Picket Fence Perfection It is incredible to live in a part of the world where you can have a front porch that’s open for neighbors and passers-by to see and enjoy; it’s something worth celebrating by making a bit of an effort at dressing your porch really beautifully – and not just at Halloween or over the festive season. Rebekah Lowin writes for Country Living that there’s plenty you can do, even with a relatively small space – but to remember that your porch, or patio, “are the first things your guests are likely to see when they arrive.” That’s why dressing them up a bit in a fun, quaint, quirky, or elegant way to match or enhance your home cannot go amiss. Lowin emphasizes that it’s all about elevating your home’s curb appeal, not making your wallet screech and groan. It’s about creating an outside space that makes guests feel at home, if not a bit impressed; creating a quiet nook for your morning coffee or evening glass of wine; and even where the kids can zone out a bit, sans screentime, while they swing back and forth on a cozy porch swing. Decor decisions, decisions Brown rattan furniture can combine seamlessly with a nature-inspired palette of greens and blues for your upholstery and cushion covers, while a stone path adds a touch of interest to a patio that’s elevated a bit from the road. Wreaths add cheer all year long, not just at Christmas, and you can paint the porch ceiling with a shade to match the furniture below. Prefer a rocking chair to a swing? This type of furniture is highly weather-resistant, plus you can add the pillows you find most comfortable rather than going to the expense of having it covered. Whites and neutrals provide a classy backdrop for a range of flowerpots – possibly hosting a fine display of red and pink hydrangeas, as just one example of a plant that needs little attention. The distressed look on wooden chairs and tables is eye-catching, whether you created it yourself by following a specific painting technique or it’s a true vintage item. Then, if you have wooden beams overhead, consider stringing a selection of lights above, which will provide more gentle illumination than a harsh lamp, for example. And consider a trip to the nursery and a small investment in a pretty climbing plant, such as a rose, that will make a doorway or arch stand out once it’s grown a little. Some people love the twee (read: dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint). If that’s you – and there’s no harm in displaying your taste for all to see – two or three hanging baskets may be the missing touch that draws upward attention. Gardening lovers may display their metallic trowels and watering cans, which will glisten in the sunshine, and those who barbecue most weekends could put in an undercover fire pit or gas griller. A rustic, farmhouse look can be created inexpensively with a range of repurposed materials, such as metal sliding and iron trim, or a monochromatic theme can be created with a black – or white – church pew layered with (wait for it) black and white cushions for when you need to take the weight off after arriving home from an extended shopping trip or exercise session. Your porch-dressing shopping list US television producer turned interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn writes for HGTV that if you’re feeling a bit lost as to where to begin, there are ideally 10 items you need to assemble for your front porch to turn it into “the welcoming retreat it’s destined to be.” These items range from an outdoor rug, where you can “kick off your shoes and recharge”; a place to “sit comfortably,” that can be dressed up with a spread of cushions; lighting that is warm, and even solar-powered, to add an eco-friendly touch; a practically placed and sturdy table, at about arms-length when you are seated, from which to serve that delicious homemade lemonade; weatherproof art pieces to your taste, such as a sculpture or wall-hanging, that give your outdoor area a personal flavor; as much greenery as possible, such as potted plants “in varying heights and textures”; pet-friendly pieces, like a water bowl or toy, to keep your four-legged kids happy; a kid-friendly spot, such as a swing or mat, where the young members of the family can mess and play without restraint; and the odd versatile item, such as a small stool, which can double as “extra seating or an accent table” when required. Flynn is greatly respected in the design industry and tends to act as the prop stylist for his own projects, so it’s worth taking note of at least some of the advice above and then scrolling through numerous home, garden and decor glossies until you set your peepers on a look for your home that truly resonates with you. Where to find those statement pieces Ceramic flower pots and distressed-wooden furniture, garden seats, and candle holders… You’ll find all of these and more at your local garden center. An upmarket décor shop will hold the doormats, candles, rugs, and cushions. But, unfortunately, neither of these options are likely to prove that affordable, and your next-door neighbor may, unfortunately, pick up the very same item if it’s been mass-produced. So, if you’re on a mission to pick up something just that little bit more unique, scheduling a browse around a decor market or selection of antique shops may prove just the ticket. There’s a clear overlap between how you dress and how you do up your home, with the Belgian fashion designer (who is best known for her wrap dress), Diane von Fürstenberg, famously commenting: “Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it.”

