I am so happy to see you here! I will have to go back and see if i can retrieve my posts... thought I would make them into a little book for my daughter, with photos. Quick run-down on the bathroom (not travels, no time) - The kitchen has a rather elegant sliding door with beveled glass panels. Painted white, since this was the original colour. GD's new bathroom has the doors I had picked earlier; i thought of polishing them but decided sprayed automobile paint (on a resin primer) would wear better. Especially since it is such a small bathroom, and she is so splashy. I have this finish in my kitchen and it has lasted 15 years now. A tad chipped here and there, but only needs a wipe down once a week. Same finish for the balcony doors, also split like the bathroom. We have a new wardrobe, a study table with built-in shelves, and a small chest of drawers for her odds and ends. I want to re-tile the tiny balcony, more as a little statement. Currently we are looking at Portuguese tiles, though I did think a mosaic with a funky cat might be nice. Let me see the costing. The room will be painted a neutral adobe, with bright white woodwork and an off-white ceiling. This means she can go wild with cushions and covers. Other changes in the flat; We have changed the glass in the master bedroom and living room from small cramped panes to a single pane for each section with a 1" bevel all round. Doubles the cost of the glass, but looks so elegant! The air-conditioning is being re-located. The compressors were all mounted in the bedroom and living room balconies, which looked terrible and meant the balconies (very narrow, only 30" deep) couldn't be used for anything. Not even plants. So they are being moved so that the compressors can be mounted at the rear of the building. two down, one to go. Now we can put in some nice plants, fishtail palms etc. The kitchen counter on one side came out intact and will be reused elsewhere. I am planning overhead storage, cupboards, and a draining cupboard for plates and glasses. Right now there is no dish washer, though a place is earmarked, but for now I will put in a cupboard with steel racks for cups, glasses and plates, all hidden behind pressed glass doors. This is all in the planning stage.... Pictures in a little while, they are mostly on my ipad and don't transfer well to the mac. They come without numbers... so I have to rename the or something. Somebody tell me how to do this!

Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.

Millions of people over the world go on holiday every year, all with different requirements for their perfect holiday. From city breaks to beach holidays tourists travel to various destinations around the world to have a new experience, whether it is to gain knowledge of a culture, explore historic sites to sitting on beach soaking up the warm sun! January is a busy month for travel agencies and tour operators as it is the most popular month to a book a holiday in the UK. To help you make better holiday plans for 2015 here are a few tips to follow to get that ideal holiday: Choosing the Right Holiday Type When you decide to go on a holiday, deciding on the type of holiday is the first step to get the ball rolling on your holiday plan. Some people know exactly what they want from a holiday e.g. scuba diving, dive Philippines, skiing, visiting the Egyptian pyramids, etc., whereas others need a helping hand in the decision making. Some go for a relaxing beach holiday compared to people who want an adventure holiday compared to people who want a city break. There are a great number of tour operators specialized in beach, cultural and adventurous holidays including scuba diving who will be happy to provide you with a lowdown of holiday types to help you make the decision that is right for you. Holiday Budget Once you have decided on the type of holiday get a budget in mind and stick to it. Have a maximum spend budget so you are able to look at a variety of options in your price range, this will make it easier to make a choice. Be sure to let your travel agent know what your budget is as this will save you from getting a number of quotes and itineraries that do not fit your budget. Also ensure that budget does not compromise your holiday experience and financial protection. When deciding on a budget ensure you consider booking the holiday with an ATOL protected company so that your holiday and money is 100% protected. Choosing a Holiday Destination Once you have the type of holiday and budget in mind the next step is to find a destination. Like I said earlier some people know exactly where they want to go, however some people need to do a bit more research to get inspired. Researching destinations online is a great way to find out a lot of information about a place, alternatively popping into a travel agent and speak to an advisor. Most travel agents have years of experience organizing holidays around the world and some have had the pleasure of visiting these destinations which means they can offer you first hand advise. Booking your holiday There are a variety of ways to book a holiday and these include phone, on the internet or going into a retail shop. My advice to you would be to look around for the best options in terms of price, experience, service and financial protection. There are a number of independent travel agents and tour operators that offer great value holidays with a personalized service which you will not receive from large companies! Once you have found your perfect holiday for the perfect price go ahead, ensure the company you are booking with is ATOL protected and if so confirm the booking. This is when the stress of booking a holiday is over and you can start looking forward to that dream holiday! Dive Holidays

Hello Arsh, Thankfully it's one piece as we were hoping. To tone it down these are our suggestions: The wall behind this needs to be in grey color. Use the lighter shade of your Curtains grey stitch lines in Royale Aspira Paint. Use black and white photo frames on that wall. Combine a number of patterned black and white with bright yellow or blue cushions on this piece and Use a similar throw piece. Use a carpet if your budget permits. Please ask the upholsterers to finish the other sofas properly. The biddings are not straight and they are not there on the entire piece - like handles. Let us know if you would need some pics as suggestions on the above. Lastly, thanks for your kind words..please feel free to leave your review/comments on our Houzz profile. Amit Cornerstone Designs. Bangalore.