Guest post- Wonderful Ways To Add Value To Your Home!

In today's housing market anything you can do to add value and allure to your home will help you when it comes time to sell, home improvements can be daunting and take time, effort and yes; money, but it all pays off in the long term. Improving your home should not be simply about benefiting the next occupier, it should be about improving your lifestyle while you are still inhabiting so choose home improvements that you can benefit from too and make your home everything it can be.

Home additions increase the functional space of your property so you have more room to relax and enjoy your surroundings, adding extra rooms through home extensions and investing in a conversion to space you do not use will give you a great return on investment in the future and improve the look and feel of your house in the present.

1.      Convert Current Space

Defy convention and convert your space; your attic can be so much more than a space to store old clothes and your garage need not be the place where broken bicycles and empty paint cans go to die. Adding an extra bedroom is one of the most effective ways of pushing up the price of your home when it goes to market and an attic is a beautiful blank canvas, if the structure of the attic or loft is already sound all you need to do is add to it. Invest in skylight windows to make the most of the location of the room and turn it from a dark and musty hide-away to a light, airy master suite or guest bedroom.

Have a close look at your garage, then close your eyes and let your imagination soar. Take note of the amount of space available and you might come to find it is more than the other rooms in your house (can you fit a car or 2 in your front room?) and then consider what you could really do with it. If you have no need for a ground floor bedroom you could turn the space into a sprawling home office, dining room or living room, before you know it your house will feel twice the size. Your garage is a blank canvas waiting for you to imprint your style upon it, the first step is to open it up and let the light shine in with well placed windows. Large windows and bi- fold doors bring natural light flooding into the whole of your new room so there is no dingy spaces and no one will know it is where you used to park your car.

2.     Open Space Up With A Conservatory & Bi-fold Doors

Conservatories marry your home and your garden beautifully; they give you a stunning space where you can sit and enjoy the serene tranquillity of your garden in the peace, quiet and warm they are a versatile addition that can be used for whatever you wish. You can choose a style of conservatory that compliments the style, era and ambience of your house, go classic with Victorian inspired designs or be modern and chic with a Garden Room, they can be adorned however you wish and the only decoration you need is taken care of with the beauty of your landscaping.

One of the great benefits of a conservatory is you do not require planning permission to build them and experts suggest they can add up to 15% to the value of your home! By making sure they suit the building type and making sure they have the same flooring as the rest of your property you can ensure they fit seamlessly into your home design and do not feel like bolted on space.

If you are worried a conservatory will take up too much space then bi-folding doors have the same aesthetic impact of opening up your home to your garden. Bi-fold doors are a space saving innovation that is still relatively rare in UK homes, they give your room the feel of a Mediterranean getaway where your home rolls gorgeously into your garden.

3.   Revamp Your Bathrooms

How far you choose to go with your bathrooms is entirely dependent on your budget, if you want to save money on a re-design, simply investing in modern fixtures and fittings and a lick of paint can give your bathroom a whole new look without breaking your bank. If you have a bigger budget, you can completely remodel your bathroom to bring it soaring into the 21st Century in style, potential customers would not make the change from a contemporary bathroom with all the mod cons to a throwback to the 1960's so if you want the best price possible make sure it is modernised.

If you have the space and the time, adding a second bathroom or an en-suite gives your home an extra touch of luxury and an extra injection of space.

It takes time, effort and patience to make affective adjustments to your home but when the end result is outstanding you will wish you had made them sooner. Stay ahead in the housing market and take pleasure and pride in your new and improved space.

This post was written by Emma Smith on behalf of Abbey Windows, the experts in revolutionary windows and creative, classy conservatories.

Product review- The Snugg iPad case!

Recently, I have received a nice leather iPad cover from The Snugg. Have you heard of it? In case you haven't, allow me to do a short introduction.

The Snugg offers quality accessories for electronic devices such as iPad cases, tablet cases, smartphone cases, kindle covers and more.

