Creative Christian Mama

God bless all Mothers

interior design

Care Tips For Cork Flooring

by

If you have decided on cork flooring in your new build, you are to be congratulated on your choice and as you would expect, natural cork does require some TLC. This amazing material comes in 2 forms – tiles and boards – and when installed, should be coated in a special sealant, which protects against liquid spills and general wear and tear.

Here are a few cork care tips from professional flooring installers.

  • Mopping – We recommend a weekly mop with a thick mop that has excess water removed, leaving it damp rather than wet. Of course, you should sweep the floor with a soft brush prior to mopping. If you want a home remedy for cork floor cleaning, mix four parts vinegar with one part water, which can cut through dirt and grease. Avoid using cleaning solutions that are not recommended for cork flooring.
  • Clean Spills Quickly– The longer liquid sits on cork flooring, the more chance it will penetrate the sealant. Use tissue to soak up spilt liquid and leave the area to dry naturally. If you are looking for high quality cork tiles Sydney or your city prefers, a Google search will bring up a list of established flooring companies.
  • Direct Sunlight Can Cause Cork To Fade – If you have a lot of windows, you might want to install blinds to prevent fading. If there is a clear line between sunlight and shade, this can change the colour over a period of months.
  • Polyurethane Coating – While some flooring companies might recommend waxing as a way of taking care of cork flooring, most experts would recommend a polyurethane sealant, which offers better protection. When the floor is installed, the team would give at least one coat of sealant, or perhaps two.
  • Use Rubber Furniture Pads– Heavy furniture can cause the cork to sink slightly, therefore you should use special rubber furniture pads to spread the weight and avoid making indentations in the floor.
  • Removing Scratches – The easiest way to repair scratches in cork flooring is to use a wood filler of similar colour. Mix well and use a putty knife to fill in the scratch; leave it to dry and sand with fine abrasive paper and you won’t be able to see the scratch. Once sanded and swept, you can add a little polyurethane sealant over the affected area and that’s it.
  • Resealing The Floor – This can be done every year or thereabouts, depending on how much traffic. If you are unsure how to go about this, call in the company that installed the cork flooring and ask them to reseal it with another coat or two of polyurethane. Of course, the floor cannot be used until the coating is hard, which might take a full 36 hours.

When looking at cork flooring, it is best to actually visit a flooring showroom, where you can experience a range of cork tiles and planks in a natural setting. The sales staff are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you might have.

3 Ways You Can Add Value to Your Home

by Leave a Comment

Are you looking to up sticks and move to a new location in the foreseeable future? If you want to ensure that your prospective relocation goes off without a hitch, you need to start putting plans into place regarding the move now. The earlier you start preparing for this massive milestone in your life, the easier you will find it to avoid any problems that come your way.

There are a number of tasks that you should be performing in your attempt to prepare yourself for your move, one of the most important being to add more value to your current property. You don’t want to leave this all-important task to the last minute, simply because it might disrupt your move and, in turn, give you something else to worry about as your relocation deadline draws closer.

If you want to enjoy a stress-free move and subsequent financial freedom, you need to add more value to your current abode today. To unearth the secrets of what you must do to perform this crucial task, be sure to read on.

Enhance your bathroom

Your bathroom will have no doubt been blighted by instances of wear and tear over the years. To ensure that this damage doesn’t impact the overall market price of your property, you simply must make an effort to enhance this room in your home.

Not got any prior experience when it comes to enhancing bathrooms? Don’t worry, there are plenty of external sources of help out there that are willing to provide you with some assistance in this instance, one of which being Beautiful Bathrooms. As stated at beautifulbathroom.net, this team of specialist designers have the experience and knowhow required to transform any old bathroom into a luxurious wet room. With them by your side, you will no doubt find it easier to turn your design dreams into a reality and, as an added bonus, you will also be provided with some much-needed support when it comes to sourcing cost-effective bathroom equipment.

