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We are all familiar with the saying, “the grass is greener on the other side” – well we think you should forget about the other side, because with artificial turf, the grass is just always greener. 

Brr! It’s a bit cold in here!  As we turn on our central heating for the first time in months, we start to think about how much artificial grass we can shift.  And trust us when we tell you that we can shift a ton with this sodden weather!

No watering.  No nagging the other half to mow the lawn.  No rummaging through the garden shed for those cutters.  And certainly no hassle!  Synthetic lawns are not only great for a number of different sports including football, rugby, hockey and tennis, but they create stunning, maintenance-free landscapes.  Is this the alternative for the future?

We all love the smell of freshly cut grass, but we hate the hassle of weeding and fertilising when nasty brown batches appear on our beautiful lawns.  With artificial turf, the grass really is always greener.

Bad Weather? Choose Artificial Turf

Poor weather and heavy usage means that natural grass gets worn and torn very easily.  For extremely foot-heavy sports such as football and rugby, natural grass can be very time-consuming and costly to maintain. For the best artificial turf around, www.tigerturflandscape.co.uk is a good site to visit.

If you’ve been an avid viewer or post dating personals yourself, you would notice that more and more people are posting their photographs along with their personal profiles.

Not only does this give viewers a better idea of the package that is YOU but it also increases your chances of getting noticed—and responses, which is what you want, isn’t it?

For those who don’t place their photo, the usual reason given is either they are very “private” people and wouldn’t want just anybody to gain access to their “personal” life. This actually begs the question “why on earth did they join the service in the first place?”. Obviously, when you place a personal ad, a dating personal especially, you wouldn’t mind people getting to know you. Then there is this notion that if you aren’t particularly handsome or beautiful, like say Brad Pitt or Julia Roberts, then you are better unseen by the world. Rubbish really as most people aren’t as shallow as to merely judge a person based on looks alone. And there is the age old excuse that some friend or relative might spot you on the service and you wouldn’t hear the end of it. Well, you can always come back at them and ask them what they were doing using the service anyway.

For those who are debating whether to post a photo or not, here are some good reason why you should let the world see that face of yours:

1. People want to see the face behind the name. Studies have shown that profiles without photos are more likely to get passed over than those with at least one good and clear photo attached to them.
2. Profiles without photos, though at times quite intriguing as to why there isn’t any photo tend to drive people away. It’s not just the lack of a face but the whole reason behind it. While the more adventurous may go ahead and check the person out and see if he or she would turn out ugly or handsome, the lack of a photo makes people think twice.
3. Whether people admit or not, photos are what grabs their attention the most. While a good headline may attract many, it is still the photo that is seen first—especially on those sites that have the option for “photo only” profiles or those that have a quick search function with around a dozen or so “thumbnails” on the page containing the photo and usually, the headline

So if you are really taking those personal ads seriously in the to find a date or the love of your life, its high time to look your best and say “cheese”! http://www.cosmopolitan.com/ has plenty of dating advice to consider.

If you have yet to book your wedding photographer in Sussex to photograph your special day you may be worrying about exactly what is involved. Our comprehensive website should provide you with all the answers to any questions you may have. In the meantime why not browse through some of our suggested wedding photos you may like to consider, having taken.

Wedding Photography

Surveys suggest that the new millennium has changed the way that people consider their wedding photography. Gone are the days of formal looking photographs with the subjects looking tense and ill at ease. The average bride and groom now want their special day to be told as a story from start to finish. One which they can re-live with their children in years to come. They no longer just want the standard photos of the wedding party in front of the church and the happy couple cutting the cake. They want a discrete wedding photographer who can wander amongst the guests taking natural photos. But what kind of formal photos should you have taken, if any at all?

The Wedding Photographs

Traditional photographs are typically taken of the following:

• The bride’s arrival
• In the church – this will need to be checked beforehand
• Outside the church
• The gardens of the reception
• A local beauty spot
• Speeches
• Cake-cutting
• Gift-giving
• Bouquet throwing
• The happy couple leaving the reception

Wedding Photographer’s Advice

The main two things to remember about your wedding photographs is that, within reason, you can have any type, style or quantity of photographs you want and that the wedding photographer more than likely knows the venue and will be able to offer excellent advice on which photographs you should go for. You can then have pictures printed as you like. You can print photos to canvas, in books and albums.

When you can get a whole kitchen from a high street furniture store, why choose bespoke?

