Usual caveats apply: this is general statistical modelling and not specific to your financial situation. Don’t make decisions based on this, but talk to a financial advisor before making any financial decisions.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/business/buy-rent-calculator.html

The laminate fad of the 90s seems a distant memory now, and having experienced it first hand in our first house I can only say I’m quite glad too! The previous owners to us were a little laminate happy and in our 300 sq foot ground floor they’d managed 4 different laminate floor types. I distinctly remember how cold it always felt underfoot and how the dust-balls used to roll across the floor like tumbleweed despite cleaning every day (remember the Swiffer?)

Exuding a natural sense of beauty and strength, oak flooring has become a favourite amongst homeowners and interior designers searching for style and elegance to revamp their homes.

Oak flooring comes in a range of styles, from engineered oak flooring to solid wood. This means there is plenty for different budgets and styles of house, and enough choice that you (like our previous inhabitants) can have a different look for each area of your house too!

Each oak flooring product is available in a variety of colours from dark to very pale with glossy or matte finishes.

For more information, or to see the options, check out your local flooring specialist, see what offer the DIY stores have, or start with an online specialist such as UK Flooring Direct.

Faithless temples is not the missing seventh album from the popular london electronica group, but the concept of taking the physical manifestation of group worship and stripping out the supernatural, the postmortem anxiety, er… All the god bits.

Now we could discuss religious architecture or faith. Or both. Humour me if you will as I’ve never really thought about this subject for long enough to formulate my thoughts let alone my opinions.

I suppose I should start with full disclosure. I am a Christian, a member of the Church of England. I am both christened and confirmed. My attendance at Church is regular… but not frequent; Christening, Christmases, and Cremations if you like.

It was the decision to Christen my children that made me think about the subject of faithless beliefs, faithless worship and worshipless faith.

Break it down (as Stanley Kirk Burrell once said)

Religion for Atheists: A non-believer’s guide to the uses of religion suggests that rather than mocking religions, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from them – because they’re packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. Blending deep respect with total impiety, Alain (a non-believer himself) proposes that we should look to religions for insights into, among other concerns, how to:

• build a sense of community
• make our relationships last
• overcome feelings of envy and inadequacy
• escape the twenty-four hour media
• go travelling
• get more out of art, architecture and music
• and create new businesses designed to address our emotional needs.

I think I tend to agree with this. Whilst remaining a believer myself and proudly so, I think it would be sad if those opposed to religion missed out on all the… well…. the good bits.

Anyway – back to the architecture.

“The proposed London temple, designed jointly by the architect Tom Greenall and Jordan Hodgson, will be a huge black tower placed among the skyscrapers in the City of London. The tower will be built from different types of stone from across human history forming a kind of geological timeline; at its base is a band of gold 1mm thick signifying man’s time on Earth relative to the planet’s age.

De Botton hopes this monument to humbleness will be a cure for modern egotism and navel-gazing. “Often a religious building plays around with our perspective: it’s very large, or it’s very old or both. It recalibrates us in space or time, so you walk in and feel tiny.”

De Botton once wrote a book called The Architecture of Happiness and is a part of Living Architecture, a scheme to encourage innovative buildings in beautiful corners of Britain. He says that a new temple could compete with great historical churches. “It will have a timeless quality.”

I’m sure without even watching the show you could at least take a wild stab in the dark at the plot; couple take on building, least suitable member of the couple (or the overpowering one who takes all the decisions) will project manage, money will run out, they’ll move on site, probably in a caravan, one of them will give up their jobs (never understand this one), then they’ll get pregnant at an inopportune time.

Ok, cynicism aside, and acknowledging I’ve muddled my Grand Designs plots with my Restoration Men, it looks like tonight’s installment follows the well trodden path minus only the caravan and pregnancy.

But I do admire people who get stuck in and do Do it Themselves.

Our previous house was our own little Restoration Man which ended more like a DIY SOS. We started off with trades all over the house, as a new bathroom led to a replumb of the whole central heating system as a towel rail leaked, a ceiling collapsed, and a rewire was required. So with all that being done we thought we might as well move the kitchen, refit the utility, downstairs loo, stick in some bi-fold doors, and finish off with a new ensuite.

Surprise surprise, as if the C4 homes script writers were on site with us, the economy turned, income dropped and the money ran out as the loan repayments were due. So we ended up doing a lot ourselves (and unfortunately selling up and moving on).

