Posts Tagged ‘Conservatories’

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4 Ways to Change the Feel of Your Conservatory

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Every Conservatory is different, as is every person that owns one. When you first built your conservatory you will have done so with your lifestyle in mind so that you got the most out of it. The thing is though that lifestyles change over time, while conservatories stay the same year in and year out. This can result in people spending less time in their conservatory over time. This is a bit of a waste.

To remedy this situation here are 5 suggestions as to how you might want to change your conservatory in order to make better use of it.

Change of Use

One of the simplest ways to change the feel of your conservatory is to change what you use it for. Perhaps it is currently set up as a play room for children who have long migrated into their bedrooms, or maybe it has been an art studio for a hobby that has been given up. One suggestion is to clear everything out and set it up as a dining room instead. Even if you already have one, spreading your rooms out and making use of the light in the conservatory can be very refreshing. Also, if you want a big change, you could knock through a wall and merge your conservatory with your kitchen.

Colour Scheme

If you want to be a little less dramatic with your changes, you could just give the room a lick of paint. A top suggestion is to paint it all white, replace existing furniture with big soft ostentatious white furnishings and install off white stone flagstones in place of your existing flooring. You may worry this will make it feel like a big bright cloud, but the effect of the colour from the green trees or blue sky from outside always makes the space feel very fresh and super cosy.

Heating Upgrade

Perhaps you stopped using your conservatory because it just gets too cold in the winter months. A simple solution to this is of course to have heating installed. You will need to check first though what the energy efficiency rating of your windows is, otherwise you could end up losing a lot of expensive heat through inefficient single glazing. Quality UPVC Windows can offer a great deal in terms of saved heating and often come with argon gas insulation.

Add Decking

A final excellent way to give your conservatory a new lease of life is to extend the use of the room outdoors with decking. You may have thought that the conservatory would have encouraged you to use the garden, but if this didn’t happen then a deck may be what you need. This makes it very easy for you to extend the use of your room into the outdoors. Especially as there is lots of nice outdoor furniture you can get that makes going outdoors irresistible.

Feeling inspired?

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Does Building a Conservatory Always Add Value to Properties?

Monday, August 15th, 2011

As a homeowner, or a ‘soon-to-be homeowner’, you will probably have money issues on your mind. Don’t we all at times have these? Perhaps you are looking to maximise your investment in a new property or maybe you have a bulging family that needs more space but are unsure what the best way to go about it is.

You may have looked at various House Extensions but discounted them as particularly expensive options. Then you perhaps looked at getting your loft converted but were put off by the issues over where to put the stairs. Also, you probably looked into getting a garage conversion, which will add value but will leave you without a garage that you may find quite useful at some point. So then you came to the Conservatory option:

conservatories are a very versatile option for expanding your home, but do they always add value?

Basically, yes, in three ways:

Increase Overall Value

Adding a conservatory will normally increase the value of your home by at least 5%. This is thanks to the increase in floor space and the quality of the fittings. The most important element of house valuation is indeed location. But after that when the cost approach to valuation is used, and you consider the fact that conservatories devalue only very slowly, it becomes clear that they are a wise financial investment.

Increase Resale Appeal

Not only this, you may have heard about ‘kerb-side’ appeal. This refers to how a property looks from the street but more specifically how much the way a property look makes a prospective buyer want it. This feeling can be very powerful and can be the difference between a buyer being determined to buy your property or indifferent. A conservatory gives a property a great deal of ‘kerb-side’ appeal which you can really bank on as they have never been out of fashion.

Increase Energy Rating

A further way in which installing a conservatory will increase the value of your property is by improving your energy efficiency rating. A common misconception is that conservatories will leak heat, but the fact is that Ideal Windows and Conservatories advanced windows are often better at keeping the heat in than most walls. As of 2007 all homes being sold need to have an energy efficiency rating and estate agents generally think that a good energy rating will be a major factor in buyers decisions in the future.

So does a conservatory increase the value of your home? Of course it does!

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Amazing Guest Room Decoration Ideas… You Can Use Even If You Don’t Have One

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

It is always a lot of fun having friends and relatives round to stay so why not make their stay that little bit more special by turning a normal spare room into a special place they will be clamouring to come back and stay in. Here are some simple ideas that won’t cost too much to put together.

Themes

A great way to go is to come up with a theme and apply it to the room. You could keep it simple by having a particular colour as a theme. With ‘green’ for example you could not only paint walls shades of green, you could decorate with plants and have green rugs and green pillows on the bed. Follow this up with green towels and even green soap.

If you want to take the idea of a theme a bit further you could choose ‘cinema’ as a theme and have a nice big screen for them to watch movies and adorn the walls with film posters and leave popcorn and 3D glasses on the side. The further you go with the theme the more of an impact it will have.