Add more living space

If you want to appeal to potential buyers that have big families, you should make an effort to create more living space within your property. You can introduce this additional space to your home in a number of different ways, a few of which include:

  • Converting your loft
  • Transforming your garage
  • Changing the use of your cellar
  • Building a conservatory
  • Knocking down walls that separate small rooms

Split your house into flats

Splitting your house into flats is another route that you can take in your attempt add value to your property. There are a whole host of people out there that want to rent small, compact living spaces, and embarking down this renovation pathway is the perfect way to appeal to this niche audience.

Of course, if you take this route, you will automatically become a landlord. To find out what you must do to succeed in this money-making venture, be sure to check out this helpful article on the matter.

How to Revitalize Your Home

by Leave a Comment

Whether you want to update your living space for your benefit, or you’re trying to get the house into good shape before you put it onto the market, there are many things you can do to revitalize your home. Some projects will require more time and money than others, but they could be worth it if you want to transform your house into a new and improved home. Below are some suggestions on how you can refresh your living environment and increase your property’s value.

Check for Structural Repairs

A good place to start when trying to refresh your home is checking for any structural repairs. These are essential things to look out for when you’re a homeowner, and it’s important to keep up with this kind of maintenance to make sure you and the other people living in your home are safe. Furthermore, keeping on top of these repairs will help you add to your property’s value.

Tidy Your Garden

Garden’s do take a lot of work, and if you haven’t been paying attention to yours recently it’s time to give it some TLC. The appearance of your garden can affect your property a great deal, which is why keeping the weeds at bay and your plants in good health are important. To give your home a new look, think about hiring a landscape gardener to redesign your garden, or plant some new flowers to add some more color.

Add New Features

A great way to revitalize your home is by introducing some new features to it. For example, installing a fireplace in the living room would add a new and dramatic focal point. A lot of models are easy to install, and you can even purchase reproduced fireplaces like the ones at stonewoods.co.uk. If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, then consider other features like smart tech for your kitchen or bathroom, or perhaps convert your attic or basement into a bedroom or study.

New Décor

Even a new coat of paint can make a big difference, and this is the most common option for people who are looking to update their living space. If you have the budget and want a professional finish, think about hiring a decorator to do this for you. If you want to be even more glamorous, an interior designer could help you revitalize your entire house for a fee!

Declutter

For a simpler way to refresh your home, take on the task of decluttering. It’s easy to gather a lot of unwanted or useless items over the years, and eventually, they will start to take over and leave your home feeling messy all the time. You can sell your unwanted clutter online if you want to make some extra money or donate it to a local charity store. Once you get rid of your clutter, you will be surprised at how much space you have at home!

There are many things you can do to revitalize your home whether you have a big budget or not. If you think your house could do with a few changes, consider the points above for your next home improvement project.

Ultimate Eclectic Dining Room: Create a Modern, Organic, and Industrial Interior For All Tastes

by Leave a Comment

Eclecticism in interior means combining contrasting styles to create uniquely warm and versatile settings. If you’re furnishing your dining room, eclectic is the way to go; Here’s how to create a perfectly universal dining room with mid century modern furniture:

Le Corbusier Dining Table

This 1929 mid-century modern furniture example is a masterpiece that blends the mathematical structure of the aeronautical base with a simplistic, fresh appeal of the glass tabletop. Why you must have it? First of all, the Le Corbusier dining table will never go out of style, and its quality manufacturing will outlast all of its predecessors. In terms of design, the Le Corbusier dining table appeals to the eye thanks to both intricate and robust design. The artistic layout of the steel rods ensures it’ll easily conform with your overall interior, be it rustic, classic, or industrial. The endurant glass tabletop will handle all of your dining, spills, and daily stress gracefully, requiring nothing more than a daily wipe-down to restore its glaze.

