1. What’s my Space, Size & Situ?!

Varedo Walk in Bath from £1494

Needless to say, small bathrooms give you little choice, whereas a large bathroom will have the space to fit pretty much any bath. Make sure you have ample room to get into and out of the bath. Be careful that the bath does not make the bathroom feel overly cramped. If you have a sloping roof and plan to have a shower over your bath then you may be restricted as to which wall the bath can sit alongside.

A traditional bath will be rectangular and approximately 1700mm x 700mm/750mm. If you have space restrictions consider differently shaped baths that hug the shape of your bathroom. For example, think about a quadrant corner bath, baths tapered at one end or a deeper bath, such as a walk-in bath where you can sit-up when inside.

2. Warm acrylic, Eco-wood or Classy Brassy?

I remember visiting my grandparents and using their old cast-iron bath. Its cold touch made you think twice before getting in but the bath was still in excellent condition after many years of use. The material of a bath will tell people about your tastes and style. Make sure the bath complements the other colours and materials in your bathroom. Popular options include:

• Acrylic – A popular option due to its low cost, light weight and warm feel when you get into the bath. Make sure the bath is fibreglass reinforced with a steel frame for longevity and rigidity.

• Cast Iron – These baths will be capped with porcelain enamel to give a clean finish with a long life. Cast-iron baths are cold to the touch and are also heavy so make sure your floor can support this extra weight.

• Copper – These baths will heat up quickly and can be extremely light. Copper baths can be more costly but offer a striking finish that will stand out in any bathroom.

• Natural & Composite Stone - These options are more pricey and will be very heavy so you will need to check flooring constraints. Beautiful, organic styles are timeless.
  

  Wooden bath by Designer Lisa Dinge

• Wood – A natural material such as teak, mahogany, cedar or walnut is both intrinsically traditional yet modern. Wood is warm to the touch and is not easily affected by scratches. Make sure the wood is well treated and sealed for longevity.

3. Why take a while to style?

The final piece to the jigsaw lies is the type of bath you opt towards. Options include:

• Single or double – Will you be sharing your bathing experience with a partner? Does your bathroom have sufficient space for a larger tub. Larger tubs hold a lot more water so make filling time a consideration.

• Free-Standing or Sitting – A popular trend is to have the bath elevated from the floor using claw styled feet. These free-standing baths can sit away from the wall as they are finished on all sides. Free-standing baths are well suited to larger bathrooms.
  

  Novara whirlpool bath with tiled surround

• Recessed Baths – A bath can be recessed into your floor or built into a bespoke platform. This option allows for elegant, matching tiles or stone that surround the bath giving a distinguished finish.

Consider your options carefully and think that you are unlikely to upgrade your bathroom again for at least 5-10+ years.

Greener homes are the way of the future!

• How do I get started? If your wondering what to do and what not to do in your quest to becoming the leading eco-warrior on your street, start by grabbing yourself a copy of Little Book of One Planet Living by Alastair Sawday. This book cleverley demonstrates how eco living can provide more choice and not less, whilst giving a key insight into sustainability and reusing everyday materials.
• In order to green your home, the primary objective is to reduce the amount of energy it consumes. A simple, cheap and effective way to get started is to to go around every door and window sealing off any draughts. You can purchase  many different vareities from your local DIY store, and the results can be simply astonishing.
• Insulate, insulate and insulate! Double insulatation in the attic area is crucial in reducing heat loss from your home. Heat rises when inside a building, so be sure to keep it inside your building to reduce your overall energy bills. Ecowool is made from recycled plastic bottles, whilst Blackwool is made from Welsh sheepswool. Great planet friendly alternatives to the usual stuff!
• Cut your overall energy consumption by fitting an electricity monitor – You’ll be surprised which devices in your home drink the most juice! Standby switches are useful to electronics such as TV’s, and if you looking to change supplier head towards Ecotricity or Good Energy. Aerator taps in your kitchen and bathroom will save you water, along with varible flush toilet cisterns.
• Thick curtains or shutters for your windows will keep heat in and cold out. Even poorly fitted, cheap shutters can have a dramatic effect towards keeping heat inside your home, whilst offering increased security also.

Head over to Grand Designs Live this October 2010 – Will you be going?

Source: Grand Designs Live

Sauna Sausage

I was offered two different types of sausages, one had cheese in it and the alternate didn’t.  Sauna sausages are called sauna Makkara in Finnish.  I opted to try both.  The sauna which my friends had was approximately a 3 hour drive north of Helsinki in the Finnish countryside at their summer cottage.  The home sauna is located on a lakeside with picturesque views and not a car or any other man made noise to be heard.  It was incredibly peaceful; quite an apt setting for my first sauna sausage experience!

