Lucas Jameson – Page 3 – The Kitchen Design

How To Make Your Outdoor Space More Pleasant

by Lucas Jameson on November 26, 2021

When spring comes around, people usually start thinking about their outdoor spaces. They often want to make it more pleasant and enjoyable. For those of you who are interested in doing this for yourself, here are 5 ways that will help:

1) Add a Palette Seat

Adding a patio chair with an attached seat is the perfect way to get more use out of your patio space. You can easily transform any patio into a sitting area that you are able to enjoy on your own or with guests.

2) Add String Lights

String lights are another great idea for bringing outdoor spaces to life. These days, they come in all shapes and sizes, which means you’ll have no trouble finding one that fits perfectly in your backyard patio.

3) Add Plants

Plants are wonderful because they make outdoor spaces much more pleasant to sit in, and they also give the impression that the space has been well-tended. You can choose various types of plants depending on your preferences, such as, vines, ground cover flowers, climbing roses, flowering shrubs, or shrublets.

4) Change the Space’s Flooring

If you want to give your patio a facelift, simply replacing the flooring can work wonders. Most porches and patios are covered with patio stones or wood planks that can be hard on people’s feet and legs after a while. With high-quality patio tiles, you will be able to create a smooth surface that is comfortable to walk across.

5) Replace your old patio doors

As a homeowner, you may always wonder when should you replace windows and doors. If you have patio doors installed in your home, it’s important to consider patio door replacement once they become worn out. This is because patio doors are large and let a lot of light into your home, thus it’s necessary to replace patio door parts quickly before they break down for any reason.

You’re now ready to improve the outdoor space at your home! If you follow these tips exactly as listed, everything should turn out wonderfully so give it a shot today! Good luck!

Decor Tips

Choosing the Right Carpet for your Home

by Lucas Jameson on November 15, 2021

Carpeting your house is essential because it ensures safety when falling. Also, it gives the house warmth, makes the place comfy, and beautifies its structural sight. Indeed, to ensure your carpet durability, you should observe extraordinary maintenance all time.

Additionally, it is challenging to choose the best carpet due to the numerous designs and colors. On the other hand, selecting material that will fit your home is tricky because some require a lot of cleaning, which may distract your scheduled plans. However, you can find assistance from carpet cleaning tarzana to avoid the hassle. Also, you need to find ones that will not wear out fast or disturb your health condition. Below are tips that will help you when choosing carpet for your home;

1. Maintenance Requirement

Since carpeting your living house is beneficial, it is good to consider the idea for your home improvement projects. They can be tasking to maintain for a person who usually has engagements. Still, you view the ones with less maintenance. Suppose you have kids or pets, it is critical to ensure your carpet is suitable for your environment. You can buy stain-resistant carpets for easy maintenance and cleaning.

Also, you can ask the salesperson before purchasing how to clean and maintain your carpet. Additionally, enquire about the requirements that will guarantee the durability of your rug.

2. Consider it Robustness

When you are purchasing a carpet, regard its durability and material. The robustness of what you are buying will help it last for an extended period. To verify your carpet has suitable material, you can press the mat with your hand. It is best if it rebounds quickly, but it is not ideal if it takes time to take its standard shape. The latter option will not be durable.

3. Compare The color

Due to the many colors to select from, it can be confusing to choose the shade to buy. When buying a carpet for a room with high traffic, you can select the dark carpet. Alternatively, you can consider a colorful rug for a small space, making it look enormous and open. Also, you can choose the color according to your house design and décor. By doing so, the interiors will look more stunning.

4. Consider The Quality

Carpeting your home is crucial, but purchasing an ideal carpet can be problematic. When you are purchasing a rug, you can ask the seller the quality of the carpet. You can also check by observing the back to know if the carpet is high quality or low. A quality product will be dense and challenging to reach the backside by pressing with the finger. Also, you can research quality carpets to make sure you are purchasing an ideal rug for your home.

Conclusion

Since carpeting your house is beneficial, it is vital to select the best carpet for your home. Ensure it is durable and the material does not fade fast. The above text equips you with the knowledge to choose the best carpet for your home.

