With their promises of making life easier and saving time, automation technology for your home sounds like a no-brainer. But in a crowded marketplace of systems and devices, it can be tricky to know what’s right for your lifestyle, let alone how to retrofit it without trailing cables around a beautifully decorated home. There’s nothing worse than contemplating removing designer wallpaper to bury cables or wondering where to mount a chunky control panel so it’s not in view but still connected to WiFi.

Automatic blinds and windows

From blinds that raise and lower at set times in the morning, or when you’re away to make it look like someone’s at home, to windows that close when a sensor detects rain, automation can provide lots of useful features. However, extra functions can mean extra parts to conceal and some kind of power source.

Battery powered blinds are ideal if there’s no electricity supply nearby but you’ll need to replace batteries periodically. Solar power can be used for automatic roof windows but make sure you choose one that can still be manually operated (although Velux’s Integra will charge for up to 600 operations, so you can continue to use it throughout winter).

The other option is a wired-in motor. Low-voltage motors are ideal for smaller blinds but still need a transformer hiding behind a header or pelmet. A mains voltage motor is good for larger blinds but will need a substantial headrail to conceal it. Make sure you ask a qualified electrician to install wired-in motors.

Velux’s Integra roof window closes when it senses rain and has pre-defined opening and closing programmes or you can create your own.

Image source: Velux

Audio systems and speakers

Whether it’s music to cook to or listen to as you shower, a good sound system is a must. Smart systems are not only a sleek option for your home but also practical. Bluetooth-enabled products, such as bathroom cabinets and showerheads, are the simplest solution and allow you to stream music from your phone. However, as they’re within a product, their placement is limiting. A more flexible option is a ceiling speaker that can be connected to power via a fused spur of your lighting circuit (note that this will require a qualified electrician or plugged into a socket, such as Lithe Audio’s IP-rated, Bluetooth-compatible version. Alternatively, a cabled-in system can still be a good option, as many hubs can be installed in an adjacent cupboard, kitchen cabinet or outside a room. These will always be easier to install if speaker and power cables are put in place beforehand.

Lithe Audio’s speakers don’t need to be connected to a separate amplifier or cabling within walls, plus they’re Amazon Alexa-enabled.

Image source: Lithe Audio

Read more: Smart home improvements to save you money

Lighting

Switching lights on and off remotely isn’t just convenient, it also opens up a world of choice. You could, for example, pick different colour temperatures (e.g. from cosy warm white to crisp cool white), a rainbow of colour-changing tones and vary brightness without fitting a dimmer switch. App-operated bulbs can also be controlled when you’re not at home to make it look like you are. Some wireless bulbs, such as Lifx, work entirely from an app, while others, such as Hive and Philips Hue, require a separate hub – whether that’s their own or a standalone hub, such as Control4 or Samsung SmartThings.

Control4 works with connected devices, such as lighting, and can be operated with remotes, keypads, touchscreens or your TV, working even when Wi-Fi drops out.

Image source: Control4

Read more: Lighting ideas for your bedroom

Whole home systems

Choosing different wireless automation can mean ending up with a smartphone full of apps, as most run on their own systems and won’t ‘talk’ to each other. One solution for this is Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, as more manufacturers are making their automation compatible with the hub. The other is a complete smart home system but for this option, it helps to have the infrastructure in place. ‘The fastest, most secure and reliable communications require a cable,’ explains Phil Pini, head of residential development Europe at Crestron. ‘Cabling is often overlooked within the initial stages of a project, but the expense of cabling a property for the future is low compared to channelling walls and redecorating. The remedial works needed for a retro-fit installation can cost more than the hardware itself. However, hard wiring ensures permanent, reliable connectivity or you can use proprietary radio frequency (RF) technology.’

Sleek Crestron touch control panels blend in seamlessly, but can also be hidden behind doors or within furniture.

Image source: Crestron

How to integrate cables

The best way to disguise cables is within ceiling voids or modern construction plasterboard walls. The older the building, the more challenging this will be as you may have to channel cabling into walls. ‘Other methods include using fibre optic cabling that can be as thin as a human hair and can transport communications without disrupting the interior,’ says Phil Pini. ‘This is not a cheap method but if the design is worth keeping, this can be a last resort.’

The post How the latest home tech can fit in your home appeared first on Rated People Blog.

Forget resolutions, the best thing you can do in January is tick off some easy tasks that’ll make a noticeable difference to your home and garden. Not only will this pay dividends as the days grow longer, a good clear out and clean up makes an invigorating start to the new year. Most small projects won’t cost a fortune either, making them perfect for January when budgets can be tight. Try these easy ideas below and let us know how you get on!

Turn your tree into mulch

Christmas trees often end up discarded post-festive season, but they’re a great resource for your garden. Instead of sending yours to landfill, turn it into mulch to scatter around the base of trees and shrubs. This will help to prevent soil erosion from heavy rainfall, protect roots, add nutrients, discourage any sneaky weeds, and protect the ground from becoming frozen, too. You can also pop some of the mulch into your composter, but as it takes a while to rot, don’t add too much.

Find a professional gardener or landscaping gardener on Rated People.

To turn your tree into mulch, you can either buy or borrow a small shredder, or find a tree surgeon who offers a chipping service. If you’re doing the job yourself, be sure to wear safety equipment and shred the branches individually. The trunk may be too chunky to fit into a small machine, so try taking it to your local garden centre to be recycled instead.

Organise your wardrobe

Even if you try to follow a seasonal rotation or have a one-in-one-out policy, it’s easy for your wardrobe to get out of control. Add a pile of Christmas gifts to try and fit in and you might find that it’s time to overhaul your storage. First, have a quick clear out – there’s little point creating extra space for things you don’t use or wear. Next, work out what kind of solution you need. It may be that more drawers would be useful or you need additional shelving or hanging space.

While an existing wardrobe can be adapted with organisers, accessory hangers and drawer dividers, a new wardrobe can often be easier to personalise from the start. There’s a huge range of flatpack furniture that can be configured to suit, with built-in lighting, sliding doors and multiple rail and shelf choices.

Find a professional handyman to build flatpack furniture or a carpenter to create a bespoke solution for a compact space on Rated People.

Read more: Abigail Ahern’s de-cluttering tips

Spruce up your chimney

If you haven’t already been firing up your wood-burning stove, you’re likely to be doing so in the first few snowy months of the year. It’s essential to make sure your chimney is spick and span so that smoke and gases are able to vent away properly. Once the flue has been swept, they’ll perform a smoke draught test. If you suspect there might be venting issues or haven’t used your stove for more than three years, it’s also worth getting a heating engineer to perform an integrity test, which helps locate where cracks or faults in the chimney might be present.

Don’t forget to give your stove a thorough clean too – wipe away any soot from the glass, empty the ash pan, check there are no cracks inside and air out for a few hours. If you discover any patches of rust, gently buff these away with a wire brush or steel wool and finish by sweeping away dust.

Hire a professional chimney sweep today and make sure you’re ready for the cold weather.

Treat your home to a deep clean

Festive guests often leave behind more than just good tidings, especially in high traffic areas where floors can start to look dingy by January. While you might be able to get by with spot cleaning most of the time, your carpets need a deep clean every so often to bring back their bounce and colour. You can either do this yourself with a domestic carpet cleaner or save yourself some time and get a pro in. Now’s a good time of year to do it as a warm home will help floors to dry out faster.

Another place your home might need a deep clean is its windows – plus spotless glass will help maximise the light coming into your home on shorter days. Most cleaners will clean conservatory roofs and skylights, too, which can be tricky to do yourself. They may also be able to clear your gutters of any debris and leaves.

Make sure you reach even the trickiest of spots with the help of a window cleaner.

Never mind New Year, these simple projects will make you feel like you have a brand new home!

Read more: the best way to clean mirrors

The post 4 easy home improvement projects to kick start 2021 appeared first on Rated People Blog.

