Articles
A new move should mean a new start to your bills
When it’s time to switch houses, there’s a lot to get through. However, this fresh start should also be an exciting time for you and perhaps an encouragement to get your financial house in order as well. You can start by re-evaluating how much you spend on electricity, gas, and water because reorganising your bills could not only give you a new start but also save you money. Here’s how.
Contact your energy provider before you move. You’ll want to make sure that your service provider knows when you’ll be leaving your home so that you don’t end up with a bill for the usage after you’ve left. This will also make it easier on the new owners or tenants to set up service in their own names.
Read the meter in your new home. Once you’ve settled into your new home, the first thing you should do is find the electricity and gas meters. This will make sure that you’re not paying for energy that the previous owners used on your next bill. You should also use this as a way to ensure that your energy company is charging for “real” usage as opposed to estimated usage, which could either save you hundreds of pounds or save you the trouble of having to scare up money if you find out that you’ve been underpaying.
Compare electricity prices to find the best tariff. Just because you’ve been with the same company for years or your new landlord has been doing business with a service provider doesn’t mean that it is still the best one for you. Especially at a time where consumers are collectively unsatisfied with the customer service offered by most energy companies, you should look into the advantages of switching service providers. An independent comparison site can help you make the decision.
Consider economy tariffs. The Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs could be a good deal for you if you use most of your electricity at night. They offer a lower rate for energy consumption after midnight, which is ideal for people who work nonstandard shifts or find themselves being productive after the rest of the family has gone to bed. Just make sure to read the fine print, though; economy tariffs often charge a higher standing fee.
Get a water meter. Most homeowners pay for their water through a fixed rate bill, but this isn’t advantageous for you if you live in a smaller home. You should consider getting a water meter that allows you to pay for only the water that you use. The average consumer could save up to £50 using this method of payment, and you could save even more if you make small investments such as low-flow shower heads.
Once you’ve taken these steps, you’ll be better informed about what the real cost of your utility services should be. Also, if you begin to stay in contact with your energy providers regularly, you can avoid the inconvenience of incorrect billing and also rest assured that you are paying exactly what you should.
What to do with all that open space
If you are preparing to move into a new home, think of all that open space as a blank canvas. Now is the perfect time to go for a different decor scheme, and it may even tune you into a knack for design that you never knew you had. Start with these basic style tips, and then head to Achica Living to find out how to get the best decorative items for your new home.
Pull everything together with a unifying element.
It’s nice to have a different look or feel in every room, but you’ll ultimately want your home to look like you planned it instead of just throwing it together. Even if you choose to have different colours of furniture or a different theme in the children’s bedrooms, for instance, you can tie them all together by using shades of paint in the same colour family, installing the same kind of flooring (think tile or carpet) in all the rooms, or accenting them all with the same kind of patterns, such as stripes or floral prints.
Customise your furniture with easily swappable pieces.
Gone are the days when an entire furniture set in the same colour and texture was considered the thing to do. Buying one staple piece, such as a sofa, is a great place to start, but then you can have some fun with adding extras in different prints and styles such as armchairs and end tables. This will allow you to easily (and inexpensively) update the look of your home whenever you want, and it also gives you a chance to play with fun fabrics and patterns such as suede and animal prints.
Make spaces look bigger with visual tricks.
You may have upgraded, but that doesn’t mean that you’re in your dream home. You can make your house look bigger, however, by employing simple eye tricks such as putting a full-length mirror on a wall that will make your space look like it has doubled. You should also be mindful of furniture arrangements so that you don’t create clutter in each room. Remember, sometimes less is more.
Incorporate different kinds of lighting.
Recessed lighting can look modern and fancy, but only if it matches the rest of your decor. To create depth and warmth in each room, consider using several different kinds of lighting, such as recessed lights, pendant lights, and floor lamps. Installing dimmers will give you even more control over the lighting, which can be helpful when trying to set the mood in each room.
Carefully select your accents.
Decorative accents can add the final touches to any home project, but if you don’t practice restraint, you may ruin all of your hard work. Instead of creating a mini jungle of small potted plants, for example, opt for one tall plant that you can use to add a touch of life to a room. And be careful not to cover shelves with knickknacks and books. A few items expertly placed here and there are better for aesthetics and also makes cleaning easier. Once you tap into your design inspiration, you’ll be able to infuse your own personality into your home.
