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We recently bought a new house as a major renovation project.
The place was to say the least a little bit run down and we did not have a massive
amount of money to spend on renovating it. Having said all that we were very enthusiastic about the project, had plenty
of ideas we wanted to put into practice and we were pretty confident that we
could transform the place into the home we had always wanted. The first job
we decided to tackle was a major redo of the kitchen area, adding a small sized extension to give us a little
more space. But this ate up a large chunk of our budget, so plans for work on
the bathroom were put on the back burner while we saved up. Unfortunately this
was quite expensive, so it meant we had to put off our plans to renovate the
bathroom until we had managed to put by sufficient funds The bath and sink were in a bit of a state
and needed to be replaced, but fortunately the toilet itself was perfectly
serviceable as it had only recently been installed. To try to get ideas for the bathroom, we
visited lots of DIY shops and read plenty of interior
design magazines and websites to
get an idea of how best to use the limited amount of space we had available to
us. A shower was a priority for us, but we still wanted to have a bath, so we
went for a shower-bath to get the best of both worlds without compromising on
space. We both love getting involved with DIY, so we gutted the bathroom
ourselves in a weekend. The initial plumbing was so bad we thought it would be
best to hire a professional plumber to fit our new bathroom. He suggested we
swap a few things around, which meant we could have a power shower fitted and
the pipework could be hidden behind the wall. Within a few days he'd fitted
everything, including the lovely new heated towel rail, which means the room
stays really warm in the winter. As the wall units were meant for a kitchen
they were quite deep, so my partner took the backs off and cut them to the
depth we wanted. We decided to go for fitted units and had a few design plans
drawn up, this option was simply much too expensive
even
taking into account just how small the bathroom us. Luckily for us, my
partner, came up with the idea of using kitchen units for storage on the walls
because they could be quite inexpensive, and we could adapt them to suit us. By good fortune we found some which were discounted at our local
hardware store, which
worked to a teeand very reasonably priced. We also managed to pick up a
gorgeous square-shaped sink with a pedestal at the same time. Last but not least, I accessorized the room with vibrantly coloured towels, natural sponges
together with scented
candles by good brands like Yankee candles, Heyland and Whittle and True Grace
candles. For good measure I added a few decorative bottles and a reed diffuser
to give it a feminine feel. I'm really pleased with how it has turned out, it's
amazing what you can do with even the smallest space - it just takes clear
ideas and practical thinking!
The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where you will find a large range of scented candles by luxury brands like True Grace candles
Sunday 30 October 2011
Friday 28 October 2011
Get Comfy - Get A New Chair!
Curling up in a soft, inviting armchair next to an open fire is an idea
that most of us find very appealing indeed . It is even more comfortable and
inviting if you have a few luxury scented candles like the ones by
Yankee candles glowing in the background. What's more, if
you decide to go for a leather chair it does not even need to match your existing sofa - it can be a stylish
statement piece in its own right – an accent chair as it is often called . Whether you already have a sofa
covered in a patterned fabric, or want to add warmth and character to a minimal
living room , a chair in leather
will always look the part . Brown is the
classic colour to choose, but what about striking red, cool white or black? Choose a shade that contrasts with the rest of your furniture for a real style winner
that stands out from the crowd . When choosing a
new real or faux-leather armchair, think about our suggestions . Allow plenty of time to try out an armchair in
the shop before you buy it Spend a few minutes sitting in
the chair to get a true idea of its comfort . Take your measurements with you - an armchair
that looks average-sized in the showroom could potentially swamp your living
room. Check how it is made, these days, most armchairs are either zigzag or
web-sprung, but if you're looking for something that will stand the test of
time, choose a traditionally made chair that is coil-sprung. This spreads the
weight more evenly across the seat and reduces wear on the base. Real leather
will age with use and this adds to its character. It's easy to look after -
simply dust with a damp cloth. If it gets really dirty apply some special leather
cleaner. This is easy to use. Generally speaking it comes in liquid form. Get hold of a good soft cloth - a microfibre cloth is ideal. Work some of the cleaner on to the cloth and then gently rub this all over the surface of the chair. This may take a little time, but the resultswill be well worth it. Not only will the cleaner remove dirt but it will also give your treasured chair an element of protection against future dirt and grime building up, so you win in two ways! And if all this seems like too much trouble, simply call in a firm of professional cleaners like Proclean Domestic Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning Glasgow to take care of it for you. When that is all done, there is nothing more to be done than light one of your favourite Yankee candles and relax!
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide selection of home fragrances including scented candles and True Grace candles
that most of us find very appealing indeed . It is even more comfortable and
inviting if you have a few luxury scented candles like the ones by
Yankee candles glowing in the background. What's more, if
you decide to go for a leather chair it does not even need to match your existing sofa - it can be a stylish
statement piece in its own right – an accent chair as it is often called . Whether you already have a sofa
covered in a patterned fabric, or want to add warmth and character to a minimal
living room , a chair in leather
will always look the part . Brown is the
classic colour to choose, but what about striking red, cool white or black? Choose a shade that contrasts with the rest of your furniture for a real style winner
that stands out from the crowd . When choosing a
new real or faux-leather armchair, think about our suggestions . Allow plenty of time to try out an armchair in
the shop before you buy it Spend a few minutes sitting in
the chair to get a true idea of its comfort . Take your measurements with you - an armchair
that looks average-sized in the showroom could potentially swamp your living
room. Check how it is made, these days, most armchairs are either zigzag or
web-sprung, but if you're looking for something that will stand the test of
time, choose a traditionally made chair that is coil-sprung. This spreads the
weight more evenly across the seat and reduces wear on the base. Real leather
will age with use and this adds to its character. It's easy to look after -
simply dust with a damp cloth. If it gets really dirty apply some special leather
cleaner. This is easy to use. Generally speaking it comes in liquid form. Get hold of a good soft cloth - a microfibre cloth is ideal. Work some of the cleaner on to the cloth and then gently rub this all over the surface of the chair. This may take a little time, but the resultswill be well worth it. Not only will the cleaner remove dirt but it will also give your treasured chair an element of protection against future dirt and grime building up, so you win in two ways! And if all this seems like too much trouble, simply call in a firm of professional cleaners like Proclean Domestic Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning Glasgow to take care of it for you. When that is all done, there is nothing more to be done than light one of your favourite Yankee candles and relax!
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide selection of home fragrances including scented candles and True Grace candles
Thursday 27 October 2011
Get Comfy - Get A New Chair!
Curling up in a soft, inviting armchair next to an open fire is an idea
that most of us find very appealing indeed . It is even more comfortable and
inviting if you have a few luxury scented candles like the ones by
Yankee candles glowing in the background. What's more, if
you decide to go for a leather chair it does not even need to match your existing sofa - it can be a stylish
statement piece in its own right – an accent chair as it is often called . Whether you already have a sofa
covered in a patterned fabric, or want to add warmth and character to a minimal
living room , a chair in leather
will always look the part . Brown is the
classic colour to choose, but what about striking red, cool white or black? Choose a shade that contrasts with the rest of your furniture for a real style winner
that stands out from the crowd . When choosing a
new real or faux-leather armchair, think about our suggestions . Allow plenty of time to try out an armchair in
the shop before you buy it Spend a few minutes sitting in
the chair to get a true idea of its comfort . Take your measurements with you - an armchair
that looks average-sized in the showroom could potentially swamp your living
room. Check how it is made, these days, most armchairs are either zigzag or
web-sprung, but if you're looking for something that will stand the test of
time, choose a traditionally made chair that is coil-sprung. This spreads the
weight more evenly across the seat and reduces wear on the base. Real leather
will age with use and this adds to its character. It's easy to look after -
simply dust with a damp cloth. If it gets really dirty apply some special leather
cleaner. This is easy to use. Generally speaking it comes in liquid form. Get hold of a good soft cloth - a microfibre cloth is ideal. Work some of the cleaner on to the cloth and then gently rub this all over the surface of the chair. This may take a little time, but the resultswill be well worth it. Not only will the cleaner remove dirt but it will also give your treasured chair an element of protection against future dirt and grime building up, so you win in two ways! And if all this seems like too much trouble, simply call in a firm of professional cleaners like Proclean Domestic Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning Glasgow to take care of it for you. When that is all done, there is nothing more to be done than light one of your favourite Yankee candles and relax!
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide selection of home fragrances including scented candles and True Grace candles
that most of us find very appealing indeed . It is even more comfortable and
inviting if you have a few luxury scented candles like the ones by
Yankee candles glowing in the background. What's more, if
you decide to go for a leather chair it does not even need to match your existing sofa - it can be a stylish
statement piece in its own right – an accent chair as it is often called . Whether you already have a sofa
covered in a patterned fabric, or want to add warmth and character to a minimal
living room , a chair in leather
will always look the part . Brown is the
classic colour to choose, but what about striking red, cool white or black? Choose a shade that contrasts with the rest of your furniture for a real style winner
that stands out from the crowd . When choosing a
new real or faux-leather armchair, think about our suggestions . Allow plenty of time to try out an armchair in
the shop before you buy it Spend a few minutes sitting in
the chair to get a true idea of its comfort . Take your measurements with you - an armchair
that looks average-sized in the showroom could potentially swamp your living
room. Check how it is made, these days, most armchairs are either zigzag or
web-sprung, but if you're looking for something that will stand the test of
time, choose a traditionally made chair that is coil-sprung. This spreads the
weight more evenly across the seat and reduces wear on the base. Real leather
will age with use and this adds to its character. It's easy to look after -
simply dust with a damp cloth. If it gets really dirty apply some special leather
cleaner. This is easy to use. Generally speaking it comes in liquid form. Get hold of a good soft cloth - a microfibre cloth is ideal. Work some of the cleaner on to the cloth and then gently rub this all over the surface of the chair. This may take a little time, but the resultswill be well worth it. Not only will the cleaner remove dirt but it will also give your treasured chair an element of protection against future dirt and grime building up, so you win in two ways! And if all this seems like too much trouble, simply call in a firm of professional cleaners like Proclean Domestic Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning Glasgow to take care of it for you. When that is all done, there is nothing more to be done than light one of your favourite Yankee candles and relax!
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide selection of home fragrances including scented candles and True Grace candles
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Tips On Decorating Your Kitchen
We moved in to our existing home more than fifteen years ago , and about
thirteen years ago we made a start on the kitchen .
Originally it was upstairs , so it had no access to the
garden , and downstairs was a
granny annexe, dining room and larder. We knocked the wall down between those two areas to make one large
kitchen and dining area , and kept the original French doors and
windows. We also put in plain wooden units . It worked well for more
than ten years but the room began to look a bit tired and the appliances
started to fail . My husband and I had a serious discussion about moving, but
we decided to stay as we love the area and we've got the garden as we like it.
I decided if we were staying, I wanted a new kitchen . Something very different from what we
had - a contemporary design with clean,
simple lines. We started looking but one company came up with a grand plan
with a grand price, which scared us off a bit
. On a visit to a local
kitchen showroom last spring we saw units we really liked, and this time round
it was a different story. They listened to what we said, respected what we
wanted to spend, made lots of clever suggestions and, best of
all, came in under our budget of £20,000 .
This sum not only included the
cost of the units and appliances plus all the fitting costs, but alsoincluded
a number of lovely little accessories which we found to give the new
kitchen a homely lived in look. We went for some original art produced by a
friend of ours which has brightened up the space no end, as well as some of the usual things you will find decorating a kitchen, such as our favourite aromatic candles produced by Yankee candle and True Grace candles and a beautiful antique
style railway clock which has pride of place above the dining area.
