Taps that Turn you On

Read article : Taps that Turn you On

Studio Apartment Decor, Ideas, and What It Is

This kind of title poses a pretty important question. What is a studio apartment" What are studio apartments made of" Let?s begin. A studio apartme ...

02-10-2017 22:16

Badalona Refurbishment: From an Old Blacksmith Shop to a Hom

This isn’t the first time that you will hear about an old structure being renovated into a home. There are already many homes that are actually from ...

02-10-2017 22:15

20 Awesome DIY Halloween Wreaths Designs

Your Halloween decor won’t be complete without a wreath! Although you can buy a ready-made wreath, it would still be different if you make it on you ...

02-10-2017 22:15

The Daily Grind: A Pepper Mill from Architect Will Alsop

Will Alsop is taking his designs to a smaller scale. The award-winning architect discusses his new project ? a pepper mill for Alessi ...

02-10-2017 22:08

An Abnormal Monday With Abnormal Feelings…

My chrome lighting roundup post wasn’t exactly matching my emotions today. We are incredibly devastated for the families of the victims of the shoo ...

02-10-2017 22:05

Trending: Chrome Lighting

Photo Source *Please read the first post today regarding the events of this particular day. If you want to escape and read about chrome, here you go: ...

02-10-2017 22:05

A Very Jungalicious Hardware Roundup

Whether it?s a hand-me down from your mother-in-law, or a fab find from the flea, sometimes your vintage treasures need a little confidence boost. You ...

02-10-2017 22:05

An Interior Designer’s Fresh Start in West Hollywood,

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02-10-2017 22:04

An Eclectic and Modern Bungalow in Phoenix, AZ

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02-10-2017 22:04

Kid’s bedroom ideas: Where to find cool bunk beds

When it comes to choosing furniture, a bit of research and creative thinking goes a long way. Alex Fulton shares her tips for finding stylish bunk bed ...

02-10-2017 22:01

YUME | Bridging Sustainability + Design

A one-stop destination for sustainable design, YUME has just launched globally online. The Copenhagen-based company was founded by Anja Holm and Marie ...

02-10-2017 21:52

EasyJet to fly battery-powered planes within the next decade

UK budget airline EasyJet has paired with US firm Wright Electric to develop all-electric aircraft that can be used for its short haul flights. As pa ...

02-10-2017 21:48

Desktop Wallpaper: October 2017

It’s a no brainer that we’re fans of LA-based interior designer  ...

02-10-2017 21:45

Get Inspired By This Small Home Project

Want to remodel your home" Make the most of your inspiration with this project! The need for remodelling your house is in great change. If you?re look ...

02-10-2017 21:42

Room of the Week :: A Moody Bedroom with Vintage Vibes

I remember bookmarking this moody bedroom last year when looking for inspiration for our own attic. What struck me the most about this space was the u ...

02-10-2017 21:38

Ottoman/Pouf Round-Up

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Our entrance ready for fall

MAKING OUR ENTRANCE READY FOR FALL I have for a long time been thinking about finding a large pot and a wintergreen tree for our entrance. And a coupl ...

02-10-2017 21:38

Monday Inspiration | Raena Interiors

The weekend flew by did it not"  It was so nice to see my boys Friday in Greenville.  Mom joined me for a quick trip to the purple-gold meet and we ...

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1930s modernism: The Lubetkin Penthouse in the Highpoint II

1930s modernism: The Lubetkin Penthouse in the Highpoint II building, London N6 We have featured the Highpoint buildings in the past, but The Lubetkin ...

02-10-2017 21:37

The serene Bergen home of Gunn Kristin Monsen

Hej! I hope you had a wonderful weekend"! It\'s been pouring all day here in South Sweden, but I kinda don\'t mind a wet Monday, do you" I mean it\'s ...

02-10-2017 21:37

Let’s play house! A bunk bed converted to playhouse

This is a hack of the IKEA KURA into a playhouse bunk bed. It offers a neat space beneath the bed for play, with the ladder converted for additional s ...

02-10-2017 21:37

Williams-Sonoma Home Must Haves

As you might remember, I hosted a joint Habitually Chic 10 Year Anniversary and Williams-Sonoma Home new Chelsea store opening party last week. So ma ...

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Amaze Me Monday #234

Welcome to Amaze Me Monday #234!Have you finished decorating for fall"  I've finished the front porch, so be sure to take a peek while you're ...

