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Professional Floor Sanding done Right

Not everybody appreciates a beautiful wood floor, but for those who do, covering it up with carpeting is not a viable option when a floor needs some tender loving care. There is something very intriguing about the variations in colour, the unique patterns of the grain, and the shape, length, and placement of each board of any wood floor. Pulling the carpet back in an older home will often reveal a long forgotten treasure that will shine again when restored.

Restoring Old Floors

Buying an older home can be a bit of an adventure; there will be a fair share of good and bad discoveries. Typically, if there are traditional floors in the home, they are most likely in rough shape, and the new owners will have to decide what to do about them. The cost of restoration may be subject to several factors, including repairs and replacements that will have to be weighed against the expected results.

Homeowners can do the work themselves to reduce costs, but this is only feasible for smaller areas. Sanding a large floor by hand is out of the question, and renting a machine is fairly inexpensive, but can produce disastrous results when used by someone with little to no experience. Also, the inexperience factor may result in various disappointments, besides creating more work: matching the wood, or staining wood to match, for example, takes the touch of experienced craftsmanship.

Fortunately, there are experts in this field, who share the love for old homes and–especially–old wooden floors. Anyone choosing to restore a wood floor back to its original glory or better would be wise to hire a professional. Homeowners are more likely to be happier with the results.

Professional Floor Sanding

On the surface, the advantages of hiring a professional floor restorer may seem obvious. They have the manpower, the right tools, and the right knowledge and experience. But what that truly involves may not be so obvious. One of the biggest advantages of hiring a pro of which homeowners may be unaware is dust free sanding. This is accomplished by using equipment and techniques not readily available to everyone.

But professional floor repair is not limited to just home refurbishing; professional floor services are available for any building with a wood floor, including offices, schools, and businesses, just to name a few. Experienced crews know how to repair and refinish worn and damaged floors with as little disruption as possible to normal activities. Craftsmanship and spectacular results can be expected.

Professional floor refurbishing offers various techniques and approaches for handling any number of problems a floor may have. They have the experience to fix hardwood or soft wood floors, as well as laminate flooring (which is a little tricky). A professional service can also finish a new floor, besides doing touch-up and refinishing work.

Acorn Floor Sanding

There are commercial–as well as home–floor sanding services available in the Bournemouth area. Anyone needing professional floor sanding done, and done right, can count on experts like Acorn Floor Sanding and high quality work at affordable prices. Letting a professional do the job will produce the best results.

It is a shame that so many beautiful floors have been hidden beneath carpeting. When done correctly, a restored wood floor will add charm to any home, and a reclaimed floor can be the centerpiece star of any refurbished home. Preserving the original integrity of an old home–and its floors–will make it a new home, to be enjoyed for years to come.

April 30, 2015
Meet Leano A simple, small and easy-to-use chair
Leano – Highlights:
- Simple and easy to use
- Light, small and portable
- Strong frame made from wood
- Durable and water-repellent fabrics
- Parks, travel, festivals, camping, beach
- Be spontaneous
- Take time and relax
Important information
- Launch is on 5th of May
- Goal is 5000$
- Campaign duration is 31 days
Leano – the story behind the story:

It all began when Nik was chilling in the park one Saturday afternoon. He was trying to read a book, so he started looking for something he could lean on. He found a perfect root from an old tree and while he was reading his book, he suddenly had a thought how cool it would be if that root could be carried around and used somewhere else. When he got home that day, he started working on an old beach chair.The first Leano was born. It was more than two years ago. Since then, Leano became more in touch with nature – it was made out of wood. It became more resilient – the fabric is now water repellent. It even became funkier – it comes in three vivid colors. Leano is now ready to meet the public and become its companion. Now, two years from the first prototype, we present you with Leano.

Relax, this is Leano.

Meet Leano. A simple, small and easy-to-use chair, made by a team of 9 young Slovenian designers, students and creatives, which set upon a journey towards reconnecting us with our natural side. A project that utilizes crowdfunding platform to make us take a moment from our everyday life in a technology-based world and take a step back towards our humanity. A combination of brilliant simplicity, durability and natural tactility, presents us with a practical chair that will change the way you experience life and nature and bring the culture of sitting back to its pure essence.

Its unique design, handcrafted from Slovenian wood, makes Leano not only light, but gives it a nice, warm, natural feel. Combined with water repellent fabric it provides a durable support for your back, whenever you need it. Made out of only four individual pieces, it weighs in at just 1 lbl, but offers all the stability you need. Leano comes in 3 different vivid colors which all express youthfulness and lust for life.