Herman Miller’s 1950 DAW Chair

Herman Miller’s 1950 DAW Chair will perfectly complement your Le Corbusier dining table. With this design, Miller didn’t only create a rounded, comfortable chair made to make every meal feel like a royal dinner. He also created an eclectic blend of three contrasting designs to ensure ultimate versatility when combined with other furnishings. This chair features an organic-styled soft-contoured, rounded seat, rustic, wooden legs, and intersecting metal rods that add industrial charm to the design. The result is a soft, comfortable appeal of the chair with an upscale vibe of the polished metal elements. With three styles blended in a single design, rest assured that there’s no single furniture piece that won’t get along with the DAW chair.

Now, which upholstery style to choose? This mid-century modern furniture piece goes so well with the Le Corbusier dining table that virtually any color or upholstery choice creates a balanced look. If you want a more formal appearance, definitely go for a deep black. A choice of white color will introduce lightness and freshness into your ambiance if you’re going for a more relaxed, casual vibe.

The Eames Walnut stool

Versatile in shape or form, and sturdy in structure, the Eames Walnut stool is the perfect mid-century modern furniture piece to complete the design. It will balance out the prominent industrial vibe of the dining room set with a natural wooden shade, and it also coordinates with the rustic legs of the DAW chair. Furthermore, the Eames Walnut Stool has a rare amount of functionality, since you can use both as a stool and as a surrogate side-table. When you don’t need extra sitting, allocate your Eames Walnut Stools to corners of the dining room and underneath your windows. They’ll serve amazingly as side tables, allowing you to store anything from books and magazines to plants and decorations.

Prominent mid century modern furniture designs persist throughout the passing decades, and not without a good reason. Ingenius artists of the mid-20th century had a rare talent to create the most beautiful, comfortable, and functional designs that were highly adaptable to all interior styles. Their creations are now found in palaces, castles, and prominent hotel salons. Needless to say, your home deserves such a value.

Chic Contemporary Bathroom Ideas

by Leave a Comment

“There is something about a bathroom that feels like a fortress. A closed bathroom door may only be about two inches of plywood, but it feels like an iron bar.” – Ursula Vernon, Castle Hangnail

Some think of it as a fortress, some as a sanctuary, but the fact is that a bathroom has a distinctive and unique place in every household. This room can be improved and modified according to the latest technology and current trends. Some are extravagant, others minimalistic, but ultimately, bathroom design always comes down to personal preference of the user and their own affinities. If you are not quite sure which option you want to go with, and all you know is that you want a contemporary look, it is probably best to keep it simple.

Remember, bathrooms have the power awe your guests; if you did a nice job with the design, that is. This is exactly why we decided to provide you with some useful ideas on how to add a refined modern look to your bathroom and make your guests’ jaw drop every time they walk into it.

Natural light

To get that classic yet crisp look, try to bring in as much natural light as possible. This can be done by going with large windows or putting up a glass brick panel alongside the exposed periphery. The presence of natural and direct light will enhance the décor of your bathroom, and make it feel more open, airy and lively.

Using material palette

Another great idea to highlight the contemporary vibe of your bathroom is to use glossy surfaces like glass, steel, lacquer, tiles, etc. The gloss of materials like the ones used by ACS Designer Bathrooms will provide increased reflection, which can further enhance the lighting effects in your bathroom. Keep in mind to use materials that will bring out contrast and the depth of the entire space. Try to decorate the surfaces with matte and glossy finishes, but make sure you find the right balance between the two. Too much gloss will shock your eyes and make the whole experience unpleasant. On the other hand, too much matte will make your bathroom look like a movie set of “Dracula”. It is a never-ending game of dark and light, reflection, and absorption, and the balance is always key.

Color palette

Your bathroom will be a success if you go for the colors like beige, tan, white, grey and pastels. These neutral colors enhance and emphasize the geometry and lines of the space, making every bathroom look interesting and pleasing to the eye. Some of the color combinations that will go hand in hand are pastel pink and crème, gray and blue or mint green, as well as gold and beige.  When it comes to accessories, furniture, and walls, you can go with a clever use of pop colors in the form of focal elements.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Mirrors are a quintessential part of every bathroom and not just in terms of their practical purpose. The modern design mostly relies on straight lines and sharp geometrical shapes, which can be monotonous, so the best way to break it is to install a couple of mirrors of various geometrical shapes. Oftentimes the scale of the mirror will make a difference, so be careful while selecting the ideal one for your bathroom wall.

