Category Archives: inspiration

Top six festive gifts for cat lovers and their cats

04th December 2019

By Kathrin Burckhardt and Julie Barnes, Cat in a Flat

Any excuse for a Pablo photo!

It’s nearly Christmas! Yes, the time of the year when we’re thinking about our loved ones and what will bring a big smile to their faces on Christmas day… Or at the very least, panicking that we’ve not been thinking about it at all and hastily scribbling to-do lists! To help you out a bit, Cat in a Flat has put together a hot-list of gift ideas for those cat lovers in your life! 

Advent Calendar for your Cat

Start the festive season with a fun gift for your cat to count down to Christmas in the most entertaining way. Lily’s Kitchen charming, hand drawn Advent Calendar for cats whisks you into the world of a Christmas pantomime celebration with plenty of merriment and mischief! Each window of the theatre is generously filled with Lily’s Kitchen naturally wholesome treats.

Molecular Motifs

This necklace pendant is designed after the molecular structure of Nepetalactone which is the active compound found in Catnip. When a cat eats catnip, it acts as a sedative, but when smelled, it mimics feline pheromones and triggers those receptors causing kittens to go crazy! This gift I perfect for all those science-loving cat lovers out there. Wearing this will make them purr!

Necklace

Cat Tea Towel

This beautifully illustrated tea towel is created by Amy Fenton who is a member of the ARTHOUSE Unlimited collective. The cats are printed in striking orange on 100% cotton will definitely brighten up any cat lover’s kitchen!

Tea Towel

Cat sitting voucher 

For the cat lover who wants to go away, without the guilt, give them a Cat in a Flat voucher; the gift of a trusted, kitty loving cat sitter. Ready to drop by and pamper your recipient’s furry loved one at agreed times during the days they are away, a cat sitter will follow specific cat caring instructions. That way you and your friend/family can be sure that their cat will be properly cared for and won’t get lonely while they are away.

For the Men

And here is a little gift idea for the extra special cat lovers in our family. The cat lovers that might not go as crazy and loud as the rest of us, but instead show it in their very own subtle way. You all know who we are talking about! 

2020 Cat Calendar by Axel Scheffler & Friends

Looking forward to the new year, as a cat lover, who wouldn’t love planning their months ahead on a beautifully illustrated kitty calendar by Axel Scheffler (the illustrator of The Gruffalo) and friends? Available exclusively through CatInAFlat.com, all profits are donated to support endangered wild cats in the care of BornFree.org.uk. So, while you organise your life, you also get to save a life, win-win for all. 

Calendar

With all these Christmas ideas we’re sure cat lovers won’t be disappointed with their Christmas stocking.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathrin Burckhardt and Julie Barnes are Co-Founders of Cat in a Flat. Cat in a Flat is a trusted cat-sitting community created by cat lovers for cat lovers. Its mission is to help cats stay in the comfort of their own homes by connecting cat owners with trusted, insured, local, cat-loving sitters.

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Disclaimer: This is a guest post/advertorial for Cat in a Flat for which I received no compensation, I just so happen to love cats and have experience with the site having used them to look after our fluffy liability with great success, so I can personally vouch for them. I hope you enjoy!

Posted in cats, christmas, gifts, guest post, inspiration

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Bring Some Hotel Room Luxury To Your Bedroom*

16th October 2019
Our Hotel in Las Vegas

You don’t have to stay in a hotel to experience hotel room luxury. With a few easy improvements you could turn your bedroom into five-star style suite so that every day feels like a holiday.

Upgrade your bedding

To help imitate that hotel bed sense of cosiness upgrading your bedding should be the first important step.

First, start with your mattress; the perfect mattress is often a case of personal preference – some people prefer hard mattress that offer support, while others prefer a soft mattress they can sink into. For a middle-ground option, you could always try a hybrid mattress, which usually involves firm springs with a thin layer of memory foam on top for a touch of softness. It’s worth visiting a mattress store and trying different mattresses to see which one suits you (look out for sales being held throughout the year in order to save a few quid).

Next, consider the sheets. Cotton sheets tend to be the choice of many hotels as they are soft and breathable – especially those with a thread count of around 300. Get yourself some matching pillowcases and duvets made of the same material. You could also consider some wholesale bed runners from Richard Haworth as a decorative piece on top. Bamboo linen could be perfect for those that sweat a lot in the night.

Finally, consider your pillows and duvet. Like mattresses these are often a case of personal preference – some people like lots of thick pillows and a thick duvet, while others like a single slim pillow and a light blanket. Down pillow fillings tend to be the best filling option for all kinds of sleepers.

Control the temperature

To help create that sense of hotel cosiness cosiness you’ll want to also regulate the temperature.

