Development articles

quick links

home page

specification manual
order planning guide
order specification manual
subscribe to newsletter
contact us
disclaimer

go to development index



Find out more about our sister guide - The Specification Manual to support your Building Regulations application.






<< Home Improvement Articles >>


Make Your House A Home


By Lata Tokhi

When thinking about polished floors, cushions in place, an exquisite flower arrangement, crisp and folded napkins on the table, take time to think about comfort, family time and kids activities also when decorating or designing your house. A lively place full of warmth and chatter is what makes a 'House' a 'Home'. There are times when we overlook some important details to give that 'Designer Touch' to our houses. Household accidents, unhealthy personal conditions and lack of family activities are the result.

To avoid such a situation, take care to make your house a comfortable and healthy place to live in. Look around you and observe carefully if any difficulty and threats are being posed due to faulty placement and wrong choice of objects. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Rubber Mats: Though not much decorative, rubber mats are the best things to have outside your bathroom or near the kitchen sink. They will help avoid slipping and add safety to your home. Never use any kind of rugs at the top or bottom of stairs.

2. Work Delegation Diary: Keep a diary in a conspicuous place and write down in it, the daily chores of all members. Make sure everyone takes turn feeding the pet, mowing the lawn, dusting the furniture and setting the dinner table.

3. Sitting Space: Keep some extra, light-weight chairs or stools that can be carried to any place to make immediate sitting space. Garden sitting space, preferably under a tree or any other shade, is a lovely idea for spending family time. Get cane chairs or a bench placed in your garden. Chairs and a table in the porch is another great idea.

4. Door Knobs: Round door knobs give your room a nice appeal, but are down on the Comfort-level. Children and Elders suffering with Arthritis etc. find if difficult to grip them. They are also difficult to grasp with wet hands. They can be replaced with Lever Handles both on the inside as well as the outside for ease and comfort.

5. Showers: Though showers are top on Elegance list and Hand Showers are blamed for 'spoiling the look' with their long hose, there cannot be anything better than an adjustable hand shower with a hose for bathing big dogs and kids.

6. Lighting: Make sure that all your rooms have ample light. Reserve subtle lighting and other lighting effects for special occasions and parties. Good, clear light helps maintain everyone's health care easier and is especially good for school-going children and elderly people.

7. Artifacts: The next time you see your little kid hardly daring to breath when passing by your favorite antique lamp for the fear of breaking it, you know its the time for a revamp. Place glass objects and other breakable treasures in safer areas so your family members can move freely without worrying about spoiling your decor.

8. Comfort Level: At all times, keep in mind that your home needs to be comfortable and not rigid. Things get monotonous when they are 'too perfect'. A cozy nook by the window with a small coffee table, extra pillows thrown in for a comfortable tête-à-tête, a sparkling fireplace with a warm rug sprawled across are some examples.

9. Family Space: A 'Home' is all about a family! Include in your design/decor, special 'Family' places like a sufficiently large dinner table, a card table for indoor games etc. Like I said above in 'Sitting space', a mini dining table or wicker table-chair set in your garden or under a tree in the backyard is a lovely idea. If you have a spare room for your crafts, make a separate shelf for Family crafts like Scrapbooking. A Wall Gallery of photos is a great way to bind family members - past and present.

You know what works best for your family. So develop this list further according on the needs of your family and watch your pretty house take the shape of a 'Pretty Home'.

Lata Tokhi is the Founder and Editor of Dot Com Women - a popular women's website, Celebrating Christmas - a resource for celebrating Christmas in style and I Love to Craft - a website full of free craft projects and ideas. Visit her websites for lots of homemaking and business ideas, free downloads, free Ezines and message boards for women to network and share.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/


Return to main Planning guide

Our 'Maximum Build Planning Guide' explains further the issues involved when converting existing structures  & what areas can be exploited for developing land, buildings or a site for residential use.

 
• To purchase our Maximum Build Planning Guide simply click on one of the links below....

To order by credit card via PayPal - click here.

To order by post - click here - this is a form that you can print off, fill in & send to us with your cheque.
We will send you our guide via email or a CD rom in the post shortly after.
To visit our main web site - click here 
 

About the Author
MSM is a Practicing Planning Agent & building design team offering Architectural Services to their clients specialising in residential development.  The views & opinions expressed here are personal ones based on relevant life experiences.  These views & opinions are not intended to be actioned or copied by others.


New simple to understand Planning Permission Guide...

"Puts dozens of strategies & risk assessments procedures that you should be completing BEFORE you present a scheme for formal Planning Permission in the UK."

(Order your 'ebook' today & find out how the 'Professional Planning Consultant' prepares a scheme for residential development PRIOR to formally submitting  an extension scheme or full site redevelopment for Planning Permission!)

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY NOW


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER


Copyright © 2005 Planning-Approval.co.uk All rights reserved.
Contact us: Email -
Address: MSM, PO Box 1087, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 3UA.