Thanks to “Great Gatsby”, Art Deco Tipped For Summer Interior Trend

Posted on May 2, 2013 by admin

Art Deco interiors are expected to attract attention this year and emulating the look at home might not be as difficult as first imagined.

Additionally, it is on display among a current exhibition of Roy Lichtenstein paintings (‘The Modern Series’) at the Tate Modern, standard.co.uk reports.

It took the fashion, architecture and interiors industries by storm in the 1920s and 1930s with its angular, clean lines, monochrome accents and marble floors. According to thisisplymouth.co.uk, ’an Art Deco interiors scheme should ooze glamour and sophistication and have an ordered appearance’. Yet elements can be incorporated into the home.

While modern home-owners might not be able or want to stretch to marble floors throughout their rooms, marmoleum flooring provides an effective alternative. Available in marbled, monochrome designs, this natural product is as stylish as the real deal.

That said, the news site says that pastel colours provide an effective backdrop, especially Tiffany blue or pale pinks. Alternatively, homeowners could affix Art Deco-reminiscent wallpapers in designs which typically feature repetitive Aztec patterns.

Glass and mirrors also featured heavily and accessories which ‘have an appearance of tall skyscraper buildings’ - such as bevelled mirrors – are bang on trend. Furniture should be similarly streamlined for that Art Deco look.

USA lucy@lucyswebdesigns.co.uk

Posted in Carpets, Design trends, DIY, Flooring, Flooring Specialists, Grand Designs, Home decor, Real wood flooring, Russdales | Tagged 1930s, Art deco, carpet, Decorating trends, designer flooring, DIY, Fashion, Furniture, Marble Flooring, marmoleum, Summer, The Great Gatsby |

Flooring can affect psychological well-being

Posted on April 18, 2013 by admin

Choosing a new flooring concept is not an easy task, especially given the associated psychological effects. With so many options available, it’s crucial to weigh up every alternative before committing to any one thing.

According to experts writing at scheritagecorridor.org, research shows that a person’s surroundings can have a profound effect on their mental well-being, from colour palette to pattern. It’s something that interior designers are increasingly bearing in mind.

The research, compiled by behavioural scientists, claims that real wood flooring comes top in terms of ‘encouraging calm and stimulating intelligence’.

Most people choose neutral floors in one colour, shying away from bright and intense accents. While a cream or beige might seamlessly coordinate with existing furniture or wall paper, not all colours are ‘right’ for each room, according to dubaichronicle.com.

Red is great in a kitchen as it evokes strong emotions, like passion and anger. It’s said it can also increase the appetite. Red carpets in the lounge, however, might be too bold. Green, meanwhile, is a healing and revitalising shade which can affect the health, this might be better suited for the lounge or bedroom.

Blue is a relaxing colour, unsurprisingly, but yellow should be avoided as it apparently can cause eye strain and encourage nervousness. Keep it out of baby’s nurseries, as it is more likely to make the tot cry than soothe it.

Posted in Carpets, Flooring, Having new carpet fitted, Home decor, Russdales | Tagged blue floor, choosing a new floor, choosing colours for your home, colour, colour and mood, colour psychology, decorating your home, floor colour, floor pattern, green floor, neutral colour floor, red floor, yellow floor |

Hotel colour codes floors for Manchester Derby

Posted on April 10, 2013 by admin

A hotel in Manchester has gave itself a makeover in order to welcome two sets of very opposing football fans, dailymail.co.uk reports.

With Monday’s (8 April) very high profile local derby between first and second-placed Manchester United and Manchester City, it appeared that the entire area went either red or blue for the night. The Piccadilly Premier Inn, located in Dale Street, was no exception.

The hotel was fitted with a few special touches to allow fans from either side to enjoy their stay – and no doubt minimise any clashes. Staff replaced existing carpets on two floors with one in United’s red and a second in blue to represent City.

Several of the rooms were renamed to allow both camps to relax in peace. United fans could enjoy ‘The Treble Room’ or ‘The Champion’s Suite’ in reference of their previous achievements, while City supporters were allotted ‘The Aguero Suite’ and room ’93:20′ – the time at which they snatched the title last year.

With City closing United’s lead on the title in what guardian.co.uk called a ‘frenetic night’, perhaps the hotel should consider red and blue striped carpets in the lobby, or decorating its stair rods with blue and red ribbons? The race isn’t over yet, clearly.