Home

What Can Be the Average Cost of A Bathroom Remodel

by Lucas Jameson on November 10, 2021

Okay, are you planning to renovate the kitchen? It is great! Planning to renovate the kitchen is one of the most expensive ventures to take in your home. However, if you follow the right steps and consult with the right contractor, the price can reduce to half as the professional knows the exact way to save your money and renovate the kitchen in the best possible way. Bathroom remodeling can happen in various ways- It can be just altering the fixtures or renovating the entire bathroom. So, before you determine the bathroom remodeling average cost, make sure you know what you need.

Generally, the cost of bathroom renovation ranges from $5000-$35,000 depending upon the size of the room you want to renovate, the fixtures you want to install, and the amount of labor involved in the whole process. Prices of renovation also depend upon the quality of materials being used and the types of finishes used for renovation. The complete renovation involves:

Replacing the old bathroom fixtures.
Resurfacing and adjusting the layout.
Tiling the particular area.

As per the Housing Industry Association, the average bathroom renovation cost is around $17000 for bath renovations.

If you have a property worth $500,000, you will need to have a budget of around $25,000. This is because a bathroom renovation costs around 5% of the property’s total worth; hence, the bath renovation can increase the home value later if you ever want to sell it.

Bathroom Renovation Cost

Most of the builders charge around $45-$80 per hour for the bath renovation and provide their other associated services. However, the labor cost changes as per the state laws as there are different supply levels available in the state. Suppose you want to know the bathroom remodeling average cost. In that case, the best way is to consult with a renovation contractor who has several years of experience in this field and who will suggest you the best renovation budget as per your needs.

In most cases, the renovation companies make partnerships with the experts who collaborate on the project and offer the required services.

Factors That Affect The Total Renovate Cost Of The Bathroom Renovation

Various factors overall impact the cost of bathroom renovation, and if you know about the factors correctly, you are good to go.

Size Of The Bathroom

The first and crucial point to keep in mind while renovating the bathroom is the same size. For example, if you need to have a small bathroom renovation, you might need around $5000-$100000 for the materials and the labor cost. These also include the installation of the toilet, vanity case, and other fixtures. You can consult with the professional bathroom renovation contractor who will come to the worksite and estimate the budget.

Cost Of The Renovation Materials

The type of fittings and the fixtures you are installing will impact the overall cost of the bathroom renovation. For example, if you have a budget and want to install the standard type of basin and bath, you will need around $400 to cover all the materials’ expenses.

On the other hand, if you are planning to install the luxury features like floor heating and tiles that will impact the design of the bathroom, the cost of bathroom renovation will be more than you want. The fixtures that are complex to install are also put in the price determination of the renovation.

The Fees Of The Professionals

In any bathroom renovation project, you will need to hire the plumber, the carpenters, the painters, plasterers, and the electricians who are all involved in the project. Hiring a professional will impact the overall cost of the bathroom renovation. So, it is better to discuss your needs with the professional before you hire the same.

The call-out charges are also essential to consider when you are organizing the budget for the bathroom renovation. For instance, the local plumber might demand a call0out fee of around $60-$100 depending upon the location of your house and their skills.

What Are The Additional Services

Apart from the above factors, the additional cost also adds to the renovation cost at the end. The structural and sewerage work also influences the cost of your bath renovation. These tasks seek the plumbers and renovators that will incur the charge of complex renovations.

You have an idea regarding the renovation cost, but do you know how much maintenance is needed? All the renovated bathrooms need to have some maintenance to make the bathroom look great and new for a long time.

Also, if it is adequately maintained, all the fixtures will work fine and great. Hence, for any time bath renovation, consult with the expert who will provide the estimated bathroom remodeling average cost after doing all the calculations regarding the changes and installations of bathroom fixtures.

Featured

Dealing With An Ant Infestation: Should You Call In A Professional?

by Lucas Jameson on October 16, 2021

If you have seen ants in your house at random times, it may just be a few of them looking around and eating the bread crumbs on the floor. It may not be something serious. But there are signs you should look for to ensure that there is not a bigger problem than it seems. If an infestation is a problem in your home, calling in a professional ant control service is the smartest thing to do.