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Deco Trend: Minerals

 It?s elementary: investing in objects forged from South Africa?s precious metals will add lustre to your living spaces.  Here are some items you must ...

02-10-2017 21:36

Design Meets Architecture: Thomas Heatherwick

If you have been following the buzz leading to the official opening of The Zeitz Museum Of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) then you... The post ...

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A Light And Bright Restaurant In Singapore

A light and bright restaurant in Singapore shows that simplicity can be remarkable. Odette, award-winning chef Julien Royer?s first restaurant, is loc ...

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~easy faux concrete pumpkins~ {DIY}

I am seriously obsessed with this look right now. I kinda want to give everything the "concrete treatment"But lets start with pumpkins, because it\'s ...

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How to save lots of money and create an unusual garden

My friend Anna has a wonderful, unusual garden. And practically everything in it has been swapped or acquired for free. Swapping and recycling doesn†...

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Simple Scandinavian Living Room Styling

Sponsored post in collaboration with Nest.co.ukI had a little time this weekend and I finally styled my own living room a little bit, so before I star ...

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A Serene Sunday Space

Arh søndag. Dig kan jeg godt lide. Sådan har det nu ikke altid været, men efter vi har indført en fast søndags-tradition med, at Mads går til bageren ...

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This One Small Change Transformed my Morning Routine

  “There’s little in life that’s more satisfying than smelling that coffee scent first thing when you wake up.�   This post is in partnershi ...

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Casa OM1 Allows Nature Interaction with Its Gardens

Isn’t it nice to live in a house that is surrounded by nature" It would be very relaxing if you see plants everywhere! Although we can actually add ...

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How to make spaces look a million bucks

You can you totally make a space look expensive and a million bucks, it’s all out being insightful and stretching that dollar. Firstly, none of us c ...

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LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL CHEAT SHEET

London Design Festival is the fast and furious design celebration and it’s happening all over the city, right now. If you love design, this is your ...

30-09-2017 22:08

RESTAURANT CRUSH: PLOT

PLOT is my new restaurant crush. Based in cool and trendy Tooting this small but perfectly formed restaurant is the place to hang out. Close to the en ...

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MY GUIDE TO DECOREX 2017

Sunday kicked off this year’s London Design Festival with the fabulous Decorex. Held at Syon Park again with over 400 hand-selected brands, exclusiv ...

30-09-2017 22:08

5 ways to kick start the autumn season

I love, love a new season particularly the autumn. The move indoors, the emphasis on making indoors as sumptuous and beautiful as possible. New arriva ...

30-09-2017 22:08

Read up

New from ILIV is the Story Time Fairy Tale fabric collection in 100% cotton, whose prints and patterns are sure to spark young imaginations and encour ...

30-09-2017 21:45

The Hepworth Limited Print Collection by Atelier by Mintstud

The fab Danish collection pays homage to British artist and sculptor, Barbara Hepworth, a pioneer who broke into the artistic scene when only a few w ...

30-09-2017 21:37

5 ways with the NAP chair

On my long list of things to do in our home (once I’ve won the lottery), is getting a new set of chairs (maybe the NAP chair) for our recently renov ...

30-09-2017 21:36

How to Repair a Broken or Scratched Apple Watch, or Get a Replacement

Read article : How to Repair a Broken or Scratched Apple Watch, or Get a Replacement

Will Apple replace my Apple Watch if it gets smashed? Or would I be able to repair the screen myself?

Just days after the wearable launched, heartbroken owners were posting images of broken Apple Watches online. Call it sod's law or bad luck, but when you wear something every day there's a decent chance it will get damaged before long. They're sturdy devices but they're not invincible.

But chin up: if your Apple Watch has got scratched, smashed or water-damaged, if its back plate has come off or any other form of damage has occurred, you've come to the right place. Whatever's gone wrong with your Apple Watch, there's hope for getting it repaired or replaced (you might even get a first-gen model replaced by a Series 1), and in this article we'll try to help you through that process.

A separate issue that some owners have complained about is poor battery life. Happily we have another article to deal with that: How to make Apple Watch battery last longer. And for issues with unresponsive rather than physically damaged Apple Watches, you should read How to fix an Apple Watch that's not working.

Read next: Best Apple Watch apps | Best Apple Watch games

Apple Watch screen damage

The Apple Watch shouldn't break easily. The glass is strengthened: in the case of the Apple Watch Sport the watch face is made from Ion-X glass, while the standard Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition feature a Sapphire crystal front - this is supposed to be the hardest glass known to man.

