Turn your Bathroom into a Spa, by Joseph Pubillones

Read article : Turn your Bathroom into a Spa, by Joseph Pubillones

As Americans hustle and bustle to make ends meet and the work hours extend well beyond 40 hours per week, stress is an all-time high. Stress is responsible for triggering incidents from panic attacks to illness and even cardiac arrest. This is why the spa business is booming at an alarming rate. While some business folks may get the occasional perks of downtime to book a day at a spa, most American families do not have the luxury of time. Bringing the concept of the spa to your home is becoming quite popular.

Creating an at-home getaway is the goal when transforming your bathroom into a spa. There are several factors to consider in such a home improvement project. To get your bathroom to capture the spa feeling, you will want to capture as much room as possible. You will need more room to accommodate a luxurious tub to soak in, a large shower with massaging jet sprays, or perhaps a steam unit to transform your shower into a steam bath, a bench inside the shower, and a place to sit down and relax.

Give good consideration to plumbing fixtures and hardware. These valves and controls are important because they are tactile items, which affect the way you perceive your spa-bathroom. They are also effective to express a sense of luxury and relaxation.

The colors that are used in spas are deliberately chosen to reduce stress. The colors that are most used as those inspired by the sky, ocean and earth. These colors are usually very light. While they may seem washed out, these colors that are dusty and seem to insinuate another are the best. Like a soft white with an aqua green shimmer, or a beige that reflects salmon paired. These pale colors work the best when paired with white, gray or espresso cabinetry and trim.

Today's new spa-bathroom combinations also make a statement with tiles and stone treatments. The more exotic the marble, granite or quartz, the better. Sometimes great slabs are book-matched for an incredible organic pattern on walls and floors. Mosaics are historically tied to baths since pre-Roman times, and today with advances in technology, micro tiles can be laser cut and assembled to create the most incredible and fantastic patterns and designs.

Other items to be considered in the design of a spa-bathroom:

Candles: For burning at specific times, can be soothing. I would suggest a subtle aromatherapeutic scent. Small votive around your bath area can be beautiful, but also give off a relaxing glow.

The Best Linens: Accessorizing you bathroom with a nice bathrobe, thick absorbent towels, and bathmats are both useful and make your slippery surfaces safe.

Flowers and Plants: Are a great invigorating element of nature to add to your spa-bathroom. Plants are great because they help clean the air and give off oxygen.

Music: Part of the spa experience is too soothe your body and soul. Music is the best therapy to aid in relaxation and stress reduction. Spas pipe soft music everywhere for a reason. Add a couple of new jazz CDs to your repertoire and you are well on your way.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

DESIGN CHOICES: BATHTUB OR SHOWER?

Read article : DESIGN CHOICES: BATHTUB OR SHOWER?

Is it time to ditch the tub? Bathroom trend study reveals tricks for top redesigns

When redecorating your bathroom there are numerous choices you’ll face. The size, shape, style and arrangement of your bathroom furniture is naturally your biggest concern and sometimes finding ways to fit everything in comfortably can seem impossible – so why not cut something out … like the bathtub perhaps?

According to research, 59% of older homeowners ditching baths in favour of showers when they renovate their bathrooms but is this a trend that you should mimic? Or is there a better way to have your cake and eat it in the bathroom?

The bath revolution

While a large number of individuals are opting for showers over baths, research from Houzz has also shown that consumers are becoming more imaginative in their selection of baths when they decide to keep them as part of their bathroom design. Rather than just having a plain white metal tub, many older people invest in a spa type experience or a hydrovescent bath that helps to invigorate them as well as promote good hygiene.

It’s important to remember that not all baths are large and bulky units which prove difficult to fit in the bathroom and if you’re keen to keep this traditional feature part of the room then there are plenty of options to do so.

Firms like Premier Bathrooms offer a great range of hydrovescent bathtubs as well as walk-in baths and shower cubicles designed to help you get the most out of your bathroom; whatever its size. Hydrovescent tubs are also good for those with poor circulation or arthritis so having one installed could do as much good for your health as it does for the design of the room.

If you’re planning to design your bathroom anytime soon then we advise you consider the following trends and ideas when making your decisions:

• Opt for walk-in baths and showers if those using the units suffer from mobility issues or disabilities and remember to leave enough room for doors to open outwards where needed
• Install seats within showers and baths to help people lower themselves into the water but consider how these are arranged so as to create a stylish appearance
• Use lighting carefully to transform the bathroom into an oasis of calm – the development of safe LED lighting systems means that showerheads and bathing areas can all be illuminated safely so it’s a good option to try
• Add an en suite bathroom to the master bedroom if possible – this is a great way to add luxury and convenience to a home and according to Houzz’ research it is a trends that 85% of people are likely to follow
• Pick a bath or shower unit to match the dimensions of the bathroom – remember that there are a vast amount of styles available so give them all equal consideration and remember to consider shape (square, round or corner baths) too
• Install double sinks in bathrooms shared by couples to make morning routines more convenient and to elevate the appearance of the bathroom as a whole
• Make sure flooring is safe and practical – lino, vinyl and tiles are all preferable over carpets but you’ll need to opt for something that is water resistant and which offers a non-slip surface. Underfloor heating is also an important consideration – especially for cold winter mornings

The bathroom is now a popular room

With improvements to walk in-baths and showers, many older homeowners are investing in this type of bathroom furniture in order to retain their independence. If you can have a therapeutic bath in the comfort of your own home, why not install one of these wonderful devices today?

Wet rooms are also growing in popularity so this is something you should consider too. They are easy to use and the shower attachments are at a convenient level for all which means practical showering every day of the week.

Sources: http://info.houzz.com/rs/houzz/images/HouzzBathroomStudy.pdf

How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

Read article : How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

(Like what you're reading? Sign up for our newsletter to get health insights, clever kitchen tricks, gardening secrets, and more—delivered straight to your inbox. And follow along on Facebook and Instagram.)

How to get rid of mold and mildew

I started by tossing the mats and fabric shower curtains and cotton shower curtain liner in the washing machine and hanging them out on the line, where the sunshine emerged to do its mold-killing magic. If your curtain is a bit musty, you may want to give it a presoak for a few hours, or even overnight, in a bucket of water with a cup of white vinegar added before tossing it into the washer.

Then, I tackled the grout. No matter how diligent you are at giving your bathroom its weekly once-over (and I am very not diligent), the joints where one material meets another are prone to dirt buildup and mildew. A number of natural cleaners are equal to the challenge, but the type and condition of your grout, tile, and other surfaces need to be taken into consideration when you select one so you don’t damage them. Also, steer clear of scrubby pads if you have materials that could be scratched (my surfaces are tough and were marred long before I owned them, so I don’t sweat a little more scrubbing once in a while to get rid of mold. If yours can also take the abuse, you can even use epsom salt to scrub grout).

(Here are two easy ways to clean a cast iron pan!)

A good basic cleaner to start with is baking soda dissolved in water for spraying or sponging (1/8 cup per quart of water), sprinkled dry on a damp sponge, or made into a paste with a little water for tough areas. Baking soda has been found to kill certain types of mildew, and for the types it can't kill, its mild abrasiveness allows you to scrub the stuff away. It's safe for most surfaces, but you might want to test a small area first if you have any doubts. Apply the baking soda, either in spray or paste form, leave it alone for an hour or so, and then scrub with a soft brush (a retired toothbrush is my favorite). Wipe and rinse well when finished. (Here are 9 more surprising uses for baking soda.)

White vinegar or lemon juice (full strength or mixed with half water) are also good for cleaning mildew-stained grout, but they are acidic and can start to eat away at grout as well as certain hard-surface finishes, so be sure to rinse completely; neither is a good choice for natural marble. To use, sponge on, scrub with a soft brush, and rinse. If you can’t get your grout clean with either of these cleaners, you may want to consider looking for a company that offers professional steam cleaning, which is nontoxic and very effective. Just make sure the company is clear that you don’t want toxic chemicals used.

Related: What's The Better Mold Cleaner—Lemon Juice Or Bleach?

In areas where mildew is a chronic problem, you can keep it from growing by applying citrus or tee-tree oil regularly. Put 10 drops of lemon, orange, grapefruit, or tea tree oil and a few drops of dish soap into an empty quart spray bottle, add warm water almost to the top, and slosh to mix. Spray down areas that are prone to mildew once a week or so. (Here are more essential ingredients for making all of your own cleaning products.)

Related: 6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils

How to get rid of hard water stains

Depending on the dissolved minerals in your water, you too may get white, gray, or even rusty stains on bathroom surfaces. If I had a magic bullet that would get rid of hard water stains with no effort, I’d be a millionaire, but I don't. However, with a little trial and error and even more elbow grease, you can take care of soap scum and mineral deposits as effectively with natural products as you could with the latest toxic panacea being pushed on TV (which probably isn’t nearly as effective as they want you to believe it is anyway).

