How to Pick the Perfect Painting for your Living Room

2 / 20 / 17

Picking the perfect painting can make or break your living room. After all, this social area can be one of the most used rooms, so its visual aesthetic is important to building harmony in your home. Finding a beautiful piece that will bring the room together can be exciting – but it’s no easy feat.

Let’s dive into the steps you need to consider to pick the perfect painting for your living room.

Measure the space

A big mistake by non-interior designers is to not base decisions on painting sizes. There is nothing more disappointing than buying the perfect painting, and then realizing that it’s too large or small for the area. When a piece of art is too large, it’s aesthetically overwhelming to the viewer and can impact the impression of space and size of a room. On the other hand, when a painting is too small, it can be overshadowed by other elements or look out of proportion.

Choose paintings that fit a particular space. If the painting is large, it’s better to hang it alone and provide it enough margins. Smaller pieces should be hung in groups. Also consider the items around the painting: art should not exceed the length of furniture around it.

Styling

The classic singular frame is always a great choice for filling an empty wall. However, a more elaborate combination of canvases can form a unique shape that brings elegance and interest to a space. A canvas print split into 5 separate parts in different sizes (like the stunning example below) can transform a room and create an almost window-like landscape to enjoy. Of course, there are a variety of combinations, pieces and designs that work well together.

Lighting

Paintings need to be displayed with pride – always drawing attention to visitors. Arrange lighting in a living room in a way that ensures that paintings are illuminated. You can also add new lighting spots to highlight the paintings.

When choosing lighting, you need to consider the type of painting as well. Oil paintings can look shadowy under an intense spotlight, so you should use broad lighting for them. Reflection and glare can also cause issues depending on the paint or fabric used. To fix this, use a non-reflecting glass frame or buy non-reflecting canvas prints.

Visual Balance

Achieving visual balance in a living room is key to creating an inviting and interesting room. Without visual balance, the room can feel uncomfortable and aesthetically displeasing. Paintings need to have the right scale and work harmoniously with other features in the room.

Blending well with the tones of wall colors is a must to create an attractive space. Additionally, a painting with colors repeated across highlights in the living room will create a visual balance. Large paintings can also provide a focal point to the living room, and other furnishings can be arranged around it.

Consider cost

The majority of us can’t afford a Picasso but there are more than enough beautiful paintings, prints and canvases that we can pick for our living room. Before making any decision on a painting, take into account your budget and how much you can allocate into this new décor. Affordable options are not necessarily lower quality – they may be created by lesser-known artists or be fairly priced.

Reducing Garden Maintenance Time and Cost

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We all like to find ways to save money and free up valuable time; in these busy times, it is often the case that essential jobs around the house get overlooked in order to accommodate more pressing needs. This is as true in the garden as it is in the home, and outside there is essential maintenance that cannot be overlooked. The best way to keep garden maintenance to a minimum is to keep it simple. Don’t indulge in complex, hard to keep flower beds, and simply lay a nice lawn where your children and pets can play.

However, it’s worth remembering that even the simplest of lawns needs a great deal of maintenance. Grass grows very quickly in the summer months, so you will have to dedicate time to mowing it on a regular basis. Also, natural grass will become worn under heavy usage – such as the kids using it as a place to play – and you will need to attend to bald patches with nutrition and watering.

These are just a couple of the problems associated with keeping a lawn, and we will mention more later. So, what’s the answer? Do you hire a gardener? You could, but that’s an unwanted expense. In fact, we have a better suggestion: why not lay an artificial grass lawn?

The Benefits of Artificial Grass

So, why should you choose artificial grass for the garden as opposed to natural grass? In addition to the lack of maintenance – all it needs is hosing down every now and again, and if you spill anything on it you can just clean it off with water and maybe a weak detergent – there are many other benefits. First, it is surprisingly affordable; Artificial Grass Warrington can supply you with a beautifully laid lawn that will remain lush and green throughout the year, with no wear and no faded colours, at a price that you will find to be surprisingly competitive. Factor in the time and money you save, and you begin to see that it is a very sensible option.