Be spontaneous:

Inspiration that resides in the desire to be spontaneous and intuitive rather than rational and forethought, gave birth to a companion, which reminds us that real connection is still an important part of our human nature. Whether it’s your best friend, or some people you just met on a festival, making interaction with others, is the basic principle of our social life. Being spontaneous and making a left turn instead of a right, just might result in creating those unexpected exuberant memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

The power of simplicity:

Because Leano is so simple and portable, yet so comfortable, it will become your trusted companion wherever you go. And with Leano, doing the things you love, become easier and more fun. Prepared in seconds, it can be that thing you wished you had, while reading your books in front of your college or sitting in front of your tent at your favorite festival. Simply put it in your backpack or a bag and you are ready to go out and have a great day!

Observe and get inspired:

In life we face different challenges and sometimes all we need is a little inspiration to get us going and successfully overcome our obstacles and fears. The beach, lake or the park are the perfect places where Leano will help you relax, observe and get inspired by nature or by other people. Your personal bubble where you can take a break from the reckless pace of this world. A chair that gives culture back its’ true meaning – striving towards being in tune with our surroundings. Your companion on your journey towards balance. A simple, yet powerful step back towards our nature

Leano – The team:

Nik Lorbeg – Product designer, maker

Tadej Kočnik – Project manager

Diana (Didi) Pavlin – PR

Matija Bolčina – PR

Peter Premužič – PR

Klemen Lorber – Social media

Timotej Vitez – PR content

Blaž Rogelšek – Video recording and production

Matic Zavodnik – Screenwriter and video production

Robert Bohinec – Creative writing

Niko Klansek – Business Advisor
April 30, 2015
Should Landlords Furnish Their Rental Property?

The question whether landlords should furnish their rental property or not is confounding the landlords for long decades. The solution is concealed between the two competing objectives: increasing income, whilst minimizing the costs and efforts. Undoubtedly, bringing more furniture will boost the rent a landlord should achieve on rental property- where in other way third option is more probable in some cases.

However, before landlords decide to invest in furniture, they must consider the aggravation involved with furnishing a rental property. As per the experts review- a part-furnished property with certain curtains and domestic appliances will be a better option. This appears to derive the attention of tenants who are searching for an autonomous unit-flat or house. And for those landlords who are renting houses in multiple occupations (HMO’s), specifically focused on the student market, rental property is finest option to go with.

How much does it costs to furnish a rental property?

A luxury apartment in the region might be taking around £10,000 where it is possible to furnish a basic flat in just around £500, when you manage to seek out affordable landlord furniture package from any homeware store. For affordable furnishing, it’s important to work with right skills and purchasing techniques. Assembling, transporting, and furniture arranging costs are also added. One can find plentiful landlord furniture packages over the web and off the peg furniture packages, especially designed for the landlords.

These seem to be quite appealing for student letting market where they require a desk, bed, and wardrobe in each room. However, for the landlords who are not renting to student, it’s hard to make decision whether they should get it furnished or not? Well, this depends on the nature of the tenants so make sure that you understand their needs first instead making your own decision. While buying a furniture, select the bullet proof surfaces with legs that could easily support a Ford Modeo, with an engine service, your tenants are not gonna treat the furniture the way you do.

Is furnished rental property really demanding?

For the short stay tenants, furnished property is particularly attractive especially the professional workers who require relocating for work for a short time. In this case, in order to avoid the hassle of arranging things, they easily get ready to pay higher rent to have organised and well furnished home. Landlords should consider the fact that supply is not saturated. The growing demands of buy-to-let as an investment, and the centre apartment developments in the cities is opening a lot more choices for the tenants than ever before. In order to attract more tenants, landlords must represent the different style of accommodation than other landlords in a competitive market. If you as a landlord are ready to invest in furnishing the property then here are the few tips to select the appropriate items.

What furniture should a landlord keep in his property?

If you have decided to invest in your landlord, keep all the obvious items such as- bed, sofa and appliances such as a washing machine, fridge freezer and cooker. You also need storage like- draws and wardrobes along with tables and chairs for the meal time. In order to make the rental property worthy and comfortable, having coffee table for the living room and free standing lighting will help the landlord to show their property in the best light. If the property is aimed to be put on rent for the very short time then include other items such as- cutlery and cooking equipment.

April 29, 2015
5 Eco-Friendly Flooring Options For Those Looking to Go Green

Did you know that what your feet stand on could impact your carbon footprint? Homeowners today have many options available for environmentally friendly flooring. Some are made of recycled or sustainable materials and others from renewable resources, and all of them contain little to no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can become a gas at room temperature, thereby providing better indoor air quality.