It was enlightening. Tough, but enlightening.

I already knew how to wire (but left that to a qualified electrician as you should), but I learned how to plumb,  how to insulate, how to tile, and how to carpet. I didn’t attempt the plastering, but there’s still time in the new house.

At the end of the day it always has to be a balance between finances, time, skills, and expected level of finish. But if you have the inclination, and the tolerance, it can bee a very rewarding journey.

Goggles

Scrimp: It can be tempting to wear your regular glasses for DIY; they are a shield after all! Fact is, they’re no good unless you wear safety goggles on top; woodchip has a canny knack of flying off at funny angles, plus they could be bashed, or worse smashed, if you’re doing high-intensity work!

Stay Safe: Proper safety goggles is all it takes- you can get hold of a pair for under a fiver. Ensure that you wear them for any job where a foreign body could enter your eye, including painting, sawing and drilling.

Dust Masks

Scrimp: You might not see the need for a dust mask, however wearing one will dramatically cut your risk of developing asthma or more serious lung problems. Don’t be tempted to make do with a tea towel or other stand-in; if it’s not secure it’ll drive you mad!

Stay Safe: For the sake of a couple of quid- buy a dust mask! If you have any left over, you could always entertain the kids and pretend you’re a space invader…

Gloves

Scrimp: Rubber gloves and winter gloves joust won’t cut it. When doing DIY it’s important that you can fully use your hands and that you have good grip. Your skin also needs protecting, especially if you don’t want sandpaper hands,

Stay Safe: If you’re lifting or carrying rough or sharp materials you must wear proper work gloves. You’ll be surprised how painful even a little splinter can be!

Safety Footwear

Scrimp: If you’re looking to cut costs, you might be tempted to do your DIY in a pair of trainers. They’re a better option that going bare foot, but that’s about it!

Stay Safe: Make the investment, and get a pair of safety boots. Imagine the pain of a hammer, a shelf, or a brick falling on your toe- trainers, or other shoes, will offer you no protection. As with all safety equipment, boots needn’t cost the earth- just make sure they have a decent toe cap and good grip!

Promotion by Shoe Nation

Design for comfort
With increasing numbers of people being forced into staying put rather than moving on up the housing ladder, home interiors are being reinvented. In 2012 this will extend to new ways of living, new colours and new materials. One design change or extension at least will be in soft furnishings and lighting. Everything will be softer and more tactile. Natural fabrics such as leather, suede, cotton silk will be introduced in new ways into seating arrangements, table set ups and wall decoration. Lighting will be gentler and more forgiving casting dynamic shadows and illuminating key areas only.

Eco-living
The use of recycled products is going to grow exponentially over the coming years. Design products such as a house built entirely from glass bottles and others that have utilised solar roof tiles are going to be used as inspiration for more widespread developments. Inside homes reclaimed antique furniture, wood, metals and glass will be used to furnish homes. Recycled materials will also be used as the very building blocks of new homes with wood and concrete enjoying a revival.

Colours
Warm, rich colours such as ruby, emerald, amethyst, sapphire, golden yellow and turquoise will be combined with delicate hues of coral, ivory, brown, grey and cream. The idea being to create something warm, welcoming and relaxing; like old reading or smoking rooms from the early 20th century.

Materials
Natural materials like wood, stone, glass and ceramic tiles will complement these warm shades. But harsher, colder materials such as stainless steel and brick will be used to offer contrast and interest, in keeping with the idea of tactility. Wallpaper too will be used in conjunction with paints to add texture and install a level of creativity into the interior design.

Any new development, furniture and household equipment and technology needs to be insured. Legal and General home contents insurance offers comprehensive cover at two different pricing levels.

Promotion by Legal and General

Avoiding Spills

It may be pretty obvious, but the longer a liquid sits on the surface the more time it has to penetrate the fibres so that no matter how hard you clean, you have passed the point of retrieve. Beware that wood flooring can be easily spoiled by liquids, even water, and so always ensure that your vases, glasses, mugs and burning candles are placed on protective coasters, as near as possible to the room’s walls to avoid accidental knocks.

When spills do occur, immediately wipe and dry the area. A key pointer to note is that even flat head mops which use wipes can stain wood flooring if left concentrated on one surface area for too long, i.e. propped against a wall.