Symptoms That Point To An Ant Infestation

Some of the signs to look out for are as follows:

Ants All Around

If you are seeing a lot of live ants, it may point to a problem. It can be that you are finding them in your kitchen or your dining area where you prepare food or your family eats. Ants are attracted to food items like bread crumbs or anything loose they can easily pick up and carry to a safe destination.

Ant Trails

This may mean that ants have not just invaded your home, but they have also made pathways and trails within. Such trails can also be found outside the house. It is usual for ants to build trails to indicate a food source. This makes it easy for other ants to find food.

Ant Nests

Another tell-tale sign that there has been an ant infestation is if you find ant nests. Such a nest can look like a little pile of dirt or soil. Such nests can often be found on the walls or in areas of the house where it is cool and dark.

Safe Ways To Deal With Ants In Your Home

If you feel that the ant infestation in your home is something you can deal with yourself. Then there are safe ways to make it happen.

Don’t Keep Food Stuffs Outside

This is so important. Ants are naturally attracted to foodstuffs and not keeping them outside is a great idea. Even if you leave foodstuff outside, make sure they are in airtight containers. This will ensure that ants can’t get near them.

Clean Up Food Crumbs Immediately

It is usual in most households to not clean out food crumbs. Instead, wipe away and dispose of food crumbs immediately after eating. This will keep your house free of ants.

Use Hand Soap

If you find ant trails in your house, then using hand soap on them can be a great way to get rid of the ants in them. The strong smell of hand soap is enough to dispose of ants.

Use Pepper

Using pepper is another tried and tested way to get rid of ants. It is completely safe and natural as well. Using pepper on baseboards and behind appliances can keep ants at bay.

If you feel however that you need professional help to get rid of the ant infestation in your home, because DIY does not work for you, then calling service as soon as possible is a good idea.

Home

Safety First: 5 Tips For Improving Home Safety

by Lucas Jameson on September 9, 2021

Let’s face it: you simply don’t know if your home will be the target of thieves. Burglars can either be calculated or opportunistic, either planning their move or popping in when they see an opening.

It’s an unfortunate aspect of society, but there are numerous ways you can increase your home’s security, including putting your valuables away, making it look like you’re home (even when you’re not!) and installing security measures like security doors.

There are Amplimesh security doors for prices that truly accentuate their value, making them a fantastic way to keep burglars out of the home. But that’s just one option – let’s take a look at some of the other ways you can keep your possessions safe when you’re away from home.

Keep your valuables out of sight

I mean, it’s good to be modest, anyway, but one of the best things to do to ensure you aren’t a target for robbers is to keep your valuables out of sight. If you have a top class television, keep it away from street view; if you have a luxury car, keep it in the garage. You don’t want to make yourself an obvious choice for robbers by shoving your riches in everyone’s faces. We’re sorry – but that’s just how it is!

Make it look like you’re at home

In the pandemic era, we’ve found ourselves at home a lot more than in the past. But it’s not going to be like this for too much longer, and when us Australians are allowed to get out and about a bit more we might want to consider keeping our possessions safe when we’re out partying!

One of the best ways to do this is by making it look like you’re home even when you’re not! How? It’s simple, really: you can do things like leave an energy-efficient light on for the few hours you’re out of the home or, if you’re going away for a while, have a friend or, at least, a friendly neighbour mow your lawn and collect your mail for you so it doesn’t seem like you’ve taken off forever with your valuables acting as sitting ducks for robbers.

Overly concealing can be cruisy for robbers

This may sound counter-intuitive, but you don’t necessarily want to overly-conceal your home, as this can provide cover for robbers to enter your home and cruise around it without the view of any helpful neighbours picking up on their entry. Things like high-hedge fences provide perfect cover for a robber as they traverse your garden and enter your home, so if you’ve been thinking about getting rid of that old, struggling hedge – perhaps it’s time to do so!

Install security doors

Security doors are designed to keep out robbers. They are manufactured using high quality materials that can’t be jabbed or obstructed by a robber’s nefarious entry methods. Furthermore, they come with a range of benefits like unobstructed views outside, optimal airflow and bushfire compliance. They are a great way of improving the safety and security of the home without sacrificing ventilation and a good view of the front yard.

