2020 Bathroom Trends

So, it’s the start of a new decade and we thought it would be a great idea to look at the exciting 2020 bathroom trends that are influencing bathroom refurbishments. If you have any questions or would like to discuss how you can integrate any of these new trends into your own bathroom refurbishment project, call us today on 028 9076 7108. Let’s begin!

• Brass is back with a bang!

It’s fair to say brass has been in decline in recent years in favour of the ultra-modern and sleek chrome alternative. However, brass is back in 2020! Brass offers a much warmer alternative to chrome and can give your bathroom a much more elegant and sophisticated look over chrome.

Consider brass detailing options in the usual places you would use chrome, such as taps and showerheads, shower valves and even accessories like towel and toilette roll holders. Even as a small accent, like a mirror frame can make a major impact. You’ll be surprised at the difference it can make!

• Black is the new chrome!

If your preference is ultra-modern, then consider matte black finishes over chrome. Matte black taps, shower fittings and even radiators began to trend in 2019 and all evidence shows it will increase in popularity in 2020. This trend includes the gorgeous dark grey hues of anthracite in case full-on black is a little step too far to the dark side! Also, consider black framed shower screens, another 2019 trend that had a spectacular rise in popularity, to compliment your other black detailing.

• RGB LED Everything!

Talking of modern bathroom designs, integrated RGB (Red, Green & Blue – basically the ability to change lights to any colour) LED lighting is being incorporated into an ever-increasing range of bathroom products. With LED now more efficient, longer-lasting, and cheaper than ever, LED lighting can be integrated into many bathroom products to enhance your bathroom’s look. Imagine soaking in your bath with relaxing mood lighting adding ambience to the room!

• Marble effect wall coverings

Whilst we completely understand that real marble tiles are not in everyone’s price range, there is an increasing range of marble effect (or ‘marbleised’) wall coverings now available. High-quality wallpaper and PVC wall coverings offer a great value alternative and the marble effects are so life-like, it is getting hard to tell the difference! Consider adding some marble elegance into your bathroom to create a real “wow factor”!

• Earth tone tiling

There is a definite trend developing around moving from plain (even clinical looking) white tiles to more warmer earth tones such as travertine, limestone and terrazzo or the rugged natural look of granite. Whether used on the floor or walls of your bathroom, these organic tones will add a natural look and feel to your room. Consider matching natural wood (or wood coloured) units to complement the look – another growing trend we predict will continue in 2020!

• Different shaped tiles

On the subject of tiling, rectangles are so last year! Instead, there is a push to more creative and visually impactful tile shapes such as geometric hexagon designs or scallop-shaped tiles. They are a great way to add a stunning impact to your bathroom or introduce bold colours in a controlled manner.

With over 20 year’s experience, Value Home Solutions welcome the opportunity to visit your home for a free design consultation to accurately measure your bathroom, discuss options and provide an accurate quote that we will stand over.

Contact Value Home Solutions today on 028 9076 7108 or via email on hello@vhsni.com

How to Choose the Right Tradesman

Choosing the right tradesman or organisation to carry out any significant building or repair work in your home is a major decision and not to be taken lightly! It also shouldn’t come down to just the price they’re charging, you need to do your homework, carefully!

In fairness, the majority of tradesmen are honest, competent, and hard-working. But if you unfortunately end-up choosing one who isn’t, it can mean living in a building site for months or even years, cost you thousands of pounds to fix the poor quality of work undertaken, or leave you with a botched job that causes problems for years to come.

If you are planning a new bathroom, kitchen or looking to replace all of the doors and windows in your home, these are decisions that can affect the value of your home, so you need to research potential suppliers. This guide will offer you advice on what to look for and what to be aware of when choosing a supplier to work with.

To make sure that you find the right tradesman or company to carry out your project, these are some of the main topics that you may want to undertake:

• References from previous work
• Professional accreditations
• Insurance and warranties
• Pricing and payment terms

Let’s dive into these topics in a little more detail to help you choose a tradesman:

• Look for references of previous work undertaken

Last year, the Federation for Master Builders (FMB) said that the most common complaints they received were about poor quality workmanship and a lack of professionalism by the tradesmen when carrying out the work.

Use personal recommendations where possible. One of the best ways to make sure of quality service is to choose somebody who has been recommended to you by a good friend or family member, especially if you have seen their work first hand.