If you are thinking of replacing your kitchen, you will probably feel a little overwhelmed with all the options available to you. Companies offering to change your cabinet doors mingle with established kitchen companies selling you a fully-fitted option for thousands of pounds. In the long run, you need to think about what you want to achieve with your new kitchen, and choose the option that works best for your circumstances.

Bespoke Kitchen Furniture

When companies offer bespoke furniture for kitchens, you need to be very sure about what they’re offering. For some companies “bespoke” means that you get to choose the colour of the doors, or that you can choose different elements from a pre-designed range. This means that you get a certain amount of choice, but your kitchen is still restrained by the cabinets, drawers and styles that the company has to offer.

A truly bespoke kitchen will be made from scratch to your exact specifications. You can choose everything, from the wood to the handles, and the combination of units and accessories is entirely up to you. Choosing this type of kitchen can be the only way to get exactly what you want, particularly if you live in an older house, or one where there are difficult areas to fit standard units into.

For a bespoke kitchen to work well, it should be handled by the same company from start to finish. This not only means that you have a single communications link throughout the project, but it also means that there is no opportunity for errors to occur when measurements or specifications move from the sales person to the workshop, or from the workshop to the fitters. Search at Better Kitchens for the best kitchens around.

Once your oak worktops are in place, make the most of their qualities by looking after them properly.

There’s nothing quite like the pristine look of your brand new kitchen. Whether you’ve installed it yourself or used the professionals to give you that quality finish, it’s a pleasure to take in your new units, flooring and oak worktops. That’s when you promise yourself that it will always look like this. For that to happen, however, you need to know how to take good care of every element in your kitchen and that includes your oak worktops.

Looking After Oak

Worktops take a lot of abuse during the course of the day. Hot pans, sharp knives and sticky substances are just some of the reasons why you choose a tough surface in your kitchen. Following some simple care instructions will help you to keep oak worktops in the best possible condition:

• Check oiling – oak worktops are thoroughly oiled to keep them looking fantastic and also to provide a degree of water protection. The layers of oil help to resist the penetration of water, but do not make the worktop waterproof. For that reason, worktops will need to be re-oiled every so often. This is not an onerous task and it will help to bring out the beauty of the wood as well as giving additional protection.

• Reduce water contact – prolonged contact with water or liquids such as the bottom of wet pans, or spillages can result in staining. It’s important that you wipe up any spills as quickly as possible and do not leave standing water on your oak worktops at any time. By thoroughly drying pans, using stands and trivets and keeping your worktops as free from standing objects as possible, you can reduce the risks of water damage.

• Avoid direct use – it’s tempting to think that because you have nice oak worktops, you don’t need to use a chopping board. In fact, it’s really important that you always use a dedicated chopping or preparing surface to avoid scratches and stains to your worktop. Sharp knives can do a lot of damage and food matter can get stuck in the grain of the wood. Always err on the side of caution.

• Consider heating – wood reacts to changes in temperature, expanding and contracting in hot and cold conditions. Don’t subject your wood to sudden temperature changes, from hot pans directly on the surface to central heating. Always introduce gradual changes so that your oak worktops can adapt.
• http://www.ehow.com/stain-oak-cabinets/

If you’ve just invested in new pine furniture, check out our top tips for making the most of your rooms.

When it comes to beautiful interior design, it isn’t just about what you put in your room it’s where you put it. Sure you need great colours and excellent flooring like polyflor camaro, but there is more to interior design. You may be a proud owner of a new set of beautiful pine furniture to transform your bedroom from mismatched dive to stylish boudoir, but good interior design is also about making the most from the space you have. It’s natural to want to ‘nest’ your home and make it a peaceful, relaxing and beautiful place to live and relax in. But not everybody has a good eye for interior design.

Arranging Pine Furniture

Our homes are where we need to feel the most comfortable in the world – physically and emotionally. A healthy home is all about having the right furniture and atmosphere. Good bedroom pine furniture will for example help you organise your day to day life. A big pine wardrobe means you can sort out and look after your clothes well. Pine furniture such as bedside tables allow you to relax in bed, providing a substantial prop for your lamp, book and mug of tea. Good pine furniture should be functional and stylish, helping you create an organised home environment. Having substantial pine furniture such as a large dining table and chairs will help families sit around the dining table and take quality time over mealtimes. The right functional pine furniture will help you create the foundation for a strong family home.