Plus, what happens when kids and pets go outdoors after a wet spell? The bring mud into the house on their shoes! This won’t happen with your artificial lawn, and you also get the benefit of efficient drainage built into the design. Your kids can play out in all weathers and it is safe and sound, plus your dogs can’t dig holes in an artificial lawn!

It’s a sensible choice for a growing family where you don’t have the time to maintain a natural lawn, and you will not be able to tell the difference. Artificial Grass Warrington supply only the very latest, top quality product, and they will happily give you all the advice you need on the right product for your requirements, and send you a sample too. Get in touch with them now for more information, and they’ll give you a great quote for replacing your natural lawn with a durable, beautiful artificial one.

Top Quality Brand Name Kitchen and Bathroom Supplies

12 / 20 / 16

The choice of bathroom and kitchen fixtures and fittings has never been greater, and whether you prefer traditional or more modern designs, you will be able to search through thousands of items to find those that are perfect for you. With many well-known brands to consider, and of course the need to find the best deals, you need to find a supplier you can trust, and we strongly recommend you take a look at the excellent range from Plumbtile, the leading name in bathroom and kitchen supplies. With a reputation for excellent customer service and sensible prices, Plumbtile are waiting to help you.

Contemporary Modern Design

Whether you are refitting your kitchen or bathroom, or are looking for a fresh style for a new-build property, we recommend you check out the Plumbtile range of superbly styled and very beautiful pull down faucet designs. These convenient and attractive items will be the crowning touch for any bathroom or kitchen installation, and offer effective and simple operation. Choose from a selection of familiar and more modern designs, and from a choice of well-known brands guaranteeing quality at excellent prices.

Plumbtile also offers a choice of excellent tiles, in many different styles and designs, and the well-designed website allows you to browse through the range and displays examples of their work. They have a live chat option so you can talk to one of the expert team, who will happily advise you on the best solutions for your requirements, and there are regular clearance items for excellent savings. It’s worth taking the time to look carefully at the website for all the information you could possibly need.

Help and Advice

One aspect of the Plumbtile website we particularly like is that they offer you advice on how to do jobs yourself such as, for example, installing a traditional Kitchen Tile Backsplash. The method is laid out neatly and clearly, including all the materials you will need, and you can find an excellent choice of backsplash tiles that will provide a wonderful look for your new kitchen, or add something special to your existing one. You’ll find their prices to be excellent, too, so we advise you to take a look at their range right away.

Plumbtile offers a wide variety of bathroom fixtures and fittings, everything from tubs and whirlpools to minor fixtures, and only provides the very best brands in the business. The team is on hand to help with any questions you may have and we advise you to have a look at the clearance center, where you can find excellent deals on end of line or discontinued items.

With full technical support and helpful service providers, you can rely upon Plumbtile to give you all the help you need to ensure your kitchen or bathroom is one that your friends will envy, and that will give you excellent service for as long as you wish. Check out Plumbtile now, or get in touch and they will be more than happy to help.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between Reusable Bag Materials

12 / 20 / 16

When it comes to finding the best reusable bag materials, there are quite a few things to consider. There is a wide range of materials for your reusable bags, and these include the following:

Cotton
Jute
Canvas
Bamboo
Woven PP (Polypropylene)
Non-Woven PP

It’s great to have options, but how do you know which option will best suit your customers? Well, we can’t tell you; it all depends on their needs. Of course, we can give you six questions to ask yourself if you need to narrow things down.

Looking for Light?

Lighter materials are perfect if customers will be using many bags at once. If lightness is right up your alley, try going for either woven or non-woven PP.

Desire Durability?

Canvas and cotton fall short when it comes to lightness, but they are both exceptionally durable. If your customers need to use their bags to carry heavy loads for years to come, either material makes an excellent choice, as does jute.

