Home and Garden

4 Tips for Renovating a Bathroom on a Budget

~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 8 Comments

If you are wondering if you can renovate and improve your bathroom’s functionality and appearance with a tight budget, then the answer to your question is definitely a big YES!

The budget is not the first priority when starting a project. The very first thing you need to establish is your intent and willingness to push through the project. As long as you are determined and willing, then you can always find ways to work around your small budget and start the project.

Now, if you are looking for tips to make your bathroom better, then below are 4 ways to improve your bathroom on a tight budget.

Prepare the design beforehand

If you have a limited budget, it is always better to create the design for your bathroom beforehand. This way, you will be able to cover the important parts and create a realistic design for your bathroom. You don’t want to end up with an unfinished and unusable bathroom because of budget shortages. Thus, plan ahead and visualize what you want your bathroom to look like. It will save more time and make the process more efficient and faster.

Secure the materials

To save money and not compromise on the quality of the materials you will be using for your renovation. We strongly recommend that you shop and buy all the materials before renovating your bathroom. Try visiting different stores and do your research online before you make your purchases. The more time you spend on shopping, the more options you will find and the more options you have, the more budget friendly your project will become. Plus, you would be able to save a lot of money and time from labour costs once you start renovating your bathroom.

Make smart choices

A bathroom on a budget doesn’t have to mean unstylish… if you shop right you will get what you want at the price you can afford. Vanity tops and other items are very important in bathrooms. There are many all-in-one vanity tops and cabinets today on the market that include shelves, sinks, and cabinets and of course, mirrors all in one package. Buying these types of vanity units will save you more money compared to buying them piece by piece.

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty

I know we were not all born builders or DIY lovers but I am sure there are tasks we can perform ourselves in order to save money. Last time we re-did our bathroom on a budget we did all the work ourselves, which meant no labour cost 🙂 Painting, fixture changing or laying a new floor can seem like a daunting and even impossible task but give it a try… Google it, watch some YouTube tutorials and I am sure you could very well surprise yourself and that you can do what needs to be done!

 

Do you have any budget friendly renovating tips?

Have you complete any projects yourself?

How to Prepare Your House for Winter

~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 9 Comments

Winter is undoubtedly one of the best seasons of the year. During wintertime, we get to enjoy the wonders of snow, the never-ending festivities of Christmas and the New Year and the joyful reunion with family and friends. We change our wardrobe, we light up strangely-flavoured and scented candles, we slave away in the kitchen and we decorate our houses with Christmas tree, lights, ornaments and nativity scenes. The list can go on and it is easy to get carried away by all the excitement. But before any of these could happen, it is very important that you have completed all the preparation that you need for your house.

Here are five things that you must do to prepare your house for winter.

  1. Test your Heating System

Your heating system should be the first thing that you check towards the end of fall. You don’t want to freeze in the middle of the winter waiting for your heating system to work. It is highly recommended that you conduct a test run by turning on the thermostat to heat mode and setting it to the desired temperature. If it’s working, you should be able to hear the furnace turn on immediately as the warm air begins to flow. Turn the thermostat back to its original setting do this exercise at least three times in the morning, afternoon and especially at night.

A great addition to your heating system is a solid humidifier for your home. Not only does it help provide warmth, but it also generates much-needed moisture that is necessary to prevent dryness, itchiness and skin irritation.

  1. Inspect the Air Conditioning

Just because you won’t be needing air condition doesn’t mean that you have to ignore it. Before completely turning off and unplugging the air condition, clean the condensing unit of debris and dust first and then make sure that it is well-covered. The air condition can develop rust and collect dirt over the winter time and so it might not be functional come spring.

  1. Prepare the Wood-Burning Fireplace and Chimney

The fireplace is a great source of warm air in the middle of the winter season. Before winter, prepare the fireplace and inspect the chimney if they are clear of any leaves, bird nests, dust and other debris that might have collected over time. Test how the fire burns using a few logs so you can diagnose any problems that might arise.