Fun Painting Feature

If you want something a bit less labour intensive why not try some kind of painting feature. No, not just a big painting, get a nice big blank canvas in a nice frame and hang it bare on the wall. Provide paints and drawing materials and then whenever someone comes to stay get them to put their own mark on the canvas. This will be a nice fun thing for guests to do as well as a nice memento for you to remind you of all their visits.

Freshness

A classic way to decorate a guest room that is always enjoyed is with a feel of freshness running through it. People can feel uncomfortable when they are away from home so by making your guest room light and airy with draped white sheets, fresh flowers and clean white or pale fabrics and paintwork they are sure to feel perfectly comfortable and happy.

And if you don’t have a guest room but you want one…

Ever Heard of Garage Conversions?

One thing Ideal Windows and conservatories has found is that many people who do not wish to sell their property but do want more room for guests are converting their existing garage which is hardly used into a new guest room. This can be seamlessly blended with your property both inside and out and even adds value. Plus you can have fun decorating it from scratch too!

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Top Conservatory Buying Tips

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

When you reach a stage where you are ready to buy a Conservatory there are a lot of decisions to make. Luckily the vast majority of them are very exciting and involve choosing colours and layouts and materials that will all go into your final completed structure. But there are of course many other choices to make that are absolutely crucial to get right. Here are some top conservatory buying tips to help your conservatory purchase go smoothly.

Be Sure of All Measurements

A key element of conservatory designs is in the measurements. Whether you are attempting to build your conservatory yourself or if you are wisely employing Ideal Windows and conservatories to do it, you should always take extra time to ensure you understand all the measurements before you start construction. Mark out the ground where your conservatory will sit with string and pegs for both the interior and exterior of the walls to give yourself a proper idea of where it will sit and how much room you will have for you and all your furniture. You can then be confident that you will be happy with the final structure.

Get Planning Permissions

While Ideal Windows and Conservatories will normally take care of all planning permission requirements for you, if you are thinking about doing it yourself you will have to make sure you are 100% certain you have acquired each and every permission you need before you lay a single brick. This is because without the right permissions, building regulators can force you to pull down your whole structure until you have them.

Wood or UPVC?

Choosing between wood and UPVC is a big decision. Ideal Windows and Conservatories have a Hardwood range and a UPVC range which both exceed the very highest of standards. However, not all conservatories, especially DIY ones, are so lucky. Poor wood conservatories can warp and crack if not installed properly, while cheap UPVC can look dated quickly, especially if the whole structure is not completed to a high enough standard.

Ideal Windows and Conservatories offer only the very highest standard of Hardwood and UPVC conservatories at affordable prices. This means that all you need to do is choose which look is right for your property. Hardwood conservatories tend to be considered more classical and elegant while UPVC are often seen as a more modern and dynamic choice.

Once you addressed each of these conservatory buying tips you can relax and enjoy seeing your carefully planned building taking shape.

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Using Blinds to Finish Off your Conservatory in Style

Friday, March 25th, 2011

All of Ideal Windows and conservatories products, including their full range of conservatories are designed and built using fully thermally insulated double glazing. They are also argon gas filled to prevent condensation and have a transparent coating that works to reflect UV. Unfortunately though, not all conservatories are so lucky.

Whether you are looking for something to improve the conditions inside your old Conservatory or if you just want to add blinds to your new conservatory because they look nice here are a few suggestions for blinds and awnings you can add and how they would benefit you.

Pinoleum Blinds

Pinoleum blinds are made using horizontally woven thin strips of bamboo, reeds or wood and not only look beautiful thanks to the natural products used, but also diffuse light in a unique way. You can choose to have them made tightly, or loosely woven to let just the right amount of light through for you. Plus they can be stained or painted to match the colour of the interior of your conservatory.

While Pinoleum blinds do not offer the same properties offered by brand new UPVC Windows, in the style ratings they get full marks.

Pleated Blinds

Pleated blinds are traditionally made in a concertina style and are perfect for roofs and windows. They can be made with a solar reflective material on the outside and with any colour you want on the inside. You can even choose a level of translucency for your pleated blinds to allow the right level of light though for you.

These tend to be a bit cheaper that Pinoleum blinds, depending where you get them and offer a flexible alternative to blinds or curtains.

In particular, Ideal Windows and Conservatories recommend ‘Sanderson’s Blinds’. They manufacture bespoke conservatory and window blinds to an impeccable standard which we are proud to offer you. If you want a closer look at some examples you are very welcome to come to our expansive showroom where a selection of ‘Sanderson’s Blinds’ are on show.

