Interior styling mistakes you need to avoid

Styling your home isn’t always easy, and if you’re lacking in knowledge when it comes to interior design, you could be making some mistakes.

A room is a blank canvas just waiting for you to unlease your creativity

Let’s take a look at three decor blunders that you need to avoid in order to create your ideal home.

1. Skimping on the finer details 

While it’s vital to ensure that your home is filled with essential pieces of furniture, it’s just as important to pay close attention to the finer details too.

For example, soft furnishings can help tie just about any room together, so you may want to focus on these home accessories first.

You could keep the room neutral and add a splash of colour using cushions and curtains as accents

Whether you decide to swap your shabby looking window dressings for some stunning eyelet curtains or ditch your drab duvet cover for a luxuriously soft and stylish bed linen set, you should find that there are a whole host of high-quality accessories available that can help improve the look and feel of each room.

With so much choice available, there is no reason why you should skimp when it comes to these finishing touches.

2. Failing to think about arrangement 

Regardless of whether it’s your bedroom or kitchen, failing to think about how the room is arranged could be seriously letting your home down.

Every room in your property has a different use, so it’s important to make sure that the way in which you organize each space is fit for its individual purpose.

For example, it’s likely that your living area is where you like to relax and occasionally entertain guests.

Add your personality with some quirky accessories

With that in mind, you could position your sofas to create a communal seating area, and perhaps place a coffee table in the center and add a couple of side tables for extra convenience.

No matter which room you are arranging, it pays to give careful thought to how you can make the space as comfortable and practical as possible.

3. Having too much on display 

From vases and photo frames to ornaments and candle holders, the chances are there are a whole array of home accessories that you want to show off.

However, having too much on display could be making your home appear cluttered and chaotic, creating a disorderly and distracting vibe.

Too much clutter creates a discordant atmosphere

It’s important to remember that less is more when it comes to trinkets and knick-knacks. To solve this issue, you could simply remove a few items, keeping your favourite pieces in prominent and visible places.

If you’re guilty of making any of these interior design mistakes, taking this advice on board should enable you to create the stylish home you’ve always wanted.

*collaborative post

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All Alone In The World - The Husband's Off To Sales Week

So it's the company 'sales week' for the Husband and he has jetted off to Canada to discuss all things IT and look at snow.

This means I am left home alone - with the exception of Caitlin and Ieuan - to deal with any DIY disasters and to practise my cooking with the kids as guinea pigs.

I am, as Caitlin used to say as a toddler (and we've no idea why) - "I'm all alone in the world".

It is an annual ritual which I both dread and look forward to in equal measure because somehow it seems to mark the true start of the Hobbis family year.

This is, like most of the stuff I worry about, completely illogical, as the Husband is frequently away for four or five days in various parts of the year.  What I think makes this week different is that it includes the weekend.

Weekends without him seem endless, not least because I'm not too good at wresting, light sabre fighting and crafting.

Currently Storm Imogen is in full force and I am listening to the wind battering our extension roof.

The Husband has been gone less than an hour and there is already some strange cable hanging off the roof which I have inspected but which doesn't seem to be live or connected to anything in particular.

The roof is also leaking in the kitchen and I can see a couple of the suspended ceiling tiles previously stained with damp getting darker where the rain is coming in.

Add to the list a boiler which likes to cut out when its pressure drops and a smoke alarm given to going off in the complete absence of any smoke, and you can see why I might be feeling a little nervy.

I also hate being without the Husband now at nights.  I don't feel completely safe.  The sound of creaking floorboards is magnified.  In fact every sound is magnified.

And the kids frequently choose the Husband's absence to develop a new lurgy or, in Ieuan's case, to start his full blast night-time shouting.

I know it's not particularly feminist to make these sorts of admissions.  Truth be told, since I gave up work Mat and I have fallen into pretty traditional parenting roles and they work for us.

I often think of those whose partners are in the Military or have to work really long stretches away. Our kids miss their dad terribly after just a few days.  What must it be like after months?

I suppose you adapt.

As usual, you've just got to get on with it really, haven't you?

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My Sunday Photo - 07/02/2016

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A Secret Solution To Looking More Pert - Pertz leggings

After finding her perfect pair of leggings in a boutique abroad which gave shape, support and a slight shimmer and being unable to find anything comparable at home, Caroline Hyde spent 18 months designing, researching fabric and testing to reproduce her perfect pair of leggings.

Leggings - Pertz, Top, Guess

Pertz leggings (The Shape of Feeling Good) are her solution and I was sent a pair to try.

Pertz leggings have a unique design and are manufactured to limit any ‘muffin top’.They have a hidden tummy control panel whilst the fabric used helps give the bottom a smooth yet pert appearance.