Sure enough, the Sapphire models seem to be coping better with the wear and tear of daily life as a high-end wearable, with slight scratching about the worst we've seen among normal usage scenarios. (That doesn't mean your Apple Watch Edition won't shatter tomorrow, of course, but the chances seem to be in your favour.) The Sports models, on the other hand, have been documented in quite a few cases as sustaining more visible damage: smashed glass and the like.

We mentioned normal usage scenarios just then, and you might be wondering what abnormal usage might look like. Well, how about the drop-tests run by TechRax on YouTube? They found that the Apple Watch "will smash if you throw it face-down at the floor". Which answers that question if you were wondering.

Should you smash your Apple Watch screen, whether or not you were hurling it at the floor at the time, it seems in principle to be fairly easy to replace the screen - very shortly after the launch iFixIt took the watch apart and found that the screen was easy to remove and replace. See below for more information about iFixIt's tests.

Mind you, it's possible that it may not be as easily scratched as some reports have suggested. In a video (embedded below) Consumer Reports was only able to scratch the Apple Watch Sport screen after some pretty extreme efforts, and the site claimed they couldn't scratch the Sapphire screen on the stainless steel Apple Watch at all.

Read next: Best tools for repairing & upgrading Macs & iPhones

[embedded content]

If your watch has got damaged, you may wish to jump ahead to our section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Strap damage

As well as damage to the all-important watch face, the stainless steel Milanese loop strap has been cited as a possible weak link: you'll observe that it appears slightly scuffed up in the picture below. This isn't all that surprising, because stainless steel can scratch quite easily. And at least the Apple Watch's straps are easily replaceable. (See our roundup of the best Apple Watch straps for advice on that front.)

In any case, this YouTube video suggests that you can fix any scratches on the Milanese loop strap using a stainless steel polish you can pick up in a hardware store.

[embedded content]

Is it possible to repair it yourself?

iFixit rapidly took the Apple Watch apart to see how easy it would be to fix if anything went wrong with it, and the news was mixed. While the screen is simple to remove and replace, repairs to other component parts may be distinctly problematic.

[embedded content]

iFixit said: "Despite rumours (and hopes) of an upgradable product, the difficulty of removing the S1 alone casts serious doubt on the idea of simply swapping out the internals."

As for whether the Apple Watch will be upgradable in the future, iFixit says: "Stripping out the internals will be difficult and time-consuming - not the sort of thing your local Genius is equipped to handle, but we suppose Apple could provide a mail-order option."

Overall, iFixit gives the Apple Watch a repairability score of 5 out of 10, noting that at least the watch band is easily removed and swapped for a replacement; the screen can be removed (which is good news for anyone who has already smashed theirs) and the battery can also be removed quite easily.

However, iFixit notes that removing components is "essentially impossible" as they are soldered onto the back of the S1 and this "fully encased S1 system" makes board-level repairs impossible.

If your watch has got damaged and you don't feel able to repair it, you may wish to jump ahead to our section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Water damage

The Apple Watch Series 2 officially has "a water resistance rating of 50 metres under ISO standard 22810:2010". It's fine to wear it in the bath or shower, and for shallow-water swimming. The company does warn, however, that "Apple Watch Series 2 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth."

The first-gen Apple Watch is a less clear-cut case. While Apple doesn't recommend submerging this device in water, many owners have discovered that it is water-resistant to a certain extent.

The original Apple Watch actually has an IPX7 rating, which means the Apple Watch can withstand up to 30 minutes of submersion in up to a metre of water.

Apple has not really promoted the Apple Watch as waterproof, which has led to some surprise that it is. This YouTube video shows that the watch can be used in a shower and swimming pool. While the watch continued to work underwater, the touch screen wasn't so responsive when wet, but that's surely to be expected.

[embedded content]

The waterproof element isn't surprising: even Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted to wearing his first-gen watch in the shower. Apple evidently decided not to claim that the watch is entirely waterproof, perhaps afraid of the legal wrangling that could ensue.

What to do if your Apple Watch gets water-damaged

We're working on the assumption that the Watch won't get water-damaged as long as you stick to Apple's guidelines - which essentially call for you to keep it from being immersed in water. However, given that the IPX7 rating indicates that the Watch can withstand being left in a metre of water for half an hour, getting the Watch a little bit damp shouldn't do any serious damage.

