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A recent visit to a wonderful woodland sculpture park really inspired us to try our hand at making some sculpture of our own. Our first creation was a chicken wire toadstool….
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Buying a house is one of the biggest and most important steps in life. You’ll finally live in a home you’ve always dreamed about, and decorate it the way you like. However, you must take care of a few things before you can start arranging furniture and creating the perfect home for your family. This is what the pre-moving activities should look like.
Checking the Leaks
The home inspector should notify you if there are any plumbing damages in the house before you decide to buy the place. However, inspectors may overlook these things sometime, which will leave you in quite a predicament. A broken pipe or a damaged faucet could cause major problems, like flood, so it would be perfect to double-check all the plumbing before you move in. Additionally, check the fuse box for potential electricity malfunction as well.
Pest Control
Make sure you call the exterminator a day or two before you decide to move in, so that they can see if there is any pest problem. Setting a couple of bug bombs or having the exterminator simply spray the place would be enough. Do it before you move in, because it will be easier for you to catch rodents or insects in an unfurnished house than with all the sofas and end tables in the way.
Change the Locks
Changing the locks on the exterior doors is imperative when moving into a new house. You never know if the previous owners gave their spare key to someone they know, but who is a complete stranger to you. Once you move in, start securing the home with security systems. Install an alarm, smoke detectors and have at least two fire extinguishers in the house.
Clean the House
The house that’s supposed to be sold will always look clean, but it’s definitely not clean enough for you to just move in without making it spotless. Start from scratch, get the buckets, brooms, mops, and a vacuum cleaner, and start cleaning from top to bottom. Mop the floors, wash the windows, sanitize the bathroom and the kitchen, and vacuum the entire place.
Paint the Walls
You might like the colour of the walls, but you should still paint all the walls and ceilings in the house. Not only will the house look fresh, but it will actually be fresh and bacteria free. On the other hand, if the walls are damaged and not in a good shape, you might need to call for professional help. If you decide to do it yourself, make sure to get proper workwear Sydney has to offer, and stay safe and clean during the work.
New Switch Plates
If your new home has been renovated more than once, it’s possible that it has dirty and discoloured cover plates, mismatched outlets and rusted or damaged air vent covers. Therefore, make sure you change them after you have painted the walls. Once all the painting is done, you won’t have to worry about old and dirty spots in the house anymore.
Check for Breakage
The moving service usually delivers everything in one piece, but the damages are sometimes inevitable. Therefore, make sure to double-check all the fragile pieces of furniture that could have been broken or damaged during the move. Glass objects are especially sensitive, so be careful when unpacking. If they’ve cracked or broken, you could seriously hurt yourself.
Every new house needs a couple of fix-ups before the family moves in. Now that you have considered all of these suggestions, get to work and have the house in order. Once you have changed the locks, repainted, cleaned and secured the home, you’ll be able to start decorating and designing the beautiful interior.
What comes to your mind when you think of Scandinavia? Apart from polar nights, long winters, and a penchant for technology, Europe’s far north is also famous for its stylish interior design. An expression of effortless elegance and inimitable unity of function and aesthetics, Nordic décor does away with superficial ornaments and visual noise, and it is also very simple to achieve. Everyone deserves a little bit of the Scandinavian no-nonsense vibe in their living area – and here are a few ways on how to carry out a budget-friendly home update following in the Nordic footsteps.
Although winters in Northern Europe are known for biting winds and extremely low temperatures, carpets and rugs never gained widespread popularity among Scandinavian homeowners. To recreate the Nordic feel, pull back the carpeting and expose hardwood floors. Often coated by a matte varnish or painted white, bare floorboards in Scandinavian homes require less maintenance and are much easier to clean than lavish carpeting, so you will be hitting two boons with one simple décor tweak.
The dominant colour scheme in Scandinavian homes relies heavily on neutral hues. Although one would think Northerners are sick of seeing white expanses all around them, walls and furnishings in Nordic homes are often executed in white to maximize reflection of natural light during long glum winter days. Pastel tones such as beige, grey, baby blue, and light green can be used as sparing accents to break the décor monotony, but their deployment is usually limited to bed linens, cushions, tableware, or an odd accent wall. If you are looking to add an accent or two, reworking your upholstering can be the easiest and most affordable.
Scandinavians are fond of nature, and they often add potted plants to their living areas as cute reminders that grim winters will eventually end, ceding the throne to verdant spring. Tiny botanical gardens in a vacant corner of the room will increase visual interest of the Nordic home, while cute cacti lined up on bookshelves or desktop, storage baskets made from natural materials, a bunch of flowers on the dining table, or a few succulents on the windowsill will help break the monochromatic look and spruce up the vibe in the room.