Smart HVAC could be the perfect option. Using your phone, you’ll be able to control the temperature from your bed – whether it’s turning the heating up or providing some cooling. You can buy smart HVAC for your entire home, but this could be quite expensive to install. This Link Labs guide to smart HVAC offers more information on this technology for those that are interested.

Buy some blackout curtains

A pair of blackout curtains or blackout blinds could also be worth investing in to help you get a good night’s sleep. This will stop your getting woken up early by the morning sun, as well as stopping light from street lamps and cars interrupting your sleep.

For a particularly luxurious option, you could even opt for some remote control blackout blinds such as these Powered Blinds. This could allow you to open the curtains without even leaving your bed.

Alternatively, there are traditional options instead of blackout blinds such as plantation shutters that could be ideal for a bedroom in an old home. You’ll need to get these made to measure so that they cover the whole window.

Set up your own bedside coffee station

Why not wake up and enjoy some coffee in bed? With your own bedside coffee station you can do just this. A small kettle such as this Russell Hobbs travel kettle could do the trick – place this on a tray with some mugs, coffee, teabags, sugar and milk, and you’ve got your own coffee station. Milk may need to be UHT, unless you’ve got space for a mini-fridge in your bedroom (this will truly make your bedroom feel like a hotel).

 Consider adding a TV

If you haven’t already got a TV in your room, this could be another worthy improvement to give you that sense of hotel luxury. You’ll be able to cuddle and watch movies in bed. You can also watch some morning TV with your cup of coffee or tea, all without having to leave your bed.

A TV could be positioned on a cabinet or it could be mounted onto a wall. The Black Friday weekend could be the perfect time to shop for a new TV.


Posted in home, inspiration, interiors

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10 Steps to Look Good in your Suit*

02nd September 2019

When it comes to buying a suit it’s important to find one that not only fits the occasion you will be going to, but also looks good on you. There are a number of things to consider, to make sure you look great in your suit rather than a crumpled mess. 

You need to consider the fit, the style and never buy a suit off the rack without trying it on first. You also need to make sure you have all the right accessories which go with the suit and also go together. You don’t want the wrong coloured shoes or a bad tie to spoil your overall look. 

Here are 10 steps to help you look good in your suit: 

Think about patterns

Don’t go for a plain solid suit if you want to stand out from the crowd. Think about patterns such as a light pin stripe where the stripes are in a pale blue rather than white, to create a more subtle and interesting look. You can match your shirt to the colour in the stripes, and pick out the colours with your tie and pocket square, making this suit very versatile. So don’t be afraid to go for patterns. 

Think single vs double-breasted

Choose the right suit style for your build. A double-breasted suit can make you look bulky and large so if you have a slim frame this might work well to add some bulk. On the other hand a very slim fitted single-breasted suit won’t work on someone with a strong, muscular frame or larger build so consider your body shape when choosing which style will make you look good. 

Look at the suit quality

A cheap suit will never make you look good no matter how carefully you choose your accessories so always check the way your suit has been made. Is it all hand-stitched or have any of the elements been glued as these are likely to come apart. Check for loose buttons, loose threads and ill-fitting seams. You want your suit to be high quality before you even put it on. 

Choose the right fabric

Just as a badly stitched suit will look cheap, so will a poorly chosen fabric. You want to make sure your suit is made of a high quality fabric which drapes well and doesn’t crease, such as a nice quality wool, which helps to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

Think about your shirt choice

To look good in your suit make sure you have a really good dress shirt choice. Nowadays you are not limited to plain colours there are plenty of patterns and styles to choose from including stripes, checks and floral options to wear. 

Choose your tie

You can pick out your tie colour from your shirt pattern to create a clean and put together look which can be incredibly smart for business or for a formal event such as a wedding reception. The most important tip is to make sure your tie and shirt don’t clash. 

Think about trouser length

Check that your trousers are sitting just over your shoes, covering your socks. This is the ideal length for suit trousers to look good. You don’t want your socks showing and you don’t want to be tripping over them if they are too long. 

Keep your suit clean

Invest in a suit brush and make sure you brush down your suit after every use, and hang it up properly to help it to last and stay fresh. You should only get it cleaned a few times per year as the harsh chemicals will damage the fabric if carried out too often. 

Check your jacket length

You want the bottom of your jacket to line up with the tips of your fingers when your arms are loose by your sides. If the jacket is longer than this you might need a shorter option, whereas if your arms are hanging way past the bottom of the jacket you need a longer version. 

Make sure your sleeves are long enough

When it comes to your jacket sleeves they should end at the wrist joint so a small element of your shirt can be seen underneath the jacket. If you can see too much shirt cuff then you need to have longer sleeves, whereas if the jacket is covering your hands the sleeves need to be taken up. 

