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Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly

The festive season is upon us, so it means it’s time to head to your loft, garage, or whichever dark corner of your home where you stow away your Christmas decorations for the rest of the year and unleash that festivity.

It’s easy to roll out the same, sentimental decorations each year, however there’s no reason you can’t incorporate trend and direction to your Christmas decor.

When deciding on how to decorate your home for Christmas it’s a good idea to have a think about a colour scheme and the overall atmosphere you want to create. Perhaps you want to go with a traditional theme, or maybe you want to go a bit more modern and minimalist. Whichever you choose, here’s a few Christmas Decor ideas to get you in the mood.

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Winter Wonderland

Thinking about going for an icey, winter wonderland decor this year? Invest in some tasteful silver, blue and glass baubles for your tree along with some bright white lights. This will instantly bring a magical Narnia feel to your home, and if you feel like going one step further, include avantgarde white hanging decorations to really inject some style into your Christmas decorations.

Have A Traditional Victorian Christmas

The art of Christmas only came into play in Victorian times when the UK adopted the German custom of the Tannenbaum… also known as a Christmas Tree. To achieve a traditional Victorian Christmas look, add gold rotary tealight holders to your home along with spiced orange pomander balls. The pomanders will really make your home’s atmosphere feel traditional and cosy. Warm white fairy lights will also add a more muted twinkle to your Christmas home decor.

Barely There Christmas Decorations

If you’re someone who can’t bare the clutter of Christmas in your home then there’s a few minor twists you can add to the home to show a bit of Christmas spirit. Add a festive tint to your home with a light installation as opposed to a Christmas tree. Light installations such as this one from House of Fraser are perfect for creating a point of focus.

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For that cosy Nordic look, add Fair Isle print throw cushions to your sofa, and a stack of logs next to the fire place. Heavy, natural fabrics are a must to achieve this tasteful wintery look for your home. From fur throws to a roaring fireplace, you can achieve a warm and cosy atmosphere without having to go overboard on Christmas decorations.

How to Balance Festive and Stylish This Christmas

Just because it’s Christmas, it doesn’t mean you have to plaster your halls and walls with tinsel in every colour – and nor is it an excuse to litter the outside of your home with flashing multi-coloured lights and various inflatable Christmas paraphernalia. Christmas presents the perfect opportunity for sumptuous style, decadence and luxury – after all it is the season for indulgence.

This year, treat your home to a stylish Christmas with considered decor. Although some decorations can hold sentimental value your home can soon start looking like a charity shop in January, so stop, think and design before you break out the step ladder.

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The centre piece of most homes during this festive time of year is the Christmas tree. So a great way to ensure your tree is stylish as opposed to garish is to colour coordinate your decorations. For example you can mix gold decorations with warm white lights, or mix blues and silvers with bright white lights. Of course your colour scheme can be a little more inventive, however the importance of balancing colours is looking at them as either cool or warm, so for reds, oranges opt for complementary warm lights, and when using blues, think about neighbouring shades of purple or green.

Of course, decor doesn’t just stop at the tree. You can add some festive style to your front door. When it comes to a Christmas wreath, traditional is always best, so you could head to a florist and get one custom made with some intricately hidden, battery powered fairy lights, or get creative with holly and ivy yourself – after all a plastic wreath will never look as good as a real one and is far more stylish and elegant than a fake one.

If you’re entertaining this Christmas you can also inject some festive style into your drinking and dining wear with some elegant wineglass charms so your guests don’t mix up their drinks, and some festive gold platters to serve nibbles on.

Remember, Christmas is a time to spoil yourself, family and friends so the more opulent and stylish… the better!

Home Accessories Leicester

Living in Leicester and planning on sprucing up your home with some home accessories? Whether you’re in the countryside or town there’s plenty of ways to update your interior space with accessories.

Home accessories are the perfect way to update your interior with minimal fuss and also a great way to inject colour without having to crack out the rollers.

If your home is neutrally decorated, then adding a splash of colour through wall art, soft furnishings and furniture is a great way to create a dynamic, yet homely space.

A good thing to bear in mind before adding any accessories to your home is what is the overall look you want to achieve. Some contemporary and stylish interior trends including; Scandinavian, Urban Chic, Contemporary Country are current and fairly easy to achieve through home accessories.

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Scandi Vibes

To achieve a minimalist Scandi vibe within the home you can look toward home accessories such as faux fur rugs, throws and pelts to bring an Arctic quality to simply designed sleek furniture. The key with this look is to keep a simple and neutral colour palette whilst choosing your home accessories.