We ended up with dark brown wooden units as they just seemed to fit with the overall style of our home, which is a slightly traditional property. We were
thinking of something pale, but it's such a light kitchen that we can use a
dark colour. Somne kitchens do not seem to get much in the way of natural daylioght which might be a bit of a problem, but in our case this really was not an issue We knew that we wanted solid oak flooring throughout, and
certainly not the laminate we'd put down previously, which didn't last. It was
an expense to replace the French doors with bi-folding ones but, as they fold
right back, we can watch the garden wildlife more easily. We have tall pull-out
storage units, full-height cupboards and drawers, and a dresser unit that
stores all our tableware. About finishing touches, I remembered that we had
some pendant lights in the loft with a green glass band, so fitted them and
they tie everything together.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide choice of candles as well as reed diffusers
thirteen years ago we made a start on the kitchen .
Originally it was upstairs , so it had no access to the
garden , and downstairs was a
granny annexe, dining room and larder. We knocked the wall down between those two areas to make one large
kitchen and dining area , and kept the original French doors and
windows. We also put in plain wooden units . It worked well for more
than ten years but the room began to look a bit tired and the appliances
started to fail . My husband and I had a serious discussion about moving, but
we decided to stay as we love the area and we've got the garden as we like it.
I decided if we were staying, I wanted a new kitchen . Something very different from what we
had - a contemporary design with clean,
simple lines. We started looking but one company came up with a grand plan
with a grand price, which scared us off a bit
. On a visit to a local
kitchen showroom last spring we saw units we really liked, and this time round
it was a different story. They listened to what we said, respected what we
wanted to spend, made lots of clever suggestions and, best of
all, came in under our budget of £20,000 .
This sum not only included the
cost of the units and appliances plus all the fitting costs, but alsoincluded
a number of lovely little accessories which we found to give the new
kitchen a homely lived in look. We went for some original art produced by a
friend of ours which has brightened up the space no end, as well as some of the usual things you will find decorating a kitchen, such as our favourite aromatic candles produced by Yankee candle and True Grace candles and a beautiful antique
style railway clock which has pride of place above the dining area.
We ended up with dark brown wooden units as they just seemed to fit with the overall style of our home, which is a slightly traditional property. We were
thinking of something pale, but it's such a light kitchen that we can use a
dark colour. Somne kitchens do not seem to get much in the way of natural daylioght which might be a bit of a problem, but in our case this really was not an issue We knew that we wanted solid oak flooring throughout, and
certainly not the laminate we'd put down previously, which didn't last. It was
an expense to replace the French doors with bi-folding ones but, as they fold
right back, we can watch the garden wildlife more easily. We have tall pull-out
storage units, full-height cupboards and drawers, and a dresser unit that
stores all our tableware. About finishing touches, I remembered that we had
some pendant lights in the loft with a green glass band, so fitted them and
they tie everything together.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide choice of candles as well as reed diffusers
Tips On Renovating A Period Home
The first time I clapped
our 1930s detached house for the first time, I was immediately certain that this was the perfect
choice for myself and my family.
I was so enthusiastic about the possibilities that the property offered that I
was absolutely desperate to make sure we secured it. It
was obvious from the outset that the property was full of potential and with a
little care and planning could soon work out to be the ideal location for us.
I was pregnant with my second son at the time and I soon realised that all the
stairs in a three-storey house would become an issue with two young children.
When we eventually got the keys
and completed the sale the house was empty – a completely blank canvas if you
like. We were therefore able to start
entirely from scratch when it came to the interior design and layout we were
looking for and despite the fact we had lots of ideas initially,
we decided it would make sense to live with the house as it was,
and
get familiar with it before we made any major changes . In
actual fact it was almost four years before we embarked on our major renovation
and decorating project. The planning stage was incredibly straightforward
because we had a clear vision of what we wanted. One of the best things we did was to hire
an architect who quickly put down our ideas in the shape of some detailed
drawings.
We employed a local building firm to do the work and the project management was
shared between the builder and the architect.
Of
all
the rooms in my new look home the one I like best is the kitchen and dining
area. I enjoy cooking for family and friends and could not be simpler to keep clean tidy and organized. There was a
traditional kitchen in place when we bought the property but we were keen to
have something more contemporary. We already had the range cooker and we
decided matt black kitchen units would go really with it! We picked
out several accessories to give it
a lived-in appeal, including fragrant candles our favourite
makes, such as Yankee
candles and True Grace
candles. Other great ideas for the kitchen included one of those retro style French inspired railway clocks for the wall. They are quite large but fortunately the kitchen itself was sufficiently big that it did not look out of place. Another great idea which we used from an Irish company was some wall art which was made entirely out of coloured glass. The pieces were expensive, but we only needed one or two to really make the place stand out.
The biggest problem – and certainly the
major inconvenience was living in the property
during the time when the renovations were taking place. At one stage
we did without a kitchen and bathroom for almost
two months. The project took eight months to complete! At the end of the day you just have to get on with things and make the best of it. As the saying goes, you can't make an omellette without breaking eggs! Instead of getting downhearted by the constant mess all around us, I tried to focus on what we were trying to achieve. When I thought about how our home would look after the work had been finished and all the builders materials and equipment had been packed up and moved on, I did not feel quite so bad. It was really just a case of trying to accentuate the positives and ignore all the other stuff that was going on all around us. That, and the mud!
The author is the owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find many different home fragrances choices including candles and reed diffuser
our 1930s detached house for the first time, I was immediately certain that this was the perfect
choice for myself and my family.
I was so enthusiastic about the possibilities that the property offered that I
was absolutely desperate to make sure we secured it. It
was obvious from the outset that the property was full of potential and with a
little care and planning could soon work out to be the ideal location for us.
I was pregnant with my second son at the time and I soon realised that all the
stairs in a three-storey house would become an issue with two young children.
When we eventually got the keys
and completed the sale the house was empty – a completely blank canvas if you
like. We were therefore able to start
entirely from scratch when it came to the interior design and layout we were
looking for and despite the fact we had lots of ideas initially,
we decided it would make sense to live with the house as it was,
and
get familiar with it before we made any major changes . In
actual fact it was almost four years before we embarked on our major renovation
and decorating project. The planning stage was incredibly straightforward
because we had a clear vision of what we wanted. One of the best things we did was to hire
an architect who quickly put down our ideas in the shape of some detailed
drawings.
We employed a local building firm to do the work and the project management was
shared between the builder and the architect.
Of
all
the rooms in my new look home the one I like best is the kitchen and dining
area. I enjoy cooking for family and friends and could not be simpler to keep clean tidy and organized. There was a
traditional kitchen in place when we bought the property but we were keen to
have something more contemporary. We already had the range cooker and we
decided matt black kitchen units would go really with it! We picked
out several accessories to give it
a lived-in appeal, including fragrant candles our favourite
makes, such as Yankee
candles and True Grace
candles. Other great ideas for the kitchen included one of those retro style French inspired railway clocks for the wall. They are quite large but fortunately the kitchen itself was sufficiently big that it did not look out of place. Another great idea which we used from an Irish company was some wall art which was made entirely out of coloured glass. The pieces were expensive, but we only needed one or two to really make the place stand out.
The biggest problem – and certainly the
major inconvenience was living in the property
during the time when the renovations were taking place. At one stage
we did without a kitchen and bathroom for almost
two months. The project took eight months to complete! At the end of the day you just have to get on with things and make the best of it. As the saying goes, you can't make an omellette without breaking eggs! Instead of getting downhearted by the constant mess all around us, I tried to focus on what we were trying to achieve. When I thought about how our home would look after the work had been finished and all the builders materials and equipment had been packed up and moved on, I did not feel quite so bad. It was really just a case of trying to accentuate the positives and ignore all the other stuff that was going on all around us. That, and the mud!
The author is the owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find many different home fragrances choices including candles and reed diffuser
Monday 24 October 2011
Give Your Kitchen A Touch Of Style
After spending quite a bit of time living and
working abroad, we returned to the UK so we could make sure that our children could finish off
their studies in this country. While our home is ideal in many ways, the kitchen is pretty old fashioned as we had
never got round to updating it before we moved away There wasn't enough
preparation space, equipment cluttered the work surfaces and the areas weren't
well thought out. The things we really wanted
out of our new kitchen was somewhere where everything would be ordered and
neat. We also did not want to compromise on quality if we could afford to do
so.Food preparation, storage, cooking, washing up and eating areas were combined or classified into distinct areas and
the brief was to ensure that there was ease of movement between these various
areas. We were anxious for the kitchen to have all mod
cons but at the same time we did not want it to look purely functional nature,
with endless areas of gleaming work surfaces and stainless steel they can often look more like a workplace or even a laboratory, more than part
of your home, so we gave it that lived in, homely appeal by adding a few well chosenaccessories
including~ such as~ likeour favourite fragrant candles manufactured by well known brands not to
mention a beautiful old fashioned French railway station wall
clock. When we
were abroad one thing we had seen in many kitchen was various pots and pans
hanging decoratively and this was something we were keen to introduce to our
kitchen. In most instances this involved an overhead
trellis type of designbut the idea we liked involved a “mesh”
metal grid that was pinned to the wall vertically. All that is then required is to
hang your pots and pans from the mesh by means of individual hooks which you
can pick up in any good hardware store. If you use a collection of different cooking
utensils, such as a wok
and an authentic paella or “sarten” , it makes for a really nice feature wall for your
kitchen. The main part of the kitchen is solely for cooking and eating, while
the laundry zone and utility area are tucked away around the corner. We teamed
electric blue Formica with bleached oak. The oak runs along one wall of the
kitchen and the utility and laundry areas. A great team of local builders and
cabinetmakers undertook the work, while we provided the designs and sourced the
fittings and appliances. With good
quality units and clever design, this kitchen is stunning and practical,too. There are lots of other simple tips you can employ to make the most of the kitchen or indeed any other room in the home. It depends to a lesser or greater degree on your budget. As previously mentioned home fragrances such as Yankee candles and True Grace candles need not cost too much. Wall art of various different sorts is available, either online or from good retailers. There is plenty of choice, so take your time and you will be able to find something that suits your needs and your budget. Apart from accesorries and ornaments which you can buty you should not discount the freat effect that you can get just from painting your kitchen. Giving the place a fresh lick of paint can make a substantial difference to the way your property looks anmd feels. If you do the painting yourself you will not have to spend too much. There are so many shades to choose from that getting a look that you really like should be simplicity itself. Why not take a few sample pots home and try them out before deciding on the final decorative choice you want to go with.
The author is the owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide range of candles as well as other home fragrance choices such as reed diffusers
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Beeswax Candles – The Perfect Choice
People have been using candles
for as long as they have lived in communities , going back to the times of the Greeks and
other well known ancient civilizations. Those people
would have some difficulty in recognising what we
use as candles in the modern age. In the first place,
the notion of people wanting such a thing as scented candles would would no doubt bemuse them totally. In days gone by
candles were not seen as something decorative – they were completely functional
in nature. They had one main purpose and that
was to shed some element of light when used indoors. They could also provide
some small measure of heat. The suggestion of using
candles as decorative items ~ to decorate your home just would not
have occurred to them and even if it did it it almost certainly would be regarded as a ridiculous
and fanciful idea. As well as this contemporary candles are produced from a selection of different waxes, of which the most popular is certainly
paraffin wax which is derived from petroleum You can also find more
environmentally sound waxes available as well, including soy wax and vegetable wax,
but none of these items would have been known to our predecessors. There is,
however, one variety of wax which our ancestors would
have recognised when it comes to candles and candle making in general namely beeswax, which is
employedby top quality producers including true grace candles or Yankee candles, to name but two in the manufacture of their products.
