catfishspy

Trends are funny things. This season's latest fad, both in fashion and in the home, is entomology; that's bugs and butterflies to you and me. The hottest new collections of bed linen, wallpaper and furniture are riddled with the kind of pests we normally fight to keep outside.
The catwalk shows for the Spring/Summer 09 collections were buzzing with chiffon butterfly print dresses. The fluttering motif reappeared in shows for Diane von Furstenburg, Collette Dinnigan and Badgley Mischka. As is customary, the fashion trend trickled into the interior studios.
Capturing the fleeting beauty of nature is a well-liked look. Perhaps my most prized possession at home is a wall mounted display of tropical butterflies by Zambia-born artist Nick Jeffries. It was a wedding present from my sister George. The mirror backings of Jeffries' museum-style cases showcase the often more stunning underside of the butterflies’ wings. Word has it that Kate Moss, always ahead of the trend game, turned to Jeffries when she wanted to introduce butterflies to her St.Johns Wood home. Fashion praise indeed.
If buying the real deal does not appeal, there are plenty of alternatives on the market as today's high street is awash with insect-heavy creations. The Laura Ashley design team embraced the entomology trend across its entire summer collection. Stepping into their shops is like walking through the Garden of Eden; butterfly silhouettes adorn everything from lampshades, mirrors, lighting and even lollypop moulds.
Across town, nature featured heavily in the Spring/Summer home collection for House of Fraser. Their new Flight bedlinen, by renowned Australian designer Tracie Stevens for Aura Lifestyle, is brought to life with swarms of yellow, blue and brown butterflies. Other winged insects got a look-in with this season highlights including a new dragonfly pattern blind by textile designer Clarissa Hulse. Eco designer Emily Readett-Bayley of Posh Graffiti, who is exhibiting at Pulse this weekend, has launched a range of giant wooden insects (£15) for the wall or table.
Hot young designers are shaking up the design world with creations littered with the dark side of nature. Forget pretty floral styles, the latest trend looks to the dark side of nature for inspiration.
Royal College of Art graduate Michael Angove weaves scorpions, praying mantis and scorpions amongst butterflies on his large-scale wall coverings and fabrics. "My clients often find some hidden bug lurking somewhere unseen, just like in nature," says Angove, whose designs cover the walls in the Munich Agent Provocateur store.
Thistles and beetles are usually neglected by wallpaper designers who prefer the prettiness of flowers and butterflies. Not so with super cool design studio Timorous Beasties who has long been motivated by the sinister edge of nature using flies and syringes in their prints. Last weekend, founders Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons flew to New York with fellow Scottish interiors companies, including Isle Mill’s Viyella Home and Johnstons of Elgin, for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. It will be interesting to see how their pursuit of new business in North America fares. Will the yanks understand the British fascination with the more weird than wonderful traits of nature? Framing a sample could be enough of a bug injection.
Wallpapering a house with creepie crawlies is quite some commitment. This explains the popularity of the removable Fly on the Wall sticker (just £22) from Sheerhome. Simple to stick on and more importantly, peel off, wall stickers sales are soaring. Furniture has not escaped untouched from this insect plague; the Bug chair, available at mydeco.com, is a modern interpretation of the ubiquitous polypropylene stacking chair. Each unique salvaged chair is lovingly wrapped with plaster pink newspaper and decorated with an army of spiders, beetles and other insects. An eco-friendly, durable varnish keeps the bugs in their place.
Trend reporters rationalise that entomology is in fashion both on clothes and on furnishings because they are positive emblems during tricky times. Insects are tough and adaptable which is a reassuring notion in these ever-changing times. It's official; insects are invading our homes by invitation. Trends are funny things and this one is, quite simply, the bees’ knees.