Roller Blinds

These are a very popular type of blind that provide a basic flat finish to cover conservatory roofs or windows. They can be made from practically any material but when you buy yours you need to be sure that the edges will not fray and that the rolled up blind is rolled into a cassette so that it is protected from the sun and will not fade.

Importantly, roller blinds are easier to clean than Pinoleum or pleated blinds.

Awnings

One final way to improve the conditions in your conservatory is to install a conservatory awning. This is a big exterior blind that works really well with lean to conservatories as they can be designed to sit just over the roof and protect the structure from the harshest summer sun.

This is probably the most expensive option but does provide a great deal of protection.

Hopefully this information will help you improve your old conservatory or finish off your new one in style.

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What Will A New Front Door Do For Your Home?

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

With Ideal Windows and conservatories currently running a couple of great offers on doors (and windows), now seems like a great time to highlight some of the benefits you will see if and when you get a new front door. When you get a new front door it gives your home a new lease of life as you not only feel proud every time you walk through it, you also feel a renewed confidence in the security of your property.

Wait what’s that about offers?

Ah yes…seeing as Valentine’s Day is this month, Ideal Windows and Conservatories have created two offers that will give you money off when you purchase their super efficient windows, their stylish doors or even both before the end of February. The first offer is for 20% off all windows and doors including UPVC Windows which you can claim when you make a purchase, while the other is for a £100 extra discount when you quote their discount code: Vou001/11-£100. Not bad huh?

For many people, getting a new door is something they will only think to do out of necessity. This might unfortunately be due to a break in or attempted break in which has broken their door to the extent that it is no longer secure. Luckily, door security technology has massively improved over the last few years. Now any door you choose, should as standard, include multi point locking systems, brass and nickel hooks, cylinder guard protectors, anti-lock bumping locking cylinders and still maintain a classic look. You really shouldn’t wait until you are forced to get a new front door until you have to as by then it may well be too late.

Getting a new door not only improves your home security, it will also help you keep your home warmer and save you money on heating. When used in conjunction with well insulated windows, a properly insulated door with argon gas filled double glazing (if it has a window in it) will change how you feel in your home. No more goose bumps minutes after your heating turns off, no more draft creeping around your old door frame and surprisingly, less noise from outside.

Ideal Windows and Conservatories Valentine’s Day offers will hopefully give you a hand towards improving the security and the energy efficiency of your home, but even if now is not the right time for you, maybe this article will make you think next time you walk through your front door: what would a new front door do for my home?

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What You Can Do Amidst a Thoroughly Subdued Property Market

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

With mortgage lending likely to stay at a low level for 2011 and the number of sellers due to far outnumber people looking (or able) to buy, the value of your property is likely to drop this year. For this reason you may want to rethink any moving you might have had in mind and instead plan on maintaining or improving your current state of affairs so that when the market does improve for sellers, your house will be a more appealing prospect and be snapped up as soon as you put it on the market. From conservatories to rooflines there are many ways in which you can improve the quality of your home.

Conservatories Add Value

If you have the desire and the funds, adding a Conservatory to your property will significantly increase the value of your home. With such a wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes, it is possible to find one that suits you and your needs. What’s more there are companies like Ideal Windows and Conservatories who will work with you to design the perfect conservatory so that it not only fits perfectly with the look and feel of your home, but it provides all the wow factor that will give you pleasure and your future buyers a reason to put in an offer.

Reinvigorate Your Roofline

One of the most commonly overlooked areas of a property is the roofline. This is basically the area between your roof and your walls and includes guttering and downpipes. Maybe you bought your property a few years ago and it passed the survey which will have checked these areas, but harsh winters and age can have a detrimental effect on your roofline over time. Old houses especially are vulnerable to rot and warp damage so need to be checked regularly. Making small improvements while you wait for the property market to improve can save you time and money in the future.

Rent A Room In Your Property

One thing that has risen in the last year has been the amount it is possible to charge for rent. To make yourself some extra money and if you have a house that is big enough, why not tap into this abundance by renting a room or converting part of your house into a flat? The housing market has left many people looking to rent so you would have no trouble finding someone to move in and you can use the extra money to make other improvements to your property.

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Where Can I Find A Great Interior Design Blog?

Friday, January 7th, 2011

When someone is looking for a Conservatory they will probably be tempted to do more to their home than just stopping there. When you’re in the zone, you’re in the zone. There is something about adding a new room to home that can make you want to make some changes to the room next to it, and then the room next to that and so on until you have redone the whole house. While this may not be financially possible for some right away, there is nothing wrong with enjoying planning what you would like to do to your new conservatories interior and all your other rooms in the mean time.

One of the best ways to get some inspiration as well as some concrete advice on what is in fashion right now is by subscribing to a top interior design blog. These not only provide information on new products available, but offer practical advice on what to do with your available space. So aside from getting new UPVC Windows you can look into additional other ways of creating the perfect lighting and style for every room.

