Although most contemporary home designs call for wood or stone flooring, many of us still prefer carpets in special locations such as bedrooms and other areas we want to feel ‘cosy’. All carpets consist of two elements – the upper ‘pile’ which is, in turn, attached to a ‘backing’. The pile was traditionally made of […] More
Timber flooring is beautiful and cost effective. Find out how to choose the perfect wood, how to install it and how to combine it with underfloor heating. In this article about timber flooring, we cover: How much timber flooring costs, for both materials and installation What sustainable timber really means The difference between engineered and […] More
This Dublin suburban house, a semi detached from the 1950s, was restored to its former glory with a budget-friendly makeover. We bought the house 10 years ago; the same person had lived in it since it was built in the early 1950s. It was a three-bed semi detached end of terrace house,” explains Emma Blain […] More
Putting carpet aside and assuming the budget for real wood flooring, ceramic tile or polished concrete is just not there, what are your alternatives? There are three main types: vinyl, linoleum and laminate flooring. Along with wall and ceiling finishes, the floor coverings will set the tone of your rooms. The aim is that once […] More
Although simple paint will continue to be a favourite wall treatment, there are now many exciting alternatives that needn’t break the bank. An inexpensive way to start thinking about wall finishes is to see what you can do using your existing structural materials. Some are potentially great wall finishes in their own right. CONCRETE With […] More
Tiles, unlike paint colours or even carpets are not something you will want to change on a whim. So careful consideration is required in the selection process. The vast choice of floor and wall tiles on the market today is both a blessing and a curse. No longer simply considered as just a way to […] More
Concrete is much more than a building material but if you plan to use it as a flooring solution, it’ll take time and dedication to make it look right. Here’s how. Long gone are the days of raw, unfinished concrete floor finishes, once the mainstay of commercial and industrial buildings. Now we can make the […] More
Due to its ability to instantly transform a room, paint is the interior designer’s best friend. Find out about the different types to make it yours… In this article, we cover: Types of paint for different applications Interior paints and how to use them Wood paints and how to use them Troubleshooting paint that doesn’t […] More
Oscar Wilde’s famous last words from his deathbed in a French hotel over one hundred years ago, are testament to the strong emotions created as a result of decorating our interior walls with coloured and patterned paper. Fifty years earlier Napoleon Bonaparte suffered, as we now know, arsenic poisoning from the wallpaper on the walls […] More
DIY painting is within your reach. Here’s what you need to know to achieve a professional finish on your walls, including mastering the art of “cutting in”… In this article, professional painter Brian Cahill shares how to: Paint like a professional Technique for painting walls and cutting in Tool checklist How to paint walls a […] More
Stone is a defining feature in any room and adds instant solidity, luxury and grandness from a marble bathroom wall to a simple round basin. Although stone is an extremely tough material once installed, you must always take special care to see the delivery and installation process runs smoothly. Dirt from foot traffic or a […] More
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