All posts by Sally

Bathrooms and Metallic Elements

Thankfully we have moved on from the coloured bathroom suites that characterised the 1980s. Trends come and go only to return once more or to become the height of retro cool. But some aspects of interior décor are best consigned to the past. Green and pink sanitary ware will hopefully never see the light of day again!

Whilst it is impossible to mourn the passing of those awful bathrooms, their demise has meant that many rooms are now overly bland spaces. The trend for clean lines, simplicity and white suites has produced tasteful yet somewhat uninteresting spaces. With so many bathrooms now being almost identical, how do you distinguish yours and inject a bit of the the wow factor?

The bathroom is often the smallest room in the house meaning that excessive use of colour can result in an overbearing look which only serves to make the room appear even smaller But that doesn’t mean that you cannot use colour, texture and interesting finishes to create a unique aesthetic which is eminently stylish.

Magical Metallics

Metallic finishes lend themselves perfectly to the bathroom as they complement the taps, shower and other brassware. Gold, silver, bronze and copper also reflect the light to keep rooms bright whilst injecting a splash of colour and interest. These metallics feel luxurious and elegant and have a timeless quality which will guarantee that your decorative scheme won’t quickly become dated.

Tiles

Wall tiles and floor tiles are the perfect way to feature metallics in your bathroom. Beautiful mosaic tiles create wonderful accents or even feature walls to lift the room. Quartz floor tiles with gold, silver or copper flecks add a little sparkle and deliver a striking floor that provides a valuable contrast to white baths and basins.

Freestanding Baths

If you benefit from sufficient space then a freestanding bath is a fabulous focal point for the room. Suitable for both period and contemporary bathrooms, freestanding baths are available in a wide variety of styles and include models with stunning metallic finishes. These eye catching pieces create genuine drama and an opulent feel whilst never detracting from the light and airy look of your space.

Freestanding baths are certainly not the economical option but are money well spent if you are looking to create the ultimate bathroom in your home. The Albermarle bath from Arcade and the Holywell and Hylton styles from Heritage are fabulous examples that would grace any home.

Striking Showers

If bold baths and glittering tiles are a step too far for you then you can still utilise the magic of metal by incorporating an extravagant or unusual shower head in your bathroom. Not only will you benefit from a wonderful cascade of water in your shower, you will also produce a luxurious and individual look that adds subtle drama to the smallest room in the house.

Metallic elements are the perfect way to inject colour into your bathroom without creating a dated, dark or overbearing look. You can create a truly memorable space with magical metallics!

Supporting Your Boobs – The Benefits of the Right Bra

Are you sick of trying on clothes only to find that they don’t suit you?

Does a trip to the changing room always result in disappointment?

Do the clothes that fit you well still fail to wow?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you will be surprised to hear that it might not be your physique which is standing between you and the perfect look.

The problem might just be your bra!

Have You Boobed with Your Bra?

When your clothes fall short of fabulous then it could be because you have boobed with your bra. Research has shown that the majority of women are wearing the wrong size bra. Not only does an ill-fitting bra have serious health implications, it can also completely ruin your silhouette.

Grappling with Gravity

If your bust does not receive adequate support, your breasts will begin to sag. Gravity is constantly pulling them down and this will eventually weaken the breast tissue. Breasts are composed of fatty tissue which cannot be toned and any damage caused by straining them is irreparable. A bra which is too big will not support your boobs and could easily ruin your look.

women-in-bra

Unfortunately, sagging breasts alter your posture and your proportions, creating a less pleasing silhouette. On the other hand, if your breasts are well-supported and contoured, your entire body receives a lift, you stand up straight rather than hunching over and you will appear slimmer and in proportion. Suddenly that lovely new cocktail dress that did nothing for you looks simply amazing.

Bothersome Lumps and Bumps

Clingy and bias-cut fabrics can be particularly problematic if you have a few lumps and bumps and who doesn’t? The wrong bra will create lumps and bumps which otherwise wouldn’t have been there! If the band is too tight around your body, it will cause unsightly contours to form in your back. Cups which are too small will force your boobs to spill out in all directions and the resulting bumps will be all too obvious when you wear those clingy clothes.

You will be simply amazed at what is staring back at you in the mirror when you find a bra that fits!

But how do you do that?

Professional Bra Fitting

If most women are wearing the wrong size bra, then it clearly isn’t easy to establish the correct size. To fit properly, a bra must have the right size of band, the perfect cups and the straps must also be properly adjusted. You probably suffer from a case of wishful thinking when it comes to your cup size and your dress size and so it is all too easy to invest in the wrong bra.

A professional bra fitter will measure you accurately and will not be influenced by that wishful thinking. They will be able to measure your bust accurately and to recommend the bras which will best suit your body. A bra fitting could change everything and help you to view yourself and your wardrobe in a whole new light.

