Interior Design Trends Taking Over London

Just as the fashion world is taking a turn for the better, Interior design in London seems to be close on the heels and does not appear to be letting up. In the recent decades, it has been so drastic that most people are finding it hard to keep track of the changes in the field. Luckily they are all for the better, and they are helping to diversify how homes are looking and other interior spaces. Gone are the days that all homes had only one interior design trend to adhere to. It felt more like visiting a hospital where all the rooms and floors are the same. Now, you can enjoy a broad range of options, and some are quite unusual. Here are some of those that are tearing up English homes currently.

Neon

Grays and blacks might be starting to succumb to pressure, but neon colors are getting an upsurge and are becoming a highly preferred color choice for a lot of homes. They are being used to bold up pure white walls with an excellent collection of colors depending on the palette of the property owners. They seem to be doing precisely well with the open plan architecture and help to a sense of depth and likeability to the interior. The best thing about this emerging trend is it’s versatile that it has to offer both regarding color and how diversely it can be used even in the upholstery and furniture. It is one that you should be considering.

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Traditional tiles

Back in the 19th century, patterned and geometric tiles were a common factor in most of the top tier houses and more so the Victorian properties. They were replaced by carpets and wood floors as home owners looked more taste intensive options. They are making a resurgence and with the added knowledge they are proving to be quite the compliment to modern taste. They have been mainly used to liven kitchens up and add a hint of decorative detail to the traditional bathrooms or even boost the welcoming feel of hallways. The best thing about this trend is that it is among the few that does not require you to take down your entire house or buy a new one to incorporate them.

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Metallic

You might have heard that architects are moving towards metal for construction. As opposed to the past where concrete was the most visible part of a building, metal is quickly becoming more dominant as architects and interior designers are finding ways to make it more attractive. It has slowly but surely crept indoors and not only are you able to enjoy its longevity but also the utter beauty and rustic feel it offers. You do not have to go all metal; you can also experiment with metallic shades that will give you an authentic and profound feel as well.

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Other trends that seem to be picking up in recent times include the bold blues where different and brighter hues of blue are being used. It has that oceanic feeling, and if you are the wallpaper person, the floral prints and foliage are also making a splash currently, and you should try them out. A lot of higher end homes in London tend to incorporate American minimalist furniture designs such as these cool furniture options. There is so much happening in the interior design niche, but these will put you in the forefront.  

House Cleaning Tips For A More Productive You

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Speaking about outsourcing, another thing we're admant about is reducing time wasters in order to increase productivity. One of which happens to be home cleaning. Imagine if you never had to clean again?! How much more stuff can you get done with all that time.. think about it! Like it or not though (unless you're balling out of control lol) we all HAVE to clean. Here are some cleaning tips to help you get the most done as quickly as possible.

 We are all trying to find ways to make house cleaning much easier. It is a task that a great deal of us would rather not tend to but then again, we do not have much of a choice. You can only call the house cleaning company to come in so many times but there are those tasks that you have to handle on your own. While it is at times a bitter pill to swallow having to get down and dirty to get a clean house, there are some great house cleaning tips and tricks that you could use to make it faster, easier and more fun.

Use a timer

Everyone loves the thought of being able to beat time. It is a worthy challenge that you can incorporate into your cleaning as well. Start by deciding how long you want to spend cleaning. Then divide your time into chunks depending on the complexity and how hard each task is. If you have a timed deadline to beat, you will tend to work harder and faster. Additionally, knowing that you will only spend a couple of minutes getting a chore you hate done, you will be more inspired to get it done.

 

 

Have a system in place

One of the best tricks that you can use when house cleaning is to have a cleaning pattern. It makes it easier to clean and you never miss a spot.  It is always a great idea to start every room from the furthest end and work your way to the door. It saves from having to carry all the dirt around and risk of dropping it on the areas that are already clean. Once you wrap your mind around your home cleaning system, it is going to be easier to clean knowing where to head next.

 

Keep Cleaning Supplies Within Reach

One of the best ways to combat those boring cleaning days and reduce the time that you have to spend cleaning the house is by cleaning on site. To make this easier you should stash your house cleaning supplies in different parts of the house to make sure that they are easy to access. It will greatly reduce on the amount of house cleaning that you have to do once you get down to it.

 

 

 

 

Squeegee the shower and the door

The bathroom has to be the one place that people hate cleaning the most. The soap scum and pieces of hair can be quite a disgusting scene. However, by using a squeegee on your door and wall of the shower after use, you can save yourself the hustle of battling soap scam when it’s cleaning time. It is also a great idea to leave the door open to allow for better aeration. After all, it’s not any fun cleaning a place flocked with mildew.

 

 

Put your mind into it

Put the phone down. Even better, switch it off as well as any other appliance that might be a distraction. If you put your mind into it, you will be able to complete cleaning your house faster and do a better a job.

