Category Archives: interiors

How to Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring for Your Beach House*

15th March 2019
When it comes to your beach house, some would argue that hardwood flooring is the superior choice. When properly installed it looks good against all decor, it’s colour doesn’t fade and it is also long-lasting and cost-effective. This may be the reason why it is the most popular floor choice, however, many people have questions around how to choose and install it well.

Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash

1. Consider installing engineered wood.

Whilst centuries old houses will have floors made of solid wood, engineered wood is composed of a centre of plywood topped with a layer of hardwood. This flooring is more immune to, and provides tighter protection against the ever-present moisture in the coastal areas and won’t suffer the contracting or warping that a solid wood floor will. In addition to this, the wood that is used will remain in excellent condition, whilst maintaining the overall appearance of solid wood flooring.

Photo by Bette Jane Camp on Unsplash

2. Choose a lighter colour.

Choosing a lighter colour will hide scratches and general wear and tear making it a better option for family beach houses. This should be a place to relax and create happy memories and a lighter floor will age better and provide less stress and maintenance than picking a darker tone.

3. Pick a textured finish.

A textured finish not only looks unique, but will hide dents and scuffs better than a smooth surface. It is much more forgiving and you can customise it yourself with a wire brushed, low gloss finish.

4. Get creative with colour.

You should not be scared to experiment with colour and texture. Try embracing the sea vibes with a faded blue textured surface, or even a bold aqua tone to really stand out. It will add to the seaside vibes and provide a focal point that lends itself to simple, casual decor.

Having solid wood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring can really add to your beach front retreat. It makes the house looks clean and fresh, and makes cleaning up sandy footprints much easier. Whether it be engineered or solid, do some research and get experimenting for a unique escape that is set to stand the test of time.

Posted in inspiration, interiors

Permalink

Personalising our Home with Posterlounge

02nd December 2018
Since moving in together in October, Bob and I have been doing our best to put our own stamp on our home within the limits of what is allowed in a rental property. Fortunately for us our landlords are amazing and let us paint a wall in our bedroom (is was bright red, and so not soothing) and the rest of the house is neutral throughout making it easy to make small changes in non-invasive ways through our own furniture and accessories.
We were also contacted by the team at Posterlounge to see if we wanted to pick out a couple of pieces of artwork from their extensive selection, and of course we said yes! There were a lot of screws and hooks in our walls when we moved in that we can’t take out, which also means we have plenty of scope for hanging up some pictures, photos and other accessories (currently out advent calendars to keep them out of Pablo’s way!) so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to further personalise our home. We decided to pick out one piece each (and hope the other person liked it!)

Dreaming of Space* | We Were Together*

You can probably guess who chose what! I instantly fell in love with the quote on the print I chose, and it’s minimalism, whereas Bob who is obsessed with all things space just needed the astronaut in his life. They are now living in harmony on the lounge wall and we couldn’t be happier with the quality and service received.

The greatest thing about Posterlounge in our opinion is that there are so many options for how you want your art. You can buy as a standard poster in various sizes (with or without a frame) or chose from an array of alternative finishes such as canvas, wood, alu-dibond and acrylic glass- again in a variety of sizes and finishes.

We went for acrylic glass for both of our pictures and love the effect it gives. We picked the 50×70 size with no frame which bought the pictures to just under £60 each, and worth every penny. We’ve already said that we’ll be returning to Posterlounge in the new year to purchase some more art for the house as we really found it hard to narrow it down this time! I should also add that the pictures came with everything we needed to hang them, meaning they were up within 5 minutes of coming out of the box.

Have any of their pieces caught your eye? And does anyone have any tips they’d like to share on how else to personalise a rented home?

Products in this post were sent free in exchange for blog consideration, all opinions belong to Bob and myself.

Posted in brands I love, interiors

Permalink 1 Comment

The (almost) weekly wish list

23rd September 2018

Not even a month in to my new regular feature and I failed at keeping it, well, regular. The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy, and expensive with actual adulting so I suppose composing a wish list of things wasn’t top of my priorities for once.

But fear not, for I am back. Browsing has resumed just at the time some serious no spending has been implemented, and any spending that does occur will be with discount codes aplenty such as those found at Groupon

Hello Kitty Cashmere: Chinti & Parker at Selfridges | Patterned Rug: Urban Outfitters | Classic Coat: Monki | Bee Kind Breton: Sugarhill Boutique | Rose Gold Coffee Table: Habitat | Polka Dot Culottes: Joy | Green Metallic Midi Dress: Joanie Clothing | Disney Pyjamas: TruffleShuffle.com

It’s a bit of an eclectic bunch this time, with items ranging from the “in my dreams only” (Hello Kitty Cashmere anyone?) to the far more affordable (those pyjamas!)
Party wear is starting to creep on to my radar, as are ALL of the winter coats- the second the shops start releasing the Christmas chocolates I want to wear all of the sequins and all of the cosy coats.

You’ll probably notice more and more homeware on the list as time goes on too. Bob and I have found somewhere to live, and pending references going through will be moving very soon. This weekend has been a blur of white good comparisons and browsing for all of the practical things we need- the list never seems to end! Weekly wish lists may not be happening for a few weeks as we’ll be busy with moving stuff, but I’m sure once we’re settled they will resume with a vengeance, especially with Christmas slowly but surely creeping closer and the shops filling with all manner of exciting looking things already catching my eye.

