How to Choose House Plants to Match Your Interior

Introducing indoor plants are a great way to not only aesthetically enhance a space, but to add a feel of balance through nature into any space. Regardless of time-poor urban living or suburban family bliss, much can be said of plant additions into a home

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/interior-design-decor/10268-How-to-Choose-House-Plants-to-Match-Your-Interior.html

Top 5 Reasons to Buy Venetian Blinds

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/windows-siding/10267-Top-5-Reasons-to-Buy-Venetian-Blinds.html

5 Gorgeous Tubs That Will Make You Want to Renovate Your Bathroom

It’s easy to get lost when trying to breathe some new life into your bathroom, since there is no shortage of options when it comes to tub designs. If you’re looking for motivation to renovate it in the first place, you’re going to get swayed away by what’s possible if you know what to look for. After all, the design choices are nearly limitless, and really allow you to create everything you’ve envisioned in your mind. 1. Stone tubs Stone tubs are one of the most durable choices you can make, while also being absolutely gorgeous to look at. You’ll be able to spend an eternity in there without ever having to worry about damaging something. One of the traits all stone tubs share is that they’re excellent at retaining heat, making them a natural choice for those who are just dying for a nice hot bath after a long day of work. 2. Freestanding tubs Nothing makes a better statement than placing a freestanding tub in the middle of your bathroom. But ...

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/kitchen-bath/10266-5-Gorgeous-Tubs-That-Will-Make-You-Want-to-Renovate-Your-Bathroom.html

Tip for Leveling Wood Patio Furniture - Today's Homeowner

Here's a tip to address two common problems with wood patio furniture: the tendency to rot from sitting on wet concrete, and to wobble from sitting on an uneven slab.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/tip-for-leveling-wood-patio-furniture/

Ridgid 5-Outlet Power Hub - Today's Homeowner

Unlike typical power strips, this 5-outlet indoor/outdoor power hub from Ridgid is designed to accommodate large plugs, so none of the receptacles will be blocked. It is available at The Home Depot.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/ridgid-5-outlet-power-hub/

Hints for Holiday Preparation - Today's Homeowner

In preparation for the holiday season, the Today's Homeowner crew help sisters Missy and Chick get their home and outdoor space ready for entertaining.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/hints-for-holiday-preparation/

How to Fund Your Home Improvement Project

Planning to have your home remodeled anytime soon? You better prepare for it financially. A good amount of money is needed to push through with a home improvement project. It might be taxing to do this, but the result will definitely be worth it. Nothing beats having your home beautified and well-maintained.

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/real-estate-finance/10265-How-to-Fund-Your-Home-Improvement-Project.html

How to Fund Your Home Improvement Project

Planning to have your home remodeled any time soon? You better prepare for it financially. A good amount of money is needed to push through with a home improvement project. It might be taxing to do this, but the result will definitely be worth it. Nothing beats having your home beautified and well-maintained. Funding your home renovation can be the toughest part in this project. In order to start with it, you need a capital first. If you don’t have enough money to push through with it, then you won’t be able to renovate your home. So, here are some ways on how to fund your home improvement project effectively: Home loans One of the most powerful ways to fund your home renovation is through getting a home loan from trusted banks near you. You can get the best home loan interest rates and deals, depending on your credit profile. Simply make sure that your credit score and record stay clear and clean to ensure your success in getting a loan. Also, when you decide to apply for ...

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/improvements-remodeling-building/10265-How-to-Fund-Your-Home-Improvement-Project.html

Love your home this Winter

Winter has officially arrived! And with Christmas just round the corner, it is essential to have a warm and cosy home to relax in and entertain in over the weeks and months ahead. As ever, Anglian is here to give you a helping hand!  Here are our 10 top tips to make sure you – and your guests – love your home this winter.

 

1. SAVE ENERGY AND KEEP THE HEAT IN!

We all know a warm home is a happy home, but who really wants to crank up the central heating?  By investing in new energy efficient doors and windows, you can ensure your home will stay comfortably cosy.