Seeking Softness?

Selling finer goods? Expect your customers to carry their bags all day? You’ll want the softest material; both bamboo and cotton will serve you well.

Must be Moisture-Resistant?

Certain items, such as ice cream and meat, can produce moisture while carried around, so natural fibres aren’t ideal. Once again, woven and non-woven PP bags come out ahead.

Urging for Uniqueness?

For some businesses, standing out in a crowd is far more important than giving customers exactly what they expect. If that sounds like your kind of goal, try eschewing more traditional choices, such as cotton, woven PP, and non-woven PP, in favour of canvas, bamboo, or jute. We’re sure you’ll get a reaction.

Prefer Popularity?

Being unique is great, but plenty of businesses would rather just give their customers exactly what they know they already want. If popularity is paramount, you can’t do better than PP bags, with 74% of consumers in a recent study reporting that it was their preferred material for reusable bags.

After considering the needs of your customers and asking yourself the questions listed above, you should have a pretty good idea of the bagging material that will best suit your business.

Scary Facts about Fires that Highlight the Importance of Teaching Fire Safety to Kids

11 / 12 / 16

Fires are scary. Most people understand how devastating they can be so they avoid playing with fire. However, fire safety is not just about avoiding playing with fire. There are a lot of possible causes of fires so there are a lot of tips to follow to ensure fire safety.

In addition, fire safety is the responsibility of every household and everyone that’s a part of it. Yes, this includes the kids. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to teach them fire safety.

This article will provide some scary facts about fires. These facts should convince you that you should educate your kids on fire safety and that you should start now.

It’s Not Just the Fire Itself

You know what’s deadlier than fire itself? It’s the smoke and toxic gases that fires release. This means that a lot of fire victims didn’t really die from the fire itself. They died because of the smoke and toxic gases that they’ve inhaled during the fire.

This means that you don’t have just one enemy. The best defense against them is education and to start right now.

60,000 Children Die from Fire-related Incidents All Over the World

This figure is just heartbreaking. What’s more heartbreaking is the fact that a lot of these deaths happened inside the home where they should have felt safe. In addition, a lot of these deaths could have easily been avoided if only the children were educated on fire safety.

Kids Under the Age of 5, Just Like Adults Over 65, are More Likely to Die in a Home Fire

These kids and adults are twice as likely to die in a home fire as compared to the rest of the population. This means that they’re already at a disadvantage. You can lessen their chances by educating them on how to avoid fires. Teaching them what to do in case of a fire will prove to be very helpful as well. It can save lives.

A Lot of Deaths Happen at Night While People are Sleeping

The fires are usually caused by an unattended candle or started in the kitchen. Just like a thief in the night, you wouldn’t know what hit you until it’s too late.

Fires are Deadlier to Americans as Compared to Natural Disasters

Add all the deaths caused by natural disasters and the deaths caused by fires will still outnumber them. This is a sad fact considering the fact that while we can’t really do a lot of things to prevent a natural disaster from happening, there are a lot of things that we can do to avoid a fire.

Fire Safety Tips for You and Your Kids

With these facts, you now know how important fire safety education is. Start educating yourself so you can start educating your kids. Judging from the facts above, it can be the difference between life and death. Check out this infographic by ContractorQuotes.us for some helpful fire safety tips.

The Best Moving Company in LA

10 / 20 / 16

Are you moving house in the near future? Or perhaps you are relocating your business and need a full commercial removals service? If so, you will need to engage the services of a company that promises – and provides – excellent service, and that has a reputation built on many years of satisfied customers. For addresses in and around Los Angeles, the company you need to talk to is Attention to Detail Moving; they have been in the business for several years, and have a reputation for superb services, as well as excellent and unbeatable rates.

Widely regarded as the best moving company in the city, Attention to Detail offers a full range of solutions, and the company name is chosen to reflect the excellent service that they are known for. They can handle any move, no matter how small or large, and will happily listen to any special requests you may have. They are experts in piano moving, for example, so you can rest assured your precious and expensive musical instrument will be given the care and attention it deserves during the move. You can arrange for one of the team to visit you and assess your requirements accurately.