Posted in Carpets, Flooring | Tagged Aguero, blue caroet, football, hotel makeover, Manchester Derby, Manchester United, Manchetser City, red caroet, red or blue |

Youngsters are DIY illiterate, survey finds

Posted on April 5, 2013 by admin

Most 18-25 year-olds still rely on their dad for basic DIY jobs around the house, research has revealed.

The survey, conducted by netvouchercodes.co.uk, found that only eight per cent of youngsters thought that they were capable of repairing a plug without guidance.

Perhaps more astonishingly, only five per cent would be confident unblocking a sink, while six per cent said they would not know how to bleed a radiator.

Eighty-eight per cent admitted to not knowing how to use a power drill and a measly four per cent said they could put up wallpaper. It is questionable whether any of the participants would be able to undertake a task as straightforward as laying laminate flooring.

One of the participants in the survey said: “I still have to ring up my dad for DIY help. I can just about manage to put a book shelf together, but anything more complicated, I need his help.

A NetVoucherCodes researcher said: “In the past electrical goods came without a plug attached so it was necessary to know how to wire one.”

The website added that the digital generation seemed quite content to sit back and let dad take the strain.

Mirror.co.uk sarcastically commented that there was ‘some hope’, as three quarters of participants said that with instructions, they could assemble flat pack furniture, while 83 per cent felt confident they could hang a picture.

Posted in DIY, Russdales | Tagged 18-25 year olds and DIY, Call Dad for DIY, digital generation, DIY, Youngsters hopeless at DIY |

Experts recommends wood flooring and bold colours for contemporary interiors

Posted on April 4, 2013 by admin

An interiors expert has said that a lack of clutter and simplicity are key to creating contemporary room styles.

James Gumersell from company Simply Door Handles claims many people often get confused about what contemporary actually means, but says that most of the concept is based on keeping things simple.

He told sourcewire.com: “It is about the look of today and some of the important ingredients of this look are simplicity, a lack of clutter and clean lines acting as a kind of canvas for the main special focal items, pieces of furniture, striking walls.”

Mr Gummersell also recommended items such real wood flooring, a bold colour scheme and good use of lighting for a modern look to the home.

Wood was also recommended as an ideal way to bring nature into the home, which is a big interior trend for this season, according to a guide published earlier this month on thisiscornwall.co.uk

The guide claimed that wood was a great way to introduce both character and texture in to any room. The natural trend was also cited as a way to bring calm and tranquillity into the home.

Mr Gummersell also claimed that many people like to use stainless steel when creating a modern room.

Posted in Design trends, Flooring, Home decor, Real wood flooring, Russdales | Tagged 2013 decorating trends, bold colours, bring nature into the home, clean lines, contemporary design, Decorating trends, flooring, lack of clutter, modern decor, modern design, real wood flooring, russdales flooring, simple design |

DIY lands thousands of Brits in hospital each year

Posted on March 28, 2013 by admin

This year, an estimated 220,000 Britons will end up in their local accident and emergency unit as a result of a do-it-yourself (DIY) project gone wrong.

That’s according to data from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), which shared the information with fenlandcitizen.co.uk. It revealed that inappropriate use of machinery or tools will account for some 87,000 of these accidents.

Although DIY projects like laying laminate flooring or installing a new bathroom can add to a home’s value, homeowners must be very careful when attempting such work. The advice from estate agent Nick Salmon was: “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

“Numerous homeowners do enjoy DIY, but while they may have bags of enthusiasm and a will to success, some may lack the basic skills required to carry out larger and more complex project,” he added. He also advised Britons to leave any difficult jobs – like altering electrical wiring or any gas-related changes – to qualified contractors.

It is thought that the Easter Bank Holiday will provide the prefect opportunity for Brits to get themselves into all kinds of trouble – especially as standard.co.uk confirmed that the weather will remain bleak. While Salmon encouraged homeowners to get stuck in, he suggested opting for less dangerous projects.

Simple tasks like re-painting a room, washing the back patio, replacing grouting or cleaning a home’s carpets can really help it feel refreshed. Anyone hoping to make some renovations should also equip themselves with the necessary safety gear, such as goggles and gloves, RoSPA said.

Posted in DIY, Flooring, Home decor, Laminate flooring | Tagged A & E, accidents, bank holiday weekend, building projects, DIY, do-it-yourself, easter weekend, floor intsallation, grouting, machinery, RoSPA, safety tools |

Interior designer recommends wood in the home for “ambience”

Posted on March 26, 2013 by admin

An interiors writer has recommended using wood in the home to create a sense of “ambience”.