Liverpool has been voted the most popular destination in the UK, the second year running by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, and I have to agree! This city has it all in the way of providing you, with an all round cultural explosion in all areas of good living
“For the second year straight the Conde Nast Traveler magazine has named Liverpool as one of the most popular destinations in the United Kingdom. The survey questions some of the world’s most intelligent travelers, who rank the cities on various things in an attempt to decide which is the most popular. Maybe Liverpool wouldn’t be the first city that would pop into your mind, but it should be, as it took home the title of the third most popular city in the United Kingdom. Bath, Manchester, and Oxford all ranked below the blue collar city of Liverpool, which was a shock to some, as these cities are usually mentioned more often when people talk about the United Kingdom. But since 2007, when Liverpool ranked a distance seventh on the list, the city has made an astounding ascent, climbing to third best on the survey, just behind the UK heavyweights of London and Edinburgh. It was no shock that London topped the list once again, nor that it was trailed by Edinburgh in second. What did shock many was that Liverpool was able to hang on to last year’s third place finish, as many expected the city to drop back to its familiar position in the rankings. The Mersey Partnership, which is the tourist association of Liverpool, could not be happier with the news, as the survey seems to confirm what they have been trying to promote for decades, which is that Liverpool is a city worth visiting. The TMP marks the ranking as a significant accomplishment for Liverpool, one they hope continues.”
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Providing a long list of the best restaurants here are ten to start with.
10 best restaurants in Liverpool from the reviews submitted by our members. Unlike other websites offering..Art has always been important to Liverpool as a city, having gifted us with the most famous band in the world its not surprising that this city provides everything in the way of entertainment.
SEA ODYSSEY A story of love, loss and family will be played out on Liverpool’s streets BEATLES 50 Celebrate 50 years of The Beatles with ..VisitliverpoolIf you have never visited Liverpool, book your ticket now – it will be the best ticket you buy!Trains to Liverpool | Virgin TrainsTravel to Liverpool by train and enjoy great shopping, lively nightlife, and unique culture. Find out about the highlights of experiencin…Virgintrains
If you are a resident of Liverpool and the surrounding area, please let us know what you love about your area and email this to fiona@happy4pr.com or post on Moving Soon facebook pages hereBest Wishes!Fiona
While some of us choose to live in the city for the buzz it provides, I feel a place where we can retreat, relax and restore balance, is more important than ever. Here are some tips to create an outside space that your can enjoy this Spring/Summer for alfresco living at its best!
- KETTAL BITTA DAYBED
Beautiful range by architect Rodolfo Dordoni
http://www.kettal.es
For a little inspiration go and visit the new Chelsea Fringe Event starting in May 19, at different venues across London. It will feature a great mixture of horticultural happenings and community celebrations. The idea behind the event is to give people the freedom to express themselves through the medium of plants, gardens and outside interior settings.
- MATEUS CROCKERY
Your alfresco dining would not be complete without this stunning range of dining wares. The mixture of Portuguese culture & Swedish design
works beautifully.
http://www.mateus.se
Space can be an issue at home, but you don’t need a huge amount of area to enjoy the outdoors at home. With a little thought and the the right purchases……..a small courtyard, roof top garden can be ‘greened’ with an added touch of comfort and luxury. There are alot of pieces that have a dual purpose and can be used indoors and outdoors.
- MISSONI CIRCULAR CUSHIONS
Luxury floor cushions, with Missoni leather branding. Easy to carry around & stackable.
http://www.amara.co.uk
If your really struggling for space…..try and build yourself a Terrarium…..a minature garden in your desired glass bowl!
- BUILD A TERRARIUM!
http://www.bcliving.ca/garden/how-to-make-a-terrarium
For advice and tips on how to create your paradise of comfort
Contact Dipika Parmar, owner and founder of Elysian Interiors http://www.elysianlifestyle.com/
Mother’s Day is fast approaching and it is one day of the year where you can indulge and treat your mum to a day of treats and pampering. Here at Moving Soon, we have some wonderful tips to show you what is on offer in the Cheshire area.
Fabulous Places http://blog.fabulousplaces.co.uk is run by the lovely Debs who has created this brilliant blog to show you what is on offer. Or alternatively if a day trip is on the cards, then this site is perfect! Deb’s has created a little black book of Fabulous places to visit here in Cheshire and Nottinghamshire or the Derbyshire area?
I love this vintage style Knutsford sign available at http://www.houseknutsford.co.uk it looks good in any room of the home, and it is a perfect Mother Day gift.
Cakes cakes and more cakes. Pecks Award Winning Restaurant http://www.pecksrest.co.uk is packed full of lovely treats this weekend, you can order your sunday roast and then partake in the lovely selection of sweets available. Yummy Mummy!
Flowers has to be the best gift of all, it comes with a smile and warms your heart – Cheshire Flowers http://www.cheshireflowers.co.uk deliver locally so just give them a call and your mum will be so happy come Sunday!!!
Have a wonderful Mothers Day Everyone!
Best Wishes!
Category : Articles
Your interior is just as important as your wardrobe so knowing your style, is important. Thing don’t necessarily have to match, but they do have to stand out and fit in to your interior surroundings. Some of the interior products on the market today, are proof that fashion and interiors are more closely linked than ever? A number of catwalk trends that blending into the interior scene are garden & florals, There a huge trend this year……lush romantic florals have been seen by Brit fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu, H&M, and Designers Guild. Here are a few of my finds this season.
