loft
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Posted: March 12, 2021
There’s nothing more unnerving than a hollow clack, bump, or sharp thud, emanating from somewhere in your home in the middle of the night. That’s because these noises are often mistaken for a tree limb falling on the roof, a slamming door, animal intruders, or a hungry ghost raiding your fridge while everybody else is asleep. But the explanation is typically something far less ominous and could instead be coming from inside your loft.
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Posted: March 26, 2015Categories: Tips & Advice
Did you have March 20th circled-in on your calendar? Unless it was somebodys birthday, probably not. In case you didnt already know, this date marks the official start of spring - at 10:45 PM GMT to be precise - and that can only mean one thing; its time for a good old-fashioned Spring Clean in the attic.
Whether youre a regular loft-user or only make use of it now and again, its almost certainly in need of a thorough tidying since the last time you did it properly, so what better time to give it the good once-over and freshen things up a little. Thats why weve put together a few Spring Clean tips to get your loft nice and clean for the summer, from cluttered storage spaces to bedroom and bathroom conversions.
Bathroom Boosters
If youre lucky enough to have an extra bathroom or ensuite in your loft, then youll know how good it feels to have a clean and tidy sanctuary where you can soak your troubles away. Making sure its absolutely spotless will definitely help you to relax the
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Posted: March 10, 2015Categories: Tips & Advice
Brightening Your Loft
With spring just around the corner, we've been seriously thinking of ways to liven up our attic rooms and make things all lovely and bright. A few light touches here and there can really make all the difference, from the odd creative textile usage to clever flower displays and window dressings. Its all about embracing the change of the season. So why not try a few of these ideas to create a warm, inviting attic room thats bang on trend for Springtime 2015.
Sugar Ceramics
Looking like something between mother of pearl and a sugar-glazed gobstopper, these elegant sugar ceramic style vases really convey an essence of chic in the most bright and modern way possible. A surprising mix of vintage and glam that would look great in your contemporary conversion.
Watering Can Flower Arrangements
These rustic watering can arrangements are beautifully shabby chic. What better way to utilise them than with some gorgeous, elegant flowers in a lighter complimentary shade - think
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Posted: December 23, 2014Categories: Tips & Advice
So youve got your loft space sorted and the layout in mind but until you start experimenting with colour, you wont have a fully-realised picture of how everything will look. Choosing the perfect paint colour can be tricky. How do you get it right?
The answer is quite simple; planning and preparation. Here weve highlighted several key points to consider when finding the ideal paint colour for your loft space.
Think about mood
When selecting a colour, consider the mood you want your room to convey. If its a bedroom, do you want the feeling to be restful and soothing or playful and dynamic? Soft, cool colours and neutrals create a quieter feeling while stronger colours are more of a statement.
Really think about the main reason why you wanted a loft conversion in the first place - was it meant to be a sanctuary, or a sociable place for family and friends? Warmer, contrasting and brighter colours are best used to stimulate group activity in a fun and energetic way.
Consider who will be
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Posted: December 16, 2014Categories: Loft Conversion
Youve probably realised that not all types of roof are suited for conversion into a comfortable, accommodating living space. This can be a particular problem if your heart is set on a loft conversion but have a difficult roof construction - especially when a loft conversion is the ideal solution for adding space to your home.
Not enough headroom
If the initial roof inspection reveals a head height of less than 2.2m, there are a number of things you can do to make it feasible. It all depends on planning permission and the amount of money that youre prepared to spend.
It may sound drastic, but a removal and rebuild could be a viable option for increasing vertical space in your loft and giving the required structure. The major problems are the high cost and getting planning approval (as you are quite literally raising the roof expanding your existing structure).
Another solution would be to lower the ceiling of the floor below, borrowing spare headroom from the room beneath your loft. Unlike
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Posted: December 08, 2014Categories: Tips & Advice
You dont need reminding that winter is well and truly underway. If youve not already insulated your loft, you could be losing a quarter of your homes heat through the roof - increasing the amount of energy being used and needlessly adding cost to your heating bills.