Many women wear leggings with a tunic top or long jumper to disguise their waist, tummy and bottom and Pertz leggings are designed to be worn this way.

They are, however, designed to show off your legs since the leggings will minimise any visible bumps from cellulite and give the appearance of toned thighs.

Pertz leggings come in sizes small to extra large - going from sizes 8-22 and cost £45 per pair.  They are available in one colour, black, and in a choice of either Capri or Standard lengths.

So what did I think?

My initial thoughts were that the material was very thin and the leggings looked so small I wondered if I would actually get them on.  I was sent the medium size (12-14) to try.

The fabric reminded me of compression sportswear and the tummy control panel has quite a pronounced seam forming a noticeable 'V' shape in the crotch.  This is easily hidden under a tunic top or jumper.

To put them on, you almost have to roll them on like tights the first time you wear them and you need to gently pull them up.  I would not advise trying to put them on with long fingernails or wearing jewellery.

Although they came up to my navel, I would have preferred them to reach up a little higher but I suspect this may because I have quite a short body and long legs.

Extra options for leg length could be something for Pertz to consider in the future.

This might possibly be solved by going up a size, although this may well compromise the overall fit.

I found the leggings gave a good shape and I liked the slightly glossy finish.

You can feel them supporting you but without the uncomfortable pressure some shapewear garments give you.

And you obviously need to wear a thong or invisible pant line type pants.  You won't get away with your 'comfy pants'.

As I mentioned, my only request to Pertz would be to adjust the sizing for those of us with longer legs - in other words the leg length / length of body ratio.

Would I buy them?  Yes I would.  They are great for giving you an extra bit of confidence and help to hide that 'mum tum'.

Don't I look pert? 

I think I would keep them for special occasions though.  I've managed to put holes in the knees of a couple of my usual pairs of leggings (John Richmond Star Leggings from Debenhams) when playing with the kids on the floor.

And I wouldn't want to ruin a pair which make my bottom look more pert!

For further information go to www.pertz.co.uk or you can find them on Facebook or Twitter.

*I was sent a pair of Pertz leggings to review.

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How will you enjoy Nutella on World Nutella Day?

I'm sure we are all familiar with Nutella, the hazelnut-chocolate spread which is similar to peanut butter but with a sweeter flavor.

Yes, it does contain saturated fat and sugar but it also supplies a good amount of key vitamins and minerals that you need for good health, including fibre, iron and calcium.

We all need to watch our sugar intake these days but I'm still a firm believer in "a little bit of what you fancy does you good", and that certainly applies to Nutella.

And today is World Nutella Day when fans globally celebrate their love of the spread in a whole host of ways, from writing poems, taking selfies and creating Nutella inspired songs and pictures.

Nutella has long been a cupboard staple in our house. As nice as it is dolloped on toast, it's equally useful when melted slightly and added to ice cream or when adorning a home-made banana split.

There are, though, a whole host of more exciting ways you can use Nutella.

Image Credit

Image Credit

Pancakes are always popular - and it's Pancake Day on Tuesday 9th February!  Why not combine Nutella with the zing of fresh raspberries?

Here are a few more suggestions.

Banana Bread With Nutella Swirls

Image Credit

Discovered HERE at passthesushi.com.

French Toast Roll Ups

Discovered HERE at CinnamonSpice&EverythingNice.com.

Nigella's Nutella Cheesecake

Discovered HERE on www.nigella.com.

Netmums' Nutella Microwave Mug Cake

Discovered HERE at www.netmums.com.

Nutella Fairy Bread

Image Credit 

Discovered HERE at www,kidspot.com.

Are you a fan of Nutella?  How will you be eating yours on World Nutella Day?

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Beck Valley Books Tour & Giveaway - At Bay, An Alex Troutt Thriller By John W. Mefford

NEW SERIES....
Alex Troutt Thriller Series #1
AT Bay
Alexandra Giordano never knew she had it so good. Until it was all gone in an instant.

As she begins her daunting quest to uncover the black spots on her memory, what she finds isn’t sweet or charming or even pleasant. And that’s when she begins to question everything, including herself.

Her work as a Special Agent for the FBI is only a distraction, serving as a mental metronome…anything to crank the gears of her feeble mind.

And then it happens—a bizarre, ritualistic murder. She loses herself in her work, fully immersed in the investigation. Unable to recall even her own kids, she’s somehow able to formulate coherent theories on what type of person could pull off such a sickening act.

As her mind slowly plugs a few memory gaps, her emotions are scrambled by the reality of her worlds colliding. And the resulting explosion tears her in two.

Can she pick up all the incendiary fragments to solve the twisted crime while she clings to some semblance of sanity?

One woman can only keep so much…AT Bay.

Available to buy from.....

