Why I LOVE Coffee

Seems like ages since I last blogged on here, well time has certainly flown while I've been hard at work on the 2012 collection of bathroom furniture designs (sneak previews to come soon!).

As we all know, bathroom and interior design are my main passions in life, but another one close to my heart is coffee, the little beans that pick us up in the morning and comforts us when we're down. Having come across this post on Money Saving Expert I knew I simply had to enter and give it a shot, so here goes..

This is my entry for the Casa Espresso coffee lover competition.

Why I love Coffee.

Effect on the Senses: I love the smell of it brewing, I love the feel of holding a nice warm cup of coffee in both hands on a winters morning, I love the creamy taste and the fuzzy feeling I get when drinking it, I love the way it looks and the art that can be skillfully created on top and the sound of hearing that mine is ready. Coffee really does play with all my senses.

Latte Art: We live in good times right now, because the art and skill of the Barista is growing immensely, even in Scotland. With both in the amount of people who practice it, and the level of effort that goes into a making our Latte's look good it surely adds to the likeability of this brilliant beverage.

Starbucks: Those who know me will know I hate most big global corporate powerhouses, but in all fairness to Starbucks they do put a lot of time and money into making us aware of Fairtrade coffee and how it improves lives around the world. OK, so it won't be their biggest selling range of coffee, but fair play all the same promoting it on a very large scale.

The Passion: I see folks that own their own restaurant, I know folks that run their own butchers and bakery's, but none of these share the same passion for the product they're selling than those involved with their own coffee shop. I like passion, passion is good for all concerned in the business world and there's certainly a lot of passion throughout the coffee industry.

The broad range of flavours:  With so much variety in flavours and the huge amount of different roasts and blends available you could literally enjoy tasting a new coffee every day of your life. Although this is largely impossible for most people the fact that it conceivably could happen adds to the fantastic nature of the wonder bean. Variety is the spice of life after all!

Read more about the Casa Espresso Coffee Lover competition and their Commercial Espresso Machines by clicking here.

Thanks for reading,

Sandra

Guest Post for Big Bathroom Shop

Hi guys,

I was approached on Twitter (find me here) to do a post for one of the top on-line bathroom retailers - Big Bathroom Shop.

During my not so busy bank holiday I put together a little guide to help you select from the masses of countertop basins to find the one most suited to your bathroom. For those interested, you can find the article here.

If you would like me to write/'guest post' on your site, get in touch on sandrahenshaw@gmail.com

Thanks,

Sandra :)

 

Top 5 Ways to Create a Chic Bathroom

I often get asked how to turn a drab out-dated bathroom into one that oozes chic design. Everybody has a different view on what constitutes chic, but to me it means exuberance, colour, individuality and flare. I come across hundreds of bathroom designs at various expos and conventions across the world and 95% of the showcased suites are generic and plain. Below are my 5 top tips for creating a modern chic bathroom.

1)     New coat of paint: Every bathroom needs a new lick of paint once in a while, and a chic bathroom demands a change more than others. So, what colour to choose? If you’re a girlie girl like me then I’d have to recommend a shade of pastel pink.  Not only will the colour elude warmness and tranquillity it gives off that shining glow that will put a smile on your face in even the darkest of mornings.

2)     Flowers: Fresh flowers are so underused in the bathroom. In my opinion they’re one of the simplest and most powerful ways of enlivening and decorating the home. Ultimately choosing what type to pick will be determined by the colour of your walls, but something neutral like white orchids will look great across a wide range of bathroom suite designs.

3)     Technology: This is going to sound weird coming from the least tech savy woman in Scotland, but there’s  some fantastic electronic bathroom accessories on the market. Check out these chic bathroom TV’s perfect for keeping up with the soaps while you’re having a soak!

4)     Lighting:  Sandra’s quick tip… NEVER put a light directly above a mirror. This can lead to objects looking bigger than they actually are if you catch my drift. Have you given any consideration to a bathroom chandelier? Not all bathrooms can pull this off, and its generally only the ones lucky enough to have space and the ceiling height to accommodate it, but these do often make a fantastic stand out feature worthy of any designer home magazine.

5)     Accessories: If you don't do anything else, replacing your bathroom's shower curtains, towels and rugs are the fastest way to make the room seem new. Go with a simple colour palette and don't overdo the accessories. Too many items on the counter or walls can make the room seem smaller.

Hope this post has been some help those that needed chic inspiration. I’m off to finish my latest concepts for the 2012 range of bathroom furniture, wish me luck!

