What UK families should check before planning home improvements

This is a collaborative post

Deciding to do home improvements can be both exciting and daunting. It's a chance to revamp your living space, add value to your property, and potentially save money in the long run. However, diving head-first into renovations without proper planning can result in costly mistakes, delays and potential legal issues. As such, it’s a good idea to take certain crucial factors into consideration before you embark on your home improvement journey.

Checking the Property’s State

Undertaking planned preventative maintenance is a vital aspect of home ownership that many homeowners overlook. Regularly scheduled upkeep prevents breakdowns and faults, which could save you a lot of hassle and money in the long run. Carrying out a thorough check of the property's current state can potentially save you from expensive repairs in the future. You need to conduct a survey of the home's major components including the plumbing, heating, electrical systems, roof condition, and windows.

Permission and Regulation

The second factor is to check if you need to get planning permission for your proposed home improvements. Large scale improvements like extensions, loft conversions, or changing the property’s facade usually require permission. Additionally, it's essential to understand the UK Building Regulation rules that outline the standards for design, construction and alterations to every building. Failure to comply could lead to penalties and could even affect the resale value of your home.

Budget and Financing

Financial planning is another essential pre-renovation step. Analyse and decide your budget, accounting for materials, labour, planning and design fees, and contingency expenses for any unforeseen costs. If needed, explore different financing options like home improvement loans or remortgages before committing to the project.

Photo credit Kirsten Drew via Unsplash

Choice of Material and Energy Efficiency

The choice of material can significantly impact both renovation costs and long-term maintenance. Opting for quality materials might up your initial costs but will ensure durability and less maintenance. Consider choosing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient options. They can not only help reduce your carbon footprint but also save you money on your energy bills.

Hiring the Right Professionals

Hiring the right professionals is paramount. Not every job can be a DIY project. Make sure to hire reputable, certified professionals for tasks like electrical work or structural changes. Getting quotes from at least three different contractors can provide a realistic price range. Remember to check the credentials and customer feedback before hiring.

Timing of the Renovation

Lastly, choosing the right time for renovation is important. Spring and summer are considered the best times for home improvements due to favourable weather. However, contractors are also busiest during these periods. So, plan well in advance to avoid any scheduling conflicts.

In Summary

Home improvements can provide your family with a better living space and increase the asset value of your home. But remember to consider planned preventative maintenance, permissions and regulations, financial planning, material choice, hiring the right professionals, and timing of the renovation before you begin. With careful planning and consideration, your home improvement journey can be a smooth and successful one.

The Christmas Nutcracker cross stitch from Bothy Threads

Back in Christmas 2023 I was lucky enough to be given a cross stitch kit by a friend. She had received it as a gift, and although she loves nutcrackers she doesn't love cross stitch, so she kindly passed it on to me. 

This counted cross stitch design is The Christmas Nutcracker by Bothy Threads and it is worked on navy blue Aida. The design uses full cross stitches as well as back stitch, Lazy Daisy stitch and French knots, includes sequins, and uses a somewhat limited colour palette. It's a great Christmas stitching project, and the final piece fits perfectly into a 30x40cm frame.

I didn't get too far the first Christmas, I just sorted out the kit and then made a start working from the centre. I managed to complete the top of the Nutcracker, which gives a good base for working on the rest of the design. Because the Nutcracker is symmetrical and formed of large blocks of colour it's an easy section to work on without needing to constantly refer to the printed pattern.

By last Christmas I had made some more progress, with most of the top half of the design in place. It stitches up quite quickly, because although there are some tricky areas to count there are very few areas that contain similar colours worked together.

If you sit down for an evening of stitching you can feel like you've made quite a lot of progress and covered a fair bit of the canvas. The border looks tricky but once you've got the repeating pattern in your head you can stitch it up quite easily.

At the beginning of this year the project was put to one side while I concentrated on other things, although it was always at the back of mind to pick it up again this Christmas. In September my husband was away a lot, and I decided to sit down and have a really good go at getting it finished in time to frame for Christmas this year.

The cross stitch design is actually completed over two layers with two separate patterns. Most of the work is in the first layer which is the cross stitch layer. Then you can move on to the finishing off layer.

