How to Choose An Architect For Your Dream Home

A dream home is a project on which one cannot afford to compromise. If you are planning a dream home from scratch one of the most important things to do is to employ an architect; they are indispensable to plan, design and build your home.

As a future homeowner, you should know how to choose an architect to guide your dream house to completion. This can be an uphill process, especially when it is your first time building a house.

How to Choose an Architect: Understand Your Goals

house build


Of course, the main goal is to build a dream home; it will be a modern home that will serve your needs and stand out aesthetically. However, if you want to know how to choose an architect, you should break down your goals. 

Here are some of the questions that will align with your goals.

· How big is your family? – This will help you know the number of bedrooms you need to accommodate each member of your family and some guests.

· What amenities do you need? – If you work from home, you will need an office. You might also need a gym if you want to work out from home.

· Do you entertain regularly? – Additions like a bar, movie room or rooftop terrace are entertainment options that will determine the size and the design of the house you are making.

· What is your budget? – The budget of your dream home will impact the design and the size of the house.

Ultimately, you will need an architect who will help you meet your goals perfectly. Architects can guide you but it's useful to know what you want from the start.

How to Choose An Architect: Determine The Services Offered

Most architects offer design planning and drawing as the main function, but reputable ones go the extra steps and offer more services. The best way to know how to choose an architect is by looking at the services they offer.

Here are the popular services offered by experienced and reputable architects such as Humphreysandsons in the UK.

· Design planning and drawing – As mentioned, this is the main function of any architectural firm. They discuss what the client wants and draw it in a professional way. These drawings are used during the construction of the home and when seeking permissions and approvals.

· Permission and approval applications – It is best to choose an architect who will help you during this process. Architects who offer these services are usually experienced and make it very easy for you.

· Legal arbitration – Another popular service offered by architects is arbitration during any legal dispute or agreement processing. This includes a party wall agreement or any other construction dispute.

· Project supervision – Do you want to have an easy time with your project and ensure that construction is up to the standards? Then, choose an architect who will also supervise the work for you. They work in collaboration with the builder, engineer, and other service providers to make sure that your work is done to perfection.

Investigate Their Qualifications

architect plans

By now, you have important insights on how to choose an architect. But it's worth researching their experience to evaluate if they will deliver. First, check their architectural qualifications to know if they are supposed to practice or not. This will vary from country to country. 

Also, confirm their practical experience. The best architect should have enough experience and you can see their past projects.  If it is a firm, pick one that has been in business for a long time and have experienced professionals alongside the trainees.

Also, check their endorsements with other companies, big and small so you know they will deliver quality work. You can understand all this by checking their portfolio and reading reviews on their website or other platforms.

Ask About Their Availability


The best architect should be available for meetings and work supervision, this is an important factor to consider.

First, you need to know how often they are available for meetings to prepare the plans and drawings.  Some charge per hour but they should always create enough time for their clients.

They should be available to meet other service providers and supervise the work. When trying to build and design new construction homes corpus christi, or local areas, this can take up to 2 years. Both of you should understand how long it will take to build your dream home. Then, plan how often you need to dedicate time to the project. If you are comfortable with an architect this is generally a good sign, after checking their qualifications, reading their reviews and looking at past projects, then you can hire their services.

Understand Their Fee Proposal

You already know how to choose an architect from the above points, however, there is one more important consideration to make: their fees. The norm is that highly qualified and experienced architects will charge more for their services than those who just entered the market. But you can save a lot of money with big architectural companies in the long run. They often work within your budget and ensure there are no costly mistakes during the project execution. They have the experience. 

On the other hand, you could find a young architectural company with highly skilled architects who will also save you a lot of money. So, choose carefully after doing research and consultation to determine how to choose an architect. One of the best approaches is to ask for a quote from any architect you have shortlisted and check the value for the money on each.

Make Any Other Considerations

To know how to choose an architect, consider all the above factors and more. For instance, you should check if they can connect you to other service providers who are equally qualified like them. They usually team up with the best builders, interior designers, roofing experts, and landscapers to mention a few.

