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Archive for June, 2012


Redesigning Your Bathroom for a New Season

June 28th, 2012 by steph

The fashion world is undoubtedly dominated by an ever changing group of ideologies based on an innumerable set of factors, which range from celebrity dress codes to designer opinions and even to current events and popular cultures.

Far from the unpredictable nature of the celebrity world of fashion where cuts, patterns and colours can go out of date in a week and styles can shift based on newly popular cultures, there is one ever potent factor which all stylists and fashion dedicated souls can rely on and follow. It is a shift which is as reliable and unavoidable as our seasons, and it is in fact these very times of change which create its rules and time frames.

The seasonal changes impact the fashion world as much, if not more than culturally relevant celebrities who must follow them. Autumnal and winter shifts bring darker shades and palettes into the spot light which become a fashionable excuse to wrap up warm and create a cosy atmosphere at home. Summer and spring in turn create their own colour codes, both for clothing and for in-house decor and decorating fashions.

Although it often hardly seems appropriate to even consider redecorating your entire house based on seasonal changes there are some rooms which can benefit from a season change each year. In particular the bathroom of any house hold can seriously benefit from a seasonal re-vamp based on the shifting temperature, light levels and time of year.

In winter and autumn darker shades help to retain actual warmth and create a cosy more home like feeling within what, let’s admit is one of the more personal rooms in any household. Where as in spring and summer a bright and reflective colour scheme helps the whole room seem a little bigger and will create a sense of space during a generally hot and humid seasonal change.

As well as the colour schemes and palettes there are other options to take into account which can make a huge difference to the feel of your bathroom during seasonal changes. For example the style, shape and colouring of your shower enclosure can have a huge effect on the size, functionality and stylistic preferences of your bathroom.

A bright chrome skeletal structure with a set of fully transparent glass panes can give a great, bright and open feeling during the summer and spring months. Where as a darker metallic frame and slightly more translucent set of panes can help to keep that more personal, warmer feeling during the colder and often more body conscious months of autumn and winter.

Remember it’s not only the colour and cut of your clothes which seasonal fashions should affect, it’s also the colour schemes and styles within your own home. Changing just a small number of simple things within certain rooms can really help to create the right sense of welcoming warmth, or open spacious light you need to maintain for the next two seasons.

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

How To: Install a Bidet

June 25th, 2012 by admin

In France, 1710, there was the first recorded reference to an item, that we now call the bidet. Intended to assist in personal hygiene, the bidet was used to clean more private areas of the body, between weekly baths. Bidets were kept in the bedroom, with the chamber pot, until the 1900s when modern plumbing made it more practical to install it in the bathroom, in close proximity to the toilet. Nowadays, throughout Europe, bidets are an integral part of the bathroom. (In Italy, it is reported that approximately 90% of the population owns a bidet.)

There are obvious hygienic reasons as to why, you should want to own and use a bidet, and that is a blog post itself. However, this blog post will talk you through installing your chosen bidet:

To install a bidet you need the following:
- Hot and cold water pipes
- A waste pipe
- A bidet and all the necessary nuts and bolts
- Socket set/wrenches
- Spirit level
- Sealant
- Screwdriver

You should start by installing the hot and cold water pipes and the waste pipe; this job should be handled by a professional to prevent leaks and potential problems. The bidet is traditionally installed next to a cistern so keep that in mind when designing your bathroom; make sure you have space for your bidet and that the floor and wall are level (if wall attached).

Before you get them installed you should make sure the basin, bidet, cistern and bath you’re purchasing are all the same material and colour. If you purchased your bath, basin and cistern before the bidet then you should contact either your supplier or the manufacturer of the product to either ask for the specific colour or to purchase a bidet from their range.

Step 1 – Turn off the water, then start by assembling the bidet – attach the faucets and drain fittings.
Step 2 – Check the alignment of the pipes, make sure the bidet will fit where you want it and that all pipes will connect fine.
Step 3 – Use the spirit level to make sure the floor you are using is flat.
Step 4 – Measure up where the bidet is going to be installed, mark the holes in the floor and wall where the bolts will go, also mark the outline of the bidet so you know where to place it in Step 6.
Step 5 – Drill pilot holes into the floor.
Step 6 – Place the bidet, make sure you measure up with the guides you made and that the holes in the bidet match the holes you drilled in the floor.
Step 7 – Insert and tighten the hold-down bolts, use the spirit level to make sure that you have installed the bidet correctly and that it’s not at an angle.
Step 8 – Place the caps over the bolts, and apply sealant to the base of the bidet.
Step 9 – Connect the hot and cold water supply tubes, the shut-off valve and drain.
Step 10 – Turn on the water and test for leaks or flaws etc.

Bidets are extremely practical; they’re more hygienic and offer benefits to all users. In addition, bidets are versatile and can be used for cleaning items, such as clothes. Installing a bidet now may seem less challenging – however if you do not feel comfortable in following the above steps, we advise that you contact a local plumber, in the first instance.

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Designing a Family Friendly Kitchen

June 13th, 2012 by steph

The kitchen is commonly known as the heart of the home, a place for the whole family to come together, as well as a place to socialise with friends. Creating a practical yet friendly environment is easily achieved with just a few design tips that will influence an inviting atmosphere. Here we take a look at ways in which to fashion a luxury kitchen that everyone can enjoy!