Related: The Only 10 Things You Need To Buy To Make All Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

As with grout, baking soda is a good basic cleaner to start with: Use it dissolved in water for spraying or sponging, sprinkled as is on a damp sponge, or as a paste for tough areas. Apply baking soda to your surface, let it sit for an hour or so, and then remove it with a soft cloth or brush.

Related: How To Wash Your Car Without Nasty Chemicals Or Wasting Water

If baking soda isn’t up to your challenges, vinegar is quite effective at dissolving soap scum and removing hard water stains. Sponge it on full strength (or mixed half and half with water), wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse well. To remove hard-water buildup from showerheads, remove the showerhead and let it soak in undiluted vinegar for a few hours while you're cleaning. Vinegar works because it is acidic, but for the same reason it can also eat into grout or damage the finish of marble, tile, and other surfaces. Check with the manufacturer for advice or test it in an inconspicuous area. (Here are 9 times you should never use vinegar around the house.)

Should both of those fail, a good next step is a product called Bar Keepers Friend (the dry, powdered type). Its active ingredient is oxalic acid, a natural chemical found in rhubarb leaves and various other plants. It is very good at dissolving mineral deposits, even rust stains, without a lot of scrubbing. Just remember that even though it is natural, it can still hurt you if you ingest it, or get in on your skin or in your eyes, so be sure to follow the simple label cautions. (Here are 12 more household toxins you should banish from your home.)

A few other alternatives are Bon Ami cleanser,powdered pumice or a pumice stone, or even very fine wet/dry sandpaper. But as with any other cleaning method, test a small area first to make sure they won't damage surfaces. 

How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

Read article : How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

(Like what you're reading? Sign up for our newsletter to get health insights, clever kitchen tricks, gardening secrets, and more—delivered straight to your inbox. And follow along on Facebook and Instagram.)

How to get rid of mold and mildew

I started by tossing the mats and fabric shower curtains and cotton shower curtain liner in the washing machine and hanging them out on the line, where the sunshine emerged to do its mold-killing magic. If your curtain is a bit musty, you may want to give it a presoak for a few hours, or even overnight, in a bucket of water with a cup of white vinegar added before tossing it into the washer.

Then, I tackled the grout. No matter how diligent you are at giving your bathroom its weekly once-over (and I am very not diligent), the joints where one material meets another are prone to dirt buildup and mildew. A number of natural cleaners are equal to the challenge, but the type and condition of your grout, tile, and other surfaces need to be taken into consideration when you select one so you don’t damage them. Also, steer clear of scrubby pads if you have materials that could be scratched (my surfaces are tough and were marred long before I owned them, so I don’t sweat a little more scrubbing once in a while to get rid of mold. If yours can also take the abuse, you can even use epsom salt to scrub grout).

(Here are two easy ways to clean a cast iron pan!)

A good basic cleaner to start with is baking soda dissolved in water for spraying or sponging (1/8 cup per quart of water), sprinkled dry on a damp sponge, or made into a paste with a little water for tough areas. Baking soda has been found to kill certain types of mildew, and for the types it can't kill, its mild abrasiveness allows you to scrub the stuff away. It's safe for most surfaces, but you might want to test a small area first if you have any doubts. Apply the baking soda, either in spray or paste form, leave it alone for an hour or so, and then scrub with a soft brush (a retired toothbrush is my favorite). Wipe and rinse well when finished. (Here are 9 more surprising uses for baking soda.)

White vinegar or lemon juice (full strength or mixed with half water) are also good for cleaning mildew-stained grout, but they are acidic and can start to eat away at grout as well as certain hard-surface finishes, so be sure to rinse completely; neither is a good choice for natural marble. To use, sponge on, scrub with a soft brush, and rinse. If you can’t get your grout clean with either of these cleaners, you may want to consider looking for a company that offers professional steam cleaning, which is nontoxic and very effective. Just make sure the company is clear that you don’t want toxic chemicals used.

Related: What's The Better Mold Cleaner—Lemon Juice Or Bleach?

In areas where mildew is a chronic problem, you can keep it from growing by applying citrus or tee-tree oil regularly. Put 10 drops of lemon, orange, grapefruit, or tea tree oil and a few drops of dish soap into an empty quart spray bottle, add warm water almost to the top, and slosh to mix. Spray down areas that are prone to mildew once a week or so. (Here are more essential ingredients for making all of your own cleaning products.)

Related: 6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils

How to get rid of hard water stains

Depending on the dissolved minerals in your water, you too may get white, gray, or even rusty stains on bathroom surfaces. If I had a magic bullet that would get rid of hard water stains with no effort, I’d be a millionaire, but I don't. However, with a little trial and error and even more elbow grease, you can take care of soap scum and mineral deposits as effectively with natural products as you could with the latest toxic panacea being pushed on TV (which probably isn’t nearly as effective as they want you to believe it is anyway).

Related: The Only 10 Things You Need To Buy To Make All Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

As with grout, baking soda is a good basic cleaner to start with: Use it dissolved in water for spraying or sponging, sprinkled as is on a damp sponge, or as a paste for tough areas. Apply baking soda to your surface, let it sit for an hour or so, and then remove it with a soft cloth or brush.

Related: How To Wash Your Car Without Nasty Chemicals Or Wasting Water

If baking soda isn’t up to your challenges, vinegar is quite effective at dissolving soap scum and removing hard water stains. Sponge it on full strength (or mixed half and half with water), wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse well. To remove hard-water buildup from showerheads, remove the showerhead and let it soak in undiluted vinegar for a few hours while you're cleaning. Vinegar works because it is acidic, but for the same reason it can also eat into grout or damage the finish of marble, tile, and other surfaces. Check with the manufacturer for advice or test it in an inconspicuous area. (Here are 9 times you should never use vinegar around the house.)

Should both of those fail, a good next step is a product called Bar Keepers Friend (the dry, powdered type). Its active ingredient is oxalic acid, a natural chemical found in rhubarb leaves and various other plants. It is very good at dissolving mineral deposits, even rust stains, without a lot of scrubbing. Just remember that even though it is natural, it can still hurt you if you ingest it, or get in on your skin or in your eyes, so be sure to follow the simple label cautions. (Here are 12 more household toxins you should banish from your home.)

A few other alternatives are Bon Ami cleanser,powdered pumice or a pumice stone, or even very fine wet/dry sandpaper. But as with any other cleaning method, test a small area first to make sure they won't damage surfaces. 

Top 15 Tips For Saving Thousands On Your Bills - Hifow

Read article : Top 15 Tips For Saving Thousands On Your Bills - Hifow

Quick & Easy Food Recipes at Hifow.com

Saving money is the hot word at the moment as the world economy gulps for air. Here I give tips on how you could save thousands by making a few changes to your home and lifestyle. The items are listed in no particular order, and the amounts I personally saved by trying these tips is listed at the end of each segment. Enjoy!

Holidays are often seen as a necessity, but luxury holidays can work out more expensive than they are worth. Traveling to other countries for your holiday can be full of hidden costs, such as airport taxes, insurance, and even the price of a passport, so one thing to consider is just how far do you need to go for have a few weeks of fun?? At the bottom end of the scale, camping holidays can be enjoyed for the price of a tent and a food budget, and a well planned trip could mean you are waking in a new location every day. Similarly, consider hiring a camper or motor-home – and take a tour of the wilderness. Holidaying in foreign parts may still carry a note of prestige, but who needs prestige when you’re broke? Average yearly saving (£): Over £2,000 ($3,000).

Buying ‘New’ costs more, and even more so when considering buying cars. A car can lose up to 50% of its worth in just 12 months, so the second-hand car market is ripe with good quality almost-new vehicles. At the bottom end of the market, a good car may cost as little as £1,000 and could be just as comfortable, reliable and economical as a brand new equivalent. The second-hand hard goods market is also awash with good quality gear. Online auction sites are by far the best places to buy gifts and gadgets at a fraction of the cost of their retail counterparts. For example, a one-week-old computer processor was found for just £90 on EBay – saving £60 – £80 on the price of a brand new one. Charity shops can be gold mines for clothing, drapes, toys and dvds, and because charity shops almost always insist on goods being of the best order, whole outfits can be bought for next to nothing. Average yearly saving by not buying new (£): Unlimited.

