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Archive for April, 2012


An Environmental Revolution

April 27th, 2012 by admin

The amount of water we use in the UK is rising; we are now using 50% more water than we did 25 years ago. This means an increase in water prices and more money coming from your pocket. If you’re using water when you don’t need to be, or using it unnecessarily by flushing your toilet too often, then you’re costing yourself a substantial amount and essentially throwing money down the drain.

Some quick facts:
• The average household uses 130,000 gallons of water every year.1
• About 95 percent of the water entering our homes goes down the drain.2

Nearly everyone is conscious about the ways they’re affecting the environment these days, and although having cold showers and living in mud huts sounds appealing to some, at TapShop321.com we think the best way to go about this is to use a more environmentally friendly tap.

Now, we all know that if you have an environmentally friendly product it’s going to be a) way more expensive than its counterpart and b) as visually pleasing as a cardboard box.

Well that’s where you’re wrong, introducing Eco Click taps.
Eco Click taps use the latest technology to lower the amount of water you use and what’s more, designers seem to be winning the battle between practicality and aesthetically pleasing designs. Take for instance Ultra’s Eon Single lever mixer, or Mayfair’s Freestanding Mono Basin.

Just these two designs show that you can achieve visual beauty as well as being environmentally friendly. (Take a note, Prius!)

So how does this work?
The Eco-Click taps include an Eco-Click cartridge, which can reduce the amount of water flowing through the tap. The first setting is for a 50% flow rate, and the second is for the full water flow – so you are in control of how much you use. What’s more, with a lot of the brands featuring Eco-Click cartridges – they are the same price as their “non Eco-Click” sibling – proving you can be environmentally friendly, have a visually pleasing tap… and not have to pay so much.

Why not check our website for our full range of Eco-Click taps? Click here

1. http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/ten-facts-about-the-water-we-waste/
2. http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

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Creating a Chic Communal Kitchen

April 25th, 2012 by steph

The kitchen is ultimately the heart of the home and should provide the perfect layout for any family to cook, eat and also entertain. Open plan designs enable this ideal combination by encouraging sociability as well as practicality.

The prospect of open plan living may seem a contemporary connotation to many, but decor can also easily influence a traditional style if desired.  The opportunity to create more space is a huge advantage and the adding of value not only to your property but to your family dynamics is another. Positioning the living and dining area in close proximity to the cooking area encourages a communal and affable environment that can be enjoyed by homeowners as well as guests.

Breakfast bars are an ideal way of dividing the space and providing a useful definition between the two areas. Flooring can also identify this by adopting different but practical choices. Laminate or hard wood flooring is the most common preference in the kitchen as it is not only stylish, but also easily cleaned. A much softer material such as carpet could be adopted in the dining area however to influence the feeling of comfort and warmth.

Ensure the separate spaces flow by decorating the interior using colour schemes that harmonise and furniture that matches. Neutral tones create the ultimate backdrop to a clean styled contemporary or traditional kitchen and help give the impression of more space. Both areas can adopt diverse ambiences however with the use of different fixtures. Lighting is a great way to identify ‘work space’ and ‘dining space’. Bright LED’s are functional when preparing to cook, whereas stylish lamps and subtle lighting will influence a more casual living area. Accessorise your kitchen with stylish and luxury fixtures available here at Tapshop321 which not only prove an attractive feature but will also enhance the practicality of cooking.

Invest in kitchen units that guarantee enough storage capacity in order to keep clutter and mess to a minimal as this only hinders the feeling of space. Amplify a homely atmosphere by adding personal touches such as potted plants, pictures and trinkets which inject your own unique style.

Natural light is a huge additional benefit to any room so make sure the positioning of any furniture doesn’t hinder this. Consider delicate, flowing fabrics when selecting curtains or drapes for around your windows to emphasise the airiness. You should also however make sure there is enough room for diners to move around freely when deciding on the most convenient place for any large pieces of furniture such as your dining room table. These can come in a variety of styles and shapes to suit different room dimensions.

Enjoy the comfort of your kitchen collectively with these effective tips and create the ultimate family environment.

