Colours

Before you begin decorating you should decide on an appropriate colour scheme. Opt for subdued tones reminiscent of the countryside, such as shades of brown, yellow, rust and green. Textured British made carpets in a soft shade of beige are a great choice for your flooring and will look great with a broad range of wall colours and furnishings. Add a pop of colour with icy blue, which will work well on accessories (such as candles) or as a subtle feature in your wallpaper.

Furniture

Comfort is key when it comes to furnishing your country cottage. Wood tones on bookcases, coffee tables and rocking chairs will fit perfectly with the theme and colour can be added with plump cushions and soft throws. For something a little brighter, consider painting distressed furniture in white, mint green or light blue. To get this right takes some preparation but there are plenty of guides to furniture painting online.

Soft furnishings

Opt for soft furnishings that accentuate the cosy romantic feel of the room. Lace and floral designs are ideal and the patterns you choose don’t necessarily have to coordinate. For example striped cushions mixed with various floral patterns will work well as long as they are from the same colour group. In the bedroom, a handmade patchwork blanket will look great thrown across the bed or draped over an armchair.

Accessories

To complete the look, don’t forget the little details. Hang copper pots and pans in the kitchen and, if possible, install brass taps for the sinks to contrast the wooden tones and soft colour palette. Decorate dressers with family photos placed in distressed photo frames or add a touch of colour with candles. Fresh flowers are an instant way to bring the outdoors in and brighten up any room.

One of the most interesting trends this year is the global traveller. A blend of cultures, themes and materials, it’s about collecting and bringing beautiful pieces together from all over the world.

Search the Souk

Ideally we would all be able to pair the stunning silk hand-embroidered rug we sourced in Malaysia with the clay pot picked up at a fabulous little market in South Africa, but in today’s economy, expensive travel is just not an option for the majority of us.

Eastern promise

Take these Starbay Malindi baskets from Barker and Stonehouse for instance. Beautifully rendered in rattan with leather trim handles, a cloth inner lining and brass hardware, they are sturdy and practical but have a gorgeous eastern look about them.

Put them on the floor next to your contemporary sofa to keep your magazines and books in. Or fill with elegant silk orchids or vibrant flowers and place either side of chest of drawers in a bedroom for instant glamour.

Layering and mixing cultures

Remember, the traveller trend is all about mixing cultures and influences, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Layering decorative patterns and rich colours will give you an eastern feel so go for plenty of silks in hot colours such as fucshia and gold in between delicate prints and bolder designs. Bright colours look particularly striking against minimalist pieces so experiment with rich silks on your contemporary sofa, or runners on your dining table.

Magic carpet

To give your traveller’s paradise a touch of tribal style, try a rug with a Navajo or Ikat pattern. The Royal Kashqai rugs are a special order item from Barker and Stonehouse and come in a range of traditional and tribal designs. The Kash-06, with its earthy tones and eye catching Navajo-esque pattern is a beautiful piece and will look stunning against a background of colour and cultural influences.


Decorative items or souvenir pieces are key to this look so use lots of pots and ceramics in your displays.

The jagged edge and gradual colouration of Barker and Stonehouse’s Rough cast bowls lend them a rustic feel, perfect for a centre piece on your dining table, or fill with tea lights and place on a chest of drawers.

World traveller

Finally, displaying world maps on your walls, or even better, showcasing a decorative globe will boost your traveller credentials.

So, whether you long for the open seas and distant shores or are more of a homebody at heart, this season, give your home that well-travelled look.

With a number of homes for sale all around the UK offering the potential for a new move and a new start, you better get your house in order if you want a quick move.

De-clutter

Buyers want a blank canvas and they also want to see the true potential of a property. When you show people round if you’re hearing the words “It’s a bit small isn’t it?” but it probably isn’t, you’re just not maximising the space. If the spare bedroom has become a glorified wardrobe and spaces are crammed full of clutter you’ve become blind to, you need to get wise to it. As soon as it goes on the market think of it as a show home. You may not be too comfortable for a while, but it’s sure to sell quicker.

De-personalise

It may not be the easiest thing for you to do, but removing all your personalised trinkets from the home will stand you in good stead for a quick sale. Think of it as a blank slate – let the buyer’s imagination play. A clear wall shows a promising space they can make their own. A tired family photograph could just put them off. Remember you’re not making it nicer for you to live in – you don’t want to live there anymore!

Where to start

There’s no hard and fast rule of how to make your home more appealing, but there are a few places where most homeowners can make a start.

If your home is full of knick-knacks that hold  sentimental value , you want to see them and be reminded of them. But a buyer doesn’t. Don’t throw them away if you can’t stand to part with them but keep a memory box and tidy them into there.

Bills bills bills. We hate looking at them and most of the time, dump them on a book shelf with a heavy sigh. And there they stay. But put yourself in the shoes of someone viewing the home for the first time. They want to see how the shelves could be used. Store your bills away. De-clutter by chucking away tired worn paperbacks. Maybe position the stereo on the middle of the shelves – it will give the room much more balance.

Remember it’s not about you anymore; it’s about the home.

But, to make sure your towels remain wonderfully soft, you need to buy the right ones. Which are the right ones? So glad you asked. Look for combed cotton on the labels of the towels you are considering purchasing. When they take the extra time to comb the cotton, they are eliminating the pieces that do not make the cut. Also, check to see that they are 100 percent cotton too, anything synthetic thrown in there will not lead to softness.

Next do a visual test by pulling apart the fibers to see how tightly compacted the loops are on the perspective towel. The closer they are the greater absorbency power they hold. And while you are carrying out this inspection, look at the edges of the towels, a double stitched seam will last longer than a single one. Bottom line, you want a strong towel with a softness that comes from good quality material and attention to detail.