Here is a glimpse of the cross stitch with the first layer of stitching complete. You can see that there are still quite a few gaps, but the majority of the design is in place. 

Then I moved on to adding the final stitches to complete the design - here's a comparison showing the first cross stitch layer and then how it looks with the second layer of stitching added to the top. This layer was quite tricky for me. Most of it is backstitch with just a few French knots, but it was the Lazy Daisy stitches that really threw me and there are so many of them - I struggled to get them to look perfect! But it looks so good once the final stitches are added and the design fills out. There are a few sequins dotted about as well.

I really enjoyed completing this cross stitch, it was fun and satisfying to work on and not too complicated. There aren't many colours to keep track of, the pattern is easy to follow, and it works up fairly quickly. Stitching on the dark coloured Aida wasn't always easy, especially in the evening, but it looks really effective with the bright colours. 

It will take pride of place among my homemade Christmas decorations. If you are interested in more Christmas cross stitch designs then you might also enjoy seeing my finished Christmas ABC Sampler from Design Works which I completed a few years ago. 

I also have my eye on another Christmas cross stitch kit from Bothy Threads, but I have a few kits that I need to get finished first. One of them is another Christmas themed design, which I'm wondering if I can also complete ready to display this year!

How I make sure to always have a book on the go

Lately I've been making a big effort to reduce my screen time, and one way to do this has been to replace social media and endless scrolling with reading. It's been amazing - I can feel that my attention span has increased, and in quiet moments I've been happily spending time with my own thoughts. 

In order to make sure that I'm not tempted to pick up the phone I've been coming up with ways that I can make sure I always have a book one the go - something that I really want to read and which is always accessible.

I'm usually reading several books at the same time. I have a non-fiction book which requires more thought, a Kindle book which I've generally acquired for free at some point and can be a bit of a gamble. Finally I have a physical book which is usually one that I've bought myself or have borrowed, and it's one that I really want to read.

• My current non-fiction read - Enshittification by Cory Doctorow. Fascinating book which really makes you realise just how rubbish the technology that we use daily has become over time. 
• My current Kindle read - The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst. This must have been an Amazon First Read, and so far it's one of the better ones!
• My current physical book read - The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman. This new book was a gift - I love this Thursday Murder Club series. 

I have regular slots in my day that I can dedicate to reading. I eat over lunch as I'm generally on my own, and sometimes at dinner too if everyone else is busy. I arrive at school early for pick up and read in the car, and I always read in bed before I go to sleep. Reading regularly means that I never lose track of where I'm up to, and I'm keen to see what happens next.

Photo credit Christin Hume via Unsplash

I have an exciting to be read pile by the bed. I prioritise books that I've borrowed, and as I come to the end of a book I always know which read is going to be next! It's very rare that I run out of books because I seem to just acquire them - I have a friend that lends me lots of books, I shop in charity shops,  I have them on my wish list for birthday and Christmas, I keep an eye on Amazon for free books, and I have a large library of my own with books that I love to re-read. I very rarely need to visit the public library!

I take a book, usually my Kindle, with me whenever I go anywhere that might involve waiting - appointments, trips on public transport, even anywhere that I might be waiting to pick someone up in the car.

I don't force it with books that I'm not enjoying. There are too many more that I want to read! So I'm never slogging away trying to finish an uninspiring read.

I don't worry about what I'm reading - whether it's intellectual enough, or what other people might think. I keep track of the books that I've read for my own interest, I don't set myself reading goals like a certain number of books in a year. I never understand challenges which say to read ten pages a day or whatever - do you just stop reading at the end of ten pages? Mid-sentence?!

If you are reading a good book at the moment I'd love to hear about it - I'm always looking for reading inspiration!

Review - Christmas 3D frame miniature kits from Rolife

I received these kits in exchange for a review

A few weeks ago I shared some gorgeous Christmas themed miniature kits from Rolife, and now that I've made a start on my Christmas crafting I'm delighted to share the results of these two kits from the DIY Miniature House Story Frames Series.

