Rule Britannia

With the recent Diamond Jubilee and the upcoming Olympics, it seems fitting that the red, white and blue theme has even managed to make it into home decor. However, you want to create something that lasts and won`t look out of place in the years ahead when 2012 has long been forgotten. So don`t be too dramatic with your choices – use subtle combinations of these colours to create a sense of proportion. For instance, use red as the feature colour and then introduce white and blue through your choice of accessories.

Pastel and Bright

Who says that pastel colours, such as light greens and blues, can`t be combined with bright neon colours? If you`ve got a sense of adventure and a desire to create something different in your home, then this is the colour scheme for you. Use the subtler colours on the walls and then let your imagination run wild by adding accents of neon across the furniture and accessories.

Retro `70s

Whether its fashion or interior design, the 1970s always seems to be making a comeback and this year is no exception. Whether you want to create a nostalgic throwback to your youth or something with a slightly more modern twist, the more over the top and elaborate you are with this theme the better. For your colour palette go for earthy tones of oranges and browns and then contrast these with bold graphic prints on your walls or across the furniture.

Colour Blocking

Another trend is to use blocks of colour throughout the room, both in your choice of paints and wallpaper and with the furniture and accessories. Consider using one statement colour and then combine this with others to create a cascade of colour throughout the room that will really bring it to life.

Wonderful Nature

Think of taking a walk through the woods at the start of autumn as the colours of the landscape start to change and then translate this into a theme for your home. Use yellows, greens and citrus colours in layers to create a sense of calmness and tranquillity. This works beautifully in bedrooms and living areas.

Simplicity

If you want to produce a clean, fresh feel to your home, then consider using whites, beiges, silver greys and charcoals. Have a base colour on walls and then use natural materials such as wood and stone across your furnishings. This is an ideal colour palette for smaller areas, as the paler shades reflect natural light to create a real sense of space and openness.

Making the decision to redecorate basically gives you a blank page to create something completely unique that will revitalise your home. The breaking UK news about interior design is that it`s a good idea to experiment as you can always change it next year if you wish.

]]> http://mydesignerinterior.co.uk/2012/08/latest-interior-design-colour-palette-trends/feed/ 0 http://mydesignerinterior.co.uk/2012/07/a-guide-to-soundproofing-your-home/ http://mydesignerinterior.co.uk/2012/07/a-guide-to-soundproofing-your-home/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://mydesignerinterior.co.uk/a-guide-to-soundproofing-your-home The world today has an increasing amount of noise which seems to be all around us and this can be one of the main factors that cause increased stress levels. At work or going about our business in public, it is difficult to have any control over the hustle and bustle of sounds that surrounds us.

Putting in some earphones and playing music from your own personal soundtrack can help but sometimes all we yearn for a little bit of peace and quiet – especially when we finally reach our homes after a long day at work.

So whether it is noisy neighbours, living near a busy road or perhaps even just the racket being made by other members of you household, here are some tips to help you create a little haven of tranquillity for your own relaxation.

Carpets

One way to minimise the impact of sounds coming from other areas of your own living space is to have a floor covering that helps to absorb noise. If your room is above the main television room for instance, a great deal of sound can travel up through the ceiling and through the floor, especially in older properties where the space between a thin ceiling layer and the floorboard above can act as something of an amplification chamber.

A good carpet of relative thickness can work wonders in cutting down on this particular kind of sound leakage.

Windows

For other noise problems generated ‘outside the home’, such as the irritating hum (or roar) or nearby traffic or low flying aircraft, good quality well fitted double glazed windows from reputable vendors such as Safestyle UK are the only answer that will have any real effect.

Today there are many ranges of styles and designs to choose from. The fitting of new window units is a quick and mess-free procedure that causes minimal disruption.

Doors

It might sound obvious, but shutting the door to a room can reduce the level of sound coming in (or going out) by a great margin. Many people have ill fitting or badly hung doors and this can lead to greater noise penetration.

To make sure your doors are giving you the best advantage doesn’t necessarily mean you have to replace them. A badly hung door can refit its frame with just a little adjustment and carpeting or draught excluders around the base of the door will help buffer sound too.