When cold weather hits, we can crank up the heating or throw on an extra jumper but staying comfortable in the summer, especially when it’s humid, often presents more of a problem. Lacklustre fans and a stack of ice cubes can only go so far in minimising hot, sleepless nights. However, there are lots of effective ways to turn your home into a refreshing haven from the sunshine.

Fit an air source heat pump

Air-conditioning that’s used for only one or two months a year is a big expense, but fit an air source heat pump and it can be in action all year round. There are two types of air source heat pump – air-to-water, which can provide hot water and heating via radiators and underfloor heating, and air-to-air, which extracts heat from the outside air to heat the air in your home (supplemented by electricity). In the summer, air-to-air can work in reverse, blowing out cool air to maintain one or more rooms at an ideal temperature. Some can even be operated via an app on your device, so you can turn them on remotely on unexpectedly warm days. The Emura model by Daikin below will also purify the air to remove allergens, dust and odours, and has a mode to make sure night-time temperatures stay consistent.

Image source: Daikin

Some systems can even be eligible for a renewable heat incentive (RHI), which could help offset the cost. For example, for an air source heat pump, this could be almost £1,300, according to Which? Dedicated companies can advise on what sort of solution might work for your home (as you’ll also need space for an outside unit), or you can find local electricians and heating engineers who specialise in ground and air source heat pumps.

Read more: save money with a ground source heat pump

Screen doors from the sun

Prevention is better than cure, so try to stop heat getting inside to start with – it takes three times as much energy to cool a building by 1C than it does to heat it by the same amount according to Caribbean Blinds. Glass doors – whether bi-fold, sliding or French-window style – continue to be popular, but with large areas of glass comes extra heat. No one wants to live in a giant greenhouse, so instead of leaving them bare, invest in a smart shading solution. Sliding doors can accommodate roller, pleated, Venetian and vertical blinds without much issue, or sliding panels, but bi-folds require a different approach. Shading fitted into the frame works best, with each blind independent of the other, so you can adjust them to suit the angle of the sun.

Image source: Hillarys

Alternatively, exterior sunshades can regulate heat and light without having to be factored into your room. A patio awning can double up as exterior shade when you’re outside, while external roller blinds can block up to 96% of the sun’s heat. A window fitter can help with your project.

Don’t forget to close curtains

Low-tech yet effective, closing your bedroom curtains or shutters during the day may feel gloomy but it’s an easy way to keep a room cooler. Windows can let in heat just like glass doors, so prevent the sunshine from streaming in where you can. If your curtains aren’t thick enough to block the warmth, try adding a second window treatment. Heat-reflecting blinds, such as Duette, have a special coating on the window-facing side that can reduce heat intake by as much as 78%.

Another option is solar control window film that’s applied directly to the glass and can be a simple DIY job. It can reflect up to 77% of solar energy, reduce glare (great for home working on a computer) and also cut down on the UV that makes fabric and furnishings fade. The Window Film Company offers a range of different solar control films.

Image source: The Window Film Company

Rethink your bedding

Throwing off your sheets and duvet might be a summer go-to but it’s rarely an effective all-night strategy. Many of us struggle to sleep without any covering at all, plus when the temperature drops later on in the night, you’re likely to wake feeling chilly.

Swapping your bedding to suit the season is the best approach. Natural materials work better than synthetics at absorbing and wicking away sweat from your skin during the night, so look for a low-tog duvet filled with wool and breathable linen sheets and covers. You can also buy mattresses made with wool, cotton, silk and flax that help to regulate body temperature, too.

Image source: herdysleep

Read more: 5 jobs for late summer

The post Home improvements that keep your home cool appeared first on Rated People Blog.

No matter what the latest storm is called, one thing is certain – how much destruction it can leave behind, especially to your home. Even worse, you might not be aware of damage until you discover a wet patch on your ceiling or shards of glass strewn across your garden. That’s why a post-storm check is invaluable, allowing you to nip any potential problems in the bud before they turn into bigger issues. Here’s some of the most common things to look for…

Missing and loose roof tiles

It’s easy to take a watertight roof for granted until it fails, so it’s the first area you should inspect after a storm. If you do find any missing tiles, take clear photos cataloguing the damage and make some notes about what work needs to be done as your insurer will ask for these if you’re making a claim. Similarly, check for any loose tiles after a storm so these can be repaired before the next one hits.

Next, call your insurer’s helpline and/or find a reliable roofer as soon as possible – you’re responsible for minimising any further damage after a storm, or your insurer may consider you liable. Even if it’s only one or two missing roof tiles and a small job, it’s worth getting it repaired quickly. Any water ingress into your home can cause problems, from rotting roof timbers to leaving adjoining tiles more open to the elements and damage.

Read more: common roof problems and how to deal with them

Broken glass

Flying debris can mean broken windows or panes of glass within sheds, cold frames and greenhouses in the garden. Just like roofs, it’s best to minimise the impact of a broken window as soon as possible by getting it repaired or replaced by a glazer after speaking to your insurer. If it’s the same window that always seems to be damaged in a storm, it might be worth fitting shutters so the glass can be protected in future.

Replacing glass in the garden is necessary for protecting the contents of a shed and you can usually do it yourself if you’re confident you know what you’re doing and have the right protective gear. If not, a glazer will come equipped with the skills and tools to help you remove remaining glass and refit a new pane. You’ll want to remove any remaining shards in the frame while wearing safety goggles and heavy-duty gloves, recycle the glass, and fit a new pane that’s been made to the right size. Alternatively, you could replace the broken glass with shatterproof clear acrylic, which can be easier to fit.

Image source: The Posh Shed Company

Garden damage

A storm can play havoc in a garden, so it’s a good idea to check that unstored items are where you left them, such as garden furniture, patio heaters, bird tables and plant pots. Severe weather ignores boundaries, so it’s also possible that wheelie bins, plants or ladders may end up in someone else’s garden. As well as moveable items, be sure to check your outbuildings, such as sheds or garages, for any signs of damage. Make sure that the roof is still in place, windows aren’t cracked, and the guttering is still securely fixed as any leaks can allow the contents inside to rot or deteriorate.

Stormy weather can also bring down branches and uproot trees – if they’ve damaged your home or outbuildings, again, take photos for your insurer. However, if they’ve simply fallen without affecting your property, the only thing you need to do is clear them away. If it’s a large task, find a tree surgeon to tidy away the timber, remove any broken branches and grind the stump if applicable. They can also determine whether an uprooted tree is able to be replanted.

Read more: 5 things to explore with a tree surgeon

Image source: Bosch Home & Garden

Other elements that are often damaged during storms are gates, fences and hedges. They won’t be covered by your insurance, so you can source a suitable tradesperson to repair or replace them without calling your insurer first, or tackle the job yourself.

Image source: Farrow & Ball

Flooding

If heavy rain has made its way into your home during a storm, the first thing you should do is get your gas and electricity checked – a Gas Safe registered engineer can make sure that your pipework is not filled with water while a registered electrician will examine the condition of wiring and appliances before they’re switched back on.

Next, assess if anything will need to be replaced, such as curtains, furniture and appliances. It’s best not to throw these away as an insurer may ask to see them. It’s also a good idea to leave wet carpets in-situ – if you lift them to dry, they can sometimes shrink. Resist the temptation to redecorate straight away – it can take weeks for your home to dry out entirely. Finally, locate where the rainwater has entered your home and take steps to prevent it happening again by buying airbrick covers and flood boards for doorways.

The post What to check in your home after a storm appeared first on Rated People Blog.

It’s easy to put work aside while the sun shines, but what happens when the summer slips by without you doing all those jobs you need to do while it’s fine and dry? There are some jobs that are best to get done before the summer‘s out, especially when they require a fair bit of outdoor labour time. So, plan and budget well, draw up your plans and get going while the weather‘s on our side.

Here are our top five jobs to complete before the summer finishes.

