House of Maria

 It is difficult to write an opening statement about lighting. Where do I start? “Light is important”. Yes. Indeed it probably is. “You can’t do very much without light”. Again, probably true. “You can have the most stunning interior design imaginable in your home, but unless you can see it…” you get my gist.  But another truth is that there is light, and then there is light art. Beauty created by amalgamating differing degrees, angles and sources of light. Light can, on its own, create and dictate almost any atmosphere and ambiance. Whether you opt for subtle quiet, soft lighting such as floor and wall lamps or the more full on overhead pendants and halogen lights. You need to tailor your lighting to suit your space and consider installing dimmers to allow lighting to be fully customisable depending on your mood.

Floor Lamps

Floor lamps are a great way to add spot lighting to various corners of your room.  You can choose from a whole range of styles, from modern chrome halogen lamps to Japanese inspired paper floor lamps and traditional standard lamps with Victorian fringed shades.  The type of lamp you choose should not only complement your existing décor and style, it should also provide you with enough light – so halogen lights are a great option for a reading light, whereas traditional standard lamps are better for a subtle glow.

Industrial Pendants

Industrial steel pendants are in right now, and they look great in modern lofts and converted warehouses, although they can also add a touch of contemporary style to farmhouses and country cottages.  Choose an adjustable pendant with long cord and clip, allowing you to move the light up and down according to your needs.  Funky copper or cast iron industrial shades with vibrant coloured cord look great in any home.

Spotlights

Halogen spotlights are best left to the functional areas of your home – whilst they may not be the most romantic lighting in the world, they’re practical and great for kitchens and bathrooms.  Choose from recessed spotlights or those installed on a track – and remember the brighter the lights the more electricity you will use!

LED Strip Lighting

It might not seem like an obvious choice, but LED strip lighting is affordable and rather funky – it looks great used as under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen or floor level lighting in a bathroom and comes in a range of colours – what’s more it is usually supplied on an easy to apply strip, so you can install it yourself!

Wall Lamps

Wall lamps are a great option where space is limited, for example, in hallways.  Stunning 1930’s art deco wall lights are a favourite with the world’s top interior designers, or you could opt for uplighters to create a subtle glow in any space.

It’s easy to find fabulous lighting that will add drama and style to any room of your home – shop online for the widest possible choice at competitive prices and make your lighting into a focal point.

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Plumbing problems are often encountered by many households. These may include blocked kitchen drain, leaky faucets and clogged toilet. Since this becomes a nuisance for the family members, it is then imperative for you to make a move. How?

Whenever you are facing a home plumbing emergency, you should know how to handle such situation. If you do not have any clues on how to deal with it, better yet ask assistance from a professional and not from an average Joe. In this manner, you can prevent probable disaster from being a reality.

Hence, home plumbing problems should not be taken lightly. One should deal with it right after the discovery of a certain occurrence.

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There are many different problems that people might face during a regular day either at work, play, or other things. The nice thing about having specialty items such as the ones from SolutionsThatStick.com if you have problems with pit stains is that you are able to get special things that you need to be happy. One of the best items that you have access to at this wonderful site are the items that can help you keep your armpit sweat from staining your shirt, jacket, or dress. A great thing about things that block stains which we sell are that the pads are discreet and small enough to not be seen or felt, but are strong enough to keep any and all moisture at bay. This is perfect if you are perhaps at a dance or a large gathering with many hundreds of people and start sweating. These great pads will basically ensure that you do not have to worry about anybody seeing sweat stains under your arms, and can also keep you from starting to smell bad.

Click here if you want to see more about these wonderful armpit pads , or even if you want to see any of the other items we offer. You can find items that help you with ring around the collar, bad gas, and even special products that keep stains from showing such as from deodorant or toothpaste. However, if you do work in a hot environment that is stuffy and filled with people such as a factory, construction yard, or a small office, you will want to invest in the sweat eliminating pads that we offer. The best part of this is that you can get a pack of 10, which last five days, for a cheap price that is well worth paying any delivery charges. Be sure that when you order these that you do know there are two different sizes. These pads are comfortable and do not chafe, but if they are too large they might be apparent to others, and might not work so well if the

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When you buy a new home, you typically pay a large amount of money upfront–down payment, closing costs, realtor fees.  When you move in, you may celebrate that the money bleed is over.  However, make sure you leave some money in reserve because there are often still expenses that you may not have thought about.