Avoid glassy doors

On the note of security doors – try to avoid doors where there is glass near the handles – they can be easily smashed through for a burglar to then open the door from the inside. Sure, they can look pretty, but they are trouble for people looking to avoid a robbery.

Flooring

The Benefits and Use of Interlocking Paving Stones

by Lucas Jameson on August 21, 2021

Introduction

There are numerous options for landscaping your garden, driveway, patio, and other such places of your home. However, paving stones are one of the best options for various reasons. They aren’t as bothersome as asphalt and don’t have hassles of poured concrete. To get them installed, you can search for “paving companies near me” on the internet. Let’s check out some benefits and use of interlocking paving stones:

The Benefits

Versatility – Unlike asphalt or concrete, interlocking paving stones provide you a lot of versatility and flexibility. Concrete and asphalt are stressed due to temperature changes throughout the year. The ground freezes and stiffens up during the winter and softens for the rest of the year. Along with that asphalt and concrete also go through their contractions and expansions. This can result in extensive cracks or entire slabs breaking apart and moving up which results in very expensive repairs and worst cases reinstallation.

On the other hand, paving stones are a part of an interlocking system that isn’t affected much by the ups and downs of ambient temperature. Moreover, they have enough wiggle room along their length and breadth to expand or contract without affecting each other. They move with the ground and adjust accordingly. Even if there is damage, it is localized to one or a couple of stones. If your stones crack, get damaged, or stained you can simply replace them. Your family members would have a hard time telling the difference on your driveway, pathway, or patio after repairs.

Durability and longevity – Apart from flexibility, interlocking paving stones also boast high durability. When it comes to sheer strength, paving stones can tolerate as much as four times the weight of concrete or asphalt on every square inch. Since they are less susceptible to damage, they can last you for years with an insignificant amount of maintenance. Driveways made from cement will inevitably crack irrespective of the time and money you pour into maintenance and potholes on asphalt roads are a testament to low durability from a cheap product.

Interlocking paving stones have no such problems. They provide you an incredible return on your investment and also stand the test of time. You don’t need to worry about your driveway developing cracks or getting damaged from zooming cars. Yes, the upfront cost is a bit more than concrete or asphalt, but you pay almost nothing in the following years and don’t have to waste precious weekends on repairs or maintenance. Spend that to earn more money or spend time with your loved ones.

Cost-effectiveness – As mentioned above, interlocking paving stones are easy to maintain and incur negligible maintenance costs over the years. To clean it you’ll need to use the same power washer you use for your cars, tile surfaces, or perhaps an existing asphalt driveway. You can easily keep debris away with the occasional pressure wash. Even repairs are easier than you may think. You can pry up a damaged stone with a screwdriver and replace it with a new one. No need to call the contractor and get involved in a verbal tug of war over warranty.

Compared to this asphalt gives you some real trouble. You need to reseal the surface every couple of years and resealing isn’t cheap by any measure when it counts as maintenance cost. You don’t have any way around it unless you’re happy with a dull and ugly driveway or pathway. Moreover, you need to replace the asphalt every decade. Contrary to that, paving stones have a reputation of lasting for several decades, high-quality stones can even last you half a century. So, even if the cost of interlocking paving stones is twice or thrice the price of asphalt, they are more cost-effective in the long run.

While concrete has a longer lifespan than asphalt, it comes with the same hassles of maintenance and needs to be replaced a couple of times every 30 years. Paving stones can look as brilliant as ever without any resealing and don’t come with such problems.

Aesthetics – When it comes to aesthetics you don’t get a lot of options with asphalt or concrete. Asphalt is black and painting is useless since it is going to get washed away after a few heavy showers. While modern technology allows for colorful asphalt, they can cost you twice or thrice the cost of regular asphalt. Poured concrete offers a bit more options. Apart from the color, you can get designs of your choice pressed on the concrete surface. However, repairs will ruin that beautiful surface. You would never be able to accurately match the color of the concrete after repairs. Moreover, pressed concrete isn’t cheap like regular poured concrete.

Paving stones provide you unlimited and vastly superior options compared to asphalt or concrete. You can choose all sorts of textures, colors, styles, and sizes. You also have the freedom of combining paving stones of different designs and textures to create an interesting and unique look. You can also get it to match perfectly with the architectural style and the overall theme of your home.