Another good source of references is to search online for referrals on websites, social media sites and review sites etc. See if you can find an existing customer who has had similar work undertaken and drop them a message directly to ask for further information on how the project went. Ask for their feedback on timekeeping, how helpful they were before, during and after the project and also the quality of their work.

By doing this homework, you will be able to get a feel for the quality of their finished work, as well as gaining an understanding of their work ethics.

There are also a number of online trade directories which potentially can be a useful resource. They list individual tradesmen as well as companies with customer references. Each of these websites operates differently but generally, both individuals and companies have to meet certain criteria as part of their registration process.

• Check they have the appropriate qualifications

When choosing a tradesman, ensure they are reputable. When choosing your tradesman, remember that all builders should be members of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The organisation offers its own dispute service for both builders and clients.

If there is any gas or boiler work included in the project, the tradesman must be registered with the industry body GasSafe. Likewise, any plumbers involved in the work should be registered with WaterSafe. Last but not least, electricians should be approved by either NICEIC, NAPIT or ECA.

Roofers do not have their own trade body to register with, but they should be able to prove they are health and safety certified.

• Do they have insurance? What warranties are offered?

When choosing a tradesman or company, it is very important that whoever is going to carry out the work is insured. That way, if any materials get stolen from the site, accidental damage is caused to the property, or if the work has to be redone by another person, you will be covered for the extra cost.

Ask about what guarantees or warranties are included in the quote? Are the materials and products supplied guaranteed in the event that anything goes wrong after the project has been finished? Warranties should also be offered on the labour provided, the fitting of the products and materials. Make sure you have a clear understanding as there can be differences between products and services.

• Pricing and payment terms

The Federation of Master Builders reported that almost 2 million British homeowners say a tradesman had disappeared after they have been paid, without completing the work.

Don’t get fooled by low quotes, it is very easy for untrustworthy tradesmen to give a low estimate initially in order to secure your business and then put the price up at a later stage. Even if theis does not happen, low prices often result in lower quality products and labour too. Go with a tradesman or company that you trust to do a good quality job for a fair price, rather than one that offers you low prices.

After you’ve found your tradesman, checked their references and accreditation and received a quotation for the work to be carried out, before you give them the go-ahead to start the work, always insist on a contract. A professional tradesman or company should also insist on this.

The contract should include these components at a minimum; the scope of work to be carried out and details of the individual costs of materials, products and labour involved. Make sure you also clarify whether the final figure includes or excludes VAT.

If it’s a large project then milestone payments can be agreed, along with how much these should be and deadline dates are written in. It’s also fair to set in a penalty clause if the work runs over.

Never, ever agree to pay for the whole project upfront.

The above sounds like simple common sense – but you’d be surprised. According to recent figures from the FMB they get up to 1.5 million complaints a year about cowboy builders. Don’t let one of their victims be you!

Don’t…

• Sign up a person who knocks on your door and points out a small problem. Reputable tradesmen will not cold call.
• Hire someone who says they can start work straight away. Also tread carefully if a quote seems too low.
• Choose workmen who only have a mobile number, and who can’t – or won’t – provide references.

New Year – New Ideas For Refurbishing Your Home

For many people, New Year is a time for a change, so here at Value Home Solutions, we thought we would give you some ideas in case you are thinking about how to bring some New Year refurbishments to your home. 

Are you fed up with drafts, high energy bills and struggling to heat your home?

There are many reasons why your home may be difficult or expensive to keep warm and the winter temperatures will definitely help you decide if now is the time to take action.  Maybe you have an old home which is hard to heat, an outdated boiler or you don’t have enough insulation.  What many people don’t think about is the amount of heat you lose if your doors or windows aren’t efficient.  New doors and windows are extremely quick and easy to install.  There are so many options from PVC to composite, patio doors to bi-fold.  Modern doors and windows come with very high energy retention and they also are extremely secure.  They can be purchased in a wide range of colours and styles, so it’s also an opportunity to improve the outer view of your home and to give it some personalisation.  Colourful and stylish front doors are very popular now and gone are the days when all the homes in a street look identical.  More and more people are taking out their patio doors and opting for bi-fold doors which help bring in extra light and easy access to the outdoors.  Our design team can look at your current arrangement and advise what alternatives are best to give the feel you want to achieve.