Let’s take a look at your new flooring:

Cork

Cork comes to us from the Mediterranean Quercus suber, or cork oak, tree. Harvesters take care to only strip the bark so that the body of the tree is undamaged and, because the bark grows back in as little as three years, cork is a highly renewable resource. Mold-, mildew-, fire-, and termite-resistant, this antimicrobial flooring option “gives” when compressed, making it soft and comfortable to walk on. Cork floors can last 10 to 30 years in your home and create a room that is naturally warm and quiet.

Bamboo

Stronger and faster growing than hardwoods, bamboo is actually a grass that is harvestable after only five to seven years after planting compared to 50 to 150 years for hardwoods. This flooring option is termite-resistant, durable, easy to maintain and install, and its cost is competitive with hardwood flooring. Bamboo is especially open to customization due to the varied grains and array of colors available within the species.

Carpet

There are several green carpet options available. Some are made of natural materials, such as wool, sisal, jute, and cotton. Polyester Berber carpet, on the other hand, is durable, spill-resistant, and made of recycled plastic bottles. Other recycled carpet tiles prevent used vinyl and nylon from an eternity in landfills and are great for customizing your home. Their small size and variety of designs allow homeowners to create flooring that is unique to the owner and the perfect size for any room. Even better, worn or stained spots can be replaced individually without replacing the whole carpet.

Hardwood

Wood not only looks good, it is renewable, non-toxic, biodegradable, and recyclable. Reclaimed and salvaged wood is made of re-milled lumber from old buildings, or new lumber from dead trees, and serves to decrease greenhouse gases by reusing materials that would have been incinerated. If you want new hardwood flooring, make sure it is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Any wood with the FSC stamp of approval comes from a sustainably managed forest.

Tiles

Terrazzo tiles can be made of original or recycled materials, including chips of glass, masonry, concrete, and stone. This highly durable flooring can last more than 40 years but, before committing, make sure that the manufacturer uses little to no VOCs in the epoxy. Recycled glass tiles are a bright addition to the home that won’t mildew, mold, or stain. The sheer number of colors and patterns available make glass an attractive option.

When it comes to green flooring, you have many options that can be used together in your home. Now you can find what best fits your budget and your design aesthetic, all while preserving the planet.

April 29, 2015
4 Things You Need For the Perfect Outdoor Home Bar By Stephanie Bertha

You might have a place to sit outside and sip drinks with your friends, but do you have a true outdoor home bar? The outdoor bar is a second living room, and when it’s done right, it’s the place where everyone wants to be. Here are the four things you need to create the perfect outdoor bar at your home:

The bar, of course

Ideally, you’ll have a bar with electricity and a sink. Unless you really know what you’re doing, leave the wiring and plumbing to a professional—you don’t want an electric shock cocktail!

With power and water, you can install a minifridge, ice machine and sink. If you don’t have these, you’ll have to haul buckets and trays back and forth to the kitchen, which makes it very hard to be a laidback host. Plus, with an extra ice machine on hand, you won’t run the risk of emptying out your fridge and having to run to the store for more ice midevent.
Music

There are so many different ways to get music into your speakers; I’ll just focus on the speakers themselves. You’ll want at least two weatherproof outdoor speakers with quality mounting brackets. A builtin amplifier is a good idea to make sure that you can fill the outdoor space with music, even when there’s a crowd of people talking. Four speakers, one in each corner, is an even better idea.

Caption: Outdoor speakers by Omaker $35 from Amazon
Did you know that you don’t always have to position speakers at ceiling or shoulderheight? Speakers in unexpected places are a pleasant surprise. Try hiding a speaker among plantings or even in a sculpture for a truly immersive auditory experience.

Lights

Lighting an outdoor space is a delicate art. Make sure that your walkways are lit with groundlevel footlights. I prefer solarpowered stake lights that are easy to position. The surface and workstation of your outdoor bar come next—you and your guests have to be able to see the food and drinks. Top your tables with candle lanterns with glass enclosures. Good ol’ tiki torches are a hit, too, if you can position them safely and you don’t expect kids or rowdy pets to be running around. Last, hang strings of tiny lights or paper lanterns to create a soft, romantic overhead glow.