Beeswax, as as you will no doubt have guessed from the
name, is obtained~ from the honeycomb. It is
made from nectar in a similar manner to honey and is
currently used in the manufacture of candles not to
mention a wide range of other items including cosmetics and toiletries. Beeswax has been used in
candle making for many centuries. It has a number of positive attributes which
make it perfect for candle making. Chief among these is the fact that it burns cleanly, with little mess. It gives off little soot so it will not cause dark marks to form on your walls and ceilings when you light a beeswax candle at home. Beeswax also burns
slowly - a good deal more slowly than conventional wax candles - which means that your candle last longer and it also contains natural properties which
help cleanse the air as it burns, which is particularly important when using
candles indoors. In actual fact beeswax candles ionise the air while they burn making things so much easier for anyone who sufferes from allergies or perhaps a respiratory condition. So it seems, that while they probably didn't know the scence behind beeswax candles, our ancestors knew a good thing when they saw it!
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of candles as well as reed diffuser
for as long as they have lived in communities , going back to the times of the Greeks and
other well known ancient civilizations. Those people
would have some difficulty in recognising what we
use as candles in the modern age. In the first place,
the notion of people wanting such a thing as scented candles would would no doubt bemuse them totally. In days gone by
candles were not seen as something decorative – they were completely functional
in nature. They had one main purpose and that
was to shed some element of light when used indoors. They could also provide
some small measure of heat. The suggestion of using
candles as decorative items ~ to decorate your home just would not
have occurred to them and even if it did it it almost certainly would be regarded as a ridiculous
and fanciful idea. As well as this contemporary candles are produced from a selection of different waxes, of which the most popular is certainly
paraffin wax which is derived from petroleum You can also find more
environmentally sound waxes available as well, including soy wax and vegetable wax,
but none of these items would have been known to our predecessors. There is,
however, one variety of wax which our ancestors would
have recognised when it comes to candles and candle making in general namely beeswax, which is
employedby top quality producers including true grace candles or Yankee candles, to name but two in the manufacture of their products.
Beeswax, as as you will no doubt have guessed from the
name, is obtained~ from the honeycomb. It is
made from nectar in a similar manner to honey and is
currently used in the manufacture of candles not to
mention a wide range of other items including cosmetics and toiletries. Beeswax has been used in
candle making for many centuries. It has a number of positive attributes which
make it perfect for candle making. Chief among these is the fact that it burns cleanly, with little mess. It gives off little soot so it will not cause dark marks to form on your walls and ceilings when you light a beeswax candle at home. Beeswax also burns
slowly - a good deal more slowly than conventional wax candles - which means that your candle last longer and it also contains natural properties which
help cleanse the air as it burns, which is particularly important when using
candles indoors. In actual fact beeswax candles ionise the air while they burn making things so much easier for anyone who sufferes from allergies or perhaps a respiratory condition. So it seems, that while they probably didn't know the scence behind beeswax candles, our ancestors knew a good thing when they saw it!
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of candles as well as reed diffuser
Tuesday 18 October 2011
Add A Little Bit Of Eastern Style To Your Home
Take a
look at an Eastern style with hammered, punched or embossed, decorative metal . Imagine taking a
walk through the bazaar on a
foreign holiday and seeing all those beautiful
items created by craftsmen out of lovely
burnished and treated metal. These accessories like plates and bowls help add
the exotic look of the souk to even the plainest of rooms . And you do not need to restrict this look to
simple accessories . Light fittings, too,
look fantastic in these materials. A beautifully ornate pendant light, made from
punched nickel-plated metal, would make a great focal point in a hallway or indeed in a living
room or dining room. And what about using the same idea for your table
settings? It could not be simpler . All you need to do is add a few brightly aromatic candles to a softly curved metal candle holder
for an attractive centre piece for
your table and a certain talking point for your dinner guests . Try to pair this up with
suitable glassware – coloured or
patterned glass , perhaps a little ~ maybe a bit old fashioned to some –
would be absolutely perfect ~would work perfectly ~ would be the ideal
choice. The scented~ aromatic~ fragrant~ perfumed candles made~ created~
produced ~ manufactured by True Grace candles would be ideal ~ a good choice
~suit down to the ground, especially~ particularly the gold coloured beeswax
ones they have available . Choose, for instance, a large hammered
candlestick in brushed or aged bronze for a sophisticated look that will
be equally at home in a modern as well as a traditional property. The hammered
base look also looks great lit up at night .The ideal choice would be an elegant pillar candle made from beeswax
from True Grace candles or Yankee candles, but
there are lots of otherchoices out there. Shop around to find the one that
suits your needs best. Beautiful
design at a great price means you can splash out on more
than one hammered pieces and group them together to create a stunning effect. Do
not forget that dimpled frames are perfect for displaying on aside board or
mantelpiece. What about wow wallpaper? Did you know you can even get wallpaper
with a hammered metal finish. With a subtle metallic finish, the wallpaper has
just the right amount of shine and will look fantastic paired with the right
sort of furniture. If you want to carry the theme further you can do so with a clever choice of glassware and plates for the dinner table - nothing says the Levant more than a beautiful Moroccan tagine which is the perfect dish not only for Moroccan food, but also for making any hearty stew or casserole. Another simple but terrific addition would be a hand made leather pouffe or footstool. With their intricate detail, hand stitchd on the leather, these make a fantastic - and comfortable - addition to any living room.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store whichsupplies a range of scented candles as well as the morecontemporary alternative reeddiffuser
look at an Eastern style with hammered, punched or embossed, decorative metal . Imagine taking a
walk through the bazaar on a
foreign holiday and seeing all those beautiful
items created by craftsmen out of lovely
burnished and treated metal. These accessories like plates and bowls help add
the exotic look of the souk to even the plainest of rooms . And you do not need to restrict this look to
simple accessories . Light fittings, too,
look fantastic in these materials. A beautifully ornate pendant light, made from
punched nickel-plated metal, would make a great focal point in a hallway or indeed in a living
room or dining room. And what about using the same idea for your table
settings? It could not be simpler . All you need to do is add a few brightly aromatic candles to a softly curved metal candle holder
for an attractive centre piece for
your table and a certain talking point for your dinner guests . Try to pair this up with
suitable glassware – coloured or
patterned glass , perhaps a little ~ maybe a bit old fashioned to some –
would be absolutely perfect ~would work perfectly ~ would be the ideal
choice. The scented~ aromatic~ fragrant~ perfumed candles made~ created~
produced ~ manufactured by True Grace candles would be ideal ~ a good choice
~suit down to the ground, especially~ particularly the gold coloured beeswax
ones they have available . Choose, for instance, a large hammered
candlestick in brushed or aged bronze for a sophisticated look that will
be equally at home in a modern as well as a traditional property. The hammered
base look also looks great lit up at night .The ideal choice would be an elegant pillar candle made from beeswax
from True Grace candles or Yankee candles, but
there are lots of otherchoices out there. Shop around to find the one that
suits your needs best. Beautiful
design at a great price means you can splash out on more
than one hammered pieces and group them together to create a stunning effect. Do
not forget that dimpled frames are perfect for displaying on aside board or
mantelpiece. What about wow wallpaper? Did you know you can even get wallpaper
with a hammered metal finish. With a subtle metallic finish, the wallpaper has
just the right amount of shine and will look fantastic paired with the right
sort of furniture. If you want to carry the theme further you can do so with a clever choice of glassware and plates for the dinner table - nothing says the Levant more than a beautiful Moroccan tagine which is the perfect dish not only for Moroccan food, but also for making any hearty stew or casserole. Another simple but terrific addition would be a hand made leather pouffe or footstool. With their intricate detail, hand stitchd on the leather, these make a fantastic - and comfortable - addition to any living room.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store whichsupplies a range of scented candles as well as the morecontemporary alternative reeddiffuser
Monday 17 October 2011
New Trends In Home Decor
Have you noticed that paint shades, fabrics and tiles and artwork
are all going back to black ? Take, for instance, fine prints, which are available
in hand drawn form, either in chalk or in pencil. Somehow these black and
white images seem to suit city scapes, but portraits also look great drawn in
this medium . Wall art of all sorts is a perennial favourite when it comes to giving your home a new look and feel but there is something about these monochrome drawings that is really sophisticated. The fact that they are blck and white also makes it easier to blend in with any other colours you may have chosen for your decorative theme, in essence making them something of an interior designers dream choice. Another simple trend in interior design this season is
nature-inspired wallpaper which can quickly make a feature in any room. Weall love nature and this new trend is an easy way of bringing a little part of the outdoors inside, as it were. What
about statement design? An eye-catching pattern does not need to be confined
to walls - they can also be found in wall and floor tiles . Try using them on the floor
to jazz up a plain room . When it comes to tiling
another trend which is becoming increasingly popular is the use of vintage or
reclaimed tiling. This involves using tiles which have been recovered from
older properties and using them for your project . The tiles have that lived in,
aged look and are particularly suited for use in a traditional or period
property . The end result can however be extremely effective. It is a look that I first encountered in an old country house hotel in Italy and it is something that many owners of older properties now look for when decorating. Puppy love! Dog lovers take note! We defy anyone not to fall for an
adorable labrador or Yorkshire Terrier fabric.
Use it to make cushions, curtains or a chic bed for your pampered pooch . Other great ideas include using aromatic candles
such as the beautiful ones produced by Heyland and Whittle or the market leaders such as Yankee candles to give your room not only a
fantastic new look, but also a great fragrance as well . Like scented candles, wall art is always popular in its many forms. Choose
what you like from modern to traditional . Looking for an inexpensive update for a room ? Create a whimsical feature with some enchanted tree wall stickers. if
you think black is too daunting for painting a
wall, then why no choose a shade of green? Go for a rich dark shade of
green that mimics a soft black, for a sophisticated opulent look.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of home fragrances including scented candles as well as the more contemporary alternative, the reed diffuser.
are all going back to black ? Take, for instance, fine prints, which are available
in hand drawn form, either in chalk or in pencil. Somehow these black and
white images seem to suit city scapes, but portraits also look great drawn in
this medium . Wall art of all sorts is a perennial favourite when it comes to giving your home a new look and feel but there is something about these monochrome drawings that is really sophisticated. The fact that they are blck and white also makes it easier to blend in with any other colours you may have chosen for your decorative theme, in essence making them something of an interior designers dream choice. Another simple trend in interior design this season is
nature-inspired wallpaper which can quickly make a feature in any room. Weall love nature and this new trend is an easy way of bringing a little part of the outdoors inside, as it were. What
about statement design? An eye-catching pattern does not need to be confined
to walls - they can also be found in wall and floor tiles . Try using them on the floor
to jazz up a plain room . When it comes to tiling
another trend which is becoming increasingly popular is the use of vintage or
reclaimed tiling. This involves using tiles which have been recovered from
older properties and using them for your project . The tiles have that lived in,
aged look and are particularly suited for use in a traditional or period
property . The end result can however be extremely effective. It is a look that I first encountered in an old country house hotel in Italy and it is something that many owners of older properties now look for when decorating. Puppy love! Dog lovers take note! We defy anyone not to fall for an
adorable labrador or Yorkshire Terrier fabric.