One area of the service that you will appreciate is that Attention to Detail are a packing moving company; the skilled and highly trained team will attend to any packing of all items that is required so you can be certain your items will arrive at the new address exactly as they left the old one. You can rely on the team to move even the most awkward items with precision, as many of them bring former military training to the company, ensuring a smooth operation that will have you moved and in place in no time.

If you need to move items into storage, then you can take advantage of the excellent storage solutions provided by Attention to Detail. They have safe, secure and local facilities that you can use for short of long periods of time, with access whenever you need and excellent rates. No matter what it is you need store, give them a call and they will be more than happy to help. You can get a free no obligation quote for your moving requirements by filling in the simple online form, and they will come back to you as soon as they can with the best price.

Moving home or office need not be a stressful experience when you engage the services of Attention to Detail Moving, and many very satisfied clients have already discovered this when they booked the company to perform their move. They will be happy to attend your premises for an accurate assessment of your needs, and provide you with an accurate price for the entire job. Take the stress out of your move by using a professional service; get in touch with Attention to Detail right now, and you may be surprised how affordable it can be to use the best in the business.

Healthy eating for children

10 / 8 / 16

Children’s food is overwhelmingly associated with unhealthy eating. Who didn’t dream of chocolate, sweets, soft drinks and ice cream as a child? After all, sweets are featured as a vital part of childhood in most popular media, from children’s books to advertisers. It may not be possible to completely remove sweets from a child’s diet, but getting your kids to eat fruit and vegetables doesn’t have to be a battle. It is possible for your children to enjoy a balanced diet – you just need to know how to get them excited about healthy food. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Cook healthy recipes with your child

When you think of cooking when you are young, you probably think of freshly baked cookies, sweet biscuit dough and lots of coloured icing. You probably don’t think of salads, fajita wraps, mini pizzas and fish cakes. It’s never too early to tap into your child’s inner chef and teach them to make a few basic and healthy recipes that will see them through into later life as well.

Explore what healthy food your children like

Some vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, seem to be universally loathed by children. However, there are many other fruits and vegetables that your child may already like, such as avocadoes and cherry tomatoes. Encourage your child to try different vegetables and reward them when they try something new – even if they decide it isn’t for them after all.

Find alternative rewards to sweets

Parents often reward children with sweets and chocolate when they have done something well, making it easy for children to associate sweets with achievement and treat time. Avoid rewarding children with sweets and find alternatives such as stickers, healthy snacks, their favourite fruit or just lots of affection.

The lunchbox

If healthy food isn’t available at your child’s school, prepare a lunch box that contains a mix of starchy foods, protein, dairy and fruit. Include food that is fun to eat and shareable such as carrot sticks and hummus. While chocolate bars and crisps are convenient to add to a lunch box, try replacing them with fruit salads. Dried fruit does not count as a healthy snack as it is high in sugar and bad for teeth.

Smoothie recipes for kids

Fun, easy and quick — smoothies are a great way of getting one portion of your five-a-day. Make it fun by getting your child to pick their favourite fruits and put them in the blender. Ripe bananas give smoothies a creamy texture and naturally sweet taste, meaning you won’t need to add additional honey, sugar or ice cream. If you’re looking for inspiration, explore these healthy smoothie recipes for kids. Just remember, fruit juice and smoothies are high in sugar, so limit your child to a serving of 150ml or less a day.

Eating out

Children need a lot of energy to keep going but many children’s menus are high in fat, sugar and salt: chicken nuggets, burgers, fries, ice cream, grilled cheese. When eating out, buy a side of salad or greens to complement a child’s meal if a vegetable is nowhere in sight. When you’re on holiday, there is sometimes no choice but to eat in a restaurant. Here are some tips to help you eat healthily while on holiday. And whatever you do, make sure you’re keeping the soft drinks to a minimum!