But if you do have problems with a water-damaged Apple Watch, the best thing to do would be to follow our tips for rescuing a water-damaged iPhone. Read: How to dry out, rescue and fix a water-damaged Apple iPhone.

In our tests with the iPhone we got the phone very wet and then used various methods to dry it out, from the famous 'Rice Trick' to a slightly more scientific use of gel sachets. The uncooked rice should absorb the moisture effectively but may get dust or detritus into exposed ports, whereas silica gel packets - the kind that come with some electronic components, particularly if they've been shipped from a country with a humid climate, or with handbags - do a fine job over a number of hours.

Give your Watch a few days in its pile of rice or gel sachets for a few days and then see how it fares.

If these tricks don't succeed, you may wish to jump ahead to next section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Getting it repaired or replaced

If there is a genuine fault with your Apple Watch - perhaps the battery doesn't charge properly, or the screen glitches - this will be covered by the warranty and Apple will replace the watch, as long as you can prove you haven't tampered with it. Your watch will be covered by a warranty for one year. Contact Apple and they'll see you right.

Note that Apple may not replace your damaged Apple Watch with the same model - and this is actually good news. The company has announced that in some cases and some countries, its staff will replace first-gen Apple Watches with Series 1 models (not the most recent Series 2, but still a newer and more advanced device with a faster processor).

Even if the warranty has expired you may still be able to get Apple to help for free. If the back plate has separated from the body of a first-gen Apple Watch, for example - this appears to be a known potential issue with that model - then the company will repair the device free of charge up to three years after the initial purchase.

I sure hope Apple uses better glue for their cars than they do for their watches. pic.twitter.com/JkIThwC5B7

— John Gruber (@gruber)

October 3, 2016

You don't get anything for nothing, though, so ordinarily we wouldn't expect Apple to replace a damaged Apple Watch that you've dropped - just as nobody should expect Apple to replace their iPhone if they break the screen through their own carelessness. Read: Will Apple replace my iPhone?

Legal rights & precedents

What about if a scratch or crack appears and you're sure you didn't drop the watch or do anything reckless? Will Apple believe you? A recent court case offers some hope here. Mr Gareth Cross, a British man from Aberystwyth, took Apple to the small claims court after the company wouldn't replace or refund his cracked Apple Watch. (They said the damage wasn't covered under warranty.) The court found in his favour and required Apple to pay Mr Cross the cost of the watch plus court fees.

Whether you want to go through the same legal process is debatable: as Mr Cross himself acknowledged, the case became "a little stressful" and lasted six months. But it's possible that the precedent this sets will make Apple more inclined to offer refunds and repairs in future. We shall see.

AppleCare

In any case, if you're particularly clumsy, you can buy insurance from Apple that will cover your Apple Watch if it does get damaged. We discuss AppleCare in this article: Is AppleCare worth it? To see what you legal rights are read: Is Apple mis-selling AppleCare to UK?

If you decide to get AppleCare, there's an AppleCare+ plan for all the Apple Watch models. The AppleCare+ cover for the Apple Watch will cost £69 and AppleCare+ for the Apple Watch Sport costs £49. The plan will extend the watches warranty to two years and grant you up to two accidental damage claims (although if you do damage your watch you will have to pay an excess of £49 for Apple Watch Sport, and £55 for Apple Watch.

If you want Apple Care for your Apple Watch Edition it will cost £1,500, and there is a £700 excess should you damage the watch due to your own carelessness, but you might consider that small change if you've just laid out £13,500 for your posh watch.

In the US Apple also has three AppleCare+ plans that'll cover both your Watch and your iPhone, presuming your phone is less than six months old. Unfortunately those plans are not available in the UK.

You can purchase AppleCare here, but you don't have to purchase it at the same time as you buy the Watch.

Read next: Latest Apple product recalls and free repair programmes

Maine Food Insider: Oxbow Brewing marks anniversary with Duckfat pig roast

Read article : Maine Food Insider: Oxbow Brewing marks anniversary with Duckfat pig roast

Oxbow Brewing Co. is celebrating its sixth anniversary today with a pig roast by Duckfat's new, second location abutting the boutique craft brewery on Washington Avenue in Portland and a burger and fry truck at its 18-acre farm and brewery in Newcastle.

"We have a new beer for the celebration," Tim Adams, founder of Oxbow Blending & Bottling Co. of Portland, told Mainebiz. "It's our flagship Barrel Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale, which is an American Saison aged in a blend of American and French oak barrels." He said Oxbow hasn't released the beer for more than a year because it takes more than one-and-one-half years to make it.

