Patryk Owens, Author at Turleys Kitchen

Jul182024 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

DIY Furniture Hacks Using Recycled Materials

Furniture

Upcycling furniture is an exciting pastime that gives furniture new life. Upcycling may involve various techniques such as decoupage or stenciling that give a piece new character. IKEA furniture is famous for its Scandinavian simplicity and affordable price, yet can still be elevated with DIY hacks to match a more refined decor theme. One such DIY hack uses old tires twisted together using sisal rope to form an ottoman. Repurposed Blinds Old window blinds make an excellent material to create beautiful DIY furniture that's both eco-friendly and beautiful. By recycling or repurposing them, you can help reduce waste being sent directly to landfills. If your vinyl blinds have begun showing signs of wear and tear, repurpose them by creating a stunning starburst mirror. Start by cut...

Jun172024 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

Bee-Friendly Gardens – Plants and Design Tips to Support Pollinators

Garden

Bees need flowers that bloom continuously through the growing season, such as Evolution(tm) Fiesta Coneflowers and wild columbine perennials. Bumblebees and certain solitary bees prefer ground nesting, so provide hiding places such as hollow logs and dead plant material for them. Increase the blooming season in your garden with spring bulbs, hellebores and crocuses as well as late-season favorites like irises, lilyturf and Joe Pye weed. Avoid pesticide use where possible; if necessary use spray only early morning or dusk. Nectar-Rich Plants Pollinators need flowers that produce abundant nectar to survive in your garden, so consider planting a range of blooming species at various times throughout the year so each pollinator has access to food sources all year long. Choose nativ...

May232024 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

Maximizing Space in a Small Kitchen With Clever Design Hacks

Kitchen

A small kitchen can feel more restricted when it is filled with a mass of disorganised clutter. Finding smart storage solutions allows you to make more of a small space. Placing your pantry produce in wicker baskets or canisters can provide a cohesive look and place everything in easy reach. A lazy Susan within a kitchen cabinet means two items with exactly the same function, but one uses space better and provides easy access. Open-front storage shelves on an accent wall will also increase a room’s usable square footage. Paint the shelves to match your wall colour for less visual distraction of the storage. Lazy Susans Lazy Susans are lazy susans in that they are born round of wood to hold bottles and jars. Ingredients are easily accessible because none need be searched in cupboa...

Apr222024 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

Outdoor Furniture Trends for Small Spaces

Furniture

No matter the size or shape of your outdoor space, selecting furniture that combines both form and function is key to its enjoyment. Aim for furniture that occupies minimal floor space while providing multiple functions; consider seating that takes up minimal floor area, multifunctional pieces such as daybeds that convert to daybeds and stackable chairs, as well as space-saving features like modular one-seat sections that double up as stools for maximum impact. Warm colors, relaxed layouts and mixed designs are quickly replacing the modern minimalist aesthetic that once dominated outdoor furniture trends. Furthermore, sustainable materials such as teak wood and performance fabrics are becoming increasingly popular choices for outdoor furnishings. Multifunctional Furniture As hous...

Feb22024 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

Feng Shui for a Harmonious Home Design

Home Design

Feng Shui is an ancient art that can help you create an idyllic and tranquil home environment. By employing natural elements and strategic furniture placement, this form of Feng Shui promotes positive energy flow throughout your space. Clutter can impede positive energy from moving through your home, so it is crucial that you organize it regularly and find storage solutions to keep things under control. Natural elements Addition of natural elements can help bring harmony and serenity to any room, whether through painting, sculpture, or fireplace as focal points. By providing energy balance across a space evenly with these natural features present. Traditional families employed a feng shui expert to determine the optimal location for their home and ensure it had good "chi" (ene...

Jan242024 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

Benefits of Heated Floors in Cold Climates

Home Improvement

Warm up your feet and your entire home with radiant floor heating. The system can be a DIY project or installed by professionals. Heated floors use either electric cables or PEX tubing that is pumped with hot water to deliver heat to the floor surface. It is a more efficient and comfortable alternative to forced air heating. Improved Circulation Unlike forced-air systems that rely on vents, floor-heating systems uniformly warm the floor and room. This eliminates cold spots and avoids drafts that make you feel uncomfortable. Moreover, heated floors can directly heat people and objects without heating the air, which helps reduce energy consumption and bills. This heating method also doesn’t pick up and circulate dust or allergens in the same way that traditional systems do, maki...

Jan92024 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

Garden Lighting Ideas – Enhancing Your Outdoor Space at Night

Garden

Garden lighting ideas should strike a balance between practical and decorative purposes. For example, solar-powered crackle glass orbs that double as a wind chime provide ambience while helping to illuminate pathways and keep after-dark visitors safe from tripping hazards. A well-placed light can dramatically alter the appearance of a plant, object or feature. Lighting from front, side and back can wash them with a soft glow, define shape or cast dramatic shadows. Upcycled Lanterns Clever lighting can transform your garden into a sociable gathering space well after the sun goes down. Discreet up-lighting can enhance the shape of trees and planting, throwing their silhouettes into relief and transforming fountains into dynamic sparkling features. Use lights to mark pathways, pr...

Dec282023 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

Essential Home Maintenance Checklists for Each Season

Home Improvement

Maintaining your home year-round can be a monumental undertaking, so having an organized checklist and schedule in place is invaluable in terms of saving time, avoiding expensive repairs, and protecting the safety of both yourself and your family. Change smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries as necessary; typically twice annually). Also clean ceiling fans to help cool your house down while also reducing dust build-up. Spring Home ownership is your largest investment, and maintaining it properly can save time, money and headaches in the long run. According to estimates, every dollar spent on maintenance saves $100 in repairs later. Spring brings melting snow and torrential downpours, so it is crucial that any cracks in your foundation that could allow water into your hom...

Dec132023 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Home Design

Heating, cooling, and lighting your home require significant amounts of energy consumption; making your house more energy-efficient is an excellent way to cut back consumption and save money. No matter if you are remodeling an existing home or starting from scratch, there are various strategies you can employ to make it more energy efficient. Here are a few ideas to get you going: 1. Insulate Your Home Insulation upgrades can be one of the most cost-effective investments you make for your home, providing warmth in winter and cooling during the summer, cutting energy costs, and protecting the environment. Start in your attic for optimal results - it will prevent heat escaping through the roof in winter and hot air leaking in through ceilings, walls, and floor cavities during su...

Dec12023 by Patryk OwensNo Comments

The Basics of Home Security Systems

Home Design, Home Improvement

Home security systems are networks of sensors and equipment linked to a central control panel for monitoring purposes. Common components include door/window sensors, alarm sirens, security cameras, home automation controls, floodlights, keychain fobs and more. Professional monitoring systems offer professional monitoring that can contact emergency services when something goes amiss, whether that is at home or somewhere else. In addition, these devices can detect smoke, fire and carbon monoxide poisoning as well. Cost Security systems range in cost from $280 for basic wireless systems up to over $2,000 in large homes for advanced security solutions with sirens, sirens, motion detectors, door/window sensors (wired or wireless), keypads and more. Many homeowners find that home secur...