Some Important Carpet Cleaning Tips

10 / 3 / 16

There are some great tips to help clean your carpet with out too much hassle or fuss. We all have to deal with an unclean carpet now and again and it can be a daunting task especially when you are paid a lot of money for the carpet and don’t want to further damage it.

All carpets no matter the stain need some attention now and again. It’s always good to give them a regular clean to prolong the life of the carpet. The problem is many individuals are put off by the idea of actually doing the cleaning mainly due to not knowing the best techniques and also the thought of having to rearrange furniture in order to get at the stain.

Use Salt for Carpet Cleaning

Perhaps you have never heard of this technique, but give it a try. Use a little salt to help remove carpet dirt. Salt helps to soak the stain therefore helping to remove it from your beloved carpet.

Use a Carpet Cleaning Powder

Baking soda works remarkably well for removing stains and dirt from your carpet. It can be the one thing that changes your carpet cleaning regime due to it’s efficacy.

It’s very easy and straight forward to do: take the powder and spread over the troublesome area, then leave for as long as possible, before using a hoover to suck up the absorbed powder. This can work wonders when done properly!

Top Tip – leave the powder down over the course of the night. This will give the powder plenty of time to work on the stain.

Use a Carpet Cleaning Shampoo

Like baking soda (powder) there are also many good carpet cleaning shampoos you can use to clean your carpet. Each shampoo will have it’s own directions which you must follow to get the most out of that product.

Make sure you dilute the liquid as directed and then apply thoroughly to the stain and then leave for the directed amount of time to get the best results. Be sure to absorb or hoover the substance back up if it is necessary.

Top Tip – when applying the solution make sure to take the time to work it into the carpet. The better you do this the better the results will be.

The Most Important Carpet Cleaning Factor

There are a few important things to keep in mind when doing you cleaning. There are the obvious ones i.e. follow product directions exactly as stated, make sure to work product in, leave for enough time to be effective etc. However one of the things that gets neglected is cleaning at regular intervals.

Schedule to do a full carpet clean at least twice per year. Don’t just wait for stains to appear to instigate the clean. Instead value your carpet and give it what it deserves.

How to Cater for Any Guest

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We all have friends with specific dietary requirements, or know of kids who are just plain picky. So when you’re planning an event at home, take the stress out of hosting with these simple tips, covering everything from recipes for kids to what to cook when you have a vegan coming to tea. Taking up the challenge could be a great opportunity to incorporate new ideas into your culinary repertoire!

Serving for Special Diets

First up, when you send round the invitations, make sure to ask whether your guests have any special dietary requirements, so you know well ahead of time and can plan menu adjustments. Once you know which diets you’re catering for, here are some ideas on how to cook for each:

Gluten Intolerant: cakes and sauces can often be made gluten-free very easily – just substitute gluten free flour for your usual flour. Dough-based dishes, however, such as bread and pizza, can lose their elasticity if made with gluten-free flour. Try a seafood or meat-based main with lots of vegetables and potatoes or sweet potatoes on the side – you might even be able to avoid having to track down any special ingredients entirely this way.
Vegan: most people have a few vegetarian dishes in their repertoire, but cutting out cheese and eggs can prove tricky. Indian cuisine is a great option, as many dishes in this style are naturally vegan (as long as it doesn’t include paneer, a type of cheese). For dessert, shop-bought puff pastry is almost always vegan and makes an impressive base for a tart.
Lactose Intolerant: almond, soy or hemp milk all work well as substitutes for cow’s milk, depending on the recipe you’re using. Coconut cream can add richness to dishes, while for buttermilk try substituting one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per 250mls milk substitute. Also bear in mind that lots of pre-prepared foods like bread and sauces contain lactose, so check the labels carefully.
Nut Allergy: this can be tricky to cater for, as nuts are hidden in lots of common foods, so again be sure to read labels carefully before you buy. Soy and satay sauce will also often contain nuts, as can pesto and many salad dressings. But cutting out nuts still leaves plenty of options, from Mediterranean-style dishes to hearty Baltic stews.