Many people are put off by the cost of undertaking such a task, despite the fact they could be saving as much as £180 a year once insulation is in place. Fortunately there are a number of grants available to homeowners, meaning homeowners could be entitled to free loft insulation.
What is a loft insulation grant?
A loft insulation grant is provided by Green Deal - a government initiative aimed at making sure as many UK homes as possible are properly insulated, green and environmentally friendly.
The grant covers the cost of materials and labour, so you wont have to pay a single penny (if eligible).
What if Im not eligible?
Regardless of whether youre eligible for the grant or not, its still worth looking into insulating
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Posted: December 04, 2014
Simplicity is anything but simple. It requires discipline and foresight: the ability to see how a stripped-back space can be transformed into an appealing place to live. In other words, neutral is beautiful. Thats why weve compiled this list of some of our favourite loft/attics that arent afraid to bare all.
Scandinavian Blonde
This sauna-like attic renovation makes use of light-coloured wood and natural daylight in order to create an open but equally warm and inviting space. It looks fresh and absolutely begs to be filled with furniture of a similar style. Too much wood can often come across as overbearing (especially dark and stained wood) but here it has been used to lend a clean, Scandinavian, and very modern feel.
Porcelain Temple
Greys and whites are fabulous shades for creating the illusion of space, typically when space is tight. The inclusion of painted trusses adds a quirky feel that not only looks unique, it also reacts with the daylight in a dynamic way; casting dapples of
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Posted: November 24, 2014Categories: Loft Conversion
Whether you already have a loft conversion or youre thinking of having one installed, there are some wonderful ideas out there for dressing your windows.
Windows are, after all, a massive focal point of any loft space, not to mention a major source of light. If youre serious about creating a comfortable, functional space in your loft then you need to put some thought into how best to use them. Thankfully, weve managed to come up with this list of ideas to get you started.
Room With a View
This glacial white conversion is kept clean and crisp looking with an extraordinary abundance of light, facilitated by these very simple but highly effective fitted vertical blinds. Its these bold, clean lines that help accentuate the angles of this beautiful ceiling to full effect.
New Old Look
Here is a contemporary twist on a very traditional setup. Matching blinds and bedcovers have been used to create this cosy scene, but theres also a touch of minimalism going on here with the neutral walls
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Posted: November 13, 2014Categories: Loft Conversion
Creating a space thats truly stunning visually, whilst retaining comfort and usability is a difficult trick to pull off. When it comes to loft decoration, less is definitely more. So why not go that one step further and strip your ideas for filling that liveable space to the bare minimum. Heres some stylishly clever things to consider:
Exposed brick, from rustic to modern chic
Exposed brickwork on your walls might sound like an incremental stage of an unfinished loft conversion, but done correctly it can achieve that lived-in feel that has become so popular in recent years.
Retaining the natural reddish-brown colour of any exposed brickwork exudes rustic-comfort that would suit any stylish bedroom or contemporary living area. Whereas painting brickwork in clean, neutral colours will transform shabby to modern chic.
Above: This minimalist bedroom has been achieved by combining exposed brick walls painted white alongside clean white walls and bare wooden flooring. Very bright and modern-looking.
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Posted: October 09, 2014Categories: Loft Conversion
Weve talked about loft conversions quite a lot over the past couple of weeks. In fact its become something of an obsession. Weve already looked at some of the lovelier aspects of converting your loft/attic into a more accommodating living space, so now we thought wed take you through a few of the stumbling blocks you may need to overcome when considering a loft conversion of your own.
Insufficient headroom
One of the common problems of remodelling your loft into a comfortable living space is ensuring sufficient room for standing. Lofts tend to have low ceilings anyway, and some insulation materials can often add bulk that takes up valuable headroom.
Try using multi-layer reflective foil insulation (which is actually thinner than most other types) to save space. You can also grab a little extra headroom where you need it by positioning a roof-light, which will give you an extra 15cm of clearance.
Header tank is in the way
Header tanks for central heating and the cold-water supply can