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Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Is your home well insulated or do you have energy leaks?

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I live in an older home. It was built in 1927, back in the days when house were made without insulation.  Oh it’s well constructed – it’s triple brick so it’s solid, but yes, it could be warmer, especially since it’s an 87 year old house. The walls of my home are lathe and plaster and there is an air gap between my walls and the brick and mortar.   I think it’s time to spend some money to ultimately save some money!

I’ve been considering getting a company like Imperial Roofing to spray insulation into the walls and also to spray insulation in the small attic.  I haven’t checked to see how much this will cost but our government gives tax breaks for energy wise home improvements so I’d likely be able to write off a portion of the cost.  Plus, once the insulation is in, I know the heating bill will go down quite a bit because the house will not be drafty anymore!  Ok I might have a few windows that also need replacing but insulating the walls and the attic will help the most.

I’m including a fantastic infographic in this post about stopping energy leaks by using proper insulation in your home.  It’s quite informative:

 

 





Give Your Bathroom A Glam Look With A Straight Bath

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If you are planning on giving your bathroom a new look, then a straight bath should definitely be high up in your considerations.

Here I discuss how to give your bathroom a great glam look by utilising a straight bath as its focal point; sure to catch the eye of any house guests who get curious about your new bathroom suite.

Types Of Straight Bath

Before we look at the intricacies of the bath tub itself, it is important to clarify what exactly a straight bath really is.

Typically this type of bath comes in two forms, the single end bath, which is the typical variety people tend to think of when thinking of a bath in general, and the double ended bath.

All that that actually means, is that the person using the bath is able to rest their head at either side of the bath they wish – so it really is up to the individual as to which of the designs they prefer.

The bath also comes in space saving options as well, perfect for people who have a small bathroom which they are planning to renovate, such as a guestroom or small ensuite bathroom.

Why Go For Straight Baths?

There are a number of reasons as to why people tend to opt for this form of bath when it comes to a new bathroom suite, not least the fact that the straight bath is a great way of saving space as it can easily slot into any bathroom.

Always In Style

The other great thing about this style of bath is it will never go out of fashion, other baths such as roll top bath and free standing baths might offer something a little different design wise, but when it comes to style and practicality as well, then straight baths are hard to beat.

More Space Means More Chance To Be Creative

With a straight bath then, you give yourself an opportunity to utilise what space you do have in a more practical way.

You can go for further practical uses and have a wall mounted shower unit without compromising on space, or maybe look at fitting more bathroom furniture such as cabinets and other fittings in instead.

Straight bathtubs are a great option for a wide variety of people, regardless of bathroom size, so if you are looking out for bathroom suite designs and ideas, it is well worth considering the wide range of this type of tub that are available for you to choose from.

Louisa Jenkins is an interior design expect who specialises in bathrooms. She offers advice to people looking to use items such as a straight bath to bring out the best in their bathroom suite.

Let the renovations begin – Again

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It looks like we’re starting to finish our renovations again. Last year we began finishing our renovation work .. the renovations that we’d started several years ago in our living room, dining room and well .. all over the house. Unfortunately several things happened and we ended up taking a long long break from completing the job and our house didn’t look so great for quite a while, but now we’re back on the job.

Yesterday my husband finished fixing an area of our hardwood floor at the end of the stairs that had needed repair for quite a while. Did you know that old hardwood floors had tar paper underneath them? We didn’t either until we replaced part of the floor and found that it seemed lower and saggier in that area than it didn’t in the rest of the room and that’s when we realized the paper that he’d pulled out when he took out the old floor boards had been important and started researching how they used to put in flooring in the 1920’s. The floor is in good shape now, but sometime in the not too distant future I think I’ll be putting in a new floor.

Chris has two more days off work this week so I expect that we’ll be doing a lot more reno work. I know we need to get some supplies and I think a replacement part – something called malleable iron handle nuts for an old piece of equipment.

Some day we’ll have all of our reno work done and I’ll get to truly enjoy this house.

Taking the ‘Pane’ Out of Styling Up Odd-Shaped Windows With Window Treatments

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Hexagonal windows, arched windows, skylights, windows with sloping top, and bay or corner windows lend a unique architectural detail to a home. However, the same unique details that make them interesting are also what make them challenging to decorate. Since window coverings don’t come in unusual shapes, it can be quite confusing for an average homeowner to know what type of window treatment to use or how high the treatments should be placed.

If you happen to be one of those homeowners whose home is fitted with odd-shaped windows, chances are, you are facing the same problem. Don’t worry, though, there are ways you can deal with odd-shaped windows and successfully dress them up with treatments. Read on to learn how.

