Since Nick Scali feature contemporary European designed furniture and not classic Greek furniture, we should probably look elsewhere for inspiration. And, as we started to discuss in a recent article, Melbourne is widely noted for its great design.

Already we’ve checked the Melbourne Museum and Federation Square off of our itinerary, but there’s still a lot to see, so let’s put on a sturdy pair of walking shoes—figuratively speaking, of course—and hit a few more notable places for inspiration.

Prahran Market

Except for the occasional stool or chair that the vendors use to rest their weary muscles here, you aren’t going to find much furniture and it’s highly unlikely that the sellers will be displaying any of their produce on Nick Scali coffee tables or dining tables. So why bother walking through and looking it over?

That question will be answered in one word: Colour.

Experts often dip into the colour schemes of Mother Nature during the design process and this strategy also works well when you’re selecting items from Nick Scali to put into your home, who also takes prides in donating to charitable organisations. View more about these charities by clicking on the hyperlink further above.

Closely examine the displays of fruits and vegetables. Nature has a way of creating colours that go well with each other. Don’t miss this chance to take a lot of photographs and make some of them closeups of the produce. You can get some exciting colour combinations out of these.

Tip: The pictures you snap of the produce on display at the Prahran Market can later be printed out, framed and displayed in your home to give you a vibrant colour accent. Think kitchen!

Hotel Lindrum

One of the important movements in the hotel industry is seen in the number of “boutique” hotels that are being established in the major cities of just about every developed country and Australia is no exception. An important attribute that sets these hotels apart from the standard hotels is the amount of effort they invest in stylish decor.

Why not step into the Hotel Lindrum and spend a little time seeing how it is furnished? You’ll find that the interior designers who carefully selected the items here have an eye for style not unlike that of Nick Scali. The public areas feature couches, lounges and chairs created in a contemporary design that will get you thinking about how you can utilise similar pieces of furniture.

Okay, we’ve walked the streets of Melbourne enough for today, but we suspect that there might even be more design inspiration waiting for us to explore tomorrow.

]]> http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/melbournes-nick-scali-design-tour/feed/ 0 http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/light-up-your-home-for-a-beautiful-look/ http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/light-up-your-home-for-a-beautiful-look/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 12:55:40 +0000 admin http://www.houseofmaria.info/?p=1358  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.

]]> http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/light-up-your-home-for-a-beautiful-look/feed/ 0 http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/dont-worry-dear-i-can-fix-it/ http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/dont-worry-dear-i-can-fix-it/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 11:23:40 +0000 admin http://www.houseofmaria.info/?p=1355 There are some DIY tasks that you should never try to tackle alone.  Whilst you might be the most competent person in the world when it comes to putting up a shelf or assembling Ikea flat-pack furniture, you need to know your limits. I am sure that you can imagine that there is a vast, gaping void between the amount of potential risk in putting re fitting some of the floor boards in the spare bedroom and, say rewiring your bathroom! You really do not want to become another statistic on the hospital Muppet list or, even worse, six feet under, just because you wanted to save a few pennies. Here are some tasks that require you to call the experts:

Wiring electrics

Unless you are a qualified electrician, tampering with your home’s electricity supply in any way can be incredibly dangerous.  You might think you know what you’re doing, and might even have had the foresight to read a few books on the subject, but in reality you need an electrician.  There’s a reason why it takes years of study to become a qualified electrical engineer.  If it’s anything more complicated than installing a new light fitting or changing a bulb – ring the experts!

Fixing burst pipes

There’s special plumbing tape which promises to fix leaky seals and problem areas in a jiffy – so why spend money calling out a plumber, right?  Wrong.  By trying to tackle problems such as a leaking tap or damaged pipe by yourself you could cause more damage to your home in the long run, meaning that you’ll actually end up paying far more for a plumber to come and fix the problem you’ve caused.