No wait time – Once asphalt is laid or concrete is poured, it needs to settle down and stay that way for a long while before you can use it. Curing time can range from weeks to months before you can walk on them. That means you can’t have barbeque parties and are forced to park on the street till that time. Paving stones provide no such inconvenience. You can use them right after installation. Drive your car on the paving stone driveway right after the contractor leaves your property. You can cut down on wait-time significantly with paving stones.

Conclusion

By now you know the numerous benefits of paving stones and how they can benefit your walkways, patio, driveway, and more such places in your home. You don’t have to go through the hassle of installing them yourself either. A quick search for “paving companies near me” gives you plenty of options.

Decor Tips

What To Explore On Big Outdoor Show Blogs For Artificial Flora?

by Lucas Jameson on August 9, 2021

Flora is the eternal natural beauty that incessantly captures our minds. Gifts, decorations or motivational tokens, the flowers fit for every occasion with their colourful aura and vivid shades. But evidently, they wither with time, compelling us to remove them. Artificial flowers became the attractive alternates for these botanical beauties to keep them glowing afresh every moment without the need for much maintenance. Online plant bloggers like Big Outdoor Show are now up for decorating each and every place with bright and evergreen flowers demanding minimal attention. They have plenty of information on what’s and where’s to look for the best flowers that any table or room might require!

What Are New Types To Look For?

Undoubtedly, artificial flowers require little to no maintenance, but they now have new advantages prevailing over real bouquets and stands. The flora lovers can check out for new versions in:

Multi Decorative Flowers: Artificial flowers in paper or silk are dyed with colours as desired. They replicate the natural shades to perfection but can also be more with customised designs. Lavenders, ivy vines or bonsai can be multi-shaded and designed as required. The customers can also get mixed decorations of all in one collection.
Resistant Material: The flower pollen of natural ones is often intolerable for many, making the choice restricted. The artificial ones benefit by getting the replicas of desired flowers without trouble. Material like silk and plastic are used to provide resistance to fire and water, making them versatile to use anywhere desired. They can be put outdoors and even near the fireplace. UV-treated flowers are popular for outdoor decorations to wade away the threat of fading or getting dull.

The new additions are worth investing in for the sake of durability. One can check out the Big Outdoor Show blogs to explore the individual plant species with special tips to decorate and care for them as essential.

Using Artificial Flowers Aptly

The flowers and foliage look well befitting if they are properly arranged and cared for. The buyers should check for the best brands to avoid the pitfalls of bad texture or non-resistant quality. The shopping sites often pair them up with hanging pots, baskets or foliage to decorate, building a perfect look indoors or out. The material quality should be considered keenly before cleaning solutions or water is used to save them from getting damaged.

Plants, trees or the foliage, every botanical specimen indefinitely fits every wall and ground. The bloggers have curated and deeply researched information for an all-rounder guide to buy the best and care precisely.

Kitchen Design

Why Radiators Can Be A Kitchen’s Biggest Obstacle

by Lucas Jameson on May 5, 2021

If you follow this blog, you’ll know that we have a lot of great posts on taking advantage of space in your kitchen. Covering everything from what to consider when remodelling a kitchen to the right type of material your sink should be, we like to think that every inch of the kitchen should be taken notice of when doing any remodelling or DIY work.

Why then is there one major obstacle in every kitchen that we don’t take the time to address? The radiator(s) in our kitchens is a highly functional item that is relied upon to work flawlessly, regardless of where it is located or what size it is. I can guarantee in most kitchens that have had a fresh lick of paint, one peek behind the radiator, and you’ll see where someone gave up on painting the part of the wall it is attached to.

Truth be told, radiators are your kitchen’s biggest obstacle due to their limitations, i.e. they have to stay in one spot and always take up that space. You might baulk and suggest that your refrigerator or table take up the most space, but these are items you logically can move around a room to get them sitting just how you want.

So what can someone do if they’re reading this, looking at their radiators, and realising they are indeed the biggest obstacle in the kitchen? Here’s my advice on how to turn this negative into a positive.

