D.I.Y Bathroom remodeling in older homes

Why remodel a bathroom?

Remodeling a bathroom is very much like renovating a kitchen, as the bathroom is a key part of the home. Old homes have bathrooms rarely larger than 5 feet by 8 feet. Investing in older homes can be tricky if it is grade 2 listed or it has tricky or awkward spaces. Lower ceilings and beams may result in bespoke showering areas at reduced widths and a more compact bathroom suite. The reason people choose to remodel a bathroom is largely due to the fact it will increase the resale value of the property. If the location of the bathroom is the same this will help the process as pipework etc will already be in situ to work with. Any radical changes to the layout will have to be considered carefully if it involves any large structural changes.

The cost of a bathroom remodel

Remodeling a bathroom can be costly and one of the more expensive projects you will ever do. This largely depends on the amount of work you wish to carry out and the budget in which you work too. A complete bathroom remodel project will cost around the same as a small car, if not more depending on personal preferences. If money is an issue you can always update the bathroom with new faucets and accessories to update a traditional design. Hiring a contractor for larger design projects can increase the overall cost, so take this into consideration. The best steps when finding a reliable plumber/contractor is too listen to friends and family’s recommendations. Always ask for samples of there work so you can see their workmanship.

First Step – Clean and Unclutter

Before anything the best option is to have a good sort through the bathroom. Clean the bathroom and rid yourself of any clutter and tired elements of the bathroom design. This will give you a clear definition in your mind of what you want to achieve. Consider the best storage solutions in the bathroom especially if you have plenty of toiletries and a small space.


Energy Efficiency

Traditional homes which have not been modernised in any way are not as energy efficient as newer builds. A bathroom remodeling project enables you to add all those energy efficient measures like lighting, windows and ventilation fans. Larger bathroom projects may result in opening walls which will give the opportunity to add insulation and air sealing materials which will benefit the whole house. Bathroom suites that offer pop up wastes and water saving features will create a more eco-friendly bathroom design.

Research the options

If it is a large remodeling project consulting with professionals may help you to realise the bathrooms full potential and how you can maximize the available space. The internet is a valuable tool so use it to gain design ideas and prices.

About Author : Wilson Dobson Bathrooms are a Sheffield based company, now in their seventh year of trading and specialise in internet bathrooms sales. Offering quality bathroom ware including showers, bathroom suites and shower enclosures we offer speedy delivery to any UK location or collection from one of our depot in Sheffield. With our new and improved website shopping online for your bathroom could not be easier or safer and if you are not sure about what products you require and need extra reassurance about your choice of product, you are welcome to call one of our helpful team who are always happy to assist and provide friendly and knowledgeable advice.Call Us On 0114 2571715.

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Home Water Filtration System - The Top 2 Reasons Why It's Better Than a Reverse Osmosis System

When it comes to selecting a water purification technology to install at your home, there is a lot of debate about the advantages and disadvantages of using a water filtration system versus using a reverse osmosis (RO) system.

In this article, I hope to shed some light on the issue, by highlighting the top two (2) reasons why I personally think that it would be a better decision to select the water filtration system.

Chlorine removal

As you probably know, public water utilities use chlorine to disinfect our tap water. Numerous medical studies
dating back to the1960s that have been published over the years, all seem to agree that long term exposure to this yellow-green compound through drinking tap water, can seriously harm our health.

In addition to the findings that chrorine is linked with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries leading to heart attacks), what's even more terrifying is that it is also found to be linked with certain form of cancers such as bladder, rectal and breast cancers.

Now, coming back to our water purification discussion, you should know that RO systems simply cannot remove chlorine.

This fact has to do with the way that this technology works: It uses high pressure to push tap water through a membrane that has very small pores. Whatever substance contained in the water happens to have larger molecules than the size of the pores is left in the input side, while the rest (including water) passes through.

While it is true that RO units manage to remove a large range of pollutants, nevertheless they are not successful with chlorine, simply because its molecules are physically smaller than water's.


Unlike RO units, a water filtration system is capable of removing chlorine. This is done through entrapping (either through mechanical or chemical action) it on the medium inside the filter, which is usually carbon.

Removal of minerals

Another serious disadvantage of RO systems is that, again because of the way they work, they strip our tap water from the essential minerals (like potassium, calcium and magnesium) that it contains.

As studies have shown, long-term consumption of demineralized water poses a threat for our health.