Storage space

Once the summer comes to an end, you’ll need somewhere to store the furniture, barbecue, paddling pool and sun umbrellas (as well as the summer soft top or motorbike, if you’re lucky enough). So, a well organised and clean garage with solid security doors is a must for those who have the space. A good builder should be able to knock your current garage into shape, or even build you a whole new one if your property is eligible for its construction. Storage is key, so a carpenter or joiner can put in bespoke units to hold your beach gear, DIY tools, and that Swingball you keep meaning to use. By storing items according to when you’re likely to use them, it’ll be far quicker to get to what you need, when you need it. New doors will freshen up the look of the front of your garage and home, whether they’re wooden double doors or a high-security pull-down with automated opening.

If you’ve got a smaller home, revamping your shed, or building a new one, is a great alternative to a garage renovation as you won’t need to ask your builder to build into your house or extend it. Sheds can be basic storage units or actual furnished living spaces – they’re a versatile build for your home – and like a garage, they’ll help you to organise your belongings all year round.

Extend while the sun shines

Home extensions are one of the best ways to add value and space to your home. It may seem a shame to disrupt the garden and the back of your home during the summer, but we’ve enjoyed an unusually long and hot few months, so there’s no better time to tackle it before the rain starts falling. Your builder should be able to advise you on permitted development and building regulations, but you can get an idea yourself by viewing the government’s Planning Portal.

Conservatories

Having a conservatory installed before summer’s out means that the work will go much smoother without the interruption of the winter weather, and you’ll also get the bonus of being able to extend your summer as the days get shorter and the light becomes more scarce. We want to get more natural light into our home as the season turns, and a conservatory can provide this as it tends to face the sunniest part of the garden, and it offers a mix of sunlight and shade as the day goes on.

Adding in heating will allow you to enjoy your new conservatory year-round since high ceilings and glass walls can cause heat to escape fast. As a potential conservatory owner, you have several ways to keep yourself warm. Electric radiators are popular, and they don’t require you to change your heating pipework. They also turn on and turn off quickly, so they’re hassle-free and efficient for you to use only when you need them. Don’t exclude the possibility of gas heating though – connecting your conservatory to the central heating system is a big task, but it would be a great long-term investment. This doesn’t have to be hard: there are local tradespeople looking to install heating equipment of your choice, and they’re ready to give you their best advice on what would work for your property. As well as gas heating, they’ll be able to give you advice on air conditioning and underfloor heating.

Get paving

Whether it’s re-laying a patio or installing a new driveway, paving and block paving work is always best done in the dry. There’s a lot of work in digging, laying down foundations and weed-proofing, and it’s always easier to do when it’s not raining. Well-planned work by a good tradesperson can be carried out in just a few days, which means you get to enjoy the results and get back to enjoying the pleasant weather without much disruption.

Window work

Those cracked or rattling windows may have been providing a welcome breeze during the heat of summer, but they won’t keep your home warm in the winter months. Summer is a great time to get windows fixed and the frames tightened or repaired. A glazier or a window-fitter will help you resolve problems and ensure that your home’s draught-free come October. Leaving in place cracked windows and window frames means delaying emergency work for winter, by which time you’ll be paying call-out charges on top of the maintenance costs. So for your peace of mind, it’s best to get it done as soon as possible. We spend more time in our homes during the winter months because of the cold, the wet weather, and the early nightfall, and doing some of these end of summer jobs means you’ll enjoy a warm and comfortable home all season.

The post 5 jobs for late summer appeared first on Rated People Blog.

Warm weather, barbecues and alfresco parties are some of the best bits of summer but after a season of outdoor living, your garden and home need a little love. Repairing any damage or routine maintenance is a must, especially before autumn begins. Spend the time now and not only will you save yourself chores next year, your home and garden will stay looking great for longer. Here’s a few ideas to get you started.

Care for your lawn

Whether it’s scorching from the sun or stray barbecue cinders, chances are that the summer has left your lawn with brown patches, pesky weeds and bare areas. It’s important to take action while the grass still has a chance to recover, so first, try giving it a good watering and aerate the soil with a few holes. The blades may be dormant rather than dead, and this can help them spring back to life. Next, look at the areas that are grassless – if they’re minor (i.e. smaller than a handprint), fertiliser or a ‘feed and weed’ product can boost the rest of the grass so it’ll grow to cover the patches. Larger areas should be reseeded and late summer to early autumn is the best time to do it. Remove any dead grass, debris and larger weeds, scarify or rake the surface, sprinkle with lots of seed, fertilise and make sure you keep it well-watered.

Alternatively, if there’s too much damage, you can have sections re-turfed. Find a gardener who can lay this for you. Early to mid autumn is the best time to do this, so that the grass can be left to bed in and won’t dry out. You could even neaten the results with decorative lawn edging.

Image source: Haddonstone

Read more: how to furnish your garden

Restore a pristine patio

Outdoor areas need a good scrub after summer, when they’re likely to have baked-on dirt and debris or even mildew in shadier spots. Pressure washing can lift the dirt off but often splashes it everywhere else. Instead, accessorise your washer with a dedicated patio cleaner attachment. It’ll have a rotating brush and jets underneath a hood to make flat surface cleaning faster and less mess. You can also use one on vertical surfaces, such as walls and fencing.

Now is also a good time to repair decking or fences before rain, wind and fluctuating temperatures sweep in and starts to make timber expand and contract. Unless you’re experienced, it’s not a DIY job, so find fencing or decking specialists. You can however, clean and seal any wood in your garden yourself, by investing in some dedicated outdoor timber cleaners, stains and oils. Many can be used on multiple surfaces, such as sheds, exterior window frames and doors, helping to prevent rot and remove mould.

Image source: Pico Power Pressure Washer and Patio Cleaner by Hozelock

Read more: how to lay patio

Don’t forget about indoors

As summer draws to a close, there’s some home maintenance you can do. It’s likely that you won’t have switched on the heating in a few months, so pop it on to check that it’s working before you really need it. Before you switch your heating on, bleed your radiators. Think about bringing in a well-reviewed plumber to have them flushed if they don’t warm up properly once your heating’s on. The same goes for fireplaces – light each one to make sure it’s venting properly and consider having your chimney swept if it’s in use. At the same time, test your safety devices, such as carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms, to make sure they’re in good order. Replace the batteries if you can’t remember the last time you put fresh ones in!

Your inside floors may also be dirty or worn from all the extra traffic going to and from the garden, so now’s a good time to refresh them. Apply wax, varnishes and oil treatments to wooden floors – as you’ll have to keep the doors and windows open for ventilation, the end of summer is ideal – and give your carpets a deep clean.

Image source: Vax

Renovate your outdoor furniture

When the last sunny evening has set and you don’t plan to while away the days outside, it’s time to do the final maintenance on your seasonal kit, such as garden furniture, toys and games. Start by checking that where you plan to put everything is clean, tidy and watertight, whether that’s your shed, garage or loft. Next, clean wood and plastic with a hose or pressure washer – make sure the lance can be adjusted to prevent damage – and use a detergent if anything’s especially grimy. Most outdoor fabrics can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Allow them to dry thoroughly before putting them away, then sit back and relax!

Image source: Stihl

The post Easy post-summer fixes for your home appeared first on Rated People Blog.

Are you ready for Spring? Cleaning might be at the forefront of your mind but this is also the perfect time of year to tackle small projects. Not only will they have a big impact on how your house looks and feels, but many can be ticked off your to-do list in a day. Here’s 4 home updates you can do to make March the month of inspirational home improvement.

Get your garden ready

Dreaming of an alfresco summer surrounded by beautiful blooms and a lush lawn? You’ll need to put some time into your garden now by:

• Pruning shrubs.
• Planting bulbs.
• Putting up supports for climbing plants to twine around (if you’re planning on growing them). They shoot up quickly once it starts getting sunny.
• Giving your lawn a cursory mow if it’s started to grow.
• Mulching.
• Taking out weeds.

Find a local gardener who can help you figure out the best design and layout for your garden. Get a quote now and make your garden an extension of your home!