Use it to make cushions, curtains or a chic bed for your pampered pooch . Other great ideas include using aromatic candles
such as the beautiful ones produced by Heyland and Whittle or the market leaders such as Yankee candles to give your room not only a
fantastic new look, but also a great fragrance as well . Like scented candles, wall art is always popular in its many forms. Choose
what you like from modern to traditional . Looking for an inexpensive update for a room ? Create a whimsical feature with some enchanted tree wall stickers. if
you think black is too daunting for painting a
wall, then why no choose a shade of green? Go for a rich dark shade of
green that mimics a soft black, for a sophisticated opulent look.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of home fragrances including scented candles as well as the more contemporary alternative, the reed diffuser.
Sunday 16 October 2011
How To Use A Reed Diffuser
Many folk enjoy using
aromatic candles and other forms of home fragrances
around their homes these days .
In this respect there has been a considerable change from the old day when
choice was extremely limited . In
most homes you might be able to find pot pourri or else an air freshener spray but neither was a particularly
attractive option~ neither of these choices had much going for them . Today everything
has changed and home fragrances are booming with a huge range of options open
to the homeowner , including scented candles, room sprays - which are something like perfumes but for use in the
home instead of on the body – together with scented reeds and leaves. Of all the available items out there, perhaps the most adaptable is the reed diffuser
With their stylish good looks and convenience and safety it may not be
long before reed diffuser sale actually overtake the sales of scented candles.
This may be accelerated by some of the health concerns which revolve around
burning scented candles indoors. Again this is not an issue which troubles the
usersof reed diffusers and is perhaps another good reason for the surge in
demand of these attractive contemporary products.
Fragrant diffusers are different from
scented candles because they do not need to be alight to work. They are not all that
well known in this country but that is all set to change . One of the main reasons for the increase in
popularity of reed diffusers is that they can be left to work even when you
are out or in a room which is left unattended for long periods . It is clearly not safe to leave a candle lit in an empty room or in your home while you
are away . However because there is no flame or
indeed any electrical power required with a reed diffuser , there is no such problem . That means that
if you place you can
be greeted by its beautiful aroma as soon
as you walk in, instead of having to light up some
scented candles and wait for the top surface to melt completely before you
notice the sweet aroma.
So what are they and how do you use them to the best effect? A Reed
diffuser is basically a combination of fragrant oil and special reeds which
absorb the oil and distribute it throughout your home or office by evaporation.
You should try to get the best quality oil you can, especially if it contains
the essential oils of plants and other flowers. Most reed diffusers come as a
pack with an attactive bottle containing the oil, so all you need to do is
insert the reeds and you are good to go. You can, however, buy the constituent
parts separately if you like. If you have a preference for a particular
fragrance - or maybe you have tried a few and just like one - you could go
ahead and buy the oil refill on its own, and decant it into your favourite
attractive bottle.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of scented candles as well as reed diffusers
aromatic candles and other forms of home fragrances
around their homes these days .
In this respect there has been a considerable change from the old day when
choice was extremely limited . In
most homes you might be able to find pot pourri or else an air freshener spray but neither was a particularly
attractive option~ neither of these choices had much going for them . Today everything
has changed and home fragrances are booming with a huge range of options open
to the homeowner , including scented candles, room sprays - which are something like perfumes but for use in the
home instead of on the body – together with scented reeds and leaves. Of all the available items out there, perhaps the most adaptable is the reed diffuser
With their stylish good looks and convenience and safety it may not be
long before reed diffuser sale actually overtake the sales of scented candles.
This may be accelerated by some of the health concerns which revolve around
burning scented candles indoors. Again this is not an issue which troubles the
usersof reed diffusers and is perhaps another good reason for the surge in
demand of these attractive contemporary products.
Fragrant diffusers are different from
scented candles because they do not need to be alight to work. They are not all that
well known in this country but that is all set to change . One of the main reasons for the increase in
popularity of reed diffusers is that they can be left to work even when you
are out or in a room which is left unattended for long periods . It is clearly not safe to leave a candle lit in an empty room or in your home while you
are away . However because there is no flame or
indeed any electrical power required with a reed diffuser , there is no such problem . That means that
if you place you can
be greeted by its beautiful aroma as soon
as you walk in, instead of having to light up some
scented candles and wait for the top surface to melt completely before you
notice the sweet aroma.
So what are they and how do you use them to the best effect? A Reed
diffuser is basically a combination of fragrant oil and special reeds which
absorb the oil and distribute it throughout your home or office by evaporation.
You should try to get the best quality oil you can, especially if it contains
the essential oils of plants and other flowers. Most reed diffusers come as a
pack with an attactive bottle containing the oil, so all you need to do is
insert the reeds and you are good to go. You can, however, buy the constituent
parts separately if you like. If you have a preference for a particular
fragrance - or maybe you have tried a few and just like one - you could go
ahead and buy the oil refill on its own, and decant it into your favourite
attractive bottle.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of scented candles as well as reed diffusers
Give Your Home A New Lease Of Life On A Budget
Depending on how much work you ntend to carry out in your new property , it may be necessary to get professional aid . Ensure you use the
professional advice of achitects if you are about to embark on a project that
requires a fair degree of building or construction work . In the event that you have never needed to
consult one before, seek
the advice of family or friends. On the other hand if you are not
planning on doing anyting to drastic, you should be able to get by on your own.
Why not consider the following ideas? . Give any small gloomy romos
a new lease of life by adding floor-to-ceiling windows and doors or skylights. A mirrored glass splashback behind the sink or the stove helps create a feeling of spaciousness and
airiness. One easy
inexpensive way to add a touch of style to any room is by the careful choice of aromatic candles. When they are lit , their flame will reflect off the mirrored surface to create a
really attractive effect. If you are unable
to find any furniture that meets your budget, you may need to be a Little bit more creative . Don’t be embarrassed to try a car boot sale, a craft maket or
even an antiques fair. You will be delighted
at just what you will come across in these
places. Even if you discover a piece of
furniture which is not in the best possible condition,
there may still be something you can do to give it a fresh lease of life. A lickof paint can make a huge difference to even the oldest,
most boring piece and if you are a little more ambitious and handy really want
to push the boat out, you could you could even
experiment with giving it a distressed finish. It will probably come as a surprise to learn just
how easy to do and even if the results are not perfect, it is fun in the first
place. A large luxurious shower is a great alternative to a bath in a small
room, or else you could go for one of the mid sized barths which you can find
nowadays. Design a relaxed bedroom scheme by painting the walls in a calming
light blue and adding pale grey or white furniture and accessories.Going back to candles for a moment, there are lots of different brands to choose from, but for a touch of class and luxury we would recommend Yankee candles or Heyland and Whittle. Finally, when all your work is done, do not forget to get the place tidied up, so that it looks its best. If you cannot be bothered doing this yourself, get the professionals in such as Proclean Carpet Cleaning Glasgow
They will make acharge for their cleaning services but you may well consider it money well spent after all the time and effort you have put into getting your home the way you want it. The other thing to consider is that a professional firm are very likely to be able to carry out your cleaning a lot more quickly and efficiently than you could do yourself. If you put a price on youe own time, you may very well see thast it is in fact worth your while getting a cleaning agency in to do things for you. At the end of the day it all boils down to your preference.. If the budget is very restricted, you might want to do things yourself; if not hire a cleaning firm.
The authopr is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of candles as well as the more contemporary alternative, the reed diffuser
professional advice of achitects if you are about to embark on a project that
requires a fair degree of building or construction work . In the event that you have never needed to
consult one before, seek
the advice of family or friends. On the other hand if you are not
planning on doing anyting to drastic, you should be able to get by on your own.
Why not consider the following ideas? . Give any small gloomy romos
a new lease of life by adding floor-to-ceiling windows and doors or skylights. A mirrored glass splashback behind the sink or the stove helps create a feeling of spaciousness and
airiness. One easy
inexpensive way to add a touch of style to any room is by the careful choice of aromatic candles. When they are lit , their flame will reflect off the mirrored surface to create a
really attractive effect. If you are unable
to find any furniture that meets your budget, you may need to be a Little bit more creative . Don’t be embarrassed to try a car boot sale, a craft maket or
even an antiques fair. You will be delighted
at just what you will come across in these
places. Even if you discover a piece of
furniture which is not in the best possible condition,
there may still be something you can do to give it a fresh lease of life. A lickof paint can make a huge difference to even the oldest,
most boring piece and if you are a little more ambitious and handy really want
to push the boat out, you could you could even
experiment with giving it a distressed finish. It will probably come as a surprise to learn just
how easy to do and even if the results are not perfect, it is fun in the first
place. A large luxurious shower is a great alternative to a bath in a small
room, or else you could go for one of the mid sized barths which you can find
nowadays. Design a relaxed bedroom scheme by painting the walls in a calming
light blue and adding pale grey or white furniture and accessories.Going back to candles for a moment, there are lots of different brands to choose from, but for a touch of class and luxury we would recommend Yankee candles or Heyland and Whittle. Finally, when all your work is done, do not forget to get the place tidied up, so that it looks its best. If you cannot be bothered doing this yourself, get the professionals in such as Proclean Carpet Cleaning Glasgow
They will make acharge for their cleaning services but you may well consider it money well spent after all the time and effort you have put into getting your home the way you want it. The other thing to consider is that a professional firm are very likely to be able to carry out your cleaning a lot more quickly and efficiently than you could do yourself. If you put a price on youe own time, you may very well see thast it is in fact worth your while getting a cleaning agency in to do things for you. At the end of the day it all boils down to your preference.. If the budget is very restricted, you might want to do things yourself; if not hire a cleaning firm.
The authopr is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of candles as well as the more contemporary alternative, the reed diffuser
Some Planning Now Will Make Life Easier At Christmas
If your home is not fitted with a tumble dryer, the only way to try to get your
washing dry during the inclement weather is to hang things up indoors, in a
laundry room if you are lucky. One of the drawbacks with this – apart from the fact your home may
look a bit of a mess – is that condensation can build up and cause the growth
of mould, which in turn can lead to respiratory conditions. It is therefore a good idea if you are using
the dryer or hanging clothes to dry to leave a window open if at all posible, to
let condensation evapórate. Ensure good ventilation behind cupboards and
mantain a low heat, even in rarely used rooms, as damp air condenses in the
coldest spots. Try to avoid hanging wet clothes
to dry on your central heating radiators because this can cause natural materials such as wool or cotton to be
more of a problem to iron and prevent them fluffing up, so try using fabric
conditioner in the final rinse. Seven pints of water evaporate from a washing
load of clothes when drying indoors. Have you had
any time to stop and think how many days there before
Christmas is upon us? But do not panic – try to bear in mind
that if you devote just a little time now to preparing for the holidays, it can
make a huge diference as the big day draws nearWhy not
get your shopping organised now, picking up
a few of the Ãtems you know you will be in need of as
the day comes around each week
so you do not have to worry about struggling through pre-Christmas shopping
crowds if you leave things too late. There are loads of non-perishable Ãtems you could be stocking up
on now, like scented candles, baubles for the tree and, of course, Christmas
cards, all of which wil make life easier for you later on. My favourite candles include the ones made by True Grace candles And it is never to early to start getting preparations underway
in the home. One top idea is to make sure all your
glasses are in good order, ready for the festivities to begin. It probably makes sense to
start with those Ãtems which you do not use very much during the year, such as
your crystal and fancier glassware. According to cleaning specialists,
Proclean Domestic Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning Glasgow you
have the necessary patience, clean these Ãtems by hand because dishwashers and the powders
and cleaners they use can cause your good glassware to become damaged and
cloudy in appearance. A great tip for cleaning your glasses by
hand is to use that old household remedy, bicarbonate of soda. It is fantastic
for removing dirt and grease gently from your glassware, without being too
abrasive and damaging the surface. Add a few drops of white vinegar to the
rinsing water to give extra sparkle. Pack them into special wine glass storage
boxes to keep them spotless to Christmas day.