Jacky Hayler, writing for henleystandard.co.uk, claims that using wood in the home will bring a calming influence into the home. This could include the use of wood furniture or real wood flooring. She also claims that the trend will support sustainable designs within homes.

She writes: “Using organic materials and light textures creates a calming ambience and by using wood it will follow another trend which has been around for some time and is now on the increase, namely sustainable design.”

Ms Hayler’s comments coincide with an article published on thisissouthwales.co.uk earlier this month, which claims that using wood is an ideal way to bring nature into the home – a big interior deign trend for 2013.

In her article, the writer also talks about grey tones being one of the “hottest looks of the year” for homes. She claims that this is partly due to the way muted tones can be complemented by lighting, claiming low-energy interior lighting has allowed the cooler colours in the spectrum to “look great in domestic homes at last.”

It is also claimed bold colours are set to be commonplace in the home over the next year.

Posted in Flooring, Home decor, Russdales, solid wood Floors | Tagged 2013 decorating trends, colours, design trends 2013, home ambience, sustainable design, sustainable flooring, wood flooring |

Wool carpet is worth extra investment

Posted on March 20, 2013 by admin

Spending a little extra on a wool carpet is worth the investment, according to femalefirst.co.uk. Although the cheaper option is often more tempting, cost should not be the main consideration.

Paying attention to the use of the room should be an important factor when deciding what material to have on the floor. Bedrooms are used less frequently than kitchen or living room floors, so spending a little more on a better-quality carpet is worth the money.

The hall, landing and stair carpets get a lot more foot traffic so a heavy duty floor material may be more beneficial. Wool mix blend carpets will keep their appearance and take longer to wear out. According tocarpetfoundation.com, at least 50 per cent wool is recommended in a blend carpet.

For children’s bedrooms and rooms where there are more likely to be spills and stains, a polypropylene floor is recommended as a better option. It’s stain resistant and easy to clean so is ideal for clumsy or messy children.

Laminate flooring is becoming increasingly popular for both living rooms and kitchens as an alternative to thick carpets. It is easy to clean up any spills, making it useful for the kitchen. The long-lasting properties also contribute to its popularity.

Posted in Carpets, Carpets North London, Flooring, Flooring Specialits, Having new carpet fitted, Home decor, N21 Carpet Shops, Russdales | Tagged carpet, carpets for bedrooms, choosing carpets, investment, laminate flooring, polypropylene floor, rugs, russdales flooring, thick carpets, wool blend, wool carpets |

Demand for flooring and carpet to increase

Posted on March 14, 2013 by admin

World demand for carpets and flooring will increase, according to prnewswire.com. By 2016, demand is expected to be at 18.6 billion square metres with an approximate rise of five per cent a year.

This is a marked improvement from the rate of 2006-2011 as many countries continue to recover from the financial crisis of 2008. The value of flooring is predicted to grow by almost seven per cent a year until 2016 to more than £157 billion.

Reportlinker.com cited a report that predicted the majority of the demand will come from developed countries who are rebounding in the residential construction market. Meanwhile developing countries are also expected to increase expenditure on construction, leading to more flooring supplies being needed.

The increase in demand for flooring may find new fashions emerge throughout the year. People currently making decisions about new flooring now could become the trend-setters for the next few years.

Laminate flooring and real wood flooring are predicted to be key surfaces for 2013 with sales set to remain strong. Laminate flooring in particular is predicted to gain in popularity due to its ease of maintenance and durability.

With the recent cold weather, carpets may see a boom of interest as people look to keep their feet warm inside the house.

Posted in Carpets North London, Flooring, Flooring Specialits, Laminate flooring, Russdales, solid wood Floors | Tagged carpet, construction, demand for flooring, design trend setters, flooring, laminate flooring, property market, real wood flooring, russdales flooring |

Art Deco tipped for summer interior trend

Posted on February 28, 2013 by admin

Art Deco interiors are expected to attract attention this year and emulating the look at home might not be as difficult as first imagined.

It would appear that Art Deco is likely to make a huge comeback in 2013. The eagerly anticipated re-working of ‘The Great Gatsby’, due for release this summer, could well popularise the dramatic, sophisticated style once again. Additionally, it is on display among a current exhibition of Roy Lichtenstein paintings (‘The Modern Series’) at the Tate Modern, standard.co.uk reports.