Trees can block daylight into your home or in your garden, so now’s the time to tackle them. If the tree’s large, find a professional tree surgeon to prune it back or remove whole branches.

Plants aside, don’t forget to update exterior surfaces this March. Tired walls, decking, brickwork, furniture and fences can all be brought back to life with a fresh coat. You can do this yourself or find a painter.

Upgrade your bathroom

By making a few easy changes in your bathroom, you can turn it into an at-home sanctuary.

• Replace existing taps: New taps will make your basin space more enjoyable to use, could help save you water and will put a stop to annoying drips. Always make sure you swap like for like, e.g. one single-hole mixer for another. A plumber can advise you on this.
• Replace tiling or grout: If a tiled wall is looking past its best, refresh it quickly by regrouting. Or, you could completely re-tile it – simple metro tiles are inexpensive but also look fresh and contemporary.
• Upgrade your shower: Change your showerhead to one with flow options, to give you the luxury of choosing between a soft rain spray or massaging jets. If you’ve noticed low water pressure in your shower, replace the unit with a digital model with a built-in pump to boost the flow. Speak to a plumber to see what’s possible.

Looking for a bathroom specialist? Get a free quote now!

Rethink windows and lighting

Brighter longer days mean now is the best time to swap thick curtains for a lighter treatment at your main windows, such as cheery striped blinds, unlined linen drapes, colourful rollers or even café-style shutters. Alternatively, you could simply swap the pattern from rich, heavy damask to seasonal florals. Changing your lighting will also bring a fresh feel, so think about hiring an electrician to install a statement pendant or wall lights to brighten up a dark space such as a hallway, or a network of spotlights to boost light in main rooms.

Improve your storage

When almost every surface in your home has something on it, there are two choices: declutter or get some storage that works a lot harder. I favour the latter because I always seem to throw away something just as I need it. Fortunately, there are some great options available, from under-bed storage boxes that make the most of wasted space to clever modular cubes that can be easily added to, moved around where they’re needed most or mounted on the wall. If space is really lacking, however, it’s worth considering a bespoke solution. Built-to-fit cupboards that make the most of niches or fit around boxed-in pipework can easily solve storage problems.

Find a carpenter or joiner to help with new storage solutions.

The post March updates for your home and garden appeared first on Rated People Blog.

The sweet spot for our lawns in the UK is probably about a week, sitting somewhere between periods of weather that are too cold, too wet, too hot and too dry. Your lush lawn can soon turn into a brown-ish lawn and then into a desert-like lawn. Then there’s the work involved in feeding, mowing, edging and weeding.

Our lawns demand a lot of our time and can give a lot back in terms of enjoyment, but far too often they leave us disappointed or frustrated. For this reason, many of us are now turning to artificial grass, which has come a long way from greengrocers’ grass or the unforgiving surfaces of artificial football pitches. Modern artificial grass is often hard to tell from the real thing, drains just like natural turf and is comfortable to lay on or play on. It’s also very durable and won’t get ruined if the kids run across it on a wet day or decide it’s now Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

But where should you start if you’re considering ditching the grass in favour of something low-maintenance? Here are the five key things to think about.

Garden size

If you have a vast, rolling lawn that you look after on your sit-on mower then artificial grass is probably not for you. The cost may be prohibitive, but your lawn is probably an important feature of your garden that’s going to be hard to better with artificial turf. If you really want to try an artificial lawn then speak with a garden designer, landscaper or professional gardener first. They may have ideas for an entire garden re-design that can incorporate some areas of artificial turf.

Attracting wildlife

Your grass lawn will be home to hundreds of different sorts of insects, from worms to beetles, which will in turn attract birds. You should always think of new ways to attract wildlife to your garden when you have your artificial grass installed. Consider insect houses, rocky crevices for them to hide under and plenty of bright flowers to attract the bees. Make sure there’s a water feature, or at least some kind of water source, too.

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Achieving a natural look

Most lawns don’t look like a bowling green or a well-rolled football pitch at the start of the season. So your lawn will need some imperfections for it to look real. For this reason, many manufacturers of artificial grasses create their grass with flecks of brown or some brown roots. This may sound like it will spoil your perfect lawn, but it really does make it look realistic and still appear to be a well-tended patch of turf. DIY stores or gardening experts will be able to offer a range of colours of grass too. Try to see a large area of it before you choose. Brushing the grass with a broom will give it a nice pile, as well as keeping weeds, leaves and any other detritus at bay.

Garden drainage

A professional gardener or landscaper will lay your new artificial grass over a permeable mesh or membrane, which will also stop weeds growing up through your lawn. You should ensure that your turf has proper drainage, as it will sit in pools on the surface otherwise. The rain water should drain from the surface evenly and a good installer will be willing to come back to troubleshoot any drainage problems and remedy them. Good drainage is particularly important in areas prone to flooding and will protect your home and that of your neighbours. Do make sure you ask about this and check what your installer is putting below the permeable membrane or mesh.

Read more: big ideas for small gardens

Grass height and density

These are two of the main things that will impact on the look (as well as the cost) of your artificial turf. You will probably want a lush, spiky grass, which gives the appearance of a freshly-mown lawn. Too short and it will look bare, too long and the grass will bend over on itself. Somewhere between 30mm and 40mm is the best height for the grass. Turf will usually be sold with labels such as mid-weight, lightweight and luxury. This should be an indicator of density, but be sure to ask about weight per square-metre and compare brands and prices.

For more ideas on building a sustainable garden, read TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham’s top tips, plus find the improvements you can do in under an hour to spruce up your outside space.

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For those of us who don’t want to move but need more space, extending is often the answer. However, if you don’t have room around your house or any potential to convert a loft, going down may be the solution. A basement conversion can be fitting out an existing cellar, enlarging it enough to be habitable or starting from scratch. However, there are several questions you need to ask yourself before starting your project.

Does it need planning permission?

While the current rules for basements are under review (see Planning Portal for more details), generally, converting an existing space won’t require planning permission while digging a new one will. As habitable space, both will be subject to building regulations in relation to insulation, structural support and minimum height. You may also need permission from your neighbours, unless you live in a detached house – this is known as a party wall agreement and could also involve employing a party wall surveyor. This is because a basement conversion involves a shared wall and could potentially damage their house. It’s a specialist job so you’ll need to hire experts, such as an experienced architect, structural engineer and builder – or a conversion company.

This basement conversion has been used for a kitchen-diner that opens up onto the garden.

Image source: Matteo Bianchi Studio

Read more: how to get more space without knocking down walls

Will it be cost-effective?

This depends on whether you’re converting an existing space or digging a new one (which can double the cost) and how much you need the extra room. If there are few other options or you live in an area where the property prices are typically high (making the new space more valuable), then the investment can be cost-effective. Simply digging and underpinning a new basement can cost up to £3,000 per square metre, and can be made more difficult by ground conditions, so it’s good to know what’s underneath your house before you start. If you’re unsure, ask for a geology survey. You could also ask neighbours to find out if anyone has had a conversion locally or speak to local trades, to find out what issues they faced.

A basement makes a great location for a luxurious spa-style bathroom.

Image source: Design Republic

How can you keep the space dry?

Time was when basements were cemented in place without waterproofing, ending up becoming damp. However, a properly excavated, underpinned and tanked space should minimise this problem, and, along with heating and ventilation, prevent condensation forming. There are several techniques to make a basement watertight and which one you use will often depend on the water table level. If you live in an area with a high water table for example, your basement may be prone to flooding and require more than one form of waterproofing for an effective solution.

Most conversions use a cavity membrane system that allows the moisture to run behind it into a sump below the floor, which is then pumped away. It can also be tanked, like a wet room, or have external waterproofing. A quality damp proofing specialist will be able to make sure your conversion’s watertight.

A basement is simple to turn into the ideal room for a wine collection.

Image source: Spiral Cellars

What are you planning to use it for?