 

2. LET IN THE LIGHT!

The winter months can be very dark and gloomy, so it’s essential to get some natural light into your home. Whether that’s through impressive bi-folding doors, large windows, or lantern roofs, every inch of natural light can help make our homes feel brighter and more vibrant. With less hours of daylight, make sure you open your blinds, pull open your curtains and let the light shine in!

 

3. ADD SOME COLOUR

Colour can instantly make us feel happier and bring our homes to life.  Inject colour into your home through accessories such as vases, cushions and pictures; or, if you want a more impactful transformation, get the paint brushes out and create that statement wall.

 

4. MAKE AN ENTRANCE

First impressions are everything. Make your home somewhere you can’t wait to walk into with a statement entrance. Clear all the leaves (or snow!) from your walkway, create a feeling of tranquillity with evergreen plants outside, and update your door – whether you decide to go all out with a bold colour or you opt for a more traditional option, it’s the perfect way to make that lasting impression.

 

5. WINTER CLEAN

We all have an annual spring clean, throwing things out that are never used or take up too much space, but what’s stopping you doing a winter clean? Get your home ready for guests visiting over the festive period, clear the clutter and make space for relaxing and entertaining.

 

6. WARM UP WITH A RUG

Wooden, tiled and concrete flooring all look stunning, however they can also be very cold in the winter and lots of heat can be lost through them. This can be prevented with a cosy and comfy rug. Put down a warming winter rug; keep the heat and create a lovely feature in your home.

 

7. A SCENT-SATIONAL HOME

The smell of real pine trees, festive cinnamon-spiced bakes, and orange pomander balls; winter is a feast for the senses!  Create a homely vibe and set the scene for a scent-sational home with beautiful candles and well-placed reed diffusers; or cook up a storm this Christmas and fill your home with the scents of the season.

 

8. CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE

Lighting is also a very effective way of creating a warming ambience. Depending on the room you’re focusing on, lighting can help to set the mood and enhance the interior design of your home. Stunning lamps can add individuality to a room and, throughout the winter months, can help bring a warming glow to your home.

 

9. HEAT IT UP

Got that one radiator that doesn’t seem to heat up? It’s time for a radiator health check. Make sure you check all radiators for cold spots; and, once the heating is off, you just need to go round and bleed each radiator. Bleeding your radiators will ensure they are working as efficiently as possible and giving off the most amount needed in these cold winter months.

 

10. YOUR HAVEN

Your home should be somewhere that’s personal to you.  Everyone has their own individual touches which makes their house, their home – whether they may be family pictures, stunning artwork, bright and bold colours or your favourite candles. Winter is a time of year when you spend time at home with your family and friends, so make your home your very own sanctuary and add those personal touches.

 

 

The post Love your home this Winter appeared first on Good to be Home.

from Good to be Home https://www.anglianhome.co.uk/goodtobehome/design-and-architecture/love-home-winter/

Take a tour of the top trends of 2017

Believe it or not, 2018 is just around the corner.  Yes, that’s yet another 12 months done and dusted, hasn’t it flown by! With a new year brings new trends, and we can’t wait to open the door on 2018 and see what it has in store for us.

As we speed towards January’s new beginnings, we thought there was no better time to pause and take a look back through the hottest home improvement trends which have taken 2017 by storm.

1. BRILLIANTLY BOLD FRONT DOORS

Let’s give fabulous front doors their moment, there’s no doubt they deserve it! This year our Pinterest feed has been full of bold and brilliant doors, from bang-on-trend Duck Egg Blue to the more daring Ruby Red. We’ve loved your enthusiasm for the bright and bold so why not join the door fandom on Instagram by simply searching #ihavethisthingwithdoors – we have a feeling this trend isn’t going anywhere soon.

