Are you planning to travel to Tianjin soon? Read our tips below on the things to do in Tianjin and where to stay! Located in northeastern China, Tianjin is a major port city in the country. The city is popular for its woven handicraft products, seafood cuisine, and hand-painted woodblock prints….

The post 6 Best Things To Do in Tianjin, China [and Where To Stay] appeared first on Two Monkeys Travel Group.

A homeowner gave her red and cluttered dining room a huge overhaul with stone wallpaper and a neutral colour palette that is unrecognisable.

Emily Bristow, from Godalming, Surrey, was desperate to give her unloved scheme a much-needed boost and had already resigned herself to the fact that she’d need to declutter before she got started.

‘I have two young boys,’ says Emily, ‘so I needed storage for the toys and homework that they tend to do at the dining table, but I also wanted the room to feel more stylish. Getting the combination of the two was the struggle!’

Luckily, after browsing lots of dining room ideas and inspiration for budget dining rooms, Emily settled on a new scheme and began the transformation.

Neutral dining room makeover

As well as being used for mealtimes and homework, Emily also has friends and family over regularly. It was important to her that the room was practical for entertaining and everyday life, but that also felt more like ‘her’.

‘I hadn’t updated any of the accessories in years and a lot of them were inherited or things I no longer liked,’ she says. ‘It’s also a really dark, bleak room, so I wanted a new look to help it feel lighter.’

Before

The mismatched room had elements of red, wood and grey, but lacked any real style. The kids’ toys  were out on show, along with coats and other household items.

Keen to keep costs down, Emily decided to keep her dining table and update it with some new chairs – ones that are easy to clean if the children spill or drop anything. ‘The table is a good size for this room, and the round shape means we don’t bump into the corners when walking through from the living room to the kitchen,’ she says.

A deep red paint made the fireplace wall stand out but meant the darkroom felt even more dreary. ‘I wanted it to feel much brighter in here, but without appearing clinical,’ says Emily. ‘And that fireplace wall is the perfect spot for a feature wallpaper, so I decided to just go for it!’

After

The new decor has given the room a light-filled look that’s on-trend and full of interest. It’s made a huge difference to the way Emily feels about the space.

‘I painted the walls in a gentle taupe colour and then chose a wallpaper from Home Essentials, which is where I got most of my new accessories from,’ she says. ‘Prices were affordable enough that I could get a more luxury look for less, which really helped when it came to the budget.’

‘All the brown, beige and soft cream colours, mixed with materials such as bamboo, jute and wood have created a beautifully warm, light scheme – I  couldn’t be happier.’

Get the look: Church Stone natural wallpaper, £11, Home Essentials

Much of the previous clutter was rehoused to give her more room, but Emily kept an old chest that she uses to store toys. Adding cushions and a throw on top means it can be used as extra seating when needed.

Above, a range of prints from Etsy adds interest to the wall, while faux plants add greenery to the neutral scheme. ‘It means I get the benefit of having a botanical look without having to water them!’ she says. ‘I especially love the artificial bamboo tree.’

Get the look:

Matisse print gallery wall set, £70,55, Etsy

Mixed succulents in wood wall planter, £69, Home Essentials

New rattan chairs are not only in keeping with the scheme, but offer a practical dining solution with young children. ‘I can just wipe them down, rather than having to try and get stains out of my previous existing ones,’ says Emily.

‘I’ve added some tie-on seat pads to make them extra comfy as we spend a lot of time around this table.’

Get the look: Emilio dining chairs, £239 for two, Home Essentials

The storage unit was updated with boxes that pull out easily and hide more of the children’s toys neatly away. ‘Because all the boys’ books and puzzles are now in the storage boxes, it’s freed up some shelves, which I can use for dining utensils, like extra bowls and glasses.’

Get the look: Fabric storage baskets, £8 for two, Home Essentials

‘I’ve never had the incentive to dress my table before, but adding a linen tablecloth, vases of dried flowers and someplace settings have really made it look stylish,’ says Emily. ‘I even bought some new natural-coloured crockery and some rattan trays to complete the look.’

Get the look: Batu trays, £49 for two, Home Essentials

Have you been inspired by this dreamy neutral makeover?

The post Neutrals are anything but dull in this incredible dining room transformation appeared first on Ideal Home.

With gas and electricity costs on the rise, now is a great time to look at the different incentives and grants available to you to reduce your energy bills. The Warm Home Discount Scheme, if you qualify, could provide you with a one-off payment of £140 towards your electricity bills this winter. It’s an easy saving to make just by simply filling in a simple online form.

Read on to find out all the answers to your questions about the scheme, from explaining what it is and how to find out if you’re eligible, to how to apply and if there are any restrictions.

What is the Warm Home Discount Scheme?

The Warm Home Discount is a government initiative that provides eligible households with money that they can put towards their household electricity bills. The scheme is made for those looking for ways to save energy at home to reduce the cost of living.

‘The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a great way of tackling fuel poverty for the most vulnerable in the UK. It’s no secret that we’re seeing the cost of energy rapidly rising, and this is a small silver lining for those who need it most,’ says Phil Foster, CEO of Love Energy Savings. The discount for the 2021-2022 winter season is set at £140. ‘It’s crucial for many vulnerable people in the UK,’ adds Phil.