What’s caught your eye recently? And where are your must-have shops for homewares? Blankets, crockery and cushions are top of our list!

Posted in brands I love, fashion, inspiration, interiors, lifestyle, personal style, shopping, Uncategorized, wish list

Permalink 2 Comments

Hack Your Home to Cut Chore Time*

13th August 2018

Photo by Fancycrave on Unsplash

Whether you are having a quick tidy up or a full on spring clean, housework can be one of the most annoying chores of all. You get it all done and within what seems no time at all it needs doing again. Here are some simple hacks to help make it a little easier, and they may help to make a less thankless task.

Rubbish Bins

Rubbish bins seem to fill really quickly- especially kitchen ones. Have you ever been in a rush and emptied it and forgot to replace the bin bag? The next person does not always realise there is no bag in there and you can end up with one very messy bin to clean. Leave a few spares bags in the bottom of the bin as then even if you are in a hurry it will take just a few seconds to replace the one you have take out.

Bins can get very smelly too, especially in summer; but a couple of slices of lemon wiped around the inside of the bin lid will help to combat this problem.

Floors

If a floor looks dirty and messy the whole room does. You need a simple way of keeping your floors looking good all of the time, the answer could be laminate flooring by Factory Direct Flooring as it takes very little effort to sweep and mop so that it comes up like new. The final coat that the manufacturers use ensures that it is stain and water resistant, and is not prone to scratches or dents. It is cheaper than most other flooring types and will last for many years; an added bonus is that it is very easy to install.

Bed Linen

When you decide to change the household bed linen from John Lewis, or whoever your favourite seller is, do you find that you spend ages trying to get the right sheets and pillowcases together so the bedding sets match? The easiest time to do this is when the laundry has dried before you put it away. Fold each sheet and place it inside a pillowcase it belongs with, and do the same with the quilt cover and other pillowcases. Then it is simple just to pick out the set for the bed you are about to change.

Oven Cleaning

There are not many people that look forward to the prospect of having to scrub an oven clean, but it is a job that has to be done at some point. You can stop it getting so messy be placing a sheet of tinfoil on the bottom of the oven, then any spillages will not stain the oven itself, and the foil is easily replaceable. When you are roasting anything put foil over the top of the meat until the last half hour or so; this reduces that amount of fat splashes that cause most of the gunk inside an oven.

If you really cannot face this task then there are people who specialise in cleaning ovens, but you have to be prepared to pay around £100 for the job to be done. It pays to keep on top of keeping your oven clean so you don’t end up with one messy and daunting task ahead.

Anything that can help to reduce the amount of housework you have to do is welcome, but sometimes you have no choice but to get stuck in and do it.

Posted in inspiration, interiors, life stuff

Permalink

Rent-A-Home: 4 Unmissable Hacks

10th June 2018

unsplash-logoPaul Hanaoka

Renting might be dead money, but it still serves a purpose. House prices are skyrocketing and show no signs of stopping so buying may not be in your budget and gives you a chance to scope out an area before committing. Plus, it offers a different kind of lifestyle, one that might suit your needs. Owning a home is fulfilling and yet getting the landlord round to fix the leaky roof is so much easier than negotiating the fix yourself!

To ensure everything goes to plan there are a few things to take care of first. It’s all about freedom – you want to make sure there is plenty of it during your stay. That’s why you’ve come to A Daisy Chain Dream– for the tips below.

Discuss The Dos & Don’ts

You’re basically living in someone else’s house, therefore there is a line you really shouldn’t cross. However, you do want to make the property feel like a home. Forget living in a cold, bare space for twelve months; the key is to discuss the dos and don’ts in advance and try and get them in writing. The last thing anyone wants to do is order a wheelbarrow full of gear off of the James Oliver home page only to find out the landlord is vetoing the idea. That’s a nasty, expensive surprise. Usually minor alternations like painting are allowed but you should always double-check first.

With A Special Focus On Pets

Having an animal is where the process gets tricky. Are they a fervent dog-hater? Can they not stand cats? Does the idea of a hamster make them squeamish? If it’s a yes to all three of these then there’s a high probability that your pet won’t be welcome. Okay, no worries because you’ll move to a different flat or house and bring him/her along for the ride. The problem is that people take the risk and sign on the dotted line. Some even think they can twist their arm after the fact. Always ask about pets beforehand or else face being evicted and/or landing yourself a massive fine. I’ve been lucky with pet-friendly landlords so it definitely pays to ask up front- and offer to pay an additional deposit against potential damages.

Look Into The Small Print

Everything has been hashed out and the contract is perfect, or so you think. Landlords can be sneaky and will include “traditional” clauses that aren’t broached in the negotiations. One such example is a release clause; in a perfect world you’d give notice and tell the landlord when you’re going to leave. However some stipulations provide this power to the landlord and it’s perfectly legal. Or, your clause may say that you have to pay a fee to terminate the agreement and find another tenant. Wow, that’s a lot of responsibility for one person.

Do An Inventory

It’s not fair to say that all landlords are untrustworthy as (some) mechanics or politicians. They aren’t that bad – they merely need proof. If they don’t get it they will leave the bill at your door. With this in mind, please don’t forget to do an inventory before moving in and after moving out. Write down what works and doesn’t work and take pictures as evidence. Also make a copy and give it to the landlord or letting agent so there is written proof.

You don’t want to be the person that loses out in the exchange, do you?

end

Posted in interiors, life stuff

Permalink 1 Comment