More and more people are utilizing their outdoor living spaces in interesting and fun ways. We hope you enjoy this list! Did we miss anything?
More and more people are utilizing their outdoor living spaces in interesting and fun ways. We hope you enjoy this list! Did we miss anything?
Chances are you’ve thought about adding a splash of color to the exterior of your home, and you’re not the only one. Many people have the same idea, but they don’t act because they’re worried they will choose poorly. Selecting the wrong paint color for your home’s exterior isn’t only costly, it’s embarrassing as well.
“Many homeowners are afraid to add color to their home’s exterior because they don’t want to make a mistake,” says Sensational Color’s Kate Smith, Color Marketing Group (CMG), a career color trend forecaster. “Especially when people look at the style of their homes, they can become confused by what colors will enhance their exteriors.”
One common mistake homeowners make when seeking to add color to their home’s exterior is they fail to identify a full color palette. They set out to choose that perfect color for their home without thinking about how it will interact with the newly-installed window frames or new roof.
Smith says the selection of your main color should take into account the colors of fixed features related to your home, such as the brick, stone or stucco found on your foundation, porch or walkway. Selecting color options for the trim, shutters and the front door should only come after the main color has been selected.
“One of the hottest trends in the marketplace right now is to ‘shake up’ home exteriors with color,” says Smith.
“No homeowner should feel locked into blah or standard colors on their home’s exterior,” says Smith. “A shake or slate polymer roof can have an appealing blend of colors, such as browns and autumn tones. Low-maintenance vinyl window frames and grids come in pine green, chocolate and even brick red to add pizzazz to the home. And, homeowners can create a welcoming front entrance by painting a fiberglass door a striking accent color. Tie that all together with painted urethane trim pieces that add the ‘icing on the cake’ for the home and you can really make a home more appealing with coordinated colors.”
Ready to shake up your home’s exterior? Call us today and take advantage of our 10% discount on all exterior home painting! Limited time offer so act today!
Setting a mood in your home or business is a great way to help friends or customers feel welcomed in your abode or commercial space. From adding colors in specific areas to brighten the atmosphere to arranging the furniture in your living room to help increase the energy flow through your house, there are many ways you can set a mood that will be beneficial to you and your visitors.
So if you are looking for a change of atmosphere in your home, here are a few ways you can set a mood in your house to make it feel like a home to everyone.
Focus on Feng Shui
Feng Shui, or ‘wind-water’, is an ancient Chinese practice that involves positioning objects, furniture, and even whole buildings to influence the flow of energy, or chi, through a specific structure. While its effectiveness has been debated, many supporters believe that modeling your rooms with feng shui in mind is a wonderful way to set a supportive and flowing mood through your house.
To design your rooms in the fashion of feng shui, imagine that the energy in your home is water, and think about how well it would flow through the rooms. If the water would flow circuitously through the rooms, pleasantly splashing everything it touched, then your feng shui is in line. If the water would be blocked immediately, or simply rush out the back door, you may want to do some reorganizing to help the flow of energy.
Colors on the Wall
Another fantastic way of setting a mood in your home is by adding specific colors that increase positive energy. But before you go splashing paint on your walls, think of how different colors affect individuals.
Red is known to affect mood strongly, but can also cause tension and irritability. Black may be slimming in clothing, but it induces sadness or temporary depression for some. Instead, add decorations that include greens, blues, and yellow: all colors that appear frequently in nature. Visitors coming in contact with these colors will immediately feel welcomed and nurtured.
Wood Looks Good
If you have space for decorations or sculptures in your home, consider adding a few to serve as a focal point or conversation piece, or simply to be icons that your visitors can admire as they traipse through your halls. But don’t just throw in whatever you see: think about how the materials of the sculptures will change the ambiance of the room.
While metal sculptures may look smooth and sleek, they add an unnecessarily cold feeling to any room and can end up making the space uninviting. Clay sculptures also demonstrate mastery of the trade by the artist, but have a worn look that can increase fatigue amongst the people in your home. Push these aside and opt for wood sculptures instead. Wood sculptures can carry the same smooth texture as metal ones, yet emit a warm natural feel that leaves admirers feeling comfortable and happy.