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Windows are the "eyes" of a building. They play a big role in setting the character and charm of a house. If they're dilapidated and shabby, the whole place can look sad and uninviting. But if the window frames are tastefully stained or painted, a property will exude a stylish, welcoming atmosphere.
But just like our eyes, as windows get older, they need extra care and attention. Many Victorian and Edwardian town houses, for example, have rotting and draughty sash windows. And the metal window frames you still see in many 1920s and 1930s houses are typically held in place by rust, rather than metal.
In the 1960s, more than 95 per cent of window frames in Britain were made of wood. They needed regular maintenance to keep them looking good. But then came the great plastic revolution. Through the Sixties and Seventies, more homeowners opted to replace their windows with plastic – or uPVC (unplasticised polyvinylchloride) – units. They were hailed as the modern, maintenance-free way to keep heating bills down. You didn't need to sand and paint them. And they would supposedly last forever.
Since the mid-1980s, uPVC windows have overtaken wood – with timber now accounting for around 25 per cent of the 12 million windows sold each year in the UK. Plastic might be king. But many see it as tacky and wouldn't be seen dead with a uPVC window – even at the back of their house. Is this just style snobbery? Not according to Steve Hill, managing director of Birch Stone, a joinery and building specialist in Kettering, Northants. He doesn't think uPVC windows are all they're cracked up to be.
"People think plastic lasts longer than timber and it's maintenance free," he says. "The truth is, after about 20 or 30 years, uPVC discolours and warps and the ironmongery wears out. Yet the wooden windows people are replacing have often been there 100 years."
Surely you've got the chore of painting or staining them every year? "That's another myth," says Hill. "We do a pre-finished, painted window with an eight-year guarantee on it – it's maintenance-free for nearly a decade."
In terms of cost, uPVC doesn't necessarily win over timber either. A 2005 report by the WWF collated various estimates of the relative costs of timber and plastic windows. It found that even high-spec timber windows should not cost more than uPVC. Case studies in the report show that timber-framed windows cost 15-25 per cent less than uPVC units taking the whole life of the products into account.
The WWF study found that timber is more environmentally friendly than uPVC if the timber comes from certified renewable sources. Not only are PVC windows made from oil (a non-renewable fossil fuel), but they use eight times more energy in their construction than timber windows and generate almost 50 per cent more waste.
But where timber truly wins out over plastic is when it comes to style. A wooden unit, tailored to the building, can transform even the most prosaic of properties. "By changing the style of the window, you can make a tremendous difference to the house," says Steve Hill. "You can turn a modern building into a house with character, or bring an older property back to its former glory. If you're planning to sell at some point, this can make a big difference in terms of marketability." If your windows are beginning to look a little ragged around the edges, they don't all have to be replaced. The Sash Window Workshop specialises in reconditioning old windows. Despite the downturn, demand is high. "There are an enormous number of timber windows in London in need of repair or replacement," says Richard Dollar, who runs the Berkshire-based firm. "It's a business sector that is relatively insulated."

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Whatever type of replacements you go for, you will need Building Control approval. If you use a company registered with the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (fensa.org.uk ), they will get the necessary certificate of compliance. Building regulations also stipulate that all windows, except those in conservation areas and listed buildings, must have a certain thermal efficiency value (a "U value") to reduce heat loss. The lower the U value, the better. Single glazing is 5.5, while standard double-glazing is around 1.8.
To really bring down the U value, it's worth getting double-glazing filled with argon gas. "It won't detract from the look of your windows," says Steve Hill. "But it can bring an 80 per cent increase in energy savings compared to single glazing, and a 45 per cent saving against ordinary double glazing."

 

Wooden and Metal Bed Frames Last Longer Than Any Other Material

 

If you are looking for a bed frame for your bed, then your current bed frame is probably worn in some way. Well this means that you need one that can withstand time and save you money. There are such bed frames that are available out there with the most popular ones being metal and wood. Bed frames provide support to your mattress or the foundations or box springs underneath the mattress and the bed, so it is important to choose one that can provide stability and support for your whole bed and most importantly are durable.

