If you are thinking about building up your own home gym, then think carefully about what sort training you want to do, and what your fitness goals are. Home gyms can provide a wide range of both upper and lower exercises, but if you just want to improve your muscle tone and strength (and burn calories), then a basic free weight station is all you really need to get started.

Choose a good quality adjustable weight bench and basic dumbbell/barbell set, which should ideally consist of a pair of 3-5lbs weights for shoulder and ab work, 5-8lbs weight for arm and chest work and an 8lb+ weight for legs, glutes and back.

This is an affordable and compact way to start your home gym, and if you find that working out at home suits you then you can easily add more equipment in the future such as resistance bands and weights towers.

The Feed-in Tariff has raised the profile and increased the uptake of solar panels. The tariff provides financial incentives for homeowners of 43.3 pence for each unit of electricity generated, as well as an additional 3.1 pence for each unit which is exported back to the National Grid.

For some, however, the aesthetics of a traditional solar panel array are unsatisfactory. They have been seeking a more visually pleasing approach to solar.

Recently, more options have become available, as a result of developments in the technology of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels as well as an increased understanding of the requirements for homeowners. You must no longer settle for a solar panel array that you are not happy with. Instead you can choose from an array of appealing options.

The availability of all-black panels and mounting systems has given homeowners a choice over the aesthetics of their solar panels. It has also allowed panel arrays to blend more seamlessly with existing roof designs. This fits with most architectural styles and can have a lower visual impact than blue silicon panels.

One of the key advancements made for solar PV panels is that they have been made into aesthetically pleasing roof tiles. These can be fully incorporated into a roof with a very low visual impact, blending seamlessly with other surrounding tiles. Solar panel tiles are often chosen for new-build properties where style as well as function is important. These panels can also be installed on an existing roof and homeowners often choose to co-incide the installation with a planned re-roof of their property.

Solar panel tiles can also be installed on homes without performing a full re-roof. Your solar panel installer should be able to replace some of your existing tiles with solar ones, blending the array seamlessly into your roof.

This more refined style of solar panel is usually more expensive than the traditional solar panels which are bolted onto a roof. However increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to install panels of this type, which as well as being efficient in generating solar electricity, are also effective at providing roof insulation.

Homeowners who have had solar panel tiles from companies such as System Photonics, CentroSolar and Solar Century have noted that the tiles have matched exactly with their roofs. The panels integrate seamlessly with the normal roof tiles and work in the same way that other solar panels do. By generating clean green electricity, the panels allow homeowners to reduce their carbon footprints and to earn money from the electricity that their panels produce.

Solar electric roof tiles are often a good choice when trying to preserve the existing aesthetic of a property, such as a period home or one which is traditional in design. New builds, more modern houses and architecturally more adventurous homes will also benefit from these types of panels as they ensure that the home’s eco credentials will not detract from the design features.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to freshen up your home is to add a new coat of paint to your woodwork, and this is a relatively straightforward job that only requires a few basic supplies from your local DIY store.

Removing Old Paint
You can just paint over the top of existing paintwork, but if there are a few layers already this can create a lumpy, even finish and so if you do have enough time it is a good idea to strip the paint using a scraper and heat gun.  Once the majority of the paint is off you can sand the woodwork to make sure you have a smooth finish ready for painting. You can buy cheap wood sanders direct from TWENGA!”

Knotting
If you have any new woodwork then it may need treating with a shellac based solution to ensure any knots present to not bleed sap through to the paint, causing brownish marks.  Just dab a little knotting solution onto the knots with a paintbrush and leave to dry for an hour before painting.

Filling
You may need to fill any gaps or chips in the woodwork before you begin painting, and this should be done after priming, as this will make the defects very clear.  Mix the filler into a thick, workable paste and fill cracks and chips and wipe off excess filler with a rag.  When dry rub down with some sandpaper to create a smooth finish.

Home furnishing is a very fashionable industry, and over the years styles come and go with almost as much frequency as clothing and hair design fashion.  There are also those classic timeless designs that stay in place year on year, but if you are interested in keeping up with latest in home design and furnishing then here are two hot tips for the next few months:
·    The season sees a trend for peacock shades of deep green and blue, mixed in with more traditional autumn colours of rich plum and vibrant orange.  It takes a bit of skill to manage such as strong palette of colours in home design and furnishing, but if you get it right you can create a stunning and very up to date look for your home.

·    Shiny metallic furniture and accessories continue to be big news following on from summer, and so shiny chrome and glass coffee tables, metallic effect vases and picture frames and any kind of polished metal furnishings are very much in the moment.