These kits are titled Christmas Eve Party and Santa's Toy Shop. Each kit contains everything that you need to assemble a miniature world which is fitted inside a deep frame. All you need to add are two AAA batteries so that you can light up the scene. I chose to work first on the Christmas Eve Party kit.

Inside the box you will find the plastic frame which holds it all together and a selection of materials including wooden pieces to press out, stickers, paper cut pieces, the lighting kit, a variety of small themed accessories and full instructions. There is also a small screwdriver for the battery box, plastic tweezers, and tiny double sided tape strips.

Christmas Eve Party depicts a dining room filled with Christmas treats. There is a dresser with shelves filled with festive articles, a display of Christmas plates, a table piled high with delicious food and drink, and a Christmas tree in the corner. The first step is to assemble all of the tiny items that sit inside the scene.

Then the lighting kit is placed into position, and all the tiny items are stuck firmly in place before a plastic dust cover is added to the front. The picture below is taken before the front of the frame was added so that it can be photographed without a reflection. I'd recommend leaving it a day or so before adding the dust cover just so that you can check everything inside is stuck firmly - although it is possible to remove the front to make changes it might risk upsetting everything inside!

The dust cover is a great way to make sure that everything inside stays nice and clean, especially as this is something that you will want to bring out from year to year. I love all the detail in this kit, especially the tiny cake and mug of cocoa!

Next I worked on Santa's Toy Shop. This kit is slightly different because it is in portrait rather than landscape format. It also doesn't have a dust cover, instead the elements of the kit extend outside the frame, making a tiny world that you can imagine walking into. It features the entrance to the toy shop, with a front door that can be pushed open to reveal more decorations inside. Piled up outside the shop is a heap of gift wrapped boxes, one filled with sparkling baubles, and the shop window displays more festive delights. 

Once again the assembly of the kit was simple and enjoyable. Both kits did have their fiddly parts, in particular the tree in Christmas Eve Party and the lamp post in Santa's Toy Shop. Some of the wooden pieces are very delicate and I did have a couple that snapped when I pushed them together too firmly. It was easily fixed with some superglue, but it's a reminder to be careful and not get impatient. I used glue (not supplied) in some places just to make sure that everything was stuck firmly.

I also messed up slightly when I installed the battery box on this kit, I slotted it in backwards and then found it very difficult to remove. It's very important to read the instructions and check the pictures very carefully, all the information is there if you look properly!

The finished frame kits have a plastic hook at the back so they can be hung from the wall, or else they can be displayed free standing. I can't even decide which is my favourite! 

The lighting for the kits is very simple and easy to install. The battery box is accessed from the back, and two AAA batteries are required. There is a light sensitive button for the lights which is on the outside of the frame, and a light touch is enough to turn them on.

Here are the frames displayed proudly on my bookcase so you can see the scale, they each measure approximately 16cm by 21cm. They look lovely together but would also make great individual kits. They would be a lovely gift for a crafty friend, or something that the family can work on together to create something that will decorate the home at Christmas for years.

These kits are not too difficult to put together, and it's a very satisfying process. Each one takes about two hours to make so you can complete in an evening, but I'd recommend taking your time and enjoying the assembly, as well as making sure that each step is firmly stuck before moving on to the next. 

These kits would make a lovely addition to your Christmas decor, as well as giving you a lot of enjoyment when you work on completing them. Next I'm going to be working on the Gingerbread House miniature kit, and I'll be sharing my progress soon!

How my garden has changed with the arrival of Autumn

I've been sharing notes from my garden over the summer, and I wanted to write a post about how it's looking now that Autumn is decidedly here. But it turns out that most of what I have to write about is the leaves! 

We have a beautiful tree at the bottom of our garden, I think that it's some kind of ornamental cherry blossom. It's on land which is owned by the parish council, up against our fence. It must have been planted when the houses were built, making it around 25 years old, and over the last few years it has just grown and grown. I managed to arrange for it to be pollarded a couple of years back, but I think that just made it grow more!

It is really lovely, and I enjoy having it to look at from my house. In the spring it is covered with an abundance of blossom, it provides shade during the summer, and in the autumn it looks beautiful covered in golden leaves. But of course all those leaves have to go somewhere, and where they go is all over my garden!