If noisy neighbours are a problem, the first thing to do is to bring the matter up with them in a polite and delicate way. Often it will be the case that they didn’t realise they were causing a nuisance and will either moderate their behaviour or take simple steps such as closing windows or doors to solve the problem.

Walls

However, sometimes a neighbour might be unhelpful or the sound leakage may be through a partitioning wall. If this case you can always arrange for the fitting or a ‘false wall’ or simply some thicker sound absorbent plasterboard, which will often solve the problem. If you don’t have the budget for this, wall hangings such as old rugs can also be put to new use.

Whether we’re dressing, enjoying a good lie-in or even planning a spot of romance, beautifully designed luxury fitted bedrooms can help us feel comfortable and confident in our surroundings.

Beds

The bed itself is the centrepiece of any bedroom and it’s important to choose the right one. Too big and it can make the room seem small and cluttered; too small and it might be cramped and uncomfortable, especially if it’s shared. Don’t skimp on the mattress as the quality and correct firmness can have a major impact on your quality of sleep.

The colours and decoration should complement your tastes and personality. This is especially important when choosing fitted furniture. Wallpaper, paint and soft furnishings can be easily changed or replaced. A good quality luxury fitted bedroom is a purchase that should last for years.

Fitted wardrobes

Apart from the bed, fitted wardrobes are perhaps the most important part of the bedroom. They should be designed to give you all the storage you need and fitted wardrobes have the edge over free-standing furniture when it comes to storage solutions. Floor to floor and wall to wall wardrobes make good use of every last bit of space. They can be designed to cover or incorporate features such as slanted ceilings, irregularities in the shape of the room and awkward fixtures like coving where free-standing pieces must be fitted around a pre-existing space.

A skilled bedroom planner from a quality supplier such as Betta Living can help design the best fitted wardrobes for you. Designers will visit your home to take all relevant measurements and will help create the perfect bedroom based on your own personal requirements, ideas and vision. If you’re stuck for ideas they also have the experience and know-how to make suggestions; but ultimately every final decision is yours.

Other storage solutions

Have you ever found yourself rummaging through your hangers or desperately searching for a particular outfit when you’re in a hurry? If you have the space (or an unused smaller bedroom or box room) you could also consider having a walk in wardrobe fitted. Every walk in adds a touch of glamour and luxury but they can also be extremely practical, allowing you easy access to clothes and other items. Add mirrors and lighting and you have the full luxury walk in experience.

Over-the-bed storage can help create that extra bit of storage space and is perhaps best used for items you don’t need to access every day such as bedding or holiday gear. Additional drawers and other items that complement or share the same design as the fitted wardrobes can also be incorporated into the overall design.

But there really is no reason why you shouldn’t have a designer bedroom – you’ve worked hard to get your home so you deserve it.

If you’re wondering whether or not it’s time for a boudoir overhaul then read on to find out why you should choose a designer bedroom.

Reason One

When you choose a design for your bedroom, it will be so fantastic that you will want to spend more time in it. A better bedroom is beneficial because it will encourage you to take time out and relax, one of life’s essentials.

Reason Two

Adding luxury touches to your room like designer bedding, cushions or furniture will look great but will also make your space more comfortable and easier to use.

Reason Three

Choosing designers could even add value to your home. If you’re thinking of the future then a designer bedroom is a great way to boost your home’s sales potential. Things like en suite bathrooms can add considerable value and a designer bedroom will certainly make your home a more desirable prospect for potential purchasers.

Reason Four

Fitted furniture enhances the designer style but it makes your life easier too. When there’s not enough space in our rooms things end up strewn everywhere which means we don’t want to spend time upstairs. Fitted wardrobes and other fitted furniture will add acres of storage space meaning you can get organised and achieve a modern designer look by getting rid of the clutter.

Reason Five

You work hard, you always phone your mum when you say you will, you spend all your time doing things for others and you probably never eat chocolate – even though you want to. Don’t you deserve to give yourself a treat that you’ll appreciate for years to come? So why not give yourself the gift of a designer bedroom.