Many items have a higher price tag even though they may be carbon copies of other brands; simply because they have a popular label. Many motor manufacturers rebrand imported products to sell the same thing for a higher price. Many clothing manufacturers do the same. So if you can swallow your vanity and shift the ego, there really is no need to wear a label in order to look smart. If you must do, why not just buy a box of sew-on labels and do it yourself! On the shopping front, you may have to ask why you always buy Pepsi when multipak cola feeds the same need for less? Ok, so it might taste better, but it also costs… Again, if you must be suckered into wearing named brands, there are many places which sell the same things for less; and charity shops always have a nice selection of pristine labels on offer. Average yearly saving (£): £250 ($380).

The second most expensive single item on this list is a wedding. Weddings happen to most people, and most have to save for years to get what they want. However, there are always alternatives. One way would be to organize your own wedding using one of the many priests in your area. For example, I asked a Shaman to marry myself and my wife-to-be in a special clearing by a river; I created my own vows; and the whole thing came to under £400. There are many people willing to marry folks for the fraction of the price of a church service, and getting married on a beach, or in a forest – or having a themed wedding – may prove much more memorable and special. Collective saving over a church wedding (£): Over £2,000 ($3,000).

Perhaps the most controversial item on this list is the Rent vs Mortgage argument. In a lot of cases, renting can be as low cost as getting a mortgage and comes with a number of benefits. Firstly, you won’t owe £150,000 to be payable over 40 years! This means these debts wont be passed on to your next of kin should you die before you pay for the house. Renting means you can move to a larger or cheaper place as and when you like – or to a new area altogether. House maintenance should be taken care of by your landlord, and even some utility bills may be thrown into the price. If you fail to keep up your mortgage repayments, the banks will move pretty swiftly to boot you out, but many rental agencies or private landlords can often be paid much smaller sums in order to keep the roof over your head. Finally, if you are lucky enough to get help with your housing costs, many agencies will pay more to rented tenants than mortgaged individuals. Buying a house may still be seen as a good investment should the housing market go up in price – but at the moment it’s going down! – turning the whole thing into more of a gamble. Average lifetime saving (£): Variable.

With Gas and Electricity prices rising all the time, by far the easiest way to heat a home is to go back to the old ways – with a wood burring stove. Stoves can be bought relatively cheaply, and one will pay for itself in a couple of years. Fuel is never a problem (and often free) as long as you live near a wood yard, a coppice project, a paper mill, a saw mill, or even a dump (where wood is available by the skip load). A cheap circular saw can be bought for as little as £10, and means you can chop up tables, cabinets, dressers, and just about anything else. Sick and tired of all that junk mail? Bung it in, and make it heat your home! Endless stacks of paper products?, cereal boxes?, packaging? Recycle it the original way and save the planet. Supermarkets are also a good source of material – and are usually more than willing to see the back of banana boxes and all kinds of packaging. On top of all that, a good stove burner could be adapted into the water system of your home; so you can use it to take a bath. Stoves can also be cooked upon too!. Finally, they are great for giving a home that natural heat that helps you feel drowsy and have a good nights sleep. Average yearly saving (£): Over £140 ($210)

With the advent of the Internet, technology now allows a cheaper viewing experience. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where most of the material on TV is available online and on demand, there really is no reason to pay for TV anymore. In the UK, the cost of a TV license can be over £100 a year. With a good graphics card on your computer, you should be able to connect your TV to it; meaning ANY output from your machine can be directed to play on the big screen with the touch of a button. This also means that your television watching habits can be tailored to your own on-demand needs, and you won’t be paying for all those waste-of-time shows which clog many networks these days. Finally, with the advent of shared downloads, you can now have your favorite shows on your hard drive and play them direct – saving you buying or burning all those DVDs. Average yearly saving (£): Over £120 ($180).

Now this had to come up at some point, but this could make a HUGE difference to your expenditure over a year. By far the easiest way to budget is to type in all your outgoings and bills in monthly columns on a spreadsheet. Below these, enter whatever income you have – and then take the outgoings amount away from your combined income. Hay presto! Your disposable income pops up at the bottom. Budgeting a whole year in advance can show you what shape your bank account will be in during the months to come; helping you save more if things look tight, or to afford those little luxuries without fear of going into the red. A budget can also help you as you tinker with the figures – shaving money off here and there – allowing you to maximize whatever money you have available to you. Average yearly saving (£): Unlimited.

On several occasion I have house-shared as a means of cutting the house-hold bills in half. A paying guest can ‘lodge’ for any price you set – and many are happy to pay as much as you would pay to rent the house on your own. Similarly, many are willing to split the rent and the bills; resulting in a very much less expensive way to live. Of course, house sharing does have a few drawbacks; such as privacy;
but at the end of the day it’s up to you whether you want to keep them or to send them on their way. House mates can also be very good company, very good partners on a night out, may be great (free) babysitters, and may be a convenient way to car share. Average yearly saving from a house-share (£): £3800 ($5,800).

In some parts of the world, water bills are calculated on the average usage in your community, or at least on your block. That is fine if you use as much as everyone else; but not so good if you live on your own or prefer to smell nasty from not taking baths! For singles or students then, having a water meter installed could save you a small fortune as it means you will only pay for what you use. So, by not washing the car, or by doing the dishes in a bowl rather than in a dish-washer, or taking showers instead of baths – you can save on your usual water bill. For quite a few household jobs – such as watering the garden and washing the car – the water you need comes from the sky – for FREE – and is worth collecting if you have a water meter. Average yearly saving (£): Over £120 ($180).

Running a car can be a very expensive business, so fuel economy can be an easy way to save those extra penny’s. First of all, keeping your car in shape is by far the quickest way to start saving. For example: ensuring the tires are inflated to the correct PSI and have plenty of rubber, changing the air and oil filters, removing excess weight, and driving carefully; can mean your fuel can last at least 10-20 MPG longer. Race starts, revving the engine, and driving over 70MPH (112kph) uses up fuel quickly, and could only result in saving you minutes at the other end. The best speed for fuel economy is 56MPH (90kph). Buying a diesel or a car with good fuel economy (over 50mpg) is also a big consideration, and could cut the average fuel bill by half over a year. Car sharing is great as it means you are sharing the cost of driving between you, and if you alternate between each others cars it could mean you are traveling half as often in your own car. Small journeys eat into your fuel reserve more than long ones because of the time it takes the car to warm up. If you reach your destination before the ‘choke’ switches off you will have used an extra 10% of fuel in your journey. For this reason, it is better to shop around all in one day rather than popping into town every day for little bits. If you can, walk. Walking is free, and every trip saved is an extra trip you can make on the same tank of gas. Average yearly saving (£): Over £100 ($150).

Now this might sound obvious, but eating take-outs can be far more expensive than eating your own home cooked meals. Take-outs; although often very tasty; can contain materials which actively make you hungrier or thirstier – causing you to consume more as a result. Ordering out for food or going out for meals can really make a big difference to a shopping budget, and can turn one of life’s greatest luxuries into a taken-for-granted habit. Saving take-outs for special days (i.e. Saturdays) and special occasions can make the experience even more exciting, even more sumptuous, and a whole lot cheaper. Average yearly saving by eating less take-outs (£): Over £120 ($180).

If saving on food is a little beyond your comfort zone then this next classic will have you screaming. With the credit crunch propaganda infiltrating the airwaves of late, many are left wondering how they will afford the basic household bills. One way is simply to economize on life’s luxuries – and by far the most common (and most expensive) luxuries are those concerning cigarettes and alcohol. For example, if you were to smoke 20 cigarettes a day, your yearly expenditure may average around £1800 ($2,800). If you were to cut down from 20 cigarettes a day to 10, this would go down to £900 ($1,400, a saving of £900 a year – or x30 fuel bills!). 7 cigarettes a day, and the cost goes down to around £550 ($850) a year; quit smoking and you could save the full £1800 ($2,800). Alcohol is very similar in that a single night out may cost anywhere between £20 and £60; so by going out just once a week less often; you could save between £960 (1,470) and £2880 ($4,400) over a year. Average yearly saving after quitting drinking and smoking (£): Over £6,660.

There are many ways to cut the shopping budget down to size. For starters, choose your shops carefully. If it can be ordered and delivered cheaper online (i.e. hard goods, media), this could save up to 50% on retail prices. As far as food goes, one supermarkets’ prices may not be too unlike anothers’, but there can be huge saving to be made if you are willing to shop around for the basic items. Convenience stores often hike their prices thinking that consumers will shop there anyway and swallow the difference. Milk, for example, may be a third more expensive at your local shop or gas station than it may be at a superstore. Over the year, these expenses mount up. However, if the price of a cheaper loaf of bread would cost you more in gas money to drive over and pick one up, then this would be false economy in that it would cost more overall for the same result. Average yearly saving (£): Over £480 ($).