You can never have enough storage

Finding somewhere to store all those new toys and Christmas presents can be a real challenge!  While it’s not quite time for spring cleaning, many people just want to find a way to have a tidier home.  A well-designed kitchen is often a good start with new modern storage solutions available to suit every home.  Sit down with one of our expert consultants and they will find a way to house all your unique range of kitchen accessories and gadgets.

If bedroom storage is your challenge, why not have a look at the options for fitted bedroom furniture.  Our design team can work with you to find the best way to add storage to your bedrooms with the style of your choice.     

Storage isn’t enough, you need more space

If you have a growing family but not enough money to move, why not consider adding a conservatory, sunroom or glass room extension to your home?  Getting planning permission for adding a room is much easier now and Value Home Solutions can help you through the process.  Our design consultants can help you to design the best solution to fit the space available outside your home.

Does the outside of your home need any work?

Messy gardens are a normal part of winter, but while you are hiding inside away from the cold and storms, people easily overlook the fact that the outside of your home needs as much care as the inside – and that’s even more important in the winter months.  You should check your walls and roof regularly to make sure there are no tiles missing, that you don’t need any repointing between your bricks or that vents haven’t become broken or missing.  Guttering can easily become blocked and get damaged and timber cladding can start to deteriorate helping water to find a way into your home. 

If you find yourself dreading the thought of painting all your timber, think about transforming the appearance of your home with a PVC roofline including the fascia, soffit, guttering and cladding.  This not only helps to protect your home from the weather, but it also requires no maintenance, so you won’t have to keep painting every year. 

Are you thinking of moving?

Did you know that a few modernisations can make a difference in the sale value of your home?  Many buyers want to move into a home that is ready to live in, so that means a fresh lick of paint can make a big difference to the appeal of your home.  Not everyone can see past their first impressions, so stick to neutral tones as that gives your potential purchaser the option to add their own colours to suit their taste and is less likely to put people off.

If you have an older home with an outdated bathroom suite, en suite or kitchen updating these can also help make you more money when you are selling.  Check in with us to find out about the most modern styles.  At the moment in bathrooms glass panelled showers and sparkling white bathroom suites are the favourite to give a luxurious and clean feel while practical kitchens with plenty of storage and room to work are the must have.

Don’t break the bank with your refurbishments

Remember that refurbishing and modernising your home don’t have to cost the earth.  Value Home Solutions is committed to offering affordable solutions to allow you to have the luxurious, practical and high quality home refurbishments you need within the budget you can afford.  We stand over the quality of all our products and give warranties on all our work, so you can rest easy knowing that all our products come with guarantees. 

I can’t really get a feel without seeing it in real life

If you aren’t really sure what you are looking for and you just need ideas, have a look at our website for an overview off all the services we can provide.  You can see all the available styles, colours and options and consider what would be best to suit the personality of your home and family.  We also keep our facebook page up to date with pictures, videos and descriptions of our recent work – so there is always something new to look at!  If you find something you really want to see in real life, we have lots of happy customers who don’t mind someone visiting to see our work, so just give us a call and we will try to help you with whatever you need. 

Happy New Year and we look forward to helping you with all your refurbishment ideas in 2020!

Fitted Bedrooms In Belfast

If you have moved to a new home, decided to build your own home, or are just tired of not having enough of the right kind of storage space, fitted wardrobes could well be the answer. If you are considering fitted bedrooms in Belfast, read our 7 benefits below and then call Value Home Solutions today!

• Get A wardrobe tailored exactly to your needs

Ever had too much shelving but not enough hanging space? Too much space for socks but not enough for your shoes? Being able to design your bedroom furniture to your own requirements you can ensure you have exactly the right amount of storage for your needs. By designing your own fitted bedroom, not only can you make sure you have the right amount of storage for you, but that you have the right amount of furniture for the size of your bedroom.

• Maximise every inch of space

Isn’t it frustrating when moving your wardrobe into your new bedroom to find it’s an inch too long for the space you intended? Or even worse, that you can’t even get it through the door? By designing your own fitted bedroom furniture, you can make the most out of every square inch you have available. Irregular walls, sloped ceilings and nooks and crannies can all be overcome and utilised to give you all the usable storage space you need.