The company produces all its beer in Newcastle, then brings it to Portland to be aged, blended and bottled. The 10,000-square-foot Washington Avenue location also has an indoor bar and eatery with seating, an entertainment area and art displays. He noted Oxbow has a Class A lounge license to let it serve beer and food.

That helps in its new partnership with popular Portland restaurant Duckfat. Duckfat already had been serving Oxbow's beers, which are Belgian style, but was cramped for kitchen space, Duckfat Chef Rob Evans told Mainebiz.

"The production at our restaurant [on Middle Street] was crazy, so we were looking for production space. Tim called us to tell us about the space next to him," said Evans. The original Duckfat is about 1,700 square feet, including kitchen and serving area, and the new space is about the same size, with most of it to be devoted to kitchen and expansion space.

Duckfat was opened in 2005 by Evans and his wife Nancy Pugh. Evans was named "Best Chef Northeast" by the James Beard Foundation in 2009 and is a three-time Food Network Chopped Champion restaurant.

Duckfat, which used the month of July to sporadically open a fry window at the new location to judge traffic, plans to open in late fall, Evans said, and will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and for special events at Oxbow.

Evans and Adams worked for over a year to update and put in stonework and a grill on a patio the two share between their spaces. The patio houses picnic tables where customers of both can eat and drink. In the winter, Duckfat's fry window customers will be able to use Oxbow's indoor eating space.

Evans said Duckfat will only serve fries at the window, but there will be an assortment, including poutine French Canadian fries with gravy and cheese curds.

"This [arrangement] fits perfectly with our Belgian fries and their Belgian beers," Evans said.

For the Aug. 16 celebrations, both tasting rooms open to the public at noon. Newcastle will stay open until 7 p.m. and Portland until 11 p.m.

Spontaneous fermentation

Oxbow is one of the few craft brewers in the country to use a coolship, a long vat that exposes wort to naturally occurring yeast and bacteria so they reproduce faster by consuming sugars. That in turn starts the production of alcohol. It's a process from Belgium known as spontaneous fermentation, which maximizes the surface area so it has the most contact with air. It is typically done in the winter, Adams said.

Oxbow's beer-making process is slow, from six to 18 months, so it can sell beer at a premium, from $12.50 to $17.50. It also has started putting the production time on its bottles and the date it was bottled.

The beer is shipped from Newcastle to Portland for barrel aging, blending and bottling. Adams said Oxbow releases about 40 beers annually, and this year that will include 12 new beers.

The company made just under 50,000 gallons, or about 1,600 barrels in 2016, which puts it at the state's limit for brewers to self-distribute. Oxbow will need to choose a wholesale partner in a year, he said.

The company distributes its own beer now in Maine, but has relationships with distributors and wholesalers in Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Chicago and Washington, D.C. It also has exported beer and collaborated with breweries to make its brews in Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan and Canada.

It's overall focus is on steady but slow growth, and to be part of the local community, Adams said. Oxbow has about 30 employees in both locations.

In 2018, it plans to slowly grow production.

"We don't want to become a large-capacity brewer," he said. "We aim to make 4,000 to 5,000 barrels a year as a result of slow, steady growth."

Currently, it produces Belgian- and French-style farmhouse ales and one pilsner.

"Different tastes aren't a priority for everyone," Adams said of other craft brewers. "We focus on making new flavors in the realm of farmhouse ales." Some of the flavor comes from the honey bees at the Newcastle farm, along with cherries, strawberries, raspberries, elderberries and blueberries grown there. He also farms his own pigs for the pig roasts.

The controlled growth also relates to the company's funding. It initial was funded with a $400,000 equity round to friends and family, and last year the company brought in $150,000 of a $1 million round focused on buying out an existing partner.

"We are very selective about our business partners," Adams said, referring to the amount remaining to be raised. He doesn't like talking about money matters, so he declined to specify the amount of loans the company has with Bath Savings bank, nor the total investment to date or revenue. He would only say the company is profitable.

"For us it's about how to keep producing beers and be a center of culture in our community," he said. "That's what the reward is for us."

Too many craft brewers?

