Archive for house and home

Persian Rug Cleaning Tips Against Damage

May 22, 2013 | house and home | 4 Comments

More than function, Persian Rugs are bought for their beauty and value. Homeowners normally choose their rugs to match their interior décor and style. Unlike ordinary carpets or rugs, the unique artistry and craftsmanship that goes into making Persian rugs add to their appeal. If you want your rugs to look beautiful for a long time, you have to take note of special Persian rug cleaning tips.

Antique Persian Mashad rug

Antique Persian Mashad rug
Image (cc) Wikimedia Commons

It is not difficult to care for your Persian rugs. The basic rules are not to put them in high traffic areas and in areas where they can be hit by direct sunlight. You also have to clean your rugs regularly to prevent dust from settling into the threads and weaves. You can run your vacuum cleaner through your rugs once a week. You can also shake the dirt particles off your rugs and hang your rugs out to air once every month.

It is also important to pay attention to spots and stains right away. Be mindful of the substances that you use in cleaning your rugs. Harsh chemicals can ruin a perfectly good Persian rug in a second. Experts recommend simply blotting out the spill with a towel and getting as much of the liquid by dabbing and gentle rubbing. If the stain still does not come off, you can consult professional carpet cleaners for expert tips on how to successfully get rid of the stain.

It would be a shame not to take care of your Persian rugs properly. Pretty soon, you can end up with a threadbare, frayed, or faded Persian carpet that dampens instead of brightens the way your home interior looks. Some would argue that carpets are made to be used on the floor. There is no disputing that. However, proper care will allow you to get more use out of your Persian rug.

Tagged: ,

The Top Most Unique Bunk Beds

May 17, 2013 | house and home | 7 Comments

Bunk beds are one of the best ways of conserving space in your home. Not only do they offer a variety of benefits when it comes to accommodating your children, but many of the newer models are made from wood that is responsibly sourced. When inviting people over to stay, one of your biggest concerns will be to make sure they get a good night’s rest. You may have just bought a brand new sleeping bag or the latest blow up mattress, but nothing compares to having a bed of your own. Especially when you’re short of space, bunk beds can be a real life-saver.

Taking advantage of vertical space, bunk beds can breathe a breath of fresh air into any bedroom, instantly providing more space to accommodate wardrobes, children’s’ toys, any anything you see fit. For those children who like to sleep near their siblings, bunk beds are again the perfect option, and because they’re made of sturdy and hard materials, they’re very safe, no matter high they seem. They don’t tend to last as long as normal beds, but seeing as you won’t need them once your children grow up, then they’re great to fill a space!

There are many different types of bunk beds on offer that it can be hard to pick the right one for your home, so that’s why we’ve produced a list of the top and most unique bunk beds to buy.

Warren Evans – The Bunk

warren evans bunk beds

Fashionable, sleek and study – The Bunk by Warren Evans is a real winner, especially if you’re looking to design a room around its furniture. Not only is it an ethical bed, with a vast range of colours and different wood finishes, but a number of celebrities have also purchased The Bunk to help improve their children’s bedrooms. One of the best things about The Bunk by Warren Evans, is that the beds come in different sizes, and not just one size fits all! At £595, this bunk bed is a bargain.

Perludi – Amber In The Sky

Perludi – Amber In The Sky bunk beds

Made from recyclable plywood, this bunk bed is for the eco-friendly parents, however at £1,500, it may alienate many people with its price tag. The bunk bed itself is covered in a fabric skin made from environmentally-friendly elements and recycled materials, so there’s no need to worry about contributing to your carbon footprint.

One of the best things about Amber In The Sky is it’s unique design. Although it is not really a bunk bed, with only one bed on top, the bottom part where the other bed should be is actually a play area for your child. Padded out in soft foam, it can be a napping area for your kid too.

Great Little Trading Co – The Alston

great little trading alston bunk beds

The Alston is great for parents looking to add a modern touch to their home, and at £1,600, this is a bunk bed well worth the money. With excellent storage space, and a number of colours to choose from, it has everything you need to ensure your children’s untidiness stays well within the immediate area of the beds. Again, the wood is sustainably sourced, and has received extra protective coating to make it last longer.

David is a huge home improvement and interior design fan. David enjoys spending his free time researching the latest trends in the home design area.

Tagged: , ,

5 Things to Look for in a New Neighbourhood

April 23, 2013 | house and home | 16 Comments

When you’re planning on building a new home, choosing the right neighbourhood is just as important as choosing the right builders to build it. You don’t want to build your dream home in a nightmare of a suburb! Here is 5 tips to ensure that you choose the right neighbourhood in which to create your home.

5 Things to Look for in a New Neighbourhood

Transportation and Convenience

When hunting for your potential new neighbourhood, consider your daily activities and needs. If you’re going to be commuting to work, is there easy access to buses or trains? Or if you’re driving, is the distance practical and the traffic manageable? Consider what the public transportation system is like and how convenient it will be to travel to the locations and services you’ll need to visit regularly. Even parking can be a problem in some areas, so give some serious consideration to the practicability of getting around.

Amenities

Don’t get carried away by tree-lined streets or ocean views – you’ve got to consider what services and amenities you need access to and whether or not the new neighbourhood allows you easy and convenient access to them.

For example, if you’ve got kids you’ll need to make sure there’s a good school in the area. If you’ve got some underlying health problems, it’s probably not a good idea to choose a picturesque and remote neighbourhood that’s an hour from the nearest hospital. While it may be beautiful, is it really practical? Or if you’ve got a big family to feed but the nearest grocery store is a 40 minute drive away, ask yourself if the corner store in town will really suffice, or will you need to drive 40 minutes each week just to stock up the cupboards?

Trends and Resale or Rental Value

If you intend to turn a profit on the sale of your home in a few years time, or keep it as in investment property once you move on, you’ll need to have a look at real estate trends in the neighbourhood and determine whether buying here would be a sound investment.

Look at rental values in the area if you intend to rent your home out once you move. If you’re planning to sell, consider things like supply vs. demand in the neighbourhood, prices and trends over the past decade or so, and sales histories: is it difficult to sell a home here? Are property values increasing or decreasing? Are the number of jobs and residents dropping or is the area experiencing steady growth?

Does it Suit your Desired Lifestyle?

Consider what you really need to support the lifestyle you want. If you lead an active life and your family are big into sports, is there plenty of room for physical activities and lots of sporting teams to join? If you’ve got a dog, is there a dog park around or a dog-friendly beach where you can exercise your pooch?

If shopping or an active nightlife is more your style, consider how well this neighbourhood can cater for those passions. Or if you intend to take up tertiary studies, is it too far from a university campus? Take a practical and honest look at exactly what you need to gain the quality of life that you desire and don’t settle for a neighbourhood that will leave you wanting.

Culture and Community

Community activities can make a big difference to the values of a neighbourhood and its residents, so investigate what the area do for residents and kids to be involved in. Also consider cultural elements, what’s the overall culture of the community and what services are in place to fulfil the needs of residents. Is there a strong musical community? A highly eco-conscious attitude? An emphasis on youth involvement?

Before moving into a new neighbourhood you should have a feel for what it’s like to become part of the community there. Try reading up on local activities, checking out surrounding amenities and even chatting to locals; if you like what you see then you may have found your ideal new neighbourhood.

Tagged: ,

Swedish Greys - a WordPress theme from Nordic Themepark.