January 2011

Kitchen quotes: Tips for cheap home improvements
People looking to compare kitchen quotes should follow these tips for cheap updates around the home.

Home improvement: 'Don't underestimate' DIY projects
People that are updating their home with new bathroom quotes should make sure they have properly understand the size of their task.

Time to integrate technology into kitchen designs
The results of a new survey would seem to suggest it is time that people began putting more emphasis on technology when they are ready to design a new kitchen.

Nottingham Methodist church shows people the green light
A church in the Sherwood area of Nottingham is leading the way when it comes to renewable energy.

Most bedroom quotes now include a king size bed
People searching for quotes for a new bedroom are increasingly adding a king size bed into the equation.

Bedroom quotes: 'Don't cut corners' for DIY projects
Homeowners that are planning on undertaking DIY projects should be sure to prepare fully and not cut corners, an expert has advised.

Driveway quote: Exterior improvement project 'best value'
Estate agents have advised that improving the exterior of a property, such as with a driveway quote, is the most cost-effective and valuable home improvement.

Bathroom quotes: Interior design 'more personal' in 2011
Interior design will include more individual touches in the next 12 months, people seeking bathroom quotes have been told.

Colchester Council turns to solar panels
Colchester Council looks set to be the latest local authority to jump on the solar panel bandwagon.

Eco design to lead the way in 2011
Homeowners thinking of embarking on a home improvement project should be looking to make a statement with bold colours and textures, according to one fashion expert.

DIY is at an 'all-time high', expert says
Homeowners looking for kitchen quotes have been told that the number of people taking on DIY projects is at an "all-time high".

Bedroom quotes: Homeowners seek 'fun, innovative furniture'
Homeowners are increasingly seeking personalised and quirky accessories to their bedroom quotes.

‘Green’ house prices expected to fall
Environmentally-friendly homes in America are set to become cheaper in 2011, according to US-based organisation the Earth Advantage Institute (EAI).

Bedroom quotes: Velvet is the perfect winter fabric
Homeowners who are seeking bedroom quotes have been advised that velvet is an excellent fabric choice, as it is "contemporary and cosy".

Kitchen quotes: Women 'increasingly taking to DIY'
Many women are turning to practical DIY, people searching for kitchen quotes have been told.

Solar park plan for former colliery
An application to turn a former colliery site into Wales’ first solar park has been submitted to planners.

Brighten up your home with a splash of colour
Bold and bright colours are the flavour of the month in the kitchen, while neutral shades have had their time, according to design expert Nicola Wilkes.

Kitchen quotes could be used to change the colour scheme
A complete renovation is not always needed.

Householders looking for home improvement quotes
Industry sales figures suggest an increasing number of homeowners are looking to update their properties.

Solar panels plan submitted to Aberdeenshire Council
An outline of plans to install 2,000 solar panels around Buchan in north-east Scotland has been submitted to Aberdeenshire Council.

Bathroom quotes: Home staging sees 'remarkable activity'
Homeowners that are thinking about installing bathroom quotes to help sell their properties have been told about a surge in the use of home staging.

Home improvement: DIY skills 'to be extinct by 2048'
DIY skills amongst men are anticipated to dwindle in the coming years, people searching for kitchen quotes have been told.

Design exhibition expecting big crowds
Organisers of German home interiors exhibition IMM Cologne are hoping to shake up the world of interior design with its latest show which starts next Tuesday(18).

School casts shadow over brothers’ solar panel plan
A family have spoken out after their local school refused to trim three horse chestnut trees which cast a shadow over their home’s solar panels.

Home improvement: Empty properties should be converted for living
Property developers urged to play a role.

Lincolnshire church hopes to be bathed in light
A church in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, has installed an array of solar panels on its roof worth £48,000.

Eco design is the future, says interiors expert
Interior designer to the rich and famous, Pavitra Rajaram, says when it comes to home improvement projects, environmentally friendly features are here to stay.

New Year is 'the perfect time' for bathroom quotes
The bathroom is the ideal starting place for a home improvement project.

Second wind for city’s solar power plan
Previously on-ice plans for a solar energy park close to the centre of Plymouth have been revived, and went on show to the public yesterday.

Modern kitchen quotes 'do not have to be monochrome and glass'
People seeking kitchen quotes have been told that contemporary interior design does not need to stick to white and glass elements.

Kitchen quotes: Mood lighting has a lot going for it
Property owners need to consider their style of lighting.

