The Home Improvement Centre

Wall Design in 2010: Paint or Wallpaper?

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:07:38 +0000

The question of whether to use paint or wallpaper designs throughout the home has caused plenty of domestic strife over the years. Many dwellers enjoy busy and vibrant wallpaper patterns that exude character – but not necessarily style – whilst others prefer painted walls that feature neutral tones and colours – uncomplicated but not exactly exciting.

Of course, some wallpapers can feature plain patterns and colours whilst certain paints are bold and vibrant, however, in somewhat broad terms, it remains possible to divide people into two categories: those who enjoy the modest charm of painted walls and those who prefer the energy of striking wallpaper prints.

As such, are interior design trends likely to be dominated by paint lovers or wallpaper nuts in 2010? The answer, as perhaps can be expected, is somewhat self-evident; indeed, paint will always remain more popular as it is the weapon of choice when attacking interior walls. Notwithstanding this, it would seem that wallpaper has been afforded greater attention this year by many of the leading retailers, who have released some rather unconventional patterns that will be of concern to paint lovers.

One such wallpaper is Osborne and Little’s “Dog Silhouette” design, which is available in 3 colours and features images of man’s most cherished breeds. At more than £90 per roll from wallpaperdirect.co.uk, the design, which is part of the Walk in the Park collection, is unlikely to be popular with the typical magnolia man. Also available at wallpaperdirect.co.uk is the daring “Fashion” wallpaper, which is designed by Ferm Living and depicts various models in silhouette form. With floral and animal designs also set to be popular in 2010, it would seem that paint lovers are set for a rough ride this year – especially as embossed wallpaper is all set for a comeback.

Interior Design Trends for 2010

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:04:00 +0000

The story of early 2010 is likely to read the same as 2009, with the ongoing economic crisis dominating the thoughts and actions of many people. Homeowners in particular are expected to struggle with deflated property prices, whilst many have already constructed extensions or had lofts and garages converted to meet demands for additional space.

As such, home improvements are likely to be somewhat understated, with attention turning to interior designs, of which Channel 4 Homes has selected five trends for 2010: folk style, big blooms, natural materials, retro or vintage and country house glamour.

Folk style is somewhat vintage in design and appeal, featuring animal and floral motifs which recently slipped out of favour. As mentioned in an earlier article, John Lewis has planned to bring such designs back into the homes of mainstream Britain during 2010 – and the folk style range of ‘Maisie’ duvet covers and pillowcases is a good example of the retailer’s ambitions. Other folk style items highlighted by Channel 4 Homes include an owl screen print (approximately £20) from Roddy & Ginger and a selection of velvet fruit and animal style cushions from Bhs (£14-£22).

The big blooms style features more striking designs, with large floral prints adorning bed sets from House of Fraser and colourful bowls, jars, bottles and saucers available from Bhs. Channel 4 Homes’ natural materials style is far more subtle in design, with the John Rocha kitchen set from Debenhams serving as a fine example of the trend. At the opposite end of the design spectrum, the retro or vintage style is exemplified by Cath Kidston’s daring Provence rose cereal bowls and cutlery. Meanwhile, the understated elegance of the country house glamour style is brought to life with House of Fraser’s living room selection, which comprises a pink lacquer floor lamp and polished side table among other decorative pieces.

Boiler Scrappage Allowance – Is It Enough?

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:49:18 +0000

Following the publication of his latest pre-budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling has not won favours with everybody it would seem but, so far as homeowners are concerned, next year could have been much worse. In fact, the pre-budget report comes as good news to homeowners whose central heating boilers have seen better days.

The Chancellor aims to introduce the Boiler Scrappage Scheme in early 2010, which enables homeowners to trade in their existing boilers for a newer, more energy efficient condensing model. Most importantly, the Boiler Scrappage Scheme provides a cash incentive of up to £400 towards the replacement.

The Chancellor’s plan is certainly not a bad idea in the short term but, so far as long term environmental targets are concerned, it does little to address the fact that imported non-renewable fuels will still be required to heat most homes throughout the country, thereby making it a little less of a bad thing.

Another criticism of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme is the 125,000 home cap is probably not enough to drive significant environmental change in the country. Moreover, it is thought many of the most inefficient boilers can be found in privately rented homes, so it is somewhat unrealistic to expect landlords to purchase a new boiler installation for the sake of their tenants’ energy bills and a £400 cash incentive.

Darling Introduces Boiler Scrappage Grant and Feed-In Tariffs

Darling Introduces Boiler Scrappage Grant and Feed-In Tariffs

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:34:26 +0000

The recently published pre-budget report has largely been derided as too soft on repaying the national deficit and too hard on the everyday Joe. Of course, all budgets are subject to criticism of some form or another and they rarely involve black or white issues – especially with regard to pre-election budgets – so not everybody’s needs will always be satisfied. However, the recent pre-budget report released by Alistair Darling features surprisingly good news for homeowners and property developers.

