Leek Life March/April 2014 | Page 43

Sometimes, a few changes can make a big difference to the look or functionality of your bathroom. For example, if the bathroom suite is neutral in appearance and still serviceable, you could change the feel of the room by replacing tiles, flooring and accessories such as shower curtains, and towel rails. When deciding which improvements to incorporate, you may need to balance the benefits against the available budget. It is a good idea to set the budget beforehand; otherwise it is easy to be tempted by the range of expensive, stylish bathrooms on offer. If you decide to give your bathroom a complete overhaul and opt for a plan and design service, then you need to think about the positioning of items in relation to their purpose and practicality; plumbing considerations will dictate the positioning of showers, toilets and basins, for example. Have you allowed yourself enough space next to the bath for drying yourself, is there room to place a hand towel next to the wash basin and do you have any room for towel storage? Of course it is also important when planning your new bathroom to bear in mind your colour schemes and what kind of themes HOMES AND GARDENS you are going for. Modern, traditional, cosy country or urban chic – what do you think reflects you the best and what style can you see lasting for years to come? Some people prefer not to opt for a particular style, instead employing an eclectic mix of designs, which is dictated by whatever appeals to their senses. What ever improvements you decide to carry out on your home this spring make sure you give the specialists advertising in this feature a call for professional quotes, advice or any materials or equipment you may need for the job. ® Blakemore & Chell Energy Solutions The big Biomass incentive - how can YOU benefit? The RHI Explained Commercial Heating. For example, a small-to-medium sized business using around 100,000kWh of energy a year can receive annual Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) of £8600 for a 20-year term (index-linked). The RHI is currently set at 8.6p/kWh (for Tier 1), so businesses using 200,000kWh would receive £17200 per year. Further benefit can be achieved through substantial fuel savings as pellets and logs are more economical than oil, gas and electricity. Domestic Heating. Homeowners can receive 7-year index-linked RHI income at 12.2p/kWh, and receive an up-front payment of £2000 (which is paid back over the 7-year term). Blakemore & Chell, based in Leek since 1903 design and install biomass pellet or log systems for most applications including farms, nursing homes, country estates, golf clubs, hotels and many more. We can use your existing boiler room or house the new biomass boiler in a purpose-built cabin on your property. We are appointed distributors and installers of the prestigious ETA range of log, chip and pellet boilers and associated equipment. Founded in 1998, ETA is dedicated to the production of renewable energy heating boilers for renewable energy installations. ETA specialises in high quality, no expense spared biomass appliances. Their market-leading products offer maximum efficiency, sophisticated control systems and user friendly interfaces in a package widely considered to be second to none. Call to arrange a no-obligation survey or visit our website at www.blakemoreandchell.co.uk Blakemore & Chell Energy Solutions, New Street, Leek, Staffs, ST13 6EB Phone: 01538 382387 www.blakemoreandchell.co.uk Leek Life March/April 2014 43