You see, this kind of water tends to be acidic, having a pH lower than 7. This has two very harmful effects:

First, responding to the lowering of pH, our body tends to pull minerals from our teeth and bones to neutralize the acid. Thus, our body is gradually stripped from minerals that are essential for our well-being.

What's worse, scientists claim that cancer cells grow only in an acid environment. Therefore, long-term consumption of water without minerals will probably be responsible for cancer incidents.

Water filtration systems, on the other hand, do not perform any kind of demineralization as part of the water treatment.

About Author : Nicos Stylianou is a long time researcher and an expert on issues relating to healthy nutrition. To find information and what he recommends you should do to have healthy, pure water at your home, visit his website now at: http://www.your-nutrition-guide.com/pure-water.html

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Solar Pool Covers and Reels for In-Ground Pools

With today's concerns about the economy and the environment, the use of solar power to heat in-ground swimming pools is becoming increasingly popular among pool owners. However, while many people may wish to use the sun to heat their pool, they may not want to expend the time and money required to replace their entire heating system. In such circumstances, solar pool covers and reels for in-ground swimming pools provide an excellent compromise. In-ground solar pool covers use heat from the sun to increase and maintain a pool's temperature, allowing pool owners to enjoy significantly reduced heating costs as well as several other benefits.

In-ground solar pool covers appear similar to bubble wrap in that they feature thousands of tiny air pockets. However, these covers are constructed from far more durable and specialized material than bubble wrap. The tiny air pockets on solar pool covers magnify the effects of the sun's heat on the water and also serve as insulators. Some in-ground solar pool covers feature a special silver bottom layer which reflects sunlight back into the swimming pool and works together with the clear top layer to maximize the cover's heating effects. Certain brands of solar pool blankets also utilize a unique hexagon design of the air pockets which minimizes the space between the bubbles, thereby further enhancing the cover's heat retention and transference capabilities.


The design of the best available solar pool covers for in-ground swimming pools not only incorporates advanced technology but remarkable durability as well. Constructed from tough resins with UV stabilization, these covers are built to last and to provide solar heating year after year. In addition, high-quality solar blankets feature reinforced, flat-lying seams that will resist wear and tear and withstand repeated folding for many years of use. Since these covers are available in a variety of different thicknesses, it's also possible to have the benefit of further enhanced durability as thicker covers offer greater strength and toughness.

Since pool covers can be quite large and cumbersome, especially for just one person, the easiest way to deal with them is by attaching them to in-ground solar pool reels. There are several different types of in-ground solar pool reels available including manual reels, electronic reels and water-powered reels. Water-powered pool reels attach to a standard garden hose and feature water-driven pistons that will automatically reel your solar cover in or out. Many in-ground solar pool reels are on wheels and can easily be moved out of the way whenever necessary. All types of these pool reels allow pool owners to use and handle in-ground solar pool covers easily and conveniently.

Solar pool covers and reels for in-ground swimming pools provide a long list of benefits and advantages. Perhaps most notably, in-ground solar pool covers help to raise and maintain water temperatures. In fact, using a solar pool blanket can raise the temperature of your pool up to 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, by preventing heat from escaping your swimming pool at night or whenever it's not in use, solar covers can keep your pool warm while reducing your heating costs by up to 70 per cent. At the same time, you will also be helping the environment by relying more on the sun's energy and less on non-renewable energy sources.

Using solar pool covers and reels for in-ground swimming pools also makes it easy to prevent water and chemical evaporation. By significantly lowering the amount of chemicals lost through evaporation, you will be able to save money on chemical costs and will have to spend less time balancing your pool's chemical levels. Another great advantage of using solar pool covers is the fact that they prevent leaves and other debris from getting into the swimming pool. When a pool cover keeps your water cleaner, you won't need to spend nearly as much time and effort vacuuming and skimming your pool before you swim.

With so many great advantages to be enjoyed, pool owners will be happy to know that solar pool covers and reels for in-ground swimming pools can be used with pools of all different shapes and sizes. Solar pool covers are available in a wide variety of sizes and many can be easily cut to fit the shape of any pool. Whether you have a kidney shaped in-ground pool or an unusual, custom shaped pool, you can still take advantage of the many benefits of solar pool blankets. Best of all, in-ground solar pool reels and covers provide an excellent and very economical way for pool owners with many different budgets to invest in solar power.


About Author : Brenda Masten is an experienced pool owner. She provides information about solar pool covers and reels for in-ground pools. She explains how to save money on pool heating by using solar pool covers and reels for swimming pools.

