Small decorations that express big changes in the home

To give a new air to the house you do not need major renovations or have a high budget. Sometimes it is simpler than you think: just by doing small renovations or installing new products you can see big changes in the home.

Decorating the spaces of the house is one of the experiences that are most enjoyed in life, from painting the walls to give lighting to the environment, to capture ideas by incorporating high quality elements, they are details that fill the home with vitality.

Simply implement small solutions with a lot of inspiration.

Install quality products to enjoy with the family

There are many ideas in decoration that can be applied to achieve incredible changes in the home. Find new materials to incorporate at home or install simple pieces such as Intex pools, which allow decorating the spaces and at the same time spend moments of enjoyment shared with the family.

This summer, enjoying the pools for the poor in the house is one of the best options since they are good quality products that have security and guarantee for being pieces of superior resistance and a long life.

Installing decorative elements such as swimming pools that impress with their functionality and great use is a trend that will not go out of style.

Gradually reforming each environment is a continuous process that over the years can be done without making large investments.

That is why installing a small pool at home creates a cozy atmosphere and invites fun in the summer season.

There are many models that exist in the market: from the simplest to those that have functions that generate water currents, or those that have propulsion jets with several nozzles distributed in the pool area for body hydromassage.

Decorate with the use of recycling elements

For some years the decoration has been adopted with the vision of recycling. Among the elements that have been used most to remodel the spaces of the home are the pallets. They are decorative pieces that can be obtained by going to a place of sale of pallets in Bizkaia in various sizes and with the technical specifications suitable for use as furniture in the home.

Although its main use is for the transport of products and storage used as a support platform, today pallets are widely used for home furniture in a tendency towards do-it-yourself.

Furniture can be designed for different spaces inside the home such as coffee tables or floor and wall shelves, or outside on the terraces or gardens such as outdoor tables and armchairs, or to place decorative plants.

When buying the pallets, their appearance should be taken into account as they may need reforming treatments, such as sanding, applying varnish or paint if they want to leave it in its natural color.

They are considered the best alternative in recycling that will be in fashion for a long time. With them, decorations are designed with a natural, simple and very striking style.

Illuminate the spaces with a new color

Renewing the color of some walls in the home will provide a great visual change and create comfort in the environment.

Choosing few walls does not require a large investment or the use of a lot of paint : the important thing is to look for the most suitable kitchen paint colors according to the decorating style of the house and the need to illuminate the space.

Planning the color remodeling of a wall can generate innovative results in the environment, make it more remarkable and with a new air of color composition with more lighting.

It is important to focus the color on the design that the spaces have and choose a chord within a possible color range, which when combined with the furniture expresses the change that you want to give.

It is advisable to use neutral color paints with a strong color, so when choosing a wall you should think about the contrast of the strong color and opt for light tones on floors, furniture and other walls, or vice versa.

A warm design can also be chosen, in which the shading or dyeing of the paint focuses on the neutral, forming a cozy, comfortable appearance and with a sense of calm.

Source: https://edecortrends.com

 

The secrets of interior decoration

We all want to take out that interior designer that we have inside but the reality is that we are always consulting the Internet to know what to do and many times our expectations and reality are totally different.

In Design and House we want to help you improve your space so we bring you some tips that you can use when decorating the interior of yourhouse.

One of the easiest and most impressive changes you can make in your home is the change of paint. In general terms, if you have a small space, you should define your color scheme and consider using soft and light tones which will help you give the impression of having a larger room.

The color scheme you choose can be the point of union between several of the areas or rooms in your home. Use the base tones of your scheme, play with them and experiment by applying it not only to the walls but also to your furniture or decoration accessories.

Many professional designers use the 10/30/60 rule when using the colors they chose in their palette. This means that you will have a dominant tone 60%, a secondary tone 30% and an accent tone 10%. When using this rule, consider using more neutral dominant tones and remember that the colors of your furniture are part of your palette.

Other ways to make your room look bigger is the use of stronger colored vertical lines. You can also use mirrors, these add scale, distribute the light and give the optical feeling of space.

When it comes to highlighting your furniture and pieces, do not hesitate to display it and make it the focal point of your room. Do not hesitate to mix the new with the old, there is nothing wrong with mixing family furniture with modern pieces.