Basements can be almost anything you’d like them to be but may be better suited to one function or another. If you’re not able to include much natural light, for example, they may work better as bathrooms, guest bedrooms or cinema rooms (when darkness is a good thing!). However, if you’re keen to create a light, bright space, artificial lighting is a great way to boost daylight from sun tunnels and lightwells. Remember that your ceiling may be lower than in other rooms, so avoid low-hanging pendants and opt instead for recessed spotlights, wall lights, track lighting and lamps, all of which an electrician can help you fit safely. Perimeter lighting around a dropped ceiling is a great way of mimicking natural light coming in at the edges of a room.

All a smart cinema room needs is spotlights, lamps and backlighting.

 Image source: Qualitas Construction

Find more ideas on how to create more space without moving house.

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Winter’s not the best time to get large-scale roofing work done, but it’s certainly the time to scope out what work needs doing and get those smaller jobs sorted. You won’t want to have your roof replaced when it’s blowing a gale, raining or snowing, unless it’s an emergency. But winter offers the chance to spot any roofing problems. It’s also a great time to catch roofers for repair work, as they may be less busy than in spring and summer, when they undertake most of their bigger jobs.

Below, are the most common roofing problems and advice on how you can identify and deal with them.

Don’t be afraid of looking up

Most roofing jobs aren’t big ones so don’t be afraid to look up or just ignore a problem in the hope that it’ll go away. A roofing contractor will be able to put you at ease and start work to get any roofing issues sorted. Leaks are often down to minor issues or wear and tear above the supporting structure that makes up your roof. Look up and check what’s going on up there and be sure to do it from as many angles as you can. If you’re friendly with the people across the street, then you may find that looking from their upstairs window is a help, giving you a better view of your property. The roof is designed to repel water evenly so any areas where water appears to be gushing off or absent in the rain may indicate a problem.

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Get up in the loft

Winter is a great time to check your roof’s watertight. It should be warm and dry. There may be the odd bit of breeze if it’s very cold and windy but there shouldn’t be any visual signs or smells of damp. Check the upper corners and around the chimney stack if you have one. It’s also a good time to check a water tank isn’t leaking.

Beware of strangers bearing roof tiles

Good roofing experts don’t need to knock on your door and tell you about the roof tiles that they’ve found on the pavement after a storm. Unless you happen to live next door to a friendly roofer then this is likely to be a scam. If you have any doubts, then simply bring in a reputable roofing contractor to have a look for you.

Common problems

There are lots of small problems that can affect a roof. In most cases you’ll only need some small repairs doing. Common problems include missing, loose or cracked slates or tiles, blocked gullies or gutters and worn or cracked flashing (the lead finishing around the tiles or slates). If you have skylights, then you can also get leaks coming in if they were poorly installed. Damage to the roof is often caused by wind, with items such as TV aerials sometimes being blown over and causing damage. In most cases your roofer may have to use scaffolding to complete the work. Do ask about this when they’re giving you a quote for the work.

If it all goes wrong

If there’s something seriously wrong with your roof then it may need a more serious repair or even replacement. Do bear in mind that the average lifespan of a roof is around 25 years. This could mean that the felt and tiles need replacing or removing and renovating. If your roof is bowing or you’re losing a lot of tiles, then your roof may be on its way out. In some cases, you can need the actual structure replacing or repairing, which may mean new wooden beams. This is fairly rare and often results from poorly-installed roofs or other subsidence or structural problems. This may cause the wooden supports to warp or twist. A full replacement roof will cost around £5,000 for the average home.

Considering a different roof? Check out metal roofs and let us know if you love it or loathe it!

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Specialist TradesmanDamp in our homes is something that most of us dread. The discoloured paintwork and the musty smell send us into a spin of worry, often for our bank accounts. Our love of period homes means that it’s something most of us will come across at one time or another. But even the most modern homes can suffer from damp problems. Here’s our five-part guide to preventing it and dealing with it should you spot that you’ve got a damp issue to tackle.

Prevention is better than cure

Damp courses don’t last forever. If you’ve recently moved into a period home, or you’ve lived in yours a while, then it’s worth bringing in a damp specialist to give your home the once-over. Some businesses offer a free consultation, but any trusted damp experts should give you a good idea of how good your damp cause is, as well as look for any other problems, such as cracked windowsills or broken guttering and downpipes. Simple solutions, such as shifting bins or digging out grooves beneath your sills, could help to stop damp problems before they start. These could be causing rainwater to jump your damp course or drip downwards onto your walls without you noticing.

Make sure you’re not the problem

Many damp problems are wholly preventable and can be caused by both the design of your home and what you do within it. One of the most common causes of damp is drying clothes in the home. So, if your back room or bathroom are damp and mouldy, then try drying your clothes outside, invest in a tumble dryer or throw the windows open when drying. That water has to go somewhere as it leaves your clothes. You should always try to open windows daily, even in winter, as our airtight double-glazed homes are more likely to get damp from day to day use than their breezy forbears.

Act fast

If you do see a patch of damp on your wall, then be sure to take action. Don’t think it’ll simply go away or that it can wait. Damp only gets worse if it’s not dealt with. It could simply be a case of needing more ventilation, or you could have a blocked gutter that’s causing damp on your walls. Go outside and see what you can spot. Greenery in your gutters may be a clue and damp may also be visible on an outside wall. Go out in the rain too, if you can. That can allow you to spot any problems with drainage or water splashing up above your damp course.

Call in the experts

Damp-proofing and damp course experts should be able to spot the cause of an issue. It may mean pulling up a few floorboards, so do be prepared for that. But they should be able to identify whether you have condensation, penetrating damp, damp caused by cracked sills, damp caused by faulty plumbing or guttering, or the dreaded rising damp. This is usually identifiable by damp going up the wall, but not above a few feet. It can also cause blistered paint and salty deposits.

Get the work done

A good damp expert should be able to make repairs, install a new damp course and carry out any re-plastering work that needs doing. Get this done as soon as you can, so that you can prevent long-term damage. ‘Blown’ plaster, paintwork and damaged skirting will need replacing and should get rid of that damp smell. Condensation can be dealt with by adding more ventilation, with the damp usually being cleared up with mould spray and some re-painting.

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The thing about trends is that they constantly go in and out of fashion, quicker than you can bake a potato! Yet we are all influenced by them as none of us want to be opening up our doors with out of date interiors. One minute metallics are in, the next butterflies are big – it’s a minefield.
Question is when should you actually buy into a trend and when should you ignore it?

Figure out your personal style

First and foremost, figure out your personal style and forget about trends for a minute. Do you prefer a retro look or something a little more bit country-esque? Maybe you prefer something a little bit more glam or baroque? Figure out what works for you and then you are halfway towards nailing it.

I don’t know about you guys but when I see something in a magazine or online that reflects my personal style, I’ll buy into it. As I mentioned above, trends come and go so when something on trend tallies with my own style then I’m in!

Right now I’m big on metallics and yet this trend has run before, gone out of style and come back again with a boom – all within a few years. Does that bother me? Not at all because I happen to love what metallics do for an interior, especially at this time of year with dusk fast approaching. Metallics bounce the light around so beautifully and I’ll never tire of them. Anything that doesn’t fit my aesthetic, like butterflies, I won’t buy into, no matter how much coverage or fuss they get in the press.

Think classic not kooky

If you buy into a classic look then there is little chance that your pieces will date so easily. There is something incredibly comforting about traditional styles. Something I do time and time again is buy traditional quite classically shaped pieces on the big spend items. Think wing backed leather armchairs, deep seated sofas, marble ornate lamps and supersized convex mirrors. With trends forever changing, the main pieces in my pad will always feel classic and never go out of date. If I went all classic, chances are ‘my look’ would feel really boring so I want to always update and refresh it with kookier smaller accents like art, frames, vases and cushions. They’re all pieces that don’t cost the earth and I can switch in and out of them depending on the season while making sure that my room has an edge.