 

The most popular types of bed frames are metal and wood with metal bed frames being the cheaper one out of the two which is often used for metal beds. They sit on casters or wheels and it is also possible to attach a headboard or footboard to it.

 

A great advantage to the metal bed frames is their ability to last a very long time. Today's metal frames are made of mass-produced iron which come with an anti corrosive coating, but the coating will eventually wear off after a few years which means your metal frame can rust, so be prepared to apply a new coat when this happens.

 

Metal bed frames come in various sizes including twin, queen and king, with each of its sides having raised edges with a metal support which prevents the mattress from slipping off the frame.

 

However, if you are after something that does not require re-coating, then the wooden frame is probably ideal for you. Wooden frames are also very popular but also more expensive than metal frames. Rather than sitting on wheels or casters, wooden frames are supported by wooden legs which makes the whole bed much higher when assembled together, and thus providing storage space under the bed.

 

Also, if you are looking for a stylish frame to match your bedroom then wooden frames are probably the best choice. Wooden frames can be customized to suit your style and bedroom, incorporating fancy designs and stylish patterns, and thus add class and elegance to any bedroom. They can also last years and years without even being distorted.

 

Always consider the material when buying a wooden bed frame. Try to avoid ply wood or particle board since they do not last a long time. Oak frames are quite popular although very heavy, but cedar or pinewood bed frames are lighter and better looking and thus are the best choice.

 

So when choosing bed frames make sure you choose one that matches your style and your bedroom, and always consider durability, the material, support, size and weight for your mattress. Also, be sure to consider if you would prefer to have space under your bed for storage. If you stick to these you won't go wrong with choosing that frame that will last you for years to come.

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The Benefits Of The Memory Foam Mattress Can Give You The Best Night's Sleep – Ever!

 

Need a mattress that provides comfort and support? Or a mattress that provides you with therapeutic benefits? Well why not get a mattress that has it all? The foam mattress certainly has it all - comfort, support, space, durability as well as therapeutic qualities. If this is not enough to sway you into purchasing one of these beauties, well they also offer many more great benefits.

 

Here's a piece of interesting fact for you - memory foam was designed by NASA as part of the space program. NASA's purpose for the foam was to ensure that astronauts were kept as comfortable as possible, to relieve their bodies from the high impact of pressure during their space flight.

 

The medical industry has made further changes to the memory foam in terms of therapeutic strengths and hence has improved the quality of the mattress. Considering the input and intelligence that both NASA geniuses and the medical industry has put into the memory foam, surely this must mean it is good for the likes of ourselves. Well it certainly has made an impact on regular consumers such as yourselves.

 

Memory foam mattresses have increased in popularity in the recent years and it's growth is increasing every day since people everywhere of all ages, shapes and sizes are enjoying the benefits they offer. Also, wouldn't it be great to own something NASA designed and most importantly which provides you with a great night's sleep?

 

The cost of the memory foam mattress is slightly more expensive than the traditional spring mattress but they more than make up for it in their great advantage – their ability to last a lifetime. Memory foam mattresses can maintain their original form unlike the spring mattress, so it is well worth your money in the long term.

 

Among many of it's great benefits is their ability to support your whole body whilst sleeping. The memory foam mattress can adjust to suit your body shape and relieve pressure in your body, and hence prevent you from tossing and turning, ensuring that you get a peaceful night's sleep.

 

The memory foam mattress is certainly a high quality mattress and the most unique of all mattresses. It is the only mattress that will adjust itself to suit both the temperature of your body as well as the temperature of the room and your body weight.

 

This high quality mattress can adjust itself to meet the needs of your body. So when the pressure points of your body become warmer, the mattress will adjust to its temperature by softening in that exact location, and therefore relieving that body part.

 

By relieving pressure to your body, the memory foam mattress can also reduce pain; it can provide support to your neck and spine, which means you can fall asleep comfortably and peacefully.