TOCO PITCHER
- Brilliant hues in this stunning handpainted pitcher……watch out for the toucan prowling in disguise
COTSWOLD BENCH
-cotswold bench in stunning handpainted landscape design OTTOMAN
BLUE GRAY CUSHION
-Lively watercolour brushstrokes depict this cushion, oversized bloom in all its natural glory. Each Bluegray design is handpainted in the boutique brands Scottish studio before being transformed into gorgeous linens & textiles. Each cushion is handmade and totally unique, due to its individual numbering & signature.
FLORAL WATERCOLOUR DESIGN
- Enjoy your very own Bespoke handtufted floral design in silk & worsted wool blends, custom dyed to order.
http://www.concepthandtufting.co.uk
You may have seen our Cheshire & Wirral Property Listing local press advertising over the last few weeks with the strapline of ‘Live Local, Love Local, Buy Local‘.
So what happens when you are looking to move home. Whenever you are looking to buy or rent a property one of your considerations is usually what local amenities there are close by. This, for example, could be local shops, bars or restaurants. To be honest it’s been the same for me. In fact it comes quite high on my own house moving checklist when I’ve been looking for somewhere to live.
Live Local Love Local Buy Local
Depending on where you choose to live you may have a number of options available to you in terms of where to buy your goods and services. From a personal point of view I try to support local businesses where I can which includes getting my hair cut, buying cards, takeaways or even getting my car fixed! Local businesses are very much part of the package as well when you are trying to find a place to live in Cheshire or Wirral.
Support your local businesses
Alongside your local small businesses you may also have a choice of supermarkets or out-of-town centres and not to forget the online offering to do your shopping. The credit crunch and recession gives even more significance in trying to support your local businesses where possible. That’s not to say that you won’t continue to do online shopping, go to supermarkets or visit the out-of-town retail outlets. On the contrary the shops and businesses just up the road from where you live can actually complement this offering. I’ve even found that some of these local merchants have exactly what I’m after without me having to travel too far!
It’s nice to have a balance. So what do you think? Is it important to have the balance of local businesses with the national and multi-national chains where you live?
Journalist, Kathryn Sharman talks florals, chintz and a little bit on what makes a ‘home a home.’
Laura Ashley’s new spring/summer range should be hitting your local branch any time now. Okay, I know we’re right in the middle of a cold snap so it’s hard to even imagine but looking at fresh, pretty, summery things is a good antidote to any winter fog. Of course, we might have to wait a while until it’s warm enough to sit outside, sipping homemade lemonade, using a Laura Ashley vintage style picnic set but that’s the thought that will be sustaining me through the rest of February.
Thankfully there are some lovely interior products in the new Home range, which you can enjoy right now. Here’s my pick of the collection (is it too early to say roll on Spring?).
One of my favourite ranges was the Darling Buds, which has a lovely floral, almost chintzy feel to it, with colourful, feminine bedding that you could easily mix and match with older vintage pieces to make a gorgeous girlie boudoir.
Meanwhile, if you like more graphic prints (Orla Kiely stylee) then you’ll probably love the Off the Wall range
I also liked the Glasshouse range, with its muted colour palette and THESE gorgeous notebooks
Like I said, roll on picnic weather so I could use this beautiful pitcher and glasses with an etched floral design (which I think could almost pass for real vintage).
How kitsch are these tulip candles? Love them!
And finally, please, please, please can I have this fabulous lamp. It has a feel of real old-school glamour from a by-gone era. 
Happy shopping!
Visit your nearest Laura Ashley in the Cheshire Area here: http://www.lauraashley.com/page/storelocator
Concept Handtufting is a bespoke carpet and rug company that specialise in offering your home, the best in floor comfort. Having supplied a lot of Cheshire and celebrity homes, it is important your living space has the best!
Dynamic team Amy and Charles Lawton from Concept Handtufting has worked with some amazing companies such as Tiffany’s, Harrods and Mulberry
Concept Handtufting’s Bamboo range is one of top products that is incredibly luxurious in appearance and feel. This product is a great alternative for those who want silk but don’t have the budget for it. Bamboo is also fantastic for the environment!
- Is Sustainable – one of the fastest growing plants on the planet
- Cleans the air – dense bamboo forests return 30% more oxygen to the air than trees
- Is Grown without pesticides – has its own anti-bacterial agent
- Is 100% biodegradable
This truly is a product that has it all!
Create a bespoke rug perfect for your living space?
All you need is One designer? = Amy Lawton
Team of experts? = Concept Handtufting
Result = one beautiful rug (see below)
If you would like your own bespoke carpet or rug please contact the sales team at studio@concepthandtufting.co.uk from Concept Handtufting
