Lilac City Momma

Design

To Hire Or Not To Hire An Interior Designer

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In my personal opinion interior designers are gifted with a beautiful talent. Why? They can just look at any empty space or a bare room with a door or maybe with a window, nothing interesting about it, and they can start to visualize and turn the room into a beautiful, interesting and comfortable place. They can even make a small room looks much bigger by adding a few mirrors, etc. along the walls of the room. Not everyone can do that. Most of us will just fill it up with some nice looking furniture and put in some nice decorations here and there. Worse still, some of us might even over decorate or fill up the room with unnecessary furniture.

We all know that hiring an interior designer is not affordable for everyone even though the end results may be good and fabulous. It involves a lot of hard work they have put into their designs. Some of us who are more adventurous, we may try to design our home or space as best as we could, putting in our own individual style to suit our needs. We can start by visiting some of the interior designers Hollywood websites to get some creative ideas to turn the boring space into a beautiful one that can pass off as one done by a professional designer. To make your life easier here they have some great fusion designs mixing the old and the new ideas.

You can try to transform your little space into something out of a designer’s collection.

  • Get your ideas and inspiration from designer’s magazines and websites. You can also discover great ideas from others by visiting Pinterest.
  • Start collecting the pictures and implement the ideas that you like into your own design.
  • If you have a liking for fun and casual style, then you should look up some of the Santa Monica interior designs collection of art, textiles and lightings with the latest pieces that reflect the timeless chic look.

If you are too busy or if you think that you are totalling helpless in designing your own space, you can always make a call to the customer service of any of the interior designer’s websites to enquire about their services. Even though you may not want to totally hand over the whole job to the experts but might just need some professional consultation and advice, some of these interior designers are willing to render their professional expertise for a minimal fee.

Photowall Review

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I was approached by Photowall.com to do a review of one of their products. I take pride in doing honest reviews of products and figured it would be fairly straight forward as all their prints and wallpaper looked high quality. But, let me tell you… my experience with this site and their customer service has been amazing.

Firstly, it took me weeks… WEEKS to decide which print I wanted. The woman who had originally approached me about the review was so patient with me and would politely check in ever other week. I felt so bad that I was taking forever, but I finally decided on the canvas print Beach Path.

I had an issue with typing the wrong address and they followed up with me immediately. The support emails were friendly, polite and very helpful. After I had taken ages to decide on my print, they were still so kind and patient.

The print was delivered to my house within a few days and although I was worried about putting together such a large canvas myself, my man wouldn’t be home for hours – so I gave it a try. I watched Photowall’s how-to-video and to my surprise, I had the canvas done in 20 minutes. I was SO proud of myself!

My plan was to put the canvas in my office at work and I was so excited from putting it together myself that I forgot to measure my stairway. When I tried to bring the canvas downstairs, it wouldn’t fit. Being extremely busy, I put off dealing with it for another week or two. Again, I would get friendly and patient emails from the staff at Photowall wondering how it was going with the canvas.

Although I would not recommend this, I managed to take the canvas partially apart and put it back together at my office. The results of my beautiful print are below. I absolutely LOVE it. I don’t like to gush about things overly, but I will definitely be using Photowall again to add some colour to the basement (man cave).