Go with your gut

If something moves away from being cool, don’t feel that you have to ‘move it out’. I’ll give you an example. I’m forever seeing white hospital tiles all over the place these days on the walls of numerous independent cafes all over town and Tesco’s. I like them and I happen to have them in my shower. The fact that the industrial look has been so oversubscribed doesn’t put me off. I just make sure that my accessories aren’t super industrial. You can punch up any interior with a bit of colour, or some magical detail to elevate what has become a tired trend into your very own super cool trend!

I think the best piece of advice that I can give is to not buy into the ‘of the moment’ pieces if they are not quickening your heartbeat. It’s a bit like fashion. Some things don’t suit us and purely because they are in fashion doesn’t mean that we have to be a slave to them. Also, the great thing about decorating these days is that anything goes. There is no fixed look as such which makes buying into trends so much easier. It’s often times like these that those little pieces which you’ve picked up in flea markets or stumbled upon like some artisan
Ceramicist, will make guests wonder where they’re from. They might not be particularly on trend or in fashion but they’re something that you happen to have fallen in love with. Embrace trends by all means but don’t go overboard.

Happy Shopping!

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The nature of your space will push your design in certain directions but irrespective of whether you live in a shoebox or a sprawling farmhouse, the trick is to utilise the space that you have to the max.

As odd as this may sound, I am more of a lover of the smaller spaces than I am the larger; they feel cosier somehow. I’ve seen some ingenious ways of making apartments in overcrowded cities like London, NYC and Paris look amazing with double dutying space saving tricks. Coffee tables that double duty as storage chests, sofas as beds, stools with lids… you name it.

Conversely if you have large open plan spaces you can run into trouble with the space feeling cold and sterile, so my advice would be to change the perception of its size. It’s easier than you think because all you really need to do is add visual interest through dazzling colours, rugs, zoning off areas and creating oodles of layers.

Making large spaces work

Having an open plan space can feel quite daunting with rooms spilling into each other yet somehow you have to make it all look cohesive and beautiful. My top tip would be to create a sense of connection through a consistent colour palette and sticking to one style of flooring throughout. The more you break up the space with different treatments the more confusing it can feel. What I’ve done in my pad is skim different coloured rugs over my open plan space so each area feels different, yet as the colours harmonise – cohesive. So each zone feels different (way too boring otherwise) but also it totally gels. Nailed!

Cosying up open plan spaces

A fab way of cosying up large spaces is through texture or texturising as we say in the biz. Large open plan cavernous spaces can often feel cold and sterile so texture is key. Softly woven wool rugs over concrete floors for instance, velvet cushions on leather sofas, wood butting up against glass — the more texture you add the more intrigue you create. The more flowers, candles, cushions and books the better as accessories shake up the monotony of a room and give it a theatrical air – imperative for large spaces. I say this a lot to my clients, “you may not be an exhibitionist but your accessories should be”!

Small is beautiful

People often try to make small spaces appear bigger and that’s where they seem to go wrong. It’s a huge mistake in my book. Think about embracing their snugness instead and don’t paint them out in a pale hue. It won’t make rooms feel larger, just sadder. Paint them in a cool colour instead, some intoxicating hue that takes your breath away and decorate it with attitude. The second mistake that people often make is downsizing the furniture to fit small rooms. Don’t do it as it only makes them appear more bijoux. Vary the height of your possessions, add some pattern and a dose of colour and before you know it you’ll be thinking about how cool your space is rather than how small it is!

Whether you have a big space or a small one, push the colour envelope, inject instant personality through accessories and take the emphasis away from the practical stuff and redirect it to the glamorous stuff. It’s all about seducing the eye with surface attractions. Oh and remember to get the jaw hitting the floor you’ve got to go a little off radar with some of your choices. I’m a big believer that our homes should reflect ourselves, what we love and who we are so overdose on the big three hitters, colour, pattern and texture, no matter how big or small your pad!

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The one thing homeowners prize above everything else is good lighting. Whenever I’ve shown anybody around a home, it’s the first thing they comment on. Whether you’re thinking of selling up now or in the future, getting your lighting right adds value to your home. Not only that, it’ll make living at home much more enjoyable!

Adding value to your home with lighting

Most of us have a ceiling light, known as a centre light, but while it’s great for leaving you with a large amount of light in one place, it’s not so good for helping you perform tasks like reading because of the shadows that it casts. You’re far better off using wall lights because they light from behind instead. It’s a good idea to have a mix of downlighters, uplighters and lamps around the home to focus light where it’s needed but keep the main centre light for a decent all-rounder. Lamps are particularly good if you move your furniture around a lot because they can be easily moved to accommodate.

My advice would be to avoid spotlights if you can help it. They work well when fitted whilst your home is getting built, but become more complex to install retrospectively. They’re also not as cheap as you might expect.

LED lights are a far better option and you’ll get more use out of them. Put them in smaller spaces like cupboards under the stairs and they’ll last for ages. The bathroom is one of the most important areas to get right and LED lights can come into their own here. They don’t heat up and they’re waterproof, giving you top marks for safety in an area that comes into frequent contact with water.

If you do change your bathroom lights, make sure you consult an electrician to check your building regulations compliance. Each light has an ingress protection (IP) rating which guides you towards its suitability in different zones of the bathroom. The higher the IP rating, the more protection the light offers. For instance, zone 0 (the interior of the bath tub or shower basin) requires an IP rating of at least 7 whereas zone 2 (within 0.6m of the outside edge of the bath or shower) needs a rating of 4.

Fittings on leads are a no-no and you can’t drag a tall lamp from the room next door. I’ve heard of people plugging their old radios into a socket in their bedroom and bringing them into the bathroom too. It’s the same principle – electrics and water don’t mix!

If you want to make one positive lighting change, make it the hallway. It’s the first space you come to and it plays a big part in setting that first impression of the inside of your home.  Pendant lights set off high ceilings but low level lighting along walls and up staircases also work well. I’m a big fan of low lighting; it makes walking around your house at night much easier!

If you’ve got your lighting just right, you’ll know. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that brightness is everything – often the brightest lights are harsh and gaudy and while they bring a fairground to life, they look out of place in a home setting. Once you move away from lighting the room in one wash of colour, you’ll be on the right track. Divide each room mentally and think about how you use each room in different ways. You might have a computer or laptop on a desk in your bedroom or you might like to read in the evening. Different tasks have different lighting needs.

If you’re really unsure, you could have a professional come and assess your lighting for you. A good lighting designer will make a lighting chart to make sure that the electrics are on point.

Best,
PHIL

If you need help installing new lighting, post your job on Rated People. You’ll be able to view tradespeople profiles, complete with previous customer recommendations, to help you decide who to hire.

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In a buyer’s market, potential buyers look for a bargain. Lowball offers that might otherwise seem cheeky and unwelcome become the chosen tactic of many house hunters. This is because agents often advised buyers not to make ‘disrespectful’ offers that could insult the seller. Sellers, on the other hand, are told not to entertain such insulting offers. Yet, in a buyers market, lowball offers have the potential to start conversations. 

A lowball offer is usually described as 25% less than the asking price. For example, an offer of £220,000 for a property advertised at £300,000 would fall into this category. Most of the time sellers won’t be very happy and won’t accept the offer.

Making an offer can be tricky. You don’t want to go in too low and risk losing the property, but at the same time you don’t want to over pay either. If you do want to make a low offer you need to understand the seller’s position. Are they motivated to sell quickly or are they happy to wait around to get the best price? Most importantly, have they had any other offers? Legally, the estate agent isn’t able to tell you how much other bidders are offering, but they can indicate if they are in the same region as yours or closer to the asking price.

Asking prices are just a guide and there’s often some room for negotiation baked in. Typically, the sale price is around 95% of the asking price.

The best way to gauge an appropriate price for a property is to look at recent sale prices (rather than asking prices) of comparable properties in the area. There is a time lag between when a property goes under offer (reflecting the market price at that time), the time the deal completes (several months later) and the time that price figure is reflected in statistics, such as those of the Land Registry. Try to ensure you know as much as possible about the comparable price figures you’re using. These prices should be taken with a pinch of salt. They don’t show the condition of the properties and prices can fluctuate rapidly in a changing market. They will, however, give you a useful indication.

