• They offer a non-stick surface so will not harbour mould, calcium build up or soap

Plastic Splashbacks are a great option for kitchens and bathrooms.

DIY Or Use A Professional - When To Choose Which

Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to DIY, it’s a hobby that can be both enjoyable and rewarding at the same time. Not only do you learn new skills, but you get to reap the rewards too. But sometimes, being able to do it all yourself just isn’t an option.

Depending on your skills, time and experience, you may or may not be able to choose the DIY card every single time. If not, it might be time to call in the professionals. If you’re not sure which option is best, take a look at these top tips on when to choose which.

Designing

If you’re planning on decorating an entire room, you might want to get your design in mind first. Maybe you’re just doing a colour change, or perhaps you’re looking forwards to completely redoing it all. Either way, there’s one tell all sign that you can look out for when deciding on doing it yourself or asking for help.

Do you need to draw anything to scale? If so, you might need to rope in a designer to get you started. But if not, if you can work with a rough idea on build on it as you go, stick to your guns and DIY!

Painting

When it comes to painting, it can be a breeze or an absolute nightmare. Do you have a steady hand? Have you put in enough practice? Or, maybe you’ve never done it before, but you can handle the mess if it comes down to it? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then do it yourself.

But, if you might mess up the cutting in, or leave marks on the wall, or even if you just don’t have the time to commit to painting an entire house, call in the professionals. In this instance, you might be glad you did!

Exterior

Outdoor renovations and improvements can be tricky. Unless of course, you’re a skilled professional, then you’ve got it covered. Whether your outdoor work is to repair a fence or build a roof, you might need advice if you’re deciding not to call in the experts this time.

If you’re going to give it a go, get measuring, planning and buying. Head to building and outdoors specialists, such as Timber Merchants, to stock up on the right materials, find what you need and get your specifications sorted.

Interior

Some of the most obvious areas to opt for DIY come under the interiors category. More often than not, you’ll find that you don’t need a designer. If you have a vision for how the rooms should look, you can consider trends and find inspiration in magazines or online to guide you. Pinterest has some really interesting ideas for DIY that might make a huge difference to the way you design your interior space.

Specialisms

The category that might be best left to the professionals - the specialisms. Things like electric and plumbing should really be left to those in the know. Make sure you save your budget for these areas. Unless you know someone in the trade. If you have a friend or family member that’s happy to lend a hand, even better. If not, it’s best to let the professionals get it right first time, then make a mess of it yourself.

Finally, don’t forget the hire the Skips, otherwise, the rubbish soon builds up. Thus, hiring a 10 Yard Skip will allow you and/or the professionals to keep on top of the mess caused by building works / renovations, in a much more easier and hassle-free way.

The Budget Factor

Let’s be honest: your bank balance often has the final say in the DIY vs. Professional debate. If you find yourself a little short on funds, you might be forced to roll up your sleeves and tackle these projects yourself, learning on the fly through sheer necessity. It’s a great way to save money and gain some serious bragging rights, but it definitely requires a lot of patience. Of course, if you happen to win the super lotto tomorrow, you can trade in your tool belt for a professional crew and watch the transformation happen from the comfort of a deck chair. But until those lucky numbers come up, your own two hands are your most valuable resource!

Tips For DIY IN 2017

2016 for us has been all about the new extension and renovations on our home. The extension is done and we are happily using the room and enjoying the new space. But, all the renovations on the other parts of our home is not done; we still have quite a bit to do. 

Currently, we are renovating our new dining room - The dining room was our old living room, we've put a partitioned wall in, thus, we need the rooms wiring to be separated, as well as new pendant lights, new spotlights, and some new sockets.  

All this inevitably means that in 2017 we’ll be knocking some sizable holes in walls or having to replace sections altogether. While doing some research for our exciting renovations, I came across a lot of talk about asbestos in walls, ceilings and even sticking down tiles - it’s all rather scary. I know our home is safe because of checks we’ve has carried out, but it got me thinking about all my fellow DIYers and how I could help them with their new year’s decorating.

Slater and Gordon, who are specialist mesothelioma lawyers (asbestos causes mesothelioma if you didn’t know), seem to be thinking about 2017 DIY plans and have made this guide about keeping safe. It even talks about dangers while cutting MDF, which I hadn’t even known about.