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Things to consider when buying Furniture for the living room

In a typical home the living room is where the guest are entertained and where family members would relax, read a book, do some knitting, play board games and all those other in door activities. Back in the 19th century, the living room was called the parlor, typically the room in the house where the recently deceased relative was laid out before the burial. It was also the place where guest and host would have tea of coffee during a visit. But at the turn of the 20th century this part of the house was changed to living room eliminating the previous association of that part of the house with mourning and death.Today in typical modern home, furniture in the living room comes in a wide variety. What you see in the living room would actually depict the lifestyle and the financial status of the family living in that house. Basically the architecture of the house would speak for itself, the grandeur and overall design reflects the people living in it. As furniture pieces for any part of the house comes with quite a hefty price, an average family will settle for the less expensive ones but still comfortable enough to relax on. In a western setting, the living room would be furnished with a sofa, chairs, tables, a flat screen television set, stereo equipment, bookshelves and other pieces of furniture. Most of the furniture shops offer a wide variety of selection, giving the consumer more options to choose from.


In a typical home the living room is where the guest are entertained and where family members would relax, read a book, do some knitting, play board games and all those other in door activities. Back in the 19th century, the living room was called the parlor, typically the room in the house where the recently deceased relative was laid out before the burial. It was also the place where guest and host would have tea of coffee during a visit. But at the turn of the 20th century this part of the house was changed to living room eliminating the previous association of that part of the house with mourning and death.Today in typical modern home, furniture in the living room comes in a wide variety. What you see in the living room would actually depict the lifestyle and the financial status of the family living in that house. Basically the architecture of the house would speak for itself, the grandeur and overall design reflects the people living in it. As furniture pieces for any part of the house comes with quite a hefty price, an average family will settle for the less expensive ones but still comfortable enough to relax on. In a western setting, the living room would be furnished with a sofa, chairs, tables, a flat screen television set, stereo equipment, bookshelves and other pieces of furniture.

Most of the furniture shops offer a wide variety of selection, giving the consumer more options to choose from. Furniture pieces nowadays comes in different colors, shapes and sizes, some come in sets like the entertainment center furniture which is designed solely for the television set, dvd/cd and stereo component and for the huge speakers. For reclining and relaxation purposes, you could go for a leather sofa part of the leather furniture set. Usually in a newly constructed home especially when there is an interior decorator, the type of furniture pieces used would match with the overall design of the house. For a traditional setting, there are various traditional living room furniture sets to choose from, usually comes in dark brown or white. For contemporary homes, there are also furniture pieces that suit that type of setting. What's nice about these furniture shops is that when you enter the shop it is like entering a house itself, a section is decorated just like a living room fully equipped with the necessary furniture pieces giving you an idea of what you might actually need and what might look good in your own living room. These display centers are just awesome, a carefully done work of art. But at the end of the day the decision on which furniture pieces to buy would always depend on the family's budget, size of the house and whether or not getting them is actually a practical move or is it purely based on a whim. With the many options to choose from it would not be difficult to find comfy furniture pieces at a cheaper price. But at the end of the day the decision on which furniture pieces to buy would always depend on the family's budget, size of the house and whether or not getting them is actually a practical move or is it purely based on a whim. With the many options to choose from it would not be difficult to find comfy furniture pieces at a cheaper price.


About The Author:
To get great deals on furniture do visit our site.The author is a professional online marketing expert with PowerHunters SEO.

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How to Select Bedroom Furniture for Young Couples

One of the sections or areas in the house that requires details and careful selection of furniture pieces is the bedroom. Everything that is found in the bedroom reflects the nature of the occupant, as it is a private domain, choices of bedroom furniture together with its positioning relies heavily on the owner. Bedroom furniture sometimes called a bedroom suite or a bedroom set is basically a group of furniture in a sleeping quarters. Beds, dressers, wardrobes, nightstands, chests, vanities, trunks, mirrors and armoires are referred to as the bedroom furniture.


During the 19th century Baroque styles in Japan used heavier themes and darker colors, the bedroom furniture pieces then influenced by that era are heavier in weight, made of solid hundred percent wood and are mostly of gothic design. Certainly the creation of these bedroom furniture pieces are based on the era and the culture it belonged too, these days though a lot of modern and highly industrialized pieces have come up but there are antique shops all over the world selling old and highly expensive bedroom furniture pieces from the 18th and 19th century. Armoires, vanities and trunks of 18th century maidens long forgotten are up for grabs to anyone who is into antiques and whose homes are designed to be a replica of that old era.