The authort is owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find a range of candles as well as the new alternative, the reed diffuser.
washing dry during the inclement weather is to hang things up indoors, in a
laundry room if you are lucky. One of the drawbacks with this – apart from the fact your home may
look a bit of a mess – is that condensation can build up and cause the growth
of mould, which in turn can lead to respiratory conditions. It is therefore a good idea if you are using
the dryer or hanging clothes to dry to leave a window open if at all posible, to
let condensation evapórate. Ensure good ventilation behind cupboards and
mantain a low heat, even in rarely used rooms, as damp air condenses in the
coldest spots. Try to avoid hanging wet clothes
to dry on your central heating radiators because this can cause natural materials such as wool or cotton to be
more of a problem to iron and prevent them fluffing up, so try using fabric
conditioner in the final rinse. Seven pints of water evaporate from a washing
load of clothes when drying indoors. Have you had
any time to stop and think how many days there before
Christmas is upon us? But do not panic – try to bear in mind
that if you devote just a little time now to preparing for the holidays, it can
make a huge diference as the big day draws nearWhy not
get your shopping organised now, picking up
a few of the Ãtems you know you will be in need of as
the day comes around each week
so you do not have to worry about struggling through pre-Christmas shopping
crowds if you leave things too late. There are loads of non-perishable Ãtems you could be stocking up
on now, like scented candles, baubles for the tree and, of course, Christmas
cards, all of which wil make life easier for you later on. My favourite candles include the ones made by True Grace candles And it is never to early to start getting preparations underway
in the home. One top idea is to make sure all your
glasses are in good order, ready for the festivities to begin. It probably makes sense to
start with those Ãtems which you do not use very much during the year, such as
your crystal and fancier glassware. According to cleaning specialists,
Proclean Domestic Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning Glasgow you
have the necessary patience, clean these Ãtems by hand because dishwashers and the powders
and cleaners they use can cause your good glassware to become damaged and
cloudy in appearance. A great tip for cleaning your glasses by
hand is to use that old household remedy, bicarbonate of soda. It is fantastic
for removing dirt and grease gently from your glassware, without being too
abrasive and damaging the surface. Add a few drops of white vinegar to the
rinsing water to give extra sparkle. Pack them into special wine glass storage
boxes to keep them spotless to Christmas day.
The authort is owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find a range of candles as well as the new alternative, the reed diffuser.
Thursday 13 October 2011
Decorate Your Home With Style
One of the things that I really love to do , which which has the happy knack of also helping out with my job, is
checking out the market stands which line the street
every Saturday in my local town. I have a great time
looking out for
pleasant little pieces that can dramatically impact
upon the way your decor looks and feels. Sometimes it might be something used or vintage that catches
my eye such as vintage ceramic or glass bottles that are just perfect sat on a ledge or
shelf in just about any room in the house you
care to mention. On other occasions
it could well be something brand new to which my attention is drawn. The market stalls are full of fantastic little finds. I usually go there with a completely open mind. I prefer not to have something in mind that Iam looking for - that way I can take my time browsing and often find myself coming home with the most unexpected things. For example I recently picked up an old watercolour picture of a rural Highland scene, complete with a grand stag. It is probably the last thing I would have imagined myself buying, but I just saw it and loved it - what can I say! As well as this kind of mad impulse buy, I
absolutely adore
aromatic candles
and just can’t seem to stop buying them. The type I like best are
those manufactured by True Grace candles and Yankee candles,
but I’m not fussy – as long as it is attractive to look at and smells good into
the bargain, then I’m happy. I live with my partner and my pet dog. The other thing I love to do is to scent the house with a reed diffuser. However I like to make my own, preferably with a beautiful bottle I have found at the market.
Aside from
decorating, or accessorising with the treasures
I find at the market , we have not done much major to the house, but my partner built a conservatory/breakfast room
at the back of the house about four years ago. My home
office sits directly above it and I
enjoy drawing while I gaze
out onto the garden. It’s amazing to think, though, that for years I
did all my work in the living room . With its crimson felt walls, red and white striped sofas,
cushions, fairy lights, books, pictures, candles, photographs and
souvenirs , the
living room, can feel claustrophobic in summer.But it’s wonderfully cosy on cold Winter
nights when the rain is lashing outside . I’ve always been interested in
making homes. Designing for the home is not like fashion, where
everything changes each season. Rooms evolve gradually and it’s
important to live in them first. I like pale rooms and the rest of the
house reflects that. I’m quite finicky about the way things look.I do
not like rooms to be over- fussy or too be stuffed with furniture –
somewhere between minimilist and shabby chic is how I suppose I would
describe the style that I like.
The author is the owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find a great selection of scented candles as well as reed diffusers
checking out the market stands which line the street
every Saturday in my local town. I have a great time
looking out for
pleasant little pieces that can dramatically impact
upon the way your decor looks and feels. Sometimes it might be something used or vintage that catches
my eye such as vintage ceramic or glass bottles that are just perfect sat on a ledge or
shelf in just about any room in the house you
care to mention. On other occasions
it could well be something brand new to which my attention is drawn. The market stalls are full of fantastic little finds. I usually go there with a completely open mind. I prefer not to have something in mind that Iam looking for - that way I can take my time browsing and often find myself coming home with the most unexpected things. For example I recently picked up an old watercolour picture of a rural Highland scene, complete with a grand stag. It is probably the last thing I would have imagined myself buying, but I just saw it and loved it - what can I say! As well as this kind of mad impulse buy, I
absolutely adore
aromatic candles
and just can’t seem to stop buying them. The type I like best are
those manufactured by True Grace candles and Yankee candles,
but I’m not fussy – as long as it is attractive to look at and smells good into
the bargain, then I’m happy. I live with my partner and my pet dog. The other thing I love to do is to scent the house with a reed diffuser. However I like to make my own, preferably with a beautiful bottle I have found at the market.
Aside from
decorating, or accessorising with the treasures
I find at the market , we have not done much major to the house, but my partner built a conservatory/breakfast room
at the back of the house about four years ago. My home
office sits directly above it and I
enjoy drawing while I gaze
out onto the garden. It’s amazing to think, though, that for years I
did all my work in the living room . With its crimson felt walls, red and white striped sofas,
cushions, fairy lights, books, pictures, candles, photographs and
souvenirs , the
living room, can feel claustrophobic in summer.But it’s wonderfully cosy on cold Winter
nights when the rain is lashing outside . I’ve always been interested in
making homes. Designing for the home is not like fashion, where
everything changes each season. Rooms evolve gradually and it’s
important to live in them first. I like pale rooms and the rest of the
house reflects that. I’m quite finicky about the way things look.I do
not like rooms to be over- fussy or too be stuffed with furniture –
somewhere between minimilist and shabby chic is how I suppose I would
describe the style that I like.
The author is the owner of The Scented Candle Store where you will find a great selection of scented candles as well as reed diffusers
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Give Your Home A Traditional Makeover With Architectural Salvage
One of the hot new trends
when it comes to interior design is what is known as salvage style, which
basically involves transforming lucky finds into unique
pieces for your home .Check out charity shops and boot fairs, and uk freecycle.org, a network that matches local people wanting to get rid of items with people who want to give them a good home. There are some projects you’ll need a little extra help with and upholstery is definitely one of them. We rescued from the rubbish a beautiful armchair which required a little bit of attention, we gave it a new lease of life at an upholstery workshop by reviving its padding and covers.
A touch of wood filler and a lick of olive-green paint transformed a Georgian bay window panels into a stylish headboard. We tracked down panels at an architectural salvage yard, which was packed full of wonderful pieces. They can seem a little daunting at first but don’t be put off as they’re brilliant if you’re searching for specific items and you can also get expert advice on restoration
We first came across this style in an old country hotel in Tuscany . The building was around five hundred
years old and the owners had decided
that it would be inappropriatre to decorate or furnish it with contemporary pieces so they did the whole place up with carefully selected architectual
salvage. All they then needed to do to finish off the look was to pick a few de luxe
aromatic candles
manufactured by brands such as
Heyland and Whittle or True Grace candles and the look was complete. And you can do
exactly the same in your own home , albeit on a more limited scale. An old wooden door
is easily repurposed into an unusual dining table by
adding simple metal trestle legs and topping off with a clear acrylic panel . Look around your local area
and get to know the shopkeepers – our wooden door was given to us by a local
door specialist. Skips are also an excellent source of treasure but remember
that it’s essential to get the owner’s permission before removing any Ãtems . Have a good rummage around
gardens, cellars and attics – it’s amazing what you’ll discover. Vintage glass
bottles and ceramic jars are quite often dug up when gardening, so be prepared
to get your hands dirty. All they will need is a good wash in some gentle detergent
like Fairy Liquid and a rinse in warm wáter to which you have added a little vinegar
to come up shining like new!
The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide range of scented candles as well as reed diffusers .
when it comes to interior design is what is known as salvage style, which
basically involves transforming lucky finds into unique
pieces for your home .Check out charity shops and boot fairs, and uk freecycle.org, a network that matches local people wanting to get rid of items with people who want to give them a good home. There are some projects you’ll need a little extra help with and upholstery is definitely one of them. We rescued from the rubbish a beautiful armchair which required a little bit of attention, we gave it a new lease of life at an upholstery workshop by reviving its padding and covers.
A touch of wood filler and a lick of olive-green paint transformed a Georgian bay window panels into a stylish headboard. We tracked down panels at an architectural salvage yard, which was packed full of wonderful pieces. They can seem a little daunting at first but don’t be put off as they’re brilliant if you’re searching for specific items and you can also get expert advice on restoration
We first came across this style in an old country hotel in Tuscany . The building was around five hundred
years old and the owners had decided
that it would be inappropriatre to decorate or furnish it with contemporary pieces so they did the whole place up with carefully selected architectual
salvage. All they then needed to do to finish off the look was to pick a few de luxe
aromatic candles
manufactured by brands such as
Heyland and Whittle or True Grace candles and the look was complete. And you can do
exactly the same in your own home , albeit on a more limited scale. An old wooden door
is easily repurposed into an unusual dining table by
adding simple metal trestle legs and topping off with a clear acrylic panel . Look around your local area
and get to know the shopkeepers – our wooden door was given to us by a local
door specialist. Skips are also an excellent source of treasure but remember
that it’s essential to get the owner’s permission before removing any Ãtems . Have a good rummage around
gardens, cellars and attics – it’s amazing what you’ll discover. Vintage glass
bottles and ceramic jars are quite often dug up when gardening, so be prepared
to get your hands dirty. All they will need is a good wash in some gentle detergent
like Fairy Liquid and a rinse in warm wáter to which you have added a little vinegar
to come up shining like new!
The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide range of scented candles as well as reed diffusers .
