Minimalism - grey and white décor - is it here forever?

How often do you meander through homes for sale on Rightmove, Zoopla, etc.? Internally, newbuilds are painted white, with grey or white kitchens installed, white bathroom suites and often grey tiling.

But have you noticed an absence of personality when it comes to family homes that are being lived in? Often, the only colour display comprises the toys in a young child's bedroom. It's as if people are creating a blank canvas for selling - which is fine - but are choosing to live in that soulless, sanitised 'hospital' environment because it's the trend to avoid colour inside the home. Actually, there is more colour in most hospitals than there is in these homes.

And, by the way, child psychologists will suggest that colour is a stimulant for young minds to develop.

These photographs were found on Google today under 'uk homes for sale'.

So... are we happy with our white rooms? We moved in to a new-build, painted white throughout, with pale laminate flooring and a grey slab kitchen sporting a white quartz worktop. I quite like light bouncing around plain walls in bright rooms = and after a few years, we didn't even notice the decor (or lack of) other than the kitchen was so incredibly boring. 

Original kitchen on moving into the house

However, it needs a refresh so we've started painting some walls with pale neutrals and some spot colour. We couldn't agree on the kitchen colours so most walls are magnolia with two contrasting areas of a deep sandy yellow. The rest of the kitchen-diner has been adorned with an eclectic mix of 'clutter'. We're not sure if this works but everything's reasonably cheap and easy to change. Above are some snapshots of the original installed kitchen and below is an idea of the way the kitchen make-over is shaping up at this stage. 

Baking area to the right of the kitchen

The dining area (at the opposite end of the L-shaped kitchen-diner)

Love it or hate it? Do feel free to comment with your suggestions.

Home Improvement 2020 Style

During the past five years, the trend for clean lines, contemporary styles plus both cool and vibrant colours have dominated home improvement projects.

 

Bathrooms have become wetrooms or baths have been replaced by walk-in showers.

 

KITCHENS

This is most obvious in kitchens where, apart from timeless shaker units and a few country farmhouse kitchens, lines are sleek and sometimes curved, door finishes are often glossy and there is a plethora of side-by-side ovens in tall units with plus 'must have' kitchen islands.

 

 

GLASS DOORS & NATURAL LIGHT

 

A lantern roof for large extensions and full glass patio doors which facilitate as much daylight as possible are the 'WOW' factor of many homes now, from small terraced houses to large detached abodes. The sleek lines afforded by aluminium frames are popular for such doors, eclipsing PVC (except on price) and timber frames (where a traditional look is desired).

 

 

 

In some radical renovations, radiators have been thrown in the skip (or, better still, recycled by scrap metal merchants) and replaced by underfloor heating. 

 

Follow the "adventures" of a 2020 New Build Project.

Re-grouting Tiles

Quick Fixes

Tiling around wash hand basins may have discoloured grouting in places, from various hand soaps. Floor tiles bedded on non-concrete or screeded floors may have moved very slightly during fluctuations in humidity or heavy treading over the years, and some of the grout may have chipped, dried or otherwise broken loose.

Whether it's for guests who are coming to stay at Christmas or a 'spring' clean at any time, the grout between tiles may be looking a little tired. What are the ways to give it a makeover?

Wall Tile Grouting

The simplest options are to clean the grouting with some whitening toothpaste, cream cleanser or sugar soap, depending on the type of stain (e.g. colour dye, oil, etc.) but always with an old toothbrush. When done, wipe with a clean, damp cloth.

If there are gaps where small pieces of grout are missing and you want a quick fix, these can easily be filled in with 'fix & grout' or general purpose 'polyfilla' from a local DIY or hardware store for £3ish to £7ish. A longer lasting job would involve removing existing grout and replacing all with new - much harder than you'd think.

Before the new grout hardens, smooth it very gently with your finger (in a damp cloth, if preferred). Wipe the whole surface a little later, once the grout has set. 

If the grouting is especially prone water damage, such as around a wash hand basin, an alternative is to use a waterproof mastic to protect the area. This is not an easy task if you haven't tried it before so it would be a good idea to practice first. Trim off unwanted bits of dried mastic with a sharp blade, otherwise it may cause a ripple effect, when pulled, and remove a significant amount.

Floor Tile Grouting

Often, for practical reasons, the grout between floor tiles is cement and, often, it is a grey colour rather than white.

Sometimes, bathroom floor tiles have white grouting and can take a temporary fix with filler, as above. However, in many cases, repairing floor tile problems requires a professional. A variety of tools may be used, from electric-powered to metal scrapers or just white vinegar. Never use metal abrasives on the tile surfaces, as many tiles are sensitive and will permanently mark (especially porcelain).

If you are constantly having problems with losing grout between floor tiles, it may be that insufficient adhesive was used to bed them down. This can be checked by gently tapping areas of the floor to see if a significant number of patches sound hollow.

Please feel free to leave a genuine comment!