Finally, why not maximize your income by eating healthily! Contrary to what you may think, eating veggie is very VERY cheap, and a full weeks worth of food may cost from as little as £10 ($15) a head. By far the cheapest way to have the best quality vegetables for your pot would be to grow your own. For the price of a packet of seeds (or a few carrot tops and sprouting potatoes) you can grow and rotate your stocks to provide an endless free supply of basic foods. A good steamer unit, an oven, and a magimix (for soups) will also save hours of gas or electricity bills as neither of these use too much juice to run. Eating veggie doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding meat – that’s up to you – you don’t have to be a vegetarian to eat veggie! Meat, fish and chicken can be used as you like, along with eggs, cheese, sauces, pickles and spices. The point is to avoid shopping for pre-packaged foods; in whatever variety they come; and simply eat fresh. Aside from fresh being far less expensive (even totally free!), fresh also contains far less additives, comes with far less packaging, and is FAR more beneficial for the mind and body. Average yearly saving by growing your own veggies (£): £900 ($1,400) per head.

Summary: So there you have it. If you invest in a good budget and a wood burning stove to heat and cook on, get a suitable house mate, cut down or cut out the cigs, booze and the take-outs, get a water meter, don’t pay for TV, and grow and eat veggie – you could save a fortune. I did all the above, and although I didn’t sacrifice too much of my social life I still managed to save… £12,700 year-on-year ($19,500).

Contributor: Lifeschool

Read more: http://listverse.com/2008/11/30/top-15-tips-for-saving-thousands-on-your-bills/

Quick & Easy Food Recipes at Hifow.com

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Ideas to Remodel a Small Bathroom

Read article : Ideas to Remodel a Small Bathroom

While the main design consideration in a bathroom is functionality, aesthetic appeal is also important, and there are simple and effective ways to make dramatic upgrades to a bathroom's appeal without altering the tub or shower. Wall and floor coverings and electrical fixtures are all examples of features that you can change while keeping demolition to a minimum and remaining within a budget. When replacing plumbing fixtures, keep water conservation and efficiency as priorities.

Bathroom Flooring You can make a dramatic change to a small bathroom with the addition of a new floor covering. If the existing floor is in reasonably good shape and dry, you can install a new laminate floor directly over it without the need for its removal. Laminate wood patterns can blend with a bathroom dominated by woodwork, while a tile pattern can fit with tile or painted walls. Vinyl flooring is also well suited for the bathroom, and a multitude of patterns are available, but the installation will probably require removal of the old flooring and preparation of the subfloor. Walls Tiles make the best bathroom walls, but installing them can be troublesome and expensive. Consider alternatives, like vinyl-coated wallpaper or paint if you're on a budget, or combine materials by tiling the tub and shower stall and using another covering for the rest of the walls. You can create an interesting effect by tiling the lower half of the walls and using paint or paper for the top, similar to wainscoting. If you decide to paint, use a gloss or semi-gloss product, preferably oil-based. Paints with a sheen are easier to clean and are more resistant to mildew. Plumbing Fixtures Unless your plans include relocating the plumbing, you'll be constrained to the original positions of the main fixtures, like the sink, tub, shower and toilet. This doesn't mean you can't replace them, however. Installing a new tub or shower is a formidable job, but replacing the sink cabinet and toilet are relatively easy ones that can make a dramatic difference. Faucets are also easy to replace, and buying a matching set for the sink, tub and shower will give the bathroom a sense of integration. Don't forget to update the P-traps and supply hoses around fixtures you replace. Electrical Fixtures Remodeling the bathroom gives you a chance to update the lighting, and even if you do nothing else, changing the lighting in the bathroom can greatly alter the atmosphere. Whether you decide on recessed or track lighting, wall fixtures or a central globe, bathroom light fixtures should be moisture-proof and grounded. A remodel also gives you the opportunity to update outlets or to add one or two more. Although they are required only around the sink area, it's a good idea to install ground fault interrupting (GFI) outlets throughout the bathroom. Replace all the electrical cover plates with new ones for a final touch.

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Taps very solid brass bath shower taps with thermostatic mixing valve rrp £185.99 Appraisal: New/

Read article : Taps very solid brass bath shower taps with thermostatic mixing valve rrp £185.99 Appraisal: New/

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SALE

1. Interpretation

1.1. In these General Conditions the following words and expressions shall have the meanings set opposite:

“Auction” any auction (whether a Live Auction or an Online Auction and whether conducted independently or simultaneously) conducted pursuant to these General Conditions and the Special Conditions;

“Auctioneer” the person conducting the Auction or to whom the conduct of the Auction is delegated under General Condition 4.9 below;

“Bidder” any person who offers to purchase any Lot whether by bidding at Auction or offering to purchase by private treaty or tender;

“Bid” an offer to purchase any Lot whether by bidding at Auction or offering to purchase by private treaty or tender, and “Bids” and “Bidding” shall be construed accordingly;

“Buyer” any person who agrees to purchase any Lot whether at Auction or by private treaty or tender and as determined under General condition 4.12 below;

"Buyer`s Premium" a commission payable by the Buyer on the completion of a Sale the amount of which is set out in the Special Conditions; The Auctioneer, when acting as Agent for the Seller, may also receive commission from the Seller.

“Catalogue” the catalogue incorporating these General Conditions and the Special Conditions;

"Clearance Date and Time" the date and time on which all Lots must be removed by the Buyer from the Location as specified in the Special Conditions;

“The Company” Boulton Vehicles Ltd T/A Bpi Associates Auctioneers & Valuers (company number 07279488 ) whose registered office is at Ripley House, Ripley Drive, Normanton Industrial Estate, Wakefield;

"Deposit" the sum payable by the Buyer to the Company as set out in the Special Conditions;

"Live Auction" any auction conducted at the Location or at such other location(s) as shall be notified by the Company in the Special Conditions or in the Catalogue;

“Location” the premises at which the Lots are located, details of which are set out in the Special Conditions;

“Lot” any Lot described in the Catalogue, on the Website or on the Company’s invoice;

"Online Auction" any auction conducted over the internet via the Website pursuant to these General Conditions and the Special Conditions;

"Sale" the sale of any Lot by Auction, private treaty or tender and as determined under General Condition 4.11 below;

“Seller” the person upon whose instructions the Company is conducting the Sale, details of whom are set out in the Special Conditions;

“Special Conditions” any additions to these General Conditions set out or referred to in the Catalogue, announced at Auction or otherwise specified by the Company;

"Website" the website at: www.bidspotter.co.uk;

"VAT" value added tax chargeable under English Law for the time being and any similar additional tax.

2. Application of these General Conditions

2.1. These General Conditions apply to every Sale of plant and machinery, chattels and trade stocks conducted by the Company.

2.2. These General Conditions, the Special Conditions and any terms set out in the Catalogue shall together comprise the "Conditions of Sale".

2.3. To the extent that these General Conditions are inconsistent with any Special Conditions, the General Conditions shall prevail.

2.4. Bidding for any Lot shall be deemed to be an acceptance by the Bidder of these General Conditions and the Special Conditions.

2.5. These General Conditions shall be governed construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of England and Wales unless the Location is in:-

2.5.1 Scotland in which case the laws of Scotland shall apply; or

2.5.2 Northern Ireland in which case the laws of Northern Ireland shall apply.

2.6. A reference to writing or written shall include e-mail.

2.7. Any word or phrase having a meaning defined in these General Conditions shall have the same meaning when used in the Special Conditions.

3. Identity of the Parties

3.1. The Company offers each Lot as agent of the Seller and not as principal unless otherwise indicated in the Catalogue.

3.2. The identity of the Seller is set out in the Special Conditions.

3.3. Unless the Company has previously acknowledged in writing that the Bidder Bids as agent on behalf of a named principal, every Bidder shall be taken to Bid on his own behalf as principal.

3.4. Any Bidder acting as agent on behalf of a named principal shall remain liable to the Seller and the Company for all obligations and liabilities of his principal jointly and severally with the principal. The Bidder warrants that he has the authority of his principal to make each Bid made.

3.5. Every Bidder is required to give his name and address and provide satisfactory proof of identity and such other information and documentation as is required to the Company before making any Bid and in the case of:

3.5.1. a Live Auction by the completion of a registration form;

3.5.2 an Online Auction by online registration at the Website; and

3.5.3 a private treaty or tender by prior registration or notification of details, as and when requested by the Company.

3.6 The Company reserves the right at any time to reject the registration of any persons and refuse access to the Auction at its sole discretion.

3.7 On registration for an Online Auction Bidders will be added to the Company`s mailing list for the purposes of notification of future sales by email. If a Bidder wishes to stop receiving such notifications they can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the link provided at the bottom of each email.