Here are some of the best interior design blogs you can subscribe to:

Design Milk

This blog is written by designers and is chock full of smashing inspiring ideas and images. They may feature many different products but they certainly don’t take a cut, they are the perfect blog for anyone looking for great stuff for their home.

Better Living Through Design

This is a resource blog packed with all the hottest new items with a creative and cutting edge design feel to them. You can buy from this blog and you can tell that a lot of effort has been made ensuring that everything meets the highest standards.

Moco Loco

Not just filled with stuff, this cracking blog covers everything from architecture, right through to furniture and colourings. Anyone looking for the most up to date information on style to use for inspiration for their new home should check this out.

De Zeen Design Magazine

In their words:

Our mission is simple: to bring you a carefully edited selection of the best architecture, design and interiors projects from around the world before anyone else.

This magazine was even included in Time Magazines ‘Design 100 – The people and ideas behind today’s most influential design’. ‘Nuff said!

Design Sponge

This great design blog has everything you could want for a resource when planning interior design changes to your home. It is regularly updated and is packed with top ideas, stories and advice to keep you brimming with inspiration at all times.

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A Light at the End of the Tunnel – Mortgage Equity Increases by £6.2 Billion

Friday, October 15th, 2010

For homeowners and house hunters up and down the country it seems that there may at last be a bit of real progress happening, with the news that homeowners are now repaying their mortgages at the fastest rate in a year. The Bank of England has announced that the amount of mortgage debt owed by borrowers has been reduced by around £6.2 billion which means that people are eating into their savings to pay back debts as opposed to taking out new loans. The tight credit conditions currently throttling the countries needy borrowers may soon be slackened.

For home improvers, this could mean that if you are looking to borrow enough to invest in House Extensions such as a new Conservatory now is a great time. With the fear that this could be just a rest bite before a double dip recession strikes, banks may be at their most relaxed for quite some time to come.

If this fills you with excitement at the thought of finally making a dream addition then here are some suggestions as to what best to invest in.

Garage Conversion

One of the most cost effective ways to increase the value of your home is to convert your dusty cluttered garage into an extra room. If you think about the time you spend in your garage you can work out that it may in its present state be a waste of space. Ideal Windows and conservatories are specialists at consulting, designing and converting garages into warm, dynamic new sections of your home. How about a new master bedroom, an extension to your living room or kitchen or maybe just a new playroom for your little ones?

Roofline Repairs

It may be something you don’t notice that often but this part of your home can mean the difference between a warm secure building and a drafty liability for your pride and joy. By investing in your roofline you can ensure that your home lasts through the bad economic times and comes out the other side strong and maintains the value of your property for years to come.

Hopefully the people keeping paying off their bad debt and helps the country get back to a string reliable financial position again. But for now it is probably best to sit tight, invest in what you have and think about the long term.

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Top 3 Ways Your Home Can Save You Money

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

With Chancellor George Osborne’s ‘Big Decision’ still echoing in our ears, there are more reasons than ever to make an effort to save money. Many people in the UK will, as of 2013, be facing life with diminished benefits and need to plan in advance to absorb this loss of income. It is expected that of the millions of people who earn at a certain level and above a large percentage will face this loss so you may well be one of them, even if you don’t claim benefits at present.

Luckily you have a tool with which to save yourself money now so that you don’t miss the loss of cash in the future. Your home is a great asset; here is how Ideal Windows and conservatories can help you make the most of it:

Insulation

There are a number of ways you can insulate your home better so that you reduce the amount of money you spend every month on heating costs. Badly or insufficiently insulated homes can lose a massive amount of heat and therefore money. Replacing all your older single glazed windows with UPVC Windows or another type of double glazing will help keep your heat indoors. Also, if you have a Conservatory, this can be a massive heat drain if it is badly insulated. Looking at modern conservatory designs in comparison to your own can help you assess how badly insulated yours is and help you decide if a conservatory over haul could help your energy costs.

Increase in Value

Having Garage Conversions carried out has helped many people increase the value of their homes in the UK. Many houses were built as standard with a garage as at the time, car body work needed to be better protected and car security was limited. Now that it is safe to keep our cars outside, garages are growing cluttered and dusty and are ripe for conversion into extra bedrooms, new art spaces, offices and giant kitchens. Increasing the value of your home now

Security

Protect your money by protecting your home. Home security is something we take very seriously which is why all our windows, doors and conservatories come with an advanced security specification. We recommend any Double Glazing Repairs are carried out as soon as any accidents occur. As well as improving the quality of your entry points you should remember to never leave your keys in plain sight, make sure all your valuables are insured and get to know your neighbours, if their house is insecure and becomes a target, chances are you may be next in line.

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