Introduction Toilets truly are the most humble part of the modern home, and when it comes to decor toilets are often neglected in favor of more ostentatious dwellings. Many of us think about decorating the toilets we own – however, we get hit by concerns that it will be a tedious, deeply annoying, and intrusive affair. Some end up doing surface-level alterations just so we can justify our inaction. While this process might look almost unmanageable in its complexity, there are distinct advantages that make redecoration ultimately useful in the long run. We recommend taking a look at victoria Plum for some inspiration. Still unsure about whether to jazz up your bathroom? Read on!  1. Dripping Waterworks and Pipes Find your waterworks to be out of order, or even dripping water? It could be because of shoddy work done by manual workers, the design not fitting the plans of the makers or even limited protection against water for older versions. Because of the importance of waterworks to many of the most vital functions of the bathroom, this may cause even bigger problems for those using the lavatory – who haven’t had their day ruined by a non-functional tap or a leaky faucet? While many will be tempted to settle with mere maintenance work, this is a tedious endeavor that may result in ill-fitting bathroom floor decor, as well as curtains that are incompatible with your repaired faucet.  Redecoration is a solution to your woes, creating a seamless environment for your maintenance work that can blend with the rest of your toilet. This can include redesigning the toilet or even installing modern versions of toilets like those from Japan, which can be activated upon voice command. 2. The Problems are More than Skin Deep One of the disadvantages of skin-deep maintenance is that it must be repeated sooner or later – the economic logic of simply slapping a band-aid on it only works for a while. Ultimately, the more economical and less tedious option is to do a root-and-branch rework of your porcelain throne, and this could take weeks and a lot of time. However, we believe the benefits ultimately justify the effort – because nothing is worse than a cheap fix that doesn’t do its job.  The options on offer for this kind of maintenance, particularly for irritating parts of your toilet like pipes and water equipment, can sometimes be too good to be true: they promise to fix equipment without changing the floor surfaces around them, and without the need to rebuild the waterproofing. Ultimately, these choices are a trap more than a benefit, as they can be unreliable and their solutions will usually end up in more broken equipment and money and time wasted. The only lasting solution that avoids constant financial drain is the use of thorough and well-planned redecorations planned by experts. 3. Toxic Chemicals Are In Your Walls Old homes often suffer from a dual problem: not only is their equipment failing, but the very substance which their homes are made of may also be toxic for outsiders. Lethal substances will force contractors to stop work on renovations before it continues, and will certainly sidetrack your plans for a redecorated toilet if they are found. Hence, owners should conduct appropriate measures to ensure that toxic chemicals are absent before they start. In this way, you can remove the threat and create the clean and aesthetic toilet you’ve always dreamed of!  4. Better and More Efficient Arrangements for Bathrooms When it comes to refitting your toilet, there is 1 thing separating the good and the great – efficiency. While acceptable refits usually end with an aesthetic improvement, truly impressive refits can revamp the whole atmosphere and even the “feel” of the room, making it easier to use, more efficient at providing services, and even more spacious. This revamping process offers the opportunity to truly rethink how your toilet works – from overall architecture to the positions of individual installations, the ambiance, and utility of your bathroom can be transformed as well. It might be that once you’re done, your toilet will take pride in place amongst the rooms of your house! 5. Give Your Toilet A Personal Feel Sometimes the best way to showcase who you are – your flair, your quirky art choices, even your love of weirdly shaped mirrors – can be through the choices you make when redesigning your home. The role of the humble toilet should not be ignored in this regard. Despite popular belief, the colors and design of your toilet can create a unique and distinctive room that shows the best of you. Every element of traditional toilet design is up for grabs: the color of your porcelain throne, the texture of your tiles and your panes, even the material accent of the fittings – with a multitude of options, the sky is the limit and your creativity the starting point for endless adventure. 6. Porcelain Worth A Million Bucks If a man’s home is his castle, the toilet is surely a key banquet hall – and every banquet hall becomes more expensive and awe-inspiring the more you add to it. For those seeking to sell these castles, however, they also make your package more attractive. If done well and in good taste, the installations of your toilet can ultimately make or break a home sale and bring monetary rewards.  7. Keeping Your Toilet Leak-Free Waterworks and pipes that are more than 20 years old have the unhappy propensity to develop leaks and create water spillage. This is more than just a nuisance, however: water corrodes over the long term and your home is likely to suffer the consequences of a leaky pipe long after the responsible party has been replaced. It is therefore imperative that these leaks are identified and their parts replaced as soon as they are found. This costly and tiring endeavor is likely to involve more than one portion of your toilet – to fully