Both the Championship and Leagues one and two have recently started too, although the Premier League now lets everyone witness the failures of the World Cup back in their natural clubs and positions. Many fans have stated their anger at England’s players, often citing that their salaries have been too high for true motivation. Others have declared that the top players today don’t get challenged enough, preferring to opt for the same positions and tactics over more aggressive or experimental on-pitch moves. What ever the outpour, the national sentiment has been united, confirmed by various members of the England World Cup squad being booed at Wembley during the Community Shield and England/ Hungary friendly just passed.

Fans unable to get to any of the up and coming seasons football matches now have the exciting chance to enjoy an online app created by a large well know company which contains match statistics, the ability to network socially and also vote online. All this happens in tandem with the live televised Premier League matches.

Creators of this new and highly interactive football experience commented that Sofa Stadium was the perfect antidote to what many regard as overpriced car parks, occasional rainy and cold weather, cheap and nasty food and views that are frequently obstructed. Watchers of their favourite matches would be able to enjoy great views whilst interacting live with other fans during the games through Twitter’s Tweet Watch and Facebook, passing comments, explaining why certain players should be applauded, free kicks should be given or players sent off…Many footie fans will of course dispute that it is precisely the ups and downs of visiting a stadium that they enjoy.

What’s for sure is that armchair supporters, commentators and managers alike will all be cheering at what has been coined a ‘multi-screen entertainment experience’.

To further add to their popularity one of DIY Network’s most recent programs involves the one-time 90’s icon of pop Mr Robert Van Winkle, known more popularly as Vanilla Ice. Termed ‘The Vanilla Ice Project’, this latest renovation series hones in on his affinity with buying up land, doing up and ‘flipping’ houses. Premiering on October 14th this year, this Grammy-nominee will be exhibiting his 15 years of self taught home DIY. 10 episodes in length, Robert will be showcasing his largest yet renovation – a 7,000 square foot, 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom Palm Beach Mansion, complete with lakefront view in Florida. Half an hour in length per episode, viewers will get to see a side of Vanilla Ice they never knew existed as he leads the room-by-room makeovers.

The Vanilla Ice Project sees Rob pushing his team hard to meet a list of ambitious deadlines. The kitchen, garage, pool and more all present a real challenge during this transformation from grimy downbeat residence to luxury mansion. One of the biggest concerns is that of continuing to create quality with the frequent and necessary cost-cutting.

Those interested in the DIY Network are also able to visit their website for advice and information on networking with other DIY enthusiasts.

If this is the case, homeowners across the UK will need to do what they can to help lower the UK’s carbon emissions. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) says that “carbon dioxide from energy used to heat water in UK homes accounts for 5% of the nation’s total carbon emissions.” This means that boilers should be the starting point for homeowners to begin reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

By performing annual boiler repair or periodic tune-ups, you can prevent faults that may go unnoticed due to a lack of maintenance. Always get a qualified boiler repairman to conduct maintenance checks. You can also carry out your own regular checks to ensure your boiler is functioning optimally.

Check the combustion chamber and whether the burner is working properly. To ensure optimum performance, have a boiler expert measure your boiler’s emissions to accurately gauge its efficiency.

It is recommended that you replace your boiler if it is older than 15 years, as it may no longer be energy efficient. Moreover, an older boiler will increase your energy bills while contributing to the UK’s very large carbon footprint.

Wasps can wreak havoc, especially from August to October, when they chew wood and then use it to build their nests. One course of action might be to try to find out where their nest or nests are being built (usually in roof spaces in your house) and then employ a pest controller to eradicate them safely.

Garden furniture is unfortunately vulnerable to pest infestations. Some high-end garden furniture contains chemical preservatives that make the wood less attractive to pests, but if the manufacturer’s label does not state that yours is factory treated, then you will need to apply a protector yourself. Try Anti Wasp, an invisible solution that you apply with a cloth. The best results are achieved if you first apply the liquid in the spring, before any colonies become active, and then repeat the treatment once or twice during the wasp season.

If you’d prefer to use a more natural repellant, try mixing one part eucalyptus oil, one part menthol and one part citronella in a base of the oil you usually use to protect wood, then paint on sparingly. This is an environmentally friendly way to protect your garden chairs, tables and sofas from a nuisance pest.

It is all the more surprising to find what can only be described as a deluxe bus shelter, positioned in a typically deserted open area of land adjacent to a farm.

This small shelter has been quite an attraction to people visiting the island. Previously following a Valentine’s Day love-nest and winter wonderland look, the shelter’s latest makeover pays homage to the huge event that was the world cup.

When looking at the shelter, what used to be a Spartan steel and plastic, roofed shelter offering the bare minimum of seating space, now boasts a sheep-skin sofa, external and internal flower pots, tables and football memorabilia. A TV has been positioned inside the shelter, away from bulk of bad weather. Everything has a distinct orange, red colour, more akin to the Dutch football team than anything from the UK.

Past appliances have included Amstrad computers, fairly lights powered by a generator, a phone, and even a microwave. Of course, this bus stop has never actually had any power, everything in the main having been decorative.

What initially started with a resident moving a sofa into the shelter has grown over the years. Today the numbers of items added are frequent, people opting to place their unwanted household furnishings in the shelter rather than on the skip.

Relying heavily on a strong community spirit and good level of trust, Britain’s most  luxurious bus stop, near Baltasound, in Unst, one of the most northernmost islands of the Shetlands, now has its own website and Facebook page.

So, for all you budding interior designers out there, take note and inspiration from this humble public shelter. The simple addition of a sofa can in some cases transform the interior design of plain old public features.