 

Don't settle for a poor quality mattress when you can sleep on a high quality one. Whatever your sleeping conditions, the high quality memory foam mattress is sure to be perfect for you and your family. It provides you with comfort, space and durability while at the same time relieving you from tiredness after a stressful day and restoring your body with energy.

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The Memory Foam Mattress Has Great Health Benefits!

 

Having trouble sleeping due to aching joints, arthritis, posture related or other health problems? Or simply unable to sleep? Well technology has finally provided us with a marvel something***the eighth wonder of the world that can change our lives for the better! It comes in the form of a mattress – the memory foam mattress. It's not merely a mattress, but one that can answer all your sleeping problems and provide you with health benefits.

 

If you sleep on a poor quality mattress, one that you have had for several years which has lost it's support, firmness and it's springs have become exhausted and lost it's original form then your health is in bother. Blunt but true. A bad mattress will have an impact on your health, happiness and also increase your tiredness, which means you are due for the high quality memory foam mattress.

 

The memory foam mattress has been specially constructed from unique origins and has come a long way. Memory foam is made from a variety of special materials and was originally created by NASA to help relieve pressure on astronauts bodies, it was then further developed by the medical industry to improve its therapeutic strengths for patients, and thereafter became the memory foam mattress. And it is for these reasons as to why they have health benefits.

 

Memory foam mattresses are made up of a variety of materials including viscoelastic and latex. Viscoelastic is the most expensive and the most durable of all. Latex is a special material and probably the ideal choice with regards to health.

 

Latex is very often the preferred choice as it is a hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant which means that it is great for people with allergies and asthma. This material also makes it easier for you to move around in your sleep. It's breathable characteristic is great for keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, allowing you to sleep more easily. Thus, it is sensitive to the body heat of a person.

 

Not only is the memory foam mattress sensitive to the body heat of a person, it also responds to the weight of a person whilst sleeping. It has the ability to adapt to a persons body shape which means that it can reduce pressure on the pressure joints and thus provide you with a more peaceful sleep.

 

A memory foam mattress is also great for reducing headaches by providing support to your neck and thus relieving stress and pressure in those areas when you are sleeping. In the same way it can reduce other aching joints including back pain, neck pain and hip pain by allowing certain parts of your body to push into the mattress and others not to.

 

The memory foam mattress is designed to specifically make you feel comfortable by giving you support when sleeping. It is certainly the ideal mattress for your health as it relieves pain when sleeping so you don't need to worry about the injured areas of your body, which has to make it the greatest mattress ever!
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The Perfect Mattress Can Relieve All Your Sleeping Problems

 

Having trouble sleeping from that agonising neck or back pain? Wouldn't it be great to fall asleep peacefully every single night? The secret to a perfect nights sleep is a pain relieving mattress. Whether your problem is back pain, neck pain or other discomforts a great mattress can cure all your sleeping problems. It's true, there are so many mattresses out there, which are designed for specific sleeping problems to give you the perfect night's sleep.

 

Modern day technology has found the answer to a pain relief mattress. The key to the perfect mattress is their ability to be neither too firm nor too soft, allowing it to relieve you from any pain and stress. The perfect mattress has the ability to adapt to the shape of your body, supporting it so that it won't sag beneath your weight but also not too rigid so that your body cannot relax.

 

The mattresses that have the ability to do this are the memory foam mattress and the adjustable mattress.

 

The memory foam mattress can provide the correct firmness for you, as it contains a special foam which can support your body perfectly by evenly spreading the pressure throughout the surface. This will then offer support to every part of your body and therefore relieve pressure from your pressure points.

 

By conforming to the shape of your body, the memory foam mattress will help to align both the neck and spine, which are primary concerns when sleeping and therefore allow your body to relax and for you to fall asleep easily.

 

Memory foam mattresses are hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant which means you can breathe more easily, it is also sensitive to heat, given that they can cool you down if you are too warm or warm you up if you are too cold. Thus the memory foam mattress is particularly ideal for your health.