Seats

Arguably just as important as the bar itself is your seating. Depending on how you and your friends will be using your outdoor bar, you’ll want to plan seating accordingly. Place matching barstools at your outdoor bar, they’re lowmaintenance and look great in pairs. Go for backless stools or armless stools if you want to encourage turnover of the seats. If you expect people to stay in their seats and hang out, choose padded stools with backs and arms.

Backless and armless stools are great for guests who want to get in and out frequently.

Stools with arms are great for guests who want to sit back and relax, enjoy the conversation! Scattering a few flat benches throughout the lawn area will encourage a natural flow and give guests the ability to move them as they wish. If you have space, set up a few intimate nooks
with twoperson seating options in the farther reaches of the outdoor space—go for Adirondack chairs, a wicker love seat, or even a hammock. Here’s a few examples of outdoor settings that inspire us (and hope to inspire you too!):

Now just add people

Once you have your outdoor bar and entertaining space set up, call your friends and family and relax! Add a firepot and an outdoor heater or two and you’ll be able to use your outdoor bar yearround. Cheers! Stephanie Bertha is a writer and coowner of BarstoolComforts.com, a site for everything exciting in outdoor bar stools and home accessories . She puts fun in furniture by creating memorable, unexpected and delightful places—indoors, online and outside.

April 28, 2015
All You Need To Know About Contemporary Kitchen Design

It goes without a saying that the kitchen has a central place in every household. When moving house and have the possibility to design your favourite cooking area, you want to make the most of it. Easy cleaning, proper location and functionality are just some of the things you need to consider. Creating both practical and beautiful space is not an easy job. Not to mention that the cooking area should align with the rest of your interior.

Contemporary design is not a strict philosophy, but it has some basic elements that will serve as a guideline. From the storage solutions to the appliances, modern interior usually incorporates clean and minimalistic look, complemented by a mixture of industrial and natural materials. Get some inspiration from the hottest kitchen design trends.

The Descent of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel was a popular choice in many modern kitchens. Not anymore! Beware of the rise of oil rubbed bronze. The material comes in number of varieties like faucets, handles, knots and other fixtures. If the bronze is too dark for your interior, try chrome or nickel. The best thing about these materials is that they require low maintenance.

Reminiscing for The Past

The kitchen design is basically divided between two strong tendencies – the well – familiar minimalistic style and the return of the traditional kitchen. The old and new are blending perfectly to create a stunning look. Whether you are moving house and need to design from scratch or you work with an existing interior, you can balance between the traditional and the new. The key is to adapt the vintage elements to the principles of contemporary decor.

Minimalistic Approach

Contemporary design is traditionally associated with minimalism. Although, this is not the only way to catch up with the latest design trends, it will successfully provide you with the desired effect. Neutral colours are associated with this style. White kitchens are the thing this year, so maybe you should get the brush and the can and make a little improvement. If you want a little bit more colour, make a safe bet with a monochromatic palette. Everything in this kitchen interior should display sophistication and futuristic vision. Keep this in mind when shopping for kitchen appliances. High – tech devices with sleek and simple look are a total killer.

Like Every Other Room

Another emerging trend is kitchens that look like the rest of the house. You can see more furniture – like cabinets and storage units, wood flooring, tiles and even artwork. The contemporary kitchen design perfectly reflects its new role as not simply a cooking and cleaning area, but as a place for socializing and lounging.

Wow Effect

Your kitchen lacks character? Wallpaper is an effortless way to create a visual impact and interesting contrast. However, you need to be mindful about the way you use it. Splashes and spill are something normal for the cooking zone. You don’t want to stained and greasy wallpaper from day one. Choose a wall that is away from the busy area. For more tips: Cheap removal van hire.

April 27, 2015
Wicked Wardrobes From SKON Design

Company Information, History and Experience

SKON Design builds and installs custom sliding wardrobes for both businesses and private homes. A 100% Irish owned company, SKON supplies its customers with loyal service and is dedicated to meeting their unique needs with innovative modern creations.

With over 20 years’ experience in sliding wardrobe design, experienced cabinet maker, Damien Phelan, founded the company in 2006. Although he utilised Ireland’s finest materials, adding a team of the finest and most qualified professionals was essential in order to guarantee the quality of the company’s products.

All of SKON’s fitters and designers are either furniture makers or designers by trade. This ensures clients receive the knowledge, expertise and meticulousness that only well trained and seasoned workers can provide. In turn, clients remain informed and advised throughout the design and installation processes.

Product Features and Benefits

Rattling doors and wobbly, weak tracking systems are not a concern when using SKON sliding wardrobes. The silent glide technology and anti-jump mechanisms apart of SKON’s track and sliding door systems help provide a quiet and secure veil for your belongings. For additional support, sliding wardrobes are built from aluminium in order to be lightweight, yet long-lasting constructions.

