Inside Mix

Artist in the Wild

James B. — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:29:04 +0000

Alicia Wishart is a wildlife artist that has incorporated her love of animals and cartoons into very amazing art pieces.

Her art can be found for sale HERE…

How to ensure your office chair is comfortable

joy — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:57:57 +0000

When it comes to buying a new bed, we don’t make a decision lightly. We do our research, visit shops and test mattresses; prodding, squirming and bouncing to establish whether this piece of furniture will aid our slumber.

Yet consider this – the average person spends more time in their office chair than in their bed. What’s more, does the average person check that their chair is offering the support they require for the hours on end which they spend in it? Probably not. Most of us don’t get to choose the furniture around us in the office, but we can follow a few simple rules to ensure that we will avoid cricked necks and back pain (assuming office chairs are adjustable).

The seat cushion
This ought to be flat, not at a slight incline and at a height that allows your feet to rest easily on the floor while accommodating your thighs under the desk. The cushion should be relatively solid, as sinking into one that is too soft puts undue pressure on the knees.

The seat back
When sitting in your chair, the lumbar support should fit naturally and comfortably against the curve of the lower back. Try not to lean forward or too upright, which can put strain on the back. Instead, rest against the seat back and let it take the pressure.

The arms
As most of us sit at a desk, the chair arms are actually pretty redundant. In fact, sometimes they can do more harm that good. How many of us have wheeled closer to the desk with a hand on the arm rest and squashed it under the desk? A few, undoubtedly. Removing the arms will also provide greater seat space and improve comfort levels, so this could be a good idea.

Static or swivel?
It’s far easier to move with a swivel chair, enabling you to find more comfortable and injury-minimising positions. This if you have a static chair, approach your boss for a new one.

Those that are unsure or still find they suffer some pain should contact their health and safety representative or line manager for guidance.

Creating a Multi-Purpose Cafe

joy — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:38:32 +0000

Opening a cafe is an exciting business, especially if it’s your first business. However with the British economy looking the way it is, you’ll need to do something to make your cafe stand out, otherwise you might not make the big profits you’ve dreamed of. Everywhere you look there is a cafe, so what you are you going to do make people walk past all the others, then into yours?

Well, why not consider making it a multi-purpose cafe? Perhaps you could operate as a cafe during the day then as an event venue at night-time? With the economic woes of Britain, many people are taking to home-cooking or kitting clothes, etc.; or other craft-based activities, like card making. This might prove to be a golden opportunity – offering knitting classes, cooking lessons or simply a place where like-minded people can gather to indulge their passion?

You could charge them a fee for using the facility and add an extra surcharge for use of the entire facilities. For example, set a charge for the event organiser to use the actual space, then add on a few pounds for access to the coffee machines, kettles, fridge etc. That way, they’ve got options and don’t have to pay through the nose for facilities they won’t use. Likewise, they won’t have to pay to hire kettles or plates etc., if their activity requires such things.

You could also consider serving alcoholic drinks at night-time, as long as you procure the correct license for doing so. Why not close the cafe for an hour at 5pm and re-open again at 6pm; with each folding table safely propped away and some bar stools put out in their place? You might not want to stay open really late, but you could provide a nice little bar for those who just fancy a quick, quiet drink to come to? This is a great way to reap some additional income, since pubs haven’t lost too much trade during the economic downturn.

Whatever you decide to do, don’t fear – there are plenty of ways to make your cafe unique. You just have to put a little thought into it!

Is Your Electricity Shocking You?

andy — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:57:38 +0000

How old is your house? It may seem an innocuous question but if your house is thirty or forty years old or more then you may be sitting on a major problem, albeit a simple one to cure, and that is your electrical distribution system.

This is because many older properties were originally fitted with fuse boxes to distribute power around the house. Whilst they did a good job at the time they were fitted, they are now using technology that is decades old and would now be considered most unsafe if fitted from new.