Walls say a lot about a place. Usually, the décor on the wall can reveal about the inhabitant’s interests and personality. Walls can also define the appearance of a room. Well- decorated walls can revamp a once boring room while poorly done walls detract a lot from a room, like my office or basement.
There are countless ways to decorate your walls- from something as simple as hanging pictures to something as complex as a wall mural. Photowall is a Swedish company who’s main goal is to bring life to your walls. Here are the top reasons to get your wall décor from this reputable company:
More Information About Photowall
1. Countless Designs
When it comes to wall décor, Photowall offers you a wide array of designs to choose from. For wall murals, there are over 3000 motifs and over 70 designers from all over the world. Why, you can even determine exactly what kind of environment you want for your walls by designing it yourself and then uploading the photos. That way, you can rest assured that your decoration will be one- of- a- kind for all the good reasons.
2. Quality Décor
Another thing that sets Photowall décor from other types is the superior quality of the decorations. For instance, the canvas prints are made purely from cotton. Additionally, the paintings do not fade from exposure to the sun and are fire- retardant. Nothing spells quality better.
3. Affordable
Even better is the fact that these quality products come at reasonable prices. For the quality of Photowall products, they are priced rather low; for products of their caliber. Every single coin you spend on them is well worth it.
4. Easy DIY Décor
If you have been reluctant to get your walls decorated out of the conviction that it is a lot of work, Photowall is the perfect solution to your troubles. The décor can be hung up in very little time, and is not energy consuming either. If you opt to get the canvas prints, you can also choose whether or not to use the accompanying frame. Their easy do it yourself décor gives you no excuse not to get your walls decorated.
Conclusion
You would be hard put to find an interior décor company with deals half as good as those of Photowall. To start with, whatever decoration you buy from the company, you can rest assured that it will be of superior quality.

Is Laminate Flooring Waterproof?

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Laminate flooring is a popular option for homeowners since it is widely available, economical to purchase, and available in a wide variety of colours and styles. It is easy to find a laminate flooring option that fits within your budget and with the décor of the room in question. Therefore it is no surprise that laminate flooring is a popular choice for the bathroom and the kitchen.

But is laminate flooring really suitable for these areas of the home, where there is the high potential for water spills, and where the atmosphere is often damp and humid? Is laminate flooring actually waterproof?

No, Laminate Flooring Is Not Waterproof

In general, laminate flooring is not going to be waterproof. You’re going to want to be careful with what cleaning materials you use as well. This is because most laminate flooring options are made from hardwood particles and recycled hardwood. This means that if laminate flooring is in an environment that is humid, or if it comes into contact with water, it can warp. It can also ride up and become dislodged from the sub-floor, creating gaps in the flooring.

But surely since laminate flooring has a plastic layer, it must be waterproof? Not really, since the layer is not always strong enough to be able to withstand humidity and direct water spills. You shouldn’t assume that all laminate floor options are waterproof.

But There Are Waterproof Options

However, you can get some special waterproof laminate flooring solutions. Some laminate floors are marketed as being water resistant and therefore they can withstand water spills and can work in a bathroom or kitchen. If in doubt, check with the manufacturer to make sure you are buying the right flooring for your purposes.

If laminate flooring is not ideal for you, there are more waterproof options. These include luxury vinyl flooring. This option is ideal if you want a completely waterproof floor. You do not have the problem of this floor absorbing water, warping, or disfiguring. Water just sits on the surface of this flooring, ready to be wiped or cleaned away. Luxury vinyl flooring is the ideal choice for a bathroom and it is available in a wide variety of patterns and styles, to suit all budgets.

Cork flooring is also an option. Cork tiles are popular for bathrooms since they are naturally water-resistant. Plus, the texture of cork is pleasing and it offers good insulating properties. It is best to have cork tiles coated with an additional layer of waterproofing if you are installing them in a bathroom since this will further protect the floor from spillages.

If you are looking for waterproof flooring there are certainly many good options out there to choose from. You don’t have to opt for a simple, non-waterproof laminate floor since there is more choice for all budgets.

The Proper Way to Fix a Budget for Your Kitchen Refurbishment

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If you feel your kitchen is due for a remodeling, refurbishment, or a complete overhaul, you may be both excited and worried – thinking about that beautiful new kitchen can make you energised, but thinking about the possible expenses might make you anxious. That’s perfectly normal; refurbishing projects rarely go without a hitch and require some careful planning.

Luckily, there are experts who are willing to give you some invaluable – and free – advice. Are you planning to upgrade your kitchen? Are you worried about the costs? If you’re a mother like me, you have to worry about grocery costs, clothes and much more. So that you don’t worry about a kitchen upgrade cost, here’s the proper way to fix a budget for your kitchen refurbishment.