Keep High Usage Areas Covered

For areas where there is a lot of activity, such as hallway landings and by the front and back door, place attractive rugs or door mats which should help in removing some of the outside debris before it gets walked through the house. They will also protect the flooring where people tend to stand for longer.

Don’t be embarrassed to ask guests to remove their shoes either – narrow heels can be disastrous on flooring and even flat shoes collect stones which can scratch floor surfaces. You can always make your shoe removal request tongue-in-cheek by purchasing some silly slippers or socks for those who don’t like having their feet on display.

Hoovering and Sweeping

The simplest way to keep larger particles of obvious dirt from you flooring is to hoover or sweep it at least once a week. For wood flooring sweeping or vacuuming is actually a safer option than mopping because it lowers the risk of dirt and grit scratching the wood, which is more common when mopping. For carpet cleaning it is sometimes a nice touch to use a scented powder carpet freshener like Shake N’ Vac on the carpet before hoovering to create a pleasant smell and liven up the air a little.

Chemical Cleaning

Did you know that in 1m² of carpet there are approximately 100,000 dust mites? The simple fact is that wood flooring does not collect as much dust, germs or bacteria as carpets. Many asthma and hay fever sufferers and people with animal allergies can actually have their symptoms triggered by harmful allergens in their carpets. For example, asthma suffers are sensitive to the droppings of house dust mites that build up in carpets, hay fever sufferers to the pollen deposits and animal allergics to pet hair. Heating, air conditioning or dehumidifying the air (below 40%) will help to minimise dust mites in that room, but not eliminate them. Therefore it is extremely important to arrange for carpets to be chemically cleaned by a professional at least once or twice every year.

Flat surfaces such as wood, marble and lino are much simpler to keep hygienic as chemicals can be purchased with ease at local supermarkets to kill germs and keep pollen, animal hair and dust mites from clinging to the flooring. If you are cleaning marble or wood flooring, avoid multi-purpose cleaning agents and instead opt for a high alkaline cleaning product which you can water down so as not to alter the appearance of the flooring. For an extra high shine try using distilled filtered water as it does not leave hard water strips on the floor.

Moving Furniture

Where possible, always lift and never drag your furniture when moving as this can often damage the floor surface, whether it rips threads in the carpet or scratches wood flooring – you would be surprised how often people forget about the floor when doing this! For heavy items why not use felt pads or feet coasters as further cushioning between the furniture and floor to further reduce the chances of damage.

Think about chairs which you move regularly too – often dining chairs are pulled in and out from the table and we overlook the effect this has on flat surfaces like laminate, tiles or wood. Placing felt pads underneath each of the four chair legs can help reduce the wear on your flooring. Finally if you have any pets, don’t forget to regularly trim their claws to further protect the flooring.

Promotion by 1926wood flooring

In the Living Room….

Looking at Kate’s personal style, her taste is very elegant, understated and chic. She may be modern but her home will definitely have some traditional elements; a real fire place, a huge garden, oak wood floors and perhaps a few pieces of vintage furniture. Her living room will probably be minimalist with a few key pieces to give it a warm feel. Her sofas could incorporate bold prints and rich colours teamed with embroidered cushions and throws. The living room might also include a vintage chandelier, natural flooring, nude coloured walls and a traditional fireplace. The one thing this couple’s home will want to represent is warmth and cosiness.

In the Bedroom ……

Kate has an incredibly feminine presence and style so the master bedroom is more likely to have a light, soft and feminine feel than be heavy or robust. Some may assume that these newlyweds will have a grand stately bedroom, but as the couple want to lead as normal a life as possible, their bedroom is more likely to be decorated with a young, stylish and classic look, with a country cottage feel. This look can be created by layering your bed with throws, cushions, pillows and including French style furnishings such as a chaise-lounge and a vintage dressing table. I’m sure Kate will manage to haggle some furniture from the in-laws.

In the Kitchen……

One room that will be at the top of their decorating list is the kitchen. Kate loves to cook and so it will be important for the kitchen to be comfortable and decorated to her taste. Although the couple will split their time between London and the country, the rustic farmhouse in Anglesey will be their main base so it is likely Kate will be doing most of the cooking there.