How to get the Designer Bedroom look

With a few simple steps you can achieve a stylish bedroom design on a modest budget.

Most of us associate designer style with a clean, modern finish and fitted wardrobes will go a long way to achieving this.

Make sure your bed makes a statement and make an investment in really good quality duvets, pillows and bedding. They will look great and offer you optimum comfort.

If you’re worried about dirt then choose polished wood or laminate flooring which always looks neat, but if you really want to create a sense of warmth and luxury why not go for a deep shag pile.

If you do choose wood or laminate add a statement rug which will make the room feel warmer and could be a key designer piece in your space.

A large mirror is great for adding depth but if don’t want to look at yourself every time you walk into your room you could choose a highly polished, lacquered finish for your wardrobe doors which will add a sense of space.

Betta Living is a leading specialist in custom designed Bedrooms & Fitted Wardrobes to suit every home & budget. Come and discover a fantastic range of fitted bedrooms to complement your home today. Satisfied customers are what we really care about.

Big Screen Television

No matter what a man’s interests are, every man needs a huge television in their bachelor pad. The absolute minimum is a 50 inch television, but these days you can fairly easily hit a 60 inch LCD HDTV or larger. If you’re feeling especially fancy, you can dedicate an entire wall to a projection TV system. Of course, there’s no way a self-respecting bachelor would have it hooked up to anything less than a full surround sound system.

Surround Sound System

Obviously, your dream television should be attached to your dream sound system. A few high-quality speakers aimed just right, positioned in the corners of the room, can turn your sports, movies or video games an entirely different experience. Dolby 5.1 used to be the standard, but these days you can get up to 7.1 or even Dolby TrueHD surround sound. You’ll visit a theatre and wonder why their sound quality is so bad.

Perfect Lighting

While the cliches of a bachelor pad are dirty, dank and dark, yours doesn’t have to be. In fact, the perfect bachelor pad should have excellent lighting. That doesn’t mean to keep the windows open to the sun. Get some rope lights or track lights on the ceiling. Get a few decorative lamps. If everything is a little too claustrophobic, hang up a couple of well-placed mirrors. Just because you’re a bachelor doesn’t mean you have an excuse to avoid a solid decor.

A Jacuzzi

The ultimate in decadence for a bachelor pad is a Jacuzzi. More than just stylish, a jacuzzi has a number of health advantages. The life of a bachelor can be stressful and a good long soak in a jacuzzi can soothe that stress away. None of this even considers the effect it has on your guests when you have a party. Female guests in particular can take advantage of your jacuzzi, and you can enjoy the benefits.

Oversized Shower

When you’re not spending time in a jacuzzi, you should be able to relax in your ultimate shower. With any shower, bigger is better. Get a good sized shower for yourself to give you elbow room. It’s of added benefit if you happen to have a partner to shower with. A luxury shower head is an essential item for your shower as well. A good shower head can give you excellent pressure. A good shower is an endless source of customization. Once you get that down, your bachelor pad is complete!

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There is more harm being done to our planet every day. The pollution level has been increasing on a daily basis and it’s due to the chemical compounds we keep adding to it. This has been proven by the erratic weather patterns and global warming in recent years. Two factors that are having an impact on our planet are the waste of electricity and lack of a recycling program. It is possible to fix up your home and still be kind to the environment though.

People need to be aware that every single item they purchase could have an impact on the environment. It could be as small as the fuel used to generate the product and the actual type of materials used. It’s important to be aware of the environmentally friendly substitutes that will be effective in saving our planet. The following tips are four ways to go green when renovating your home:

1)     Most paints contain harmful solvents and toxic chemicals. This could be extremely hazardous to your health and unkind to the environment. There are quite a few water-based paints on the market without solvents and toxic compounds. Latex paint is the perfect choice when you are thinking of painting your home. They contain absolutely zero harmful toxins and will be the perfect selection for those interested in saving our planet. Latex paint is also healthy to use around your family.