For today's review, I have selected this iPad case.

Snugg iPad 4 Blue Denim Case Cover And Flip Stand

Here is what mine looks like!

Front

Interior

Interior (with my credit cards, business card, iPad and a pen)

Standing position

Back

I love my brand new iPad case! Out of the 10 wonderful colors, I picked the blue denim for its good looks, uniqueness and hard-wearing benefits! The quality and workmanship is marvelous. I like that the case is thoughtfully designed as well. The case holds my iPad securely, thanks to the Velcro tab in the interior and a built-in magnet in between the case that closes firmly. I also like that the camera, switches and buttons are easily accessible when the iPad is cased. The case also includes a small cutout at the bottom so the iPad can be easily charged without having the case removed. The elasticated hand strap, the stylus holder (small loop) and the card storage are great touches. I find the flip stand works well for screen viewing and typing, the 2 stand positions that are specifically designed for this purpose.

Overall, I am very satisfied with my new Snugg iPad 4 Blue Denim Case Cover And Flip Stand. Oh, and did I mention that it comes with a lifetime guarantee also? I highly recommend this fantastic product!

*I received this product to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

You can get yours here. Happy shopping!

And the winner of the giveaway is ..........

I am happy to announce the winner of the recent giveaway brought to you by Coton Colors.

I used random.org to draw a winner and here it is! The lucky winner to win a $50 Cotons Colors gift certificate is

is Mary Beth Hamilton.

A big congratulations to Mary Beth! We will keep in touch soon. Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway. There will be more exciting giveaways in the near future, so don't forget to check back regularly! Have a lovely day, everyone!

Guest post- Eco friendly doors!

This article is provided by Lucy Kempton.

Eco friendly doors are one of the latest editions to eco friendly buildings. New regulations mean that we will all be seeing a lot more of this type of environmentally friendly solution within new and existing homes. So what makes a door eco friendly? There are in fact different ways in which a door can be considered kind to the environment, the most obvious of which is keeping the warm in and the cold out.

The pressure on all sectors to become more environmentally friendly has been steadily mounting over the last decade or so, not least in the building and construction arena. This pressure, whether it is coming from customers or the government, is palpable. The latest building regulations mean that doors must be as energy efficient as windows. The U-value of an eco friendly door should reach 1.8W/m2K, this value coming in line with windows makes a great deal of sense. 

For instance, double glazed sash windows will make a big difference to energy consumption, but cold air will always find a way out if there is one to be found. The cost of an eco friendly door, even if slightly more than a less air tight option, will pay back handsomely over the years thanks to marked reduction in heating bills.

A second way in which a door can be counted as eco friendly involves the chemicals used in its construction. Some companies are now using calcium zinc based compounds in the extrusion of the door frame. This replaces lead based additives which in the wrong place, can be an environmental and health hazard. Lead itself is a neurotoxin and the less we use of it the better for everyone.

Another way in which doors can be considered eco friendly is the use of recycled off cuts of PVC and/or making sure that the constituents can be recycled at the end of the door's life. Many are concerned that old doors and windows will end up in land fill, or even worse being incinerated. Thankfully, there are now numerous companies that can and will recycle and recreate new windows from old. The process is fairly labour intensive due the multiple components that make up a door. Firstly, the windows or doors are stripped down into their constituent parts. The chopped down PVC can then be turned into chip granulate, micronized powder or compounded pellets which are then used in all manner of places, from coating swimming pools to making the soles of shoes.

So whether you are refitting your old doors and windows or getting your sash windows double glazed, it is well worth considering the energy you could save with an eco friendly door. It is also well worth considering which chemicals have been used to produce it and how it can be reused once you have finished with it. Green attitudes are growing and flourishing in business and at home, and that can only be seen as positive for your pockets and the good of the earth we are sitting on.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.

Guest post- Tips To Design A Living Room!

This post is brought to you by Adrian Barrett.

