Interiors Shopping Around Bingley, West Yorkshire

You don't need to be in a big metropolis to find help on your quest for stylish interiors. Even in small UK towns, there is a wealth of high quality products and services available from local businesses. Often retailers may be in more random locations but as real specialists, selling niche products, their shop may be a destination in it's own right.

We decided to do some research into what interior design businesses are situated in our local area and we chose Bingley, West Yorkshire as our test area. We wanted to see what independent merchants are situated in a small British town, such as Bingley, and what they can offer the style conscious homeowner.

Bingley is a small market town with a population of just under 20,000 and is situated in the Aire Valley, West Yorkshire, close to both Leeds and Bradford and on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Bingley is situated in the heart of the UK's textile industry and its Victorian mills still illustrate its history of producing woollen goods. This expertise is reflected in the wealth of carpet suppliers in the area.

For instance, Carpet Time, based in Bingley, is one of Bradford's best-known carpet retailers. Started in 1947, this family business has adapted over the year's to suit ever-changing consumer demands adapting their flooring range to include the latest in high quality laminates and vinyls.

Another legacy from the industrial revolution is Salts Mill, which is now a real destination in West Yorkshire when it comes to interiors. The Home store on the mill's main floor offers stunningly presented designer homewares and the ultimate in classic furniture; Mies van der Rohe chairs sit alongside Alessi kettles and Phillipe Starck lemon juicers. The Mill, Saltaire also sells affordable art for the home with a wide range of posters and prints available from the bookshop.

As the UK's leading radiator retailer, Feature Radiators, based in Bingley Railway Station, is the one-stop port of call for anyone wanting stylish, high performance heating at competitive prices. This award winning company offers a selection of the best contemporary, designer, traditional cast ironand electric radiatorsand heated towel rails on the market in terms of quality, design and value for money. With over 160 styles on display in their showroom, expert advice, unrivalled customer service and nationwide delivery, we are widely recognized as the UK's leading radiator specialist.

For textiles, The Design Mill at Castlefields Industrial Estate offers supply and design services for curtains and blinds from a range of fabulous fabrics at discounted prices. With Bradford and Keighley close by, Bingley also is ideally located for sourcing Asian fabrics due to Airedale's connections to the East. Asian textiles are readily available from a huge array of merchants around the city, most notably Bombay Stores, Shearbridge Road, Bradford, which is the UK's largest Asian department store.

Last but not least, the latest addition to local interiors shopping in the Aire Valley is Labyrinth Interiors, which offer high quality paint and wallpaper from their showroom on Main Street.

It's clear to see that big cities and chain stores are not the only option when it comes to sourcing the right interiors products. Local independent merchants operating around the country can offer a personalised service and as specialists in a particular field, their knowledge of products and the market makes choosing the features for your home not only easy and uncomplicated but also enjoyable.

For more information on shopping in Bingley, then contact Bingley's Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Helena Gerwitz is the General Manager at Feature Radiators, the one-stop port of call for anyone wanting high performance, stylish heating at competitive prices.

With over 160 styles on display in our showroom, expert advice, unrivalled customer service and nationwide delivery, we are widely recognized as the UK's leading radiator specialist.

For more expert advice on heating then contact Feature Radiators at http://www.featureradiators.co.uk/, call them on 01274 567789 or visit them in person at Feature Radiators, Bingley Railway Station. BD16 2NB

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Indian Home Decor - Punjabi Interiors For Your Home

If you have ever heard about India, chances are you have heard lots about Punjab. Easily one of the most famous states of India for its vibrant culture and industrious people, Punjab is one of the leading states of the country. Nature's bounty has made this land the food bowl of India, and the hard working people have made a name for themselves throughout the world.

Other than the green revolution, another thing very famous about Punjab is its extremely vibrant culture. Infectious Punjabi music forms with its rhythmic beat form an essential part of practically every movie that is churned out by the famous Indian film industry, Bollywood. While Punjabis are the butt of many jokes, their ability to turn odds on their head is well respected.

When it comes to Punjabi home decor, there are two distinct trends that emerge - the rural and the urban.

The first being the village or the rural trend, in which the decor is pretty simple. Simple furniture such as beds woven from jute husk and seating on the ground is popular. The kitchen is generally separated from the main house. When food is served the men folk eat first and the women eat later.

The villages of Punjab produce some popular home decor items as well. One being the famous Phulkari, that is a very colorful embroidery using thick cotton thread and made into bed spreads, duvet covers et all. Sometimes traditional phulkari embroidery is also used in part to design smaller pieces such as decorative cushion covers, tea-cozy, table covers and mats. This form of embroidery can be generally picked up in emporiums showcasing Punjabi culture, culture fairs or even online shops.

