5 Flooring Options to Spruce Up Your Kitchen Area

When it comes to upgrading the look and feel of your kitchen area every last detail counts, and flooring is a huge part of creating the luxury result you desire. There are many flooring options on the market, each of which offers a durable and high spec finish.

Here we explore the top five floor types for the kitchen so you can give the hub of the home a real makeover…

Go vinyl but not vintage

Vinyl certainly has a bad rep, a favourite during the 1970s this flooring option was available in many psychedelic patterns and colours, however in recent years vinyl floors are making a comeback. Gone are the crazy colours and prints, today’s vinyl flooring channel a more luxury look for less.

A concrete flooring choice

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Concrete isn’t just a great material for patios, paving and driveways, polished concrete flooring can ensure a stunning finish that is certainly on trend. Known for their low maintenance and longevity (with a bit of TLC the average concrete floor lasts up to 100 years!), polished concrete is a classy, economical and cutting edge flooring choice for any kitchen.

The polished concrete can also be customised to suit your style of kitchen seamlessly. Tinted sealants, dyes, stains and metallic coatings can be applied to guarantee a finish that is utterly unique.

Embrace a high end trend

Whilst we all know fashion has no bounds, it seems like this season’s hottest trend is equally as daring and dramatic. Leather floor tiles are the hottest look this spring / summer, usually reserved for those envied designer bags and shoes, leather tiles can add a touch of opulence to any room in the home. Many of these products have also been treated to make them ultra-durable and easy to maintain.

Get glassy

Glass can also create the wow factor is any kitchen area, whilst glass floors may sound like they are at the cutting edge of the flooring industry, the product is nothing new and this usually delicate material is used as flooring throughout many commercial buildings.

No need to tread carefully either, this specialist product has been reinforced to provide added strength and slip resistance.

Salvage something special

Hardwood flooring has always been a popular choice for both period and modern homes, however, opting for a more sustainable method of sourcing can create a whole new look! Salvaged wooden floors provide a worn in look that is oh so now! Salvaged from barns and factories, no two planks of wood are the same and every imperfection counts towards the wider finish.

This post was written by Brittany Thorley. She works for Ready Mix Concrete Online and regularly advises on how to use concrete creatively at home.

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Busy Weekend

My weekend was a busy one. My husband and his high school friends will hold a reunion two weeks ahead. They want to have a reunion in Bogor, the city we live, so since there’s only my husband who lives in Bogor, I must help him to arrange the event. On Saturday, my husband and I searched for a place to rent. We have many hotels here but guest houses to rent are only a few options. After visiting several places, we decided to book a guest house that usually used for military officers. It located on a main street in the city so it’s easy to be reached for his friends who come from other towns.

 

The elderly. On the left is my late father's brother.

The lunch food.

Meet the youngest family member

Another cutie

On Monday, we attended a family gathering at a cousin’s house. After the gathering, we continued to visit my three in-laws in their different homes. We went back home from the third destination almost midnight. Happily they live close each other, even homes of two in-laws are located on the same street.   

Blue Monday

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Reflected Wings

The insect is very small. My friend saw it accidentally on a leaf of her orchid plant. I was interested too. The pattern on each wing looks symmetric. Awesome!    

 My entry for Camera Critters  and Saturday's Critters

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From Drab to Fab: Your Guide to Home Upcycling

In today’s recovering economy, it pays to be a little thrifty when it comes to home improvement. Everyone wants to maintain a beautiful home that is always ahead of the trends, but in most circumstances that means having an impressive budget to match. However, unbeknown to many, upcycling could just provide the answer to transforming your home from drab to fab…

What is upcycling?

Upcycling is when individuals repurpose used, damaged or tired furniture for use elsewhere in their homes. The opportunity to upcycle trash into treasure is not a new concept, in fact craft enthusiasts have been doing this for years. However, with the rising trend more and more resources are available to find furniture in need of home upcycling and gather ideas from fellow upcyclers!

 

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Where to begin

Many householders don’t have old and disused furnishings hanging around the home, so hitting salvage yards, skips, antique stores and charity shops is the first step to finding the best materials for upcycling. Salvage yards in particular can be a treasure trove of furniture finds and other hidden gems, the style of which you wouldn’t necessarily find in the polished stores lining our high streets. Salvage yards and charity shops are also the perfect place to bag a bargain!

Vintage and antique drawers are the ultimate find for any upcycler, and these can be transformed into renovated furnishings with a quick lick of paint or further repair and restoration. Look for items with a history and bring them back to life with your newfound upcycling skills.

Upcycling techniques

Once you have found your preloved furnishings, learning a few simple upcycling techniques is the next step to transforming your home on a shoestring budget. Retuning your DIY skills is a must when it comes to upcycling, whilst learning painting and finishing techniques can give you the skills to quickly transform tired looking items.

Chalk paints are the upcycler’s favourite product, and after smoothing the surface, these can easily be applied to transform the look of old furniture. Chalk paints can also be used on stained or veneered furniture, so you can create a great look without spending hours removing paint. Waxing and buffing techniques can also be used to create the popular distressed look. Stencilling and experimenting with paint effects can also add a creative touch to your home.

Something for the weekend…

Why not get started with this upcycling project? Transform old and disused wooden ladders into a bookshelf or towel rack to create a new focal point for your bathroom or living room. The wood can be treated using an array of effects, depending on the look you desire, or can be stripped and waxed to create a more natural finish.

The author of this post is Brittany Thorley from Cheshire Demolition, the UK’s leading salvage and skip hire specialists.

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