Bedroom quotes: Heritage home design 'needs careful balance'
Designing a heritage-styled home requires a combination of modern and vintage elements, people seeking bedroom quotes have been told.

Bathroom quotes: New natural wood collection released
Ellis Furniture has launched a new range of natural wood fixtures for use in bathroom quotes.

Modern design branching out
There’s more to modern house interiors than just glass and open spaces, according to a newly released book.

Bedroom quotes: Purple 'a must-have colour'
Homeowners that are looking for bedroom quotes have been told that purple is dominating current interior design.

'Make sure you have DIY skills' to fit bathroom quotes
DIY enthusiasts must make sure they are competent enough to complete their tasks if they are considering installing bathroom quotes.

Plans unveiled for Weston-super-Mare solar park
Developers have announced plans to install 22,000 solar panels on a piece of farmland near Bristol.

Kitchen quotes: Cabinets can set the tone for the room
Big decisions need to be taken on cabinets.

Kitchen quotes: Ensure layout promotes ease of use
Poorly laid out kitchen quotes are "a low level headache", an expert has warned.

Kitchen quotes: Room use should be thought of before flooring is chosen
Homeowners have numerous types of floorboard to choose from.

Kitchen quotes among top Google searches
The start of the new year has seen a rash of people searching online for kitchen quotes and domestic appliances, according to new figures.

A wet room is a must for 2011
The popularity of wet rooms is set to increase during 2011, as homeowners consider alternative bathroom layouts and designs.

Home improvement: Falling house prices 'promote DIY'
More homeowners could be looking to carry out some DIY projects as a result of falling house prices, people seeking bathroom quotes have been told.

'Don't be afraid' to use mood lighting in bathroom quotes
Mood lighting has a wide range of applications, although it is still not used regularly in residential bathroom quotes, an expert has said.

Kitchen quotes: Green appliances 'the future' for design
Environmentally-friendly appliances are "the future" for kitchen quotes, a commentator has said.

Green light for Welsh solar park
Planners have given the go ahead for the first solar park to be built in South Wales.

Heart attacks and divorce “a small price to pay” for dream home
A man who managed to build his dream home, but got divorced from his wife and suffered two heart attacks along the way, has said the turmoil was a “small price to pay”.

Make the most of your home’s fireplaces
Homeowners planning to redecorate a lounge or create a new bedroom look should make the most of features such as fireplaces by incorporating them into room designs, according to an interiors expert.

Gloomy Scottish skies won’t stop solar panel rollout
Scotland is not known for its high temperatures and long sunny days, but apparently that won’t prove to be a stumbling block for a scheme to invest £200million in solar panel installations across the country.

Interest in self-builds increasing
There is a growing interest in self-build housing projects, according to an industry expert.

Solar-powered housing project underway
A project to install solar panels on 650 homes in South Yorkshire has begun.

School wins solar panels
A school in Truro has won £30,000 worth of solar panels as part of a national competition to help encourage the uptake of renewable energy.

Prefab homes will come back into fashion, says study
Prefabricated homes are the answer to the UK’s housing shortage, according to an independent report released today.

Plastic panels may change the face of solar energy market
Photovoltaic plastic, which is cheaper to manufacture and more manageable than traditional silicon solar panels, may be about to take the renewable energy market by storm.

Young firm handed £1m solar contract
A start-up company has been handed a £1m contract to install about 2,200 solar panels in Suffolk as part of a huge renewable energy project.

Purple is the new black, according to design expert
Anyone thinking of redecorating their home over the coming months should consider throwing some splashes of purple into the mix, unless they want to miss out on one of the hottest fashion trends of the year.

Production to double at Wrexham solar plant
A factory in North Wales which manufacturers solar panels is due to double its production level, creating 300 new jobs.

North-west England leads the way to a low-carbon future, minister says
England’s north-west region has been hailed as a ‘green beacon’ for the rest of the UK in grasping the opportunities afforded by the prospect of a low-carbon future, during a visit to the area by climate change minister Greg Barker.

Government pledges to protect solar scheme
The government’s energy minister has said he is prepared to act in order to prevent commercial operations hijacking the UK’s solar energy Feed-in Tariffs scheme.

Wiltshire residents to have their say over solar scheme
Homeowners in a Wiltshire town were today due to get their first glimpse of a scheme which could see a new solar park built in the county.

Keeps your pots on display in a new kitchen, says design expert
Budding chefs considering a change around downstairs and searching for kitchen quotes ahead of a redesign should consider keeping their cooking implements on display.