If you do decide to go in with a low offer, make sure you have a reason(s) for it. In other words, do your homework. Whether it’s an out-dated bathroom suite, damp in the basement, or the local sale prices being lower than the asking price, always justify your offer. As a buyer, it’s important to remember that an estate agent is working for the seller, so don’t tell them your absolute maximum price (keep a bit of mystique).

Making a low opening offer can be a good way to open up a conversation and understand from the agent’s reaction what the seller’s price aspirations are. If a property has been on the market for a while, a low offer that gets a dialogue started can result in a good deal for all parties.

The worst buyer behaviour is gazundering. This is when the buyer waits until the last moment to reduce their offer, usually when everyone in the chain is ready to exchange, knowing that if the buyer refuses they could lose the property they’re about to buy. As a buyer, the problem with going in with a lowball offer is that the vendor may suspect you’ll decrease the offer last minute and gazunder them. If the vendor’s agent thinks there’s a likelihood of this happening they may advise the seller not to accept the offer in the first place and hold out for a better buyer. 

The amount you’re prepared to pay will vary depending on how you intend to use the property. If it’s an investment, then you should do your homework. Have a maximum figure and stick to it, based on the profit you can make from the property. On the other hand, if you’re buying a family home that you plan to live in for a number of years you might be prepared to pay more than the property’s market value for your ideal home.

By all means make a lower offer, but not simply because you believe it’s now the done thing. Always have reasons for the price you’re offering. If you’re not prepared to risk offending the seller or losing the property to another buyer, then make a realistic offer based on what you can afford (avoid taking out a mortgage that’s more than 75% of the purchase price), the condition of the property and the recent sold prices of similar properties.

Remember that every sale is unique, from the condition of the property to the seller’s situation. Make sure you’re clued up, so you can make an appropriate offer, based on all of these factors.

Best,

PHIL

The post Should you make a low offer on a house? – guest post by Phil Spencer appeared first on Rated People Blog.

I love Christmas. Not so much the crowded shops and the pressure of conjuring up the most amazing food, for me it’s more about adding some festive spirit to the house – glamming it up so it looks sparkly and inviting.

There are a number of things I do year on year again, which add instant kudos to a space as well as not costing the earth. There is enough expense going on already I reckon, with presents and food and booze, so these ideas are quick, easily to implement and will look like you’ve just hired the coolest decorator in town (me obviously)!

Scent

The first thing that you and any visitors entering the house will notice is its smell. Scent is so neglected in areas like hallways where we simply transition through, yet it sets the tone.

Whilst I am a fan of scented candles a far cheaper option is to plop various herbs and scented foliage – like eucalyptus – around the house. It will last up to two weeks, especially if you go for thyme, rosemary and bay, and it will smell amazing. I use t-light holders and pop them all over the place, from the hall to the loo! Being small they don’t need vast amounts of foliage to fill them and they smell wondrous!

If you want your house to be permeated with the most amazing scent just before guests arrive, fake it (but don’t let on)! Pop a cinnamon stick in a pot of boiling water and keep it simmering for 30 mins before they arrive.  Your house will smell amazing!

Add sparkle

Tinsel up your pad. I know tinsel gets a bad wrap but in isolation it can look pretty cool and super glam. I seek out the gold stuff and tie it around things like my dog lights – it’s a like a big sparkly collar and it adds a sweet festive touch. I also hang it off doorknobs, wrap it around the banisters, again in isolation rather than all over the place, it feels a lot more sophisticated.

Add as many t-lights as you can to mantles, tables, shelves, particularly when dusk falls. I opt for t-light holders in warm ambers and pinks so the light coming through is magical. Oh and I string fairy lights everywhere – over mirrors, mantles door frames, kitchen islands it feels so festive – I love it! In fact I keep many of my fairy lights year round, both inside and out.

When it comes to decorating the tree I am minimalist to the extreme. I always opt for real ones, generally blue spruce as the colour is amazing and the needles are thick and fat. I’m not the biggest fan of decorating them with baubles, but this decorating lark is personal so do exactly what you love. I string fairy lights all over mine and wham bam it’s done. On the kitchen island I buy a little bay tree string it with fairy lights and not only does it smell amazing, come January, outside it goes!

Table settings

Food looks better served on darker plates and the best tip I ever got from a catering company was to use roofing slate as platters. At £3 a pop (available from most DIY stores), it’s cheap as anything and will make cheeses, salads you name it look fantastic. Plus they are huge so you can put the entire turkey on there should you so wish.

Stuck for something to wrap your napkins in? I raid the jewellery drawer and wrap mine with bangles – super cool! The most costume like ones the better, rather than dainty little bracelets. On Boxing day I change it up and simply tie with string and pop a sprig of rosemary in the centre.

Simple effective and beautiful.

Happy holidays everyone xx

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I am obsessed with food, I read recipe books at night like novels and I go to farmers’ markets weekly. In fact, most Saturday mornings you’ll find me at Borough Market in Monmouth drinking coffee at 7.30 am. Kid you not!

All of this means of course that I have to have a super glam kitchen. Not one that has cost me thousands mind, but one that at least looks and feels as if it has. The kitchen, I would have to say, is one of the most neglected rooms in the house. From all my years in the business I notice that we spend a lot of dosh on ovens, fridges and utensils, but then little or no time on the cool stuff. Yet it’s the cool stuff that takes the kitchen from drab to fab.

My biggest top top tip in creating the coolest kitchen on the planet is to decorate them like you would your living room! Sound weird? Stay with me on this, the more you can accessorize it, the more integrated it will feel with the rest of your space, which is fundamental if yours is like mine, open plan. With the holidays fast approaching we’ll be spending even more time in our kitchens so I reckon it’s time to give them an overhaul.

Some tips below:

Open Plan Storage

I say this a lot, but in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms the more open plan storage you can have, the cooler your space will look. If everything is behind closed doors it reads as a big yawn as there is nothing to tantalize the eye. However, throw in an open plan shelving unit or shelves, accessorize with some storage jars, recipe books, linens, serving platters and so on, and suddenly you’ve elevated it to a whole other level.

Add Atmospheric Lighting

Lighting is neglected big time, I find. We’re all good at putting in the practical kitchen lighting but the decorative kind, the kind that either makes you smile, or adds the softest warmest pool of light to a central island, or work bench, is what I’m talking about here. A big game changer is a chandelier or super cool pendant – hang something sparkly or large over your kitchen island and it automatically changes the vibe of the space making it feel way more special. I’ve picked up some amazing lights from flea markets like Kempton in London and Porte de Vanves in Paris!

Add Art

Art is a game changer in kitchens and yet again so often neglected. Obviously don’t hang your fav Picasso (!) above the stove but anything behind glass will be more than OK. Art adds interest, excitement, and intrigue and takes kitchens to a whole other level, turning them into spaces where you actually want to hang out rather than just do the practical stuff, like cook!

Add accessories

I think I might be saying this until I am at least 90, but the more things you add to surfaces like counters (so think lamps, tealights, clusters of recipe books etc.) the more intriguing your space will look. Obviously we have to be mindful that there are enough surfaces to prep and cook from but anything else, accessorize the life out of it!

Add Furniture

I’m talking about adding a drinks table or maybe a small dining table, or even a couple of chairs, even to the smallest, tiniest of spaces. Once you think outside of the box (even if you’re space is super small) adding furniture into the kitchen makes the space so much more exciting. My sister has the smallest kitchen which has to double duty as the dining area and yet, adding a flea market table, a few chairs and a rug, makes this space somewhere that everyone gravitates too. I should add that if you’re short on space, introducing freestanding pieces is essential because they can double duty as the storage area!