On the other hand, if you’re planning your event at a restaurant, check reviews carefully and ring up beforehand to ask whether they’ll cater for the special dietary requirements of your guests.

Cooking for Kids

Kids will often find richer, dinner-party style food overwhelming, so if you’re hosting kids at your event, you may want to think up a different menu for them. Recipes for kids tend to be simple: think pasta, soups or schnitzel. Something a little more interactive that will encourage them to try new things is giving them the opportunity to prepare the food themselves: try making fajitas with bowls of different ingredients they can add in the centre of the table. If you have a theme for your event, kids can enjoy it too, whether that’s autumnal seasonal ingredients like apples and squash, or even unicorn-style rainbow recipes for kids.

Of course, the type of event will play a big part in deciding which dishes you prepare, and if in doubt, you can always ask friends to contribute something, making your job as a host considerably simpler!

Three Easy (and Yummy) Recipes for Kids to Make with Mum and Dad

8 / 28 / 16

During the summer holidays it is hard enough to think of activities to keep your kids entertained – nevermind planning 6 weeks of dinners and lunches too! Boredom can easily strike, especially if the weather’s not great, and serving un-entertained little ones the same meal for the fifth time is unlikely to change the situation.

Luckily, we’ve killed two birds with one stone by listing some easy recipes for kids to make at home with mum and dad. It will keep them occupied and ensure they get something tasty to eat. Simple.

Mini pizzas

This is great recipe for kids as a fun birthday party idea or for a playdate. Eat them with a bit of a salad as a delicious evening meal or pack them in foil as a snack.

Use a classic pizza dough recipe for your base but divide it into small portions instead of one large one. You can also buy pre-made, uncooked, dough for convenience.
Add a layer of tomato puree to the base, or try a barbeque sauce for something different.
Get your kids to add toppings and experiment – ham, pineapple, pepperoni, cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms, roasted veg and chicken are all good toppings to offer up.
Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake until cooked and golden.

Bubble and Squeak

An oldie but a goodie – bubble and squeak is a traditional British recipe for using up Sunday roast leftovers. Not only is it easy to make, but it also teaches your kids about food waste.

Supervise your children while they cut all of the ingredients (usually cabbage, vegetables and potatoes) into small slices. This should only be done by older children and you should never leave them alone with sharp knives or other dangerous items.
Put these ingredients into a saucepan with a little butter and lightly sauté. You can add some garlic and other seasoning here if you would like.
Add fresh eggs and mix to create a scrambled egg texture.
Serve on toast or with yummy soldiers for a lovely lunchtime treat.

Rice puff cereal cakes

Who doesn’t love cereal cakes? Easy to make – and a little messy – they combine many of the things kids love into one activity. Make them as a treat for good behaviour.

Melt a little butter in a warm pan and add chocolate.
Add your chosen cereal – rice puffs or flakes work best – and stir until mixed. You can also add a small amount of golden syrup to help everything bind together better.
Pour the mixture into a lined tin and cool in the fridge until fully set. You can either set this treat as one big dessert as little individual slices. Kids can get more involved by adding some toppings – mini marshmallows, chocolate drops, fruit, raisins, and nuts are all good options.

Remember: too much sugar isn’t a great idea for children but the occasional treat won’t hurt. There are plenty of yummy dessert recipes for kids that are low in sugar which you can try on other occasions to help your child eat a balanced diet.

Those are just a few fun recipe ideas for cooking with children this summer. Lots of recipes can be adapted to make them easier for little ones and if you’re stuck for other activity ideas, have a look online.

Instilling a love of cooking at this age can mean your kids will enjoying trying out new recipes and baking in the future – and might even help fussy eaters experiment with new foods. Try these recipes for kids and happy eating!