With this in mind, then you can rest assured that you will choose the best architect for your dream home. There is no reason to compromise when you have such insightful content to help you know how to choose an architect.

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5 Tips And Tricks for When You Are Ordering Flowers Online

Ordering flowers online can be a risky business when you don’t know where you’re buying from. You need to make sure you’re buying from the right place, and that the flowers that get to you are fresh. Additionally, you might also want to make sure your flowers are sourced ethically (and locally), especially if you’re getting something delivered on the same day.

But if you do it how you’re supposed to, flower delivery can be one of the best ways to make sure you get the right bouquet delivered at the right time, to the right place. If you’re just starting to look into flower delivery, don’t worry. Getting same-day delivery in New York for flowers isn’t hard, and we’re going to tell you all you need to make it easy for you to make the right choice of vendor for your needs.

Compare Prices

two women buying on phone
When you first start looking, you’ll notice that there are countless places all over that offer the kind of services you’re looking for. Each flower shop will have its own designs and signature bouquet arrangements, and you might see bouquets priced high and low. You are even able to get a bouquet delivered with next day flower delivery. 

Usually, it all comes down to a few things though. Flowers that are in season and locally sourced will be cheaper than those that might be imported. You might also have to pay extra for certain kinds of floral arrangements than others, and flower shops that use better quality material for packaging will charge extra as well. Then there are also delivery charges and other factors.

When looking for flowers within your budget, you will be stuck having to find a balance between value for money and superior services, and there really isn’t any wrong choice here as long as you’re getting what you were promised.

We suggest looking closely at how much different businesses are charging and then make your decision accordingly - you might be able to find two businesses selling identical bouquets for different prices.

Talk To Customer Service

Talking to customer service at a flower business can be a great way to get a feel of what your overall buying experience with them will be like. Most will be able to help you with selecting the right flowers, provide you with different options, assist you in buying bouquets made of flowers that are in season, and tell you when there would be a discount for certain flowers and what their refund policies are.

If you feel like you’re not being assisted properly, it might be a sign that something is amiss in the company and you might not get the best service or product. At the same time, it doesn’t hurt to do a little extra research either.

Check If They’re Eco-Friendly

It might come as a surprise, but a lot of flower delivery shops aren’t very eco-friendly. You might be wondering how that’s possible when they’re selling plants, but most of the flowers you might be buying at big stores are imported and flown into the country on aeroplanes - the vast carbon footprint for the flight aside, there can be a lot of other things wrong with the flowers you’re buying.

Imported flowers might be grown in fields using unethical labour - the farmworkers might be underpaid, overworked, or badly treated. This is actually very common and a big issue. There are also other environmental factors to consider, like how harmful the chemicals used (like fertilizer and pesticide) are for the environment - mainly the native plant life and the marine life of the areas.

To avoid contributing to any of these issues, try to buy from locally sourced sellers, and do some research about what kinds of plants are in season. There are more chances of flowers being eco-friendly when you’re buying ones that grow around your area.

Buy From Small Businesses

flowers small business

Bigger corporations have more chances of selling unethically sourced flowers than smaller businesses. On the other hand, small businesses are usually ethical, local, and value your money more than bigger corporations will.

They might also be able to better assist you when it comes to important questions, custom requests for certain arrangements, and in seeking information that you need. In case you received the wrong order, small businesses will take your claim more seriously and usually help sort it out for you faster than larger corporations will.

Check Online Reviews

Even when buying from small businesses, you should never underestimate the importance of checking what the customers have to say about a place. If there are notable issues in the way a company does business or a particular complaint about a seller that’s popping up frequently, avoid it.

You can check reviews on independent review sites as well as Facebook groups or other social media platforms, don’t rely solely on the reviews posted on the seller’s website - they’re meant to paint them in a positive light.

Alternatively, you can ask someone in your circle of friends and family to help you find the right seller or online flower shop to do business with. Simply start by asking your friends if they’ve bought any flowers online recently and if there’s a place they recommend for you. Recommendations received like this from a trusted source are some of the best and more recommended ways to find a new place to get stuff from.