• Colours and finishes

Remove the stress of realising that your pine wardrobe clashes with your new hardwood flooring, or oak doors and skirting board. When you design and build fitted wardrobes, you can choose colours and materials that will completely complement the other furnishings and finishes in your bedroom. There is no need to spend days or weeks stripping, sanding, varnishing or painting bedroom units when our fitted furniture will match right in.

• Choose from a range of styles

In additional to colours and finishes, choosing a fitted bedroom also gives you the chance to match your style of doors and handles to the rest of your home. From traditional country styling to sleek ultra-modern, Value Home Solutions can deliver a solution that will complement the rest of your home.

• Save time cleaning

Whilst not an obvious benefit, with fitted, integrated bedroom units, you no longer have to balance on top of stools to dust the top of your wardrobes or manhandle the units to remove cobwebs from behind them. At most, a light dusting or wipe down of the doors is all the maintenance our fitted bedroom furniture will require.

• Integrated custom lighting

No more waking your partner up when you have to get dressed to go to work (unless you want to!). Even more importantly, no more mismatched socks or shoes that do not match your suit. By integrating custom lighting directly into your fitted bedroom furniture, you can dress with confidence without having to wake anyone else up.

• Practical investment

With over 20 year’s experience, Value Home Solutions welcome the opportunity to visit your home for a free design consultation to accurately measure your bedroom, discuss options and provide an accurate quote that we will stand over.

Contact Value Home Solutions today on 028 9076 7108 or via email on hello@vhsni.com

Remodelling an old and tired bathroom can significantly increase the overall value of your home. If you are considering new bathrooms Northern Ireland, then contact Value Home Solutions today. Value Home Solutions specialise in delivering exceptionally designed, high-quality bathroom interiors, furniture and accessories at an affordable price. We can boast over 20 years’ experience of designing and fitting the finest bathrooms, our expert designers work with you from the outset to deliver your ultimate home retreat.

Refurbishing your bathroom can give your entire home an updated look and feel, adding a sense of luxury. Here are some considerations to bear in mind when you start to plan a bathroom update;

Work out a realistic budget that you can afford and stick to it. Having a clear idea of your total spend will help you make decisions on the individual components that go into a bathroom refurb. Value Home Solutions have plenty of experience designing bathrooms from scratch and can advise where your money will be best spent to achieve the outcome you wish for and that will offer the biggest impact to the value of your home.

Whilst bathrooms are often the smallest rooms in your home, there is often a lot of items you need to store in them. Careful planning and design around the layout of your bathroom will help to maximise every centimetre of space that’s available. There is nothing more frustrating than creating a stunning, luxurious bathroom and then realising you cannot store more than a toothbrush in it! Vanity units, shelving, niche storage are all important design elements.

Heating is an often-overlooked factor in bathroom design, yet there are plenty of options available. Heated towel-rails, under-floor heating as well as traditional radiators all have strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered as part of the overall design. Let’s face it, no one wants to get out of a steaming hot bath or shower into a cold room!

Consider a design that not only looks great on its own, but that also compliments the rest of your home. Whilst an ultra-modern sleek and stylish bathroom will look spectacular, set in a traditional period property it may look completely out of place. Value Home Solutions know many tricks and tips on how to blend the bathroom style you want to go for into the rest of the rooms in your home.

Accessorise! At Value Home Solutions, we firmly believe that small things can indeed make a huge difference! Which is why it is important to carefully select all the necessary accessories that will finish off your new bathroom refurb. Taps, toilet-roll holders, shower curtains, light fittings, mirrors all contribute to the final look and feel of your bathroom. Take your time and discuss the many options available with your design consultant to ensure they will all complement each other; it isn’t always as straight forward as you would think.

Finally and possibly most importantly, select a bathroom supplier you can trust, with plenty of happy customer testimonials on their website and social media platforms. Also ensure they have appropriate accreditations and a good history of experience from initial design, supply of materials and fittings, to the actual installation. With over 20 year’s experience, Value Home Solutions tick all of the boxes above and would welcome the opportunity to visit your home for a free design consultation to accurately measure your bathroom, discuss options and provide an accurate quote that we will stand over.

Contact Value Home Solutions today on 028 9076 7108 or via email on hello@vhsni.com