A fuse box features fuses made of different thicknesses of wire that burn out if a circuit has too much current flowing through it, however the one thing they do not do is prevent you getting an electrical shock in the event that you cut through a cable with your lawnmower or put a screw through an electrical cable.

Improved Safety with a New Consumer Unit

This why you need to fit a new consumer unit to replace your old fuse box, as they feature Residual Current Devices, known as RCD’s, that sense any such potential electrocution and cut out the electric supply in just milliseconds, meaning that in the event of you putting a screw through a live wire then the electricity is actually cut off before it can electrocute you.

Clearly this is a life saving reason to fit a new unit, particularly as in older houses many people have no idea where the cables run in the walls, and many people carry out Do It Yourself (DIY) tasks without checking where there is a cable behind the plasterwork.

Of note is that whilst all new build houses have to be fitted with a modern consumer unit there is no such law governing older houses, meaning that most often new consumer units are only fitted when older properties are sold, meaning that many people have electrical systems in place, which are very far removed from modern safety standards.

Electrical retailers and manufacturers have done much to help the situation by not selling or making replacement parts for older units, which in turn has forced people with older fuse boards to have them replaced with modern consumer units when the older unit has had a problem. This is not just a sales ploy, but a good idea to force people to fit modern safer electrical distribution systems.

So before you get a life threatening shock then think about changing over to a modern consumer unit.

Lamp Post Electrical in Kent provide electrical supplies from the industry’s most well respected brands. Wylex consumer units are available to buy online, or over the trade counter at our branch in Canterbury.

Tips to Clean a Screen Enclosure

joy — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:30:18 +0000

If you want to enjoy sitting outdoor but bugs and weather is stopping you from doing so, there is nothing to worry about it. A screen enclosure can be the perfect solution for you. It is an ideal barrier between your patio and the outdoor. You can cover your patio, backyard or deck with a screen enclosure and it will allow you to sit outdoor for as long as you want without being disturbed by bugs. You can enjoy sitting outdoor without being bothered about sun, rain and snow. Screen enclosure is a lovely way to let your outdoor space enjoy sunshine and cool breeze.

Screen enclosures are quite expensive. You should buy one that will last long. But in order to increase the longevity of your screen enclosure you should maintain it properly. With proper maintenance you can save it from damage.

You should clean your screen enclosure at regular intervals to ensure that it lasts long. While cleaning screen enclosure the most important thing to remember is that you should not use any harsh chemical. Otherwise the screen enclosure can get damaged easily.

Let’s have a look at the tips given below. Following these tips will help you to clean your screen enclosure thoroughly.

Take a soft bristle brush for cleaning the screen enclosure.
Fill up a bucket with water.
Mix any dish soap or mild detergent in the water.
Now apply the soapy water or the enclosure with the help of the brush.
Use the brush up and down first and then side to side. Make sure to scrub the enclosure gently. Otherwise it will get damaged.
Now spray your screen enclosure with a hose. Keep on spraying until soap is rinsed thoroughly.
Let your screen enclosure air dry.

If your screen enclosure is extremely dirty, seeking professional help is the best solution. Look for cleaning companies in your area. For example if you live in Edmonton, you can search for companies specializing in cleaning screen enclosures Edmonton. Seeking professional help will ensure that your screen enclosure gets cleaned properly and lasts long.

Common Signs your Kitchen Needs to Be Renovated/Upgraded

smith — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:28:10 +0000

If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, then there are actually quite a few tell tale signs that could indicate that this is a good decision. Here are a few indicators that would suggest that an upgrade is in order.

