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We have recently moved into our new home and the front windows of our house are overlooked. I don't want to use net curtains (or voiles) and if I use blinds I'll have to keep them closed which will block the light. Can you suggest anything?There are a couple of different ideas that may work. Bottom up blinds or 50/50 blinds, both available from eclectics are available in many different fabrics and could provide the privacy you need without blocking out all the daylight. The bottom up blinds are essentially a roller blind with the cassette heading fitted onto the windowsill – the 50/50 blind is a more traditional arrangement – it's fitted at the top of the window – with an opaque fabric panel on the bottom and a mesh panel at the top (or third – whatever % you want) – all made to measure. Another option to consider is window film. More commonly used in commercial environments – we have used this to great success in some recent projects and it looks great. Easy to fit and a very contemporary solution, it is available in lots of different designs – have a look at the window film company website for more details…
HELP – We're refurbishing our bathroom on a fairly tight budget and don't know what to put on the floor. We definitely don't want carpet or ceramic tiles and I'm not keen on the idea of lino – are there any other funky and practical alternatives?
Yes – Lots. How about rubber? Extremely practical for bathrooms – it comes in a huge selection of colours and you can buy it as individual tiles or in sheet form, check out the rubber flooring company for more info. The other thing to consider is cork - elastic, anti-static, sound absorbing, insulating, and anti-allergenic cork is not just available in a dull brown tile (some of us may remember from our childhood!). It's fast becoming a popular flooring product – eco friendly and sustainable – it looks and feels great – check out wincanders for more information…
Fixing wall paper does seem like a long term commitment and the thought of stripping it all off again in a few years time is not a pleasant one! However there are alternatives. Stencilled walls could work very well - especially as it's a new home - so one presumes the walls are in a good state of repair. The best place we know to shop for stencils is the stencil-library. They have 3500 different stencils to choose from with range in style from Art Nouveau right through to their new chinoiserie collection. They can also provide you with all the paints, pigments, applicators and other accessories you might need. Prices range from around £6.95 for some of the smaller stencils, through to £65 for the larger more complicated stencils. Another option to consider is fabric walls. These look particularly good in bedrooms and are actually quite simple to do. You can choose to simply 'drape' the fabric fixing it onto a baton at the top and bottom of the walls, you may also want to consider stretching fabric over frames and fitting them directly onto the walls - or if you're feeling a little more adventurous - fit slightly padded, upholstered panels - these look especially sumptuous and can double as a headboard too!
Try earthbornpaints.co.uk. EarthBorn Paints are the only UK paint brand to be awarded the prestigious Ecolabel Flower symbol. This accreditation is awarded to paints, varnishes, flooring products and oils and waxes that meet the strict environmental and performance criteria of the EU ecolabelling scheme. EarthBorn has a range of natural paints, varnishes and flooring products designed to provide a healthier and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paints and varnishes. Whether you are looking for VOC free paint, organic paint and varnish, water based paint, water based varnish or high performance paints and varnishes then earthBorn Paints should have a product to suit.