3.8 On registration in accordance with General condition 3.5 the Bidder acknowledges that only adults aged 18 years and over are entitled to enter into a legally binding contract and as a result they are the only people entitled to register for the Auction. By registering the Bidder warrants that he is aged 18 years or older and is capable of forming a legally binding contract.

4. Conduct of Auctions

4.1 Any Lot may be subject to a minimum bid or reserve price. The Seller is entitled to change these at any time before the conclusion of the Sale.

4.2 The Seller, Auctioneer or any representative, agent or person acting on behalf of the Seller may Bid for any Lot. Persons entitled to Bid pursuant to this condition 4.2 shall be entitled to place Bids on any Lot up to the reserve price including by placing Bids in response to other Bidders.

4.3 Lot descriptions will be amended as appropriate as and when information becomes available to the Company. Prospective Bidders must read Lot descriptions before making a Bid so that they are fully aware of any amendments to the description appearing in the Special Conditions and/or on the Website or in the Catalogue in relation to a particular Lot.

4.4 The Auctioneer may at any time before the conclusion of the Sale withdraw or divide any Lot or combine any Lots.

4.5 The Company may sell any Lot by private treaty or tender before or after the Auction. The Auctioneer may reject any Bid at his sole discretion and without being required to give a reason.

4.6 No Bid shall be retracted without the consent of the Auctioneer.

4.7 The Auctioneer may where there is a dispute between Bidders, summarily determine the dispute or immediately again offer the Lot for sale, in each case without being required to give a reason.

4.8 The Auctioneer shall in every other respect decide how the Auction is to be conducted and without being required to give a reason.

4.9 The Auctioneer may in his sole discretion delegate to a person whom he believes to be competent the conduct of the Auction in accordance with these General Conditions.

4.10 The Auctioneer may from time to time act jointly with an associated Auctioneer who will be named in the Catalogue and/or in the Special Conditions.

4.11 A Sale is concluded (constituting acceptance of the Bidder`s offer, subject to General Condition 4.12 below) when:

4.11.1 in the case of a Live Auction, on the fall of the Auctioneer`s hammer; and/or,

4.11.2 in the case of an Online Auction, at the close of the timed Online Auction Sale as specified on the Website and as defined by General Condition 4.17.3 below or;

4.11.3 in the case of a private treaty or tender, when the Bidders Bid is accepted by the Company, such acceptance to be communicated to the Bidder in writing by way of receipt of the Company’s invoice.

4.12 The Buyer shall be the person who made the highest Bid before the conclusion of the Sale pursuant to General Condition 4.11 above subject to approval and acceptance by the Company, the Auctioneers and the Seller or such other Bidder as the Auctioneer and/ or the Company may declare to be the Buyer without being required to give a reason. The Auctioneer and/ or the Company and/ or the Seller is not bound to accept the highest Bid or any other Bid placed in the course of the Auction.

4.13 In the case of an Online Auction the Buyer, as determined under General Condition 4.12 above, shall within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the Sale receive by email an invoice in respect of the monies due for the Lot(s) purchased.

4.14 In the event that the reserve price is not met, the Company may consider the Bids received below the reserve price with the Seller who at its sole discretion may accept, reject or place a counteroffer.

4.15 On conclusion of the Sale and acceptance of the Bidders Bid pursuant to General Conditions 4.11 and 4.12 above, the Buyer acknowledges and agrees that he has entered into a contract with the Seller to buy the Lot and the Buyer must complete the transaction to purchase the Lot.

4.16 The Buyer may not remove any Lot he has bought until after the end of the Auction.

4.17 In relation to an Online Auction:

4.17.1 the Company cannot guarantee that the internet services will operate continuously or without interruptions and this could affect the conduct of the Online Auction and the Bidders ability to Bid online. The Company shall not be liable in any respect in the event of any dispute due to errors, omissions or disruptions to internet services or power failures or any other unforeseen circumstances which may occur during the Online Auction;

4.17.2 the Auctioneer may at any time, without notice, postpone or cancel an Online Auction or extend an Online Auction beyond the published closing time (including extension of the timed Online Auction in accordance with General Condition 4.17.3 below);

4.17.3 the timed Online Auction Sale is auto bid extension enabled meaning that where a Bid is placed within ten minutes of the original scheduled close of the timed Online Auction the scheduled close of the timed Online Auction will automatically be extended by an additional ten minutes. This continues with a new scheduled close time each time a Bid is placed until no-one places a Bid before the last scheduled close of the timed Online Auction. Every time a Bid is placed within ten minutes or less left in the Online Auction an additional ten minutes Bidding time is added until there are no more Bids. Such time shall then be deemed to be the close of the timed Online Auction.

4.18 In the event that the Auctioneer unknowingly sells a Lot that was not eligible for Sale (i.e. there is a third party interest that comes to light) then the Auctioneer shall be entitled to immediately rescind that Sale without any further liability to the Auctioneer and/or Company or the Seller.

4.19 Copies of the Auctions (Bidding Agreements) Act 1927 and 1969 are held at the Company’s and/or the Auctioneer’s principal place of business.

5. Sale and Payment

5.1 The Buyer shall pay the following sums to the Company in full and without set off:-

5.1.1 immediately upon the Sale of any Lot the Deposit, if requested by the Company; and

5.1.2 the balance of the price of the Lot purchased, together with the Buyer’s Premium by no later than 48 hours after conclusion of the Sale or, in the case of an Online Auction, after receipt of an invoice in respect of the purchased Lot(s) pursuant to General Condition 4.13 above, or such other time and date as may be specified in the Special Conditions; and

5.1.3 any other payment or amount due to the Seller and/or the Company pursuant to these General Conditions or the Special Conditions on demand.

5.2 In every case time for payment shall be of the essence.

5.3 In view of Money Laundering Regulations the Company reserves the right to refuse payment in cash. Payments in cash of more than £7,500 will not, in any circumstances, be accepted.

5.4 If the Buyer fails to make any payment on the due date for payment then, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Seller, the Buyer shall pay to the Company interest (both before and after any judgment) on the amount unpaid at the rate of 1.5% above the bank base rate of Barclays Bank Plc per month or any part thereof until payment in full is made.

5.5 Until the Buyer has fully complied with its obligations in this General Condition 5:-

5.5.1 title to any Lot bought shall not pass to the Buyer;

5.5.2 the Seller shall have a lien over any Lot bought by the Buyer in the Auction;

5.5.3 if the Buyer effects or purports to effect a resale or any other disposition of all or part of the Lot, the Buyer shall hold the proceeds of resale or other disposition on trust for the Seller.

5.6 All sums payable under these General Conditions and the Special Conditions are exclusive of any applicable VAT for which the Buyer shall be additionally liable to pay to the Company. On written request by the Buyer the Company will provide a VAT invoice.

5.7 The Company will only accept payment under this General Condition 5 from the Buyer or its authorised agents.

6. Removal of Lots

6.1 Risk of damage to or loss of the Lot shall pass to the Buyer immediately upon the conclusion of the Sale.

6.2 The removal of Lots from the Location shall be undertaken by the Buyer entirely at its own risk and without any liability whatsoever to the Company.

6.3 Buyers are responsible for any and all costs and expenses incurred in relation to the removal of Lots and any other applicable charges, taxes and insurance costs.

6.4 The Buyer may not remove any Lot until the Buyer has:-

6.4.1 paid by cleared funds all amounts payable pursuant to General Condition 5 above in full; and

6.4.2 if requested by the Company produced satisfactory evidence to the Company that the Buyer has adequate public liability insurance in respect of the indemnity set out in General Condition 6.11 below and/or deposited with the Company, by way of security for the costs of making good any damage likely to occur, such sum as the Company may stipulate.

6.5 The Company will only permit the removal of Lots purchased by the Buyer or its authorised agents.

6.6 The Buyer must remove each Lot purchased by the Clearance Date and Time for which time shall be of the essence. Lots may only be removed during normal working hours or such hours as are specified in the Special Conditions. No clearance on Bank or Public Holidays.

6.7 Buyers should co-operate regarding order of removal of Lots in order to comply with the Clearance Date and Time. If it transpires that a Buyer makes no effort to commence dismantling and the particular Lot is preventing other buyers from removing purchased Lots, then the Auctioneer reserves the right to insist that removal take place immediately notwithstanding the specified Clearance Date and Time. In the event the Buyer does not comply with its obligations under this General Condition 6.7, then the Auctioneer reserves the right to arrange for the removal and/or storage of the Lot and charge any attendant costs to the Buyer.

6.8 If any Lot is unsold and has to be dismantled & lowered to allow the removal of any other lot, then such dismantling & lowering shall be the responsibility of the Buyer of the relevant Lot(s).