Installing a boiler

Installing a boiler or a central heating system needs to be done by a gas safe engineer. Your boiler won’t be safe otherwise, and if it leaks, or worse, explodes, your home could be blown to smithereens.  Your whole family could be injured and what’s more, you probably won’t be able to claim on your home insurance if your system wasn’t installed by an approved, qualified engineer.  Leave the gas and central heating to those who know what they’re doing.

Fixing your Roof

It’s just not worth the hassle climbing around on your roof attempting to fix loose slates and shingles with your trust nail gun.  One slip and you could fall and hurt yourself!  It’s far better to hire a professional roofer who is used to working at height and has all the necessary safety equipment.

Tree Cutting

It might seem tempting to get out there and chop down those overgrown trees, but for once your wife is right when she tells you that chainsaws are dangerous!  Not only could you injure yourself (or others) with the equipment, but you risk a tree falling onto a person, car or property nearby.  Call a professional arborist to help you out.

PPBS is a firm of highly trained plumbers. If you need any of the above done then we would love to hear from you. You can give us a call on 0208 879 7372 or you can visit our website to get a little bit more information.

]]> http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/dont-worry-dear-i-can-fix-it/feed/ 0 http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/high-efficient-washers-for-laundry-businesses/ http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/05/high-efficient-washers-for-laundry-businesses/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 06:15:36 +0000 admin http://www.houseofmaria.info/?p=1353 A home washer-dryer and an ironing board may suffice for the basic laundry needs of any busy household. But if you’re thinking of setting up a laundry business, you will need a commercial laundry machine or equipment that is more durable, efficient, cost-effective and that can stand up to the demands of the job. Commercial washer-dryers are specialized equipment that are purposely built to handle the rigors of laundry businesses.

An example of a commercial washer supplier, the Speed Queen has machines that have a load capacity of up to 120 kg. Your home washer-dryer can only take up to 7kg at its maximum. Most commercial washers use stainless steel tubs and feature a variety of programs to serve different washing needs for different fabrics. These washers also use a minimal amount of water and electricity which makes them really cost-efficient. Many homes send their bedspreads, comforters and other large items to laundry shops because of their competent iron rollers. Some of these commercial machines have rollers that are up to 2 meters long. Home washers do not have these kinds of features thus they are not appropriate for use in a business.

Commercial laundry businesses have demanding hours and usage, thus the washers used are built to be durable and are suited to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Commercial washers and tumble driers have a load speed and time that is similar to your typical home laundry machine, but with double or triple the capacity. So if you’re looking for commercial washers, you should consider looking for ones with identical load and speed timers so you won’t mismatch the process when you are operating them.

Commercial laundry equipment is very different from what you have at home. This specialized equipment is no longer limited to just a laundry businesses. Some hotels also employ commercial washers for washing their bed sheets, curtains and other large items. If you have high demand for laundry services or are in need of a commercial washer, seek help from a laundry equipment specialist near you.

As one of the leading retail stores that carry comfortable linens in the home décor industry, the quilts at Linens-N-More.com are made with quality fabric materials with soft textures that feel comfortable to touch. They are specially designed to correspond with many bedroom themes. There are quilts made for kids themes, adults and couples. Many of the colors used to make the quilts harmonize perfectly with many of the traditional room colors, including wall colors, dressers, cabinets and other bedroom furniture. Many of the quilts are designed by top home décor designers. The Donna Sharp Quilts at Linens-N-More.com are very trendy due to the assortment of quilt block designs and the status of the designer in the home décor fashion industry.

If you are interested in purchasing simple, but elegant solid colors rather than multicolored patterns, consider browsing through the solid quilts section at Linens-M-More.com. There are earth tone colors, classic whites in addition to bright and vibrant solid quilt colors.

Want to bring a window and wall to life? Try the foot-long beaded curtains that draw the eye. The beads are small, almost round and flat. The strands are anchored by elongated diamonds that counter the strand shape with just the right amount of variety to avoid the look from being boring and dull.