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What To Do With All Your Garden Waste


Like many people in January, you’re trying to keep yourself occupied and looking ahead to happier times. So, you’ve been out in the garden getting things ready for the spring months. As a result, there’s a lot of garden waste that you now have to get rid of - or at least do something with. Some of the waste is natural - we’re talking twigs, weeds, plant trimmings, leaves and so on. But, you may also have some waste that’s not natural - like rubbish that’s blown into your garden, old broken plant pots, etc.

gardening


What do you do with all of this waste? Well, here are some ideas:

Separate your garden waste

As we just mentioned, you’re going to have different types of waste in your garden. Generally speaking, you can separate this waste into two categories:

  • Green waste
  • General waste

Green waste is anything that’s naturally occurring in your garden. This will include some of the things we already spoke about: grass cuttings, twigs, weeds, plant trimmings, leaves, wood chips, soil, shrubs and so on. All of these things can technically be reused or recycled in one way or another, so you should avoid chucking them in a bin.

General waste is anything that’s not naturally occurring in your garden. Alongside the rubbish and plant pots mentioned in the introduction, this can also include bricks, plastic bags, etc. You need to keep all of this separate from your green waste as it will be dealt with differently.

Create your own compost

Organic compost is used to help infuse your soil and make plants grow nice and healthy. It’s pretty expensive to buy, especially when you can make it yourself. If you have any old soil or leaves and twigs, you can leave them in a little compost bin in your garden. Some people will add their food waste to this as well, and it’s a smart way to recycle your waste and reuse it in your garden. You won’t be able to turn all of your garden waste into compost but you can get rid of a lot of it this way. Effectively, all of the green waste you separated earlier can be used as compost.

Collect the rest of your waste in a skip

Using a skip to store all of the other garden waste is a good idea for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it saves you from making numerous trips to your local waste disposal centre. Secondly, you have companies like Sheridan Skips that will dispose of your waste for you, trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. In essence, these companies are waste management experts, so they know what can be recycled and what has to be thrown away. When you make individual trips by yourself, you can often throw things away that can be recycled or chuck things in a recycling bin that actually can’t be recycled. So, using a skip just ensures that all the general waste from your garden gets disposed of correctly.

After these three steps, your garden will be clean and tidy. Any green waste will be reused as compost - give some to your neighbours if you have too much - and all the other waste will be nicely recycled or thrown away.

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What Clothes To Pack For New York In Spring

New York is one of those destinations that many people have on their bucket list. It's an iconic destination, with so much to see, from the Empire State Building, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square. 

New York

If you are thinking of visiting New York in the Spring then you've chosen a great time to visit. Now the weather in New York is known for its extremes, think hot muggy summers and freezing cold winters, but Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit for more ambient temperatures, that are better for sightseeing. The weather can be unpredictable though so it's good to be well prepared on what to wear. So let's have a look at what clothes to pack for New York in the Spring.

Comfy trainers

New York is a huge city and you will be walking miles. Ditch the flip flops and open-toed shoes, instead pack some comfy fashionable trainers to cover the miles walking. The last thing you want is for your feet to be aching and for you to get blisters. Protect the trainers with a waterproof spray so you don't get wet feet.

Long sleeve cotton tops

Layers are a great idea for the Spring weather in New York. It could be cold in February whilst April will be much warmer but still showery. Make sure you pack a selection of cotton long sleeve tops that will also be breathable when it gets warm. Neutral tones are always good for a capsule travel wardrobe but personally, I like a splash of colour with bright blue florals or pink or red designs.

Lightweight waterproof coat

9/11

No packing for New York would be complete without a lightweight waterproof coat. It won't take up much space in your suitcase, can go in a backpack when you are wandering around the New York streets and provides much-needed protection from the showers you will get in the Spring.

Dark denim stretch jeans

Stretch jeans are my go-to for every day where and dark denim stretch jeans are comfy and are smart enough so they can be worn day or night. Pair with a long sleeve shirt for those spring days or a camisole and sparkly top for nights in the New York bars. 

Evening tops

New York has an abundance of great restaurants and cool bars and people do make an effort to visit the theatre too, so pack some smarter clothes for the evening. Most places don't have a dress code, I even saw someone super casual in simple jeans in a Michelin star restaurant in New York.  I personally though feel better if I make an effort to dress smarter when going out to a nice restaurant or bar.  