The living room is undoubtedly the most important and used room in a house. Whether you are watching TV, having a family dinner or a get-together, the living room is the preferred room to be in. An ideal living room should be spacious and yet should have an engaging design.

            Plan the overall layout

You need to consider how you want to use the room and what is important to be included in the room (keeping in mind its size). Allocate different areas of the room with respect to its shape and proportions. If the room is long and narrow, it can be divided into different sections, with one part being used for watching TV and the other to relax. An L-shaped room can consist of the dining area at its shorter side. At the same time, it is important to plan the layout of the room with respect to the furniture to be used.

      Make use of a focal point

It is always recommended to plan and design a living room around a focal point. It can consist of anything; TV, a fireplace or even a wallpaper or a painting. You can setup sofas or chairs around the focal point. It is important to ensure that the furniture around the focal point does not obstruct movement in the room. It is preferable to have the focal point somewhere in the center of the room.

      Plan the storage

Whether you have a large family or a small one, you will always have stuff to store like books, DVDs, equipments and crockery. It is important to plan accordingly and have furniture that will be used for storing these items. Use floor to ceiling cupboards with ample space to ensure all the items are stored, with no clutter outside. At the same time, ensure that these cupboards are placed or fitted along the walls and do not eat up space in the living room.

     Ensure the right lighting

You will need a mix of different lighting arrangements to match up with different purposes and areas of the living room. For background lighting, you can use discreet or recessed lamps or lights. For reading and writing purposes, it is advisable to use portable table lamps. Lights should be chosen and placed strategically such that the beam falls where required. At the same time, take care to avoid the formation of shadows or bright glares. The size, shape and wattage of the lamps will depend upon your personal taste and requirement.

Select the right window arrangements and coverings

There are a wide variety of designer windows to choose from in the Calgary market today. You can either opt for etched glass windows with unique designs or go for plain sliding windows with a translucent black film. Even though you may have a gorgeous view of the countryside or the sea from your window, it is always recommended to cover up the windows. Not only does it block the sunlight when not required or offer some privacy, but it can also enhance the looks of the windows. Some options that can be considered to cover up the windows are:

·         Shutters

·         Roman Blinds

·         Roller Shades

·         Draperies

It is important that the window sills you choose complement your living room furniture. If you have a lot of wooden furniture, it is always more fitting to use wooden sills for the windows. Also, the windows or blinds should never be blocked by furniture.

      Choose Proper Flooring

You can lay a carpet that suits your taste and fits well with respect to the theme of the room. It is warm and comfortable to walk on a carpet especially in winter, and offers a relaxed feel to the room. You can also go in for wooden or laminate flooring to match with the theme of the room and the furniture; it is also recommended if you have small kids in the house. Another option is to choose limestone or ceramic tiles. Not only do they look graceful, but they are also cooler to walk on during summers. As a precaution, select tiles that have been scrubbed a bit on the surface; this makes them less slippery to walk on.

These are some valuable tips that you can use to design or even redesign your living room. Your living room is the first room that someone enters when they are visiting your home. Thus, it is worth the effort to spend a fair amount of time on the planning and design.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.

A product review and a giveaway- Coton Colors Dinnerware!

I bet you already know that I have a love for all things chic and colorful! So when Coton Colors contacted me if I would love to do a product review for their products, of course I said yes!

Coton Colors is a manufacturer of colorful, handcrafted pottery, creative giftware and seasonal pieces inspired by the celebrations of life. With its unique, chic sophistication and fun personalized designs, Coton Colors products are some of the most coveted pieces for discerning hostesses and original gift seekers across the nation. 

Now let's take a look at some of my favorite Coton Colors products, shall we?

Bargello Mix Salt And Pepper Shaker ($25.95)

Green Knob Candlestick ($35.95)

Bargello Mix Pitcher ($45.95)

Cobble Dot Small Bowl (Set of 4) ($69.95)

Bargello Mix Warm Oven Mitt ($14.95)

Neutral Dot Cake Stand ($79.95)

Bargello Mix Table Cloth ($60.95)

While browsing Coton Color's products, I came across a special feature named "Swap Tableware: Design Your Table" on their website. Before I knew it, I was happily mixing and swapping dinnerware on their website for the next hour or so.

