Many home improvement experts often opt for a drain snake when unclogging blockages (so many, in fact, that it’s also aptly known as a plumber’s snake in the industry). And it’s easy to see the appeal behind the tool. Whether you’re looking to unclog a toilet without a plunger, you need to unclog a sink, or deal with other blockages, these tips can help. How does a drain snake work?...

Decorating with black may not be the most popular of room color ideas, however, the tone finds a place in every room no matter the scheme. Its grounding effect means that it makes both an excellent accent and statement feature. Here, we ask experts for their opinions on black and how they choose a shade for black room ideas. Is black a color? Experts and designers often disagree when it comes to deciding whether or not black is a color or if it is a shade....

The right shelf setup can offer easy access to the various stain removers, detergents, and fabric softeners required for a proper load of laundry, making wash day more efficient (and who doesn’t want that?). Plus, laundry room shelving can also offer a chance to infuse your space with a little style. Think: glass jars filled with laundry crystals or a vase with fresh flowers. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best laundry room shelving ideas so that you can add them to your laundry room ideas wishlist....

So, what living room lighting trends should be investing in for 2022? George Miller, Home Designer at Neptune (opens in new tab), says: ‘It’s time to start thinking about ways to make your living spaces all the more cozy and comfortable as we begin to see shorter days, and darker evenings of the new season. ‘Whether it’s by including a freestanding lamp, installing wall lights, or even candles, you can make a huge difference to the atmosphere and ambience within your living room....

Breaking down the walls between contemporary and country, the modern farmhouse look is full of opportunities for you to find your own take on the style, and to allow it to reflect your interiors personality. As with integrating any new look into your home, there may seem like there are an overwhelming number of options to consider. From colors and materials to scale and style, we break down how the modern farmhouse design can work for you....

Rustic kitchens are characterized by a pared-back look that celebrates the world of antiques and reclamation, while also bringing the beauty of natural materials to the fore. It’s no surprise that they are one of our favorite kitchen ideas. Think wooden cabinetry, repurposed furniture, open shelving and antique-inspired hardware. It is a functional look, edging towards the industrial, but one that also retains the inherent warmth that comes from traditional kitchen ideas....

The question is best answered by starting with your own finances and then looking at all the elements that play into a decision on the timing of a house purchase – including the interest rates that affect the cost of borrowing and the supply of homes on the market where you want to live. Our guide has the lowdown on what you need to take into account when buying a house and what the experts think....

Unlike the process of knowing how to plant grass seeds, knowing the best time to do so is slightly more complicated. Although many suggest that you can sow grass seed at any point of the year, the advice is conflicting. And at this time, when it is especially important to master a lawn care routine (to prepare your yard for the winter ahead), the timing is key. If you’ve picked up the best fast-growing grass seeds you can find, it is only inevitable that you will want to use them to their full potential....

A bathroom has many demands put upon it, not only to be a practical, user-friendly room but also a tranquil place to relax. With these smart bathroom ideas, you can keep your space looking stylish and store the essential items, too. Small bathroom storage ideas Good bathroom storage ideas are essential to making both these aspects of the room work. However, limited or awkward-shaped spaces can create a challenge when it comes picking the best small bathroom ideas for your home....

The Queen’s funeral will take place on 19 September 2022, and the service will begin at 8 am (BST), when the doors of Westminster Abbey will open, culminating in a private service at 7.30 pm (BST) at the King George VI Memorial Chapel. The history of St George’s Chapel Construction of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, was begun in 1475 by Edward IV. It is one of the most remarkable late Gothic ecclesiastical buildings in Britain – perhaps in Europe....

Painting the stairs offers the opportunity for creativity as part of your hallway ideas, or can simply give the staircase a sophisticated as well as neat finish, and the right paint can prove a durable finish with lasting good looks. Set the tone for the rest of your home with the paint ideas in our selection. Stair paint ideas Stair paint ideas can use paint on areas such as the risers, treads, the newel, baluster and handrail, parts such as the stringers at either side, and on any wall alongside in any combination you prefer for your staircase ideas....