The Kitchen will probably have the most modern feel to it which may include granite work surfaces and stainless steel units combined with a contemporary table and stools to match. This creates an updated country feel and something like a central island unit can be used as a breakfast bar to save space for busy mornings in the royal household. Traditional elements like an Aga and copper pans are great for giving the kitchen a warm cosy feel.

In the Bathroom…..

The Bathroom in this newly wed household is bound to be the hub of peace and relaxation. At their Anglesey property, Kate will have probably gone for a coastal themed bathroom; warm, simple, and inviting with a country feel. A free standing bath is a great option to achieve the traditional look, making it an eye catching focal point and centre of attention. This coupled with solid Wood Flooring will really give it the coastal feel and Kate will probably want to add her feminine touch by adding scented candles, silver framed mirrors and an embroided bath mat.

In the Dining Room……

The dining area will certainly need to be an area that Kate and William can entertain guests. Now the stress of the wedding is over, the couple will enjoy hosting dinner parties and having friends round for nights in.

The dining room could incorporate warm furniture with a mix of antique and modern pieces. As their home Anglesey is a converted farmhouse, the dining area could look nice incorporating panels and mouldings on the wall, as this gives a historic warm feeling to the room. Additionally, an impressive pendant light hung low above the table makes the dining space the centre of attention.

Promotion and shameless segue from the Royal Wedding by Furniture Village

Even if you have always been good with money, your credit rating could still be poor. This may be because lenders don’t have enough positive credit history to go on and therefore class you as high risk, making them reluctant to lend to you. Whether you are being turned down for credit now, think you may need it in the future or don’t know what a credit rating is; read these credit-boosting tips for some DIY credit repair.

How does it all work?

When you apply for credit with a company, it will (with your consent) check your credit score through a credit reference agency of which the three main ones are Experian, Equifax and Call Credit. These companies hold your credit report, which shows how you have repaid credit in the past and lenders take it as an indication of how you will repay credit in the future. A poor credit history will limit your choice and usually means you’ll have to borrow at higher rates, but your credit history can be improved over time.

Why your credit rating might be poor

There are two reasons why your credit rating might be poor:

You have little or no credit history.

If you are in this situation, you might be recently divorced or a homemaker, who is or has been, wholly or partially, financially dependent on your partner. You might also be someone who has not applied for much credit in the past, such as credit cards, mortgages, loans, etc. Ironically, this high-risk category also includes people who have always paid their bills on time and have been financially independent enough in the past to not need any credit.

You have a credit history, but it is poor.

If you are in this situation, you might be affected by previously bad credit, due to late payments, bills in arrears, County Court Judgments (CCJ’s), bankruptcy or Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA’s – a contractual arrangement with a creditor to avoid bankruptcy).

In this situation, you might want to look into a bad credit bank account, which should be open to people with a history of CCJs, bankruptcy or other ‘bad credit’ problems. Find out more.

Another reason you might find yourself in this situation is if your partner or ex-partner has a bad credit rating and is or was linked to you financially (e.g. joint accounts), which means this will affect your rating too. Therefore, if you split up with someone you have joint finances with, it may help your credit rating if you separate your accounts as soon as possible – you can also write to the credit reference agencies and ask for a notice of ‘disassociation’.

Finally, many lenders like to see proof of a regular income, though the importance of this differs for each lender. Therefore, if you are a homemaker, part-time worker, temporarily unemployed, self-employed or have an irregular income, you might also find it hard to obtain credit.

With all this in mind, here are ten steps you can take to improve your credit rating:

Step one: Register on the electoral roll

Many companies use the electoral roll for verification purposes in order to combat identity fraud. To register on the electoral roll you will generally need to complete a voter registration form and return it to your local authority. It is vital you do this every time you move house. Visit the local government website to find out more.

Step two: Stop applying for credit you won’t get

You may not be aware of this, but every time you apply for credit the ensuing credit search is noted on your credit report. If you have applied and been rejected several times, your credit history may be getting worse and worse. Therefore, stop applying and check your credit rating first so you can start to improve it and avoid getting rejected again.

Step three: Check your credit report

This will show you the areas that you can improve on and also means you can check for any errors that might be on your report and get them changed. Even a simple mistake such as a wrong present or past address can lead to you being judged on someone else’s credit history. If you do spot a mistake, just write to the agency you obtained your report from and request it’s changed.