Urban Chic

For an Urban Chic interior look toward raw material accessories such as stone top tables, and metal accessories such as lamps, all whilst straying away from fabric furnishings.

Contemporary Country

Contemporary Country is a great way to go all out on the home accessories, from throw cushions to cute picture frames, object d’art and more, this look is all about accessorising and is sympathetic to homes in the Leicester countryside. When it comes to materials look out for crisp linens, beech wood, and accents of florals when it comes to cushions or curtains as this will add that traditional yet modern twist to your look.

Glam Luxe

With jewel tones set to be big on the radar for 2017 interiors, when it comes to home accessories, sumptuous fabrics such as velvet are a great way to achieve this look through home accessories. Look out for embellished curtain ties, fringed throw cushions and opulent marble accessories such as coasters to achieve this regal look, but team with sleek metal accessories to keep it up to date – rather than dated!

A more modern twist to home accessories is a great way to update any space, be it a man cave, study or dining area, and can be done to suit any period of property.

Curtains and Blinds Leicester

Wondering how to make your Leicester house a home? Curtains and blinds are of great importance when refurbishing your home interior. Curtains can totally change the overall look of a room and indeed your home from the outside and don’t even come at a huge expense! The tricky thing however when deciding on curtains and blinds is there is so much choice that it totally opens up your options when it comes to home decor!

Incorporating curtains and blinds into your home is the best way to add that finishing touch to your interior. Whether you’ve got a small window or a large bay window, curtains and blinds add an element of privacy as well as giving a polished look to your windows.

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The added benefits of curtains and blinds in a more practical sense of course are keeping out the cold and helping to dullen outside noise, but it’s also important to consider the right option for your space. Whether you want curtains and blinds, or just curtains or just blinds there are so many options to consider.

Here we take a look at the most on trend curtains and blinds to suit your Leicester home…

Roman Blinds

We love roman blinds, not only are they a massive space saver, but you also get to softer fabric look of curtains. Depending on the density of the fabric you choose, you could have pale roman blinds that let in the light or opt for thicker ones keep the light out. The great thing about Roman blinds is that they look fabulous alone, or teamed with curtains hanging in front of them. The versatility of these blinds also mean they suit most interior spaces.

Hanging, draped curtains

It’s important to bear in mind which room you will put heavy duty curtains in, as any high activity areas such as kitchens are not suitable for fabrics that may need cleaning regularly. It’s also important to think about colour, so make sure you pick a shade that will work well in the evening without being too oppressive during the daytime.

Barely There

Voile curtains and barely there blinds are no longer the granny net curtains of yesteryear. It’s now easy to make barely there curtains and blinds look stylish and contemporary. So if you want to combine the look of draped curtains with lightweight semi-transparent fabric and team them with a blind, this gives you the best of both worlds for privacy without blocking out the light during the day.

Bathroom Refurbishment Leicester

An essential part of any home, your bathroom is integral to helping you face the day as well as how to unwind after a long one.

If you’re considering a bathroom refurbishment in Leicester then there are many things to consider. From budget to theme and most importantly, practicality it’s worth doing your research when it comes to redoing your bathroom.

In recent times the humble bathroom has upgraded itself from a practical necessity to a comfortable living space. With more and more people opting to add home furnishing elements such as comfortable chairs, book shelves and sophisticated cabinets, how your bathroom looks and feels has never been more important.

Tips for Bathroom Refurbishment

Upgrade your bathroom suit

A simple change in your bathroom suite can see old, unfashionable bathtubs and sinks replaced with sleek, space efficient suites that will give you more space to play with.

Mix it up

It you’re on a budget, then take a look at what you have already got and think how to give things a modern spin. Eclectic interior styles mean you can perhaps opt for an opulent clawfoot tub bringing in a little bit of the old with the new. Another way to incorporate this look is by adding an antique mirror to tie it all in.

Tiles, tiles, tiles

Tiles are a fantastic way to refurbish your bathroom. Not only are they practical for splashy areas, they can help you incorporate a colour or a trend in one fell swoop. You could opt rustic, Moroccan style tiles to give your bathroom an exotic feel, or sleek, sandstone or marble oversized tiles to make your bathroom feel just like a spa in your very own home.

Extend if you have to

Many bathrooms can be undersized, so if you’re after a spacious and calm space to relax in, then maybe consider extending your bathroom. Perhaps you have a few feet you can gain from a side passage, garage or hallway meaning you can refurbish your bathroom to the highest standard.

Whichever way you choose to refurbish your bathroom, take some time to think about the look you want to achieve and the practical elements you want to incorporate. The best way to do so is by speaking to an expert and create a moodboard for your dream bathroom to really help you achieve the look you want.