Monday 10 October 2011
Don't Worry This Year: Get Prepared For Christmas Early
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Within a few short weeks
Christmas will have come around again. It seems somewhat hard to believe this erly in the year, but
Christmas displays are filling the stores and it will not be long before people up and down the country
are starting to panic, worried that they have left the shopping and general
preparations too late again this year. The simple way to be certain to enjoy a peaceful relaxing
Christmas is to make your preparations well in advance. Take a little time
to organise your home and your kitchen in particular. Every week pick up one or two of those dry or non-perishable products~ things that always
seem to be required at Christmas. Flour, biscuits, dried fruits and preserves
will keep well for months, so buy one
or two every time you are out
doing the weely shopping to be certain that you avoid a
last minute panic. You can keep all these
additional Ãtems neatly stored out of sight in your kitchen or pantry until you
need them. Clever interior fittings in your kitchen helps to create additional storage space so there is plenty of room
for everything. Clutter-busting systems expand your cupboard capacity and are
well worth the extra spend. For best results, plan them in at the design stage.
Full-height pull-out larders are excellent space savers.
It is not only food it
is worth stocking up on, also keep your eyes peeled for
any any other
bargains which you are likely to be able to make good use of during the
holidays. With a bit of luck
you will no doubt come across good deals on things like cards, decorations not to mention small gifts
including perfumed candles, all of which
will be useful when the festivities arrive.
There is a whole host of other simple things you can pick up well in advance
and which you can make good use of at Christmas. These include little gift
boxes of toiletries, those fantastic big boxes and tins of sweets - the ones
your Granny always seemed to have when you visited her during the holdays - and
much much more besides. My favourite candles are created by True Grace
candles and by Yankee candles
– any my advice to you is that if you
come across any of them at discounted prices, snap them up! Not only can you use them to
decorate your own home, but they are also perfect as gifts for friends or
loved ones. After all, who does not like to receive a beautiful scented candle
as a gift at Christmas – or any other time of year - or perhaps
even that more modern alternative, the reed diffuser. Reed diffusers are a
great way of adding some fragrance to your home and are perfect for use at
Christmas because they will provide a subtle continuous scent, without the need
for any naked flame, which is especially important if the house is unoccupied
for a long time, as often happens at that time of year. There is something
lovely about coming home from a bracing walk at Christmas to be greeeted with
the great smell of your favourite diffuser.Either way, the best advice when
looking for bargains is to keep your eyes peeled. In the current circumstances
retailers are all vying with one another to give the best deals for the
consumer
The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where youwill find a range of scented candles as well asother items such as reeddiffusers
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Within a few short weeks
Christmas will have come around again. It seems somewhat hard to believe this erly in the year, but
Christmas displays are filling the stores and it will not be long before people up and down the country
are starting to panic, worried that they have left the shopping and general
preparations too late again this year. The simple way to be certain to enjoy a peaceful relaxing
Christmas is to make your preparations well in advance. Take a little time
to organise your home and your kitchen in particular. Every week pick up one or two of those dry or non-perishable products~ things that always
seem to be required at Christmas. Flour, biscuits, dried fruits and preserves
will keep well for months, so buy one
or two every time you are out
doing the weely shopping to be certain that you avoid a
last minute panic. You can keep all these
additional Ãtems neatly stored out of sight in your kitchen or pantry until you
need them. Clever interior fittings in your kitchen helps to create additional storage space so there is plenty of room
for everything. Clutter-busting systems expand your cupboard capacity and are
well worth the extra spend. For best results, plan them in at the design stage.
Full-height pull-out larders are excellent space savers.
It is not only food it
is worth stocking up on, also keep your eyes peeled for
any any other
bargains which you are likely to be able to make good use of during the
holidays. With a bit of luck
you will no doubt come across good deals on things like cards, decorations not to mention small gifts
including perfumed candles, all of which
will be useful when the festivities arrive.
There is a whole host of other simple things you can pick up well in advance
and which you can make good use of at Christmas. These include little gift
boxes of toiletries, those fantastic big boxes and tins of sweets - the ones
your Granny always seemed to have when you visited her during the holdays - and
much much more besides. My favourite candles are created by True Grace
candles and by Yankee candles
– any my advice to you is that if you
come across any of them at discounted prices, snap them up! Not only can you use them to
decorate your own home, but they are also perfect as gifts for friends or
loved ones. After all, who does not like to receive a beautiful scented candle
as a gift at Christmas – or any other time of year - or perhaps
even that more modern alternative, the reed diffuser. Reed diffusers are a
great way of adding some fragrance to your home and are perfect for use at
Christmas because they will provide a subtle continuous scent, without the need
for any naked flame, which is especially important if the house is unoccupied
for a long time, as often happens at that time of year. There is something
lovely about coming home from a bracing walk at Christmas to be greeeted with
the great smell of your favourite diffuser.Either way, the best advice when
looking for bargains is to keep your eyes peeled. In the current circumstances
retailers are all vying with one another to give the best deals for the
consumer
The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where youwill find a range of scented candles as well asother items such as reeddiffusers
Sunday 9 October 2011
Let The Sunshine In!
We decided to build our
home from scratch a few years ago and my father informed us at the time that we were actually building it
along the wrong lines . He Works as a gardener and
greenkeeper so he is a bit of an expert at telling the direction in which the
sun rises and falls, as well as the path it takes at any given point during the
day. Stupidly, I did not
take his advice. I was adamant that one of the features I wanted in the new
house was a kitchen which faced to the front of the property. Now that we have been in the property for
some time I have to grudgingly accept that my Dad was right and I was wrong.
Because we had built the property effectively back to front,
the kitchen and living room tend to be cold and dark during the day, while the
bedrooms at the rear of the property get bathed in sunlight during the day when
they are never being used. Now we are as big fans of scented candles and home fragrances in general as the next person but we began to grudge having to use what should have been a bit of treat just to lighten up the dark recesses of out home. People naturally seem
to gravÃtate to the kitchen and, even even if we put he heating up full blast in the living room, we all just
sat around talking on hard
kitchen chairs.It was cold dark and uncomfortable, the exact opposite of what we had visualised our kitchen would be. In our minds eye the kitchen would be the heart of the home. It is a bit of a cliche, I know, but we had really hoped that it would become a warm comfortable gathering place where friends and family could enjoy a cup of tea and a piece of cake, or maybe even a full scale meal. Instead it was miserable and gloomy.In fact there were times it was so bad that we needed to light up some perfumed candles by our favourite makes such as Heyland and Whittle or Yankee candles not just for their fragrance, but to give the room a bit of light.
Finally we took the plunge and resolved to erect an extensión to create a new
living room and sitting room area with an integrated kitchen and dining area perfect for family get togethers. The one essential was that the extensión
was situated to the rear of the house to benefit from the sunlight and also to
give direct access to the garden, for those summer days when we could dime al
fresco. We made use of our solid alder wood kitchen and all the
appliances, with the addition of new granite worktops, my husband is
good at DIY and we had the help of his two carpenter brothers so
we did not have to spend too much on
labour or personnel. We laid decking outside the new patio doors
and wrapped it around the property so that it joined up with the existing deck
at the front of the bungalow. Now we we have a great place to sit and enjoy the sun and we enjoy the views of the
back garden, no longer needing to burn scented candles all day long.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of candles including Voluspa candles
home from scratch a few years ago and my father informed us at the time that we were actually building it
along the wrong lines . He Works as a gardener and
greenkeeper so he is a bit of an expert at telling the direction in which the
sun rises and falls, as well as the path it takes at any given point during the
day. Stupidly, I did not
take his advice. I was adamant that one of the features I wanted in the new
house was a kitchen which faced to the front of the property. Now that we have been in the property for
some time I have to grudgingly accept that my Dad was right and I was wrong.
Because we had built the property effectively back to front,
the kitchen and living room tend to be cold and dark during the day, while the
bedrooms at the rear of the property get bathed in sunlight during the day when
they are never being used. Now we are as big fans of scented candles and home fragrances in general as the next person but we began to grudge having to use what should have been a bit of treat just to lighten up the dark recesses of out home. People naturally seem
to gravÃtate to the kitchen and, even even if we put he heating up full blast in the living room, we all just
sat around talking on hard
kitchen chairs.It was cold dark and uncomfortable, the exact opposite of what we had visualised our kitchen would be. In our minds eye the kitchen would be the heart of the home. It is a bit of a cliche, I know, but we had really hoped that it would become a warm comfortable gathering place where friends and family could enjoy a cup of tea and a piece of cake, or maybe even a full scale meal. Instead it was miserable and gloomy.In fact there were times it was so bad that we needed to light up some perfumed candles by our favourite makes such as Heyland and Whittle or Yankee candles not just for their fragrance, but to give the room a bit of light.
Finally we took the plunge and resolved to erect an extensión to create a new
living room and sitting room area with an integrated kitchen and dining area perfect for family get togethers. The one essential was that the extensión
was situated to the rear of the house to benefit from the sunlight and also to
give direct access to the garden, for those summer days when we could dime al
fresco. We made use of our solid alder wood kitchen and all the
appliances, with the addition of new granite worktops, my husband is
good at DIY and we had the help of his two carpenter brothers so
we did not have to spend too much on
labour or personnel. We laid decking outside the new patio doors
and wrapped it around the property so that it joined up with the existing deck
at the front of the bungalow. Now we we have a great place to sit and enjoy the sun and we enjoy the views of the
back garden, no longer needing to burn scented candles all day long.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of candles including Voluspa candles
Give Your New Kitchen The Natural Look
When I finally made my mind up to give my home –
and my kitchen in particular - a
makeover, I had a very definite
image in my mind of the way I wanted my new kitchen to look . I am really fond of the idea of
using natural materials like wood and stone in the home. I decided to make circular holes in the wall and floor cabinets we had picked out because I did not like the handles that came with them and could
not find any suitable replacements. The result was that
these small holes became the handles. And the units I chose for the wall and floor was influenced by the
elaborate 3-D floor tile, which you can find in many places in
Italy. One One idea I really wanted to
introduce into my new kitchen was the use of marble worktops from Carrara also
from Italy. I was brought up in Liguria, near Carrara, and there, everyone uses
the local marble in their kitchens. Aesthetics were not the only consideration, especially
for a room such as a kitchen which has such a functional side I enjoy trying out new recipes in the kitchen, and my husband
loves to eat, so that
made it essential to get good quality appliances such as a cooker and cooker
hood. The oven has six burners and a grill that you can
put your choice of meat or fish straight on top of to grill.
Possibly the most surprising
side of the makeover is that when we acquired our home
it was a shop, so we
basically had a blank canvas to create a space that reflected our wishes
perfectly. As part of the project to transform the shop into a home, the room
that was once the shop's office was stripped out and fully plumbed and wired to
become a kitchen. A large window was put in the back wall and glasses panels
were put in the roof to flood the space with light. when we were deciding on lighting we also elected to
fit both overhead lights and LED strip lights below the
kitchen units. When we we have friends over for
dinner in the kitchen we can dim the overhead light and fill the kitchen with subtle lighting from the strip lights,
to which we can add
the soft light from our favourite perfumed
candles created by manufacturers
such as Yankee candles and True Grace candles. These are just two of my personall favourite choices - there are however litterally hundreds ogf different brands of scented candles and reed diffusers out there. The best idea is probably to experiment with a few to find the one or two that you really like and then stick with those choices for the future. Either way home fragrances are a simple but elegant way to add a certain something to your home without breaking the bank. And if you do not like candles, again don't despair. If you are not a fan of scented candles but love to have youe home smelling great then the remedy is simple - use a reed diffuser instead. These are the latest thing in home fragrance, with all the scent of a candle but with much more convenience. They really come into their own in a situation whete you cannot afely leave a candle burning. Typical examples would be when you are out of the house or if you want to fragrance a room which is unoccupied for a long time. Another great advantage of diffusers is that they can be used safely around children and pets. Leaving a lit candle in a room where children are playing is not sensible because as they enjoy themselves there is the risk - however slight - that the candle could be knocked over and cause a fire.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of scented candles including Voluspa candles
and my kitchen in particular - a
makeover, I had a very definite
image in my mind of the way I wanted my new kitchen to look . I am really fond of the idea of
using natural materials like wood and stone in the home. I decided to make circular holes in the wall and floor cabinets we had picked out because I did not like the handles that came with them and could
not find any suitable replacements. The result was that
these small holes became the handles. And the units I chose for the wall and floor was influenced by the
elaborate 3-D floor tile, which you can find in many places in
Italy. One One idea I really wanted to
introduce into my new kitchen was the use of marble worktops from Carrara also
from Italy. I was brought up in Liguria, near Carrara, and there, everyone uses
the local marble in their kitchens. Aesthetics were not the only consideration, especially
for a room such as a kitchen which has such a functional side I enjoy trying out new recipes in the kitchen, and my husband
loves to eat, so that
made it essential to get good quality appliances such as a cooker and cooker
hood. The oven has six burners and a grill that you can
put your choice of meat or fish straight on top of to grill.
