Kate Davis-Holmes

Kate Davis-Holmes / August 30, 2018

Letting myself off the hook

My big reason to be cheerful this week is that I am letting myself off the hook. In fact, I am letting myself off several hooks. I have always worked hard, striven for more in just about every area of life and too often for poor rewards. I have started to realise I am not on the planet to do every job, to have every skill or quality or to serve everyone on demand.

Here are some areas where I am slacking and I think it is doing me the power of good.

It is the first anniversary of my brother’s death today. I actually thought it was tomorrow so was all geared up for that date. My other brother emailed me today and referenced the anniversary and then I checked my brother’s funeral order of service. He died today a year ago. I got the date wrong and that’s OK. In the grand scheme of things, it does not matter. I loved him and cherish so many memories of a very special character. I have now emailed his widower and will go to the bar to drink in his honour tonight.
Home education has stayed in the children’s own hands for about a week with little input from me. I can beat myself up about this or I can get real and recognise that most children are still on school holidays so we can have a relaxing time too. We can get back to learning any time we choose.
My 17 year old is still not sure exactly what he wants to do but would like to work in theatre, film, gaming or politics. He also has a key hope for next year that he will work towards. I walk and talk with him. I am recognising that he really does need to work out his own future. I can advise and support but ultimately he must live his own life his way.
I was just offered a bit of work to do today or tomorrow. I chose tomorrow which is so unlike me. Normally I would do anything to meet the tightest deadline. It is not necessary to do so. There are more important matters to attend to today in terms of marking my brother’s passing.
I am going to tread less carefully of other people’s feelings around my adoption. I want to trace my family tree and although I will try to be sensitive I am not going to run away from contacting people or asking questions. My adoption was not my fault so I refuse to suffer any more as a result of it.
Finally I am letting myself off the hook of seeing myself negatively. Recently I have looked in the mirror for possibly the first time in my life and actually liked what I see. I am OK. I should have realised this a long time ago but now I have I am going to revel in the new and improved me.

Kate Davis-Holmes / August 30, 2018

Warming up your conservatory for colder months

I have lived in a lot of houses and just about every type. Until very recently, I had never lived in one with a conservatory. I like to call ours the sun room but of course the winter months are just around the corner. I am considering how to warm up my conservatory when the sun is not putting in an appearance from painting UPVC doors to starting a cushion collection.

I like the conservatory partly because there are no screens in there of any kind. It is my view is that phones, computers and televisions are taking over our lives way too much to the detriment of making good family memories. So I definitely want to use the room all year round especially as it has beautiful views over the garden and forest. What are the options for making a sun room have a warmer feel when the freezing temperatures strike?

Window shutters

I have found out that so much heat is lost through our windows and of course we have lots of these in the sun room I am considering the benefits of window shutters both for keeping us warm and also because some look really good. They can be pricey though so I may not be buying them anytime soon.

Spray painting doors and windows

Why are so many sun rooms so white? Ours if basically glass or white everywhere which does not add a warm feel. I like the idea of restoring our sun room with some warmer colours by arranging for the spray painting of the doors and windows. If I used the services of The Restoration Group I would inject some comfort but also express our individuality more.

Lighting

The sunshine gives a lovely light in the summer but I plan for the conservatory to be a cosy hideaway in the coming months. I am going to look for some lovely lamps to give ambient light. My husband has also suggested us using candles and I guess these would give off a little extra heat too.

Floor

We have a white tiled floor in the conservatory so it will need the addition of warmer colours soon. I like the floor in the warmer months so I don’t want to invest in carpet and underlay. However, I think some rugs in oranges and purples may be in order.

Cushions and throws

I am going to go on a shopping spree to invest in some seasonal cushions. I quite fancy some with deer on them for some reason. I will add in some vibrant colours including reds. Finally whether my husband likes it or not, there will be some fleecy throws in the mix. I will drape some over the wicker furniture which can look harsh in winter and also snuggle up with the children under some others.

Do you have any tips for using your conservatory in the colder months?

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Kate Davis-Holmes / August 30, 2018

Tips to make your living room a better place

The living room is probably the most important room in your home but what happens when it loses its allure? Maybe the decor is a little tatty or perhaps the furniture is past its sell-by date. Whatever the reason, we have collected some well-proven tips that should have your living room back to its former glory with very little effort.

Get best rugs for floors

If you are already making use of hardwood flooring, the next step should be to add some cool rugs. These can be plain or patterned but you will need to make in the surrounding colours and shades before choosing. The great thing about rugs is that you can shift them to another room if you feel like it or simply remove them until the winter when those hard floors start to feel a little cold on your bare feet. You can pick up some terrific bargains online and in the shops, so get out there and see what beauties you can pick up.

Let’s paint walls

The colour of your walls can have a terrific impact on how your living room is perceived so put a lot of thought into this process before deciding on a final shade. The rule is that lighter colours will give the impression of being in a larger room whilst warmer colours will make the room seem more welcoming. You should always consider the furniture and floor before finalising on the paint you choose and remember to canvass your friends and family for their opinions also.