The main thing is that the space reflects your personality, remember that the furniture you love tells a story and deserves to be highlighted. To highlight your main decorative pieces, follow the rule of 3. In general terms the grouping of objects with odd numbers will generally be more interesting and guide the look, using three objects can give you the ideal balance. By using radically different objects but with a conductive thread you will increase their impact even more.

For those who have their bar at home, a good idea is to display it and have it available to guests. Your bottles will be integrated as part of the decoration and we are sure that they will make your guests feel at home.

Do not stop experimenting with the objects you already have, often placing them differently or in different spaces will make them stand out. If you want to incorporate new elements you will have a lot to choose from, you can find unique pieces such as furniture that have been recovered and repaired.

If you do not want to invest in this type of furniture consider making them yourself, many times they are weekend projects that involve giving them a new coat of paint, changing the legs of a table or even changing the handles of your kitchen furniture. These small details can have a great impact on the decoration of your space.

Something you can't forget and that can make a big difference in your space is adding plants. They are a way to give color and texture to your room. Find the most suitable for your routine, you can find plants that do not require much time to maintain them and on the other hand some that require your full attention to flourish.

An element that can transform your space is the carpet. These can give a touch of color to your space or make it warmer. Use different patterns and textures to express yourself. If you have young children consider using washable rugs.

When you start you will find inspiration in many places and objects. Make these your starting point to start your new decoration and remember that the most important thing is that you express yourself in your space and that it is something you enjoy.

Tips on how to survive a kitchen remodeling

Washing in the bathtub, toasting bread as a main meal - how to manage the mess when the kitchen is unusable

Have you decided to completely renew your kitchen? Congratulations! Nothing is more exciting than the great moment when you can finally marvel at the result. But until that happens, you still have a lot to go through, because a kitchen renovation literally goes through body and stomach. Both experts and homeowners, who have had dealings with kitchen renovation, agree: the best way to get through this phase is to escape chaos and settle elsewhere. And if this royal road is not possible? Then find out what awaits you here and how you can best prepare for it.

The author of this article was inspired by the kitchen chaos of her parents. This is how the kitchen of Joy and Dan Harris looked in the summer of 2018.

That depends on you, it is chaotic, and it is loud. For about a week, you will enter a more or less devastated kitchen - hoping to turn on the coffee machine, only to realize that you are standing barefoot in the rubble (that's okay and happens to everyone). You will most likely be annoyed by delays and there will be unforeseen changes. Because you can not make a reasonable breakfast, you may become addicted to prepackaged cookies from the grocery store. You will be in the sink of your guest bathroomor do the dishes in the bathtub. You will not be able to imagine that you ever want to eat in the restaurant again. In addition, all this will be financially noticeable.

Be aware of the control. Because if you try to hold on to old processes, your nerves will eventually go blank. Use the time for yoga or meditate. Of course you need a quiet place - the perfect excuse to leave the house. Look out for a suitable course or app, and then off to the park!

Before your home sinks into chaos, you should note the following points:

1.            Allow plenty of time to clear out the kitchen, or hire relocation helpers if that's too much trouble for you.

2.            Consider whether there is a possibility to refrigerate food for the time of conversion. Maybe you still have an old fridge in the garage, where the beer is otherwise stored, or there is a mini-fridge elsewhere in the house. If not, it is always worthwhile to rent one or buy second hand. The important thing is that you place it in a place where there is also a power connection.

3.            Plan takeaway meals and restaurant visits in the overall renovation budget.

4.            Think about it. Tell everyone that you want to eat a healthier diet from now on, which requires, among other things, daily fresh food for dinner. Although some time management is needed, but the advantage is that you stay away from the construction site for longer.

5.            Set up a small transitional kitchen. If possible, build a makeshift mini-kitchen in another room. What things do you need for your daily meals? Here are a few suggestions: coffee maker, kettle, toaster or mini-oven, portable electric grill, mini fridge. If you already have a small kitchen corner or a bar with sink - luck! This is the perfect place for your transitional kitchen. For everyone else, it's a bit more complicated. Theoretically, you can set up the mini-kitchen anywhere in the house, the catch is just cleaning. So think in advance in which room the chaos after cooking is easiest to eliminate. Our tip: near the porch - with the help of a hose and bowl for washing dishes.