Possibly the most surprising
side of the makeover is that when we acquired our home
it was a shop, so we
basically had a blank canvas to create a space that reflected our wishes
perfectly. As part of the project to transform the shop into a home, the room
that was once the shop's office was stripped out and fully plumbed and wired to
become a kitchen. A large window was put in the back wall and glasses panels
were put in the roof to flood the space with light. when we were deciding on lighting we also elected to
fit both overhead lights and LED strip lights below the
kitchen units. When we we have friends over for
dinner in the kitchen we can dim the overhead light and fill the kitchen with subtle lighting from the strip lights,
to which we can add
the soft light from our favourite perfumed
candles created by manufacturers
such as Yankee candles and True Grace candles. These are just two of my personall favourite choices - there are however litterally hundreds ogf different brands of scented candles and reed diffusers out there. The best idea is probably to experiment with a few to find the one or two that you really like and then stick with those choices for the future. Either way home fragrances are a simple but elegant way to add a certain something to your home without breaking the bank. And if you do not like candles, again don't despair. If you are not a fan of scented candles but love to have youe home smelling great then the remedy is simple - use a reed diffuser instead. These are the latest thing in home fragrance, with all the scent of a candle but with much more convenience. They really come into their own in a situation whete you cannot afely leave a candle burning. Typical examples would be when you are out of the house or if you want to fragrance a room which is unoccupied for a long time. Another great advantage of diffusers is that they can be used safely around children and pets. Leaving a lit candle in a room where children are playing is not sensible because as they enjoy themselves there is the risk - however slight - that the candle could be knocked over and cause a fire.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of scented candles including Voluspa candles
Surprise Your Friends With This New Idea
For
a great way to impress friend or family who pop in for a chat or a cup of tea this week then why not give some thought to trying out your own original flower display. We have come up with a
really novel and attractive way to display your choice of flowers on a cake
stand of all things!
The great thing
about this idea is its versatility – it looks just stunning in any room of the
house although with the food connotation it is probably at its best in the
kitchen or perhaps the dining room. It just goes to show you can have your
cake and eat it!
The first step in preparing your display naturally enough
involves a visit to your favourite flower shop where we are sure you will be
most impressed with the vast range of flowers and plants on offer. There are simply masses to
pick from – if you are in
luck there may still be a few of the summer roses still remaining or something
like a hydrangea would also make a great choice. If you are aiming for a slightly more old fashioned look you might might want to opt for something such as lisianthus – the choice
is yours – just try to go
for something with an attractive colour to show off your display at its best.
You will be able to pick up~ can find ~ can come across a cake plate in your local hardware store, general store or
baking supplies outlet. They are often very decorative
and will make a fantastic focal point for any room, whether you use it to display flowers or
not. If for any reason you are unable to find a suitable cake stand, then you can show off your arrangement on an upturned cylinder vase which will raise it~
keeps it off the table, showing all your hard work off in the best possible light. And when you have completed your arrangementa fantastic tip to really set the effect off splendidly is
to place it on a table or console alongside one or two of your favourite aromatic candles. The flicker of the candles against the glass of
the cake plate creates a lovely effect
. Go for scented candles in the same
shade as your flowers and try to choose the best
you can afford. Producers
worth looking out for include Heyland and
Whittle as well as the market leaders Yankee candles. Or if you are not fond of
scented candles another fantastic idea would be to sit your display beside one f
the modern reed diffusers which are so popular these days. You will not get the
soft glow of the light from the candle flame but they have a very striking almost
eastern style about them which will help draw the eye to your attractive
display. The other benefit that a reed diffuser has to offer is that it will
continue to perfume your living space continuously, unlike a scented candle
which will only work when the candle is lit.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of scented candles including Yankee candles
a great way to impress friend or family who pop in for a chat or a cup of tea this week then why not give some thought to trying out your own original flower display. We have come up with a
really novel and attractive way to display your choice of flowers on a cake
stand of all things!
The great thing
about this idea is its versatility – it looks just stunning in any room of the
house although with the food connotation it is probably at its best in the
kitchen or perhaps the dining room. It just goes to show you can have your
cake and eat it!
The first step in preparing your display naturally enough
involves a visit to your favourite flower shop where we are sure you will be
most impressed with the vast range of flowers and plants on offer. There are simply masses to
pick from – if you are in
luck there may still be a few of the summer roses still remaining or something
like a hydrangea would also make a great choice. If you are aiming for a slightly more old fashioned look you might might want to opt for something such as lisianthus – the choice
is yours – just try to go
for something with an attractive colour to show off your display at its best.
You will be able to pick up~ can find ~ can come across a cake plate in your local hardware store, general store or
baking supplies outlet. They are often very decorative
and will make a fantastic focal point for any room, whether you use it to display flowers or
not. If for any reason you are unable to find a suitable cake stand, then you can show off your arrangement on an upturned cylinder vase which will raise it~
keeps it off the table, showing all your hard work off in the best possible light. And when you have completed your arrangementa fantastic tip to really set the effect off splendidly is
to place it on a table or console alongside one or two of your favourite aromatic candles. The flicker of the candles against the glass of
the cake plate creates a lovely effect
. Go for scented candles in the same
shade as your flowers and try to choose the best
you can afford. Producers
worth looking out for include Heyland and
Whittle as well as the market leaders Yankee candles. Or if you are not fond of
scented candles another fantastic idea would be to sit your display beside one f
the modern reed diffusers which are so popular these days. You will not get the
soft glow of the light from the candle flame but they have a very striking almost
eastern style about them which will help draw the eye to your attractive
display. The other benefit that a reed diffuser has to offer is that it will
continue to perfume your living space continuously, unlike a scented candle
which will only work when the candle is lit.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of scented candles including Yankee candles
Natural Materials Create A Stylish Kitchen
When it
came to redecorating my home , I had a clear vision of the look I wanted in my new kitchen . I'm really into
materials and details . I came up with the
idea of making circular holes in the plywood units we had made because I didn't
like any handles I saw . The holes basically became the handles. And my choice of white units and their simple
design was influenced by the
elaborate 3-D floor tile, which you see a lot in
Italy. One feature I really wanted was marble worktops from Carrara also
from Italy. I come from Liguria, near Carrara, where
it's the most common material to use in the kitchen. The makeover wasn't all about style,
though I love to cook
, and my husband
loves to eat, so another priority was to get good practical equipment . The oven has six burners and a chef top that you can cook straight on top of to grill. Probably the most impressive aspect of the makeover is that when we bought our home
it was a shop, so we started from scratch to create this unique space . As part of the project to transform the shop into a home, the room
that was once the shop's office was stripped out and fully plumbed and wired to
become a kitchen. A large window was put in the back wall and glasses panels
were put in the roof to flood the space with light. In terms of lighting we also decided to
fit both overhead lights and LED strip lights under the
kitchen units. When we entertain in the kitchen we can dim the overhead light and fill the room
with diffused lighting from the strip lights,
supplemented by our favourite aromatic
candles from companies like Yankee candles and True Grace candles. These are just two of my personall favourite choices - there are however litterally hundreds ogf different brands of scented candles and reed diffusers out there. The best idea is probably to experiment with a few to find the one or two that you really like and then stick with those choices for the future. Either way home fragrances are a simple but elegant way to add a certain something to your home without breaking the bank. And if you do not like candles, again don't despair. If you are not a fan of scented candles but love to have youe home smelling great then the remedy is simple - use a reed diffuser instead. These are the latest thing in home fragrance, with all the scent of a candle but with much more convenience. They really come into their own in a situation whete you cannot afely leave a candle burning. Typical examples would be when you are out of the house or if you want to fragrance a room which is unoccupied for a long time. Another great advantage of diffusers is that they can be used safely around children and pets. Leaving a lit candle in a room where children are playing is not sensible because as they enjoy themselves there is the risk - however slight - that the candle could be knocked over and cause a fire.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of candles including Yankee candles
came to redecorating my home , I had a clear vision of the look I wanted in my new kitchen . I'm really into
materials and details . I came up with the
idea of making circular holes in the plywood units we had made because I didn't
like any handles I saw . The holes basically became the handles. And my choice of white units and their simple
design was influenced by the
elaborate 3-D floor tile, which you see a lot in
Italy. One feature I really wanted was marble worktops from Carrara also
from Italy. I come from Liguria, near Carrara, where
it's the most common material to use in the kitchen. The makeover wasn't all about style,
though I love to cook
, and my husband
loves to eat, so another priority was to get good practical equipment . The oven has six burners and a chef top that you can cook straight on top of to grill. Probably the most impressive aspect of the makeover is that when we bought our home
it was a shop, so we started from scratch to create this unique space . As part of the project to transform the shop into a home, the room
that was once the shop's office was stripped out and fully plumbed and wired to
become a kitchen. A large window was put in the back wall and glasses panels
were put in the roof to flood the space with light. In terms of lighting we also decided to
fit both overhead lights and LED strip lights under the
kitchen units. When we entertain in the kitchen we can dim the overhead light and fill the room
with diffused lighting from the strip lights,
supplemented by our favourite aromatic
candles from companies like Yankee candles and True Grace candles. These are just two of my personall favourite choices - there are however litterally hundreds ogf different brands of scented candles and reed diffusers out there. The best idea is probably to experiment with a few to find the one or two that you really like and then stick with those choices for the future. Either way home fragrances are a simple but elegant way to add a certain something to your home without breaking the bank. And if you do not like candles, again don't despair. If you are not a fan of scented candles but love to have youe home smelling great then the remedy is simple - use a reed diffuser instead. These are the latest thing in home fragrance, with all the scent of a candle but with much more convenience. They really come into their own in a situation whete you cannot afely leave a candle burning. Typical examples would be when you are out of the house or if you want to fragrance a room which is unoccupied for a long time. Another great advantage of diffusers is that they can be used safely around children and pets. Leaving a lit candle in a room where children are playing is not sensible because as they enjoy themselves there is the risk - however slight - that the candle could be knocked over and cause a fire.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a wide range of candles including Yankee candles
Thursday 6 October 2011
How To Keep Your Lampshades Looking Good
There are masses of lampshades available, made of many different materials and coming in different shapes, sizes and styles. You can go for small lampshades which will look good on a bedside lamp or perhaps for a wall light, or larger, more ornate lampshades which work best for the central ceiling light in a lounge or bedroom. They can be made of a whole host of different materials , from inexpensive polyester lace effect to expensive hand pleated silk. But what is the best way to clean them? And do they actually need that much in the way of cleaning \ is it really necessary anyway?