Firstly, let’s talk about whether or not you should have a radiator or a towel rail. You might be saying, “well, it says towel, so it has to go in the bathroom”, but I want you to get away from thinking like that. Instead, view them simply as “rails”, and your perception of where they can go around your home changes drastically.

I am a big believer in having rails in your kitchen, for two reasons:

They save space
They are more functional

Radiators in kitchens tend to be on the opposite or adjoining wall to your cabinets and counter, usually on their own with nothing above them. That gives you prime real estate to work with. That flip from horizontal to vertical will instantly give you waist height space to work with; ideal if your radiator imposes on a wall or prevents your table and chairs from sitting snug.

They are also more functional for the simple reason that it gives you something to hang tea towels on, or in our case, a spot to hang a jacket or two. Trust me, you’ll never know warmth like leaving a jacket on a rail and popping it on before heading outside in the colder months.

Now, you may be thinking this is great and all, but because your radiator is plumbed in, there’s really nowhere else to go. That isn’t true if you start looking at electric options, like chrome electric radiators that look the part. They are so versatile that all they need is a plug socket to work. Electric radiators are independent of your home heating, so if the kitchen is where the family spends most of the day, wouldn’t it be better to have one radiator working away rather than needing to have the heating on across the home?

I am a big proponent of going electric, especially if your radiator is in a tricky spot you find grating (a special shout out to those folks who have a kitchen radiator right behind a door that loves to smack off it). Radiators shouldn’t have to be an obstacle in your kitchen, so don’t let them. You have options to work with, some of which could even improve heat efficiency in your kitchen.

Don’t forget, you can get some incredible tips on improving your kitchen from top to bottom with the latest kitchen articles right here.

Home

Creating Your Own Eco-Friendly Garden Space

by Lucas Jameson on January 26, 2021

For many, gardening is a relaxing, rewarding hobby. There are some gardening communities that prefer to have sustainable, eco-friendly garden spaces. If you are keen to also do your share for the environment by making your allotment eco-friendlier, then this article is for you. Today we’re going to discuss different ways to move away from conventional gardening; to create more natural, organic areas.

Conserve the Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen-rich soil is vital to healthy plant growth. Many gardeners use nitrate fertilisers, but chemical compounds are not always eco-friendly. Also, planting the same crops over and over depletes the soil of its nitrogen. The easiest way you can keep the soil healthy and fertile is to rotate crops and plant nitrogen-fixing plants in your garden.

For example, if you continually plant peas, the nitrogen level in the soil will eventually deplete. It would be helpful to plant beetroot after a pea harvest to help the soil recover. If you want to plant colourful shrubs in your garden to increase the nitrogen in the soil, then Broom, Elaeagnus and Gorse are excellent options.

Eco-Friendly Buildings and Furnishings

Do you have wooden furniture or sheds in your garden? If so, do you know if they are treated with an eco-friendly, weatherproof substance? For many years timber that was treated with CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) or Creosote were popular choices for construction because the lifetime of the timber was at least twenty years.

However, many countries, including the UK, have banned the use of CCA treated timber in residential construction because the heavy metals may leach into the soil resulting in contamination. Creosote’s days also appear to be numbered as the EU Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR) places restrictions on the timber industry.

There are many eco-friendly timber treatment products available on the market, but why not make a creative statement by using a sustainable alternative in your garden? Rattan corner dining sets are quickly gaining popularity among people wanting to make a difference to the environment. Other eco-friendly furniture solutions include aluminium, bamboo or sustainably harvested hardwood such as teak.

Attract Pollinators, Particularly Bees

The world’s bee population is endangered for various reasons, including the use of pesticides by farmers and gardeners alike. Some scientists believe that if bees become extinct, humans won’t be far behind. To counter these frightening statements, why not build a bee house and plant some bee-friendly plants in your garden? A few varieties to get you started may include foxgloves, bluebells, comfrey, and honeysuckle. You’ll be contributing to saving the planet, while also having a fragrant, colourful garden to enjoy.

Be Waterwise

Water is fundamental to life, yet the precious resource is being depleted as each day passes. Consider planting succulents in your garden as they require very little water. Also, if possible, have a small lawn. Grass requires a substantial amount of care and water to thrive.

With these tips to get you started, we’re sure your eco-friendly garden space is going to be a work of art.