Many householders have discovered the advantages of growing their homes by building on a conservatory, as these usually do not require planning permission as they are “permitted development”(subject to certain limits –the information is available on the government planning website). Even if it takes some of your garden space it will greatly enhance your all year round space availability of your home – and still give you visual access to the pleasures of your garden. You should consider what your primary use of your conservatory will be and then you can take advice, for example, from a company such as SEHBAC as to what design or specification may be appropriate for your home. Some ideas are: [Read more...]
Making an extra bedroom
January 16, 2012 By
When the second child you have is not another girl but a boy, and when you get tired of visitors sleeping on a blow up bed in your lounge you begin to thin you really need to plan another bedroom. You may well have enough space in your home, just not enough rooms, or it may be that there is just not enough space in your house to fit another bedroom. Whatever your situation is, there are a number of options;
· Dividing a large bedroom into two smaller ones – it is worth getting an architect to look at this as it may be that, for example, two L shaped rooms might be more stylish than two thin rooms or you might be able to incorporate a large landing space into the new rooms.
· Having a loft conversion –some lofts or attics are easier to convert than others, and for many of them the problem is where the stairs will go and how steep they will be (steep stairs could be too dangerous for small children or a granny). Before you make a decision to have a loft conversion get a builder or surveyor to check that this is feasible and you will have enough height in the centre of the loft to make a useable room,
· Converting a garage- If your garage is attached to your house and well constructed it is worth looking at have a conversion to a bedroom (makes a good bedroom for a teenager needing a place for music practice). You may have to consider all kinds of upgrades from damp proofing and insulation to ventilation and building of a new front wall. Again, professional advice is needed.
Fitting an extra bathroom
December 5, 2011 By
Often when a family grows the need for an extra toilet or bathroom grows along with the morning queue at the single bathroom. With the increasing flexibility given by small-bore plumbing systems a toilet and other sanitary ware can be fitted in small spaces. Even if you have the space for a bath you may want to consider fitting a shower room instead as most people now prefer them for the speed and convenience. There are many options for extending your bathroom facilities:
- Toilet and wash basin under the stairs – this space is often underused or overused for putting family detritus aka junk, and offers an excellent downstairs position for a second toilet.
- Shower room in the utility room – this can be quite a handy place to fit a shower cubicle even if rather small – the pipework will already be there and, if large enough, a partition could be fitted to make a small private enclosure.
- Ensuite in the bedroom – builders are getting expert at fitting ensuites (usually toilet, washbasin and shower cubicle) in small spaces as part of a bedroom. I have seen stylish ensuites that take just a corner of the room and provide a nook next to it for a dressing table and storage and some can be built in with sliding wardrobes along the wall.
Converting a cellar or basement
November 12, 2011 By
Creating a basement or cellar under your house if one does not exist is a mammoth, expensive task that is not worth contemplating. If your house does already have a basement or cellar that you currently mainly use for storing junk and clutter, it is possible to look at converting this into a useable room. It will need to be about 2.4 metres high and usually planning permission is not needed for conversion of an existing cellar or basement. There are two issues to consider
Is the room damp? If the room is damp there will need to be a damp proof system installed. Also, to prevent condensation and the growth of mould or fungi on the walls, good ventilation needs installing as well.
Heating – As heating with gas would need a flue and create moisture through the burning of the gas, the fuel of choice would be electricity. It may be best for the contractor to make a separate ring main so as to not overload the existing system.
Are there windows or any source of natural light? Even if there is no existing source of natural light then ask your builder about the possibility of fitting a window well – a double glazed window that lays flat on the ground outside to let light (and ventilation) into the basement or cellar.
However, if there is no access to natural light, then this may limit your options for creating a living room, home office, kitchen or bedroom. Most people do not work well in a room without natural light and spending long periods of time in artificially lit surroundings can be very jading. The good news is that this does not apply to using a converted cellar or basement into a home cinema – it is ideal for the home cinema screens and surround sound systems to be left set up and in situ. It could also be used for a teenagers sitting/games room and overflow bedroom, a hobby room or space for parties.
Growing your home
October 22, 2011 By
In the past, for many families, their first choice if they needed more space or more facilities in their home would have been to move house and get a bigger one. Nowadays as people are more cash-strapped and jobs are more uncertain, many are thinking twice about a process of moving to solve their problems and looking at growing their own home as a preferred option.
Families grow – many couples do choose with the future in mind when they buy their home – and think ahead to having children and having extra room. But a house that is big enough for mum and dad and two small children will begin to look more limited when there are two teenagers and their parents wanting to use the bathroom at the same time.
Looking ahead many parents realise that this situation may be a relatively short time in the life of their family and their fledglings may leave the nest pretty soon (if they go to university and develop their own life plans).
