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Guest Post: The Key to Lighting Your Home with Style by Elisabeth Strasser

Bio: Elisabeth is a freelance writer and experienced in the field of interior design. She is currently remodelling her home and likes to experiment with lighting.

The Key to Lighting Your Home with Style
Have you ever walked into a room and felt uncomfortable, but you couldn’t discern why? Maybe you literally felt put into the spotlight, because of the brightness in the room. Or perhaps a chill ran down your spine, as you entered a darkened room.
How you illuminate your home can influence the feel and mood of the space around you. Getting the lighting right is very important for your well-being. Just as your furniture arrangement tells something about you, lighting can also reflect your character. So, why not personalise your home further and let your guests sense your personality and style.
Choose below which era or style you think suits you best and get tips on the way you need to illuminate your home!

Victorian
Victorian style is all about chandeliers and ceiling lanterns. Spread the vibe of the era with antique looking lamps and select them with care. Watch out for the little ornamental details that were popular during this period. Be careful to dim the light a bit to fit the era. Electricity had not yet entered all households and houses were still illuminated by oil lamps and candlelight. If you like romantic candlelight, this is the right style for you!



Gothic
Gothic is also very much about chandeliers and lanterns. Sweeping, curved scrolls on chandeliers and other Gothic ornaments on lanterns create the eerie feel of the era. Dimming your light for the atmosphere of candlelight will complete the picture. But be careful, if you’ve already gathered dark furniture for your Gothic style home then you don’t need to dim the light as much as you would think, since the dark furniture will already darken the space around you.


Modern
The latest technology and futuristic style should be seen in your modern home. Lamps that turn on and off by touching them wherever you want or by clapping your hands add a futuristic touch. Why not try and create modern elegance with silver and chrome lights? Depending on which kind of modern furniture you already have in your home, select glass or wood-effect lamp shades to really bring out your modern side.

Minimalistic
Minimalistic style is all about using the smallest space possible. The smaller the lamp or pendant is, the better. A bonus for the Minimalists out there is eco-friendly lamps to save energy. Similar to the modern style, silver and white lamp shades look best in the minimalistic home. LED lights are also a popular space saving solution. Put the spaces you love in the spotlight with table and floor lamps.


Art Deco
Lavish and glamorous are two words that best describe Art Deco. Add some sparkle to your home with crystal-beaded chandeliers and elegant ceiling lights. Aesthetically pleasing curved lamps for your living and bedroom will give your home that Art Deco touch.


1950 Vintage
As the name suggests, any vintage lamps and pendants are perfect for this style. Just as in the 1950’s, your type of lighting should be bright and colourful. Lamps in all shades of colours will fit perfectly with your vintage furniture. Flower patterns on lamp shades and Clara ceiling lights will add to the 1950’s flair.





Found the right style for you? Then check this style guide out for more details!


How to choose a perfect rug?

There is a huge selection of rugs available on the market, ranging from different styles, sizes and materials and you can find yourself a bit lost in all the variations.

Here are some tips on how to choose and what to choose:

  1. Think of space and environment
You need to know where exactly you want to place your carpet and what is going to surround it. Rugs can make a space look smaller or bigger. If the intention is to create a feeling of spaciousness then light colours and simple patterns will work. If you are looking to make space cosier – rugs with dark colours and some ornament or bold pattern will be ideal.

Places to put the rug in:

Nursery:
Rugs in kid’s room can be very functional. In addition to a lovely design, it can provide a soft and protected area for a baby to walk and play on, as well as will cushion parents’ tired feet. Children can be accident prone, however, so perhaps best to avoid light colours.

Living Room:
The living room is where you can expect the most traffic or, so you will need to make sure to get a very durable carpet, which means it should have denser, stronger pile which will not flatten easily.

Bedroom:
Compared to the living room, the bedroom carpet can be less durable, as there is far less traffic. Choose something soft and comfortable, maybe in a higher pile.

Dining Room:
Dining rooms are where unexpected spills and dirt can occur, so when choosing a carpet, make sure you choose something easy to clean. Dark colours or patterns can help to hide resistant stains.


  1. Find the Focal Point of the room
Rugs can attract or distract attention from different parts of the room, so think of places you want to highlight and those which are better to hide.