Corner windows

If your windows meet at the corner and there is very little space in between, the best solution is to attach a track on the ceiling or the wall a few inches above the window frame. Use a sheer curtain panel as your treatment and tie them back to the outside edges of the windows. If you will set the track on the wall above the frame, make sure to cover it up with a top treatment such as a valance or swag so that it will not detract from the look of the treatment. If ceiling-mounted, however, the track will be camouflaged by the curtains so you don’t have to add a top treatment.

Arched windows and palladian windows

Having a hard time trying to figure out what to do with your arched windows or palladian windows? You can spend a lot of money for custom fixes or simply attach the curtain rods across the square parts of the windows, leaving the arches exposed. Then, use Roman shades, drapery valance, or sheer panels to cover up the remaining portion of the windows. Keeping the arches open ensures that the room will receive regular stream of natural light. However, if you want to decorate the arches as well, you can have a semicircular fabric treatment customized.

Hexagon windows

Hexagon windows are usually used to add an eclectic touch to the space. However, just like other odd-shaped windows, they can be a bit challenging to decorate. The best way to treat hexagon windows is to outfit them with cellular shades or with plantation shutters. Most companies that provide such type of window treatments can customize the pieces to fit your hexagon windows like a glove. Keep in mind, however, that the more custom the blinds are the price gets more expensive. So, if you’re a bit tight on budget, you may choose to leave your hexagon windows untreated since they are already an architectural beauty on their own.

Dormer windows

Although dormer windows function more as structural additions protruding from the roof surface, they are a great source of light and ventilation for the top rooms of the home. To dress up dormer windows, treat them like casement windows. Just mount the curtains outside of the frames or use mini blinds to spiff them up. Another option is to use soft fabric and shirr it onto an oval rod, and attach the beginning of the rod’s slope away from top portion of the windows. Then, shirr the bottom of the treatment in another oval rod and integrate the piece at bottom of the window to make an angled window treatment.

This home improvement advice was penned by Ericka for www.stylerite-blinds.co.uk. Aside from writing helpful posts about home organization, repair, decorating and maintenance, Ericka is also fond of sharing her knowledge about gardening.

How To Install A Mosaic Tile Kitchen Backsplash

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A kitchen backsplash can be the centerpiece for your kitchen. You can take the colors from it and create accents all throughout the kitchen, tying it together with the backsplash. You could also add curtains, tablecloth, centerpiece, and even floor tiles that coordinate or even match exactly with the tile. In addition to being a fun element of design, a backsplash is a way to protect the walls from being stained when you are making a mess in the kitchen. Most mosaic tiles are easy to clean up, which is why they are a good option for a backsplash in the kitchen. If you have decided on a mosaic tile backsplash, the following steps will walk you through the installation process.

  1. Purchase the tile sheets, adhesive, grout, sealer, and other miscellaneous supplies that you will need to install the mosaic. You may want to ask someone at the tile store what they would recommend for you to more easily install the tile.
  2. Read the instructions on the label of the tile adhesive. You will probably need to mix it with water to get it to the right consistency. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, get it mixed up so that it is ready for application.
  3. Apply the adhesive to the backsplash area. Wipe it onto the wall with the smooth side of a trowel. Run the v-notch side of the trowel back along each application of adhesive so that it creates valleys in the adhesive.
  4. Attach the tile sheets to the adhesive. You may need to cut some of the mosaic sheets so that they will fit correctly. If you are using the mosaics to create a specific design, be sure that you have thought it out ahead of time and will be applying them in the correct order and the correct position. The plastic film on the tile sheets should face out.
  5. Wait for the adhesive to dry completely and allow the tiles to set. You will probably want to wait at least one day to be sure they are nice and secure. When you are certain they are secure, you can remove the plastic film.
  6. Follow the instructions on the grout to mix it and apply it to the tiles. Using some pressure will help to ensure that every space gets filled properly. Remove excess grout on the tiles with a grout float.
  7. With a damp grout sponge, wipe each of the tiles to be sure they are clean of excess grout. After the grout has set for a day or two, you could polish the tiles a second time.
  8. Put grout sealer on the entire area and wipe off any drips with the grout sponge.

After you have waited the proper amount of time for the sealer to dry, your kitchen will be in business and ready for you to have some fun. Because you sealed the tiles, you wont’t need to worry about splashing something on the backsplash. That is what it is there for, and you can simply wipe the mosaic tile with a wet rag.

Attached Images:
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Dorian Travers is a freelance blogger and copwriter. He can be reached at travers808@gmail.com.

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