Without a doubt, mixing dinnerware is one of the latest trend  in entertaining. Personally, I love this trend because you can express your personal style and creativity through setting your own table. And Coton Colors Swap Tabletop Dinnerware lets you play mix and match to create a tabletop that you like.

Below are some of my favorite tabletop combinations:

Green Chevron Bowl ($17.95)

Bargello Square Platter ($49.95)

Red Stitch Dinner Plate ($29.95)

Cobble Ruffle Plate ($19.95)

Punchy Green Dot Napkin (Set of 4) $32.95)

Bargello Mix Mug ($17.95)

Cobble Bowl (Red) ($17.95)

Red Chevron Square Platter ($49.95)

Cobble Dinner Plate ($29.95)

Green Stitch Salad Plate ($19.95)

Punchy Green Dot Napkin (Set of 4) $32.95)

Red Stitch Mug ($17.95)

Red Stitch Bowl ($17.95)

Black Chevron Square Platter ($49.95)

Red Stitch Dinner Plate ($29.95)

Cobble Ruffle Plate ($19.95)

Punchy Green Dot Napkin (Set of 4) $32.95)

Black Chevron Mug ($17.95)

When it comes to mixing and matching dinnerware, it is always a good idea to have a preview before deciding on what to purchase. You can create your own unique tabletop here.

For this review, I have received two Bargello Mix Dinner Plate ($29.95 each), two Bargello Mix Salad Plate ($19.95 each) two Bargello Mix Bowl ($17.95 each), two Cobble Ruffle Plate ($19.95 each), 3 Bargello Mix Mug ($17.95 each) and Punchy Green Dot Napkin (Set of 4) ($32.95).

Here is how I styled my table by using the fabulous products I received from Coton Colors.

To give my tabletop a layered look, I started by setting my table with a simple white cotton tablecloth and a green chevron table runner. Since the Bargello product line has a fun and playful pattern, I decided to add my own whimsical touch by adding a moss bunny and moss squirrel to the mix. To finish the look, I added a faux silk plant to complement my design.

A close up of my Bargello Mix Dinnerware.

A close up of the Bargello Mix Mug.

A full view of my table setting.

Changing things up by using my Cobble Ruffle Plate.

A close up of the Cobble Ruffle Plate.

What do you think of my table setting? Do you prefer the original set of Bargello dinnerware together or the one that I swap with the Cobble Ruffle Plate?

I can't tell you how much I love my Coton Colors products! The dinnerware are gorgeous and the colors are so vibrant. Made in ceramic, the dinnerware are food safe, microwave safe and dishwasher safe. One of the things I noticed quickly when I held the dinnerware was how much thicker and more solid they felt compared to the average dinnerware. Since these are handcrafted products, none of the two same items are exactly alike but I like them for their charm.

*I received these products to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Can you tell that I am a fan of Coton Colors? Are you a fan as well? If you are, then great news because Coton Colors is giving away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky reader!

This giveaway is open to US readers only (sorry, my international readers).

To enter:

 Must be a follower of Mix And Chic via Google Friend Connect.

Must sign up for Coton Colors "special offers" emails on the homepage of the website (located at the top of the page).

After you have done both, please leave a comment. (For example: I am now a follower of Mix And Chic via GFC and I just signed up for Coton Colors "special offers" email.) 

***Don't forget to include your email with your entry so I can contact you if you win.***

Additional entry:

'Like' Coton Colors on Facebook and leave a comment below. On their Facebook page, let them know that I sent you. (For example: I was sent by Mix And Chic.)

The last day for entries is July 31, 2013. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Thursday, August 1, 2013. Good luck, everyone!