6.9 Title to computer software sold pursuant to the Sale of a Lot is not transferred under any Sale to the Buyer and use is subject to any licence or copyright restrictions and user conditions. The Sellers, Company and/or Auctioneers reserve the right to erase any private or sensitive information prior to the Sale or at any later date.

6.10 The Buyer and/or his removal contractor must liaise with the Company`s site representative prior to commencing dismantling/removal of a Lot from the Location and must at all times comply with its obligations under clause 6.11 below.

6.11 When removing any Lot from the Location the Buyer shall, or shall procure that its removal contractors shall:

6.11.1 carry out a full assessment of Lot, the Location and the land or buildings to which the Lot is fixed to assess the risks associated with detaching/removing the Lot and shall fully satisfy themselves that they can detach/remove the Lot in compliance with the Buyers obligations under this General Condition 6.11 prior to handling and/or commencing removal of a Lot;

6.11.2 obtain all relevant planning permissions (where required) in relation to the removal of building structures and plant housings;

6.11.3 buyers of Lots will be required to make good holes or voids exposed by the removal of Lots. Cladding taken off buildings for removal of plant & equipment will have to be replaced, unless otherwise specified by the Company;

6.11.4 when detaching any Lot fixed to land or buildings, do so safely and lawfully and must not use flame cutters, explosives or any other dangerous equipment or process without first obtaining written consent of the Company;

6.11.5 remove the Lot in compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, guidance, orders, rules and other requirements of any relevant government or governmental agency or authority whether Parliamentary, statutory, parochial or local including (without limitation) in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), and the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and any subsequent amendments thereof and all other health and safety and environmental legislation in existence at the time of the Sale. To the extent that such regulations are advisory rather than mandatory, the standard of compliance to be achieved by the Buyer shall be to the best industry practice;

In all cases arising under this General Condition 6.11 the costs of compliance shall be borne by the Buyer and the Buyer hereby indemnifies the Company and the Seller against all losses, costs, expenses, damages, liabilities, demands, claims, actions and proceedings which the Company and/or the Seller may incur arising directly or indirectly out of any breach by the Buyer to the provisions of this General Condition 6.11 and the Buyer shall make good any damage caused to (without limitation) other lots, the Location or to any property belonging to third parties, in removing any Lot under this General Condition 6.11.

6.12 The Company shall be entitled to halt the clearance of any Lot if in its absolute discretion the removal of a Lot is being carried out in an unsatisfactory manner. Where the clearance is halted by the Company, the Buyer must liaise with the Company`s site representative as to how the Lot should be removed from the Location provided that the Buyer shall at all times ensure that it complies with its obligations under General Condition 6.11 above and the Company shall have no liability in this regard.

6.13 The Buyer shall provide evidence as and when requested by the Company of the Buyer`s insurance policies in respect of the following insurances and at a minimum level of:

6.13.1. Public Liability Cover - limit Two Million Pounds (£ 2,000,000); and

6.13.2. Employers Liability Cover - limit Ten Million Pounds (£10,000,000);

the Company reserves the right to vary the level of insurance cover stated above at any time, as and when required.

6.14 The Buyer shall provide to the Company a Risk Assessment & Method Statement complying with The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007, COSHH or with any subsequent amendments thereof or such other legislation as shall from time to time be in force.

6.15 Electric, gas, water, steam and waste disconnections are the responsibility of the Buyer and MUST be carried out by an approved contractor following consultation with the site representative.

6.16 It is expressly brought to the Buyer’s attention that certain Lots could contain blue or white asbestos, dangerous chemicals etc. which if not handled correctly during their removal could result in breach of Health & Safety at Work legislation and/or Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations or other statutory requirements.

6.17 Any fluids, gases and/ or waste remaining in plant and machinery are the responsibility of the Buyer and MUST be removed from the Location strictly in accordance with any applicable statutory requirements.

6.18 The Buyer must use safe and lawful means of removing the Lot, must comply with all current statutory requirements and regulations including those relating to the disposal and removal if waste, and if required, satisfy the Company in relation to their removal procedures; in particular, the removal of waste materials must be undertaken by an approved and licensed contractor to an approved waste management site.

6.19 It is the purchaser’s or their removal contractors responsibility (i.e. Police, Ministry of Transport, Local Authority) to transport off site long/ wide loads, within sufficient time prior to the commencement of clearance period as stated in the Special Notes & Conditions.

6.20 The Buyer shall indemnify the Company and the Seller against any loss, damages, expenses, claims or liabilities arising directly or indirectly from the possession or use of the Lot after title to the Lot has passed to the Buyer but before it is removed from the Location.

6.21 All Lots are sold on the understanding that the Seller does not represent them as being in a condition which makes them suitable for domestic use. If any Lots are intended for domestic use the Buyer must ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and any subsequent amendments thereof or such other relevant statutory requirements or regulations as shall from time to time be in force.

6.22 The Buyer undertakes to comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 in processing data held by them in connection with any Lot.

7. Default by the Buyer

7.1 If at any time the Buyer has failed to pay the sums specified in General Condition 5 above in full by the due date for payment, or to remove any Lot purchased by the Clearance Date and Time specified in the Special Conditions the Seller may rescind the Sale of that Lot, in which case any Deposit shall be forfeit, and that Lot may be resold.

7.2 If the Seller has rescinded the Sale but the Buyer has removed the Lot purchased, the Seller shall be entitled without previous notice to enter upon any premises where he believes the Lot to be and remove it.

7.3 If the Seller has rescinded the Sale and the Lot has been resold by the Auctioneer and/or the Company or by the Seller, the Buyer shall reimburse the Seller with any shortfall where:-

7.3.1 the resale price less the Sale price; and

7.3.2 the costs incurred by the Seller incidental to the resale.

7.4 If the Buyer fails to remove any Lot by the Clearance Date and Time specified:-

7.4.1 the Seller may remove the Lot from the Location and leave it outside at the Buyer’s risk in all respects;

7.4.2 the Seller may charge the Buyer for the reasonable costs of storage;

7.4.3 the Seller may charge the Buyer rent, taxes, men`s wages and expenses incurred as a result of the Lot(s) remaining at the Location; and

7.4.4 the Buyer shall indemnify the Seller against any loss, damages, expenses, claims or liabilities incurred by the Seller arising from the Buyer’s failure to remove the Lot from the Location.

8. Acknowledgements and Exclusion of Warranties

8.1 The Buyer acknowledges that in agreeing to purchase any Lot he is not relying on any warranties or representations made by the Seller or the Company or any of their employee’s agents or representatives. All representations, warranties and conditions, express or implied, statutory or otherwise in respect of all and any of the Lots are expressly excluded and without limitation any warranties and conditions as to title, quiet possession, satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose and description are excluded to the fullest extent as permitted by law.

8.2 The Buyer further acknowledges that neither the Sellers nor the Company shall in any circumstances be liable to or to compensate the Buyer nor shall the Buyer be entitled to rescind the Sale or reject any Lot for an error omission or misstatement contained in the Catalogue and/or in the Special Conditions.

8.3 The Buyer also acknowledges that:-

8.3.1 all the Lots are purchased on the basis that risk of good title to all or any of them passing to the Buyer is at the Buyer’s risk and without limitation the Lots are sold subject to any claims, liens, distraint and execution and subject to all leasing, hire or hire purchase agreements and reservation of title claims (if any) in respect of them;

8.3.2 if it shall be found that the Seller does not have title to all or any of the Lots the Buyer shall have no right to rescind, avoid or vary this agreement or to claim damages or a reduction in the price paid or payable;

8.3.3 anything found in, under, near or in any Lot which is not specifically included in the description of the Lot remains the property of the Seller;

8.3.4 any intellectual property rights or software subsisting in a Lot may be third party property and as such the Seller and/or the Company may be unable to effect transfer. The Buyer will not be authorised to use intellectual property rights or software and any such use or transfer shall be at the Buyers sole risk.

8.4 The Buyer undertakes that it shall ensure that any vehicle comprised in any Lot is in a roadworthy condition in accordance with the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and any subsequent amendments thereof or such other relevant regulations as shall from time to time be in force before using it on a public road. It is the Buyer’s responsibility to remove Company logos and lettering from vehicles. Odometer readings are not warranted.

8.5 The Buyer acknowledges that any item of plant, machinery or equipment contained in the Lot(s) may not necessarily comply with any statutory requirements or regulations governing the use of that plant, machinery or equipment in their working environment. Neither the Seller nor the Company shall incur any liability to the Buyer because of any default or defect in all or any of the Lots. Buyers are entirely responsible for ensuring that the use of any item of plant, machinery or equipment does not contravene any health and safety and environmental legislation in existence at the time of the Sale.