In a way, the rug itself can be the focal point of the room. In this case, you can choose a rug with some ornament or pattern; it will visually drag the attention away from the furniture and surrounding décor. Rugs which work as focal points are better to combine with neutral or soft-coloured furniture; in essence, the rug becomes a piece of art and furniture – a frame. If everything in the room looks too busy, it creates a very restless atmosphere.


  1. Size
You need to be very precise with the size of your rug, as the wrong size can make a room look small or cluttered. Small rugs are good to highlight small pieces of furniture. Large rugs are used for bigger spaces like a lounge or dining room.

How to measure:

If you have chosen to get a large carpet to cover the entire floor area, measure at least 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) from the wall, to avoid any problems with over-sizing and carpet not fitting in properly - it will look nicer as well.

Another option is to get a smaller rug and place in the seating area, directly between sofas. In this case, there is one little tip – the sofa and chair legs should be all on the rug or all off the rug. It will look very inconsistent if half of the sofa is on the rug and another part off it. If you choose to have everything on the rug then make sure to have 6 to 10inch (15 to 25 cm) on either side of the sofa. If the width of the rug is the same as the as width of the sofa, it can look too small.

If your intention is to put a rug under your dining table, you need to make sure that the length of the carpet includes space for chairs when pulled out.


  1. Colour, style and material
Colour

The rug should always compliment the style and colour scheme of the interior. You can try to match colours with other objects in the room: furniture, curtains and sofa, throws, decorative accessories - but not all together.

Style

There is an option to go classical and choose Persian or Oriental rugs, or to choose more contemporary rugs which can be made from plain, natural materials, such as sisal, jute and coir. They can also have some pattern and graphic elements on them.

Material

Wool.
Wool is most luxurious carpet material on the market. Wool is soft, strong and durable and is excellent for absorbing moisture. It gives warmth and an attractive appearance.

Acrylic.
There is no 100% Acrylic carpet, but it is a material that is found in many carpets. It is often blended with wool to provide a lower priced alternative to a 100% wool carpet.

Natural Fibre Carpets.

Jute:
Jute is one of the softest natural carpet fibres. This could be the perfect choice for a bedroom.

Sisal:
Sisal is hard-wearing natural fibre which handles day to day use very well.

Coir:
Coir is made from coconut husk. It is a tough, resilient material. It can feel quite harsh on bare feet so it is most suited for conservatories or entrances.


I hope that our guide has been helpful and that it gives some guidance on the do’s and don’ts of choosing a rug. There is no one ideal rug - you just need to find your own preference based on some simple rules and common sense.



John Lewis has a wide selection of stylish rugs, ranging from classic to contemporary, which you can easily find in store and online:




















Ardesia's Guide to Decorating Rental Homes

Redecorating in the rental market is an entirely different game to residential design, especially when renting fully furnished - we should know, we have a sizeable portfolio of properties we have renovated for the rental market for various investors - we are working on 5 flats for rental at the moment on Golborne Road (www.number10.info).

Fully furnished rental homes are probably the hardest designs to get right - people have varied tastes and although the instinct is to keep it simple, not everyone likes minimal either. The other risk with doing too little is to make the design cold and uninviting - when the main selling point in a rental design should be that it is warm and inviting, somewhere that people want to live. Trying to hit as wide a market as possible with a simple but friendly design is the goal.

Below is a collection of images from our London property portfolio - these flats were acquired by an investor, refurbished and furnished by Ardesia Design and then rented for a few years before being sold. All of the below properties achieved a net rental yield of more than 5% and capital gains of up to 40%.

Here's our advice on how to successfully decorate a rental home.


  • Stick to neutral colours but don't go white - white can be too stark or sterile and you want to create a warm, inviting feeling. Choose warm off-whites, but stay clear away from magnolia!
  • Choose light coloured wooden floors. Light floors radiate warmth and reflect light, they are modern and long-lasting from a design perspective. Invest in an engineered wooden floor with a good, thick layer of real wood so that if needed, the floor can be sanded and re-oiled after a long tenancy.
  • Choose hardwearing materials for your kitchen work top such as corian, quartz or marble. Wood, laminates and surfaces such as concrete (although beautiful) are not suitable for rental flats as they scratch and stain easily.
  • Spotlights are a better solution, where possible, than pendant lights. They provide an even spread of light and the tenant does not have to bring their own light shade.
  • If the property is being rented furnished, it's best to choose simple furniture. Again, light colours appeal to everyone's tastes but when it comes to sofas and other upholstered furniture  make sure the cushion covers are removable so that they can be easily washed after the tenancy.
  • In terms of decorative details, some landlords don't think these are necessary, however, we firmly believe they add to the design. Without finishing touches, a property is at risk of feeling too empty and therefore, not appealing as well to prospective tenants. We like natural materials such as wood, and small uplifting details like brightly painted metal lanterns or rustic bits and bobs to contrast with the minimal designs. It's also important to have some artwork on the walls so the walls don't seem too bare.
  • Of course once a tenancy is agreed, the tenant can ask for certain things to be removed before they move in - that's not to say these details have been a waste. Often we have found that tenants love the completeness of our designs so much that they ask to buy things to take with them at the end of their tenancy!