  1. Check the Insulation of your House

Every corner of your house should be properly insulated. Cold and warm air should be able to come in and out of your house evenly without leaving any leaks. You can insulate your house by applying an insulating blanket to your hot water tank, sealing exterior outlets with a foam gasket and installing a removable cover for your fireplace and chimney.

  1. Examine the Roof, Doors, and Windows

Do not forget about the parts of your house that are exposed to external elements. Examine the roof and its shingles to make sure that ice dams will not ensue and the melted ice will not leak into the interior of the house. Make sure the doors and windows can be opened and closed properly and will not accumulate ice or water.

 

At this moment, we still have rather lovely weather here with temperatures in the low 20s and days full of sun but only a few weeks back a cold snap brought the first snow of the season to the mountains just down the road… so get ready and stay warm as the saying goes, winter is coming!

How To Make White Bathroom Pop

~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 24 Comments

White bathrooms are one of my favourites, crisp, sleek and clean… When designed with different textures that are complementing each other then they are anything but boring! The perfect canvas to accessorise to your heart’s desire and put your mark on, but how do you make them pop. The easiest way to make a white bathroom pop is to simply add just a splash of colour, simple!

Currently, I am trying to design a final look for our downstairs wet room. At this moment the bathroom tiles are in shades of brown but they will get pained pure white… The tiles themselves are in perfect condition, their size suits the room well and they are laid perfectly, so it would be a shame to replace them… they will simply get painted over.

In addition to tiles, my bathroom consist of a lowered ceiling with LED lighting (they will stay as they are), large frameless mirror (again it will stay), a loo and finally the sink that is set into a base cabinet (this two really do need replacing)… that’s it… It’s a wet room so it is pretty basic. I don’t really want to put any additional furniture into it. The only move I have in trying to make my bathroom pop is a base cabinet as this will be the feature point in the wet room.

I picked some units which I like. They all “speak” to me and I can honestly see myself just randomly picking one and being happy with my choice but they are all different and each unit will define the final feel of my room…

This is my favourite piece and my first choice - True Oak Substructure Ossature. I am not sure why but there is something about it which feels just right. Maybe it’s the fact that it is oak and it will match a lot of other furniture’s we have in the house or maybe because it looks so warm and cosy. I truly don’t know why I love it so much.

It looks like the True Oak collection is no longer for sale at Villeroy and Boch main website but I’ve found this beautiful piece still for sale at a greatly reduced price at Super Bath store.

I am sure with a piece like this I could easily leave the rest of the wet room white and it will still look stunning.

Subway 2.0 Base Cabinet. Totally different design but extremely pleasing to my eye. This will make any bathroom much more stylish and modern looking. I really like its clean lines and defined colour. Again, having a piece like this would allow me to leave everything else white.

My third choice - Aveo New Generation Base Cabinet - is yet again different to my two previous ones. It’s totally white, which will give me white on white design. I find it a bit of a crossover between the other two. It’s modern, but not as modern as the Subway… at the same time, its curved lines and rounded sink make it feel cosy, friendly and much more accessible, bringing it closer to the True Oak design. If we go for this one, I will try to add a colour accent in the form of some colourful soap dispenser or maybe a flower pot or two placed on the window sill.

 

I really feel quite confused. All three look totally fantastic in my opinion but I can only pick one.

I would love to know what you think.

Which one is your favourite?

* This is a collaborative post.
** Picture credit: 1|2|3|4

How to Maintain Your Garden Shed

~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 5 Comments

A shed is typically a simple, single-storey roofed structure in a back garden or on an allotment that is used for storage, hobbies, or as a workshop.* They are super useful but like everything else, they can’t be taken for granted and need maintenance on a regular basis, as we just found out…

For years we wanted a shed. I even tried to win some a few years back, with no luck, so when we bought our new house, which comes with a shed I was over the moon… Finally, a place to store all my gardening equipment, tools and pots… perfect. Well, as it ended up, not so perfect… We took it for granted, and now, just after a year later, our shed is in serious troubles… We have a leaking roof and a warped door… lesson learned. I guess sheds do need regular maintenance like everything else… unfortunately, they will not look after themselves 🙁

So, how do you look after your shed? Well, I needed to find out so I put together a short checklist, which hopefully will allow me, and maybe you for the future, keep our sheds in a perfect condition for many years to come.