Stylish trench coat

In the evening you want something smarter than a lightweight coat. Pack a stylish trench coat in a neutral colour so it will go with everything. A trenchcoat provides another layer of warmth but a waterproof layer when you are walking to that cook bar or restaurant. 

Classic boots

Classic boots are a wardrobe staple that can be worn day or night. Again go for comfortable boots and avoid high fashion designs with tiny heels as you will be walking a lot. If you pick the right style, a classic boot can be worn with jeans or dresses.

Woolly knitwear

top of the rock

Remember I mentioned layers? Well, it's important to pack a cardigan or sweater for those chilly days. Also New York in February will be must colder than New York in April so when you are thinking of any knitwear to pack, then pack accordingly, 

Essential Accessories

The weather changes a lot in the Spring so pack some of these accessories for the different climates. Pack some cool sunglasses for those sunny days with a good sun protection factor.  Pack some woolly gloves for those cold mornings and evenings. Pack a scarf for those windy days and trips on the Staten Island ferry. 

Anything else?

Just add some socks, underwear, nightwear, and a folding umbrella and you are good to go! Lastly don't forget a backpack or day bag for your essentials and an evening bag for those smarter places as well as a couple of pieces of your favourite jewellery.  Let me know, have you visited New York in the spring?

Check out my post on how to use the New York Citypass for inspiration. 

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Understanding The Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment containing female hormones used to replace the estrogen (also called oestrogen in the UK) or estrogen and progesterone that the body stops producing during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy is mostly used to treat commonly experienced menopause symptoms such as night sweats, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood shifts, weight gain, and sleep problems.

Hormone replacement therapy is also a good way to prevent bone loss and reduce fractures in postmenopausal women. However, there are some risks associated with the use of HRT. These risks depend on the hormone therapy that one uses, the dose, the period the medication has been taken, the age a woman starts it and the individual health risks.

It is generally thought that the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks, however, to have the best results on HRT, you should ensure that you evaluate your hormone replacement therapy often in collaboration with a doctor.

The basic hormone replacement therapy types

woman

Hormone replacement therapy mainly focuses on replacing the estrogen and progesterone that the body no longer produces after menopause. The two main types include:

• Systemic hormone therapy

The systemic hormone therapy comes in a skin patch, pills, ring, cream, gel, or spray form typically containing a higher level of estrogen that is absorbed all through the body. It can assist in treating the common symptoms of menopause.

• Low-dose vaginal products

Low-dose vaginal products come in tablets, ring or cream forms. It helps to minimize the absorbed amount of estrogen in the body. Due to these facts, low-dose vaginal preparations and normally used to treat urinary and vaginal symptoms of menopause.

Benefits of hormone replacement therapy

HRT may:

  • Relieve night sweats and hot flashes
  • Help with better sleep
  • Ease itching and vaginal dryness
  • Relieve pain when having sex
  • Prevent fractures that are caused by osteoporosis
  • Reduce the chances of heart disease in some women
  • Lower the chance of dementia
  • Lowers the chances of depression

The risks of hormone replacement therapy

Research has proven that in most cases the benefits of hormone replacement therapy typically outweigh the risks; however, HRT may raise the chances of:

• Endometrial cancer brought about by taking estrogen without progesterone while still having the uterus.

• Blood clots

• Stoke

• A slight increase in breast cancer with combined HRT 

The risks vary depending on:

• Age

Women who start hormone therapy at 60 years or older or more than ten years from the start of menopause have a more significant risk of getting the above conditions. However, if the hormone therapy starts before 60 years or before 10 years of menopause, the advantages should outweigh the risks.

• Type of hormone therapy

The risk of hormone therapy depends on whether the estrogen was used alone or with progesterone—the dose and also the kind of estrogen matter.

• Health History

Your personal and family medical history and risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, blood clots, osteoporosis, and liver disease are essential factors in determining if HRT is suitable for you.

