Top five bathroom units

Redesigning your bathroom can be a tricky task. There are many options to consider, and you may have to add some new functional features due to health concerns in your household or just to make better use of the space. There are bathroom units that combine the form and function perfectly that will make excellent additions to your bathroom – and here are our top five.

1. Walk-in shower

A Premier Bathroom walk-in shower will make a great addition to your bathroom, especially if there is someone in your household who has mobility problems. The flat floor and optional shelves for sitting on are perfect for anyone confined to a wheelchair or an elderly person who struggles with mobility. Even a shower with a small step could prove difficult to negotiate and walk-in units would prevent potential accidents.

2. Compact walk-in bath

If you are someone who struggles with mobility or have someone in your household who does then a compact walk-in bath is another solution. They are designed for people with mobility issues, aiming to help them retain their independence and be able to draw themselves a bath without requiring assistance getting in and out of it.

3. Bathroom cabinets

Bathroom cabinets are a useful addition to the bathroom as shelves often get clogged up with toiletries and extra space may be required to avoid clutter. Cabinets below the sink, medicine cabinets at head height and cabinets integrated into the bathtub makes excellent ideas for storing toiletries that do not need to be left out all the time. This makes the bathroom more attractive to visitors and if fitted at an appropriate height can be accessed by those with mobility issues without forcing them to stretch or strain themselves.

4. Integrated units

If you are short of space in your bathroom, integrated units are a great way to save space – especially with a toilet and wash basin combo. These units are perfect for people with mobility difficulties as well because they offer easy access within a short area, so movement is kept to a minimum. Cabinets can also be integrated into the units to save more space.

5. Towel heater

Drying towels can be a big chore in large households so a heated towel rack can be an essential addition, especially when multiple towels must be dried at once. A towel rack also tends to be safer than standard radiators as they do not get as hot.

Advantages to living in London

There are many reasons to live in London, which is known as one of the world’s greatest cities to live in. Most people move to London for a fast metropolitan life as well as the history and culture of the city. London is steeped in history, as it was the largest city in the world for most of the 19th century, meaning there is always something new to see. Perhaps it is work which is bringing you to the city, in which case the economic benefits are second to none. London is known as the centre of international banking and trade, and so there is a flourishing employment industry when compared to many cities both globally and within the UK.

Culture is part of the fabric of the city as such a diverse range of people chose to make the city home. There are people from a multitude of financial, ethnic and religious backgrounds of which all coexist together to create the relaxed feel the city is known for. The city has over 200 breathtaking museums of which most are free to visit, the most well known are perhaps The British Museum and the Tate Modern.

As well as the multitude of museums the sights of London never become tiresome, why not visit Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye or maybe one of the 150 theatres. There is also plenty of shops with over 30,000 in the city centre, you often see celebrities out and about shopping in some of the famous department stores such as Harrods.

When deciding where to live within the capital, Fulham is an excellent choice. The area attracts a diverse range of people from young professionals to families with young or old children. If you visit an an estate agent Fulham has plenty, you will find a range of properties to suit every need from small apartments to larger family homes, for a variety of budgets.

Fulham boasts a calm atmosphere with a number of open parks, riverside scenery and one of the lowest crime rates within the city. You will not be far from cosmopolitan life with the fantastic range of shops and restaurants along the popular King’s Road area. Not to mention the two football clubs, Hurlingham Club and Fulham Palace. The area has lots of offer and because of its close links to the city centre, properties are snapped up very quickly.

The most desirable locations to live in Fulham are near to Parsons Green or Bishops Park, with its vast green spaces. Although being so close to the city, Fulham has retained its community feel through a variety of small niche shops such as antique shops and intimate tea rooms. If you have a family or are planning one there are a variety of options for schools in the area, both independent and state.

Commuting from Fulham is very straightforward thanks to its excellent transport links. Living in Fulham can be a very cost effective option rather than an expensive property in the city centre. There are plenty of job opportunities and salaries are usually higher than the rest of the UK.

There are many long established estate agents Fulham has to offer, which will help you find the perfect property, within your budget. The best way to find a property quickly in the area is to ensure that you are in a position to move quickly to help you beat the competition.

This blog post was written by Martin Henwood who is a content writer for Martin & Co. His has a passion for property and all things related to the real estate and lettings markets. Several years experience within lettings has helped to develop a sound knowledge of the field in general and he enjoys sharing this information.

How to remove artex

Artex is a decorative finish, you may have it on your ceilings and maybe your walls. There are several popular finishes such as swirl, stipple, broken leather, scroll, circle and bark for the walls. Artex was very popular until the 1990′s were it became less popular in favour of smooth plastered ceilings and walls.

Before the mid-1980′s Artex contained white asbestos to strengthen it. Depending on when your house was build or when Artex was applied in your house will depend if it contains asbestos.

Artex and health issues

If you are unsure if your Artex contains white asbestos or not it is best to get a local firm to test it first, for advice, contact the Environment Agency or your local environmental health department or look at www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk.

If the Artex is untouched and has been sealed with paint, or the Artex was produced after the mid-1980′s then there shouldn’t be any health risks, but if unsure always get it checked first.

For more information of Artex you can read more about Artex on Wikipeadia.

How to remove Artex from ceiling and walls

First be sure that your Artex doesn’t contain harmful white asbestos, if you are unsure get it checked before doing any removal or disturbing the Artex, or call a local firm to remove it for you.

Once you are sure the Artex doesn’t contain white asbestos you have a couple of options to get rid of it.

You can skim over it with plaster, making it smooth and ready to paint or wallpaper once dry. This option is a quicker and far less messy option, although it may require some scrapping to remove high spots before plastering.

The other option is to completely remove it, this can be done with a scrapper. Make sure you wear protective clothing, goggles and a mask and cover the floor with dust sheets. Use a scrapper to scrape the Artex off, this could take some time, once the worst is off you could use a wallpaper steamer to remove the rest. This will obviously make a fair bit of mess, especially if your removing Artex of the ceiling.

Once you have removed all the Artex you can then plaster or if the ceiling or walls are is in good enough condition paper over them, you may have to fill holes, joins and scrapper marks before this is possible.

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