2. LOOKING A BIT GREY

Did you go grey? It seems that most embraced the new home neutral, turning our backs on the go-to plain white walls and outdated magnolia with a grey re-fresh. While it was certainly a big trend this year it looks as though grey is here to stay. This colour has been hot all season, and why shouldn’t it be? It can add a sophisticated and totally modern vibe to any room.

3. METALLIC INSPO

Copper has been a ‘hot right now’ trend this year with it found on everything from stylish and practical pots and pans to super trendy lamps.  It has become the perfect accessory to liven up any home. This warm metallic makes a style statement and has been bringing a soft glow to homes all year.

4. VELVET

Oh-so soft to touch velvet has made a massive impression with home improvers this year. This throwback fabric is a great option for those wanting to add texture into our homes and it has been the perfect option for those wanting an upholstery overhaul. Velvet armchairs and sofas add a refined edge to ay home.

5. LET’S GET TECHY

Our lives revolve more and more around our smart devices, so Anglian Home improvements thought, why not take home security high tech?

The Conexis™ L1 Smart Door Lock has been hugely popular with those wanting to smarten up their act! It has answered the cries of the increasingly tech-savvy customer with Bluetooth technology quick entry. There’s not a conventional key so there’s also no need to leave a door key under a mat, to worry about missing keys or the expense of replacing them, or to spend time trying to find keys when you have got your hands full – this trends gets the big thumbs up from us!

 

 

The post Take a tour of the top trends of 2017 appeared first on Good to be Home.

from Good to be Home https://www.anglianhome.co.uk/goodtobehome/design-and-architecture/take-tour-top-trends-2017/

Think you know what you can recycle? Think again!

New research by Anglian Home Improvements reveals that 99% of Brits now say they “actively recycle” in order to save the planet.

Anglian surveyed over 2,000 people* about their recycling knowledge and habits, to celebrate the launch of its new scrappage scheme, which allows customers to recycle their old windows – a material that over two thirds (70%) of us are currently unaware that you can recycle.

It found that, although the majority of people are doing their bit, many are unaware of exactly what can and can’t be recycled. Between 2012 and 2016 there was an 84% increase in rejected recycling, due to UK residents putting the wrong materials into their recycling bin*.

Although over 67% of the nation know the basics of recycling – that you can recycle aluminium cans, steel cans, glass bottles and cardboard – 27% incorrectly thought that you could recycle dirty pizza boxes and 26% said that you could recycle chocolate wrappers, which is unfortunately not true.

Research respondents incorrectly believed you can recycle these items:	Research respondents incorrectly believed you can’t recycle these items:
●      Used pizza boxes (27%) ●     Chocolate wrappers (26%) ●     Mirrored glass (22%) ●     Crisp packets (22%) ●     Tissues/cotton wool (20%)	●     Pieces of asbestos (87%) ●     Engine oil (72%) ●     Windows (70%) ●     Cooking oil (67%) ●     Clothes (60%)

 

One of the most common mistakes is thinking that you can recycle used pizza boxes, but in fact, the leftover grease from the food affects the quality of the cardboard and makes the pizza box unrecyclable. The paper fibers cannot separate from the oils during the pulping process.

Anglian Home Improvements spoke to Tim Ankers, Managing Director of The Waste Group, about the research. He said: “Unfortunately this research does not come as a surprise. Education on recycling is very limited and government and local council initiatives seem very limited compared to our European cousins.

“Traditionally, the UK’s approach has been to dump waste in landfill sites and not look to the future to find more sustainable methods to deal with our waste. It’s great to see that Anglian is offering a scrappage scheme on old windows, as these are recyclable and a commodity in the same way that scrap metal is.”

Matt Carey from Anglian Home Improvements said: “It is great that so many Brits have bought into recycling, and take the time to make an effort both at home (99% of Brits) and at work (85% of Brits). But it can be difficult to know what is and isn’t recyclable, when you get past basic materials like paper and glass. We hope that this research will help to raise awareness of the items that should and shouldn’t make it into your recycling bin.