Maximising Space and Light

Good interior design, like good pine furniture, is a way to make a house a home. Space, light and order are crucial ingredients to creating a comfortable home. Getting interior design right will ensure your home is a welcoming place for you and your guests. Where you place your pine furniture will create the skeleton of the room – which can either enhance or deaden a space. It’s important not to block natural light. If you have a dark home, investing in pine furniture and glass tables will lift the rooms as pine is a naturally fair and light wood. Space light and order are the way towards transforming your home. Creating focal feature points is another way of injecting energy into a house – simply choosing a striking colour of tiles above your cooker, or investing in a large mirror for your lounge can change the dynamic of your living space.

It is after loft conversions have been completed that the fun can really begin. No matter the purpose of a loft conversion, whether it be a playroom, home cinema or just additional living space, it is important to think of how best to decorate your loft conversion.

There are so many compelling reasons to consider loft conversions, not least the potential that such a conversion has to increase the value of your home if carried out to a high specification. Lofts are criminally underused in many homes and when you see just how spectacular most loft conversions are, it is surprising just how many people are prepared to allow their lofts to remain as unused space. Of course, the converting of a loft is a highly specialised job and will require the expertise of loft conversion professionals to really maximise the space that you have but, it is fair to say, the options are nigh-on limitless when it comes to capitalising on loft space.

Capturing the Right Look for you

Interior design is clearly a subjective thing and each homeowner will have their own ideas on how best to showcase their finished loft conversion. When choosing how to decorate a loft conversion, it is imperative to consider the type of property that you have because modern homes and Victorian homes, for example, will call for different finishes and decorative techniques. It is easy to create an elegant and free-flowing space with a well crafted loft conversion and thinking about how you are going to decorate the finished space really does add to the anticipation and enjoyment of undertaking a project. A few examples of the most commonly opted for uses when it comes to loft conversions include:

• Children’s Playroom – It makes sense to use loft conversions as children’s playrooms because it will prevent the myriad of toys that children accumulate from taking over the house and give your children a dedicated space to enjoy their play. When it comes to decorating children’s playrooms, you will most likely want to use bright, playful colours and furniture that will appeal to your children without jeopardising the style and comfort of the room itself.
• Home Cinema – Home cinema design is an area where you can really allow your interior design imagination to run wild and loft conversions lend themselves perfectly to home cinema installations for all manner of reason. Creating a luxurious style and finish is of paramount importance when it comes to decorating a home cinema and features like top of the range leather seating, striking artwork and carefully chosen lighting look great in a home cinema style loft conversion.
• Living Space – Many homeowners will undertake loft conversions to simply increase the amount of living space that they have and is certainly the case that lofts can offer a lot of additional space, not to mention value, to a property. Using loft conversions as another living room or relaxation area is a popular choice and it is important to think about how you’re going to decorate such a space after the conversion has been completed. You should opt for furniture which is striking without compromising on functionality and it is always prudent to measure any furniture that you intend to place in a loft conversion to ensure there are no issues with moving the furniture into the loft space.

http://www.housetohome.co.uk/articles/How_to_plan_your_loft_conversion_299954.html

Shabby Chic is a style of design that celebrates the antique, distressed look for a bohemian, classic and unique appeal.

Age adds character. Whether it’s a chest of drawers or an ornate mirror, the shabby chic effect helps turn a house into a home. It’s no wonder the shabby chic look is so appealing; we are in an age where mass consumerism has resulted in mass interior design, with flat-pack furniture and bland storage solutions. Shabby chic furniture and shabby chic accessories are a way of injecting a room with much-needed instant charm, and it is popular for interior design London and beyond.

Shabby Chic Home Accessories

Shabby chic furniture is often painted in layers with purposefully worn spots to create an antique effect. French linens and faded pastels are popular colour themes, alongside ornate white. Vintage-style furniture painted in soft pastel or white, with shabby chic accessories in mint greens or soft aqua all work to create the shabby chic style. There is a wide range of shabby chic accessories that add detail and charm. Pillowcases and bedspreads in chenille or linen, chandeliers and vintage mirrors all help create a feminine style that taps into its romantic vein. Shabby chic furniture and shabby chic accessories are about creating a warm, comfortable but stylish space.

The History of Shabby Chic

Shabby chic interior design is thought to of originated in the UK inspired by the history, elaborateness and rich classical style seen in its large country houses. Many such interiors boasted beautiful, but faded, furniture, creating an instant sense of elegance and style. The term shabby chic embraces a certain bohemian ethos and artisan sensibility. Shabby chic interior design since took inspiration from other nationalities, such as the French Château design with its ornate dressing tables and elaborate mirrors.

