Photos By: Jennifer Bevan Interiors

High ceilings, arched windows, wrought iron railings, chandeliers, and tons of attention to detail make this magical San Gabriel home a unique gem that literally takes our breath away! Designer Jennifer Bevan jam packed this home with glitz and glam which keeps us guessing if Mediterranean decor is really meant to me rustic or luxurious. What I love about this home is that it sticks to it’s Mediterranean roots on the outside, while the inside comes to a complete surprise with modern, sleek decor and most importantly – amazing lighting which makes every square foot sparkle in all it’s glory.

If you are reading this blog, you probably LOVE decorating and have loads of stuff stashed away for your home. If you are planning a big move, one thing you’re going to have to do is decide how to move all your belongings quickly, easily, and without breaking the bank. This makes the perfect time to think like a minimalist!

A minimalists approach to moving can actually save you lots of time and money compared to hiring a professional removal company. Here’s what you need to get started with your big move:

Pack Smart and Small!

Instead of paying big bucks for a moving truck, it’s better off using a smaller vehicle and doing multiple trips to your new home. Hire a man and van in Sheffield to help you pack and transport your items. Pack your stuff the smart way – instead of using packing paper and bubble wrap, use sheets and blankets as packing material when you wrap up any delicate items. When you have everything ready, you can start to pack up everything and move it to your new home.

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Clear One Room at a Time

The best way is to start packing up one room at a time, clearing everything and then working your way through every room in your home. When you are packing your boxes, use plenty of packing tape and place heavier items at the bottom of the box along with plenty of blankets or sheets to stop everything from moving inside and getting damaged. Seal the box, load it up, and move onto the next box!

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Invite Friends and Make it Fun

A great way to get a load of help, have fun, and save tons of money is to call over a bunch of friends and entice them with some food and a few drinks to help you move. Loading, unloading, and unpacking boxes is a lot of time consuming and hard work, but you would be surprised how fast it goes with a few extra hands to help!

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Feeling the cold this winter? Can’t sleep from the busy road or from noisy neighbours? Is your furniture fading from the sun? Yup – it’s definitely time to get a new set of windows!

Installing new windows can transform your home, inside and out – and it doesn’t mean you need to break the bank! There are tons of affordable options that you can even install yourself with the right tools and some patience! Believe me, it’s worth it in the long run and will sky-rocket your home’s market value. Here’s some info on how new windows can improve your home, and a little advice about how to choose the right type of windows.

Save on Electricity Bills!

Installing a new set of windows is guaranteed to keep your heating bills down, new technology and specific materials help keep heat IN and the cold OUT. It’s definitely one of your best investments that will surely pay off in the long run.

Keep City Noises Out!

What’s really trending this year are new double-glazed uPVC windows that have not only insulation properties, but a whole other list of benefits. You can expect noise from the outside to be reduced by as much as half – particularly good if you live on or near a busy road, or in the bedroom if you’re a light sleeper. They also significantly reduce the risk of condensation – potentially saving you from costly damp proofing or correcting work.

Double Up on Security

Double glazed uPVC windows are also super secure, they are strong and come with very high quality locks fitted as standard – or the potential to fit them without too much hassle. Knowing you have good windows with high security is definitely a lifesaver – you can sleep easy at night knowing your home is secure!

Sky-Rocket Your Home’s Value

New windows make your home look instantly REVIVED and improve the overall exterior of your home. Perfect for adding significant value to your home if you wish to sell in the future – as well as giving instant return in terms of your day-to-day comfort.

Choose Your Window Style

Once you’ve decided to replace your windows, the biggest choice you’re going to need to make is what style of window to go for. Windows with uPVC frames are the most cost effective, the most energy efficient, and will give your home a modern look – especially if you want to update an older home. What I love about these windows is that they require next to no maintenance, so you can pretty much put them in and forget about them.

If you live in a period home and have a bit more to spend then opt for wooden frames as they will be keep with the overall aesthetic style of your home. However, they will require significantly more maintenance than their uPVC cousins – such as regular weatherproof coating.

Some Extra Tips from Experience!

Keep in mind when installing new windows – if you do it in stages, window models will occasionally be discontinued and replaced with different ones. To avoid style differences, it’s worth investing in all the frames you’ll need (at least for one section of your home) right off the bat. Whatever style you choose, there’s not going to be a huge cost difference between good quality, energy-efficient windows, and lower-quality, builder-grade windows. My advice is, invest in the better quality ones to save headaches and trouble in the long run!

 Photos: Nathan Schroder