Buy a quality shed. You get what you paid for. With some things, the quality really doesn’t matter so much but a shed isn’t one of them. Sheds aren’t disposable so buy the best one you can afford, then look after it properly.

Check the structure regularly. When you are out in your garden mowing or tidying up the flower beds, it is a good idea to walk around your property and inspect the perimeter, the shed, and other structures or amenities that you own. Doing so will only take a moment of your time, but it could save you a great deal of money in the long run. Checking the structure and foundations of your shed on a regular basis will help you spot potential problems early on. For example, if you check your shed one week and it looks great, but the next week a powerful storm blew through, you can easily spot any water damage that occurred. Spotting a problem early could potentially save you a lot of money.

Waterproof the roof. If you have not done so already, waterproofing your roof is a great idea. By waterproofing your roof, you can prevent the roof of your shed from rotting and needing to be replaced every few years. In addition, waterproofing your roof will prevent any liquid from seeping into the shed itself. Keeping your shed dry and moisture free on the inside will prolong its longevity and in turn, it will keep the belonging you have stored inside in perfect condition.

Keep the floor tidy. This may seem trivial, but keeping the inside tidy as well as the floor can go a long way in helping maintain its life. By keeping the shed organized, tidy, and the floor clean, you have the ability to quickly spot any potential problems, which you will never see under a pile of clutter, so keep it clean, keep it tidy and don’t forget to sweep the floors 🙂

Repaint. After a year or two, your shiny new shed will lose its luster. You may also find that your shutters, doors or even the shed walls, in general, are not as vibrant as they once were. The elements took its beauty away but not to worry… simply invest in a tin of paint, retouch the surface and your shed will be as new.

Do you own a garden shed?

If so, how do you maintain it?

How to Prevent Air Pollution in Your Home

~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 10 Comments

Air pollution is a really big problem all over the world. Due to industrialization, people living in big cities all around the globe may suffer from lung diseases that can be directly related to air pollution.

Most people think that it’s only the pollution outside that is dangerous to their health. To the contrary indoor pollution can be just as dangerous; some reports even go so far as to claim that this is even more of a problem than outdoor pollution.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution, such as air fresheners, dusty furniture dust mites or just poor ventilation. If you want to make sure that your family will remain healthy, check out the following tips to reduce the levels of indoor pollution in your home.

Fill your home with many indoor plants – Sometimes synthetic cleansers can do more harm than good, therefor it would be a good idea to use natural air cleaners instead. The perfect example of these are indoor plants as they can remove harmful elements like benzene, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde. Some plants that you can put inside your home are lady palm, rubber plant, Boston fern and peace lily. Check this article for the “Top 10 Plants for Removing Indoor Toxin” and see if any of them takes your fancy and would fit in with the aesthetics of your home.

Ban smoking inside your house – everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health. This is also true for people who inhale second-hand smoke. If you or anyone in your family is a smoker, then try your best to quit or at least do not allow smoking inside your home. When you have guests coming to your home, make it clear to all visitors that you do not allow smoking inside.

Use natural cleaning supplies – there are many cleaning supplies containing what are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause fatigue, headaches, and sinus congestion. To avoid these symptoms, make sure that you just use natural cleaning supplies. There are many simple home products that can be used instead of shop bought harsh chemicals. Ingredients like baking soda, which works well as a deodorizer and scouring agent, vinegar, which will help you disinfect things or lemon juice which is a perfect freshener.

Clean your air ducts regularly – proper ventilation is needed to make sure that the air is clean and pure. While you need to make sure that your house is properly ventilated, it’s also important that your air ducts be free from particles which may cause sickness. You can try to deep clean your house on your own or you can hire the services of a professional so that they can rid your house of indoor air pollution.

 

Most of these tips above only require a little bit of your attention, but that little attention can result in big benefits for you and your family’s health. Take time and make the effort so that you can ensure that every member of your family is as free as possible from air pollution hazards in your home in future.