Archive for the ‘Lighting’ Category

Stairway, staircase, stairwell, or just plain old stairs. Whatever term you refer to it by, it’s a permanent fixture in any home with more than one storey. As a fixed feature, it’s not part of the home that can be easily altered without careful planning and a lot of adjustment to the structure of the building. A brand new staircase requires the right materials, design and construction to make a style statement, but an existing one can be given a makeover that will have an impact all of its own.

Stop and stair

Step outside of your home for a moment, then walk back in. The first thing you’ll probably be faced with is your staircase. While this fixture in your home exists to serve a functional purpose, it is also in a prominent aesthetic position so wouldn’t you want to make a statement of it?

With some imaginative design and décor, your staircase could become one of the most attractive features of your home. Most people won’t have the finances, or inclination, to construct a brand new stairway, so let’s concentrate on the old and the various ways you can spruce it up to look great.

Steps to success

Unless you live in a ultra-modern home, chances are your staircase is built from wood. The wooden steps are more than likely hidden under carpet with underlay in-between. This is common in UK homes for purposes of warmth and to also deaden the footsteps of people moving between floors.

You have a choice to remove the carpet and return the wood to its former glory with some sanding and wood stain or paint, or you can install a new carpet or even a runner. A runner is carpet that doesn’t span the full width of the staircase and is held in place on each step with a stair rod. Before choosing a flooring option, consider who will be moving up and down in the home. If it will be young children or the elderly, this could have an impact on your choice.

Most Victorian terrace homes will probably still have the original balustrades in place. If these have become split, or just in need of attention, you could alter the entire look of your staircase by replacing them with something more contemporary. However, if the balustrades are still in good health, a lick of paint or sanding back to the original wood will do wonders.

Try to make the space under your stairs work for you. Install some shelving, storage or hooks and things to help keep the house tidy. Under the staircase is the perfect place to keep the household’s shoes, coats and keys so check out the J-me range for ideas.

The highest ceiling in a house is often above the incline of the staircase so it’s the ideal location to place a stylish lighting fixture. Long pendant lights or, if you have the space, a chandeliers, will give your stairway a striking look. Take a glance at the Alma light range for inspiration.

Finally, pay attention to your stairway walls. Of course paint or wallpaper is a must, but the stairs are also a great location to display family photos due to the large wall space available. Try hanging a selection of large photo frames cascading up the stairway or displayed in a random pattern.

As the summer comes to a close and the air turns cooler, we are faced with the inevitable changing of the seasons and the onset of Autumn. But rather than looking glum, why not embrace the change and use the opportunity to restyle your home. With the darker nights looming, it’s the perfect time to brighten up your home’s interior. Autumnal colours are warm and welcoming so bring the outdoors in and create a relaxed environment in which to enjoy the new season.

Get comfy

The trend for this Autumn is comfort and texture so don’t be afraid to add variety to the fabrics in your home, particularly in the bedroom. Luxurious materials for cushions and throws will add a sophisticated look to your boudoir while textured wallpaper with colourful floral patterns is big for this season. Check out collections by Barbara Hulanicki and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen for inspiration.

Get natural

Room furniture can often be the biggest financial outlay when redesigning a room but you needn’t replace old for new. Furniture can pull a room together and all you need do is a little rearranging of existing pieces for a big impact. If you are looking for some new furniture to add to your room, this season is the time to buy natural wood pieces. Remember, autumn reveals all the natural brown colours of nature so have a look at the Furnantics collection for ideas.

Get organised

While we’re talking about natural wood pieces, you should maximise the storage in your home. Incorporating storage into the redesign of your home layout is always a good idea. More storage means more space so take advantage of the opportunity to declutter and then store away anything you don’t want in plain sight. If you’re in need of a little inspiration, take a look at some these home storage products.

Get in the mood

Finally, the loss of natural light means we’ll all be reaching for the light switch much earlier. Natural light is always preferable but you can make artificial light more attractive with some new fixtures. Keeping the wood theme going, you can create a warm and welcoming mood with some natural walnut and chrome wall lights from the Astro Lighting range.

Whether you’ve a large garden or small backyard, the summer months are probably the only opportunity to really make the most of your outdoor space. Plenty of sunshine (hopefully) and long summer twilights give us all the chance to get out of the house and relax with friends and family. But wouldn’t it be an added bonus to create an outdoor living area that you can be proud of? Well, just a few simple design ideas and products can help you achieve a fabulous look.

How does your garden grow?

Your garden or back yard may already look good in which case you might just want to change the décor or you may be staring at a complete mess and need a total overhaul. Whatever the situation, decide on a plan and a budget.

Try to include shady areas in your outdoor space so you can get away from the sun. Most gardens and yards will have natural shade at certain times of the day but if yours doesn’t use plants such as Ivy that will thrive in the sunshine and provide cover. If you don’t want to plant anything, make sure you’ve got a parasol.

Choose your style

Do you prefer a contemporary look or a more traditional feel to your garden? Your choice may depend on existing garden furniture but take a look at the styles of outdoor décor that are available as you could be surprised by what you actually like. You may find one piece that you fall in love with in which case you can design your outdoor space around it.

Think about the existing colours of your parasol or chair cushions as this can help you decide on a palette. If you’re setting out to buy everything new, the colours you choose should be complemented in other parts of the outdoor space such a fencing. Speaking of which, if your fences are a boring wood colour, give them a lick of outdoor paint to brighten things up.

Read the rest of this entry »