With a leather sofa you should also consider treating it at least once a year with a mix of 1 cup of boiled linseed oil and half a cup of white vinegar. Mix this very well together and then apply to the sofa sparingly using a damp cloth. When the sofa has dried buff it with a dry cloth. Your sofa should now be gleaming and looking as good as new again.

Leather is very expensive so you should look after it. By using the above method you should get many happy years out of your leather furniture. Treat it well and it will last you for years looking as good as new! Also be aware that heat is NOT good for leather furniture so do not place it in direct sunlight or near radiators.

Quick tip! Baby wipes for leather sofas

I find that the best way to clean a leather sofa is by using baby wipes. Baby wipes are gentle on the leather. Whilst you rub your leather sofa the baby wipes leave white soap like marks though these disappear in minutes leaving the sofa shiny and clean.

There are special leather sofa wipes you can purchase but I have to say that the baby wipes always do a very good job of cleaning my sofa and are much better. Try it.

Mine aren't quite this bad..haha

The title explains it all.

We work hard at designing and paying for a beautiful house, we have kids and then the house looks like a shadow of its former glory, ripped to pieces by children whose only priority is to have as much fun as possible and give noithing back.

Well I have devised a plan in my house, a reward scheme if you like to incentivise the little ones to keep my home looking how it should.

Im hitting them where is hurts. There treats, there bed time, there new toy time. it may sound harsh but I’ve found that sometimes thats what it takes with my children. By restricting these luxuries depending on how tidy they have been the week before I have noticed a change in the wind, and the results are blowing in the round about direction of tidyness, which for me (sadly) is a factor in my weekly happiness/serenity.

I take pride in my home and love to see it organised and looking at its best. I know my little ones want to have fun, be reckless, and more generally, just act their age.  By placing a simple trade off though I dont think im being to unreasonable?

Let me know your thoughts. I would love to hear whether anyone else has come up with similar techniques to keep their house in good shape,

a great place for home inspiration..

IF your on this blog im guessing you will live and breath home design.

If you have a passion for keeping your home looking nice and presenting a beautiful home to your family and friends then you will definitely be interested in the Ideal home show.

This event is over 100 years old and is based at Earls Court in central London. The purpose of this event is to show case all the latest developments relating to home improvement. The 17 day event is split into 8 sections including: Home gadgets, shopping, women, village, interiors, improvements, gardens, and food. Each of these sections is manned and to some extent created by a famous British celebrity.

The event acts as a great way to get inspiration, ideas, great deals, and meet some really enthusiastic and energetic people.

I highly recommend that you take a day off work to experience one of the most famous and largest home events in Europe. Please let me know what you thought if you do end up going.

Keeping your carpet clean can be a tough task!

Todays home maintenance tip relates to the wonderful world of carpet. One of the few things that can make you feel comfortable and warm all at the same time in the colder months. By maintaining a regular cleaning schedule for your flooring, you can continue to enjoy any occasion without any ghastly stains or spills being seen.

General carpet cleaning tips

For dust or dirt spillages, for example knocking over a plant pot onto a nice clean carpet,  you will first want to get the hoover out. Hoover the affected area to ensure that all dirt and grime is lifted out. Do not try to wet the area as this will only engrain the dirt further into the pile.

Cleaning minor spillages

For liquid based stains, such as red wine or fruit juice you will want to blot the initial moisture out of the pile. This means getting an old rag or strong kitchen towl and pressing this onto the damp area. This should soak up some of the liquid and help lessen the stain.

Following this, use a carpet cleaning solution (which can be found in most home DIY stores) or your local supermarket and following the instructions found on the packet. Usually this works by leaving the solution on the affected area for a few minutes, blotting away and then repeating with a damp cloth.

Get technical!

For heavier stains, or ones that simply wont shift, you could opt for an electric carpet cleaner. Whether you hire, buy or pay someone to do the task for you, you can often get good results. These machines clean carpet extremely effectively, but are also a hygienic way to kill off dust mites and bacteria that are ingrained into the carpet after years of use.

Be sure to leave adequate drying time once cleaned. This will ensure you dont walk fresh dirt into the carpet. With a few small cleaning tips under your belt, you carpets will look as good as new!

Whether it is an apartment, a house or a flat all homes have various demands made upon them, predominantly this will depend heavily on the ever-changing circumstances of family life.  When youngsters come along, most of the house seems to be overtaken by them and their needs, then, as they grow older, you may have to think about extending or altering the house to accommodate them. Again, as they start to leave home and make their way in the world, the house needs to adapt to yet another change of pace and lifestyle.  All these opportunities give the homeowner a chance to change and improve their home.

Decorating the home or improving it means that you can make it as individual as you are.  A new kitchen, say, will necessitate a change of colour scheme which, once completed, can result in a room that is totally different from the one it used to be.  Introducing some fine collectables may add a touch of class to a hallway. A change of layout can have a drastic effect on the way the room is used; for instance, altering a sitting room slightly to make room for a big dining table will mean that it will suddenly become a place where the whole family can sit doing different things at the same time, without getting in each other’s way.

A big home improvement such as an extension or a loft conversion will maximise the use of any house, is an ideal way of making extra space for a growing family, and presents a design and decorating challenge, especially if the homeowner has been yearning for a new space to work on.

Of course, every room in a home needs to be practical, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be boring and devoid of personality. Look at your home as if it belongs to someone else. This may seem strange at first; however this strategy will in fact help you take a completely new approach to redesigning, allowing you to look at thing afresh and notice possibilities and potential all over the household.