As I said in my intro, creating a stylish kitchen has very little do to with money. These days you can pick up some gems from flea markets, auction houses as well as on the high street. It’s more about having the confidence to decorate a space that is fundamentally practical, into a space that can also become fundamentally beautiful. The kitchen is the heart of the home and it’s where we tend to spend the most time eating, cooking, entertaining and working. Even so, I say break a few rules and decorate it just like you would your living room. Do that and magic happens, promise!

At Rated People we have local kitchen fitters that can help you with any kitchen job. Post your project for free and get quotes from kitchen specialists near you.

The post The low down on creating a cool kitchen – guest post by Abigail Ahern appeared first on Rated People Blog.

I love a season change, and as much as I adore summer, autumn is one of my most favourite seasons. Think crunchy leaves, warm cider on the stove, fire flickering in the grate. Excited? I am! Spending more time indoors than out means that we’ve got to up the ante a tad and make our autumn home decor as deliciously cosy as possible.

Autumn home decor ideas

Add textiles

There are a number of tricks of the trade that will totally cosy up your pad without you having to spend the earth. First, and probably most importantly, lets talk texture. I say this a lot, but think of texture as an herb – it will add pizzazz! Adding the odd throw or cushion in different fabrics (velvet, wool, grown up luxurious materials) will add instant depth, warmth, not to mention visual interest. I am a sucker for sheepskins; sling one of those over a dining chair or the side of a sofa and instantly you will make your space feel cosier and super snugly! Recently I bought a whole bunch of them at Kempton Antiques market for £10 a pop, took them straight to the dry cleaner and they look as good as new!

If you can avoid it, ditch opting for harsh whites, not just when it comes to textiles but really for anything. Harsh white and cooler climes do not mix well so instead plump for softer gentler shades like creams, taupes, and greys; it will help create a tranquil, less sterile feel!

The high street has a ton of super cool throws and cushions this season from Debenhams to Ikea to Habitat – the key is to think luxuriously, the budget doesn’t have to be, but the vibe does!

Add character

In order for us to want to hang out indoors we have to make it as tantalising and intriguing as we possibly can and you can’t do that unless you have stuff, and lots of it!

If you’ve got a real fire, for instance, then stacks of logs in alcoves or heaped in baskets will totally make you want to spend time indoors. I am also a little obsessed with that ‘baronial hunting lodge’ feel, it so shouts autumn.  By that I mean anything tweedy, like a cushion or vase in a tweed pattern, or a chair that you can plonk on sipping a whisky after a long day in the woods (I’m romanticising obviously, but you get my drift)! How about adding some sort of resin animal head on the wall? I’ve got a moose head outside on my outdoor fireplace and a rhino’s indoors and they look fabulous. Another obsession is anything Alpine cabin chic-ish! The odd table in rustic wood, coffee table, and vase – that kind of thing!

Bring the outdoors in

Bringing a sense of outdoors in will also make you feel a tad more cosseted. Whether you plop a fern on a coffee table or console, or get some beautiful seasonal bark from the flower market it will make indoors more special. I am a big fan of seasonal décor, dried leaves, and pine cones in mantles in bowls I think its good to embrace seasonal change and foliage is the easiest and cheapest way to do it!

Add a glow

Add a glow. A set of candles on a table quietly flickering away will add instant warmth and cosiness. Talking of adding a glow, lighting is key for autumn/winter months, think lots of different layers: floor, table, recessed as well as pendants. That way you get this gentle rhythm of lighting going on (design speak for a cool lighting scheme)!

Prioritise aroma

Add some aromatic scents to your home. Aesop have the most beautiful oil which I burn throughout the day, Santa Maria Novella has the most incredible pot pourri which I decant and plop all over the house and is autumn in a pot, basically! I also put a pot of spices on the stove if friends are coming over to supper (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves), it takes your home straight into fall mode!

Talking of the kitchen, I am a pretty keen cook and as soon as autumn rolls in I often fill glass jars with dried beans, pulses; the kind of thing you stick on the stove to make a stew or some sort of comforting soup. Yum! Jars on islands filled with healthy stuff automatically feels cosy too.

Don’t neglect the outside

Don’t forget about the outside, in autumn I heap the tables in my garden with pumpkins and squashes, big tubs of heathers and then light the garden. When dusk starts to fall it looks and feels so cosy.

If you need a painter/decorator to refresh your home for the autumn months, we know where to find them. RatedPeople.com has thousands of quality, local tradesmen, rated by previous customers who post their reviews on the website. Post your job for free and up to 3 tradesmen will get in touch to quote. 

The post Autumn Home Décor Inspiration appeared first on Rated People Blog.

Under taking a renovation project can be stressful, often people find it difficult to know where to begin and many don’t know what’s involved until the project is under way. Before you strart a large project it’s important to make sure you have a number of things in place. Have you found a good tradesman? Have you agreed on a payment schedule? Watch the video and tick off the items on the the list as you go along.

The post The renovation checklist – guest post by Phil Spencer appeared first on Rated People Blog.

DIY home decor sometimes gets a bad rap, but my plan is to demystify it and give you guys some projects that inspire and that will take your pad to the next level. As everyone knows, style has absolutely noting to do with money so limited funds do not mean limited ideas. I say this a zillion times a day, but I am often at my most creative when budgets are tight. I dip my toe into DIY home decor, by that I mean in a very Sunday afternoon lazy kind of way. I don’t want my projects to take a week to complete (way too impatient) and I want to be able to do everything myself!

Before we start I should say that DIY goes smoothly when you have a good set of tools. You only need a minimal selection to be able to tackle most jobs – so don’t be tempted to buy that professional 100 piece set – you won’t use half of it!

Many DIY stores sell great value starter kits, here’s a break down of what’s in mine:

• Selection of screws, nails and wall plugs
• Scraper/filing knife
• Variable speed cordless drill
• Hammer
• Spirit level
• Plumb line
• Small cutting tool
• Retractable tape measure
• Pliers
• Selection of screwdrivers

You might need to buy the odd extra bit for some of these projects like glue or wallpaper paste but that is pretty much it!

Revamp your rollers

One of the coolest things I’ve done is turn a boring old blind into a fancy pants one fit for a boutique hotel. I was struggling with finding a blind I liked to fit in with my bedroom scheme. I spent hours researching until I hit upon the idea of covering a cheap blind with some amazing print like a cool wallpaper I was coveting from Timorous Beasties.

I went big and bold with pattern but you don’t have to. The only thing I would say is that if you can, try and go for a wallpaper that has been hand blocked rather than machine produced as the colour has way more depth. Since you only need a remnant it won’t cost the earth.

So to begin, roll out your blind to its full length and cut the paper to fit exactly. Aim for a perfect fit as it’s messy to start trimming paper once the gluing is done.

Paste the back of the paper and apply the paper to the blind. I lay the blind on the floor but you could just as easily lay it on a table. Work from one end to the other, smoothing out any bubbles as you go.

Let the paste dry then install your blind. Voila!

Get fancy with faux bois

Next up: how about adding some faux bois to your cabinets? Faux bois is a paint effect that replicates the appearance of wood and I am obsessed. For little money you can totally create a truly luxurious textural effect. You will need two contrasting paints from the same colour family, plus a wood-graining tool. Simply paint the light colour first, wait for it to dry; thin the darker colour with a 3 to 1 water to paint ratio and drag the graining tool through the wet paint. Vary the direction of the tool to up the decorative interest. How cool is that!

Snakeskin lamp

Lastly, but most fabulously, from America you can buy the most amazing duct tape in all different finishes from snakeskin, to leopard, to leather. Amazon sells it for about 5 bucks a roll. If you have a lamp base hanging around your pad devoid of joie de vivre, this will transform it like nothing else I know! Just begin by taping around the lamp base. Stretch the tape firmly, press down and cut with scissors for a clean edge. Repeat the process until you’ve finished. Nothing simpler and nothing cooler!

For further help making over your home’s decor, post a job on Rated People in our Painter / Decorator category to receive quotes from our qualified and trusted tradesmen.

The post 3 Simple DIY Home Decor Projects appeared first on Rated People Blog.