“Not many people know that you can recycle your old windows, but rather than sending waste materials to landfill, our scrappage scheme aims to encourage customers to recycle their old windows and doors with us. You can also receive up to £3,000 for your old windows, so you’ll be saving money as well as the planet!”

Find out more about Anglian’s window scrappage scheme at: https://www.anglianhome.co.uk/double-glazing-windows/scrappage-scheme

 

* Independent survey of 2,000 UK adults, carried out October 2017

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37159581

 

 

 

 

 

The post Think you know what you can recycle? Think again! appeared first on Good to be Home.

from Good to be Home https://www.anglianhome.co.uk/goodtobehome/eco-living/think-know-can-recycle-think/

Savvy Storage Solutions for Older Home - Today's Homeowner

We create a pair of custom closets and vanity counter for Zach and Kelsey Gross, without sacrificing the details and character of their historic home.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/savvy-storage-solutions-for-older-home/

5 Easy DIY Steps to Fix Common Air Condition Problems

It can be quite frustrating to have your AC pack up on your when the weather is hot. And then you either have to endure the heat or call a repairman. Repairing an air condition can be a bit expensive depending on the fault or if there is need to replace parts. But before you grab your phone, there are simple steps you can take to see if you can fix the problem on your own without professional help. Most times, your AC can shut down for the simplest of reasons and performing the following quick checks will help you determine if it is something you can fix or if you need to call a certified air condition technician. Perform an electrical check If your air condition unit won’t come on at all, then the first thing you should do is to check your electrical power. Of course you will know if there is a power outage in your area, so we would eliminate that and head straight to the next possible culprit. Check your circuit breaker to be certain that has not tripped. You can tell if it ...

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/hvac-air-conditioning/10259-5-Easy-DIY-Steps-to-Fix-Common-Air-Condition-Problems.html

Maintaining Shopping Centres with Industrial Vacuum Cleaners

If your home is based in the West Midlands, you’ll know how busy it gets in most shopping centres across the vicinity, especially during peak seasons like Christmas and New Year. These centres are high volume traffic areas with thousands of shoppers walking around the many shops and restaurants throughout the day. Large retail outlets require regular maintenance, and shop floors must be kept spotless at all times. Contract or In-house Cleaners Whether you are a contract cleaning company who takes care of large retail stores and shopping centres or an in-house team who operate in one of the many massive supermarkets across the West Midlands, you’ll benefit greatly from purchasing high-quality industrial cleaning machines. As an individual who runs a contract cleaning company, it is imperative they you employ great staff and supply them with state of the art equipment for the job, this guarantees that clients are satisfied with your work and have no problems renewing your ...

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/appliance-repair/10258-Maintaining-Shopping-Centres-with-Industrial-Vacuum-Cleaners.html

How to Protect Your Home from Burglars

Burglary is one of the most common crimes in the world. It is also the easiest to prevent. In the US, statistics show that a burglary is committed every 15 seconds. When it does, homeowners lose more than a couple of prized possessions; they lose their piece of mind. Even the smallest of break-ins have a great impact on the wellbeing and safety of individuals. There are several things that homeowners can do to make their homes burglar-proof. Never Advertise Your Absence The first thing most burglars check is that there is no one home at the time. Therefore, whether you are gone for a couple of hours or a few weeks, always make sure that your home looks occupied. There are a few ways you can do this. The first method is to ensure your home has light timers that turn on and off in ways that resemble your daily pattern. These timers can also be used to turn your TV and radios on and off. You may also opt for automatic curtain openers. Have a neighbor pick up your mail and take your trash ...