Traditional Pink Chic Bathroom Suite

Creating a Hotel Style Bathroom

Hi guys,

Spending a few days away on holiday really gave me a good idea for this article, it also gave me some nasty sunburn (damn my stupid Scottish skin!). I don't know if its just me but when I go on holiday I tend to judge the hotel by the style and attention to detail that they incorporate into their bathrooms. Luckily for me, this last one was absolutely stunning, which is why I'm going to leave you a few tips on how to replicate these designer hotel bathrooms in your own home;

1. Layout: If you're bathrooms on the ample size then why not consider a bath and separate shower enclosure? These are typical in some of the plush suites you see in hotels, truth is you don't have to have the world biggest bathroom to do so- clever planning can go a long way.
2. Up the ambiance: A low cost way to mimic a hotel style bathroom is to change the décor. Freshening the bathroom with a change of tiling, new coat of paint and some minimalistic artwork can really transform the look and feel of an outdated bathroom.
3. His & Her basins: Unless you're a millionaire superstar, chances are you have to share the bathroom with other people. Not only do dual basins look trendy, they're also super effective when it comes to early morning rushes. Dual basin furniture is widely available on-line and in high street home improvement stores. As mentioned earlier, you'd be surprised about how little space is actually required to slip in an extra basin.
4. Under floor heating: if you want the total look and feel of a 5 star hotel bathroom then under floor heating is for you. We have this in our family bathroom and it is indispensable in winter, such a great feature. There is obviously cost implications to be aware of such as implementation and running expenses, so take these into consideration before getting too excited.
5. Finishing touches: A well placed mirror can create the illusion of space and a vase of flowers can soften the atmosphere. Try experimenting with accessories in your bathroom and you'll soon find the perfect blend of style and practicality that will outdo any bathroom you come across on your next holiday!

Thanks for reading,

Sandra :)

L Shaped Shower Bath - The answer to all my problems

Hey!

Sorry about my lack of posts lately, I've been so busy it's untrue, but I want to give you all a run down of what I've been up to, seen as though I've had quite a few emails asking where I'd disappeared to!

Well I’ve just about finished renovating my friends bathroom out, I love it when I get to use my flair for design to its maximum potential just because my friends trust my judgement!

This one was a really tough job, space was extremely limited and my friend’s husband was insistent on having a separate bath and shower enclosure. Luckily, my powers of persuasion worked, and we ended up with the perfect compromise, the L Shaped shower bath.

The l shaped shower bath has come to the rescue many times for me, it’s such a clever little design. Simon ( my friends husband) was extremely sceptical, will it be strong enough? I weigh 16st how will it take my weight? Is it big enough to have a proper shower? Were all questions he was asking me constantly! Well, now it’s fitted, he’s a convert! I don’t want to say this, but he’s probably showering more than ever before!

I’ll be posting a picture as soon as the finishing touches are in place, I’m abit of a perfectionist, so the untiled wall that needs finishing won’t do my work justice! 

Thanks, Sandra

Bathroom Furniture Guide

Hi guys, first up - hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Just a little guide to bathroom furniture for you here. Like always, any questions just message me or leave comments below. Thanks, Sandra.

 

Vanity Units

 

With sizes from 450mm all the way up to 1200mm and a choice of Teak or Gloss White finishes you should be able to find the perfect Vanity Unit for your requirements. Vanity units incorporate an integral ceramic basin that will usually have useful storage 'wings' on either side of the basin washing area. The units will offer a variety of doors, drawers and shelves, according to the size and style you choose.

Fitted Bathroom Furniture

 

There is a range of furniture to suit every bathroom with cabinets ranging from 300mm and 400mm available as base or wall cabinets to a 600mm and 700mm basin base or WC cabinets. Compact fitted Furniture is made with less depth front to back than standard Fitted Furniture and so will help if you are short of space in your bathroom or en-suite. All the panels used in the construction of the Fitted Furniture are edged and the cabinets are supplied ready to assemble.

Bathroom Worktops to co-ordinate with you fitted furniture are available in various lengths; ranging from 2m for a long run of work surface incorporating a number of cabinets, to 700mm or 600mm for just one or two cabinets. Bathroom worktops are made up from chipboard with a hardwearing laminate top surface, they are available in either a matt or gloss finish.

Modular Bathroom Furniture

 

Modular bathroom furniture is usually manufactured from water resistant foil wrapped chipboard, or mdf, that is carefully constructed to withstand the modern bathroom environment. Modular bathroom furniture is available in a variety of sizes and designs ensuring that you have a choice to suit your new bathroom.

Tweeting from the heart...

Yes you guessed it, Sandra Henshaw becomes the last woman in the world to obtain a Twitter account! Its been so much fun so far and gives me another outlet to vent my bathroom related ideas, designs and ramblings!

Come follow me - @vanity_queen_uk

Thanks,

Sandra