There have been a series of craft brewer acquisitions outside Maine in recent months. Anheuser-Busch InBev bought its 10th craft brewer in early May, Wicked Weed Brewing of North Carolina. On Aug. 10 Constellation Brands, the parent company of Corona, bought Florida's Funky Buddha. In early August Japan's Sapporo bought San Francisco's Anchor Brewing. And on the consolidation front, San Francisco craft brewer New Belgium Brewing bought Magnolia Brewing, also of San Francisco.

"Maine hasn't seen acquisitions of craft breweries, but it certainly will happen," he predicted. "There's not that much room left in bars and breweries in terms of shelf space." He said the industry consolidation will up the competition, which he sees as a good thing.

Waterworks expert on bath design

Read article : Waterworks expert on bath design

When it comes to changing a room’s design – especially if the space is long overdue for an aesthetic makeover – it can be easy to get excited and jump feet first into the project. But in a bathroom, where fixtures and materials are expensive to change, going into the overhaul without a meticulous plan might not be the wisest decision.

Perhaps no one knows this better than Barbara Sallick, co-founder and senior vice president of Waterworks, who has spent more than four decades in the bathroom design industry. Sallick has distilled all of her knowledge into an artful new book, “The Perfect Bath,” which touches on every possible facet of designing a dream bathroom. From planning to selecting the perfect materials and enlisting the help of a design professional, Sallick arms the reader with her trusted tips and steps through a diverse and breathtaking array of beautifully appointed bathrooms.

We asked Sallick for some key pointers to keep in mind when designing a bathroom.

Q. Designing – or redesigning – a bathroom is a big undertaking. Where do you start?

A. First, imagine the type of space and experience you seek and plan it deliberately. Consider the colors and trends that continually resonate with you and collect tear sheets of images that most closely represent the experience you are trying to create. Next, I always recommend mapping out your daily rituals so the bath is fluid and cohesive to fit your lifestyle. Towels and toiletries should be within arm’s reach, shampoos and soaps should have a home so they’re neatly placed in the shower, and install good, flattering light for applying makeup.

Q.What’s a common mistake?

A. Certain seemingly small things that often get overlooked are quite important – for instance, leaving space for the proper placement of towel bars or hooks. Before selecting shower valves and shower heads, consider the flow of water into the apartment or home. Make sure you’re placing your valves in the right place; installing them in too deep will leave you cold and wet. This is when an experienced design professional can help you find the appropriate products and avoid some of the pitfalls.

Q. A bathroom renovation is a big and often expensive project. What are some of the materials that will stand the test of time and keep the space looking stylish years later?

A. Classic white subway tile in the bath is always timeless and also beautiful and can be updated again and again simply by changing the surrounding accessories. My personal preference? Ceramic, handmade tiles. For the floors, selecting a large stone, avoiding 12-by-12 tile … a small mosaic is always a classic look. Most importantly, make sure everything is properly installed.

Q. In all your years of designing bathrooms, what has been the most popular color with clients?

A. My love of white baths has been contagious. White has infinite range, depth and shading points.

Q. What feature or material is always worth splurging on?

Invest in a beautiful floor. The bath often has a small surface area, so a high-quality floor is achievable at a range of budgets. Quality bath fittings and fixtures are essential, in part because they are often the most costly to fix should something go wrong.

Q. What trends are you seeing take shape that will likely hold steady over the next several months?

I am not crazy about trends in the bath. It’s a space you don’t often completely gut renovate because it takes a lot of time and can be very costly. I believe in installing classic fixtures and fittings and then playing with trends through accessories, art, paint and towels or bathmats. But if there is a trend, right now it’s all about gray.

Q. What’s on its way out?

A. Whirlpool baths. At one point, every renovation had one. However, this is a waning fad.

Q. What’s the best way for clients to express their vision to a designer?

A. You can start by studying your closet to identify the colors and trends you tend to repeat, collecting tear sheets and then sifting through them for the images that most closely represent the experience you are trying to re-create. Make sure to edit yourself before meeting with the designer. Curate your choices.

Q. What does your dream bathroom look like?

A. My idea of the dream bath, for anyone, should be that it aligns with the design of your home. Make sure it’s classic, timeless and refined. The installation should be meticulous.

Q. Favorite paint colors?

A. Farrow & Ball is my go-to brand. I love their paint pots and the quality of the paint – I have at least 20 in my basement. I have used many F&B colors but my favorite is All White. It is what I call a warm neutral, and is a great bridge between all of the tile and marble and the white of the sinks and water closets. My second favorite is Plummett. It’s dark and adds drama to the bath.