Tests like geneType multi-risk assessment can identify the risks by checking your genetic construct for a range of serious conditions.

Who can benefit from hormone replacement therapy?

The advantages of HRT (provided by medical clinics like Fem Excel) may be more than the risks if a person is healthy and:

• Has average to severe hot flashes

Systemic estrogen therapy is still the most suitable treatment for the relief of hot flashes and night sweats.

• Has many different symptoms of menopause

HRT can relieve vaginal menopause symptoms like itching, dryness, discomfort with intercourse, and burning as well as low mood, aches and pains, dry skin, and low sex drive.

• Needs to prevent fractures and bone loss

Systemic estrogen assists in protection against the bone-thinning illness called osteoporosis.

• Has estrogen deficiency due to a hysterectomy or experienced early menopause

If your ovaries were surgically removed before 45 years old, or you stopped receiving your monthly periods before this age, then your body is exposed to a lower amount of estrogen than women who experience normal menopause. HRT is indicated to help prevent symptoms such as heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, mood changes, and dementia.

This post is for information purposes only and does not offer medical advice. As always research is ongoing into the effects of menopause and treatments. Always see a menopause specialist for further information and a treatment plan.

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How To Make A Small Business More Sustainable

Many consumers these days are changing their behaviour in the pursuit of a more sustainable lifestyle. A recent survey by Deloitte of over 2000 adults discovered that 85% surveyed were making more sustainable life choices than previously and 31% actively seek out brands with a strong sustainability and ethical focus. 

As a small business you may have already thought about how to make your business more sustainable for the benefit of the planet but it makes great business sense too. Why? Well, it can drive consumers to your company especially if you actively promote your eco-credentials. 

You may have already been looking at what actions you can do, but let's have a look in more detail at how you can make a small business more sustainable. 

Source sustainable products 

protect the planet

Source products that are ethically made and use sustainable practices. For example, Fairtrade produce where workers, farmers and artisan craftspeople are paid a fair price for their goods. It's important to look at the supply chain too. When I had my own jewellery shop, we always sold diamond jewellery that adhered to the Kimberley Process, which helped prevent conflict diamonds.  We knew where the diamonds were coming from and could trace the source. 

Use eco-friendly packaging 

biofriendly
Use eco-friendly packaging when needed and don't overpack or use too much packaging. The world could do with less packaging that ends up in landfill, don't you think?  Seriously avoid plastic bubble wrap, styrofoam and plastic wrapping. For sustainable packaging that literally won't cost the earth then check out companies like Tyler Packaging, which make affordable sustainable packaging including compostable, biodegradable and recyclable packaging. 

Conserve energy

light bulb
Buy low wattage light bulbs to conserve energy. Consider motion sensors for corridors to only see light when needed and that will turn on only when dark. Turn down the thermostat in the office or workspace. Switch off computers at the end of the day. Encourage staff to turn off lights when not in use. Smart meters can help you keep track of how much you are spending. If you have a kitchen in the work environment, only use the dishwasher when it's full. Consider creating your own energy by having solar panels installed. 

Transportation 

green car
If you have a company car, then a hybrid or electric car should be considered, and avoid a diesel car for its pollution. Encourage cycling to work by installing a bike stand in your office or workspace. Encouraging working from home, even part-time can help prevent pollution from car fumes.  Maybe you can car share and give other workers a lift?

It's the little things

recycling
Small things that you do can really count. Rather than print everything out go paperless. If you have to print,  set the printer to double-sided to conserve paper and use recycled paper.  Use eco-friendly ink or refill your cartridges. If you have to give a traditional business card, use a recycled card.  Be sure to make the recycling bags clear and in an obvious place so everyone knows what to recycle.  It's the little things that matter. 

Write a sustainability policy

go green

Write everything you are putting into practice down into a sustainability policy. You and your staff can see what you are aiming to do, the action plans and how your business is helping preserve the planet. These eco-credentials should be on your website, in your literature and promoted when you advertise. This will then attract customers who want to buy from a business that has eco-friendly practices. 

So here are some ideas on how to make a small business more sustainable. Do you have any ideas? Is it a selling point to you, if a business is eco-friendly?

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