Are you satisfied with the window decorations and the strand-filled doorways? Concentrate on the light fixtures to enhance that vision as well. You can select a short-hanging, beaded chandelier that only seems like it’s filled with lit candles. The strand-filled, beaded chandelier allows a draped look to the beads while securely hanging your light to the ceiling. If full elegance is on call for your high-ceiling room, then you definitely will be most satisfied with the super-sized chandelier that provides a tiered effect as it gently hangs from your ceiling. Don’t chase the Joneses and their choices. Make your own mark with beaded curtains and other distinctions. Lead the pack. Don’t follow it.

For many of us today, it’s home entertainment furniture from Nick Scali or a huge flat screen television mounted to a wall. This is one of the modern phenomena that proves the old saying that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

A generation or two ago, a big boxy “hi-fi” built into a beautiful cabinet would have been the center of attention in many rooms. The technology has come a long way since then, but the focus is still on entertainment and right now might just be the “golden days” of home entertainment.

Challenges

While the digital revolution has given us more options than ever before, it also has posed some challenges for decorating and organising our homes. How do we deal with all the players, boxes, cords, screens, speakers, networking equipment and more that it takes to “plug in” to all the sources we have for digital entertainment?

Well-designed home entertainment centers, such as those offered by Nick Scali, may solve many of the problems that we have trying to deal with all of these disparate elements in a way that keeps our homes looking sleek and modern. Try to get by without a good entertainment center, and the result usually looks like the backside of an old broken radio from the 1950s.

Designs

Nick Scali and other major furniture retailers work hard to stay on top of the latest trends in materials and designs. Thus it is common to twitter streams (e.g. https://twitter.com/NickScaliLtd) from major players that update consumers. A trip to one of these company’s showrooms will introduce you to a range of products in an impressive variety of excellent designs.

The great thing about today’s flatscreen televisions is that whether you have a large one or a smaller one, a bargain-priced TV or a high-priced TV, they all have a sleek modern look. In other words, the manufacturers’ design fit will into most modern furniture sets.

Therefore, shoppers will find that today’s line of entertainment furniture are designed to compliment looks of these televisions. Choosing the right one then comes down to points such as:

• Materials
• Colours
• Size
• Storage
• Layout

Selection

When Browsing entertainment pieces in a Nick Scali Furniture showroom, you’ll find wood, laminates, glass and metal products. Some pieces combine two or three of these materials. This gives the decorator a lot of options when trying to find the right centre to complement existing furniture. Wood finishes can bring warmth and a natural feeling to a room while some of the laminates deliver a completely modern and sleek look.

Of course, size is a consideration and that brings up the question of the unit’s layout. Many of the most popular designs today are cabinet units on which the television sits. However, when more storage or space to display other items is required, some are available with shelves along the side or above the television.

With this great range of entertainment centres, it’s easy and affordable to bring attractive looks and a sense of order to an area that can otherwise be somewhat chaotic.

]]> http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/04/let-nick-scali-help-you-select-entertainment-furniture/feed/ 0 http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/04/choosing-the-right-sink-for-your-kitchen/ http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/04/choosing-the-right-sink-for-your-kitchen/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:08:03 +0000 admin http://www.houseofmaria.info/?p=1335 Without a doubt, sinks wear off after more than fifteen years of use. Inevitably, a replacement will take place and you should have a sufficient budget to buy a brand new one. Before that, how will you choose the right sink for your kitchen?

Here are the tips in selecting kitchen sink:

• Faucet and sink in tandem (optional). If you want your faucet to conform to the new sink, you can have it replaced.
• Size. The sink should not be too large for your small kitchenette. Same thing applies when you have a luxury kitchen.
• Price. It should be within your budget for home improvement.

To sum it up, sink replacement entails wise selection of kitchen sink. So consider the tips and it will go well!