In fact, there are two notable provisions of the pre-budget report that are likely to be of great value and interest to homeowners. First, the boiler scrappage scheme, which will most likely be launched in early 2010, enables homeowners to trade in their old boilers for up to £400. In respect to meeting the UK Government’s environmental targets, which ultimately aim to cut the emission of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the boiler scrappage scheme is useful in so much as it allows homeowners to replace their old boilers with new and efficient condensing boilers, whilst receiving a cash incentive in the process.

However, the boiler scrappage scheme does present a potentially awkward problem in respect to existing boilers that are fitted on internal walls, which is fairly common for old boilers. Indeed, the new condensing boilers must be installed to an external wall in order to condense efficiently, so this could pose a few problems for homeowners. Nevertheless, the scheme is likely to be of benefit to homeowners on the whole. Finally, the Chancellor has also announced that environmentally conscious homeowners will be entitled to feed-in tariffs, which guarantee a price for electricity fed back to the national grid (via solar panels, wind turbines, etc.) as of April 2010, which could provide more than £900 tax free each year on average per household.

Boiler Scrappage Allowance – Is It Enough?

Further Evidence of a Housing Market in Recovery?

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:45:12 +0000

On Tuesday, one of the UK’s leading mortgage lenders announced that house prices in the UK have risen for the fifth consecutive month, which adds further weight to the view shared by many that the country’s weakened housing market is well on the road to recovery.

However, whilst the Halifax’s figures bolster those published by the Nationwide Building Society last week, which suggest that house prices have in fact risen for seven consecutive months as of November 2009, there remains a healthy scepticism over claims that the slump is over.

According to the Halifax’s figures, house prices rose by 1.4% in November, which elevated the average cost of a home in the UK to £167,664. These figures can be compared with those of the Nationwide, which comprised a 0.5% rise during the same month and an average house price of £162,764. However, the Halifax’s figures remain 1.6% lower than they were in 2008, although they have risen by 4.2% over the current year. In any case, homeowners who are eager to sell up at former market prices should not be counting their idiomatic chickens just yet.

Indeed, despite strong signs that the housing market is continuing to recover steadily in the UK, the Halifax has issued a caution to potential buyers and sellers who intend to do business in the New Year. Speaking to the BBC news service, Martin Ellis, an economist at the Halifax, warned that house prices had been “driven by increased demand for property, largely due to the improvement in affordability for existing homeowners and first-time buyers”, whilst “the prospects for the market will depend on how the UK economy evolves and whether there is a significant increase in the supply of properties for sale”. Specifically, the Halifax is predicting that current house prices can only be sustained in 2010 if more homes enter the market.

John Galliano’s Christmas tree

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:40:14 +0000

If the current range of high street Christmas trees is anything to go by, Christmas 2009 will be notable for its rather unusual selection of artificial trees. Indeed, although it is fairly traditional nowadays – not to mention considerably more practical – to purchase plastic Christmas trees in place of natural pines, firs and spruces, the availability of choice has always been fairly limited.

However, the recent unveiling of John Galliano’s Christmas tree, which was designed for Dior and Claridge’s, marks the beginning of a trend or fashion statement that aims to put the traditional Christmas tree in the shade. In fact, some would argue that John Galliano’s work of art, which he described in the Guardian newspaper last week as a creation of “icy frozen snow scenes mixed with a tropical twist”, is nothing short of sheer butchery.

Indeed, there are many ways in which the home can be properly decorated for Christmas, yet the most common and important of these involves the selection of a traditional natural or artificial Christmas tree that is appropriately adorned with baubles, tinsel, fairy lights and other such festive treats. Therefore, John Galliano’s Christmas tree, the artistic value of which could be easily branded as gaudy, austere and characterless, is anathema to anybody who appreciates the more traditional elements of Christmas.

Nevertheless, it would seem that many of the top high street department stores have followed suit by introducing their own unusual Christmas tree designs for 2009. John Lewis, for instance, is selling its Pre-Lit Mistletoe tree for around £50, which is perhaps not such a great deal considering its diminutive size (75 cm height) and gaunt appearance. John Lewis also boasts a rather odd 6ft Reversible Upside Down Christmas tree and a Snowy Paper Christmas tree, which offers a distinctly wintry look and feel.

House Prices Continue to Rise Despite Predictions

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:47:39 +0000

House prices in the UK have risen for the seventh consecutive month, which runs contrary to the forecasts of various industry experts who have suggested the rise cannot be sustained for any significant period of time. In fact, many experts, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), believe that house prices must fall to record lows before they are likely to rise beyond their peak 2007 values.

Moreover, this process could take a further four to five years to come to fruition, which is hardly good news for homeowners looking to sell up and move on. Indeed, many homeowners have already been forced to invest in significant home improvements, including loft conversion and garage conversion projects, which are designed to increase the available space in houses that have become too small to be called family homes.

However, the Nationwide Building Society has announced the average value of a home in the UK has increased by 0.5% in November compared to the previous month. This rise puts the average UK house price at £162,764, which puts the market in a position similar to that which was experienced in early 2006. Nationwide attributed the continued increase of house prices to a job market that is much stronger than had been feared. Indeed, many employers have chosen to reduce salaries and working hours rather than terminate employment, so although the recession has hit workers hard the damage has been limited to a certain extent.