Lampshades are one of those things that you dont really appreciate are dirty until you get up close to them. When you do see them close up you will see the dust and dirt which has gathered around them, the more so if you have a lamp shade which is pleated or features a number of ruffles or folds as many ornate designs do. However, if your lampshades are looking a bit on the grubby side and in need of some attention, there is no need to panic as it's very easy to clean them.
Needless to say the best way to clean a particular lamp shade depends on what it is made of. Lampshades which are made of soft textiles like silk, linen or cotton can be cleaned using a vacuum-cleaner to remove any surface dust. Use a soft brush attachment to ensure that you do not damage the material which can often be quite fragile. If there are hard to remove pieces of dirt or dust a good thing to use to try to dislodge them is a toothbrush, but you should use this very gently so as not to damage the shade. If marks remain after brushing and vacuuming the shade a more thorough clean may be required.
You may wish to take your lampshades to the dry cleaner for this, particularly if they were costly . If not, there are two other ways to clean your textile lampshades. You could use a foam cleaner which you can find at most local stores. It is recommended to try any such cleaner out on an hard to see area of the lamp shade first, to ensure that there is no colour run or any other damaging effects. Simply spray a light film of foam on the shade, agitate it with a clean cloth or sponge, before wiping off. This should remove most stains but if you are still not happy with the results you could call on the services of a carpet and upholstery cleaner. Again, though, this is only really merited in the case of particularly expensive shades.
In the case of paper shades, the best thing to do is to clean the shade using a suitable dry cloth. This should be enough to get rid of the dust but it should be done on a regular basis . Daily cleaning would be ideal, but given that we all lead busy lives, perhaps weekly or fortnightly is a little more practical . Either way, regular attention will yield the best results. If you notice that your paper shade has some stains, particularly greasy stains or marks, a good tip is to sprinkle some talcum powder on the area and remove it using a soft brush or a toothbrush as mentioned above.
Finally, if your lampshade shade is made of parchment, then removing marks and stains can be a little more complicated . The job is not really that difficult - it simply requires a little time and a degree of care. You will need to use a very soft damp sponge. You may choose to add some mild multi-purpose detergent, though this is not always required . After cleaning the shade, put some drops of liquid wax onto a damp cloth and then rub the shade gently. This is a special kind of wax - not the wax you would associate with scented candles by brands like Yankee candles. This process is ideal for keeping parchment lampshades in perfect condition. And there you have it - simple easy to follow steps to keeping you lampshades looking good.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of candles including brands like True Grace candles
Lampshades are one of those things that you dont really appreciate are dirty until you get up close to them. When you do see them close up you will see the dust and dirt which has gathered around them, the more so if you have a lamp shade which is pleated or features a number of ruffles or folds as many ornate designs do. However, if your lampshades are looking a bit on the grubby side and in need of some attention, there is no need to panic as it's very easy to clean them.
Needless to say the best way to clean a particular lamp shade depends on what it is made of. Lampshades which are made of soft textiles like silk, linen or cotton can be cleaned using a vacuum-cleaner to remove any surface dust. Use a soft brush attachment to ensure that you do not damage the material which can often be quite fragile. If there are hard to remove pieces of dirt or dust a good thing to use to try to dislodge them is a toothbrush, but you should use this very gently so as not to damage the shade. If marks remain after brushing and vacuuming the shade a more thorough clean may be required.
You may wish to take your lampshades to the dry cleaner for this, particularly if they were costly . If not, there are two other ways to clean your textile lampshades. You could use a foam cleaner which you can find at most local stores. It is recommended to try any such cleaner out on an hard to see area of the lamp shade first, to ensure that there is no colour run or any other damaging effects. Simply spray a light film of foam on the shade, agitate it with a clean cloth or sponge, before wiping off. This should remove most stains but if you are still not happy with the results you could call on the services of a carpet and upholstery cleaner. Again, though, this is only really merited in the case of particularly expensive shades.
In the case of paper shades, the best thing to do is to clean the shade using a suitable dry cloth. This should be enough to get rid of the dust but it should be done on a regular basis . Daily cleaning would be ideal, but given that we all lead busy lives, perhaps weekly or fortnightly is a little more practical . Either way, regular attention will yield the best results. If you notice that your paper shade has some stains, particularly greasy stains or marks, a good tip is to sprinkle some talcum powder on the area and remove it using a soft brush or a toothbrush as mentioned above.
Finally, if your lampshade shade is made of parchment, then removing marks and stains can be a little more complicated . The job is not really that difficult - it simply requires a little time and a degree of care. You will need to use a very soft damp sponge. You may choose to add some mild multi-purpose detergent, though this is not always required . After cleaning the shade, put some drops of liquid wax onto a damp cloth and then rub the shade gently. This is a special kind of wax - not the wax you would associate with scented candles by brands like Yankee candles. This process is ideal for keeping parchment lampshades in perfect condition. And there you have it - simple easy to follow steps to keeping you lampshades looking good.
The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of candles including brands like True Grace candles
Wednesday 5 October 2011
The Advantages Of Employing An Interior Designer
The first time I bought a new home from a builder, I found that although there was some consultation on things like choice of
floor tiles and other small items, the overall finished effect was more what
the builder’s designer liked, rather than something to my own tastes. Having lived with this somewhat imperfect situation for a few
years I took the plunge and decided it was time to
redecorate my bedroom and ensuite, as well as
the the remainder of my
property, and I consulted an interior design specialist
to come up with something different and to manage the work.
The kind of home I live in was designed
for young single professionals – or professional couples – and unfortunately
they tend to look a little cold and sterile. They do not really have those elusive individual
touches that can make a home so inviting. My intention was
to stamp my character on the place~ my home ~ my flat~ my apartment and and create a radically different look. So much so that in fact the interior designer
had to try to keep some of my more outlandish suggestions and ideas back from
the finished project. The biggest
issue we needed to tackle was how poorly the original architect and designer
had used the available space. The large cupboard under the basin dominated the
room, and the space
The first time I bought a new home from a builder, I found that although there was some consultation on things like choice of
floor tiles and other small items, the overall finished effect was more what
the builder’s designer liked, rather than something to my own tastes. Having lived with this somewhat imperfect situation for a few
years I took the plunge and decided it was time to
redecorate my bedroom and ensuite, as well as
the the remainder of my
property, and I consulted an interior design specialist
to come up with something different and to manage the work.
The kind of home I live in was designed
for young single professionals – or professional couples – and unfortunately
they tend to look a little cold and sterile. They do not really have those elusive individual
touches that can make a home so inviting. My intention was
to stamp my character on the place~ my home ~ my flat~ my apartment and and create a radically different look. So much so that in fact the interior designer
had to try to keep some of my more outlandish suggestions and ideas back from
the finished project. The biggest
issue we needed to tackle was how poorly the original architect and designer
had used the available space. The large cupboard under the basin dominated the
room, and the space either side of the loo was wasted when it could have been
used for storage. Because the space in the bathroom was so restricted we
were not able to move the position of the bathroom suite, so as an
alternative the designer sought out compact fittings
and removed a stud wall to provide a little more room in which to install a larger, more
luxurious shower compartment. All this demonstrates quite
clearly that restricted spaces can be functional as well as stylish,
without blowing the budget . One thing I learned very quickly was that if you
choose bright cheerful accessories you can soon put your own impression on any room. I tended to go
for simple ideas like mirrors and
clocks as well as old favourites like perfumed candles
and photo frames. My favourite scented candles are
manufactured by manufacturers such
as Yankee candles and True Grace candles, but there are many more besides. If, like me,
you have trouble visualising how things will look and don't want to lift a
finger, employ a designer. Spend time looking for a person who not only
produces great results but who you really click with, the kind of person who you think shares your idas and your likes and dislikes. Ask any designer you are considering hiring to show you his portfolio so you can see the kind of work he has successfullyt completed inthe past. If the job you are contemplating is likely to be extensive - and therfore costly - you might even want to ask the designers you are talkking to for permission to contact some of theirt satisfied customers face to face. That way you will be able to judge at first hand exactly the type of sertvice a particular designer offers. Most professional businesses who are happy to stand behind the quality of their work should have no problem with this approach, so long as it is done respectfully, without pestering their customers.
The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide range of scented candles including brands like True Grace candles
floor tiles and other small items, the overall finished effect was more what
the builder’s designer liked, rather than something to my own tastes. Having lived with this somewhat imperfect situation for a few
years I took the plunge and decided it was time to
redecorate my bedroom and ensuite, as well as
the the remainder of my
property, and I consulted an interior design specialist
to come up with something different and to manage the work.
The kind of home I live in was designed
for young single professionals – or professional couples – and unfortunately
they tend to look a little cold and sterile. They do not really have those elusive individual
touches that can make a home so inviting. My intention was
to stamp my character on the place~ my home ~ my flat~ my apartment and and create a radically different look. So much so that in fact the interior designer
had to try to keep some of my more outlandish suggestions and ideas back from
the finished project. The biggest
issue we needed to tackle was how poorly the original architect and designer
had used the available space. The large cupboard under the basin dominated the
room, and the space
The first time I bought a new home from a builder, I found that although there was some consultation on things like choice of
floor tiles and other small items, the overall finished effect was more what
the builder’s designer liked, rather than something to my own tastes. Having lived with this somewhat imperfect situation for a few
years I took the plunge and decided it was time to
redecorate my bedroom and ensuite, as well as
the the remainder of my
property, and I consulted an interior design specialist
to come up with something different and to manage the work.
The kind of home I live in was designed
for young single professionals – or professional couples – and unfortunately
they tend to look a little cold and sterile. They do not really have those elusive individual
touches that can make a home so inviting. My intention was
to stamp my character on the place~ my home ~ my flat~ my apartment and and create a radically different look. So much so that in fact the interior designer
had to try to keep some of my more outlandish suggestions and ideas back from
the finished project. The biggest
issue we needed to tackle was how poorly the original architect and designer
had used the available space. The large cupboard under the basin dominated the
room, and the space either side of the loo was wasted when it could have been
used for storage. Because the space in the bathroom was so restricted we
were not able to move the position of the bathroom suite, so as an
alternative the designer sought out compact fittings
and removed a stud wall to provide a little more room in which to install a larger, more
luxurious shower compartment. All this demonstrates quite
clearly that restricted spaces can be functional as well as stylish,
without blowing the budget . One thing I learned very quickly was that if you
choose bright cheerful accessories you can soon put your own impression on any room. I tended to go
for simple ideas like mirrors and
clocks as well as old favourites like perfumed candles
and photo frames. My favourite scented candles are
manufactured by manufacturers such
as Yankee candles and True Grace candles, but there are many more besides. If, like me,
you have trouble visualising how things will look and don't want to lift a
finger, employ a designer. Spend time looking for a person who not only
produces great results but who you really click with, the kind of person who you think shares your idas and your likes and dislikes. Ask any designer you are considering hiring to show you his portfolio so you can see the kind of work he has successfullyt completed inthe past. If the job you are contemplating is likely to be extensive - and therfore costly - you might even want to ask the designers you are talkking to for permission to contact some of theirt satisfied customers face to face. That way you will be able to judge at first hand exactly the type of sertvice a particular designer offers. Most professional businesses who are happy to stand behind the quality of their work should have no problem with this approach, so long as it is done respectfully, without pestering their customers.
The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide range of scented candles including brands like True Grace candles
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