I've always been a bit obsessed about picking up the leaves, even more so this year now that we have a lovely lawn of newly laid turf. I find myself out there two, sometimes three, times a day picking up every single leaf from the lawn. I am a little more laid back with the flower beds though, until they become completely covered I'm letting the leaves lay where they fall.

There is a corner of the garden, right underneath the tree, that I have designated as a small wildlife area, and this is where we have placed the hedgehog house. I go out every evening to top up the food bowl and we are rewarded most nights with a hedgehog snuffling around (we have placed a camera so that we can watch what goes on). If the hedgehog can't manage all the food then a cat or magpie will come along in the morning and eat what's left. So I'm leaving all the leaves in this area so that the hedgehog has somewhere to root around for slugs and bugs.

I bought some cyclamen a month or two ago for some autumn colour. I've planted them around the base of our new pear tree, as it was looking a little bare. They look beautiful, I hope that they will continue to flower for a while yet now that the rest of the flowers are slowly coming to an end. 

I'm glad that it hasn't got too cold yet, as I still have a few things to get done in the garden before winter sets in. I've planted most of my bulbs, but there are still a few to add to empty planters now that I've bought some extra compost. I also have some foxgloves which I planted in pots over the summer, I want to put them out in the borders and hope that they survive the frosts. I also want to do a bit of weeding so that the garden looks tidy for the winter.

We've added a lot of plants to our garden this year and I'm not really sure what to do with everything as the weather gets colder. I'm just hoping that most of them survive the cold temperatures and that everything will start to fill out in the spring - I'm excited to see how the garden changes over the next year!

Budget friendly craft projects

Crafting can be expensive hobby, especially if you get stuck in the trap of spending more time buying supplies than you do actually using them! But you don't need to spend a lot of money, or even any at all, to indulge your creative side and create something that allows you to enjoy both the creative process and the finished product. 

Here are some craft activities that are either free or very low cost.

Collage

You can use all sorts of things to create collage art. Even if you don't buy magazines, there are always free magazines and junk mail being posted through the letter box! There are plenty of places to find free magazines and leaflets, like supermarkets, tourist attractions, garden centres...or ask around among friends and family for ones that they've finished with. Then you can just have fun cutting out the pictures and text that you like and arranging them in a way that appeals to you. You can create mood boards, or collect images that appeal to you and stick in a scrapbook. Maybe you enjoy looking at relaxing beach scenes, or want to collect ideas for your home or garden. Or create fantastical collages, playing with perspective or mixing vintage with modern.

Photo credit Francisca Silva via Unsplash

Ephemeral art

Ephemeral art is created using natural materials and is not designed to last. You can create ephemeral art anywhere - maybe on the beach with stones and shells or in the forest with leaves and twigs. If you want to document the art then you can take a photograph, and then either destroy it or leave for others to enjoy. Just be careful not to do anything damaging to your surroundings, for example don't create sturdier structures like stone stacks which will not naturally disappear.

Pressed flowers

Don't go out picking flowers from parks or people's gardens, and you need to be careful picking wild flowers to avoid rare or endangered plants (see some guidance here - The rules about picking wild flowers). But if you have a garden or can collect things when you are out and about like fallen leaves then it's easy to press them. You don't need a proper flower press (although they do make it more convenient) you just need a few heavy books and some kind of tissue or blotting paper to prevent marking them. There are some great tips from the RHS here - Pressing flowers and leaves. I like to use pressed flowers in my journal as a reminder of some of the flowers that I managed to grow in my garden.

Photo credit Cary Bates via Unsplash

Recycled fabric crafts

Old t-shirts can be cut into strips to create a thick yarn that can be used for knitting or crochet, or you can use smaller strips to craft rag rugs You can also make quilts from old fabrics like clothing or bedding. Hunt through wardrobes to find clothes that are past their best but not good enough to pass on, or use fabrics with meaning like baby clothes or sporting memorabilia. Making a quilt doesn't need to be complicated and can be done by hand. English Paper Piecing is a style of quilting that uses paper templates and can be as simple or as intricate as you like - find some advice here - The English Paper Piecing Guide. 