You may be able to obtain a copy of your credit report for free from Credit Expert, click here

for more information.

Step four: Create some positive credit history

1. Open a higher interest credit card for which you are more likely to be accepted. Make sure you manage it properly to help rebuild your credit rating. This means repaying every month in full, spending a little each month for six to twelve months. For most credit cards, this method will only work if you just use your credit card for purchases. It is important to make sure you make your payments on time and stay within your credit limit or otherwise it will have a negative effect on your credit rating.

Here are some examples of higher interest cards that can be used to repair bad credit:

- aqua Card: Typical 35.9% APR variable

- Vanquis: Typical 39.9% APR variable

- Capital One Classic: Typical 34.9% variable

2. Put bills in your name (where possible) and pay them by direct debit.

3. Open a couple of store cards as these are usually also easier to get than standard rate credit cards, but ALWAYS pay them off in full every month and you’ve got another way to show you can handle your finances responsibly. Don’t use this method if you are bad at managing your finances as missing payments on store cards may have a negative impact on your credit rating, the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve by using them.

Step five: Pay your bills by direct debit

This ensures you can’t forget to make your payments on time, which is important because every missed payment will show up on your credit report and have a negative impact on your credit rating. However, make sure you always have enough funds in the account you have set up the direct debit for, as letting that account go into unarranged overdraft when your direct debit is paid out will have the opposite effect on your credit rating!

Step six: Close down old accounts and cards

Having too much credit available to you may have a negative impact on your credit rating and lenders look at the total amount available to you, not just what you owe. To avoid this, close any cards or accounts that you are no longer using and only leave open the active ones.

Step seven: Dealing with County Court Judgments (CCJ’s)

This will only apply to those who have had one or more CCJ’s registered against them. If this is the case and you paid the amount in full within 28 days of the claim being made, then the judgment will have been cancelled and shouldn’t appear on your credit record.

Alternatively, if you paid the full amount at a later date, you should obtain a letter of confirmation from whoever filed the judgment and deliver it to the County Court. Once the Court has verified the debt has been paid in full, you can ask them to issue you with a certificate of satisfaction or cancellation, which will involve a court fee. Your record will then show the debt as satisfied and this will remain there for a period of 6 calendar years after the judgment order.

Step eight: Notice of Correction

You can add a Notice of Correction to your report to highlight any mistakes you have found, but that a credit agency has refused to amend. Another application of this is to indicate a reason for getting behind on payments due to a change of circumstance in your life, such as divorce or redundancy.

Having a Notice of Correction on your report means your application for credit may take longer as the lender will be obliged under the Guide to Credit Scoring to read any Notices of Correction. Therefore, think carefully before you request to have one added to your report.

Step nine: Curb your card spending

This is the most obvious step of all, try to minimise any debt on your cards. As a rule of thumb, you should try to keep the debt on a card under 30% of your credit limit.

Step ten: Time your applications wisely

Applying for lots of credit in a short space of time and being rejected is not good for your credit rating. You can try leaving between 3 and 6 months between applications to help repair your credit rating, but it may take longer. Things such as mobile phone contracts and car insurance can also count towards this.

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There are many ways in which a little DIY can enhance your day to day life. Installing sensible storage solutions, for example, can free up much needed space and give your home a lighter and airier feeling, reducing clutter and creating a more relaxing and calming environment. A lick of paint can give an old room a much needed new lease of life and finishing off those odds and ends – broken skirting boards, cracks in the ceiling, flaws in the paintwork – will free you from the daily reminder of chores yet to be done as you walk past them during the week.

A little redecoration work can also do wonders for the value of your property. On the whole, properties that feel full of light and well organised, will sell at a higher price than those that feel dark and over crowded. So if you are thinking of selling your property, take a look at the minimalist approach to interior design. Pale colours, uncluttered surfaces and plenty of light will all help you to achieve a higher selling price. Going for a blank-canvas look allows prospective buyers the freedom to imagine their own tastes at work on the space you have put up for sale.

Last but not least, engaging in a little DIY regarding the security of your home will not only help you to sleep more soundly at night, it could also reduce your home insurance premiums. Whether you insured your property online, over the phone or through a bank such as Santander, you could be eligible for premiums discounts when you install recommended brands of burglar alarms and locks on doors on windows. Call your provider for further details.