Buildmumahouse

Calculate BTU or how to choose the right size radiator. How do you calculate the correct size of radiator for each room? Getting the right size radiator for your room will save money and also help you keep an even temperature in your home. The rule of thumb seems to be to install radiators that are just a bit more powerful than your calculation so that when you install the valves you can turn the heat down – under powered radiators only means you

Authors for Grenfell Tower: An Online Auction Raising money for the British Red Cross to go to resid I want to tell you about this online auction raising money for the British Red Cross London Fire Relief Fund, for residents affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. Around 1:00 a.m. on 14 June 2017, a fire in this residential tower block in west London spread to engulf the entire building. Despite the heroic efforts of the fire service, all 120 flats in the building have been destroyed. The de

Make a Fidget Cushion by Juliet Bawden, My Guest Blogger from creativecolour.org “My aunt has Parkinson’s disease, a complex condition that affects different people in different ways. The symptoms most often associated with Parkinson’s affect movement. My aunt often needs to do something with her hands and so I decided to make a Fidget and sensory cushion for her. When my children were very young I designed an activity cushion complete with buttons, laces, Velcro

Electronic surveillance systems. Are you spying on your parents or just keeping an eye out for them? A friend’s mum fell in her garden and couldn’t get up, she lay there for hours before anyone knew of her situation. A workman cleaning a 95 year old’s gutters asked for a glass of water, followed my relative to the kitchen. His accomplice ran upstairs and ransacked the bedrooms. A family friend collapsed in the shower and couldn’t call for help, her newly renovated home was flooded and rui

An amazing spa bathroom for any age I was at a location house a few weeks ago, owned by interiors stylist Catherine Woram and architectural designer Michael Bains. I was captivated how beautiful the entire house was. Every room. But it was the bathrooms that did it for me – I need one of these! Each bathroom was full of beautiful, clever details all in perfect harmony. A perfect retreat from the stresses and strains of the wor

Craft books review: Fat Quarter Home & Fat Quarter Quick makes If like me, you have helped your parent downsize, moved a child to their first home and have uncovered some beautiful fabrics that have been squirreled away over the years …you need these two books! Fat Quarter Quick Makes and Fat Quarter Home are two books that are part of a fantastic new series of stash-busting sewing books aimed at beginner to intermediate crafters. Every project in Fat Quart

Focus on Katie Gibbs: Queen of Home Transformations Katie Gibbs is a London based interior stylist, art director Next Directory stylist, and an interiors consultant with a wealth of experience in all aspects of interior design. I first worked with her on TV commercials over 18 years ago and I’m still a big fan of how she can bring a room set up to date with just the right on trend details, and how she can transform the space so that you want

How to Make a Mood Board…the EASY Way. The last few days I’ve been feeling full of optimism and excitement to start new projects.. and finish half abandoned ones. A mood board is the first step in any design project. I’m going to take you through an easy way to make up a mood board using office WORD on a Mac or a PC, an every day piece of office software. If you can’t use Photoshop or Canva or Pic collage don’t

Buildmumahouse Guide: How to make Roman blinds? I’m taking you through a step-by-step guide to making Roman blinds with or without a kit. Roman blinds transform your windows, are surprisingly quick to make and use very little fabric compared to curtains so you can really splurge on the quality or the fabric design or work to a tight budget. They can be used on the own or with curtains for a decadent layered effect. Roman blinds can be lin

Buildmumahouse Guide: How to make curtains? In 1981 my mum bought me a book, “Sewing” by Ann Ladbury, the Mary Berry of Sewing. This has been my bible of curtain making ever since and I am now sharing Ann’s brilliantly simple book with a few tips from me and my mum. In my previous Buildmumahouse guide I explained how to measure up for curtains. Once you have all your measurements and you’ve got your fabric here’

The Buildmumahouse Guide: How to Measure up Curtains You’ve got some fabric that you love. How do you make curtains? In 1981 I had some 1950’s fabric and I wanted to my some cool curtains for my flat and my mum bought this book.  “Sewing by Ann Ladbury” It looked so 70’s even then. But among smock tops, big cuffs and patch pockets shaped like an apple, I found the clearest ever guide to making curtains, blinds, cushion

Turn the lights on with a wide rocker…! They were all the rage in the 1970’s and have proved to be spot on after your 70’s. I’m talking wide rockers, wide light switch rockers. I installed MK Logic Plus wide rocker switches in my mum’s house and they have proved to be a delight for her to use. Easy on her arthritis…and as they are MK they have an light, smooth but positive switch action. Last year they went

Look no wires! Qmotion Automated blinds. I first saw the Qmotion blinds at Decorex and went WOW! I need. I want. I love them! If you’re into nets and curtains you won’t get it but if you like the streamlined look of a sheer blind in the day or a blackout blind at night, you’re going to get why these are great.   c) QMotion   I’m 5 foot nothing much and can’t reach the “acorn” on the spr

How we transformed our 1930’s fireplace in 2 days It’s been an exciting week. It’s only taken two years of decision making… but we’ve done it. On Friday we had a modern multifuel stove installed into our original fireplace. It’s transformed our living room and looks fantastic. Our fireplace still has the original 1930’s ceramic tiled surround and lovely Art Deco details, like the wavy lines decorating the mantle. We love the look

The Walk In Shower Solution That Helps You Keep your Independence in Style. Where can you find a non- slip, walk in shower that can be fitted quickly, in awkward spaces, without major disruption and LOOKS FANTASTIC? Have a look at the Fiora Elax shower trays that will surprise you as they aren’t actually a tray as we know it! I recently discovered this Spanish shower room manufacturer – Fiora. I love their modern classic styling and high quality production and

My review of Vivienne Talsmat’s Rejuva Bar: The Snack Bar that’s raising the bar on nutr Have you actually read what’s in a ‘healthy’ snack bar? I have recently become a label reader and I’m…

Mobility issues and LIDL- #LIDLSURPRISES Is Lidl the only UK supermarket that has useful stuff for the elderly, disabled and anyone with reduced mobility?…

5 Easy Steps to Make Your Garden Accessible and Enjoyable “I love my garden but I don’t have time for it.” “I miss my garden but I’m too old…