For many families therefore, growing their home will be an excellent option, and furthermore, many of the changes they will make will also add considerably to the value of the house. The options will include actually growing the internal space by converting unused space in the loft or cellar, or re-arranging internal walls to utilise hall or corridor space and add them to make rooms bigger. It can also involve building on extra space by adding an extension, or converting a garage, or enclosing an outdoor space of a yard or deck can add an extra room for entertaining or also for separating living areas to create a quiet space.
Don’t go for rock bottom in your bathroom
May 17, 2012 By
When upgrading your bathroom, it can be tempting to go for the cheapest ceramic fittings. While there are certainly bargains to be had, it is best to stick with a reputable manufacturer rather than going for rock bottom.
You may have some success finding good deals using an online search engine and following links like “click here to get thermostatic shower from Mira” but it is also a good idea to get recommendations from friends, colleagues and your plumber.
One problem with low-budget toilets, for example, is that manufacturers cut corners to lower the cost. Unfortunately, sometimes they cut curves as well – trap curves. When buying a toilet, make sure the trap (the S-shaped tube beneath the toilet that the water goes down when you flush) is fully glazed. Like the exterior of the toilet, the inside of the trap should be shiny and smooth. If not, toilet paper will get caught on the insides of the tube and cause a blockage. So, while looking online is sufficient for getting prices comparisons, details on the range of electric showers from Mira or the finer points of bidets, it is preferable to be able to examine what you plan to buy in the showroom.
Most people choose kitchen and bathroom taps because they like the design, but if you want to keep drips and repair bills to a minimum, look beyond the style. What you need to consider is the materials which have been used to make it and the mechanism inside, to work out how reliable it will be. Some cheap taps have plastic handles which are more likely to break than their metal cousins. Most top-quality taps are made from cast brass, which is often plated; chrome plating is probably the most durable. Check too, whether the washers which make up the seal inside the tap are ceramic, as these are much more hard-wearing than the rubber type, which perish over time.
5 ideas for an elegant bedroom
April 25, 2012 By
Bedroom a bit of a dump? In serious need of a makeover to give it a touch of elegance and class? Well, look no further, because help is at hand. With these five simple tips, you can have your bedroom looking elegant and sophisticated in no time at all.
Invest in pine bedroom furniture. Pine is a timelessly classic material and will look elegant in any bedroom. Whether you choose to purchase a new bed, wardrobe, dresser or chest of drawers, investing in pine and solid wood bedroom furniture is guaranteed to give your bedroom a touch of class.
Choose your colour scheme carefully. Muted colours such as creams and beiges with splashes of more vibrant colours here and there work well and ensure your bedroom has an air of elegance, rather than a colour scheme that hasn’t been thought out at all.
Choose an elegant mirror. An elegant mirror with an intricate or ornate frame can really work wonders in the bedroom and can create a beautiful and classy focal or central point, particularly when paired with a well-chosen dresser or dressing table.
Add finishing touches with care. Choosing fresh flowers to put in pretty vases will not only make your room look elegant, it will ensure it smells lovely too. Select ornaments that work well with the rest of the room’s interior, but avoid overdoing it to keep the space relatively clutter-free.
Keep it clean! A tidy and well kept room is one you will want to spend time in, and there is nothing elegant about mess and dirt. So get that feather duster out and give your room a good spring clean.
Follow these five simple tips to creating an elegant bedroom and you will soon find that your only problem is you never want to get out of bed!
Furniture – Less Is More
April 20, 2012 By
When it comes to furnishings, it’s generally true tat less is more. That doesn’t necessary mean that we should have fewer objects in our homes, but that the centre-piece furnishings should be carefully thought out, and better quality pieces that we love and will keep hold of through our lives, with any luck.
These days, most people seem to tae the opposite tack. This is understandable – lots of people like to make quick and easy changes and perhaps there’s nothing wrong with that. But personally, I like to have a few things around me which are excellent quality and which really mean something to me.
This is what creating a home rather than a space to live is all about. If you can be true to your self and the tings you instinctively love – rather than any expectations others may have of you – then you’ll tend to create a beautiful and interesting home automatically.
Good quality doesn’t need to cost the earth, though. I have a couple of glass coffee tables I bought years ago which I wouldn’t be without, but they weren’t expensive.
And you may be able to find cheap dining tables and other furnishings that are really “you” without spending an arm and a leg.
But on the whole – it’s better to pay more for something if you do really love it, with a view to holding onto it forever. Just try and be sure it is something you love in the first place – that’s the hard part.
When you’re in the shops, there’s a tendency to lose yourself in the moment and let your head get turned by other things. The way around this is not to buy, but to go away and consider whether it’s really the thing you can’t live without. Just take your time, don’t be rushed by others – and remember that the easiest person who can fool you is yourself!