The sauna had been heating up for about an hour and the sausages were on a metal plate which was suspended above the sauna stove.  They were thick long plump sausages which had cracked from the great heat from the sauna stove below.  The heat from the sauna stove had made the skin of the sausages nice; it was perfect.  I ventured up onto the top bench of the sauna and lay down.  I glanced up at the temperature, it was about 80 Celsius.  I put two ladles of water from the bucket (loyle) onto the sauna stove, feeling the heat quickly flooding the entire sauna.  It felt wonderful.

After 5 minutes I took a sauna sausage out of the sauna and sat on the decking wood looking out over the lake and pine forests.  The sausage tasted fantastic and without a doubt the most special sausage I’ve ever had.  I put the sausage down on the plate, swallowed my last bite and jumped in the lake; refreshing!

I climbed back out, ate the rest of my sausage and entered the sauna again.  It was a perfect evening if you ask me!  Sausages just simply taste better in saunas!

In addition to this, having a steam shower or private home sauna immediately makes your home unique and compelling to buy. Luxury additions such as these are considered just that – Luxurious. If a potential buyer finds themselves torn between your home and another with very similar price tags, the inclusion of a sauna or steam room may be the exact thing that sways them towards you. Not only does it increase the overall value of your home, you improve the chances of selling your home quicker.

A typical freestanding steam shower enclosure combines standard showering features such as a shower head, with the added benefit of a steam generator. Users can then enjoy a 30 minute steam session followed by a cold invigorating shower to wash away all the toxins – All in the same space. There is no need to allocate the steam generator at another point in the house, as typically they are built onto the back of the unit itself. This results in a straightforward installation that’s completed at a fraction of the cost of a wet room.

Unlike a wet room, you dont’ need to worry about creating a water resistant enclosed area, inclusive of membrane and selective tiling. Furthermore, you need to ensure your door system is air tight to ensure that water and steam alike stays in the room. Creating a waterproof membrane can be quite costly, especially if not done correctly in the first place.

If you’re looking to add instant proven value to your home, consider the option of a steam shower enclosure when upgrading your bathroom. You’ll be benefitting both your body and your wallet.

Adding your own personal sauna to your home can improve your health and save you money in the long term. Health benefits related to a sauna include improved blood circulation, stronger respiratory systems and strengthened immunity to illness. A certain British Medical Association study found that people who took a sauna two or three times a week reduced being brought down by colds and flu by more than 65%.

Now take these facts and apply them to your own life: If your feeling more healthy, you’ll spend less time couped up in bed trying to overcome illness and less time visiting your local GP.

So, how does it help financially you ask? Installing your own personal sauna cabin can save and even earn you money! If you already take advantage of the benefits of a sauna at your local gym or spa, how much would you have saved over the year if you could of just used the sauna in the comfort of your own home?

Furthermore, consider how much extra income a sauna cabin installed in your home could bring to your home when you come to sell it? Estate agents see such an installation as a luxury, with most indoor saunas typically helping the resale value of homes overall.

You don’t even need to dedicate an entire room to incorporate a sauna either. You can allocate a small space to house a small one person cabin, or dedicate a portion of a bigger room such as the bedroom or bathroom to have a larger freestanding sauna cabin fitted. At the end of the day, a smaller sauna will heat up quicker and require far less maintenance.

On the flip side however, if you can fit a bigger sauna then it’s advised to go bigger, just so you can appreciate the entire experience with family or friends. Being able to move around freely, or even being able to lie down on the sauna bench will allow you to relax that little bit more. Remember this is your sauna, so ensure that it reflects your tastes and needs in every way.

Wherever you decide to install your new personal home sauna, consider the following options. If you’re looking for a more permanent installation, a conventional sauna conversion may be what you’re looking for. However, if you’re looking for a more compact, energy efficient option then an infrared sauna is definitely where you should be looking. These freestanding options require no “building in” and more often than not, need just a wall socket to get going.

There are many styles to suit all bathrooms and sizing requirements, ranging from 900 x 900 single person cabins to large 2 person steam showers complete with whirlpool bath. One particular highlight is the Verona single person all glass steam room enclosure. Being a free standing steam cabin that comes with an “easy plumb” shower tray, overhead shower, handheld shower and programmable steam functions. If you’re working within a 900 x 900 space, the Verona is quite simply a WellBeing bargain not to be overlooked.