Make a meal plan

A meal plan during the conversion, especially of things that you can bake and toast indoors or barbecue outside, as well as soups, cereals and cold sandwiches. "High on the list are ready meals that you do not have to cook big," says my father Dan Harris, who has successfully completed the renovation of his kitchen.

After the meal: clean everything immediately

Put dishwashing liquid, brush and tea towel on the sink you have chosen for dishwashing. The future trash can for food scraps should have a lid so it does not start to stink and no vermin finds itself. Scrape the scraps of food off the dishes into the trash can, wash and dry it, and return it to the makeshift place.

You Make A List Of Things To Keep Out Of The Box Think carefully

about what you do not want to put in the boxes: once you've packed the bags, you're guaranteed not to find anything again before the new kitchen is ready and the boxes are all unpacked again. The following things are recommended by people who have just finished a kitchen remodeling:

o             barbecue utensils

o             Meat knife, bread knife, paring knife

o             cutting board

o             two or three serving plates

o             Coffee, tea, sugar or sweetener, a few coffee mugs and teacups

o             Paper plates and napkins

o             enough cutlery, glasses and dishes for all household members

o             Dishwashing liquid, brush, dishwashing bowl and tea towels

o             Salt, pepper and your favorite spices

o             Aluminum foil, cling film, one to two storage cans

o             a few serving spoons

o             Can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew

o             beverage cooler

o             Animal feed, feeding and drinking bowl

o             Placemats and tablecloth

o             a large tray to bring the food (wherever it was prepared) to the table (wherever it may be)

Measuring cups and mixing bowls are not without reason in our list of kitchen utensils that you should have ready. When preparing pancakes or other meals for which you need these things, the subsequent cleaning is quite elaborate: rinsing a dough bowl in the small sink of your lovely en-suite bathroom is not so much fun.

On the subject of cardboard and plastic paper plates and plastic cutlery are bad for the environment, expensive and will not last long. For every household member, all you need is a plate, a bowl, a large cup, a glass, a fork, a knife, a spoon, and a placemat, because you always have to do the dishes right after eating. You really do not need more, because during your kitchen renovation you probably will not invite anyone to dinner. (If you're a fan of the Seinfeld series, you might remember the episode in which Kramer admits he made the food in the shower ...)

Less is more

When it comes to packing, provide an extra box for mucked things. Every single part will go through their hands anyway, and it's worth it if you're wondering if you still need it. When did you last use the part? Did it (as the clean-up advisor Marie Kondo would ask) inspire you? Where would it be in the new kitchen? Can you imagine using it in the new kitchen? If you answer these questions for yourself, you know if you really want to wrap it up or give it to someone who really needs it.

Designate a space as a clean zone

In her biography "Under the Tuscan Sun," Frances Mayes recommends for the renovation, "Choose a space that is yours alone." A piece of advice that you should follow. Search for a room just for yourself, so you survive this time unscathed. Tell the site manager clearly that this room must neither be entered nor used for temporary storage of building materials and other things. Ideally, rooms are suitable where nobody sleeps and which are not directly next to or above the kitchen. The new kitchen cabinets or the boxes with the new tiles are always stored in the nearest rooms. And once there is a box in it, more will be added soon ...

Whether you're fetching food from the outside, tossing the grill or becoming a steamer professional, you'll soon be tired of eating at the side table or having a picnic on the living room floor. Some use their sheltered terrace when the weather is nice, others eat at the gaming table or at the folding table with a nice tablecloth on it. Wherever you take your meals: Do not forget to remove the leftovers after eating.

Living without a kitchen has something in common with camping, for example, cooking outdoors. So, if you've always wanted to be a grill pro - the opportunity has never been so cheap. Get new grill recipes, look for grill variations of well-known dishes, be inspired by experienced grill professionals on the internet, and prepare grilled dishes that you did not even suspect would work. Provide the necessary utensils and spices in your transitional kitchen.