Posted in Kitchen design | No Comments »

Small Kitchen Design

April 23rd, 2012 by steph

Finding new and innovative ways to ensure each room in your home is as stylish and aesthetically desirable as possible is always a hot topic for homeowners. As popular styles and fashions change over time, it’s important that homeowners source modern products and fixtures which accentuate a contemporary style of interior design they are trying to create; this is all well and good in rooms and areas which have a lot of open of free space to play with, but smaller more compact rooms require a much more tactful approach.

May cottages, bungalows and standard homes all over the UK come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and it’s not uncommon for them to feature a smaller, compact kitchen. Transforming smaller kitchens such as these into a suave, sleek looking room requires a little forward planning and good use of organisational skills, so with that in mind let’s take a look at a few great small kitchen design ideas that radiate style without compromising on space!

Contemporary Fixtures

The small fixtures and features in your kitchen can have a huge influence on the style and ‘feel’ of the rest of the room. For example, choosing to add some of the Tapshop321 Traditional Kitchen Taps, your kitchen would evoke a classical and almost ‘vintage’ feeling; whereas a piece from our ‘modern kitchen taps’ range would add a more current and contemporary hint to the kitchen.

There are many styles in kitchen fixtures that you can incorporate into your small kitchen design, but it takes some forward planning to decide what theme you wish to adopt. Swapping out your standard old washbasin for a new countertop (of the same size, we’re trying to save space remember) and new fitted round basin can add a stylish new feature that your neighbour’s standard fitted kitchens certainly won’t have!

Use of Colour

When planning out your small kitchen design, try to incorporate a new colour scheme that fits perfectly with the theme you are looking to create. If you wish to create a light, summery kitchen the light tones of green or standard neutral cream, white or even peach tones may sit well in your home; alternatively a more modern and contemporary kitchen would likely benefit more from a black and white colour scheme, or a more vibrant red. Either way, is sure to carry the colour throughout the kitchen, if you can replace kitchen cupboards and draws with some which adhere to the colour scheme, you will add heaps of style to the room without taking up any extra space.

Add some colourful finishing touches to your rough draft of your small kitchen design by sourcing some kitchen accessories that continue the colour scheme and theme; dishcloths, cutlery, crockery and matts can all be bought to match, and if done correctly will add the perfect finishing touches to your kitchen.

Posted in DIY Hints & Tips, Kitchen design | Comments Off

Adding Contemporary Features to Liven up Your Home

April 17th, 2012 by steph

Finding simple ways to add fresh and innovative style to your home can often understandably seem complicated and costly. The phrase ‘contemporary home decor’ may evoke images of a complete home remodelling, replacing every old item and decorative piece with abstract artwork and uncomfortable seating, but adding modern features to your home is much easier than you may think.

The key to incorporating contemporary and designer features is moderation; a home which is packed to the brim full of modern features, fixtures and furniture is going to look great but it is unlikely to feel very homely or relaxing. Adding dashes of modern style in each room is the best way to achieve a happy medium between a homely ‘lived in’ household and a fresh, fashionable ‘pad’.

It’s important that we do not substitute substance for style in our homes; often stylish home furnishings can trade their functionality or practicality purely to better serve as a stylish home addition. At Tapshop321, all of our stylish fixtures and fittings are crafted to have a stunning appearance yet have a smooth and liberating functionality which really is an assurance of quality.

If you are looking to carry a contemporary and modern feel throughout your home, there are several ways to ensure you execute it well. Firstly, ensure you’re being consistent with your colour scheme in each room; sourcing stylish and modern features to furnish your home with is all well and good but can be easily spoiled when there are too many vibrant colours or patterns in a room. Choose a couple of simple colours that look great together and represent what you feel to be a ‘contemporary colour scheme’ and then build your modern palace around the feeling the room gives off.

Luckily, chrome features and fixtures fit in wonderfully with any colour scheme, so feel free to let your hair down in rooms like the bathroom and kitchen, as you can be sure the Tapshop321 team have contemporary fixtures and fittings to further enhance each area!

Add furniture and accessories that not only adhere to the colour scheme, but adhere to a similar theme or ‘feel’, this way you can be sure the finished version of your new room or even household will be stylish, consistent and best of all, contemporary!

For more great interior decoration tips and ideas be sure to check back to the Tapshop321 Blog regularly.

Posted in Bathroom design, DIY Hints & Tips, General Articles, Kitchen design | Comments Off

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