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Paperback    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

MY REVIEW 

I loved this book.  I particularly love that Mefford has created a plausible and likeable female agent who gives as good as she gets, without needing to reapply her lip gloss. Booker has met his match!

The story begins with FBI agent Alex coming out of a coma having sustained substantial memory loss after a car crash. 

Whilst on leave of absence, she nevertheless manages to get herself involved with a new murder case. Alex becomes a woman on a mission to reclaim her memory and to solve the case of a killer whose method of dispatching his victims is truly unique - and unpleasant.  

Whilst grappling with the seemingly unsolvable, Alex also has to reacquaint herself with her family and her history, including a marriage that seems to be unravelling and a nanny who has designs on her husband.

Not only does she have to catch a killer but she has to grapple with the typical guilt many working mothers feel - has she not been there for her family?

As ever, Mefford's writing is gutsy, fast paced and enjoyable. Highly recommended.

About the Author

A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Google+    Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

OTHER BOOKS FROM JOHN W MEFFORD

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win Signed paperback copies of AT Bay and BOOKER - Streets of Mayhem
2 Winners!!
Ending on Sunday 7th February at 11.59pm CST

Open Worldwide 

Enter HERE

Good Luck !!

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Will Doing Up Your Kitchen Help To Sell Your House?

The old saying is very true. The kitchen really is the heart of the home - even if, in our case, it looks like we've been hosting one very long party.  

But, does renovating your kitchen pay dividends when it's time to sell? Will it really add value to your home? Will it help to sell your home quicker?

Image credit:  By Mocolocco

It's very easy to get 'kitchen' envy.  I love reading homes and gardens magazines and planning my dream kitchen which would include a new oven, beautiful granite worktops, one of the floating islands for us all to sit at in the morning and drink our freshly blended juices whilst sprinkling chia seed on yoghurt and sharing our family goals.

Yes I jest.  A bit.

We put a new kitchen in the home I inhabited as a singleton with my overweight and sadly deceased cat Samson and we paid around £7,000 at the time.  There were no new white goods, just cupboards and worktops.  That was in 2008.

So, when we came across a showroom for one of the top kitchen manufacturing brands, I was intrigued to know how much a brand new kitchen would cost.

We wandered in whilst praying Ieuan didn't fall off the precariously high breakfast bar chairs and Caitlin didn't place an order with the staff for us (it's been known).

We need to rip out the suspended ceiling and rethink storage

I admired a white, Shaker-style set of units together with gleaming double-oven, wine rack and those clever corner units which allow you to reach all your pots and pans without dislocating a shoulder. The sales lady helpfully calculated the cost for me just so I could have an 'idea of what to budget for'. I nearly fell of the nicely padded stool  £25,000 with fitting on top.

Much as we love our current home, we are hoping to move up one more time in the next few years to a house which has a bigger room for Ieuan so I can't see the point in a whacking great investment like that when we are likely to leave it behind in the relatively near future anyway.

I used to think that adding a decent kitchen to a property might increase its value, but whilst it's certainly one of the most popular home improvements, I'm not sure that's true these day.  Basements, loft conversations and extensions seem to be more popular improvements, together with adding extra light.

Either way, to install a brand new top of the range kitchen with a view to recouping the cost on the sale of the property seems to be risky. A better approach would be to make some minor upgrades such as replacing unit doors and tiles.

Stuff everywhere - it might need more than just a few minor adjustments to the design

Luckily there are some great sources of information online to help you with your kitchen design such as Homify which cleverly combines design ideas with products, professionals and even a community forum where you can discuss your renovation plans.  You can even search by style and popularity and create your own look book so that you can really keep up with the Jones'!

The most important thing, I think, is to create an atmosphere where everyone is comfortable and which caters to the need of the activities you undertake the most frequently.

The Dormy—Kitchen/Breakfast Room by Jigsaw Interior Architecture

I love the light, airy spaciousness of this kitchen, but the rustic cosiness of the one above.  Light, neutral colours really open out the space.

by Studio Maggiore Architettura

The space should really be set up to encourage the family to spend time together.  Even though this space seems quite narrow, it is still welcoming.  That table would be a great place for the kids to do their homework after school.

Bent Kitchen by Diane Berry Kitchens

I love how the splash of lime green makes the space come alive.

Sentosa Beach House by Design Intervention

I love the detail in the worktop and the light shades.

The great thing about sites like Homify is that they help you to crystalise in your mind what really works for you in terms of design.

You can then carry on your research and carry out your project management according to the budget you have set aside - even though if the TVprogramme Grand Designs is anything to go buy, building in a safety net of an extra 20% or so would seem to be a good idea.

Our starting point is to get rid of the suspended ceiling and then we will start our redesign.

Just one of our many DIY projects this year.

*collaborative post

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