Nowadays bedroom furniture for young couples usually represents a sense of practicality alongside a sense of casualness. For couples marrying for the first time without living together prior to that would be thinking of furniture pieces for their home to get them started. Primary concern would be the bedroom furniture, in searches online most of what young people are looking for is a platform bed. This type of bed is famous not for only for its ergonomic design but also for its practicality as it does not occupy much space. It represents minimalism in terms of design and architecture, reflecting a practical and casual sense of lifestyle among its owners. It has been a recommended gift idea for young couples during their wedding to get them started. Though apart from the platform types there are several options to choose from; traditional beds, contemporary bedroom furniture sets, poster beds, storage beds, leather beds, metal beds, canopy beds, and sleigh beds.

Selecting the perfect bedroom furniture set could be time consuming considering the various choices available but one major determining factor would be the budget of the couple. The cheapest bed type would most probably be the sofa beds seeing that they’re sort of mock ups of the real thing. But if you scout the net religiously there are quite a lot of furniture companies offering good deals for a cheap rate. Bedroom furniture sets would come handy if you are starting from scratch, at least all of the pieces would match well with the others. But it is just a single bed you want minus the drawers, mirror and vanity trunks then individual platform and metal beds are available for the taking.


About The Author:
To know more on bedroom furniture do visit our site.The author is a professional online marketing expert with PowerHunters SEO.

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From time to time, everyone wishes they could change the décor in their home and create a more personal atmosphere. However, this task is often one that brings on confusion as to how to decorate without spending lots of money.

This task is really easily done just by adding new items to the various rooms in your home. Some of the items you can add range from wall plagues, mirrors and furniture, to lighting or other items. Just adding a tabletop figurine to a room gives it a certain awe that will surely enhance the atmosphere of that room. Depending on your preferences, a unique crystal figurine in the shape of an eagle, a stallion, dolphins, or a wolf might be just the touch you were looking for.

Of course, if you have a certain theme already in place, you might want to decorate accordingly. A "Western" themed room could include such items as a stallion figurine, southwestern styled mirror, metal cowboy wall hooks, or a feathered hand axe. Not only will you be able to use wall plagues to add to the western theme but such items as southwestern themed lamps, clocks, vases, pots, candles, candleholders, and photo frames can also be great ways to accentuate the feel. In just a few short minutes, you have given your guest bedroom a southwestern atmosphere.

If you are going for a nautical theme, the dolphin table would also be excellent in a bathroom. You could place the table in the corner and place bath sets such as the spa bath set or the pralines & honey bath basket to decorate. Along with these items, you can find other under the sea figurines and accessories to enhance the feel and give your guests a beautiful bath time experience along with providing them all the essential bath accessories.

Instead of hiring an interior decorator or throwing out everything in a room and starting over you can find all kinds of unique items that can be added to any room in your home such as decorative screens, wall décor, clocks, vases, bookends, figurines, photo frames, linens and even various accent furniture pieces. Just by adding or replacing a few items with new ones, you will be able to decorate your home without the added expense of redoing the entire room.

The idea, when it comes to decorating, is to choose a theme or atmosphere you would like the room to have such as a wild safari, under the sea, country, southwestern, or even just a calm and relaxing mood. Then you can find items to add that will ultimately change the room, giving it a unique, exciting, and fresh look with only a few items.

The fun comes in when you can envision the room the way you desire, begin adding all the items associated with your theme, and then watch it come to life before your eyes. Each room can have its own personality and awe instead of being the same throughout the home. Have fun! Enjoy finding the unique items to decorate every room in your home, or just create your own little getaway with one room.

About The Author:
Ron and Jan Stager are the founders of RJS Gifts Enterprises, an online store specializing in unique gifts. They started the company as a means to provide quality customer service as well as a wide selection of housewarming gifts. Their store, YourRJSGiftsEtc.com, offers gifts for any occasion as well as items for the home including garden decor and other home decorations.

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Design Tips for Common Decorating Problems

Multi Functional Rooms

It can be difficult to establish a design flow in a room that has multi-functional use. For example, take a family room that is used by various family members to watch television, play video games, access the family computer and do crafts.

The challenges here are to organize the space, reduce clutter and still give it a sense of style. Begin by dividing the room into themed areas for each task. Instead of placing all the chairs and sofas in front of the TV, reserve a love seat or two chairs for another section of the room and add a small table or desk for the computer. Have storage ottomans, cupboards or bookcases to store baskets filled with craft supplies, video games and movies. Items will be easy to find and equally easy to put away. Include a combination of ceiling and floor lamps that can be moved wherever it's convenient.