2)     It’s also best to select wood from companies that harvest locally. This effects the environment by using less fuel to carry the product. Another suggestion is to select the variety of wood that will have less of a negative impact on the environment. The Forestry Stewardship Council is a non-profit organization and helps monitor the timber that is cut down for use. The FSC is very conscious about the effects on the planet, so make sure to look for their logo.

3)     Metal and glass are easily recyclable materials and the perfect choice when it comes to home improvements. No matter how many times the materials are recycled, they always remain durable. It takes less energy and resources to recycle metal and glass, than it does to generate new materials. This will save energy for the environment. If you’re in the market for metal or glass materials be conscious about choosing recycled products instead.

4)     If you’re in the market to purchase supplies or furniture make sure to research the company that makes the product. They may state they are eco-friendly, but so many companies are dishonest about this. Check out the companies that you purchase products from and make sure they have an environmentally friendly outlook with their business. It’s important to take the time and energy to find a variety of ways to make environmentally safe improvements to your home. Not only will they be healthier for you and our family, but they will help protect our planet. Eco-friendly materials could cost more money, but they are worth it for the protection of our future.

If your selling a home and don’t want to pay excessive estate agent fees then check out My Online Estate Agent. It is one of the UK’s leading low cost online estate agents and is UK wide.

Samsung BD-D6500 3D Blu-ray Player

Manufactured by Samsung, this Blu-ray player retails for a little over £100 and offers all of the features you would expect from a top-tier Blue-ray player. It supports 3D playback, so if you want to start building a 3D Blu-ray library you’ll have something to watch them on. It also features the ability to play back a number of different video formats and different format discs.

One of the best features of this unit, though, is the built-in WiFi. Simply connect it to your home network and you’re able to use Samsung’s included apps or even browse the web. This feature takes the BD-D6500 from a Blu-ray player to a full-fledged entertainment box.

LG BD670 3D Blu-ray Player

The BD670 comes with many of the same features as the Samsung BD-D6500. Like the Samsung model, it has WiFi capabilities. Instead of using Samsung’s app ecosystem, it instead provides LG Smart TV Access. This lets you access apps from LG as well as browse the web.

The 1080p unit also features upscaling for DVD movies, letting you watch them at 1080p resolutions. This lets you make watching older movies a pleasure, and it’s nice to see LG help you keep your old DVDs from collecting dust. When you consider this as well as the unit’s ability to read USB storage, the BD670 Blu Ray DVD Player is a real winner.

Philips BDP5506/F7 3D Blu-ray Player

This unit from Philips has all the technical features you’re looking for in a quality Blu-ray player, such as WiFi and 3D playback. What Philips touts as its MediaConnect technology. With this technology, you can share pictures and videos from your computer to your TV without using a cable or setting up complicated connections. Best of all, you can use the computer applications that you’re used to – no need to learn how to use new software. This unit is a great buy based on this alone, but to top it off, Philips also tossed in Netflix access.

Magnavox MBP5210/F7 Blu-ray Player

If you’re just looking for a Blu-ray player with the latest features, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, then this Magnavox unit is for you. It is by far the cheapest model listed here, but still includes WiFi capabilities and built-in Netflix access. It also has an SD card slot, so you can take the card out of your digital camera and view pictures on your TV. The only major feature missing is 3D support.

If you have an older property, you may want to recreate the decadent feel, making the most of features such as fireplaces and beams. However you envisage your small bedroom, consider colour. Bedrooms should be warm, inviting and relaxing. Bright colours are fine in Children’s bedrooms but may cause the adverse effect of relaxing in an adult’s room.

Recent trends in interior design include feature walls, where one wall (possibly the wall that your bed is against) has a solid rich colour or covering of designer wallpaper. The other walls can be painted a neutral colour, which can make the room feel larger.

Storage is incredibly important in a small room and there are so many clever solutions on the market. Consider a built in or large wardrobe. Not only can you store your clothing and shoes in a wardrobe, but cosmetics, books and boxes, that can clutter a room. Choosing mirrored wardrobe doors also reflect the light in the room and can make the small bedroom appear larger.