Properly Prepare The Fireplace And Stove For The Heating Season

Hot summers are likely to become the norm in Germany in the near future due to climate change. Despite expected record values, you should think about heating with the fireplace already in summer or at the latest in early autumn. Because it will definitely be cold again.

COZY, CONVENIENT, AFFORDABLE: HEATING BY THE FIREPLACE

Already in September, the temperatures at night can already scratch on the border to the frost - and sometimes even exceed it. Even if the values on the thermometer can climb again in the vicinity of 30 degrees during the day, the number of hours of sunshine per day decreases rapidly, it gets dark earlier and the heating demand starts sooner or later. Nice, if you have a cozy fireplace or stove that you can cheer on. But it's not that easy.

A wood-burning fireplace or stove requires regular cleaning, maintenance and care, so everything works smoothly and above all without danger. The break in the summer you can actually use perfect for such a cleaning - but who wants to think on a hot July day on cold winter evenings and clean the fireplace? Nevertheless, it is high time to make the fireplace suitable for winter.

TEST THE STOVE PIPES AND THE CHIMNEY FOR PERFECT FUNCTION

The first view should go inside the stove or the fireplace. Occasionally existing stove pipes must be checked every now and then for contamination. This is mainly due to soot, which can be deposited on the furnace tubes when burning wood. In the long term, the proper functioning of a stove or fireplace will be affected by sooty fume hoods. This not only applies to the chimney, which is regularly cleaned by the chimney sweep, but also to the pipes leading to the stove. This is not just a comfort issue, but can bring real dangers, because soot deposits minimize the effect of the chimney draft, which means that the exhaust gases can not pull off so well.

In extreme cases, they can collect in the interior and not only smoke everything, but ultimately lead to poisoning by flue gases or carbon monoxide. Not least, there is an increased risk of fire, because what many do not know: soot can under certain circumstances ignite itself, if the fireplace is still operated carefree. The thicker the soot layer becomes, the greater the danger. Soot is not the only thing that can affect a chimney. Even if the last cleaning by the chimney sweep is not long ago and theoretically no new soot may have been added due to the heat break in the summer, there are other factors that need to be checked. Damage or foreign objects in the chimney can thus prevent effective smoke extraction.

This is most often done by bird nests or their remnants. In extreme cases, they can even close a chimney completely, and the toxic combustion gases may then enter the living space. If everything looks fine, the throttle valve must finally be checked. Is their function still flawless? Is she open? Ultimately, it is important that the air supply to the fireplace works well.

THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER

The fireplace or stove itself should also be cleaned from the inside. This is useful in the months outside the heating season, because then everything is cooled down properly and you can get anywhere easily. Although you do not often see the interior of the stove, the careful cleaning should not be neglected, because even here residues of soot can make unattractive. In addition, one can perform on this occasion, a comprehensive visual inspection of the firebricks in the combustion chamber.

These are designed to effectively shield the heat from the rest of the structure. Missing stones or chipped off parts of the mineral plates should be the reason for the replacement of the damaged firebricks. However, cracks that are relatively common are not considered damage in the sense of the word. Even if the stove is sold as maintenance-free and has a long service life even under the strongest load, fireclay counts as wearing parts. If you do not change them in case of damage, the oven housing may heat up more than it should.

Warped stoves are an indication of damaged linings in the combustion chamber - so you should not let it come to such a defect. But as long as the cladding is not damaged as a whole and no parts are missing, the function of the fireclay cladding inside the fireplace is usually not affected by the cracks. You can get spare parts or other accessories in specialist shops, such as in the online shop at  Kamdi24.de.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF STOVES

In spite of the possible freedom from maintenance, it is of course always necessary to subject the oven to cleaning. The more thorough the cleaning before the beginning of the heating season, the longer you have your peace. All wearing parts should be visually inspected and, if necessary, maintained. Often forgotten here is the seal of the stove door or the collection box for the ashes. If the seals (especially on the fireplace door) are broken, the stove draws more oxygen than it should. This has an unfavorable effect on the exhaust behavior of the entire furnace system. In addition, as a result of defective seals, more ash can enter the living space. Such a seal you get in the accessories, but the installation should be done professionally.