Normally priced at £1747.13, the Verona has been discounted to just £1297.13 including VAT and Delivery to any UK mainland address. On top of that you get the standard 2 year guarantee – Quite frankly you can’t argue with a saving of over £400!

Head over to the main Di Vapor site today – Be sure to get your plans finalised and unit booked as the sale ends on Monday 23rd of August 2010.

• Saunas have been proven to help aid various ailments from repetitive muscle strain to muscle tension. Studies have even shown how infrared saunas have helped people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
• Saunas are great for helping towards good blood circulation. When our bodies warm up, our bodies react to keep the core temperature at a constant. In case you hadn’t already guessed this is done through the process of sweating. If you’ve got good circulation it means your hearts getting a good workout, which results in better long term health.
• Saunas make you sweat, no one’s doubting this – Infrared saunas induce an even deep sweat than conventional saunas. Each day our bodies take on board toxins and grime from the air and our surroundings. Sweating helps to get these toxins back out again, resulting in better looking skin and complexion.
• Saunas have been proven to help certain conditions of the heart and lungs including the relief of asthma and bronchitis. When the sits inside the environment of a sauna, the moisture in the air helps with soothing such ailments. With an infrared saunas where the environment is dry, the warming sensation provides relief for sufferers.
• Saunas have been known to help individuals lose weight, but it’s not to be confused with some sort of miracle cure. When we sweat in a conventional sauna, the body releases 97% water and 3% toxins. In an infrared sauna, because of the deeper sweat, our bodies release 80% toxins and 20% water! It’s instances such as this which show how the adaptation of modern technology really can benefit you and your health! In short, you do lose weight in a sauna but it’s gradual loss that needs to be combined with a healthy diet.

The above are just a handful of some of the health benefits you can expect to receive when using an infrared sauna on a regular basis. Try not to see a sauna as something that you just visit on the off chance of being in a hotel or gym. Sauna sessions reflect a timeless tradition that can provide proven therapeutic results. Not only is it a safe way to aid pain and stress, it’s a perfect chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Sadly, Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy died late on Saturday. Hakon Eikesdal, a Norwegian photographer reported that both were shaking and bleeding from what appeared to be severe burns. Ossi Arvela, a competition organiser said that the competition will never be held again after this tragic occurrence. Timo Kaukonen is reported to be in stable condition in hospital as of Sunday.

Tapio from Lahti, Finland comments: “I’ll begin by saying that the temperature or the duration of the stay aren’t the worst parts, it’s the humidity that hurts and in this competition 0.5 litres of water is tossed on the hot stones every 30 seconds. That’s what I call insane! Most Finns don’t look up to these people who just want to see who has the biggest tolerance for pain by scalding themselves. I for one enjoy bathing in a sauna and feel that sauna is a nicely warm place for people to escape daily routines, not about searing oneself. If anyone of you ever visit Finland and still – after this horrible incident – dare to visit a sauna, please do! It just might change your minds!”

The 10th Annual Championship took place in Heinola, Finland, over the space of a weekend with 160 men and women from 23 countries pitting their wills against one another. It was to no surprise of the audience, to see the Finns dominate for the 10th year running.

Finnish born Timo Kaukonen won the men’s only event by lasting in the sauna for 3 minutes and 46 seconds. The women’s title was taken by Russian born Tatyana Arkhipenko with an impressive 3 minutes and 9 seconds.

Now you may be scoffing at those times, especially with my use of the word “impressive”. However, please take into account that the saunas they used were heated 110C with half of litre of water being poured onto the stones every 30 seconds! This makes it everything a relaxing sauna isn’t, which is normally heated to around 70-80c.

Organiser Ossi Arvela admits “It’s no fun after two or three minutes. It’s difficult to watch.”

If you’re looking for a particular trader to help you along with some of your home improvement plans, a good place to start is the Free Index. To find plumbers, plasterers, builders and architects alike try heading over to this online directory, which also features other services such as home removals, solicitors, shower installers and even estate agents. The method used on the site is fairly straightforward but very effective at the same time. You can get five traders to quote on a job that you may have available by filling in an online form. You can then follow up with a review after the work is completed.  The site itself doesn’t have reviews for every trader on their database, but more are being added each day.

A useful section on the site is the “Materials” section, which works in a similar way to getting quotes. For example, if you’re looking for someone to provide bathroom equipment and furniture, you can see each company in your area compiled in a neat list complete with any reviews if they have them, and photographs of past projects that they have worked on. If you’re a trader looking for work, there is a job directory section on there too.

http://www.freeindex.co.uk