Many people are in a dilemma when it comes to home improvement projects. They do not know whether they should go along with the professionals and hire a contractor or should they opt to do it themselves. Nowadays there are many do it yourself kits that are available in the market. With the rising cost of labor many people opt to go along with the DIY kits and try their hand in painting their wall, fixing plumbing problems, putting up tiles and so forth. It is definitely easy to get the small task done with the online guides available. However when it comes to extensive and intricate tasks it might be a little daunting to simply rely on a guide and a kit to help you through.

The Factor Of Surface

When you are about to tile a surface, you need to determine the kind of surface it is and what you can do with it. Remember that, whether you are placing a glass subway tile there or a mosaic tile, each tile will have its own weight that it will place on the wall or the surface. The latter needs to have the tensile strength accordingly.

• The base level should be sturdy

• When there is any unevenness on the floors or they are sagging, then the tiles can get broken or cracked easily

• One may need to lay an entire new floor or reset the walls or install a moisture barrier before they start to place tiles

Deciding On The Square Foot Area

When you need to arrive at the cost of the materials you need to first calculate the square feet area you wish to tile. The length needs to be multiplied by the width or the height in order to arrive at the square footage. The linear space is also important to calculate. When it comes to walls or backsplashes it is important to estimate the area or the tile borders or the trim pieces. When you have an odd space to size up, you need to break it down into smaller chunks of area. The open spaces like windows, floors or center islands need to be subtracted. Once the dimensions are rounded up and added one should take up an extra space allowance of ten to twenty percent.

Finding The Right Materials

When one is buying tiles it usually comes in square foot dimensions. They are sold in 12×2 sheets. You can even opt to buy individual tiles. The material which is needed to set the tiles in place is the thinset or the mortar. The cost of these materials as well as tools and accessories that are needed should be sorted out in order to arrive at the final cost of the project. Accordingly, one can decide whether one can afford to hire a contractor or get down to doing it themselves. It is also a matter of time that one has. For more ideas on checkout http://www.wholesalersusainc.com/.

]]> http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/04/when-taking-on-a-home-improvement-project/feed/ 0 http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/04/bespoke-furniture-is-like-no-other/ http://www.houseofmaria.info/2013/04/bespoke-furniture-is-like-no-other/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:51:46 +0000 admin http://www.houseofmaria.info/?p=1328 Bespoke furniture items are much better than cheap furniture that can be bought off of a showroom floor.   There is nothing more pleasing than using handmade furniture that someone has poured their heart and soul into making. You are not only buying the furniture, you are also buying quality craftsmanship that will last a lifetime. Bespoke furniture is not mass produced like the everyday furniture that you see in shops, so you will be totally different from everyone else by having unique pieces of great looking furniture in your home.

The Craftsmanship behind Bespoke Furniture

Whether you have commissioned a dining set complete with tables and chairs, or a small stool for the kids to play with, bespoke furniture retains that classic feel, and it will always stand out from cheap furniture pieces.

You have complete control over how you have it made, and you will be sure to love it once it’s complete. If you are dealing with wood, which is the most common material used for bespoke furniture, then you can control what type of wood you use, what shade, the thickness, density, and many more things. For instance, if you have a mahogany themed living room, filled with various pieces of furniture, then you won’t want to buy a piece of store furniture that doesn’t match everything else in your room. If you need a TV stand to match, but are unable to find anything similar in a shop, then you will be able to commission a piece that matches your home furnishings.

 Commissioning Quality Bespoke Furniture

 When commissioning bespoke furniture, there are many things to consider. You need to make sure that you are certain about what materials you want the piece done in, and you need to make sure that you hire a really skilled custom furniture maker. During your initial meeting to commission the piece that you want, you will probably have to put down a deposit before they will actually begin making the product. Custom furniture will cost more, but it is well worth the extra money to have a one of a kind piece that no one else can get. The furniture maker will most likely want you to sign a contract, and this is for your protection as well as theirs. Making quality furniture takes time, so don’t expect them to produce a great piece of furniture overnight. It could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months, depending on how detailed of a piece that you requested.