Home Renovations in Leicester

Living in Leicester we’re spoilt with property opportunities. From taking advantage of the city lifestyle to the more spacious properties available further outside of the city, there are many opportunities when it comes to property.

Home renovations in Leicester are a great way to increase the value of your property, or even just make your house more of a home. From loft extensions, to conservatories, developing underused spaces in your home and more, home renovations are the best way to maximise your comfort level within your home, as well as add value to your investment.

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With the property market currently being a seller’s market, there’s never been a better time to renovate your home. After all, moving house can be stressful, and sometimes all your home needs is a little TLC to make it a more comfortable living environment.

Home renovations are the perfect way to make use of dead space and perhaps revamp your colour scheme to make rooms appear more spacious. Perhaps you have a large hallway that could be better divided into a utility room, or maybe you’re losing a valuable third or fourth bedroom due to not converting your loft. It’s important to look at the space you have available and think how you may be able to renovate your home to maximise on what you have, before considering moving house.

In recent years there have been more and more sways towards modern interior design, meaning Bauhaus style floor to ceiling windows, open plan living spaces, and multi-functional rooms are all features that make family living more functional and sophisticated. And with the rise of the population encroaching on the size of the properties available, there’s never been more need to renovate your home to its full potential.

Similarly, you may have purchased a house that has tonnes of potential. You could consider renovating your new home and capitalising on the value you may add to the property.

With current property prices soaring around the country, a city such as Leicester makes for a sound investment when buying or selling property as not only do you have the perks of a city, you’ve also got the perks of the countryside. Home renovations in Leicester mean you can maximise the value of your home, or simply create a dream home for you and all the family to enjoy.

Home Refurbishment Leicester

With interior trends constantly on the move, it can seem like an endless task to keep your home decor a la mode.

This year’s interior design trends saw heavy stainless steel hardware, cool, calm greys, juxtaposing florals and the rebirth of the formal dining room. A penchant for mixed materials also emerged as interior designers opted for looks such as brick tiles, coupled with stainless steel and granite – honing a more eclectic aesthetic for home refurbishments.

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As we transition into a new year, it’s time to keep your home design aesthetic more relevant. With 2017 design trends set to welcome back raw material trends such as cork, exposed brick, and jewel tones there’s never been a better time to update your decor and refurbish your home.

Dark greens, ruby reds and sapphires will all be making a return for 2017, so refurbishing your home will mean you can inject some real style into your house or flat and give the place a face lift.

When it comes to refurbishing your home and welcoming in a fresher look, making sure you’ve got nicely primed walls and well laid floors is the basis for any home refurbishment project. After all, how can an artist work without his canvas?

For those looking for home refurbishment in Leicester, updating your property is the perfect opportunity to add value to your home, and if you’re selling your home in Leicester then it’s a great way to make it ready for potential buyers to view. Similarly, if you’re a landlord or property developer and you’ve just got your hands on a property with plenty of potential, then a home refurbishment may well be the best way to get your property up to scratch.

Perhaps you don’t want to move house, and simply want to give your home a once over and realise a stylish and luxury environment for you and your family. Whatever your reasons for refurbishing your home, it’s a great way to start a fresh and make the most of your property.

With our home refurbishment services in Leicester we can help you update your home decor with our team of interior experts and give you the home you’ve always dreamed of.

Top ten bedroom storage ideas

The art of keeping a small bedroom tidy, can overwhelm all of us at times. Regardless of your good intentions, if your room is what estate agents can refer to as ‘cosy’ then there are going to be times when your floor will look more like a jumble sale. If your possessions seem to be sneaking out, and taking over the space in your bedroom more and more often, then there are options.

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Have a freestanding PVC shoe caddy to keep each pair together and off the floor.
Buy some storage drawers and customise them to fit in with your existing interior décor scheme. It’s a way to reduce your clothes storage, without using bulky furniture such as a chest of drawers.
Use vertical bookshelves which are attached to the wall, to create more space
Make the most of the space by using any area for hanging units, even the end of the bed. It’s only suitable for small items though.
Make sure that furniture can double up in functions, such as having a storage unit double as a workspace. Something like a free standing cabinet is perfect for that.
You can use a footstool as a night stand to make a little more room.
If your back is up to it, use a chest of drawers as a makeshift bed, and simply put the bedding on top of it.
Use a shelved caddy instead of a bedside table in order to keep things that are important to you close at hand.
Hang your laundry basket on the back of your door, to replace a standing one which takes up quite a lot of room
Install a tension rod in any alcoves and use them to store lightweight items such scarves or ties.