Using neutral tones to decorate your interior will generate the feeling of space and style. Adding subtle splashes of colour within the decor or furniture however is a nice way of adding your own personal touch and making the room feel more homely. Ensuring plenty of space is vital if you wish for the whole family to come together, so keep clutter to a minimum by purchasing plenty of storage and maintain a tidy space as much as possible. There are many potential hazards in a kitchen, especially when children are concerned so make sure any dangerous equipment or chemicals are kept out of reach or behind closed doors.

Whether your chosen style is contemporary or traditional, a large dining room table is a key element to implementing the most family friendliest of kitchens. Purchase one which is extendable to provide extra room for guests when hosting, but can just as easily be folded away afterwards to save space. Formality can instantly be portrayed when hosting dinner parties with elegant table linen such as tablecloths and napkins. Having the table laid on a regular basis will encourage people to sit and enjoy meal times together.

Consider situating a small sofa if the space allows you to, as this will also promote a more sociable experience. Utilising an open-plan design will prove beneficial for this as well, since merging the kitchen and dining area will allow meal preparation to become a sociable event too.

Posted in Kitchen design | Comments Off

How Taps Can Display Personality, Not Just Functionality

June 13th, 2012 by steph

In today’s world of contemporary design at home a huge factor in choosing a potential design and style for the rooms in your house can be down to your personality or the personality which you wish to imbue upon the room itself.

In terms of bathroom design there are a number of standard ideas which most often crop up when it comes to design, but often people do not stop to think about how their choices might be evocative of a particular personality or tone for the room. Most choices which are made when designing or redesigning a bathroom can have a huge impact on overall feel of the bathroom. From the colour on the walls to the finish on the floor everything speaks volumes about the room. But there is one choice which most commonly escapes the home owner’s eye when it comes down to stylistic choices, the bathroom taps.

At first taps hardly seem like the most obvious item in a small visually focused room, obviously most people will make a stylistic choice when it comes to the new fittings in their bathroom. Whether they are simply choosing to replace their fittings or performing an entire remodel for their bathroom most people will concentrate on making a good choice of taps for their bath and sink. Unfortunately some people do not consider what how the style of their fittings speaks volumes about personality alone, and how they might affect their bathroom’s chosen tone and personality.

For example a singular tap fitting for your sink with both a hot and cold setting and an activation lever instantly gives the impression of space consciousness and minimalism; where as a pair of hot and cold taps with a turning cross head to run it on suggests elegance and high class. Both also say individual things about how long you spend in the bathroom push and pull levers tend to suggest you don’t often spend time in your bathroom, whereas a turning cross head suggests you’re often relaxing and soaking in the tub.

There are other styles which can also instantly change the personality of your bathroom, for example the shape of the spout and the handles. Some modern taps now come in a very angular and block like style which again is ideal for modern, minimalistic or cubism inspired styles. The contrast to this is the more traditional and retro designs which tend to be more rounded with curved angles and a long curved spout, these styles are more reminiscent of luxury and elegance. They fit in well with a retro style which is more reminiscent of much older eras of design.

Whatever the personality you are trying to apply to your bathroom through its design make sure that your choice of taps is made in relation to this style. By making choices which are based on your new fittings aesthetics alone, and without comparing their style to that which you wish to achieve you could easily end up with a confused and contrasting look to your bathroom.

Posted in Bathroom design, General Articles | Comments Off

Kitchen TLC: Easy Kitchen Cleaning Tips

June 8th, 2012 by steph

Of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen is easily the most important and stubborn when it comes to cleanliness; as the kitchen is without a doubt the most commonly used food preparation area, it is imperative that it is kept as hygienic and sanitary as possible. A clean, tidy kitchen also does wonders for the room’s appearance too; sleek stylish kitchen suites covered in a mass of clutter and mess is sure to ruin the effect of the room, so regularly cleaning your kitchen has visual benefits too.

Tackling a messy kitchen can seem like a real task, but as always, there are plenty of ways to make things easier. With the Tapshop321 quick tips guide, you kitchen can be spotless in the blink of an eye! So let’s get started.

Greasy Crockery

We’ve heard it a million times before; “Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink”. But often young ones and sleepy eyed teenagers never learn. Instead of tackling a sink full of greasy dishes, fill the basin with hot water and add 3 or 4 tablespoons of white vinegar alongside your usual dishwashing liquid. The natural acidity of the vinegar will strip the grease from the dishes, leaving a lot less work to deal with!

Dirty Tiles

Many homes feature ceramic tiles behind the oven or hob area, which can often get splashed with a variety of sauces and liquids leading to hardened stains which can be hard to clean. To remove these stains effectively and remove any bacteria along with them, rub the wall down with a cloth dampened in rubbing alcohol. This will effectively remove the stains any kill any bacteria too.

Wood Surfaces

Wood surfaces are particularly well-known for the ability to absorb and harbour bacteria; wooden chopping boards and dining tables are perfect examples here. When looking to clean and deodorise wooden surfaces, mix ½ a cup of baking soda with a quart or warm water a run into the wood with a sponge. Rinse with plain water and dab dry with a towel afterwards.

Oven

Ovens can become filthy in a matter of days if you are a particularly ‘hard-core’ home chef; baking cakes, and large family meals can often lead to spillage and dried stains on the inside of the oven. Place salt on any spillages as soon as they occur (being sure to wear an oven glove to avoid burns) and then wait for the oven to cool; then simply wipe up the mess with the greatest of ease!

So there we are, some simple tips and tricks to help you take care of those pesky kitchen troubles.

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