Important steps to take before remodeling and redecorating

Decorating has never been more popular. The plethora of magazines, television programmes and websites dedicated to DIY stand testament to that.

Visit your local hardware store any day of the week and you will see people browsing the aisles and seeking inspiration for that big decorating project. But before you go ahead and pick up that paintbrush, just give a little extra thought and consideration to what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. Planning is probably the most important part of the job. This is also involves planning against anything that could go wrong and cost you extra money.

Avoiding Problems
There are perhaps two reasons for choosing to undertake your own decorating job. You derive great pleasure from something which is all your own work or you simply cannot afford to employ a professional to do it for you. My boyfriend and I personally LOVE building and creating things for our home. We take a lot of pride in it, but it does tend to take us awhile to finish it up. 

This is also where your forward planning is important. Before you start to consider decorating your home yourself, check that your home insurance is up to date and that your buildings and contents insurance cover you adequately. This means that you have a policy that will pay for rebuilding your home and for the replacement of all your clothing, furniture, white goods, trinkets and treasures. In short, your home and everything you have in it. Failure to do this could result in your being seriously out of pocket, so it is of paramount importance to check the figures. We never take on projects of that scope, as we just rent right now, but if you are planning on taking your kitchen down to the studs, for example, you really want to make sure you are protected should something go wrong.

Of course, if you do choose to hire a professional, they will be covered by public liability insurance, so if anything goes wrong you and your home are covered. But to avoid having to make a claim after redecorating, ensure that you are careful and remove all items of value which could get broken or damaged. Cover carpets and furniture which cannot be moved with thick dustsheets. Plastic-backed ones are a good choice as any spillages do not go through them. I am guilty of using only an old sheet to cover things when painting, but I've learned the hard way that paint goes right through a sheet.

Be particularly careful about using blowtorches to burn off paint from wood, especially in confined spaces. Keep a wet rag and bucket of water near to hand to cool down any hotspots. Smouldering wood can ignite and, ultimately, your house could burn down. If you are working in the bathroom or anywhere where there is water present take great care in using electrical appliances. Water and electricity definitely do not mix! Aside from blowing every fuse in the house, your life could be at risk, so keep them apart.

Your insurance company is there to help and advise you. Check the paperwork and ensure you are covered so that any disasters are paid for. If you follow these simple tips you can enjoy giving your home a stunning makeover. Just a little planning can avert financial disaster should the worst happen.

 Below is some inspiration if you need a little nudge to start planning that redecorating/remodeling project...

Decorative trim, moldings, and a sophisticated paint job can make a huge impact.

via BHG 

If remodeling makes you nervous, start small.  Some easy to install shelves can make greatly improve a space in much need of storage.

via BHG

Outdoor improvement projects include just as much planning, thought, and  protection as indoor projects.

via BHG

Built-ins can be a worthwhile investment when carefully planned out.

via BHG

A custom kitchen is probably the most rewarding home improvement project you can undertake.

via Traditional Home


 *disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with Churchill 

Keeping your simpler space simple

A few weeks ago I came across the blog of interior designer James Swan, and this post really caught my attention. It's also right on track with yesterday's post "How to achieve a simpler space." Seemed you guys really liked the topic, so I figured I'd ad on with what James had to say - (he ads a little of his humor and political metaphor for laughs)

"If you follow political and economic headlines there is a reoccurring theme that cannot be ignored. It appears that vast quantities of resources are, by the nature of the crisis, being focused on cleaning up the past before we can hope for success in re-calibrating our vision of the future. And this makes sense.

Sweeping inconvenient little messes under the carpet will eventually leave you with a lumpy carpet that is being eaten from within by the dirt and grime. And we all know how that ends, only too well. So let’s learn a lesson from our national headlines as we focus on making our homes a bit more beautiful during these otherwise rather ugly times.

I suggest to you that our first priority when considering how to make our homes more beautiful (with minimal expense) is to CLEAN UP THE MESS.

Please understand that “mess” is a relative term. My mother was known in our neighborhood as Mrs. Clean. A “mess” in my mother’s home was usually an errant dust bunny that had successfully fled the mighty Hoover and lived an extra day to tell its tale. It never had time to tell the tale twice! For others the term “mess” will have far more monumental connotations. Yikes!

The first step to a more beautiful home centers our attention on the terms “neat” and “clean.” How do we achieve this? Here are 3 Steps to a Neat and Clean Home:

1. Pick Your S#*t Up! Sorry to be vulgar but honestly! We are not children anymore (though they can be helpful to this process…in fact make this a family activity, seriously!) and we are perfectly capable of picking up after ourselves. The Rule is simple: Unless it is a substantial furniture piece, an important sculpture, or an aging family member it does not belong on the floor of our home. Put the laundry in a basket.

*Amen to that! I couldn't put it better!*

Put your purse or briefcase on a desk or dresser. Coats and jackets are hung in closets, sweaters are folded and placed in drawers, and books, magazines and newspapers are stored on shelves, in baskets and in the recycling bin respectively. Remember The Rule: scan a room and then get to work. You will be pleased with the impact this effort will have on your road to a more beautiful home.

2. Edit, Edit, Edit. We love our stuff. We gather, nay hoard, more than we can possible use so my suggestion is to edit. In today’s economic times the thought that someone else might actually put to use something that’s been collecting dust on a table, shelf or in a closet in our home for years should bring a smile to your face. Whether you elect to donate or to sell, the net gain for our own home is that of space. Air. Room to breath. And that, Dear Reader, is a beautiful thing.


3. Clean, Clean, Clean. From top to bottom; every corner and crevice needs to be cleaned. There are books and websites galore which can assist you in the nuts and bolts of this process, and allow you to be green while you do it. But the point is to do it. My sisters and I used to complain vociferously as we rolled up our sleeves and tended to our chores each Saturday morning.

These where times filled with purpose, laughter and the reward of accomplishment. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning. Get the whole family involved and make it fun. Remember everything has changed. Nothing is the same so make the most of these times with those you love. Shoulder the responsibility for your home together, even if it’s just the ritual of cleaning. You will enjoy the beauty of the results and well as the joy of the process."

Sounds pretty simple eh? Well, I've been in plenty of homes where these commandments of basic home maintenance are broken. A lot of this is a matter of willpower. I tend to just use the simple mantra and Nike slogan "just do it." There aren't any excuses. If you can find time to watch TV, or play games on the internet (okay, so maybe we all don't) then you can do these things! And in the end, once it becomes routine, it will take less and less time to accomplish, therefore leaving you more time to relax and play in your clean and simple home. Good luck!


Here's a visual nudge for you. This is the home of Julie Carlson (Remodelista blogger), whose family created this home from what used to be a fixer-upper rancher!










top two images via Apartment Therapy, remaining via Point Click Home

Could you live in a barn?

I could! If they looked like some of these conversions. After doing all the research, I'd definitely need mine to be sectioned into different rooms as opposed to a conversion left as a vast open space with a loft. You?




Images via Farmhouse Modern


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Images via Materialicious









Images via Border Oak





Look at how they start, with just the stone foundation!
Images via Carpenter Oak