If this has inspired you to maximise your space, and you need further ideas then please contact us at https://www.cravenandhargreaves.co.uk/

The Best Home Accessories Leicester

A home with the right accessories, decorations and furnishing is a living haven to the family and the visitors. Having the right home decoration starts from making use of the right home accessories.

Homeowners can have an urban and unique styled home with the proper mix of modern home accessories with some classical pieces. There are numbers of ways in which this can be achieved, through installation of retro light fixtures that will accentuate and brighten all the rooms in the house. But when applying accessories in the home, comfort should be of high priority, you should take your comfort serious and add the accessories accordingly. Budget is another factor that needs to be considered when adding home accessories to your home; you should keep your budget in mind to guide you against going over the board when shopping for the right home accessories.

For a guide on the most appropriate home accessories in Leicester for a beautiful home, here are some of the accessories you should be looking at adding to your Leicester home.

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Light Fixtures

Lighting fixtures are some of the awesome home accessories that will give your home a new lift if they are properly chosen and installed. To give you Leicester home a retro urban look, the lightening fixtures should be rightly maximized. The use of candles around the house will create a romantic and modern look. If you have a big budget, you can go for chandeliers to add more life to your room. Lightening fixture of the rustic types such as iron or brass can give your modern house a country style effect. There are other lightening fixtures that will give your home a face lift if it is properly selected.

Drapes and Curtains

A nice way of adding character, elegance and charm to a home is adorning your windows, hallways and walls with curtains and drapes. There is no limit to how stylist and luxurious your home can be when you choose the right prints, patterns and fabrics of curtains and drapes to use in your home. Using the right colours and designs of curtains will add elegance and gorgeous look to the living room and bedrooms of the house. Drapes and curtain don’t add appeal to the interiors of a house but will also create a visual appeal to the exterior view of the house.

Carpets and Rugs

All homes have different types of carpets and rugs that fit with each rooms of the home. For instance, an antique rug will be a good choice for the living room of a house. The choice of rugs and carpets for the living depends on the homeowner, individuals differs in their choice of colour. Some may want a different colour for their rugs and carpets from everything else in the room in order to draw attention to it, while some will go for a matching colour with the scheme in the room.

Installing mirrors in the walls of a room with little space will create the illusion of having more space and also brighten up the room.

Styling up the home is really easy; a well-planned installation of these accessories will create a warm atmosphere for the family and visitors to the house. For Workwear Clothing feel free to visit workwear wardrobe

Nautical interiors for your dining room

Dining rooms are quite an important room in many houses, as it’s the place that most families congregate, well that and the living room. The dining room and the kitchen, as well as the living room are the rooms that most visitors to your home will get to see. It’s important to get the atmosphere right through the paint scheme and chosen home accessories.

When decorating a dining room, the nautical look can help to create a relaxed atmosphere, and it’s a surprisingly simple decorating scheme to pull together. Something in a neutral cream or white accentuated with bright blues and reds, can make your dining room look cool and modern.

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One way of achieving it, is to have a white wall, or a neutral painted floor, while having bright home accessories such as red and white, or blue and white striped chairs, and a brightly coloured table in a block of colour, either red or blue. If a purely white painted room is too stark for your taste, even with the flashes of colour in the accessories and furniture, then why not paint one wall a light dove grey? Just to break up the white.

If you want to find a very informal look, then it’s a good idea to choose a bench and table set, rather than opting for a more conventional dining table and chairs. It can almost remind people of sitting at the beach, and evokes memories of childhood as well.

Choosing lighting choices like fishermen’s pendant lights will also add to the overall affect. You might want to choose one that is operated by a dimmer switch, in order to easily create ambience during a evening dinner party. They tend to be placed directly above tables for the best lighting, but if you prefer something different with this interior design look, then industrial style strip lights might be something you would like.

When thinking about the window treatments, there’s the option of using shutters like they do in New England, or if you want the maximum amount of natural light coming through then you might want to go for sheer blinds without curtains.

If this has inspired you, then please get in touch with us at Craven and Hargreaves. We’re a Leicester based interior design firm, and will happily give you a detailed consultation about what we can achieve together. Our email address is info@cravenandhargreaves.co.uk

Ten interior designers that have changed the world

There are many notable names that have been involved with the field of interior design, and here are ten of them who have had a particularly distinctive impact. They might have inspired those that came after them, or been instrumental in bringing the field to the attention of a lot of people.