Who qualifies for the Warm Home Discount Scheme?

Image credit: Future PLC/Clive Doyle

The programme is designed to help vulnerable people or those why may need help covering the costs of their energy bills during the winter months when energy bills tend to soar. You too may be wondering why your energy bills are so high. Therefore there is certain criteria that will need to be met to prove your eligibility.

If you do qualify, you’ll fall into either the Core Group category or the Broader Group category:

• Core Group: Pensioners who receive the Guarantee Credit part of the Pension Credit should receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions to notify them that they qualify for the scheme. This group doesn’t normally need to apply for the discount. Instead the money is automatically deducted from their bill. If you don’t get a letter but think you qualify for the core group, call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 731 0214.
• Broader Group People who are already living in, or are at risk of fuel poverty fall into this grouping. Typically, you will have to be a recipient of a state benefit, such as Income Support or Universal Credit. You might also be able to apply if your household annual income falls below £16,000, as long as you have a child under five years living permanently in the house or you receive a Disability Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Incapacity Benefit or Attendance Allowance. Your electricity supplier decides who can receive the discount, so check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and for details on how to apply. If successful, the discount will be applied to your bill by March 2022.

Incredibly, according to a spokesperson at OfGem, the scheme currently provides £149.5 million to Core Group consumers and £161.9 million to Broader Group customers.

How do I get the Warm Home Discount?

The funds aren’t given to you directly, but applied to your energy bill between October and March, meaning the discount is handled by your energy provider. If you have a pre-payment meter, your energy company will confirm how you’ll get the discount. For example, it might be a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

How do I apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme?

Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore

The core group has their discount applied automatically. If you fall under the Broader Group you will need to apply to your electricity supplier and, if eligible, the funds are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, so it pays to apply as soon as you can – which is usually from October.

The scheme is proving so popular that some energy providers have already reached their capacity and aren’t accepting any more applications for this year’s 2021/2022 scheme. Bear in mind, that you will have to reapply each year.

Also, not all energy suppliers have to pay the Warm Home Discount, so check to see if your current supplier does. If not you may have to switch providers to benefit. To physically apply, fill in the application form on your supplier’s website or telephone them to start the process.

Can I switch energy providers if I’ve received the Warm Home Discount benefit?

If you’re receiving the benefit via the Core Group, you should be fine to switch energy suppliers, but do check that your new supplier supports the scheme. If receiving the benefit as part of the Broader Group, you need to check your supplier’s rules about changing to a different company.

If you have already received the benefit, then you should be fine to switch. If you’re still waiting for the payment to reach you, you may come across some complications in switching suppliers and you could risk not receiving the benefit at all. With this in mind, it might be worthwhile waiting until the payment is in your account before you start any energy price comparisons with other companies.

Is the Warm Home Discount Scheme the same as the Winter Fuel payment?

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is separate from the Winter Fuel payment and won’t affect your eligibility for the Warm Home Discount programme. The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free benefit given to those who were born on or before 26 September 1955 and if you lived in the UK throughout the qualifying week for the financial year of 2021–2022 (which was 20-26 September 2021).

How much you’ll receive depends on your personal circumstances and should be paid into your account by mid-January each year. If you think you’re eligible but haven’t received monies by 14 January, call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

‘One of the great things about the Warm Home Discount Scheme is that it is separate from the Cold Weather Payment & Winter Fuel Payment and will not impact eligibility, a real boost to those who need it most,’ says Phil Foster.

Image credit: Future plc/Darren Chung

Can I apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme if I live in a mobile home?

Mobile Homes are eligible for the Warm Home Discount, but must apply through The Park Homes Warm Discount Scheme managed by Charis Grants.

‘The scheme is available to permanent residents living in park homes across England, Scotland and Wales paying their electricity bills directly to the park site owner. Applications are considered on a first come first served basis and there’s a waiting list,’ explains Phil Foster.

‘Charis has administered the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme since its inception in 2015. Since then, we have worked closely with energy suppliers to deliver over £3 million of funds to keep over 20,000 homes warm over winter each year,’ says Alec Broadhurst, Director at Charis.

‘The scheme targets residents who cannot access the Warm Home Discount £140 rebate because they do not have a traditional supplier. We know the payments we make are impactful. The families we support are often elderly and living in leaky homes that are hard to heat and keep warm. Coupled with the fact that Park Home residents are often unable to shop around for cheaper energy deals.’

Do bear in mind that the Park Homes incentive is extremely popular. ‘Over recent years the scheme has been very highly subscribed meaning it can close only a few weeks after opening,’ says Alec Broadhurst. Unfortunately the scheme has already closed for 2021/2022 as its already reached its maximum number of applications. However, you can register your interest for next year’s discount at Park Homes Warm Discount.

What happens to my warm home discount if my energy supplier goes out of business?

If you’re in the Core Group, you should continue to get the discount with your new supplier. If you’re in the Broader Group, you’ll need to reapply for the discount with your new supplier. Do this as soon as possible, as the number of discounts paid by each supplier to their Broader group customers may be restricted.

The post Warm Home Discount Scheme explained appeared first on Ideal Home.