These top 10 tips will ensure you are looking your best when it comes to wearing your new suit whether it’s for a wedding reception, a business event or just out for casual drinks with friends you will be looking sharp and well-dressed for every occasion. 

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The Top 6 Things About The Countryside *

18th July 2019
Photo by Gautier Salles on Unsplash

If you live in a city or a town then an escape to the countryside is needed every so often. Even if it’s just for a day trip, visiting the countryside can make you feel like you’ve had a break, and it can often help to clear your mind and reset your batteries. Here are a few reasons why visiting the countryside is one of the best things you can do.

You Can Take Great Photos

If you’re an Insta fan, then you can get some beautiful photos of the countryside. There are some stunning landscapes, beautiful colours, gorgeous animals and magical scenery. The country is breathtaking, and you’ll want to capture it and treasure your memories forever.

You Can Go For Amazing Walks

Walking is so good for you and so is the fresh country air. There are so many different walks you can take, download a walking app to show you the different routes and you’re set. Walking in the country is pleasurable and never feels like a chore because you are always surrounded by beautiful things and exciting things to look at. 

Enjoy Long Drives

Long drives in the country are fantastic too. You won’t find yourself stuck in traffic and getting frustrated (although tractors are a risk!) but you’ll be able to enjoy your car and enjoy the roads. If you need a decent car for the countryside, then look no further than LRC 4×4 Limited where you’ll find something to get you through those country terrains. 

You Can Meet Great People

Many people say that in the countryside the people are friendlier than they are in the city. Now, this is hard to measure of course, but what you probably will find is that in the country people are less busy, the shops are quieter meaning that there’s time for a friendly chat with the shopkeeper, the streets are quieter meaning that when you walk past someone, it’s likely that they’ll say hi to you. There might be more opportunity to speak to people and to find out about them. Locals might be very proud of their country village and want to show tourists a good time; therefore they will make an effort to chat with them and make them feel welcome.

You Can Visit Great Country Pubs

The cosy country pubs can’t be beaten. When you come in from a long walk and go in for some warmth and a home-cooked meal and a nice drink, it’s the best feeling in the world. Many people say that the food is fresher in the countryside too as it is most often local food and perhaps more traditional in the country. With access to local farms and produce, you can enjoy some local delicacies and usually some homemade comfort food.  

You Can Do Lots Of Activities

With nature walks, horse riding, visiting animals on the farm, there is lots to do in the country if you want to do it. You won’t get bored, and there’s usually some sort of attraction you can get to by car if you’re going to go somewhere and get out of the country for a day.


Posted in inspiration, lifestyle

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Making Your Home More Peaceful*

10th May 2019
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Who doesn’t want a peaceful home? If you are able to create a space which is peaceful as a home, you will find that it is hugely beneficial to your daily life. Not only will you feel considerably more relaxed most of the time, you will also find that your relationships with the other people in the home are much better too, and that everyone generally gets on much better. What’s more, a peaceful home has a way of being easier to keep clean and tidy, for it is almost always a minimalist home too. But what can you do to make sure that your home is as peaceful as possible? In this article we are going to take a look at just a few of the simple ways in which you can hope for your home to be a little more peaceful. As long as you have considered these you should find it is easier than you had even hoped.

Scents

One thing which has a surprisingly powerful impact on how peaceful a home feels is the scent. If you don’t normally do anything to control the scent in your home, you will be amazed at the kind of a difference it can make if you do suddenly start to do so. So what are some of the best ways to do this, and how can you ensure that the scent is going to be a peaceful and calming one? There are a few essential ways you can do this. For a start, you might be able to use some good quality incense like Nag Champa, which can really make a huge difference to not just the smell of the home but the overall ambience too. Or you could think about burning some essential oils, which has the advantage of meaning that you can try out a range of different smells and see what effect they have.

Minimalism

The less stuff that you have in your home, the easier it is to really feel at peace within it. However, most of us find that we develop and collect far too much stuff in general, and that over time we end up with more than we can manage. This is no way to live, and certainly not a way to live peacefully. If you want to live more peacefully at home, you need to make sure that you are adopting a much more minimalist approach, which is a lot harder than you might think, and certainly harder than it sounds. Reducing your belongings down again and again takes time and patience, but it is worth it for the increased peace you will have in your home.

Colours

One of the most direct ways to bring about peace in the home is to ensure that you have soft colours throughout. If you don’t have this currently, it’s a simple case of deciding on some new colours and then getting painting. The more that you do that, the more likely it is that you will feel at home and peaceful in your home.


Posted in inspiration, interiors

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