These house cleaning tips and tricks can make an otherwise boring cleaning exercise fun and more doable. Not only do these tricks make it easier for you to go about your cleaning but also ensure that you do not compromise on the results that you are able to enjoy.

Local SEO Express – Our Review

As you may already know, we're located in beautiful Bournemouth, England and being in Bournemouth, it was important for us to drive visitors to our blog and be seen on search engines. I've recently had the opportunity to speak with and hire Local SEO Express, a Bournemouth SEO company.

After I launched London Class War I initially wanted to stray away from politics and blog more about things that unite us like art and modern furniture & decor and share my passion with the world but I knew I needed a lot more search engine traffic. 

What I did was google "SEO Bournemouth". I wanted a local SEO company to help me work my way to the top of google for my niche. The problem was, there was quite a few and I was not sure which would work for me. My web designer referred me to Local SEO Express since he had dealt with them before and since I did not want to waste time second guessing myself, I gave them a call hoping for the best.

A soft spoken voice picked up the phone and considering this was my first time, I had no clue what I wanted so I expected her to run out of patience and disconnect the line at any time. Surprisingly, she did not. But that was just the beginning of my marvelous journey.

Noting her patience, I blasted her away with questions. Her name was Sarah by the way. Remembering her name is the least I can do after all the trouble I put her through. She calmly and cheerfully helped me understand what I was looking for in an SEO company and what would work best for my new blog and went ahead to let me know what they would do to help 

Of all the customer care reps I have ever talk to, if they are not trying to get rid of you, they are trying to shove something down your throat. This was not the case. I felt like I was getting solid advice from a good friend.

 A few days later, I called back, unfortunately she did not pick up but the gentleman was equally helpful. I have not really grown to trust virtual business so I asked for a face to face meeting. Even though I was on time, James who told me he was assigned to work on my project had already arrived. We exchanged pleasantries then started. What I liked most has to be the way he suggested ideas.

It was cordial and optional. I did not feel the pressure to say yes. He elaborated on the results each tactic would have and a bit of how it’s done. After it was settled and done, I decided this Local SEO Express company was it for me.

I gave them everything they needed and the work started. They were nice enough to suggest tools that I could use to supervise them and the progress of the page in-terms of new views and all those other logistics. You would think that the company would have taken advantage of my lack of information to make a quick buck. They didn’t.

When the period of the contract ended and their work was done, James, from the SEO Bournemouth company took the time to come around my office and share some of the tips and tricks I could use to improve or maintain the rankings on my page. I still call him occasionally for direction and he never disappoints.

The best thing about this Local SEO Express is, instead of taking a blanket approach, they have taken a personal feel and dedicate a professional to attend to you and your specific needs. This to me was like a gem. The experience was humbling and I consider myself lucky to have come across such a professional SEO firm who actually know what they're doing. In no time I expect my blog's traffic and views to dramatically increase. If you're looking for a local firm in Bournemouth, I'd highly recommend Local SEO Express!

Help Your Furniture Age Gracefully

For most people, furniture is more than just pieces that makes a home complete. There is a fond and unexplainable attachment to them. While it is impossible for the furniture to feel how much you love and appreciate them, you can show other people. After all, with all that service, you do owe them that much. That aside, most furniture will have two primary aspects. Wood and leather or some other form of material. It is how they have been made for thousands of years. Surprisingly, you do not want your furniture to look that old. So, here are some great ways that you can use to take care of your furniture and watch it age gracefully.

Dump and dust frequently.

It would be unfathomable for one to think that such a simple task would add value and life to your furniture. Well it does! Unfortunately, you share one similarity with dust even though it is a hard pill to swallow. The love for your furniture! Only that the dust destroys the whole elegant look and feel. For this, you need to have a clean, soft and damp piece of cloth. Do not make it too wet or spray the wood directly with water as it does not respond very well to water. At least once a week, give your furniture a thorough wipe down to retain its elegant look. It’s not a great idea to always use commercial dusting sprays as they slowly evolve into a foggy residue that can be quite the turn off.

 

Keep the shine bustling.

As much as you try to take care of your furniture, time and aspects of weather will eventually reign supreme. The shine might turn dull and a couple of scratches might appear overtime. By using wood friendly wax or polish, you will not only be able to restore the shine but the glory of your furniture as well. Always make sure that you follow the instructions as they appear on the product strictly for the best results. While at it, you can get creative and create more interesting pieces.

 

For your Leather and other materials.

Ideally, most of your furniture will have either leather or some other kind of material. This needs equal care and loving as well.

If this happens to be leather, you should know that uncoated leather like suede easily stains so it requires more care. Play it safe by using some commercial sprays that make it more resistant to spills. Better prevention than having to scrub out the stains which happen to be quite stubborn.