Q. Most overlooked feature?

A. Heated floors.

From MIC to TLC: Beauty blogger Binky Felstead indulges in some winter pampering

Read article : From MIC to TLC: Beauty blogger Binky Felstead indulges in some winter pampering

By Binky Felstead

Published: 16:56 BST, 20 November 2012 | Updated: 17:34 BST, 20 November 2012

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comments

Wow - it's cold outside. Not freeze-your-false-lashes-off cold, perhaps, but still seriously chilly. And it's no fun, especially when you're standing around for hours filming on location.

I'm starting to worry that I may spend the whole of this season of MIC with dry skin and a drip on the end of my nose - definitely not a good look.

So earlier this week, as soon as filming wrapped for the day, I decided to trade MIC for TLC and treat myself to a real beauty treat. One of my favouritepastimes is locking the door on the rest of the world, taking the phone of the hook, and really pampering myself.

Binky Felstead talks you through the perfect pampering winter bath" class="blkBorder" />

Binky Felstead talks you through the perfect pampering winter bath

I'm lucky enough to have a really luxurious feminine bathroom in my house. It's so lovely that my housemates and I, two of my best female friends, are always fighting for bathroom time. I'm starting to think about drawing up a bathroom rota just so I don't get one of the girls knocking on the doors as I dip my toe in the scented water.

Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One is a feminine fragrance that is perfect for layering

Luckily, I found out that the others would both be out on Tuesday evening, so the minute I arrived home from work, I knew I had hours of indulgent Binky-time ahead of me.

I started by dimming the lights and filling the bathroom with gorgeous scented candles. There are tons of delicious ones to choose from, and I'm a real fan. In spring I go for light, girlish floral candles; in summer I burn zesty citrus flavours, but in winter I like to fill my home with really lush green scents and woody spiced fragrances.

I recently treated myself to three incredible Acqua Di Parma candles - Precious Wood, Spicy and Cloves all available atEscentual.com- all perfect for creating a warm, cosy deliciously scented room. So I lit them all and dotted them round the room.

Next I filled my bath right to the brim with steaming water and bath oil. I have to admit that my shelves are heaving with lovely bath time lotions and potions. I'm a complete beauty addict - in case you hadn't guessed - and I can't resist splashing out of scrumptious scents and smellies. But there are two bathing classics that I return to time after time.

Firstly I never tire of the heavenly lemon scented L'Occitane Verbena Festival Foaming Bath - it smells so divine that it always makes me feel wonderfully refreshed. I've enjoyed L'Occitane's Verbena products for ages and the bubble bath has to be my favourite.

A long bubble bath is the perfect way to relax and pamper yourself on these cold winter nights

My other bath essential is Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate. If I've had a really long tiring day, I always pour three or four capfuls of this aromatic oil into the water - it contains Rosewood, Geranium, Mint, Rosemary essential oils to cleanse and firm the skin, and it really does revive my spirit.

Jennifer Lopez debut fragrance, Glow by J.Lo: Could we soon be seeing a signature scent by Binky?" class="blkBorder" />

Jennifer Lopez debut fragrance, Glow by J.Lo: Could we soon be seeing a signature scent by Binky?

I'd had just the sort of day that called for a real pick-me-up soak, so out came the Clarins. Once I'd warmed up and relaxed in my steamy, scented bath for an hour,  it was time for a little bit of body work. The mixture of cold weather and hot central heating can leave my skin feeling really dull and dry so I use a body scrub religiously during the winter months. Right now I'm loving Acqua Di Parma Italian Resort Pumice Body Scrub, which contains three different exfoliating granules: volcanic pumice, marine salts and citrus peel. It leaves my skin wonderfully smooth and silky.

I snoozed on for another hour, rousing myself every so often to top up the hot water, but finally it was time to climb out of the bath. However, my pampering session wasn't over yet. I still had to moisturise and scent my body. Like most girls,  I am a bit of a fragrance flirt and find I fall in love with a new scent every three or four months. I love everything from unusual niche fragrances by elegant perfumiers like Annick Goutal or Serge Lutens, to the blockbuster celebrity scents from the likes of J Lo and Lady Gaga - you never know, one day I might even bring out my very own Binky perfume, after all, I've put in years of research!

Candles create an air of relaxation in a bathroom- but picking the right scent is important

For head-to-toe beauty sessions like this one, however, I like to layer up a single scent, as different fragranced products can lead to a perfume clash. Most of the big-name brands produce full body ranges for their fragrances - everything from deodorant sprays, hand creams and body lotions to shampoos and conditioners. And of course there's the actual scent itself.

