Style Blog

For businesses involved in dressmaking, couture or alterations, a good dressmaker's dummy is an essential piece of kit for designing, modelling, sizing and altering clothes. But with so many different types on the market, how do you choose the right one? Our handy guide will help.

Picking the right dummy

To pick the right dummy model for your business, it helps to know what your needs are. Those who sow for one customer, or a particular standard size, may be happy to use a standard dress form with a single set of sizes. Those who need to use a dressmaker's dummy for a range of clients will prefer to have an adjustable model, which allows adjustment for height as well as girth. Most good models will be adjustable for the dress form and have a minimum of eight sections.

Most professionals will also need an adjustable dressmakers dummy that is sturdy and easy to adjust. Twelve adjustable sections are the most common for those sewing exacting garments. A deluxe trouser form is also very useful for those making trousers.

Popular models

The K&L, available from Morplan, is the industry's best-selling standard model. Its dimensions are modelled on the female form, according to the UK's sizing definition and the dummy is made with a polyester body, reinforced with long lasting glass. The highest standards of production have been applied to ensure accuracy when pattern cutting and the dummy can be adjusted using the tubular steel base.

Many people strive to create a modern and minimalistic feel in their homes. The clean look and tidy surroundings have made a 21^st century impression on many people who despise clutter and visual distractions. The modern design has become a popular trend, especially on those whose main focus is the function of their home. It can be tough to create such surroundings, so we have put together a quick guide to what you may need to create this minimalistic feel.

The first thing you will need to consider is what kind of flooring you want in your home. For a minimalist look try not to use complex designs or patterns, a good quality wooden floor, such as the ones available at All Floors Express. Of course, you can use ceramic tiles, laminated flooring, Vinyl and create a simple and stunning look.

When it comes to colours, white is definitely the obvious choice, its clean and pristine looking. However, don’t think that white is the only colour you can use when creating a minimalistic look. A splash of vibrant colour will add warmth and a homey feel to every room. Bright colours, including white will also give the room a lighter appearance.

The biggest thing in any room is the furniture, so it is always best to simplify a room by looking at the furniture. The fewer pieces of furniture you have in a room the better. Think of which furniture can be eliminated without sacrificing comfort and liveability. Go for a few pieces of plain, simple furniture with solid, subdued colours.

The key to creating a minimal home is to use only items that are important and essential to you. Things and furniture that you need are the only ones that you should keep. If you think you lack some essential stuff, then you may also add some. But essentially, you need to do away with those you don’t really need.

Why not celebrate everything the summer has to offer with redecorating your bedroom to give you the same feel you would get on a tropical holiday abroad? Even a few little pieces can transform the feel of your bedroom. Follow these easy steps for a bright summer change.

1. Little and simple accessories such as freshly cut flowers in a plain white or glass vase can add just the summer feel you are looking for, and with the fresh smell it gives off it will be a pleasure to wake up to on a sunny morning. A fringes throw in a soft pastel colour is a great accessory to make your bed give off a summer feel, and paired with oversized euro-pillows it will make your bed look more finished and comfortable. These pillows are great to prop you up whilst reading you favourite summer book too!

2. If you are thinking about adding new furniture to your bedroom, or even a lick of paint make sure you go for light materials in natural colours. These will look the best for the summer. Lightweight textured materials, like rattan, wicker and bamboo, work great for summer furniture.

Now that spring has finally sprung, we can now spend every moment of our free time in the garden. Whether you choose to invite your friends and family round for a BBQ or just sit back and relax in a lounger, you need to make sure your garden is in tip-top condition for the upcoming summer season. Here we take a look at some of the ways that you can enhance your garden to make your neighbours envious!

(Image Source - http://vithouse.com/redecorate-patio-design-paving-garden-designs/)

Building A Dream Home

Building your own cozy home is a dream of many. You sure have a certain perception and vision of what your dream home must ultimately look and feel like. But designing a home is a lot more than just buying a piece of land and handing over the construction responsibilities to a construction firm. At every step, you have to be a part of the construction to make sure you are getting what you have planned for. Here are some home design tips that will help you

1. Make sure you have done enough research before starting your home project. Have a look at the many existing models available in market today. Seek out the features you like and want in your house.

2. Prepare a blueprint of the home design and check it's feasibility with a professional. You don't have to own a construction degree to plan your own design. You just need to have a good observation skill and creativity to do it.

3. When designing your home, it's important you plan for the future. Do you plan to have children in the near future? Do relatives frequently visit your house and stay during vacations? Do you have aging parents? Design accordingly.

4. Keep functionality in mind when designing your home. Place bedroom away from the communal areas to reduce noise. Have a mudroom adjacent to your garage if you and your family loves spending time outdoors.

Fake Turf!

How much is a fake lawn? You buy fake grass by the square meter m². At it's cheapest you will pay around £5 /m² and then goes up to a maximum of around £30 per m^2.

It's not the cheapest option for installing and buying compared to the real deal. But turf is in short supply and there are other benefits to a fake lawn that we go over for you in this article.

Not just cheaper by saving water IF YOU LIVE IN A DRY COUNTRY but saving the all important time too - what am I talking about? But then again at the end we talk of the need to wash the grass - still probably less than the need to water it often. Not the money saving aspect for me but the time saving cutting and weeding etc.

A fake lawn is made from synthetic grass, and makes sure that your lawn looks well maintained, all the time.  No matter where you live and what the weather conditions are, your lawn will always look good. The best part is that you will see an automatic reduction in your water bills too.

If you are planning to install synthetic turf, there are plenty of options available to you. These options include monotone, two toned and four toned synthetic grass.  If you have a tight budget, then monotone is the one for you as it is the cheapest option available. This type of synthetic grass is rigid and has short piles. However, if you want something softer and more realistic, then two-toned synthetic grass is the best option. For people with small kids in the house, four toned grass works best. This type of synthetic grass has long piles, and looks alarmingly real, besides being kid friendly. However, the cost of four-toned synthetic grass is much more when compared to the first two.

The reality is that real grass costs less in comparison to fake grass. However, the savings associated with having synthetic grass come into effect much later, with the reduction of water bills. You will notice a huge difference in water bills, after placing synthetic grass in your yard. The key advantage of choosing a fake lawn over a real one are the cost savings it provides. This of course is more for those living in drier climates.

Maintenance

Fake lawns are easy to install and maintain. The lawn looks impeccable, no matter what the season is. Your lawn looks green and beautiful throughout the year. Maintaining a fake lawn is also way easier, as compared to a real grass lawn. If you have a real lawn, you will need to make sure that chemicals and fertilizers are added, to provide nutrients to the grass. A lot of time may also have to be devoted to mowing the grass on a real grass lawn.

In case of a synthetic lawn, you will only need to spray a little water for cleaning it on a regular basis. No chemicals or fertilizers are required to treat the grass. Even expensive garden equipment, like a lawn mower, is not necessary. A rake is all you will need to remove leaves and debris. Regular spraying of water over a fake lawn will keep dust and dirt off it. These lawns have an amazing filtration system, which allows the water to flow through and drain away, without it collecting between the fibers.

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