Decorate with mirrors

Mirrors aren’t only for bathrooms and bedrooms and they really can add a whole new dimension to your living room. Their placement will make all the difference to a smaller room and can even help to distribute the existing light around the area with excellent results. Smaller mirrors are a wise choice for the living room and they can be acquired for a bargain price if you know where to shop for them.

Choose furniture with a lightweight appearance

If you are pushed for space in your living room, choosing furniture with a lightweight appearance goes a long way in creating the impression of more space. You can add table accessories to add style to these items so long as you always bear the overall theme in mind. Look for a sofa on legs as opposed to the traditional shapes and contemporary coffee tables usually work especially well in this type of environment.

Lighting

Lighting adds so much quality to a smaller living room but can also help to make a larger one more attractive. Wall lights, in particular, can be placed wherever you like and if there is a lack of windows in your living room, use these in corners to banish those unwanted dark spaces.

Nowadays, we tend to be living in smaller spaces and if you follow these tips, your living room will give the impression of being nice and spacious despite the fact that it isn’t. we hope you enjoyed these tips and we wish you the best of luck in your next home improvement project!

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Kate Davis-Holmes / August 30, 2018

Looking forward to life over 50

I am looking forward to life over 50 and I think you can too. My milestone birthday comes up in December and I really do see it as an occasion to celebrate life to date and to make plans for the future. Here are 5 reasons why I am feeling positive as I approach the second half of my life.

Self-confidence

It has taken me a lot of years to learn to love and accept who I am. I was always the child who did not quite fit in and was bullied. I was the teenager who did not break too many boundaries. I think as you get older you realise you really are all you have got so you may as well look in the mirror and become your own best friend. It’s amazing how when you really nail this, the world seems to buck up its ideas and start loving you back.

Freedom

I admit that I have not found the whole parenting gig easy to handle. I was very naïve about what it involved and the restrictions it places on you both work and leisure wise. As the children are nearly all in their teens, I can do my own thing more. If I have a life of my own, they also have time and space to become the individuals they are without me breathing down their necks. In the last couple of years I have worked out I can create my own reality and pursue my dreams.

Investing in myself

It is good that I have put other family members first over the years but self-care is vital too. I have learned this the hard way and experienced depression largely brought on by self-neglect I think. I ensure that I give myself regular little treats now as rewards for my hard work. I am designing my birthday celebrations so that they are exactly what I want and because I know my husband will not put a huge effort in. He is not a fan of birthdays but I am not going to allow that to hold me back this year.

New adventures

I have already started taking on new adventures with gusto. I made a major relocation a year ago and am so much happier in my new community. I have a social life that simply did not exist before. I want to continue to explore new places and to travel a lot. I would like to learn how to arrange flowers remembering that I have always dreamed of running a floristry business. I am not ruling out having more romance in my life either as I do believe there is life after 50.

Learning from my own mum

My mum only had 3 children but there were 17 years between us which meant she spent a long time giving her all to us. She also was heavily involved in her local community and church. I remember how my Auntie used to beg her to go on girlie weekends to London and how my mother would always turn down the opportunity. She ended up making herself ill by doing too much. Then she switched things up a bit and said yes to London. She returned full of fun stories and it started a new mum who travelled the world and got out and about locally too.

I think it is right to commit to our families especially when they are younger but then we can take a second wind and cherish life after 50.

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Kate Davis-Holmes / August 30, 2018

The benefits of sash and casement windows

Light is so important to me which means that finding the right windows in a home is important too. Today I am highlighting the benefits of sash and casement windows.

Sash windows

I am very familiar with sash windows as these were what we had in my childhood homes. The slide on these were vertical which is more common than the horizontal slide versions. I love sash windows because they allow so much air to come in which is great in warmer weather but also for freshening up the house generally. Sash windows have thicker frames as they are more complex and tend to be that bit pricier than casement windows.

Casement windows

Casement windows open outwards by means of hinges on either the side, top, or bottom of the frame. My windows at college were casement windows. I used to love throwing my casement windows open and people-watching. Apparently if the window has a top are called awning designs and if they have bottom hinges they are called hoppers.

Changing the style of your windows

If you feel like ringing the changes with your windows, think carefully. Check with your local planning authority whether you are actually allowed to do so. Listed buildings, houses in National parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) usually come with planning restrictions. Also consider if you want to be very different from the houses around you or to fit in.

Getting quotes

Do get a number of quotes for the work involved in changing your windows and ensure all costs of installation are included in the quote so don’t get any nasty financial shocks.

There are trends in windows as in all choices for our homes. Both sash and casement windows have stood the test of time. Just ensure you have checked out planning permissions and have a firm idea of costs and you won’t go far wrong.

Do you prefer sash or casement windows?