This time I chose Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One, which has a Perfumed Shower Gel, a Perfumed Body Lotion and a Perfumed Shimmer Powder, all featuring the deliciously feminine fragrance that mixes fruity top notes, with a central bouquet of peony, lily, lychee and Bulgarian rose. A final spritz of Rose The One Eau de Parfum, and I was done. 

At the end of my luxurious evening I felt deliciously relaxed, my skin was baby-soft and smooth, and I smelled good enough to eat. Pity the only one at home to see and smell the results of pampering was my beloved pooch Scrumble.

Read more of Binky's blog for the Mailhere

Hidden Color Bath Bombs - Soap Queen

Read article : Hidden Color Bath Bombs - Soap Queen

Difficulty:Intermediate

Time:15-20 minutes

Yields:2-3 fizzies

Here’s a fun idea for a colorful surprise hidden inside a bath bomb. This tutorial is perfect for getting kids to take a bath, because there’s enough colorant in each bath bomb to color the bath water. And since you can’t see the color until the bath bomb is activated, you have to be in the bath to get your surprise! I originally came up with this idea … well, you’ll have to see why this weekend. =)

Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see a mini fizzy coloring water!

Recipe:

1.5 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

1 cup Citric Acid

12 mL Baby Powder Fragrance Oil

Teal LaBomb Colorant

Witch Hazel (in a spray bottle)

Droppers with Suction Bulb

2-3 Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Molds

Mesh Strainer

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

OPTIONAL MOLD PREP: To aid in the unmolding of the bath bombs, add 5-10 drops of Cyclomethicone inside each half of the Stainless Steel Bath Bomb molds. Swirl it around so that there is a nice coat covering the inside of the molds. Set the molds on paper towels in a way that allows the excess Cyclomethicone to run out. You want just the thinnest coat of Cyclomethicone inside the molds.

ONE: Place the mesh strainer over the top of a bowl. Measure the Sodium Bicarbonate and Citric Acid and pour into bowl through the strainer. Work any clumps through the strainer. TIP: Citric Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) can tickle your nose, so you might want to wear a mask if you’re sensitive.

TWO: Add 12 mL Baby Powder Fragrance Oil to the mixture. Using your hands, mix until the fragrance oil is not longer causing clumps. NOTE: If your child is very sensitive to fragrance, keep the fragrance out or decrease the amount to only 6 ml. Some children find fragrance overwhelming.

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THREE: Spray the mixture with 5-10 spritzes of Witch Hazel and mix in well. You want to add just enough moisture so that the mixture holds together, but isn’t soggy. Keep adding Witch Hazel until the mixture reaches a consistency that you like. I know my mixture is ready when I squish some fizzy mixture in my hand and it mostly holds together. TIP: For great live-action shots of the ideal consistency of bath bomb mix before putting it into a mold, check out our latest Soap Queen TV with guest Jeanee Duvall of Dirty Laundry! It’s at minute 3:30.

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FOUR: Fill one half of each of the Stainless Steel Bath Bomb molds with bath bomb mix, pressing the mix as compact as possible. Make a crater or divot with your thumb, about 1/2″ deep with about 1/2″ on all sides in the center of the mold. Add 10-15 drops of Teal LaBomb into each divot. Fill the divot with more bath bomb mix, and create a slight mound in the center of the mold.

FIVE: Fill the other half of each of the Stainless Steel Bath Bomb molds all the way with bath bomb mix, also mounding the center slightly. Press two halves of the mold together, one colored half and one uncolored half, until there is no gap between between the two halves.

SIX: Waiting no longer than about 5 minutes, unmold the bath bombs by slowly twisting the mold halves and removing one half of the mold. If the second half of the mold is not quite ready to release yet, wait 5-10 minutes and then gently tap the mold from behind.

TIP: Take a peek at this bath bomb video for tips on unmolding the Stainless Steel Bath Bomb molds.

This idea also works for coloring smaller amounts of water. Cut the recipe in half, and use a small mold like the Petite Bendy Star Mold. Use the same technique of filling the mold half full, but use just one or two drops of colorant per cavity. One tiny bath bomb with two drops of colorant will nicely color about a cup and a half of water. Why did I test out such a small amount? Check back this weekend as I reveal some super exciting Bramble Bump news!

Click here for a printable PDF of this tutorial.