Next, SKON accessories make organizing and accessing clothes hassle-free. Pull down hanging rails are efficient space savers and are especially convenient for those with limited mobility. Pull out shoe storage saves floor space by providing actual compartments for accumulated footwear. Durable chrome baskets and drawers will not bend or break like common wire ones. And, pull out tie rails keep ties wrinkle-free and provide additional space for scarves and jewelry.

In order to ensure customer satisfaction and peace of mind, SKON offers a 10 year guarantee on all moving parts, add-ons, and workmanship. This guarantee, in conjunction with SKON’s in-house, not outsourced, installation team, goes a long way to ensuring simplicity and comfort for the customer.

Working With SKON

Working with SKON Design to create a customized wardrobe is a simple 5 step process. Using the interactive wardrobe designer, clients are put in charge of every design preference, leaving SKON professionals to handle the production and installation. Potential clients can review the 5 step process below.

Wardrobe Width – Clients will select the width of their wardrobe based on 2, 3 and 4-door options. 4-door wardrobes may measure up to 4.8 meters, while 2-door wardrobes can accommodate spaces just over a meter. However, depending on the type of wardrobe, such as corner or angled wardrobes, dimensions may change.

Interior Layout – From the Essential Layout with basic hanging and shelving to the Deluxe Layout featuring additional drawers/baskets and accessories, clients are given many options regarding the division of their storage space.

Doors – SKON’s made to measure doors provide the customer with a versatility that doesn’t accompany standard doors. Clients will choose between four different design layouts that offer differing materials (such as wood, coloured glass and mirror), amounts of panels and band widths.

Trimmings – Lastly, clients will select their door frame colours. Both silver and bronze frames are available.

Book Installation – After deciding on all desired customizations, clients will submit their design and receive an estimate and project details within 24 hours. Installations usually only take one day to complete.

April 27, 2015
Make Any Room Pop with Feature Tiles

Decorating a room does not just happen by adding drapes and an area carpet, there are many different ways to make a room look great! One of those ways is to use decorative tiles on walls as well as the floor. Add depth, colour and sophistication to any room with the use of feature tiles.

What are Decorative Titles?

These tiles are met to serve two purposes. First, decorative tiles bring spice and life to an otherwise boring room with colour and texture. Second, these tiles are functional and easy to clean and sanitise. Decorative tiles are not just for the bathroom any either. They can be used in any room in the home and are a great way to decorate a busy office space too.

Add Colour to Any Room

Whether it is vibrant and cheery colours like Holi Indian Summer or Holi Kaleidoscope or simple black and white patterns like the Hexatile Series, many tile suppliers have the right look for your decor. Feature Tiles can also be a great addition to the work place for added colour and warmth. If a more industrial look is wanted Cubica Silver could be the choice for this industrial business owner.

Add Depth to a Room

To make a room look bigger adding textured featured tiles is a great trick. These tiles add the allusion of space in small rooms by making the walls seem larger and further away from the middle of the room. Tile patterns such Suede Taupe, and the Viva Series can make a small room seem bigger than it did with plain flat walls.

Add Sophistication to a Room

With feature tiles adding a touch of sophistication is really very simple. Nothing is more in tending today with home decor than that smooth sophistication of the marble wall look. Obtaining this look is easily done with Shine tiles along one wall of a living area or office. Another major trend in decoration is the look of having moulded clay walls in a kitchen. Feature tiles can create these looks and so many more.

Rooms where Decorative Tiles would be Great

As most decorative tiles are still rather easy to keep clean and beautiful any room in the home or office would be perfect for such decor, however there are some rooms where it just makes more sense to place these tiles. Kitchens, bathrooms, and entry ways are the most common, yet other places could benefit from having tiles as well. Around hard to clean places such as a fireplace or indoor pool are great as well. These tiles make it easier to clean and keep clean on a daily basis. Another great place to place these featured tiles is anywhere small children would play. Because of the ability to keep these tiles clean and sanitary. This makes cleaning children’s messes so much easier. Daycares, schools, and other places where children spend quite abit of time can be made beautiful and sanitary all at the same time.

Where to find these Tiles and many more?

Finding these types of featured tiles does not have to be a major chore. There are several retailers online where anyone can browse the general selection. However, Design Tiles has one of the largest selections of featured tiles to choose from. Other places to find decorative tiles can be found online though Google and other popular search engines.

April 24, 2015