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/safety-security/10257-How-to-Protect-Your-Home-from-Burglars.html

A Guide to Garden Landscaping and Maintenance

Not all of us are green fingered and relish the thought of spending an entire weekend tending to our gardens. Even if this is the case, any garden will still need to be tended to so your options are to hire a gardener or get on with it yourself. Luckily, with a bit of forward planning, gardening and basic landscaping doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Why not have a go yourself and save yourself some money in the process? This guide will provide you with an overview of the basic tasks that you should be completing to leave your garden looking presentable. Start with Cleaning Up Your first step is to find your rake and a couple of garden waste bags and collect all of the leaves and vegetation that is lying on your lawn and on your pathways. You will be surprise at how a simple clean up and tidy will immediately improve the look and feel of your garden, even if nothing is currently growing or your lawn isn’t looking as green as it could. After that we suggest ...

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/garden-landscaping/10256-A-Guide-to-Garden-Landscaping-and-Maintenance.html

Chapter 7: Friends and Family - Today's Homeowner

In the 7th installment of "The Today's Homeowner Story," Danny shares stories from trips to New York as the home improvement pro on CBS's The Early Show, including meeting celebrities such as Halle Berry and Matt Damon.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/chapter-7-friends-and-family/

Living Area Gets a Molding Makeover - Today's Homeowner

We makeover the living and dining rooms of Chris and Lauren Pippin's house by adding new moldings, creating a wood accent wall, and disguising old painted paneling.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/living-area-gets-a-molding-makeover/

9 tips how to reduce your house heating expenses

Winter is almost here, with every sign indicating that it’s about to begin. Once again, you need to heat up your home to keep it from the chills of the winter season, which means more expenses powering the boiler and getting your family or yourself some warm clothes.

On top of the winter expenses comes the festive season of Christmas, and the inevitable expenses associated with it. It means you need brace yourself to dig deep into your pockets. While you cannot avoid spending during this time altogether, there are ways you can minimise it. Here are tips on how to reduce your house heating expenses to save on cash.

1. Seal gaps on doors and windows

Openings bring in draughts and make your boiler to work more to regulate temperature. It leads to unnecessarily higher bills. Find and close all gaps so that your home’s heating system doesn’t need to work more.

2. Use a programmable thermostat

It allows your heating system to turn on only when it’s necessary, like if the temperature drops below a certain level. It will also switch off when the temperature you set is reached. It’s better than depending on switching the heating system off manually; there are times you will forget and leave it running when it shouldn’t.

3. Service the boiler

A boiler that has stayed for long without being serviced doesn’t work efficiently. It causes your more expenses in energy bills as it draws more power than it would if it was working properly.

4. Wear warm

Wearing warm clothes reduces the need to heat your house and, consequently, the amount you pay for your home’s energy requirements. You will not need to turn on the boiler for most of the time, which saves you money.

5. Only heat your house just when about to wake up

Are you the type of person who will switch on the heating system of your house too early before you wake up? It only wastes energy and costs you avoidable expenses. Turn on the heating some fifteen to twenty minutes before you get out of bed.

6. Insulate the loft

It prevents heat from being lost, reducing the amount of energy your house heating system requires to heat the house.

7. Avoid heating the house when everyone is out

Adjust your programmable thermostat to turn on the heating system only when you’re home. There’s no point of heating the whole house when the children are at school, or when you’re at work.

8. Use thicker curtains

Thick curtains provide more insulation to trap more heat. The result is lower energy bills because your boiler doesn’t have to heat from temperatures that are too low.

9. Use reflecting panels on your radiators

Reflective panels behind the radiator help to prevent heat from being lost by reflecting it back into the room. Using them makes the boiler to work less saving money.

By using these tips, you can avoid incurring a lot of expenses this winter season. Your house will still remain warm and comfortable, only at a lesser cost.

from Corn heat http://www.cornheats.com/9-tips-how-to-reduce-your-house-heating-expenses/

What Makes Garage Doors Safe?

Sometimes, it helps to change your perspective to understand clearly a problem. This is true for garage doors and safety issues as well. When you focus only on one aspect, you might lose your perspective. Believing that the garage door springs are the only dangerous parts of the system is wrong.

