Bathroom Woes Anyone?

We have been having one sort of plumbing problem or other for the past year. I guess that's the price you pay for living in an old house. Our house was built in the 40's and hadn't really gone through any major renovations since it was built. Now that it's approaching its half century mark, it's finally showing its age. Things are starting to go one at a time.

Last year, it was the laundry room. Now, we're in the midst of tackling the bathrooms which have slowly developed faucet leaks, peeling paints and inefficient design for today's lifestyle. Believe it or not, one of the bathrooms still has only a claw foot tub to wash in. No shower. Now we're not getting rid of the tub, mind you. I love that cast iron monstrosity! I just want to add a shower. My girls are teenagers and have gotten past the tub baths stage. They just want to take their showers and go.

So. For the last few months we have been canvassing for bathroom accessories. They are high! Who would have thought a faucet or shower head would cost over $100! Well I guess they have always been that way, I just never had much of an opportunity to shop for them before.

Anyway, we've been finding some cool places for bathroom paraphernalia. I think we've finally decided on a look we want to go for. Since our house is old, I think we're sticking to more traditional designs although some of the new, sleek designs are really pretty.

Now the next step is finding the right contractor to do the job. Someone who will do a good job but not be too expensive. I have a feeling this will be another woe to worry about :)

The Spa in Your Own Home

Even during these hard economic times, or rather because of it, there is nothing better to improve our disposition than having a nice, comfortable living space. So people, even though they may not be able to afford to step up to a bigger house right now, are opting on doing improvements and renovations of the homes that they are in now.

We all have our ideal standard bathrooms in mind or rather in our fantasies, but if you can't afford that, simply adding or changing bathroom accessories can do wonders to an old and outdated room. For instance, kudos showers are quite stylish and functional at the same time and would make a marked improvement in any bathroom. If you're in the UK, check out Fairfield Bathroom Direct for your redecorating and improvement needs.

Stylish Clean Living

I hate cleaning but love having a clean house. I guess that's why I tend to lean towards contemporary designs that are almost spartan but still beautiful, comfortable and best of all uncluttered. Spacify.com is a website that specializes in modern, contemporary furniture. Whether you're looking for home furniture or for your office, Spacify is a great place to start looking for modern designs with clean, simple lines that encourage minimalism. They don't look cluttered so you won't be tempted to clutter them up.

They have designs and accessories for every room in the house. They have a great selection of Leather Sofas, for instance; including an array of modern office furniture like this Corner Computer Desk. I just noticed that they also have great pieces of lighting fixtures. If you're in the middle of designing your home or office, Visit Spacify now and stop wasting time. They've got everything!

Personalized Home

Doormats have gotten a bad rep. You may be like me where the mere word doormat already sets my guards up. But, this time I am not using the term metaphorically. I really am referring to the actual doormat, the first thing that your guests come upon when they walk up to your door.

They say that a home reflects the personality of its occupants. So if you are the welcoming sort of person, personalized doormats can let your visitors know you are proud of your home and they are welcome to cross its threshold. A variety of styles are available to suit your style and way of life. Sometimes a pretty and brightly colored mat may not do the job. Maybe your lifestyle needs a no nonsense, utilitarian mat. Well, it may be hardworking, but it doesn't have to be drab. You can still have an attractive and personalize mat that is also useful.

Doormats are not the only things you can personalize on your house though. A custom address plaque could also be a very nice addition to your home's facade. Having a personalized home address sign shows not only your pride in your home but it also highlights what could be a very mundane sign and makes an elegant statement about you.

With Christmas coming up, a personalized gift is worth considering.