Leather and other materials should also be dusted every once in a while to ensure they are clean and free from dust. You can also use a vacuum on some of the materials but not on leather.

The heat from the vacuum could cause the leather to become brittle and lose its shine. Even worse, because it is very sensitive to heat, it could end up damaged. Equally important is to make sure that any furniture that has leather is kept away from direct sunlight.

Of course, it would not hurt to show some tenderness to your leather accented furniture by applying a mild conditioner or leather cream to the leather part as you recoat the finishing on the wood part. You can see what a difference this can make.

Your love for your furniture should not be told but rather shown. By using these tips, you are in a great position to show this. Just remember, if you are not very sure about something, you might want to consider calling in a professional. Especially with the repairs. After all, it is more economical to pay for the service than replace your furniture and all the memories it had.

 

Classy Fine Dining

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Classy and Contemporary

FineDining3If you like a fusion of both classy and contemporary dining space with minimalistic style, then consider a dining room that has a largely black and white palate such as the ones I found at this company. Monochromatic backdrops enhance the minimal appeal of a space and instantly lend a sense of sophistication. While you might cut back on color, you can still make the space exciting with color accents through wall art and smart lighting options. A cascading chandelier or an oversized pendant light can also enhance the minimal dining space without detracting from classy sophistication.

 

Remember that a minimal dining room is not just about picking a futuristic, sleek dining table and chairs. Minimalism is the art of cultivating more from less and requires the discipline to cut out any excesses from your existing dining room. The unnecessary decorations, the ornate patterns and other frills that distract from the main purpose of the room need to be sacrificed. Only the bare essentials should be accommodated.

Elegant Greys and Neutrals

The charm of gray is something that that has stood the test of time and trends; and the world of interior design has FineDining2fully tapped into the potential of this hot neutral in the last few years. Gray is the ‘go to’ color for designers and homeowners across the globe these days, and it has definitely replaced the white and beige trend of the 90s and early 2000s. What was initially dubbed a passing fad has now turned into a lasting ‘style statement’, which has joined the ranks of what is considered as classy and sophisticated.

The many versatile shades of gray ensure that you can easily use it as both a soothing, neutral backdrop and a stylish, dark hue that highlights the architectural features of your choice in the dining room. Many homeowners prefer a tone-on-tone approach to gray, as it is easy to work with, gives the room visual intrigue and breaks away from monotony. Picking a shade of gray for your dining room depends on a variety of factors, including the size of the space, the available natural light, and even the climate of the city you live in. The adventure of a grey dining room is definitely the way to go in 2015.

 

PREVENTABLE FURNITURE DAMAGE

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Preventable damage refers to events or conditions that one can avoid in order to keep furniture safe. Furniture damage takes different forms but careless handling by user still stands as the major threat their safety. Furniture is part of everyone’s daily life and should therefore be prevented from certain damages if at all they are to last long enough. Almost every individual likes to have a neat and well decorated home or office but a good number forget that the pieces of furniture also need to be taken care of. Preventable damages include poor transportation, a poor environment and careless maintenance or handling of furniture.

Poor Environment

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Environment basically entails the existing condition of the pieces of furniture. Although the best environmental condition for a piece of furniture is most the times used to describe the caretaker’s ideal place for them, the well being of the furniture must also be considered. According to experts, there is never an ideal condition to place the furniture as it all depends on the type of material used in making the furniture. Factors such as temperature, light and humidity play a massive role when it comes to an ideal environmental condition for furniture.

Among all the environmental factors, light remains as the easiest condition to deal with, yet it continues to destroy furniture in homes or offices. Most of the furniture surfaces are easily destroyed by constant exposure to direct sunlight. Getting rid of such damages is quite simple as it only takes a curtain or window shade to keep the pieces of furniture safe. One also has the option of keeping the pieces of furniture in darkness whenever he or she is not using them.

Humidity

According to experts, the environmental factor that poses a great threat to furniture is humidity. This is because wood that is used to make the pieces of furniture easily absorbs water via humidity, thereby causing them to shrink and swell. The changes in pressure make certain parts of the furniture to loosen and in the process weaken the entire furniture. A relatively low temperature raises the humidity of a given place therefore the modern heating systems can come in handy in controlling room temperature.

Biopredation

Biopredation is also an environmental problem that experts think has always been overlooked by many. Most pieces of wood are easily destroyed by insect infestation, micro-organisms and certain animals. If not attended to, these factors are capable of massive destruction of furniture. One therefore has to know the conditions leads to these factors and stop it with immediate effect. Fungi and mildew for instance, are common during humid conditions and therefore one has to find an expert opinion on to stop them from destroying his or her pieces of furniture. Rodents destroy furniture in search of food, therefore one is encouraged to clean up after eating or rather avoid eating on sofas at all costs.