Photo credit Olga Ferina via Unsplash

Photography

Most people already own a camera of some sort, and it doesn't need to be a special one to take interesting photographs. You can get out and about in your local area and look for the things that others miss, or create still life groupings with things from around your home. Favourites can be printed and displayed around the home.

Digital art

Digital art is a great way to engage your creative side without needing expensive materials. An emerging form of digital art is AI generated art, where you can experiment with different prompts and see what you can come up with. Maybe start by thinking about somewhere that you've visited or a scenario that you've imagined.

Drawing

You may want upgraded supplies at some point, but to start with all you need is a pencil or pen and some paper, and most people have those lying around! If you don't know where to start then look for an online tutorial, there are many YouTube videos that can help with both technique and inspiration. Look for challenges too, maybe with a different starting point every day.

Photo credit DHANYA A V via Unsplash

Writing and journalling

You can write by hand in a journal or write on your computer or laptop. You can write just for yourself, in the form of a journal or diary, or write for a larger audience with a blog or website. Putting your thoughts on paper is a great way to get your thoughts in order, or you can experiment with poetry or creative writing.

I hope that this gives you some ideas for ways to bring out your creativity without having to spend a lot of money or invest in too many supplies!

Some Autumn sunshine in the Dominican Republic

Over half term we were lucky enough to get away for some sunshine and warmth in the Dominican Republic. We booked our holiday as a package with Tui, staying at Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa. The hotel is located in Bayahibe, about an hour transfer from Punta Cana and the airport. We chose this resort because the beach is on the Caribbean Sea rather than the Atlantic, so we were hoping that the water would be a little warmer and calmer.

Unfortunately our holiday did coincide with Hurricane Melissa, and although we were well away from the direct path I do think that it made the sea conditions a little rougher, especially at the beginning of the week. The sea was also quite cloudy, fine for swimming but unfortunately no good for snorkelling. The water temperature was really warm, it was lovely to float out there bobbing up and down and it felt very safe.

We had two rooms which each had two double beds. The rooms were next door so we felt comfortable letting the teenagers share a room, and they loved the independence. 

My favourite part about the room was the balcony. I absolutely love a balcony, especially one that is high enough to be tucked away from the world and with plenty to look at. I spent hours out there every day reading on my Kindle, enjoying the warmth and watching the birds and the people going past. Even when it rained I sat out there until the wind picked up and turned horizontal!

There was a brilliant cafe in the lobby which was always open and served drinks and delicious cakes as part of the all inclusive. Every afternoon I went down to fetch a fruity tea and a couple of cakes to take back to my balcony to enjoy.

The holiday did involve speaking a little more Spanish than I was expecting. Spanish isn't one of my languages although both children can do pretty well. I managed to learn the words to order cheese (there wasn't a huge selection of veggie food) and bottled water as well as a few bonus words like watermelon and butter!

The resort also has a water park which was excellent and not too busy. There was a lazy river with plenty of rubber rings, and although it featured several instances of unavoidable waterfalls they were spaced very well to let you get nice and hot before you were swept underneath to cool down!

On our last morning we were floating happily along when my husband spotted what he thought was a dead crab in the water. A lady by the side of the pool came over and fished it out with her flip flop - it was actually a dead tarantula! I had no idea there were freely roaming tarantulas in the Dominican Republic, I'd been walking around every evening through grassy areas in my sandals!

We had a lovely holiday, and it was a great chance to relax and enjoy some last warmth before heading for cooler temperatures and dark evenings. 

The books that I read while on holiday:

American Sky by Carolin Dasher - an Amazon First Reads selection that was excellent, much better than many of them that I've struggled through, a historical novel that follows three generations of women and in particular their connections to aviation.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose - a sequel to the The Maid, I enjoyed this very much.

The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes - ticked a lot of my boxes - an overgrown garden, secrets to uncover, a time jump between WWII and present day narratives.

The Memory Library by Kate Storey - a simple plot but with the lovely idea of choosing and collecting books for others and explaining their special meanings.

Very, Very Lucky by Amanda Prowse - fairly predictable but a fun easy read.

The Women at Ocean's End by Faith Hogan - a group of women with compelling stories connected by life on a remote island.