 

The adjustable mattress takes it name from their ability to do just exactly what its name says – it can adjust to your body structure to make you feel comfortable and supported. They are attached with a mechanism to lift the head or the foot of the bed to suit your needs and make you feel comfortable.

This mattress is particularly ideal for elderly people which will allow them to relax and rest easily.

 

The adjustable mattress is the most beneficial mattress that has therapeutic effects and is created for those with medical problems.

 

Both the memory foam and adjustable memory foam mattress are more expensive than the ordinary innerspring mattress, especially the adjustable mattress with its raised mechanism. Although this is the case, these pain relieving mattresses are well worth the money because they really work.

 

These mattresses can provide you with comfort, support and relieve your sleeping problems. Sleep has never come so easy. Just simply decide which mattress is most suitable for you, buy it, and then off you doze to slumberland.

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There Are Many Types Of Mattresses That Provide Comfort And Support

 

We all know that a great mattress is the key to a great night's sleep and of course a good night's sleep equals a more perkier you. Likewise, going home to a comfortable bed is a perfect way to end a stressful day at work. This makes buying the right mattress even more essential. There are so many types of mattresses from which you can choose and it is so important that you choose one that is ideal for you and your sleeping positions. But where would you begin? Well here's a little help along the way to a blissful sleep.

 

When it comes to mattresses the qualities we all look for are comfort, support, space and durability. Price is also a factor, but when it comes to buying a mattress we should all be prepared to spend a little more than our budgets because it is estimated that the human race spend a third of our lives in bed. So considering this I'd say the best mattress is well worth our money.

 

Technology and research have gone into improving mattresses which means there are a lot of newly improved styles and designs in mattresses available. These include spring, air, foam and waterbed mattresses (also known as flotation), all of which offer great benefits.

 

The traditional spring mattress (or innerspring mattress) are the most popular of all mattresses. Made up of a spring mattress core that is covered by upholstery which rests on top of a solid surface, the spring mattress provides firmness and back support which are ideal for those requiring a firm surface to sleep on. When looking to purchase a spring mattress you should consider coil count, coil gauge and construction material as these factors are vital in determining durability, firmness and the quality of the mattress.

 

If you are not satisfied with the traditional spring mattress and looking for something that offers more comfort, then the air mattress is perfect for you. With many advantages, this mattress has received much attention in the recent years and is growing every day.

 

Air mattresses are great for providing comfort and versatility. They have the ability to provide cushioning for the entire body which means that they can be adjusted to suit the comfort of your body and provide you with a better sleep.

 

The air mattress is portable, simple and easy to use and is perfect for those who suffer from back and neck problems as they are able to provide support to the areas of your body that need it the most, thus relieving body aches and pains.

 

Similarly, foam mattresses are very popular and have also received much attention over the years and are becoming the modern day mattress. Though foam mattresses are slightly more expensive than spring mattresses, they have great benefits of their own.

 

Foam mattresses have the ability to adapt to your body shape as you move during your sleep, thus helping to relieve pressure on pressure points in your body as well as relieve pain in your body by supporting your neck and spine. All such qualities ensure that you have a perfect night's sleep.

 

The newest addition to the mattress industry is the waterbed. If you are looking to give your body the best support then the waterbed is the most ideal of all mattresses. A firm waterbed is regarded as the healthiest as it offers therapeutic effects of heat in the water and provides special support to your spine. There are a range of styles, sizes and comfort levels and is undoubtedly the most fun of all the mattresses, making them ideal for children everywhere.

 

We all deserve to enjoy a good night's sleep and there is nothing worse than sleeping on an 

uncomfortable mattress that gives you sleepless nights. So if your mattress is preventing you from a good night's sleep then you are due for a new mattress. But be sure to try out the beds before buying; lie on them and test them to see if they are right for you. In the long run it will be well worth your money. Just think that great mattress can improve your posture, soothe aching joints and leave you waking up in a great mood morning after morning!

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