Another famous produce is the cotton 'Durrie'. The durrie is basically a simple mat made of course cotton and is usually used as a floor rug. Very often it is also used as bedding, or under mattresses to avoid slipping of the bed clothes. The navy blue color being most popular, colors such as red, green, gray, brown are all available. The durrie is long lasting, versatile in its use and very practical.

Steel utensils are preferred for use in rural Punjab. Expect large sized steel glasses that hold nearly a full liter of 'lassi' or butter milk, the preferred summer drink of rural Punjab. Even water and milk is offered in these huge glasses and guests are generally expected to finish the whole thing!

Outside a lot of Punjabi village homes you would find colorful ceramic tiles decorating the entrance or the main arch. This is again in line with the inherent nature of the Punjabis to try and show off their wealth to the world.

An interesting thing you may well notice about rural Punjabi homes is shaped water tanks. Thus you would find a large sized concrete bird perched on top of one house, a horse on another, numerous footballs, even aeroplanes and statues of wrestlers! I would again link this to the basic Punjabi trait of seeking attention and displaying wealth.

In my next article we shall delve some more into the home decor patterns of urban Punjab. See you soon!

Jasnav is a keen writer and possess a connoisseur's eye on interior decoration arrangements. The author swears by the furnishing products available online provided by the website http://www.indianselections.com/ for sprucing up your home decor.

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Home Interiors - Clients Guide No 4 - Making a Start - Are You Really Ready?

With your Designer selected and their Fee Proposal agreed you are now at the point to make a start with your project, but before you push the GO button there are a few things that you should have very clear in your mind.

Finance; this can be the Elephant in the Room that no one wants to talk about! Up to this stage budget project costs have been very much left on the back seat, but you do need to have a indication what the likely cost could be before heading head long into this venture. Equally you need to know how much you wish to spend and how you are going to finance this; it no good having the vision of a nice shiny red Ferrari when you only have the money for a Ford!

When thinking about the overall costs of a project don't forget to factor in VAT. When Designer and Contractors talk about project costs they will usually always be net of value added tax; so for example a 100k project cost is really 120k at today's UK 20% VAT rate. If this was a Commercial project undertaken by a registered company VAT is not really going to be an issue as most of this cost will be reclaimed back, but as a private home owner there will be no opportunity to do this. You need to make sure that both you and your Designer/Contactor are both talking about the same thing here when it comes down to cost, you are likely to have "gross figures" in your mind but other will no doubt have "net figures" in theirs!

There are a number of "non-construction" costs that also need to be added into your budget and these will vary depending on the type of project being undertaken. Design & Architectural fees have already been talked about, but there could be Structural Engineer fees along with Planning & Building Control application and inspection fees and all of this could add 12%-16% to your budget plus the VAT on these fees. So that net 100k project is more like 140k when looking a gross figures included "non-construction" costs.

You should also be adding some form of contingency amount to your project budget and 10% would be the normal rate, which now brings the net 100k up to 150k, half as much again from our starting point. So you can start to see how easy it is to "blow a budget" if you have not factored in all elements in and out of the basic build cost.

Before the Designer commences with any Conceptual Design the two of you need to have a clear understanding of your budget foundations and your Designer will be able to help establish these with you.

There is another cost issue that can come up for clients particular with extensive house refurbishment and this is the ability for them to remain in the house while major works are being undertaken. Quite often clients will move out of the house into rented accommodation while the work is being carried out, and there is likely a significant costs associated in doing this. You need to know very early on if is this a real possibility as it needs planning in as to not only its cost but also the overall timing as to when you will likely have to vacate.

Please remember that a Budget is exactly what it is "A BUDGET", it's not fixed and is forever changing and that is usually in an upwards direction. However you are going to finance your project make sure to allow plenty of wriggle room between an initial budget figure and whatever is likely to be the final spend; if you want your final spend to be i.e. 200k then half this straight way to get a net build budget.

Programming; this is another area that can be completely underestimated. As a basic benchmark from the outset you should be allowing somewhere in the region of six months from the start of the design progress to contractors commencement on-site. This duration of course will be subject to the type of project being undertaken, but anywhere Planning & Building Control applications are required this is generally a good rule of thumb.

The on-site period is very much subject to the size and complexity of the project, but for example with a net build value of between 100k - 150k, twelve weeks/three months is about the time scale you should be thing about.

On completion of the site work there will be a point where "Handover" will takes place, that's when you get your house back, but this is not necessarily the end of the work. There may be a number of outstanding job to complete and snagging of work that is not up to standard. This part of the project should not be underestimated, it can be the most challenging time for everyone. If there is one point in the project where relationships breakdown this is it and can be a very frustrating time for all. Clients just want the work finished and the Contractors out and the Contractors don't want to be there, they would rather be on the next new project. For the Designer they tend to be court in the middle between the two parties and have to act as an intermediary to get these issues resolved, and this can carry on for weeks and weeks.