Information on Planning Permission

Planning Permission has always been a subject that has eluded many renovators (and designers) but even in London today, depending on what works you are planning, you may be surprised to find you will not need planning permission. Permitted Development (PD) rights entitle homeowners to make changes to their home without needing planning permission and include a number of renovations, including extensions. This is not to say you will never need planning permission for an extension (heavens no!) as there are a number of limitations and exceptions to the rule, for example, if you live in a Conservation area or a Listed building.

For listed buildings, all alterations (including internal ones) require consent. Depending on the size of your extension, you may require planning permission and listed buildings consent.

However, in general, planning permission will not be required for an extension as long as

  • The extension will not exceed 50% of the total land area around the original house - this calculation should include sheds and other buildings.
  • Single storey side extensions do not have a width greater than half the width of the original house
  • Single storey side extensions do not exceed 4m in height
  • Extensions within two metres of the boundary are built no higher than 3m
  • Single storey rear extensions do not extend beyond the rear of the original house by more than 3m for an attached house, or 4m for a detached house
  • Single storey rear extensions do not exceed 4m in height
  • Exterior materials are similar in appearance to those of the existing house
  • The roof pitch of extensions more than one storey should match that of the existing house
There are a number of other details that apply to extensions of more than one storey.
All extensions will require Building Regulations approval, which ensure that minimum design and construction standards are being met and cover things such as fire safety, insulation, drainage and access. Your interior designer or architect can help you submit a Full Plans Submission, or you can do this yourself. A building inspector will visit the site at various stages of the project. Alternatively, you can submit a Building Notice, giving the council 48 hours notice that you intend to start works. A building inspector will visit the site at various stages during the project and you will need to be prepared to correct work that does not meet the regulations.

For more information on Permitted Development, visit www.planningportal.gov.uk.


Reference:
Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine



Guest Blog: Fontanot Staircases, functionality and design made in Italy

Fontanot is a leading italian company with more than 40 years of experience in the industry of staircase products.
In the 1970's Fontanot starts a journey with the mission of transforming the staircase by combining aesthetics and design with functionality.
In the subsequent decade the company becomes famous worldwide for the creation of an industrial building process of stairs.
Going beyond the concept of the staircase seen as unique and indivisible, Fontanot produces easy to assemble stairsdesigned for those who want to customize their homes in complete freedom.
Through the years the company conceives and creates new staircases collections, including the highly successful and praised Arkè, Pixima, Magia and Geniusproduct lines.
We have interviewed Mark Chapman, UK and Ireland sales manager for Fontanot since 2002. Mr. Chapman gives us an overview of the DIY staircase market in the UK and worldwide with a particular focus on Fontanot's strategies.


Can you tell me something about yourself from a professional point of view, how long have you been working in this industry?
I have been employed by Fontanotsince July 2002, and I have worked as the UK and Ireland Sales Manager since then.

Have you noticed something during the economic crisis that have changed the customer behaviour?
Customers are more reluctant to spend money and are always looking to bring down the price. Enquiries have slowed down due to the crisis.

How would you describe Fontanot's position on the UK market?
I would describe Fontanot as the world leader in DIY stairs. This also applies to the UK market. The service offered by Fontanot cannot be matched by other DIY staircase manufacturers.

Any news coming up for the next six months that you would like to push?
Within the UK, Fontanot UK will aim to target sales in the London area on the back of the response of Grand Designs Live held in May. In my role as Sales Manager I am also talking to major DIY groups at the moment, such as B&Q, Screwfix and Selco. To start business with these Groups could see a huge increase in UK sales.


Fontanot UK, contemporary Italian designer staircases.