Broken kitchen cabinets – If the cabinets in your kitchen are starting to fall apart, which they will do with time, then you should definitely be considering an upgrade. The good news is that there are plenty of affordable options nowadays.
Mismatched benchtops – A lot of people find that it is cheaper to buy benchtops that do not match. If you are going for a specific design, then this is not going to work. If this is the case for you then you should definitely be considering purchasing and installing some new kitchen benchtops.
Outdated design – Kitchen designs are forever changing. However, there are some styles that will never go out of fashion. Chrome and black, for example, always has and always will be, very popular. If you feel that your kitchen design is a little outdated, then it is important to remember that there are some safe designs that you could consider.
Inaccessible – Due to today’s modern lifestyle, it is important that homes are as convenient and accessible as possible. If you find that your kitchen does not fit in with the way that you run your life then it is definitely time for a change.
Cash to spare – If you have found that you have a little extra cash and you are not sure what to do with it, then why not consider renovating your kitchen? These days you can get a complete refit for a very reasonable price.

Renovating your kitchen can transform your entire home. As you will know, the kitchen is normally the focal point of any family home, and if you want to make sure that your kitchen stands the test of time, then it is definitely a good idea to take a look at some of the many kitchen designs that are available right now.

Perfect Way of Installing Granite Slab Countertops

joy — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:14:08 +0000

There is no doubt in the fact that granite is one of the most long-lasting materials that remain available on market. It is much harder than marble and is more resistant to stains. Granite is made out of natural products. It is said that the natural color variation makes each granite slab totally different from each other.

While discussing about granite, it should definitely be mentioned that granite is an expensive material. But if you can afford it, nothing could be better than it. These products are durable and look naturally beautiful. Now, if you are thinking to use it in your kitchen but your budget is not allowing, you can definitely try out installing the material at your own. This is true that cutting granite is not that easy. So, it is better to leave this assignment on the professionals. But as soon as you will get a slab that gets fitted to the counter top, you will have no difficulty in the slab installation.

Still, if you are novice and want to know more about granite slab countertops installation, you can follow the below-mentioned points:

First cut the plywood with a circular saw so that it can fit the counter top. The granite slab usually remains attached to the plywood.

Thereafter the plywood needs to be set in its right location on the cabinet top. Try to place the shims under the plywood so that the leveling looks perfect.

Drill a number of holes and screw it to the cabinet. However, while doing the fitting, it is always better to take time. In fact, if needed you can outline the entire template using a pencil and can cut the space using a router.

You should also remain careful while using caulk adhesive.

To know more keep reading our blog.

Can I have blinds and curtains on the same window?

joy — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:42:27 +0000

Some people assume that you need to pick between having blinds or curtains on a window, but there is no reason why both should not be fitted.

Of course, much like every other area of interior design, the idea is just the start; it is the delivery that matters most, so spend plenty of time thinking about whether having both window dressings will suit your house and what sort of colours will complement each other.

While it may not be an especially common way of blocking light and keeping your privacy, the curtains-blinds combo can be perfect for certain situations; giving homeowners an opportunity to add more character to their home.

What?

There are all sorts of blinds/curtains available, so what type you put in will depend largely on your own taste and what kind of furniture you already have in place. It goes without saying that you should consider the outside of the building as well as the inside when you are deciding which curtains or blinds to buy, since it is always nice to know that your home looks great to others walking past.

Why?

It may be that you want to make a style statement by having the blinds to block out sunlight, but the curtains at the sides for the way they frame a window. If it is an aesthetic decision, you may simply prefer to have one or the other for certain situations; perhaps if the room doubles as a personal and professional space.

On the other hand, you may might want the curtain-blind combo for functional reasons. Some curtains are often slightly see-through, so you could have the blinds in place for when you want absolute darkness or privacy.

How?

As previously mentioned, your prime consideration is likely to be the colours of the curtains and blinds, but make sure you do not think about the window treatments in isolation. As well as the colour, you want to give some thought to texture and material. Both of these are crucial for ensuring that they fit in well with the rest of the room’s aesthetic.

Beautiful African Inspired Bedroom Ideas

James B. — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:06:48 +0000

Here are 25 African bedroom ideas to inspire your next bedroom renovation project.

How to Remodel A Kitchen in 60 Seconds

dan — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:08:46 +0000

In just one minute your kitchen can be transformed to a more modern look, well, not quite. Here is a cool 60 second kitchen transformation for your enjoyment.