A stair runner is one of those must-have hallway ideas for practical reasons, too: it makes wood stairs easier to use by seniors and kids as well as family pets; it provides noise insulation as well, dampening the sound of feet as they pass up and down the staircase. We’ve put together inspirational stair runner ideas here, along with expert advice on choosing a runner for your staircase. Stair runner ideas A stair runner may be understated or dramatic, but when considering stair carpet ideas, it’s worth going bolder than you normally would for carpet ideas when you select one....

Decluttering a whole house before the Holiday season so you can implement your home organizing ideas can seem an incredibly overwhelming task, but if you approach it a little at a time and bit-by-bit, and invest in some excellent storage ideas, it immediately becomes more manageable. Here, we bring you a range of room-by-room Holiday decluttering tips from a professional home organizer to the A-list. Holiday decluttering checklist Holiday decluttering is a job that should be done before the Holiday season begins – but of course, most of us don’t have the time to rationalize and reorganize our drawers, cluttered corners, and over-stuffed rooms that often....

Tucked away in a canyon to the west of the city, the building is the work of Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen, whose modernist-inspired design appears to bring its wooded setting right into the house itself. ‘There is no real barrier between exterior and interior; the architecture merges with the outdoors,’ he affirms. Jenni, whose eponymous brand offers fashion and interiors staples, approached Vincent in 2015. ‘There was an immediate connection,’ she says....

An active couple with three sons, who all embrace an athletic lifestyle, found their dream location right on the beach in Cadboro bay after relocating from prairie Edmonton. Falken Reynolds took on the project and turned the home into a peaceful, beachside oasis. Lead designer and Falken Reynolds principal Chad Falkenberg says: ‘We wanted an incredible calm and serene atmosphere throughout the house. Materials helped achieve this – polished concrete floors and plaster walls are consistent yet rich with subtle texture....

Like so many country estates, the walled garden had grown into a dilapidated state until very recently. Now, this quiescent garden is being awakened by the joint forces of its new owners and the Mayfair restaurant, Novikov, to secure the garden’s future. Putting a date to the walled space is difficult as it is not included in the listing (kitchen gardens were often omitted from surveys as they were not recognised as being important features)....

The client, an industrious businessman from Chicago, had bought the house rather on impulse. ‘He acquired the property really for its 30 acres of land,’ says Michael. ‘It’s in horse country and it has stables and an orange grove.’ The villa itself, now one of the world’s best homes, was a spec house built in a Mediterranean style about 30 years ago and while the client had considered rebuilding it, Michael and Alexandra soon realised they should preserve its cavernous internal volumes....

It’s no surprise that symmetry is key when it comes to bedroom ideas that feature a pair of beds as their focal point. Whether you double up other furniture, such as bedside tables and wardrobes, or keep the rest of the room as pared back as possible, your twin bedroom ideas and design will build from the beds at its heart. Twin bedroom ideas: make your sleep space doubly stylish A twin bedroom might be a shared bedroom for siblings, or provide a comfortable bed for when a child’s friend comes to stay....

Vibrant and uplifting, but also soft and calming, there are an array of different options to choose from when it comes to picking the perfect shade of coral for your home. Traditionally seen as part of the orange family, coral is created through a mix of orange, red and pink, found on the color wheel between orange and red and pink and orange. From bright, intense shades to more subtle and cooler options, there is much to explore on the complex question, what color is coral?...

Crop seeds will germinate quicker for extended harvests from the vegetable patch, while now is also the time to start sowing fall blooms, and biennials in the herbaceous beds to flower next year as part of your future garden ideas. What to plant in July – vegetables to sow or plant When you’re thinking about what to plant in July, don’t forget the young crops you have grown from seed indoors or under cover in earlier months, which will be ready to plant out as part of your plans for planting vegetables....