Contacts:
Office 7, The Store Room
Eastwood Trading Estate, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S65 1SL, United Kingdom
+44 1709 821555

Free number:
0800 6121045

E-mail:
sales@fontanot.co.uk


http://uk.fontanotshop.com/





Wooden Floors - An article by our new interior designer, Milena


A little bit about wood and trees

Wood is probably the most popular choice of flooring for the home – indeed wooden floors have been laid in the houses of northern Europe and the US for hundreds years, and never really been out of fashion.

Wood gives a beautiful, natural and warm look to the house. The lighter-colored woods, such as beech, ash and sycamore, are associated with a clean Scandinavian style that translates well to the contemporary home. The darker species, like oak, walnut and cherry, offer a richer, perhaps more sumptuous, sophisticated look.



Wood as a living material which depends on humidity, temperature, light and air conditions and it can change its color and shape through time.
Wood type range from Italian Supplier - Listone Giordano, Margaritelli

Also shows how color of the wood changes over time.


When thinking of wooden floors, there are two main options available to the market: solid wood or engineered. Solid wood flooring consists of planks of one type of wood meant to be screwed, glued or fixed by tongue and groove system to the sub-floor.

Engineered wood panels are made up of several layers of different wood types (top layer more precious called veneer). The visible top layer is more valuable solid wood, beneath which are layers of plywood are glued and laid at 90° angle to each other for extra stability.
Engineered wood flooring is becoming extremely popular, because it is more stable, than solid wood, it is easier to fit (do not need to be glued or screwed to sub-floor), as well as it comes with various effects from ‘aged’ to ‘sun bleached’.





Comparing solid and engineering wooden floor panels


Cheaper products аre typically those with thin wear lаyers (veneer) – which can be as little as 0.6mm – making them unsuitable for sanding. Some types are not meant for sanding but the suppliers argue that sanding is not necessary cause their irregular style does not need it, adding natural character to the planks. Such options can be fine in rooms not subject to lots of wear, such as a guest bedroom.
The higher-quality engineered woods (more expensive) are those with a thicker wear layer – up to 6mm in some cases – which can take lots of wear and can be sanded several times if required. Each sanding removes around 0.5mm of the surface layer.
Most of engineered flooring comes pre-finished, or there is a choice between lacquering and oiling/waxing.

Lacquering creates a layer that sits on top of the veneer and does not sink into the grain, making scratches more visible, but more adding water resistant properties to the wood. Matt lacquering leaves boards looking very natural, almost untreated. Satin lacquering adds a shiny effect to the wood.


Oiling brings out the natural wood grain, but it will require more care and maintenance; given it gets absorbed by the veneer, the top layer will all have the same finish throughout its thikness making scratches less visible. However, it will leave the wood more exposed to staining. Even though oil finishing is less protective, it is much easier to “repair”. It can be fixed by topping up the oil content in the stained area after light sanding. If lacquered floor gets stained it will require full sanding and refinish. 




1. Matt Lacquer, 2. Satin Lacquer, 3. Oil 

Wood floor is like a baby. It requires preparation before installation, care during its use, and maintenance through its life.

Given wood is a natural living creature, it suffers from changes in temperature and humidity levels. Nowadays, water under-floor heating systems are becoming more popular in new built and refurbishments. By heating the floor, and reducing overall humidity levels, water under floor heating systems need to be installed appropriately to avoid ruining the engineered woods.


Here are few advices on how not to make it happen:
- When installing, make sure sub-floor is dryDuring installation temperature in the room should be around 18-200C; after installation floor temperature should not go above 270C
- Humidity level should not increase more than 75% (can be measured by Hygrometer)
- Use underlay with the lowest amount of thermal resistance
- Make sure the under-floor-heating system provides heat evenly across the floor, with no hotspots





Carbonwarm® explains installation of under-floor heating for wood flooring

If the wooden floor is installed and maintained in the right way, it can work for you and “live” with you for many years.

In the world of wood flooring there are several design trends going from more classing ones to new ones meant to dominate the market in 2013.
The most popular are:
- Vintage, rustic wood flooring:floors that have been distressed, weathered, aged or hand-scraped for that expensive-looking vintage look.
- Boardwalk-style wood floors:creating nostalgic seaside style, this wood floor trend will be huge in 2013.
- Red Oak: it has a warm, rich appeal and is full of character, with the added benefit that it ages beautifully over time.

Wooden floors we like…


       

       







Reference: Home Building& Renovating.





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