Home is a sanctuary. It
is a place that conjures the powerful feeling of belongingness where rest and
renewal happens. Here we expect tranquillity
and peace. We expect protection from the outside world we participate in. Thus, we invest our life-savings, our
talents, ourselves to make it as relaxing, soothing and calming as possible.
For others, the home serves as a showcase of stature and
success. It is where we entertain
friends. It is an extension of one’s
identity and an avenue to display one’s taste in design and art.
Whatever the motivation is in investing or choosing a home
to live in, we must be ready to face details upon details of considerations
before making decisions that would usually cost us an arm and a leg. A small detail left out could mean huge,
hard-earned money easily out the window. Fulfilling though it may be to set up
our own home, we need guidance and lots of advice in the one thousand and one
aspects we have to look into.
The first consideration is, of course, actually getting a
home. Shall you rent or buy? If you rent, what should you do first? How do you go about it? Who do you talk to? What do you talk about? What are the legalities?
If you buy, how do you get the best deal? What is it you should know? Is there a tried and proven method of going
about buying a home? What are the
recommendations in buying a home in the U.K., or overseas?
The next consideration is the aesthetics that make the home
pleasant to be in. What kind of
furniture would suit your lifestyle? What are the choices? What are the pros and cons? What is the in thing, the trends? What could make your home attractive? There are a lot of choices from gardens to
awnings, to setting up water features like a small, attractive fountain or
waterfall or even just an indoor or outdoor pond for that relaxing Zen
effect.
Undeniably, in the 21st century, another consideration is
the advent of the internet and the personal computer (PC) as a permanent
fixture in almost every home. The
cocooning trend of working at home makes the choice of computer furnishings and
lay-out a major factor. What are the
choices and how do you go about it? Here, the issues are no longer limited to
just the aesthetic. More important to
consider are the issues of health and ergonomics.
Of course, who would not agree that the use of space is
another primary consideration? A special
portion is devoted to possible uses of the loft to increase precious space in
this shrinking world. Presented is a
treasure of creative ideas considering both functionality and aesthetics.
Equally important are the unseen aspects of a home that if
left unattended can cause much discomfort and a big hole in the pocket. These are the hidden details of plumbing, the
sewage system as well as the new trend of underfloor heating. Moreover, the kitchen and bathroom
considerations can very well determine not only one’s functionality but also
your home’s resale value.
We understand that setting up a home can be a daunting
task. We have organized these details in
a simple fashion so that they are less intimidating and somehow more
manageable. We present to you tried and
proven techniques as well as steps that are easy to follow.
We acknowledge that the decisions you make in setting up
your home are very crucial. They impact
on costs, time, effort and quality of life.
Your home could either be a great investment or a heavy burden. The information we offer could spell the big
difference.
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