Shabby Chic Furniture for Vintage Style

Although homes perhaps expressed a shabby chic aesthetic before the eighties, the term shabby chic as a conscious interior design label emerged in the 1980s when the style was explored in a feature in the magazine, The World of Interiors. Shabby chic is essentially about style and class, and the term has crossed over from the world of interior design into that of fashion. People wearing classic, stylish clothes that are passed down or picked up from charity shops are labelled ‘shabby chic’.

Shabby chic furniture and shabby chic accessories can be genuine antiques but the style often uses new furniture that’s designed to imitate an antique. Distressing is a popular method of turning a piece of furniture or accessory into something that has an aged appearance, creating a look of wear and tear. Beautiful shabby chic furniture then will capture that desirable rustic, unique, vintage look.

Enjoying your hot tub is something you can do all year round, but remember to establish a regular maintenance regime, using the correct cleaners and sanitisers.

Hot tubs are an enjoyable luxury to have. Many hours of relaxation can be spent inside one. Hot tub chemicals are needed to sustain the overall health of one. Sometimes it may be a little overwhelming when learning how to take care of one.

It is a comfort to know that you don’t need a chemistry degree when learning the process of how to take good care of one. Here are some hints and tips to help with maintenance and overall health of your hot tub.

The most important thing is to keep the water fresh and clean by sanitising the water regularly. This is done to kill bacteria that can grow in warm water. Nobody wants to sit in old dirty water. There are several different types of sanitisers that can be used.

Chlorine is a popular sanitiser and is sold in tablet form or granules. Both are specifically meant for hot tub use but check to see which is best for your hot tub.

Bromine is a sanitiser that has been chosen over chlorine for a couple different reasons. First off all, it does not smell as strongly as chlorine and it also does not “gas off” in temperatures over 98 degrees. Bromine can be found in tablet form, nuggets or granules and is often distributed through a cartridge system or a floating feeder.

Ozone is another chemical that can be used. This is not a sanitiser, but it reduces the work that a sanitiser must do. Because of this less sanitiser is needed. In order to use ozone your tub must have an “ozonator” equipped in it. Ozone is compatible with most sanitisers.

It is very important to test the hot tub levels before adding any sanitizing agent. This can be done by using test strips, which are convenient and easy to use.

The water needs to be changed every 60 to 90 days depending on how often it is used. Hot tub chemicals cannot keep the water safe and healthy if the water is never changed.

The hot tub will not maintain itself. It is up to the user to take good care of it. As stated previously it is not hard to practice good maintenance. Many more quality hours of fun and relaxation can be enjoyed if it is well taken care of and properly maintained.

http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/garden/hot_tub_maintenance.htm

Time to relax, on your own or with family and friends is a hard won commodity these days, so make sure you make the most of it with a luxury Swim Spa or hot tub.

How would you like to extend your summer fun and be able to play or swim laps in your own pool or luxuriate in the relaxing warmth of your own heated spa? Why not both? With a swim spa, you can enjoy a nice warm dip or exercise to your heart’s content because it combines the two! The hot tub portion is pretty much just like any other typical hot tub spa.

The swimming part of a swim spa is what makes it uniquely different than a hot tub alone, however. Internal turbines power the part in which you can swim; these generate a current that you swim against – as you would swim against a tide in the ocean – giving you optimal exercise every time you go for a swim.

. Swimming pools are a great option, but may be too large for the area in your lawn. You may enjoy a peaceful evening in a hot tub, but fear you may not use it enough to justify the expense. A swim spa can combine all the wonderful, healthful properties of swimming that a lake, ocean, or pool can as well as those of a spa in which you can relieve yourself of the stresses of your day.

Swim spas are covered by a thick insulated cover and are lined with an insulation of polyurethane, therefore the cost of running the unit is much less than that of a regular pool and, of course, even lower than the cost of operating both a swimming  pool and a hot tub.

You can place your swim spa at ground level on a concrete surface as you will a normal spa hot tub, but you can also place the units fully or partially in ground. Swim spas are also available with LED mood lighting that is adjustable; a digital panel will also allow you to control the jet speeds.

Just think – any time you like, in the privacy and comfort of your own home, without the expense of a large heated pool, you can enjoy the health benefits of swimming and the benefits of soaking in hot, bubbly water all year long. A Lazy Spa & Hot Tub Sale could furnish you with the perfect relaxing items for a luxurious bathroom or hot tub at home.