Even tableware in Scandinavian homes is pared down and subordinated to function rather than visual extravaganza. Nordic-inspired plates, trays, and mugs embody the straightforward, simplistic attitude of Scandinavia: no needless distractions, use of natural materials, and accent on purpose and longevity supplement the classical feel in a Scandi home. Often crafted from clay, wood, or brass, kitchen utensils and containers mimic the austerity of nature in the Nordic regions while still conveying a powerful message about simplicity and everlasting minimal style.
Since Europe’s far north suffers from dire lack of natural light during winters, Nordic designers love to experiment with shapes and sizes in lamp designs. In this way, function marries form in often fascinating pieces of light art: contemporary and sophisticated, lighting fixtures in Scandinavian homes have aesthetic value and often add a note of playfulness and creativity without compromising the Nordic emphasis on purpose, colour balance, and plain décor.
The Nordic look can be transplanted into the backyard to a highly pleasing effect. White garden furnishings, wooden benches, simplistic yard art, minimalist statues, and tables topped by large beeswax candles will help recreate the feel of a Scandinavian fairytale al fresco. You can also adorn the garden table with weatherproof fabrics in neutral hues for a Nordic-inspired outdoor makeover, and display foliage in horn-like pots, vases, and plant hangers like a true Viking.
Charming, simple, and easy to replicate, Nordic décor revolves around practicality, unity with nature, and minimalist elegance. A return to the basics and evergreen design, Scandinavian look is true eye-candy, and if executed with care, it will make you fall in love with your space like no other décor out there.
Images via Stadshem
Caribbean Appeal: Make Your Home an Exotic Haven
Embrace the exotic appeal of the Caribbean, let your household be imbedded by colorful designs, natural fabrics and the complete bohemian rhapsody of the Costa Rican appeal. Dive into the alluring tropical vibe of this sensual design and create a true lush getaway, right there in the serenity of your home. Let these ideas inspire you to redesign your home in an enthralling manner:
Lots of Color
One of the most distinctive features of the tropical design is definitely its use of color. The areas such as Costa Rica are used to colorful motifs and an extensive use of bright and vivid tones in their home design. The more the merrier they say so do not be afraid to give your household a fresh splash of color. Earthy and natural tones such as light orange, beige, turquoise, white and brown are greatly appreciated as background colors or mere foundation, as it is expected to enliven the space by adding various colorful details.
Add Some Texture
Another thing that can help you keep things interesting is introducing certain textures and patterns in your home design. Animal prints, foliage patterns and leather wall tiles can help give your home the tropical flair it desperately needs. Using natural objects such as feathers, horns, shells and stones as decorative pieces can also play a huge role in adding texture to the space. It is also a good idea to implement different kinds of lighting, as illumination can interact with certain objects and create wonderful illusions of texture.
Go Natural
In order to achieve that true tropical appeal, it will be necessary to rely on natural fabrics and materials. You will surely notice that wood is one of the materials that prevails in these tropical home designs, while the use of wicker, rattan and teak furniture is also quite praised. The use of these materials has the ability to capture the true coastal vibe of seaside countries and create a sense of tranquility in the space. Handmade quilts from natural wool, fur covers, grass roofs and handicrafts made from straw are some of the most praised characteristics of this lush appeal and are known to bring that distinctive rustic vibe to the whole setting.
Let It Thrive
Costa Rica is widely recognized as one of the countries with an enthralling biodiversity, where you can find a high amount of endemic plant and animal species. It is not surprising to realize that their homes are usually embellished with countless of tropical plants, native for this area. These tropical beauties create a majestic blend of colors and captivating scents that form a lush rainforest in your household. Native ivy can be used in various forms in home design, while nothing can beat the oversized, luscious foliage of the cheese plants. Begonias, lilies and dieffenbachia plants are also native to Central America and will surely transform your home into a tropical getaway.
It’s All About Art
Art is quite a significant part of the Costa Rican culture and as such has found a place in home design. Most of their artwork is focused on native motifs such as the ocean, local people and endemic animal and plant species. This is why it is not uncommon to embellish their homes with colorful paintings or even handmade sculptures and statues. Stained glass is another art form quite popular in Costa Rica and is defined by earthy tones and sensuous lines.
Get Inspired
Inspiration comes in many different forms, but if you are willing to embrace the majestic appeal of Costa Rica in your home, it is a good idea to seek ideas from various sources. Internet has plenty of blogs and websites where you can draw inspiration from, especially if you search for images of local properties and homes in this Central American country. There are all kinds of properties and houses you can actually buy in Costa Rica, if the opportunity arises for you to visit this rugged country.
Aren’t you tired of the same old sterility and minimalism of today’s home design? Neutral colors, clean lines, geometrical shapes and a completely depersonalized space. It is time to give your home a refreshing makeover that will turn it from a minimalistic manor in a true tropical sanctuary.
Author’s Bio: Lana Hawkins is a student of architecture from Sydney. She enjoys writing about inspiring home décor and landscaping ideas. Lana loves cooking for friends, and spending her time outdoors.
Country & Victorian Times 