Depending on the state of your new home, here are some things you may still need to buy:

1.  Curtains.  Depending on the size of your house, buying window coverings could cost as little as a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.  You’ll likely want window coverings right away, though some people do spend years in their homes with no window coverings whatsoever.

2.  Water Softener.  Some homes have hard water that is prone to scale build up.  You may want to invest in a water softener system like Harvey Water Softeners, which can help not only soften the water, but actually remove the scale, helping your pipes stay good longer.  This will cost you less money in the long run.

3.  Organizers.  The kitchen is often an essential place for organizers, especially for your many pots and pans.  If you cook frequently, you’ll want dividers to separate your various baking pans.  Depending on the space in your kitchen, you may even want a hanging rack for all of your pots and pans.  Being organized in the kitchen can save you money because you’ll enjoy cooking more and hopefully rely on dining out less.

4.  Paint.  If the previous owner loved colors that you dislike, you’ll want to paint the walls and add your own touches.  Paint doesn’t cost much, but it can make a huge difference in how you feel about your new home.  Painting before you move in is easiest so you don’t have to work around furniture.

Buying a new home is expensive, but make sure to keep some money in reserve for minor repairs and updates you may need to make.  Having a reserve emergency fund is also a good idea because you never know when your home will need a repair.

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To anyone purchasing a sofa for the first time, the market can be an absolute minefield. There are hundreds of styles, shapes, sizes and colours to choose from. One would think that this would make the decision much easier to make when in fact; it can make it more difficult.

There are four things that you must know before the hunt starts for a new sofa. Not fully understanding these considerations will only leave you giving it a random shot in the dark.

Don’t be blindsided into making a purchase.  To save yourself time and heartache, please carry on reading.

1.     What size do you need?

Before you even go looking for a new sofa, find out what size dimensions you have available in the living room. You may want an L-shaped 3 seater- couch, but in reality you may not have the appropriate legroom.

Measure the room to find out exactly how much space you have and then decide whether or not you want other furniture items included such as a side coffee table, or a footstool. Does the couch fill the room so nothing else can be integrated?

Rounder couches tend to take up more room and provide a lot of seating, so if you have a small living room take into account that it may make the space look crammed and overbearing.

How many people are living in the house? It is pointless buying a 2-seater if there are at least three residents.

2.     What shape do you want?

There are several shapes of sofa including corner, L-shape, U-shape, low arm linear, high rise linear, angled, the curved which is very modern, and the T-shaped cushion sofa. Upon realising the size and its function, you then need to decide what shape you want.

Certain shapes suit functions better than others; for example, an L-shape can separate a living room from the dining room, without a wall divider.

Rounder shapes make smaller rooms more cosy and warm, and a curved shape is ideal for rooms that need everything pointing to the main feature such as a fireplace or TV.

3.     What material do you like?

Next you need to decipher what texture is ideal for you. There are many upholstery materials to choose from such as leather, hide and fabric and within this there is Mohawk, soft wool, suede, corduroy, and velvet etc.

So as you can see, you need to do your research.

First of all, are you allergic to any materials? You also need to bear in mind that aesthetic is crucial but functionality is more paramount. A plush white sofa looks fantastic but is dangerous, especially if you have small kids and pets.

If you do have children and pets, stay clear of suede. Leather is fairly easy to clean and wears well with age. You can purchase certain fabrics which are stain resistant and combat sun damage.

4.     What colour should you pick?

The colour of your sofa is a very important aspect. It needs to complement the décor in your home, cater to your own personal style, and achieve the final look that you are aiming for.

Does it fit naturally into the home? If the property is old-fashioned, a sleek modern sofa would look out of place in contrast to a classic, traditional one.

What is more, do you want to go bright and bold and create a focal point, or would you prefer to go neutral?

A unique, flamboyant style can certainly personalise the living space. However, if you are too nervous to experiment with such a vivid pattern or colour, you can always opt for a light-colour and use accessories to transform the décor from drab to fab.

Remember these four key factors and you will find the perfect sofa for you. The last thing anyone wants is for you to get the furniture home and realise you don’t like it!

(All images courtesy of AHF)

This article was written by Lauren Grice on behalf of AHF, the experts in high quality, affordable furniture and carpets. Visit AHF.co.uk today to find the perfect sofa.

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