Category Archives: Home

New Year new blinds

Posted by jamiebarton on February 6, 2012 No comment

This year as part of my New Year’s resolutions I promised I would take care of my home. I haven’t given it much TLC for a while and it’s looking a bit shabby (but not in the chic way), so over the course of the year I will be under taking some DIY projects.

First on the list is my conservatory, I want it revamped for spring/summer which means some new flooring, furniture and blinds. The flooring and the conservatory blinds have been in since before I bought the house so are fairly dated and really looking tatty and old and my furniture in here is a hotchpotch of donations and pieces I bought on sale when I first moved in!

The look I am thinking about for my conservatory is airy and fresh but not stark and empty. I really want quite a few leafy green plants to give it a tropical edge and clean crisp furniture. Basically I want to feel a bit like I am on holiday when I sit in there on a sunny day!

Currently the blinds in my conservatory are vertical blinds in a retro shad of rose pink, I have been looking online at newer, modern styles and I really like the look of venetian blinds which I think will be more practical. You can get them in a wide range of colours from bright whites, to natural cream and beige colours as well as wood effects.

I think before I decide I will have to check out samples and see how they work with the furniture I have in mind oh and decide on what sort of flooring I want, I do quite fancy some under floor heating then I will feel like I am on holiday when I am in there!

Local business guides

Posted by jamiebarton on February 7, 2011 No comment

There are a number of times I have to check local business guides for services such as plumbers and electricians as well as to find local business I may need such as florists or beauty salons. Once over I used to have to trawl through the yellow pages or similar and that could take a while, however now online business guides such as yahoo Local which is offered by Infoserve have a whole range of local businesses all in one place which makes looking for what you need so much quicker.

This week I was in desperate need of a plumber as one of my pipes decided to break, causing a whole host of damage, I was able to quickly find one online and he arrived super fast and fixed the leak which was great. Now however I now need a plasterer and probably a painter and decorator to tidy up the mess the pipe caused, which I again used Yahoo Local.

Its great having everything you need all in one place, as it makes looking for things in an emergency much quicker also I think it’s great from a business point of view too, to know that you business gets prominent feature by Infoserve on their business directory.

Fed up with sales

Posted by jamiebarton on January 9, 2011 No comment

I don’t know about anyone else but I am really fed up with sales, only for the fact that they now never seem to end, as soon as a shop says last day of sale another one pops up in store or I get an email about it. But it only ever seems to be junk in them, especially clothing sales, it’s never the stock they actually sold this season but stuff they probably couldn’t flog a couple of years ago.

I have now decided not to waste my time looking at what sale items are on offer and only look a nice new stock, which is this season, as well as shopping around to make sure I get the best price, especially for name brand clothes. One of my favourite shopping sites that offer great discounts on branded clothing, accessories and homeware is Secret Sales. They are an online site which you have to sign up for that offer you great discounts on everyday favourites and where I have got a few great bargains from in the past.

It’s great if you have gifts to buy or want to new things for your home, and they aren’t the only ones out there, there are many more you just have to look.

Hoping To Get Underfloor Heating Installed

Posted by jamiebarton on October 16, 2010 1 comment

I’m hoping to get underfloor heating installed in my living room next month, before Winter sets in – just in time for Christmas! What I’m not sure about is which type I need and how to go about doing it. The living room is currently carpeted, but once we put in the underfloor heating I’d like bare floorboards (if we have them)!

I’m not entirely sure about removing the floor, this doesn’t seem like it is the easiest thing to try and accomplish. I guess we’ll have to prise them all up without damaging and then leave them nearby covered up to put back once the underfloor heating pipes (or wires – if it is electric) have been laid.  I’m going to order them from an online shop my friend recommended.

Then I guess it is just a matter of testing the system, putting the floorboards back and touching up all the surfaces. I guess we’ll probably have to remove the radiators from the room and cut the pipes so we can supply the floor heating before we install it all though.

Once it is done I am considering adding in a wood burning stove to add to the warming effect of the room, toasty!