But it can be difficult. With mortgage lenders often requiring at least 20% of the value of the property many of us continue to rent. However, it can be done and there are real benefits of taking the most important plunge you could ever make.

Here we’ve given you just a few reasons why buying a home could make all the difference.

Your money will mean something

You’ve probably heard the phrase that renting is “dead money”. It’s no lie. Plunging your hard earned wages into a rental property isn’t going to get you anywhere. Yes you may have to stretch yourself to afford the deposit in the first place when buying, but each month you’ll know that whatever you pay out in mortgage payments will be an investment for your future.

The end is in sight

It may appear that your mortgage payments will never end, but they will one day. And when that day comes you’ll completely own your own home and won’t need to worry about expenditure going out each month. It may seem a long way off, but with rising life expectancy people are living longer. And with a longer life the benefit of owning your own property starts to look just that little bit more appealing.

Help could be at hand

If you’re looking to get your foot on the first rung of the property ladder, but struggling to meet the demands of mortgage lenders, help could be on its way.

Currently, the Coalition Government is promoting a scheme which provides you with assistance if you’re looking for a new home, without the need to stump up huge sums for the deposit. If you’re creditworthy, help could be on hand.  Those in charge of running the country know the benefit of being a homeowner and they want you to join in!

Keep your eyes open on what’s happening in your local area. The next time when you sigh looking at how much your rent eats into your monthly pay cheque, investigating what you’ll be paying in mortgage payments area could well put it all into context.

With a little help – you could be in your new home before you know it.

To do things right, you need more than to just keep it impeccably clean. Though that is imperative too. Nice touches like decorative soaps, beautiful handtowels, and scented candles will enhance the space. But you need to ensure that the handtowels are hung from a nice holder or bar, that the soaps lie in a lovely dish, and that the candle sit upon a matching container.

But even all of that will not work if you do not complete any projects in progress, or insert bathroom furniture to make things look finished. All too many households leave bathrooms as the last rooms to make perfect. And you know what, that is fine while it is only your immediate family using the facilities. But, during the holidays crunch time is in full swing. Make it a priority, and you and your guests will be happy that you did.

I promised that I would not write about what they made this year, as they felt recipients might not be surprised when they are given the package. Thus, I am going to talk about the personalised articles they made last year. It was a ton of fun for all involved, and I am still using the one they created for me.

We purchased canvas totes, with the intention that they could be used as grocery bags. Nice to think the gift would be helping the environment too. On the outside we stamped the initials of the person the bag was going to. We cut the letters into halved potatoes, dipped them in paint and pressed hard onto the bags. I wish we could do it again, because it was really well received.

What Should My Tiles Be Made Of?

Your kitchen sees a lot of traffic, so you should always try to choose a hard-wearing tile for your kitchen floor. Porcelain tiles are a classic choice, but natural stone is also highly durable and can bring a warm, rustic look.

What About Size?

In general, small tiles look best in small kitchens, while large tiles can look very well in larger spaces. Small tiles allow you a lot of variation and you can even experiment with a mosaic in your splashback area.

Choosing a Colour

This very much comes down to personal choice, as different colours and finishes of tiles can give a very different look. In general, you should think about the existing design aesthetic and choose colours that complement your fixtures and fittings.
- Pure white tiles
If you are concerned about hygiene pure white tiles can be a good choice as they will show up every speck of dirt. However, this can be quite a clinical look, so consider alternating with bold primary colours for contrast.
- Black tiles
For a chic, modern look black tiles can’t be beaten, especially when combined with shiny chrome appliances. Bear in mind that this colour choice needs good lighting and a large space to avoid looking claustrophobic.
- Warm beige and terracotta
This classic colour scheme conjures visions of warmth and cosiness. A family kitchen with wooden tables and chairs will always feel homey with this choice.
- Rustic stone tiles
If you are going for a country-kitchen look then natural stone tiles make a beautiful backdrop to your kitchen.
- A statement wall
Tiles in a bold bright red along one of the walls of your kitchen will draw the eye and serve as a focal point. Try not to go overboard – this scheme works best in a limited area.

Because of the origin being related to something he had shifted over to me, I knew he would be more willing to listen, even if he did it half-heartedly. Plus, he was a tad intrigued as to how I had gotten so side tracked. Expecting it to be yet another one of those long explanations from me regarding how my mind went from home insurance to puppies, he took a seat and reclined back to hear the tale. I imagine he was pleased when the connection was explained in one sentence. I saw a section for pet insurance on the home page of the insurance site. I think he actually let out a sigh of relief, for he knew he had just salvaged a good five minutes from being sucked up by the twists and turns of the inner workings of my mind.

Experience told me that my window of opportunity to get him on board was brief. As such, I had already printed out a bunch of photos to assist me in my presentation. So, I then quickly slid a couple of pictures of the most adorable Boxer puppy into his lap, and let them work their magic. This was the clincher, because one reason we have not brought a dog home is that we could never agree on the breed. But, Boxer has always been on the top of his list. I have always felt that such a hyper pet would become a burden, but I think the expression on the puppies face in the photos convinced me that he could be a good boy. Needless to say, it is a done deal, we have officially purchased the pup, and the insurance. Now the only conflict I foresee is how we will ever agree on a name for him.

Here is a list of the one’s we have used in the not so distant past.

1.    Wishing you joy.

2.    Warmest wishes for the happiest of holiday seasons.

3.    May the bells ring in the happiest of New Years.

4.    May Joy be with you all year long.

5.    Tis the season to rejoice

This year we are considering a quote, but from whom is a real topic of anxiety right now. Votes for Mother Teresa, Buddy the Elf and Charles Dickens are on the top of the list, but there is still time for a last minute entry. Well, happy holidays from our family to yours.