Think about the budget, and stick with it

This seems obvious but it can be tempting to add during the project, and that’s often a mistake. When fixing your budget, consider that your labour costs can amount to anywhere from a fifth to a third of your budget. Secondly, consider the reasons of (and the long-term implications of) your refurbishment. Are you planning to move in a couple of years? Is it worth a large investment? Do some research.

Break it down

Once you’ve fixed your budget, list down what you really want and what your priorities are. Breaking down your budget into categories can guide your decision-making process. On the average, certain items require more funds than others:

  • Labour – 20 to 35%
  • Cabinets and worktops such as beautiful quartz worktops London from J.R. Stone – about 33%
  • Appliances – between 20 and 30%
  • Tiling, windows, and other items vary greatly depending on the quality.

Establish a buffer

It’s very common to have unexpected expenses when it comes to construction or renovation projects. This is not necessarily due to bad management or poor design choices, but simply because during the process unforeseen problems can pop up – for example: cracks in the walls, or the discovery that the plumbing is in bad shape. Establish a buffer; expect to spend 20% more than planned.

Keep track

During the project, money is going to flow out the window at a very fast pace. To avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant surprises, make sure you keep careful track of your expenses, and regularly check whether or not this fits with your budget planning.

Here’s one more important factor to consider whilst your kitchen is undergoing its renovation: do you plan on staying in the house? Staying somewhere else will encourage you to spend more. Furthermore, even if you decide to stay in the home whilst the work is going on, you’re probably going to be spending more money on take-out food or eating out. These expenses might be trivial, but many small expenses do make a larger amount, and it has to be factored in from the start. Your project needs to be planned well, and this includes the budget. Keep track of it carefully.

Reasons Why Miniature Circuit Breakers are Better Than Fuses

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Miniature circuit breakers are automatically operated electrical switches that are designed to protect various electrical appliances. People are also protected against electrical shocks and other related issues.

Under normal working conditions, the amount of current flowing through a network causes no problems. However, if there is a fault which occurs in the network, or if the current exceeds the safe limit, this could lead to damage to appliances, and pose a huge risk to people. Therefore, the moment the electrical current surges, there should be something to regulate it, and this is where miniature circuit breakers are useful.

Previously, a fuse did the job. Fuses are still widely used to regulate the flow of current. However, these days, there is a preference for the use of miniature circuit breakers in most residential and commercial electrical installations. Here are some reasons why circuit breakers are more effective.

Circuit breakers are more sensitive

If there is abnormal current flow, the circuit breaker automatically switches off the electrical circuit. It stops all problems right away. This happens in less than a second. This is how effective they are in sensing problems. This is not necessarily the case if just using a fuse.

Faulty zones are easily identified

The good thing about circuit breakers is that if there are problems, the faulty zone is immediately identified. With a fuse, the wire needs to be checked through the fuse grip, which needs to be opened, in order to confirm where the faulty zone is. It takes time and effort.  

There is a better interface

Using a knob, circuit breakers have a better interface compared with a fuse. With a fuse, the entire component needs to be taken out. Again, this takes a lot of time. It is not really ideal especially when it comes to emergency cases.

MCBs are generally safer

Compared with fuses, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) are generally deemed safer. The overall design makes the circuit breakers easier to handle. There is also a lesser risk of fire and other problems. Circuit breakers are also reusable. They need not be maintained all the time. There is a smaller replacement cost. On the other hand, a fuse has to be replaced whenever it blows. Therefore, even if you feel like you have saved money because a fuse is cheap, you end up spending more in replacement costs.

With a Miniature Circuit Breaker, the upfront cost is a bit higher, but it can be used over a longer period of time. You won’t have to worry about safety and efficiency. There is no wonder most people now opt for miniature circuit breakers. They are also highly recommended by experts.