8.6 The Buyer acknowledges and agrees that the Company is acting only as agent of the Seller and it is expressly agreed and declared that no personal liability in connection with the Sale of any Lot or otherwise shall fall on the Company and the Buyer shall indemnify the Company against all and any liabilities arising under or in connection with the Sale of any Lot. Insolvency Practitioner(s), including Administrative Receiver(s), Administrator(s) and Liquidator(s) act as agent(s) for the Seller without personal liability and shall incur no personal liability whatsoever in relation to a Sale or pursuant to any document relating thereto.

8.7 The Buyer agrees that the General Conditions and the exclusions which they contain are fair and reasonable bearing in mind that:-

8.7.1 the Buyer must rely absolutely on the Buyer’s own opinion and/or professional advice concerning the quality, state, condition, performance and functionality of the Lots any right, title or interest which is sold under the terms of these General Conditions, their fitness and suitability for any particular or any purpose, the possibility that some or all of them may have defects not apparent on inspection and examination including, without limitation, the presence of contamination and the possibility that the Buyer may not acquire title and the fact that the Buyer would have no remedy under this Agreement should that happen;

8.7.2 the Buyer has available to it skilled professional advice and on that basis agrees to purchase a Lot for a consideration calculated to take into account amongst other things the risk to it represented by the fact that the parties believe that all the exclusions and limitations set out in these General Conditions would be recognised as being fully effective by the Courts and the Seller making it clear that it would not have agreed to sell any Lot on any other basis except for a higher consideration;

8.7.3 the Buyer has been given every opportunity which might reasonably be expected to examine and inspect the Lots.

8.8 Notwithstanding anything else in these General Conditions, the Seller’s and the Company’s total liability under or in connection with the Sale of any Lot, whether in respect of breach of contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise, including consequential loss, shall be limited in aggregate to the price paid for the Lot or if no price has been paid then the higher of the market value or reserve price for the Lot. This General Condition 8.8 does not apply to liability for death or personal injury.

8.9 The Buyer acknowledges that a Sale by Auction is not a consumer sale for the purposes of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994) and the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Buyer shall not seek to rely upon and conditions or warranties implied thereby or by any other legislation.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SALE

Seller: As displayed on www.bidspotter.co.uk sale details page or in the catalogue

Location: As displayed on www.bidspotter.co.uk sale details page or in the catalogue

Directions: As displayed in the catalogue

Viewing: As displayed on www.bidspotter.co.uk sale details page or in the catalogue

Access to the Location is allowed on the understanding that all persons attend the Location entirely at their own risk and are responsible for and will indemnify the Seller and the Company against any losses damage or claims occasioned by their presence at the Location.

Children under the age of 16 will not be allowed access to the Location.

Registration:

All bidders must register their details with the Company and provide identification where required. In the case of Live Auctions by way of the registration form provided at the Live Auction or in the Catalogue and in the case of Online Auctions, online at the Website (www.bidspotter.co.uk).

Bidding:

The General Conditions and the Special Conditions apply to all Sales by way of Auction, private treaty and tender and in the case of any Bids placed by way of an Online Auction stress that all Bidders must read and understand Bidspotter’s terms and conditions of registration at www.bidspotter.co.uk.

At the close of the timed Online Auction Sale final Bid figures will be submitted to the Seller for its approval and any Bid shall be subject to approval and acceptance by the Company and/or the Seller. No Bid may be withdrawn and the Company/Seller does not bind himself to accept the highest Bid or any other Bid placed in the course of the Online Auction Sale.

Buyer`s Premium:

Buyers will pay a Buyer`s premium of 10% or 15% (as displayed on www.bidspotter.co.uk sale details page or in the catalogue) (plus VAT) of the purchase price for each Lot purchased whether by Auction or, private treaty or tender. The Buyer`s Premium is payable by the Buyer to the Company in accordance with the General Conditions and, for the avoidance of doubt is payable in addition to the purchase price for the Lot. The Buyer`s Premium is not negotiable and is payable by all Buyers.

Deposit:

Buyers shall pay a deposit of 25% (plus VAT) of the purchase price for each Lot purchased as requested by the Company pursuant to the General Conditions and these Special Conditions. The company reserve the right to take a deposit by way of a credit/ debit card payment from the card presented for registration if the payment terms below are not complied with.

Payment:

All Lots shall be paid for in full within 48 hours of the conclusion of the Sale and shall be at the Buyer`s risk immediately upon the conclusion of the sale.

Cash - In view of Money Laundering Regulations the Company reserves the right to refuse payment in cash. Payments in cash of more than £7,500 will not, in any circumstances, be accepted.

Bankers Draft/ Cheques: (made payable to Bpi & Associates Auctioneers & Valuers ) will only be accepted on the basis that any Lots are not removed until cleared funds are in the Company`s client account.

Debit Cards: The Company accepts debit cards for payment of invoices (subject to a surcharge of 2.5% - £5 minimum fee). Credit cards will only be accepted for deposit payments referred to under the ‘Deposit’ section above.

All sums payable under the General Conditions and these Special Conditions are exclusive of any applicable VAT for which the Buyer shall be additionally liable to pay to the Company.

Clearance:

All lots must be cleared without fail by the date as displayed on www.bidspotter.co.uk sale details page or in the catalogue, such date and time being the Clearance Date and Time as referred to in the General Conditions, REMOVAL OF ALL LOTS WILL BE STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT, please see the Company`s invoice for contact details.

Collection from site is the Buyer’s responsibility, the Company/ Seller do not provide a packing/ delivery service.

Reserve Removal:

Lots sold subject to a reserve removal will either be indicated in the Catalogue with the date of availability or will be identified by the Auctioneer at the point of Sale. A Deposit will be payable as with other lots but in this instance payment in full can be left until five (5) working days prior to availability. Unless specified to the contrary such Lots must be removed from the Location not later than the Clearance Date and Time specified for final removal in these Special Conditions.

Fire Alarm:

In case of a fire alarm all visitors and contractors are to exit buildings and report to the Muster Point.

Smoking:

No smoking on site. Food and Drink is only to be consumed in designated areas.

Safety:

All persons including Buyers, their employees, agents, representatives and contractors are reminded that they are responsible for their own safety on site and enter at their own risk and should take the precaution of wearing protective clothing as appropriate.

Finance:

If Buyers wish to purchase Lots with the help of a finance company they should make arrangements well in advance of the Sale to ensure that they are able to make payment in accordance with the General Conditions.

Overseas Buyers:

Overseas Buyers should ensure that the country to which the items are destined:-

• holds no import restrictions on the goods to be purchased;

• has no import licence restrictions or a restriction on currency allocation;

• has no prolonged inspection procedure which might cause excess delay or refusal in allowing your goods to be imported.

Overseas Buyers will receive a fully descriptive invoice in order that they may arrange payment as soon as possible with the Company`s bank.

Overseas Buyers should employ a suitable freight forwarding organisation. Please note that many of the machinery removal companies in the United Kingdom are not necessarily freight forwarders. The [Seller and/or Company] will be pleased to advise accordingly.

The Company makes no representation and accepts no liability whatsoever to any Buyer in respect of the issuance or validity of any exportation or importation permits or the existence and exercise of exportation or importation regulations or any compulsory purchasing regimes.

VAT Payments and Returns:

All overseas Buyers (EU and non EU) will be charged VAT at the current rate on each Lot purchased. This will be refunded to the overseas Buyer as soon as the Seller receives a copy of the bill of lading as proof of export, providing this documentation is received within 3 months of the sale date. The Seller is unable to refund the VAT on the Buyer’s Premium to non EU countries.

Misrepresentation:

Whilst every effort has been made to provide reliable information, Bpi & Associates do not warrant the information contained herein and prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection as to its correctness.

Brilliant bathroom makeovers on a budget

Read article : Brilliant bathroom makeovers on a budget

Brilliant bathroom makeovers on a budget

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  The LAUFEN Pro A washbasin with stand not only looks stunning but is a clever way to store towels. Photo: Supplied.

• Kado Aspect solid wall-hung twin vanity. Photo: Supplied." title="Go streamlined with the Kado Aspect solid wall-hung twin vanity. Photo: Supplied." />

  Go streamlined with the Kado Aspect solid wall-hung twin vanity. Photo: Supplied.

• trend Rifco Acqua vanity range is made of timber. Photo: Supplied." title="The on-trend Rifco Acqua vanity range is made of timber. Photo: Supplied." />

  The on-trend Rifco Acqua vanity range is made of timber. Photo: Supplied.