Pet Parrot Outs Adulterous Husband

Parrots possess a wonderful ability to mimic human speech. This can be enchanting and fascinating in equal measure. However, this amazing skill can also prove to be incredibly inconvenient. If you would rather that your partner doesn’t know about your affair, then don’t conduct it in earshot of your feathered friend! Your parrot might give you away.

The Adulterous Husband

A husband in Kuwait has recently found himself in hot water because of his pet parrot. The bird had heard the man’s flirtatious conversations with the housemaid and then decided to repeat them to his wife! Perhaps this was a parrot with a conscience or one which favoured the wife as its keeper! Either way, the bird had picked up on the conversations in the house and then blurted them out.

Severe Implications

This would be an amusing story if it had taken place in the western world. However, in Kuwait, adultery is illegal and so the bird’s outbursts had much more serious implications.

The wife had started to suspect her husband of cheating after she had returned home from work early one day and found him to be unnerved by her unexpected appearance. Then the parrot repeated what it had heard and the wife felt that her suspicions had been confirmed. She filed a complaint at the Hawally police station and her husband could have found himself in a great deal of trouble.

Prison and Hard Labour

Adultery is punishable by a prison sentence or hard labour in the Gulf States. But in this instance the man escaped an unpleasant fate because the prosecuting officer felt that the parrot’s evidence was not compelling and that the case against the man could not be proven. The officer believed that the bird could have heard the phrases that it had mimicked on the television.

A Parrot Reveals A Cheating Girlfriend

This is not the first time that a parrot has outed a cheat. In 2006, an English computer programmer discovered that his girlfriend was having an affair when their pet bird kept repeating “I love you Gary”! As the programmer’s name was Chris, he became rather concerned!

african-grey-parrot

The African grey’s words clearly embarrassed girlfriend Suzy and so her guilt was revealed. She eventually admitted that she was having an affair and that it was with a colleague called Gary.

Do Parrots Understand What They Are Saying?

Parrots are highly intelligent birds. Recent research has demonstrated that they do understand the meaning of some words and are not merely mimics. It is unlikely that the parrots which gave away their owners’ affairs understood what they were saying but you never know. Birds can count and respond to commands. Perhaps they also get distressed when they sense infidelity and feel the need to blurt it out.

Birds do understand what they are saying but only sometimes and certainly not enough to know when they shouldn’t say it!

How to Turn Your Pet Into A Celebrity

Pets have always been stars in their home. We all love our pets and revel in their hilarious behaviour. However, until relatively recently, their best moments were seen only by family and friends. All that changed with the advent of social media and now many pets are worldwide celebrities with huge followings. Could your pet be one of them? Continue reading How to Turn Your Pet Into A Celebrity

Finding the Perfect Ski Resort

If you are planning your next winter holiday there are a mind boggling array of resorts to choose from. You may have only one ski trip to look forward to each year and so you have an important decision to make. Before you are seduced by a resort that you have seen in a glossy brochure, think carefully about what you really want or need. Make the most of your hard earned cash by doing your research to find a resort that suits you and the rest of your party. The best choice might not be the obvious one. Continue reading Finding the Perfect Ski Resort

The Story of the Blues

I am now regretting selling my dark blue denim Versace jacket on eBay last year. I hadn’t worn the thing for years and I thought it was starting to look dated. After all, denim jackets had fallen out of favour and it seemed like time to move on. The world of fashion had certainly moved on, or so I thought. Actually it had moved backwards and now double denim is all the rage. In case this trend has passed you but it is the wearing of denim with, well, denim! Continue reading The Story of the Blues

Big Data and the Future of Retail

Consumers are now bombarded with a constant barrage of special offers, promotions and marketing campaigns which can make the eyes weary and the mind confused! We are no longer safe from the onslaught even in our own homes as our increasing love of online shopping and loyalty programmes has ensured that our personal information is readily available to retailers and, quite naturally, they use it! Unsolicited emails and text messages are now a fact of life as retailers fight tooth and nail for our patronage. Continue reading Big Data and the Future of Retail

A Golden Opportunity?

I am not averse to wandering around Hatton Garden to admire the beautiful jewellery on display. I couldn’t afford most of what is on offer because gemstones are so costly and the price of gold is not to be sneezed at either. In any case I often feel that most of the pieces I see are rather dated in style and would not be good partners for most of my clothes. Continue reading A Golden Opportunity?

The Layered Look

Dressing in layers is a great idea and enables you to create more interest in your look and to add contrasting colours and textures. Layers also help you to disguise a multitude of sins should you need to! The layers can really help keep you warm in winter but with lightweight pieces there is plenty you can do in the warmer months too. Continue reading The Layered Look

A New Breed of Kids’ Clothing

There is no doubt that kids’ fashion is much more interesting and exciting than it used to be. There are almost as many collections for children as there are for adults and many leading designers have introduced junior ranges to partner their adult collections. Kids are taking an interest in fashion at a younger and younger age as well which means that parents are often feeling the pressure to provide the styles that their youngsters demand. Continue reading A New Breed of Kids’ Clothing