Open Concept Design

The biggest decorating challenge in an open concept design is making the decor flow, but still creating separate rooms within a room. Just as with the Multi Functional room, consider all the different uses for your space and begin dividing it into zones.

Choose a color palette based on your furniture and one or two big ticket accent pieces. If you have a bright, patterned area rug in the middle of the room, pull the main colors and add solid colored accents in other areas.

When painting, don't be afraid of using more than one color, but have a definite start and end point. Perhaps you may have one accent wall, or choose a darker color for the dining area. As long as the colors you choose blend in with the floors, furniture and accessories throughout, you'll be fine.

Don't feel that all your furniture has to be placed along outside walls. Assemble sofas and comfy chairs in small groups for a cozy more intimate feel. Add an area rug to set one area apart from another. Trendy bamboo or twig dividers are not only elegant, but effective in sectioning off a dining room from a living room.

Don't underestimate the power of lighting in defining different spaces. You may select a more ambient lighting in the living room area by using floor lamps and recessed lights. Add drama to the dining area by adding a large chandelier or pendant lighting.

The one constant in an open concept design is window coverings. Use the same shades or curtains on all the windows.


About The Author:
Welcome to the sunny side of life at BocaExpert.com, your primary source for a Boca Raton home. Choose from the many fine communities to find the perfect Excelsior real estate opportunity.

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Garden Landscaping Concepts

Regardless of the area you live in there are few things that beat the relaxation to be enjoyed during a warm summer's night while in your garden and enjoying the view of your landscaping ideas coming to fruition. It is an unfortunate fact that a project to redo the landscaping of your backyard can cost a lot and requires much planning and hard work if you try to do it in one year.

One simple solution to this is to break up your backyard into rooms and complete the landscaping of each room at a rate of once per year until you are done. This is vital when you are on a budget and your results will also be improved as you are able to focus your time and cash on one area at a time rather than trying to complete the entire backyard at once and for the same budget allowance.


While you may be landscaping one part at a time you will still require an overall schematic for the entire design. You can do this yourself through the use of graph paper and by drawing out the fixed structures on your land such as the house and trees to name a few.

It is at this stage that the plants and shrubs that are present should be evaluated as to whether they are going to become part of the new landscape. You should make copies of your design drawing before making additions as you can experiment with varying concepts. You can use free backyard landscaping ideas from places like magazines and gardens visited.

If you love to host parties then you will want to keep some open space in the yard and plant along the perimeter of the area. If not then you can use the space to create an island bed, walkways or much more.

Here are some ideas you can enjoy:

Plant Screens

If you desire privacy but do not have a fence you can choose to create a screen made with plants. Some of the best choices are hawthorn, arborvitae or any combination to create your private setting and a nice backdrop to your future flower plants.

Flower Bed Border

One of the most difficult parts of creating a border is the selection of the right flowers that are the correct color and height. Provided here is a list of perennials that are great for a six foot wide bed located in a sunny area. This width extends away from the fence or screen fence.

You will need to use 3-5 plants per flower species. A space allowance of 16"-18" is necessary between plants. The space between different species of plants should be 20"-22". Odd amounts of plants are more visually effective than even amounts.

It is an important tip to remember to allow adequate space at the rear of the bed for access. This can also avoid the choking off of the air needed and light required by the plants at the back.

Perennial border recommendations chosen to give displays that last with initial flowers in April and the final set in the month of October:

-Tall plants, back row: Sedum, Rudbeckia, Phlox White, Iris, Veronica Blue, Golden Shower and Picta.

-Short plants, front row: Geranium, Potentilla, Huechera Pink, Aster Dwarf Blue, Sedum Dragons Blood, Achillea and Erigeron.

These may not be the best plants for all climates but you can get assistance in choosing the right plants for your climate zone in the book "The Comfortable Lazy Garden".

Island Bed

An island bed is located in the middle of your yard and encircled by grass. It can vary area according to your imagination and space availability. Plants should be tall in the center and shorter on the edges.

Preplanned Gardens

Preplanned gardens can be a great option for newbie's to gardening. You can get landscaping solutions to landscaping your backyard pond and even your backyard patio. Direct Gardening offers a wide range of pre-planned gardens to help you create backyard patio landscaping designs and much more. It will take the guessing out of plant selection and placement.

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