The charm of lights

Lights and lighting accessories are among the crucial aspects of the contemporary style. Lighting serves to emphasize the elements in a very minimalistic form. For example, the vanity and the mirrors can be accentuated by the use of down lighting for vanities and backlighting for the mirrors. Modern look helps to point out the element and attaches an extra dimension to space. Furthermore, one can use downlighters or scone to emphasize a particular wall in the bathroom.

Conclusion

Contemporary is the word that suggests the use of modern and trending ideas like window covers from plantation shutters salt lake city. There is a broad range of fixtures, materials, wallpapers, and finishes one can use to achieve the contemporary look for their bathroom. This article showcases a small portion of ideas that can give an insight into to the world of contemporary restrooms. In the past, bathrooms were somewhat neglected, especially in terms of design, but modern generations have managed to stylize the bathrooms and make their design relevant yet again.

Nowadays, everything can be designed and customized in order to serve the user’s original vision and idea. Keep in mind that style, aesthetics, and details are crucial when it comes to bathroom design. The key is to keep it simple, yet chic and elegant.

Decor trends of 2018

by Leave a Comment

If you love keeping up to date with the latest decor trends, it’s definitely well worth continuing reading in order to discover some of the top home decor trends of 2018 according to Gary Friedman. All of which are guaranteed to add a touch of style to your home.

Decor trends of 2018:

  1. Dark wood furniture

While light wood furniture has been a more popular option than dark wood furniture in recent years, in 2018 you can accept to see a far greater percentage of dark wood furniture such as cupboards, dining tables, coffee tables and bookshelves in your favorite furniture stores. So if you’re looking to invest in a new solid wood table or desk, it’s well worth browsing a few of your favorite stores to see if any models take your fancy.

As an added bonus, scratches and marks are far less noticeable with dark wood furniture as they are on light wood furniture. So you’ll be sure to love how low maintenance dark wood furniture is.

  1. Velvet sofas and chaises

If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of purchasing an attractive, velvet sofa, now is the perfect time as in the next few months you should expect to see velvet sofas for sale at all of your favorite furniture retailers. If you don’t want to commit to purchasing a brand new sofa, you can still experiment with velvet by purchasing a few cheap velvet pillows, to decorate your sofa or bed with.

  1. Stainless steel

Stainless steel is set to become of the year’s hottest decor trends. A simple way to experiment with the stainless steel trend is to replace your bathroom and kitchen’s outdated handles and doorknobs with sleek stylish, stainless steel versions. Which you’ll be able to pick up for a few dollars each, from your nearest hardware store.

  1. Antiques

It’s the right time to display your family’s antique heirlooms as antique furniture and decorations are set to make a comeback in 2018. Examples of antique items which you may want to consider displaying in your home include antique grandfather clocks, antique writing desks, and antique cabinets.

If your family doesn’t own any antique items, simply attend a local auction or browse through a second-hand furniture store. Where you’re likely to find a wide array of unbeatable bargains.

If you don’t like the idea of displaying second-hand items in your home, you’re still in luck as a wide variety of furniture companies are set to release brand new pieces which have been inspired by antique pieces.

  1. Large frameless mirrors

One way to add a bit of style to your home and to create the illusion of well needed extra space is to invest in a few frameless mirrors which will instantly make each of your rooms feel larger than they are. So whether you simply love the look and feel of spacious rooms or you live in a relatively small home, which is lacking in space, it’s well worth purchasing a few oversized frameless mirrors.

So if you’re interested in investing in a few new decorative items, it’s well worth using the above guide as shopping inspiration.