The UK Construction Blog

Personalisation is becoming more commonplace in interior design, according to Dulux colour and design manager Rebecca Thompson, who claimed members of the public “want to be putting their own stamp on the place”.

People who are engaged with decorating are using colours instead of blank canvasses, with red “filtering down from fashion” and reaching the mainstream, the specialist remarked.

The psychological effect particular tones have is “personal and incredibly subjective”, which makes it a “difficult thing to ground”, she declared.

However, certain hues can alter an individual’s mood and result in an emotive impact, the expert continued.

A Chartered psychologist Dr David Lewis recently claimed subdued tones such as brown, green and earthy colours can assist in comfort and relaxation, while red can create a sense of excitement.

Ms Thompson claimed Dulux is currently encouraging men and women to refresh their home decor in an uplifting and emotional way.

This “affects any space you create and how you would interact in it”, the representative pointed out.

First quarter of 2012, the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 0.2 per cent, with the output of the construction sector falling by 0.3 per cent, figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed.

In volume terms, GDP remained flat in this timeframe when compared with the same period one year earlier.

The figures represent two consecutive quarters of contraction within the UK’s economy, which means the nation has returned to recession.

Every £1 spent in the building sector generates £2.84 for the wider economy, commentators called on the government to switch its outgoings towards “more productive capital spending”.

The Chartered Institute of Building’s Facilities Management Group in conjunction with Partnership Sourcing Limited (PSL), is launching a seminar about the new British Standard (BS11000) Collaborative Business Relationship Management

The seminar will be of interest to facilities, estate, property, finance and procurement professionals who have responsibility for facilities management services from a client and service provider perspective.

BS11000 represents a landmark for business as the first national standard to address business collaboration. PSL has been a driving force in promoting collaboration between organisations and has played a key part in developing the new standard.

Steve Harrup FCIOB Chair of the CIOB Facilities Management Group said, “Partnerships are a key element to the successful delivery of facilities management services. The new British Standard (BS11000) Collaborative Business Relationships represents a landmark for business as the ?rst national standard in the world to address business collaboration.

“Our seminar will give an insight into the standard and its implementation by the leading practitioners in the field, which should give service providers, consultants and clients the ability to measure their current performance and provide a clear framework and opportunities for the future”

The seminar will be held on 29th May 2012 at the CIOB Headquarters in Ascot, Berkshire and will demonstrate the attributes of BS11000 and its implementation via case studies. The seminar costs £75 per delegate and will include lunch and networking opportunities.

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Choose your colours wisely,  the colour a homeowner chooses when painting a room can have an emotional impact on them, a chartered psychologist has said.

Dr David Lewis explained people are “hugely influenced” by this factor.

Earthy hues, blue, brown, green and other “subdued colours” are useful for encouraging relaxation and comfort, he declared.

Studies have shown pink has the potential to calm down violent offenders and many women choose to use this tone in their bedroom, the specialist continued.

However, “bright primary colours” such as yellow and red do not encourage individuals to relax, Dr Lewis asserted, pointing out the walls of fast food restaurants are painted with these tones to encourage people to feel excited about their meal but to prevent them from lingering in the establishment.

Interior designer Linda Barker recently promoted the use of bright hues when painting a house, claiming beige and cream should not be used as often as they once were.

It could be possible for laypeople to perform a few plumbing tasks without professional assistance.

Editor of Build It + Home Improvement magazine Anna-Marie DeSouza pointed out a regular person could replace blocked or eroded pipework, as well as move a pipe in the bathroom.

However, major tasks such as rerouting showers or moving around bathroom furnishings could require expert assistance, she stated.

For other jobs, guides on the internet, the help of DIY enthusiasts or recommendations from parents might be sufficient, the specialist continued.

Ms DeSouza claimed electrical tasks can be a dangerous thing for unqualified people to embark upon.

Furthermore, individuals will have to find out building regulations from the local council to discover what they are legally allowed to change in relation to their power supply, she added.

Homeowners who are unsure about their DIY talents could start off with small projects, before moving on to larger jobs and building up their repertoire, the expert had previously said.

Interior design and home improvement is currently undergoing a kind of renaissance due to the global economic downturn.

This is according to a spokesperson from Ideal Home Magazine, who noted members of the public are trying to undertake projects themselves, with women in particular more likely to attend DIY classes.

Homeowners are putting big projects off until they feel confident, but are refreshing and redecorating smaller areas of the house, the representative continued.

Wallpapering is considerably simpler than it used to be, they added, noting ready-pasted paper now exists.

“There’s a lot of choice out there,” the specialist remarked, arguing this applies to projects in all parts of a dwelling.

“Anything to save money is worth exploring and it’s got a lot easier,” the spokesperson declared.

Jason Orme, editor for Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, recently said there are a number of home improvement tasks that can be completed by laymen, including tiling and flooring.

White is now the only colour people want in their washrooms, a Bathroom City spokesman has said.

Aubergine, avocado, pink or primrose tones are not desired in this room any more, the representative continued.

He argued members of the public want to see “very modern, very chic, straight-line products”, which are free-standing and easy to clean.

Generally, men and women who wish to upgrade their bathroom have a predetermined budget and will stick to this when they are deciding what they want.

Some people are renovating a toilet room as part of a buy-to-sell project and these consumers try to purchase appliances that will suit the rest of the house, such as traditional suites to suit a dwelling with this appearance, the spokesperson added.

A total of four per cent of Brits intend to fit a new bathroom during the upcoming bank holiday weekends, statistics recently reported on by HSBC revealed.

Furthermore, 52 per cent of respondents are planning to perform some home improvements over these dates.

The Society for the Environment has renewed the Chartered Institute of Building’s license to award the Chartered Environmentalist qualification for a further five years.

Over the last five years more than 300 CIOB members have qualified for Chartered Environmentalist status. To qualify a member has to be able to demonstrate (through qualifications and experience) competency, knowledge and engagement in sustainable management and development.

Michael Brown CIOB deputy chief executive said, “We see the role of the Chartered Environmentalist as important in the overall promotion of sustainability throughout the industry, and a way in which our members can differentiate themselves as experts in green construction. We want green leaders.

“Over the next 5 years we anticipate a significant growth in the number of Chartered Environmentalists in membership. Especially as government initiatives such as the Green Deal come on stream and the overall carbon movement gains more traction.  There will be an increase in the demand for these skills within the marketplace, especially at professional level.”

“So it is with pride that we retain our license and can continue with our drive to give CIOB members every opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in the UK and abroad.”

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