Design and Decorative Paint Techniques

The Service

Decorative Ideas provide a complete design and decorating service from colour design to preparation of wall surfaces and decorative finishes.

Techniques include
Colourwashing; antique distressed finishes; scumble glaze effects i.e. rag rolling, sponging, stone blocking; marbling and stencilling.

Furniture
Why not have something different that can match or co-ordinate with the colour of your room or furnishings, we can either use furniture you already have and give it a new lease of life or find something that suits your taste and hand paint it to the desired effect. See our page on handpainted furniture!

Colour Consultation
A colour consultation precedes all work undertaken. A home visit will be conducted and advice given on colour schemes and finishes. Our team work with existing fabrics and furnishings to design a colour scheme appropriate to the surroundings.
(Colour consultations only are also available to customers).

Estimate & Sample Boards
Following the consultation, an estimate for works and cost of materials will be provided, together with sample boards of the colour schemes discussed during the consultation.

Terms & Initial Fees
A consultation fee of 50 euros per room is payable prior to the visit, 50% of which is refundable if works proceed. To confirm a booking a deposit of 50% of the total labour value and 100% of the materials value is required. The balance is payable upon completion of works.

Rates
Preparation work from 80 euros + vat per man day; Decorative Finishes from 100 euros + vat per man day.

For an appointment to discuss our services in more detail or if you wish to have a home visit, please ring on (0034) 662247056 or email us at denise@decorativeideas.co.uk

Unfortunately this service is now limited to surrounding areas of Alicante in Spain - please ring or email us to check if your area is included

Home insurance quotes

There has rarely been a time when home insurance has carried such importance in the UK. In the midst of a global economic crisis, the Home Office has reported a four per cent rise in domestic burglaries while severe weather has led to fears that the devastating floods of 2007, which led to nearly £3billion being paid out in home insurance claims, could soon become a regular occurrence.

With so many increased risks it has become vital for homeowners to regularly review their home insurance policies to ensure they are up to date and that they include the right amount of cover for their needs.

What options are available with home insurance?

When shopping around for home insurance it`s easy to focus on price. However, you should look beyond which policy is the cheapest and make sure you are buying adequate cover for your needs. Here are some of the options you may wish to consider:

Legal assistance
Cover for legal costs in a variety of situations such as if anyone was injured on the property or if there was a dispute.

Home emergency cover
Protection for home emergencies such as boiler breakdown, electrical failure, plumbing and drainage problems.

Accidental damage
With buildings insurance this will cover accidents to the fabric of the property. With contents insurance it covers accidents to items inside the home such as breakages and paint spillages.

Freezer contents
If you lost power for a prolonged period your freezer contents could thaw and become inedible. Some policies will replace these items for you.

Personal possessions cover
Cover for items taken outside the home such as bicycles.

Instalment options
Do you have to pay the premium in full up front or can you pay in monthly instalments? If so, is there a charge for this?

How can you compare home insurance quotes?

With such a variety of home insurance cover available and such significant variations in terms of costs, it`s crucial to compare as many quotes as you can.

For example, a 26-year-old married homeowner with a three-bedroom semi-detached home with a retail value of £150,000 in Widnes, Cheshire, could pay as little as £160.25 a year with Sheila`s Wheels home insurance and receive cover that includes accidental damage cover for both buildings and contents, as well as home emergency cover and legal assistance. However, the same homeowner could pay as much as £381.73 through Click Insurance and not receive legal assistance or home emergency cover (details correct as of Jan 28, 2009).

With savings to be made in excess of £200, it`s clear that shopping around is vital. This can now be done quickly and easily through online comparison websites which compare quotes from as many as 40 different home insurance providers with one search.

Which home insurance provider is the cheapest?

Though Sheila`s Wheels was the cheapest provider in the example above, there is no one home insurer that is always cheaper than the rest.

That is because home insurers base their quotes on risk and some take different perspectives on risk levels to others. For example, if you live in a flood risk area you may find that some insurers will not offer you a quote at all - but others will remain competitive.

Home insurance quotes also vary based on your personal circumstances, where your house is located, how high crime is in the local area, the levels of cover you require and the steps you take to reduce your premiums - such as fitting smoke alarms, burglar alarms and joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme