Over the last 10 years, kitchen work surfaces have changed a lot. Gone now are the marble, granite and quartz effect synthetic worktops and in their place have come granite and quartz stone worktops, two very robust and hard stones perfect for any kitchen within the home.

Between the two, though, which is best? Well although they may appear similar to the eye, there are certain aspects of both which are better than the other.

Granite

Granite worktops are incredibly fashionable within both the US and UK home right now. This is down to a few reasons, however the combination of them looking fantastic under all light and being extremely easy to clean is a major buying factor. The problem with granite worktops though is that they are incredibly delicate, and granite as a stone whilst hard isn’t the most durable surface in the world. Typical scenarios where granite is susceptible to damage include placing a hot pan on the surface, dropping a large weight on a corner and scratching the surface under extreme stress. Unlike wood, which can be sanded down, granite can not be refurbished easily.

Quartz

Quartz worktops and quartz isn’t an earth-grown organic stone, and is in fact artificial, however you wouldn’t think that from looking at it. Due to this, quartz is available in a wide amount of designs and sometimes can even be custom built. A key advantage to quartz over granite is that is a much more durable material due to quartz having an even amount of iron content across one slab, and granite worktops are also a non-porous material – making it ideal for cleanliness and maintenance.

Like granite, quartz is an incredibly desirable work surface within the home.

Conclusion

Granite is a natural stone whilst quartz is an engineered stone. For the purists, granite is going to be the clear choice just for status reasons, however the smart person would pick quartz due to it being a non-porous stone and it also being more durable than granite thanks to it having an equal amount of iron content throughout the board. Price wise, granite can be expensive, whilst quartz can be too. Essentially, you should make the best decision for you based on whether you want to risk a broken worktop just because you want the more fashionable surface.

Overall fashion tends to change over time, so whilst granite may seem fashionable right now it may not be next year. If it were me choosing a worktop right now, I would opt for a quartz worktop based on its shelf life alone.

Homes are becoming more and more sterile. This is down to a few reasons, however technology and neutral colors are the main culprits, creating (whilst modern) rather samey and boring spaces to live. That’s not that neutral sterile colors are bad thing though, do not get me wrong, as they helps to brighten up your home by reflecting light but sometimes, don’t you wish your home was just that little bit more organic? Well, topiary and flowers are a fantastic way to inject some organic pzazz in to your home, at a pretty affordable (depending on the flower type) price.

Now flowers come  in pretty much every shape, size and color imaginable. What type of flowers you like is down to personal choice, however I personally love  large-headed Roses, peach Germini, Lilies, Chrysanthemums and white Lisianthus which create a nice vibrant bunch much like the one pictured towards the top right of this post. Now you can pick up flowers in a number of ways, however due to numerous accidents such as my flowers getting crushed in a car ride, I prefer to order flowers online purely because they remain fresh and guaranteed.

Be sure to check out the different types of flowers online and make sure you enjoy your flowers this winter and remember, bring a natural touch to your home to ditch that artificial feeling.

For thousands of people around the UK making use of plants and flowers in and around the home is common place, however in the past 10 years artificial topiary plants have started to become more and more popular. Now, there are a number of reasons as to why artificial topiary is on the move and finding its way in to homes across the UK and in this article we are going to take a look at what makes artificial trees and topiary a good buy for the average home owner.

Range

There are so many different types of plant in the world that you can safely bet there are an equally different amount of artificial variants. Amongst the most versatile include great looking hanging baskets, silk topiary trees, and regular blocks which can be shaped and made in to a highly modern decorative piece to fit in with the rest of your home.

Cost

Plants can be pretty expensive depending on the type you buy, and with that price also comes the equipment to keep everything in tip top shape over time. What’s more, eventually plants die out or tire with their better days behind them whilst artificial plants and topiary do not; in fact, artificial topiary can last as long as you do as long as it is looked after in order to keep it looking vibrant.

Shelf life

As touched on above, organic shrubs die out over time and a lot of them are also seasonal meaning they won’t look their best until Summer comes by. Now during the seasons of Winter and Autumn in particular, this is the perfect time to invest in some artificial topiary as it will keep your house looking fresh.

Maintenance

When I was younger I used to live in a house with a conservatory, and low and behold, my mum would be tending to plants one heck of a lot. Now whilst I love the smell of fresh organic shrubs, oak tree’s and plants, it was a lot of work to make it look its best. If I knew, I’d have almost certainly pointed out artificial topiary (my favourite’s being silk topiary trees) to her in order to save her some time as quite simply, they do not need watering feeding or spraying (just dusting occasionally).

Overall

So there we go, four pretty good reasons as to why artificial topiary is becoming more and more popular to the average home owner. This type of product in particular is already massively popular within the business sector too, with artificial shrubbery being a hot seller for brightening up the workplace and bringing a bit of outdoors to employees.

Here’s some brief thoughts from a home owner perspective of granite worktops. Opinions built up over 3 years of having one.

There is a massive difference between a cheap kitchen and a bespoke designed one, and more and more commonly now granite is being used as a worktop surface for a variety of reasons in new kitchens to add a premium finish to them. Granite worktops and quartz worktops are being used more and more now because of their durability and hardness against scratches, which wood is susceptible to. Now I know what you might be thinking; but what about stainless steel? Well, stainless steel isn’t very homely and personally, it’s way too industrial for myself and also just too cold to the touch.

Granite worktops then are a good balance between cleanliness and durability, and a good granite worktop will last for over 10 years providing you do not hit it with a sledge hammer and so could be called a very good investment too. Design wise, granite worktops are available in a fair few stone finishes, however my personal favorite is the star galaxy worktop which has glints of bronze and copper within the black.

Windows are a touchy subject amongst grade II listed houses within the UK however if you manage to get planning permission signed off for structural work, you can bring grade II listed homes practically in check with modern homes in terms of energy efficiency. Many Grade II listed homes feature original windows and frames which, whilst they may be okay to look at, will probably be dated and not very good at keeping the heat in. This is why getting new windows approved by your local council can benefit you in the long run.

Of course, one of the main ways in which new windows can help your home is to provide better energy efficiency. Many older generation sash and case windows make use of single glazed technology, which simply do not have the best reputation for energy efficiency when compared to modern double glazed variants. Another very good reason to upgrade your older generation windows is to improve the value of your home in the long run. Having brand new sash and case windows installed in to your home which are double glazed increase security and style, and can even be tailored to suit the original period of your home.

Key things to look out for amongst window manufacturers’ windows include the energy rating they carry (so A, B, C etc) and whether they are reinforced. Reinforced windows will stand up against storms and debris, and the chances of the windows getting damaged are minimized. Overall we think that upgrading your sash and case windows for your home is a very good idea, especially if you are looking to save money on your energy bills in the long term or selling up within a year or two.