There may also be a six months defects period in the terms of the contact where the Design will re-inspect the work and list any item or areas of work that requires attention by Contractors/Suppliers. Again this can drag on over a number of weeks until all matters are concluded. So although only three months was spent "On-Site" the overall duration of a project from the very start to 100% completion can take well over a year.

With Budget & Programming matters clearly on your radar I would suggest you have a meeting with your Designer before he puts pen to paper so that you can establish with him the boundaries that need to be set for the project. This should not be about a battle of views, each of you will bring something valid to the table which needs to be mutually understood and agreed on. This may be the first time that you are embarking on such a project, but for the Designer he would have been there before, so use his experience and knowledge of similar situations to arrive at the correct Budget & Programme foundation for your project.

On the basis that all has been successfully discussed and agreed you should now be ready to give your Designer the "green light" to commence the design process with - Stage One - Conceptual Planning & Design, which will be covered in the fifth article in this Home Design Clients Guide series by Chris Page.

Christopher R Page has been active within the Interior Design industry for over 35years with a wealth of knowledge in not only the creative process but its delivery into a three dimensional working reality. As a long standing Fellow of the Society of Chartered Designers he has shared his views and insights on TV, Radio and numerous articles, talking not only about his work but the Design Business in general and its relationship with clients. His well respected design studio is based near Rochester, Kent, UK, where he and his team undertakes all aspects of Commercial & Residential (Home) Design projects for wide and diverse customer base. More can be found out about his activities and portfolios of work at http://www.cpd-design.co.uk/

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Comfy Interiors - How to Design Real Home Style

Comfort isn't just for Christmas. Comfort is a state of mind. Comfort is the end of the day when everything is peaceful. Comfort is a cuddle. Comfort is a blanket and a clear night sky. Comfort is candles.

Of course we all describe comfort in completely different ways. A minimalist will no doubt find one portion of their home comfy. To them. It just won't be the same as my daughter's definition, as it's unlikely to involve 27 teddy bears and a High School Musical blanket.

So how do we make our homes comfortable? What makes each of us feel 'at home'?

There are some common denominators, of course - the crackling fire, fabulous texture underfoot, but also the less noted, flattering lighting and intuitive design. These are the intangible factors of a home that are only noticed if they don't work. It's rare to compliment the comfortable flow of someone's house or the correct mood lighting. If they are done well, then these factors just fade seamlessly into the fabric of the house.

Unfortunately, finding comfort in the home isn't always a case of investing in dozens of fluffy cushions. Comfort requires a personal definition, because while some are comforted by a simple basket of freshly cut logs others prefer surrounding themselves with stunning pieces of art, designer fabrics and eye-wateringly expensive tassels to feel 'comfort'. What does it mean to you?

Comfort in the home is a fundamental part of human existence. Maslow identified security as one of our most basic needs and I would suggest that meeting this need, in the form of a home - a sanctuary, an escape - will mean that we are then more free to venture further into our more complex needs such as respect and self-actualisation. Understanding the psychology of the home requires more than investing in a pair of ?350 curtain tie-backs after all.

Understanding what delights you - what makes you tick, what lights your fire - is the first part of interior design. Appreciating what makes you happy or excites you - the love of a sculpture bought on a romantic weekend in Arles, the painting left to you by a grandparent, an instrument played as a child - can inspire more than a gorgeous room. It will work way beyond coordination and design principles as it will be based on your life, your history and that personal element is what will make the room wonderful - wonderfully comfortable.

That being said, there are still rules to follow that will help compliment the 'feel good' factor of the object itself - be it an inherited Tiffany lamp or a simple patchwork cushion that caught your eye.

These rules are there to give a helping hand - to point out a basic shape perhaps, or a palette of colours. The item, let's call it a copper cooking pot that your Grandmother always used, will give you the scheme for the rest of the room. It will tell you whether to use curved legs or straight, it will suggest a traditional look or a more contemporary style. It will, in short, give you the 'feel' of a room. And if you listen carefully, and most importantly, are not distracted by other pretty diversions, then your room will come together as a cohesive design - well thought through, simple and uniquely yours.

Niki Schafer is the founder of Dwell-Being Designs (http://www.dwell-being.com/)
Dwell-Being Designs uber lovely spaces that tell your story. And is based in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. In truth, Niki's far too down-to-earth to be an interior designer, but she's passionate about colour and texture and re-arranges furniture within minutes of entering an establishment so the career choice became more of a must than anything else.
She's also a writer. This started with an obsession with Scrabble and grew into sentences and paragraphs later. Niki is a phenomenally inspiring wife and mum and reminds her family of this on a daily basis. In her spare time, Niki experiments in a number of martial arts in a pair of lilac boxing gloves.

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