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Philippe Starck’s influence and experience has been put into a number of different fields. He designs the home accessories that many other interior designers use to complete their assignments. He is responsible for designing chairs, toothbrushes and even electronic appliances. The first time that he came to international attention was in 1982, when he received the commission to design the interior of Francois Mitterand’s apartment.
Karim Rashid is an Egyptian born industrial designer. He is widely considered to be one of the best in his generation, when it comes to that particular field. His work straddles the line between interior design and art, as it is included in many exhibitions across the world. Rashid is also experienced in the worlds of fashion, music and lighting.
Patricia Urquiolais known for creating unique interiors, as well as being an architect and designer. One of her most famous accomplishments is the work that she did in the W hotel and spa in Puerto Rico. She allied the most distinctive features of the hotel with the natural beauty surrounding it, creating something that was very calming and peaceful for the hotel guests.
Federico Delrosso was initially a architect, but is well known for being a highly conscientious and detail oriented interior designer. He works with contrasting materials such as wood and metal, and one of his most well respected assignments was a family home that he created in Monaco.
Martin Brudnizki is one of many young designers that are particularly fascinated by New York and London. Brudnizki is famous for ‘minimalist deluxe’ and is in demand across the world for his ability to make the simple look luxurious.
Thierry W. Despont, is a multi talented man, working as a designer, artist and architect. He has travelled widely and worked in many countries across the world. He was part of the team that worked on reconditioning the Statue of Liberty, and has worked for many high society clients.
Miles Redd, used to be a set designer and uses that previous profession to his advantage. The experience that he gained during that period of his life, has led him to work to design the home interior to reflect the owner’s personality. His interiors mingle antiques with modern art, and often each room has it’s own distinctive personality.
Michael S. Smith is an American born interior designer who has had the prestigious assignment of designing the interior of the White House since 2008. He usually makes the home seem comfortable and stylish at the same time.
Catherine Widawska and Thomas Widawskim,grew up in a family of highly successful Polish architects. They have won a number of awards for their modern, airy and almost futuristic interior design They are highly detail oriented, and use colour to accent each room, placing bright home accessories such as lemon yellow carpet.
Robert Baileymixes functionality with design, comfort with class. His work on a apartment in Vancouver, showed his ability to find a balance between giving rooms a distinctive character while making the home feel united.

How to Carry out Effective Bathroom Refurbishment

Bathroom refurbishment Leicester gives you the needed help in planning the rearrangement and remodelling of your bathroom.

Refurbishing of the bathroom may need some structural changes together with plumbing, electrical changes and some other rearrangement expenses. These changes such as the electrical aspectlike changing of heaters or the plumbing aspect such as the removal of old water pipes, water fixtures and tiling all need the skill and experience of a professional to carry them out.

Bathrooms are the areas of the home that often gets refurbished more compared to other areas of the home. The reason is not farfetched, that is where you visit the most. Most homeowners decide to refurbish their bathrooms for various reasons. It might be as a result increasing the overall value of the house in the case of selling it, or to create a fresh and new feeling in the home. Any reason you have for refurbishing your bathroom, you can rely on the help of bathroom refurbishment Leicester to make you bathroom look new.

Bathroom is a part of the house which needs renovation very frequently. You can refurbish your bathroom by removing the hand basin, existing floor, shower taps, bathtubs, toilet etc. The refurbishment can also include the walls of your bathroom. The walls can be enlarged so you can get more space in it. Painting the walls with a different colour to give it a new feel. All these are ways to refurbish your bathroom and make it look more stylish.

The first thing that should be done in bathroom refurbishment is the decision on what you want and how you need it to be done. This stage need the guidance of a professional which bathroom refurbishment Leicester can provide you. You will need the total area of your bathroom before deciding on adding new accessories into it. You also need a good plan which will assist you on the suited placed for every new fixtures you want to add or change in your bathroom.

If you have a limited space in your bathroom, you should consider installing hanging storage cabinet, because this will not take up floor space. Refurbishing the bathroom should be done with regards to your needs so as to create an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort.

There are numerous bathroom refurbishment ideas, and if you are not properly prepared you will end up with a failed refurbishing job. Bathroom refurbishment Leicester can be your best start, if you have a suggestion, it will be considered and we will give you many remodelling ideas that will offer cheaper options to you.

Beside the cost saving part, you will be guided on the best bathroom refurbishment ideas and techniques. Never make the mistake of sacrificing the functionality of your bathroom to the choice of design. This costly mistake can be avoided if you have a reason for refurbishing your bathroom and stick to it when choosing a preferred design. You can decide on the design you want from the vintage bathroom design and the modern type bathroom to the traditional bathroom refurbishment designs.

Visit bathroom refurbishment Leicester and we will give you the beat of your bathroom that you will continue to like in years to come.

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