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  Slimline products such as from the Hideaway+ collection can be matched with toilet pans for a sleek look. Photo: Supplied.

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  Opt for timber with the Omvivo range with timber vanity and mirror. Photo: Supplied.

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  The ISSY Glide is a wall-hung vanity that offers storage. Photo: Supplied.

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  Slimline products such as from the Hideaway+ collection can be matched with toilet pans for a sleek look. Photo: Supplied.

Along with the kitchen, bathrooms and powder rooms are the big ticket items in building or renovating. Chances are if you haven’t a neutral palette to start with you may not find it as easy to add seasonal decor or change simple items such as towels or even the tapware.

But, help is at hand with Bunnings’ national bathroom buyer Adam Cole and Reece Bathroom business manager Daniela Santilli offering some advice on how to make some simple and easy changes to the bathroom or powder room - without breaking the bank!

“A great bathroom can be a luxurious retreat to relax and unwind in after a busy day, or a functional space for the family’s daily rituals. But updating the bathroom doesn’t have to be an expensive or timely exercise,” Adam says. “With the right tips, tools and products, a bathroom makeover can suit any budget, whether it is a complete overhaul or small updates to spruce up the space.”

What are some of the newest trends that are coming through for bathrooms?

Daniela says bathroom trends in Australia are “constantly evolving, taking cues from both international and local design trends in the bathroom and the broader home, changing consumer needs and fostering new innovations”.

“For many, the bathroom is no longer a purely functional space, but a place of rest and relaxation – ‘the living room for one’ and a destination in which to retreat from outside stressors,” she says. “With this focus on the bathroom as a living space has come a new emphasis on bathroom furniture. We are also seeing growing demand for personalisation in the bathroom, as consumers seek solutions that perfectly suit the size and style of their bathroom space.”

Some of the top trends she has noted, include new shapes and silhouettes, using natural timbers for vanities and mirrors.

“When it comes to tapware, we’re seeing a rise in popularity for wall-mounted basin mixer sets, rather than vanity mounted options,” she says. “ Products are incorporating a modern aesthetic using contemporary shapes and lines, as seen in the seamlessly simple yet refined appearance of Laufen’s living square collection of basins, made using Saphirkeramik technology. This innovative technology showcases the use of impossibly thin, yet exceptionally strong fine lines. We’re also seeing growth in products using organic shapes with soft, gentle curves inspired by nature. Sweeping contours flow effortlessly to create a soothing and relaxing space.”

As for inspiration, Adam says look for images to help determine the desired look and feel of the new bathroom. “The Bunnings website has an interactive brochure available to provide inspiration and product suggestion.”

What are some easy updates I can make to my bathroom without having to renovate?

Adam says replacing a vanity is an ideal way to spruce up the wet room. “Replacing a tired old vanity is a great way to give the bathroom a quick makeover. Choose a vanity that will reflect the style of your bathroom and maximise storage options,” he says.

Adds Daniela: “There are lots of easy ways to get a new bathroom look without a complete overhaul. One of the easiest and most effective changes you can make to refresh your bathroom is to update existing fittings like taps and showerheads. Using existing plumbing points keeps the process relatively simple while delivering a big impact. Inject new life into your bathroom by switching to a contemporary-look basin mixer.”

She says a wall-mounted vanity creates the illusion of space, clears clutter and adds style. “​A modern shower head can (also) create a whole new experience, and the invigorating drench of an overhead shower head can make all the difference to your daily bathing ritual. Waterrail showers are another great retrofit option - they are like standard rail showers and have the flexibility of adjustable height and the ability to take the shower head off-hook, with the bonus of a cleaner aesthetic.”

Adam says if your budget cannot extend to a new toilet, simply replacing the lid and seat of the toilet is an easy revamp to change a look, as is changing cupboard handles. “This is an affordable and easy way to update the bathroom on a budget,” he says. “Change the smaller details, such as the tap ware and light fittings, to give the bathroom a fresh new look without breaking the bank.

“A great bath can also transform the look of the entire bathroom. A freestanding bath is easy to install and will make a strong design statement, particularly if used as a centrepiece for the room.”

Always consider WELS ratings if you do replace the toilet, he says, to ensure ongoing cost savings.

What is the first step in a bathroom renovation?

For Adam, creating a budget - and sticking to it - should be the first step in any renovation project; then consider the space you have to work with before purchasing any items that create your desired look and feel in the new or revamped bathroom.

“This will affect the products chosen and the updates made. Prioritise the changes that are most important to freshen the look of the bathroom and then choose products that reflect your chosen budget,” he says. “It is (also) crucial to take measurements of the room and outline space requirements before purchasing and installing any new bathroom products. Be aware of existing fixtures that aren’t easily moved, such as the plumbing, and take current decor into consideration.”

Knowing where to start and what you want is the key for Daniela: “A little inspiration can go a long way when it comes to bathroom design. Magazines, design blogs and the Inspiration section of the Reece Bathrooms website are great places to start gathering ideas for the looks, products and layouts you’d like to incorporate in your new bathroom.”

She agrees that understanding the space you’ve got to work with will make for a successful renovation.

“Measure the bathroom and start mapping out layout, thinking about where key items like the shower, bath and toilet can be positioned.  Also consider whether you’ll be retrofitting the bathroom using existing plumbing points or renovating completely. This can influence both budget and product positioning so it’s best to determine your approach early in the planning process. Reece’s 3D Bathroom Planner is a great tool for setting up and designing your virtual bathroom, whether you’re building or planning a renovation.”

How can I make my powder room feel bigger?

Says Daniela: “A smaller bathroom space doesn’t mean compromising on style. Mirrors create the illusion of space, but avoid those with fancy or ornate borders as these will easily clutter the room. Stick to clean and simple lines. (And) use the same tile on both the floor and walls to significantly make the area look and feel more spacious. Light colours also create the illusion of space, and larger tiles will make your floor look bigger as they have less grout.”

Both Adam and Daniela agree you should always consider making making use of extra wall space by mounting shelves to store essential bathroom items and decorative pieces.

“Try an under-counter basin for your unit as it will make your space feel larger because of its uncluttered bench space. There are also a wide range of petite basins designed specifically for smaller bathroom spaces,” Daniela says. “Float the vanity. Besides just visually helping the bathroom appear bigger, mounting a vanity above the floor frees up a little space for small items and is easier to clean too.

“Slimline products such as wall hung toilets and in-wall cisterns are perfect for enhancing space.They are one of the biggest growth areas in the bathroom. Mixing and matching flush buttons and your ideal toilet pans will create a seamless and modern finish, as well as saving valuable inches and freeing up floor space.”

How can we incorporate stylish storage into a bathroom?

A bathroom filled with clutter is not the relaxing sanctuary of calm that you had in mind. Savvy and multi-functional storage solutions are key for any modern bathroom, particularly in smaller spaces. Daniela says clever storage options include wall hung units and products with side shelves or compartments within drawers,which are a great way to create storage space and reduce clutter. “Linen cabinets and tallboys are also ideal for conserving space,” she says. Daniela’s other tips include:

• Use recessed shelves or niches add extra storage space while giving bathrooms a sleek look. Architectural Designer Products offers vanity ranges that include handy hidden auto bins, internal cosmetic drawers and even LED lighting.
• Mirrored bathroom cabinets make a practical furniture piece for all bathrooms. In smaller bathrooms they can give an illusion of more depth and space as well as offering integrated storage space. Consider recessing the cabinet into the wall, as some can sit completely flush with the wall, saving on precious space.
• Accessories are a great way to personalise a bathroom space - the Milli Edge freestanding toilet column combines a toilet roll and brush holder. A washbasin with stand is a clever way to store towels.

Investing in a heated towel rack can be a luxury, Adam says, but a purchase will be money well spent as it will ensure floor space remains clutter free. “It’s a simple way to add a touch of luxury and will keep towels warm and crisp.”

At what point in the renovation process should I start talking to a plumber or builder?

Daniela says that for any renovation, it is best to work closely with qualified tradespeople such as plumbers, builders and electricians to avoid costly mistakes.

“Our research shows that many Australians prefer a ‘Do It Together’ approach to creating their dream bathroom, but while you may think you can tackle some of the plumbing jobs yourself to save money, it can end up costing a lot more to rectify a DIY job gone wrong.

“It’s important to engage tradespeople early in the planning and design process, as they will be able to advise you on the realms of possibility when it comes to creating your desired look, as well as advising you on costing and time frames.”

As for the finishing touches once you and/or the tradespeople have finished, Daniela says it’s the little things that make a difference for any room of the house.

“So for an even simpler update, small touches such as buying good quality towels, scented candles or flowers will make a space feel inviting and reinvigorated,” she says.