However, you can lend a hand in the maintenance of the stove door, as far as the hinges. To keep things smooth, lubricate them with a suitable oil or copper paste. But please make sure that the oil does not get into the combustion chamber. The cleaning of the firebox can be done with a commercial glass cleaner and a cloth. Please note that some cleaners may damage the delicate door seals. Therefore, it is advisable not to spray the cleaner directly on the disc, but on the cloth. In general, do not use too much cleaner to prevent cleaning fluid from leaking into the seals.

Wer auf Nummer sicher gehen möchte, kann auch einen speziell auf diese Materialien abgestimmten Ofenreiniger verwenden. Die Außenseiten der Kaminöfen lassen sich ebenfalls reinigen und pflegen. Öfen aus Stahl bekommt man mit einem feuchten Tuch gut sauber. Aggressive Reiniger (und dazu zählen auch Hausmittel mit Essig oder Zitrone) können den Stahl jedoch angreifen und für Rost sorgen. Fliesen und Kacheln eines Kaminofens können ganz normal mit entsprechendem Reinigungsmittel geputzt werden. Rückstände sollten aber so gut wie möglich mit ausreichend Wasser entfernt werden, damit keine schädlichen Dämpfe durch das Aufheizen in die Umgebungsluft abgegeben werden.

Damage to the paintwork may only be repaired with heat-resistant special lacquers intended for use with stoves. Unless otherwise noticeable damage that require further repairs and everything else is in order, the stove can then be easily put into operation.

SHOP FIREWOOD CORRECTLY AND STORE

Of course, the right fuel is particularly important when operating a fireplace or stove. Here you should not wait until the beginning of the heating season, because who in time (ie especially in the summer) is covered with sufficient fuel, usually pays much less for it. Depending on whether you want to burn classic firewood or pellets, you have the choice of various offers. In particular, pellet prices are heavily dependent on the respective heating season and the associated demand. It does not matter if you hit the firewood yourself or have it delivered to you: It has to be stored correctly and has the right residual moisture.

The best is a residual moisture in the wood between 15 and 20 percent. If the wood is still too moist, the combustion is not in the optimal range and produces black smoke, which can be deposited as a particularly stubborn soot in the chimney. Conversely, firewood can also be too dry or too old. Then the calorific value drops considerably and one does not get as far with the same amount of wood as with an ideal moisture content.

If you have your own wood store, you should always fire the oldest wood first, so that the logs are not superimposed. In addition, newly added wood must get the time to dry properly. When stacking so should already be thought of in which order you want to remove the firewood later.

SAVE HEATING COSTS IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

Especially in spring and autumn - the so-called transition period - heating with the fireplace or stove is particularly popular. In addition, it is also a way to reduce heating costs. While the main load should normally be provided by central heating in winter, the stove ideally complements the heating during times when the operation of the complete heating system is not yet worthwhile. Especially on days when it is still warm during the day and it cools down strongly in the evening, it hardly pays to heat the oil heating or gas heating. If you have a sluggish floor heating, it is often too warm during the day or too cool during the day.

On the other hand, the woodburning stove can be easily added if required and also provides an incomparable comfort. The heating costs are also reduced - a factor that should not be ignored. In addition, one is with good stocking with firewood independent when purchasing gas or fuel oil, because here are the prices also according to the demand. If you can then bridge or supplement with firewood, you have another trump in your sleeve. Last but not least, the burning of wood is often a sensible alternative from an ecological point of view. Especially with regard to CO2 reduction, wood has great advantages over fossil fuels.

In contrast, however, is the increased burden of particulate matter and soot, which can lead to a deterioration of the air quality in the environment, especially in the corresponding inversion weather conditions. The neighbors should therefore not completely forgotten when heating with wood.

The most important measures at a glance:

•             Inspecting combustion chamber, stovepipe and chimney

•             if necessary, cleaning of all components

•             Exchange of damaged firebricks

•             Check seals for damage

•             Store fuel in good time and store it properly

CONCLUSION

A fireplace or stove is practical, comfortable and can help save heating costs, especially during the transition period. Important is a proper maintenance and care, which should be done before commissioning in the fall. The inspection of chimney, stove pipes, firebricks and gaskets should be as natural as a thorough cleaning. The stocking with firewood should be done on time and in sufficient quantity (observe proper storage!).