Making the most of your bathroom

Whether you have a large, luxurious bathroom or a cosy and small one - bathrooms are one of the most important rooms in the house. They are used for everything from part of your everyday getting ready routine in the morning to a long, relaxing soak at the end of the day; therefore it’s vitally important that your bathroom is fit for purpose. If your bathroom is on the smaller side, here are some helpful tips to allow you to utilise all of its space.

Clever positioning

To make the most of the room you have, you need to take a look at the space as a blank canvas. You don’t need to gut your bathroom for this, simply draw or use an online tool like Room Styler to map it out. Play around with your layout and see if you could add some extra inches by trying out a corner sink or positioning your shower over the bathtub. This will give you a good idea of where the room is being taken up. Bigger prints on walls or tiles on the floor will give the illusion of more space in a small room so if you can fully redesign then this is a great option.

If you don’t have the budget or the option to completely redecorate, there are some other things you can do. Adding a bigger mirror on the wall will add more light in and allow the room to seem more spacious. Opting for a shower curtain over a glass shower screen will also allow for more space. A glass shower door open out into the room so need to be positioned in specific places. A curtain will just slide across and won’t need to expand. Placing a towel rail onto the back of the door or some hooks will mean that you won’t need a big rail taking up wallspace.

Storage

If you have lots of toiletries or like to stock up on bathroom supplies, it's easy to start running out of space. Having bottles of shampoo, your favourite bath bombs and packs of loo roll crowding up your bathroom can make the room look extremely cramped and cluttered. Keep these items stored away in cupboards and wardrobes where possible or, alternatively, invest in some new bathroom cabinets to keep the essentials in. For a cheaper option, pick up some decorative wicker baskets to add a stylish storage touch to your bathroom and keep your toiletries neatly tucked away but within easy reach.

Finishing touches

Now you have your bathroom perfectly staged, your new mirrors or cabinets fixed onto the walls and your shampoo nicely stored away - it's time to add some finishing touches. Investing in some luxurious bath mats and towels will give your newly designed bathroom a hotel feel. Other popular accessories include a scented candle or reed diffuser to help you unwind after a long day. Sticking to simple but striking touches will make sure your bathroom looks stylish and inviting but without feeling cluttered.

Skirting Board

Earlier this year we embarked on having an extension built for what will become our new living room. And this week it is finally done (well nearly, just a few bits and pieces to touch up). The final piece of the puzzle was the skirting board and architrave and we had it fitted yesterday.

Fed up with carpets (4 kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats, trying to keep the carpet nice, is near on impossible) thus, we decided to go for the luxury vinyl flooring, which I hope will be much easier for us to maintain. We had to wait for this to be fitted first, but after being delayed for a while, it finally went down on the weekend, and I am pleased with it. Then the final piece for our new living room was the skirting board.

As we are going for plain white walls, I wanted a wood effect skirting board, not white. I don't want white skirting board, as no matter what type of white paint we varnished them with, they would, in the end,  turn the horrid yellowy white.  I also wanted a skirting board that didn't have any grooves (which can be a pain to clean). I wanted a nice smooth rounded finish - hoping that it would make it so much easier to keep clean.

The Skirting Board Shop very kindly sent me enough rounded one edge light oak veneer skirting board and matching architrave for our new living room, and it is just perfect! It's fully finished, which means we don't have to stain it - so much easier.

It's better than I was expecting. It's finished our living room off perfectly, giving the room a nice border/frame.  

The skirting board and architrave arrived well packed, wrapped in plenty of bubble wrap, so it didn't get damaged.  I also liked how it comes in long lengthed planks (although that was a challenge for us to store) it was perfect for our 24ft long living room.

I got my brother to install it in the evening (he's a carpenter), he used Gorilla glue and his nail gun (even though it is a new extension, it wasn't as straight as we would have liked). We will cover the tacks with wax that matches the colour of the skirting board, so you can't see the nails.

If you are looking for skirting board, then take a look at The Skirting Board Shop - they offer a wide range of products – sizes and finishes, which makes life so much easier, as they are a one stop shop for your skirting board and architrave needs.

We are currently renovating the dining room, which used to be the living room, and I will be ordering the same skirting board and architrave from The Skirting Board Shop to continue in these rooms.