Tag Archives: Home and Garden

Gardening

How To Choose Chicken Coop Building Plans

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Are you looking for building chicken coops ideas and information? There are many aspects to think about when looking at various types of chicken coop building plans, to find the one that will best suit you.

Choosing the best spot for the chicken house is important for several reasons. One of which is to protect your flock from predators, and you can do that by building the coop close to your home, so you can keep an eye on it.

Having enough room in the chicken coop is something you absolutely must have. Your hens need plenty of space. How much space you’ll need is going to be based on how many chickens you got. Generally allow 4 square feet per hen, to allow enough space for them not feel too crammed in, as it will cause a decrease in the egg production.

Some other aspects to consider when looking at how much space you’ll need is making sure you have room for a roost, a nesting box, a water container and a feeder. All these are important features that you coop will require, and should be part of your chicken coop building plan.

As you look at the layout of the coop, consider the materials you will use to build with. While people who have made these in the past will tell you to use different things, the truth is that you have many options when it comes to what you use. But remember, even though you can go with a pretty cheap material, if you want your coop to last longer, and withstand severe weather, keeping the hens warm inside, then you should go with a higher quality.

Leaving enough space for a chicken run is also important. Getting your hens to move around outside is part of chicken raising. So keep that in mind when choosing the location where you will build.

Having a comfortable place for your birds to rest, sleep, and lay eggs, is all that’s really required of a good chicken coop. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just good enough and provide these elements for the flock.

Want to learn more about building chicken coops and picking out chicken coop building plans? Stop by Sean Young’s site where you can discover more tips and ideas and pick up your FREE blueprint.

Gardening

5 Simple Ideas To Bring Your Tried Bathroom Back To Life

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“Following particular trends dates a bathroom more quickly,” says tile shop Capitol Ceramics’ interior designer Katie Soucek. Trends come and go at an alarming rate, so if you want a longer lasting look to your bathroom, it may be best to ignore the latest fashion and go for a more classic style.

“Bathrooms with boarders and trims were once very fashionable but are now looking dated.” says Soucek, an experienced bathroom designer. So choosing a bathroom design that uses a border or trim could leave you feeling blue just a few months down the line.

The quickest way to work wonders on your old bathroom is to give it a new coat of paint – even if you use the same colour as you currently have, the fresh coat with give it more life. Nude shades can add some style and panish but milder, translucent colours are more versatile and work in many different colours.

The best tip to remember is that if you want your bathroom to look more spacious, then go for light colours, ” And using the same tiles on the floor and the walls immediately makes a room feel bigger” adds Capitol Ceramics’ Katie Soucek. Alternatively, if you are looking to create a more dramatic space why not go for deep colours for a moody romantic atmosphere.

A new shower curtain or bathroom mat can also make all the difference, as can accessories. Purchase new towels that are fluffy and colourful or put a vinyl on your shower screen for an immediate glamour hit.

Purchase a selection of mirrors and even some decorative accessories (ornaments) and artwork to give the room some extra style. Mirrors add a sense of space so look to place mirrors where they will catch and reflect the light.

Katie Soucek discusses a recent project. “We’ve just completed work on a bathroom for a lovely client who wanted a ‘New England’ feel to her bathroom. We needed to create a sense of space and lightness in the room, so used simple white, mosaic tiles, coupled with tonal blues and biege stone. Then we selected a set of acrylic, glass and ceramic vases to line the shelves and finished it off with some gorgeous white cotton towels that give the room a wonderful feeling of luxury”

Kate also stresses the importance of lighting. “If your bathroom does not have recessed spot lighting, it’s worth the investment. Also, why not replace the grouting and go for a colour for instant impact.”

When it comes to choosing your features and materials, a shrewd designer will budget and splurge tactically, for example interior designer Philip Watts suggests “On a budget I would use an inexpensive sanitary-ware, but as stylish taps as your budget will allow – so accessorize” he adds “Use natural materials such as slate, limestone, pebbles or timber as these will not date. Use them in a contemporary, architectural way for maximum effect.

Thank you to Katie from Capitol Ceramics for her time and support in writing this article. Katie is the lead interior designer at Capitol Ceramics, a leading London Tile Shop based in Notting Hill Gate, West London. To view the range of beautiful porcelain and ceramic tiles stocked by Capitol Ceramics please visit the Capitol Ceramics website.