Under bed space is always a great way to hide away all those items that can clutter a bedroom. Divan beds are great to fit in small rooms due to their design. They also offer a range of 2 or 4 draws, which are perfect for bedding, towels and clothing. There is also a range of storage beds on the market. The mattress and frame lifts up and you can place any items underneath the bed. If you have a bed frame with space underneath, you can purchase a range of storage boxes and baskets, which can be filled and simply slid underneath the bed.

A blanket box at the end of the bed is a great way to store away items and clothing.

Use your walls! People used to have picture rails all around the rooms to hang frames and mirrors from. A shelf around the top of the room is a great place to put books, magazines and ornaments without taking too much wall space.

You can find a great system of moveable shelving. This system works by attaching slots along the wall, then shelves can simply slot into the groves and can be moved around. This looks fantastic at the head of the bed, saves space and can provide a bedside area for lamps and bedtime reading.

If you are really stretched for space in your bedroom and need somewhere to work, you can consider purchasing a cabin bed. These beds are raised with features underneath such as sofas and desks. They are quite metropolitan and provide a quirky focus in a small room.

Make the most of your space, consider all of your options. Fitted wardrobes are a great way of providing a focal point, storing items and mirrored doors make the room feel larger. Bed storage is a huge market and can be a great solution to overflowing drawers.

Finally, the walls bedroom of are very important. Leaving them clean and minimal will make your room appear larger but if needed, you can utilise the space in a clever way. With the right decoration and clever space saving storage, your small bedroom can become a haven of peace and relaxation without the stresses of everyday clutter.

There are websites that work with various agents depending on your needs and they’re usually not too expensive. Find a Property have a very good reputation and seem to offer the best value for money. They’ll keep you in the loop and you will always be able to control your experience but with their knowledge and familiarity, you can rest assured that you will get the best deal.

If you’re not sure where to start, searching online can be the best and most up-to-date source for properties both for sale and rent. You can get an idea of the type of house or apartment that you want then let your agent do the hard work. Their expertise will help the process along considerably and if you’re new to the game, this will prove invaluable as they will ensure to the best of their ability that you get the best value for money and the best deal available.

Believe it or not, if you’re looking for a holiday home, estate agents can help here too. And you don’t even have to hire them in your chosen country. It’s a very good idea to get an agent involved in this type of transaction as even if you’re an old hand at buying and selling property, there may be hidden costs in your chosen country that your agent will be able to give you advice on and talk you through.

Most estate agencies have their own website, so if you’re still a little unsure, have a look at this and read the reviews to make sure you’re comfortable before you commit.

•You have to consider the kind of design that you want and the designs that are available in the market. Consider the various designs offered by different companies in order to come up with the mast favourable design and make sure that it suits your needs – such as whether it is for a conservatory or your home.

•Once you have chosen the design you have to ensure that the premises you live in allows you to install double glazing. This is very important to avoid buying the design just to realise that you cannot fit in it in your premises. Always get professionals to help you investigate your options to make sure you aren’t left disappointed.

•Cost is also a consideration that has to be considered. Various designs have different price tags depending on quality and the manufacturer. One has to consider the quality versus the price. This will help avoid a scenario of buying a cheap design which has a low quality or vice verse.

• Size is also very important to consider. Most of the new designs are likely to have a smaller glass portions than the old designs. Also new buildings have different sizes of windows that may not be filled by the newest designs in the market. Hence one has to choose on the right size of design that fits the size of the window in the premises – whether that is for a home or for an orangery.

•The finish on the windows also maters a lot in the decision making. A design that has a wood finish may require to be refurbished every now and then and will mean there is an added expense to the user.

•Inquire about the locks and the security features that are included in the design. There are various locking systems in the market ranging from the traditional locks to the current automatic locks. The current locks provide a high security detail than the traditional locks due to improvements in technology. One should use a design that has the best security feature to meet the needs of the user.

•Consider the aesthetic effects that the new design will present to the inner house. The design should not reduce the aesthetic value of the interiors of the house but instead should increase the appearance and beauty. One may need to change the arrangements in the house to fit the design of double glazing. Double glazing windows are now available in a range of different designs meaning that they can be integrated seamlessly into any style of house – whether traditional or modern.