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/doors-garages/10255-What-Makes-Garage-Doors-Safe.html

Ten Tips for Drainage Care

You could be having a drain problem in your house when you begin to notice that your sink is taking a bit longer to drain. The other indicator is when water begins to pool around your feet as you stand in the shower.

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/plumbing-basements/10253-Ten-Tips-for-Drainage-Care.html

December Lawn & Garden To-Do List - Today's Homeowner

Gardeners begin to find some rest in December, and if you're like me, the fireplace beckons more loudly than the yard. Nonetheless, on those sunny days it's good to get outdoors and to take care of a few gardening chores. Read on to find out more.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/december-lawn-garden-to-do-list/

December Home Maintenance To-Do List - Today's Homeowner

Read our December home maintenance to-do list for tips on how to maintain your home, including buttoning up your house for winter and getting ready for the holidays.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/december-home-maintenance-to-do-list/

Renovation Ideas for Rentals - Today's Homeowner

The Today's Homeowner team helps Danny's middle daughter, Melanie, and her two roommates, Kate and Laurel, make some improvements to their rental house.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/renters-renovations/

How to choose a plastering company

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/construction-materials/10247-How-to-choose-a-plastering-company.html

7 Things to Fix Before Putting Your Home on the Market

Selling your home is a stressful task, as homeowners don’t typically realize everything that’s involved. If you want to get the most money for your home, you’ll need to ensure your home is attractive to prospective buyers. This is done by creating a home that not only looks nice aesthetically.

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/real-estate-finance/10249-7-Things-to-Fix-Before-Putting-Your-Home-on-the-Market.html

Try These 4 Ideas If You Want To Improve Your Condo

Living in a condo isn't like living in a home. You typically have less space to work with, and you are restricted by the landlord as to what you can do to modify the space. Because of this, many people find themselves living in their condo that isn't as nice as they would like.

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/real-estate-finance/10250-Try-These-4-Ideas-If-You-Want-To-Improve-Your-Condo.html

7 Things to Fix Before Putting Your Home on the Market

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/real-estate-finance/10248-7-Things-to-Fix-Before-Putting-Your-Home-on-the-Market.html

How to Properly Maintain your Kitchen Appliances

Bad habits die hard, but badly maintained kitchen appliances die rather easily. In other words, bad habits can cost you a lot of money and hassle with customer support. In many cases, some basic maintenance like cleaning a filter can extend the life of your valuable appliances. Try out the following maintenance tips and see for yourself that they really work. Refrigerator The refrigerator is probably the most expensive and most heavily-used appliance in your kitchen. As far as the maintenance is concerned, you better leave it to professionals, however, there are a few things that you can do to make it last longer. The rubber gasket on the door, which secures a tight closure, is prone to clogging. Use paper towels and Lysol or any other countertop cleaner to remove any debris. Once every six months, vacuum under and on the back of the fridge to keep the coils free of dust. It will prevent its motor from overloading and reducing its power efficiency. In case the power goes out while you ...

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/appliance-repair/10246-How-to-Properly-Maintain-your-Kitchen-Appliances.html

If You Own an Older Home, You May Want to Consult a Professional to Check Your Plumbing

“Good bones” - we’ve heard many older houses described this way. It’s intended to mean that an old house is solid, suitable for living, stands the test of time. The trouble is, when people brag about their old house’s “good bones”, they probably aren’t referring to the plumbing. And bad, out-of-date plumbing can destroy a house’s good bones in short order.

from 411HomeRepair.com https://www.411homerepair.com/diy/plumbing-basements/10244-Plumbed-Poorly-If-You-Own-an-Older-Home-You-May-Want-to-Consult-a-Professional-to-Check-Your-Plumbing.html

Tip for Storing Lawn and Garden Tools - Today's Homeowner

This tip for storing yard tools makes use of the underside of the ceiling joists in the garage or workshop.

from Danny Lipford - Home Improvement - DIY - Videos https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/tip-for-storing-lawn-and-garden-tools/