Furthermore, demands for high mortgage deposits have also reduced, so access to the market has widened somewhat. Nevertheless, despite these encouraging figures, the so-called ‘three-month on three-month’ rate of increase in house prices has dipped from 3.5% in October to 2.8% in November, which can perhaps be seen as a sign that the apparent recovery is in fact slowing.

2010: A Black and White Year?

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:24:19 +0000

Despite the launch of interior design ranges from John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, notable for their vivid colour designs, floral patterns and natural materials (including deer antlers used to make candlesticks), it appears the more modern and minimalist approach to interior décor is not officially dead and buried.

The release of home improvement products by Vivienne Westwood, Ella Doran and Thomas Paul amongst many others appear to compete directly with the belief seemingly shared by John Lewis and Marks & Spencer that interior design trends are set to depart from the sleek and sophisticated, modern and minimalist and, most notably, the monochrome colour scheme.

The traditional black and white or monochrome colour scheme is one that has become synonymous with sleek modern interior designs. In fact, 2009 saw Emily Dupen-Hopkins’ monochrome Dupenny wallpapers dominate the black and white interior design scene, which enjoyed a modest revival despite worsening economic conditions. With the emergence of more vivid home improvement products on the high street and in consideration of the commonly held belief the black and white home requires a certain obsessive neatness and cleanliness, the monochrome look appeared to be destined for a rather colourful demise.

Nevertheless, it would seem the monochrome look is likely to survive all attempts made to undermine its appeal in 2010. Ella Doran has recently launched a new digital stonework print that works exceptionally well in modern monochrome houses, whilst Vivienne Westwood’s range of ceramics also provides a certain black and white charm for use in the kitchen and dining room – however, few such items are as cheap as those provided by John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Indeed, with exquisitely stylish and comfortable monochrome furniture pieces available, such as Zanotta’s £7,800 ‘Delta’ sofa, there are many reasons why 2010 will be a year of contrast for those redecorating their homes.

Festive Home Improvements: Christmas Decorations

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:08:52 +0000

As Christmas approaches, the thoughts of homeowners throughout the country turn to buying presents for loved ones and decorating the home in that unmistakably festive style. Thus, many people will soon be digging out the dusty boxes of holly, tinsel, lights and baubles from the attic in time for yet another Christmas.

However, there is no need for homeowners to follow the tried and trusted routes each year, despite the fact that money can be saved by using the same old Christmas tree and the aforementioned box of decorations on an annual basis. Indeed, the Christmas of 2009 ought to be a special occasion that celebrates the passing of what has been a difficult year for homeowners.

As such, certain improvements can be made to the home that serve to increase its Christmas splendour. For example, Branch Fairy Lights from flowerglow.com can be used to great effect in rooms throughout the home, as this product offers a tidy and pleasant indoor sparkle that is available in seven colours – the rose and carnation colours being by far the most festive. Homeowners can also brighten their homes in time for Christmas by adorning rooms with Mistletoe Light Garland from coxandcox.co.uk and Leaf Skeleton Lights from crocus.co.uk, which both constitute delightful alternatives to traditional Christmas decorations.

Furthermore, high street retailer John Lewis has recently launched its revised Christmas decorations range, which comprises categories of ‘Glamour’, ‘Vintage’ and ‘White’ among many others, including the classic range. In particular, John Lewis’ superb Glamour range features a number of luxurious items that are designed to support a more sophisticated festive look, which includes Black & Gold Glitter Flower Christmas Tree Decorations, two tone baubles, black Christmas trees and stylish indoor Cluster Fairy Lights, which boast a distinctly wintry look.

Looking Ahead to Spring 2010 – Bric ‘a’ Brac

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:49:59 +0000

According to the interior design ranges that are now on display by leading home improvement stores, the look and feel of early 2010 will be far removed from the minimalist style that has dominated recent times. Notably, gone are neutral tones, clean layouts and uncomplicated styles.

Instead, homeowners should brace themselves for a collection of decorative items that has been best described by The Times Online as a “wild thing type of bric-a-brac“. Indeed, John Lewis will see cushions that feature various prints of birds, whilst Marks & Spencer will be offering a wooden stag’s head priced at £199 and candlesticks worth £85 each that have been made from (naturally shed) deer antlers.

Furthermore, 2010 will feature much more vivid and vibrant colours than of late. Specifically, retailers will be introducing a distinctly 1960’s flair to new sofa and chair ranges, whilst John Lewis will be offering a more subtle – but still relatively striking – crocus style. Curtain fabrics are also set for a return to floral patterns and designs, which will likely attract interest and rejection in equal measure. In fact, John Lewis will be selling red rose patterns at £25 per metre and giant peonies will feature on bedsets sold by Marks & Spencer from £45.

Naturally, the departure from minimalism is not likely to appeal to everyone. Of course, it has been a decade or more since British chintz was truly pushed out of fashion and, although trends can return to the fore with surprising alacrity, it is not often that such an eclectic selection of designs return simultaneously. As such, both John Lewis and Marks & Spencer appear to be making fairly bold predictions about consumer trends in their 2010 spring collection, which also features unfinished wooden pieces and crewel-work embroidery.