Set the Mood at Home
Setting a mood in your house is important if you want to create a positive air for your friends and guests. Try these simple steps to add a wonderful ambiance and have a house that truly feels like a home.
The author, Anthony Lepore, is a retired interior decorator, DIY aficionado and freelance blogger. Mr. Lepore has years of experience designing homes and gardens, and hopes to inspire readers to take on new home projects. He is currently working on a review of different types of outdoor accommodations and music for business.
It is still a buyer’s market in real estate prompting many homeowners to transform their existing properties rather than buying a new one. The great news is that you can take your standard home and turn it into something amazing.
Contractors and homeowners are working together to improve properties and make them more impressive. There are countless ways to make any home more appealing and enjoyable as people begin to transform their modest homes into alluring and spectacular abodes.
Hidden Televisions
People have often hidden their televisions in cabinets when not in use. However, this lacks style and imagination. Modern homeowners can choose to have their massive televisions disguised as mirrors or artwork when not in use. This way, you can have the incredible picture size without letting it dominate the room even when it’s turned off.
Water and Fire
Make your outdoor patio more enjoyable with a water feature and a fire pit. If you’re really clever, you’ll have the two combined into one amazing fixture. It’s an impressive addition to any outdoor living area and the neighbors will be green with envy.
Master Controls
Did the kids leave the lights on in the basement again? Are you hearing a television on in another room but there’s no one in there? With a master control system, you can have complete control over your home electronics and electrical system from your Smartphone or tablet. Control temperature, turn off lights and even turn up the heater for the pool from one central device.
Open Designs
Lofts have been popular for years and homes with cathedral ceilings often have banisters or entire rooms that overlook the main level. Open designs take this to the next level by eliminating the walls and solid banisters on upper levels.
More Space, More Storage
A common reason people move is because they need more space and storage. However, the space you are looking for may be closer than you think. Transform the space under the stairs into a beautiful office complete with a built-in desk, shelves, and lower drawers. Make large pull-out shelves for items you don’t use frequently. With a little creativity, you can make your existing home more functional by adding storage.
Outdoor Playground Equipment
Slides and swings aren’t just for playgrounds anymore. They are now moving indoors. Massive swinging beds can be added to the basement or even the living room for relaxing and taking a long nap. Swings can also be used in the children’s rooms for them to enjoy on a rainy day. Do you have a boring stairwell? Replace it with a circular one featuring steps on one side and a connecting slide. Before adding swings to the joists, check with an engineer to ensure that you swing will be secure.
Natural Elements
You don’t have to build a log cabin to enjoy natural elements. Use large branches from a birch tree as the posts for an awesome bed. Include natural elements like branches in your home decor and use natural elements as supports or other structural elements. You can change the look of your home and add a whimsical feel without having to move.
Contractors and homeowners are working together to improve properties and make them more impressive. There are countless ways to make any home more appealing and enjoyable. Whether you want sophisticated storage in the kitchen or a fun swing for the kids to enjoy on rainy days, you can transform your simple home into something amazing and impressive.
Cassidy Lewis is a freelance home improvement blogger and proud Texan. She is a contributing writer with her local Braun’s Roofing company, who have helped many Houston-area homes undergo transformative renovations.
One way to add aesthetic appeal to your home is to replace an existing garage door with a glass garage door. If your garage door is outdated, then you have the option to add a row of glass or to install a new garage door. A modern and stylish glass garage door offers many benefits beyond aesthetic appeal.
Curb Appeal
Glass is a beautiful detail that is a great way to increase the curb appeal of your home. You can find a variety of styles that incorporate glass into a garage door. The style of garage door can also match your house windows. This is a great way to create an appealing look for your home.
Natural Light
Glass garage doors are a great way for your garage to be illuminated with natural light. This allows the garage to be used during the day without having to turn on interior lights or open the door. Light that comes through the glass means work can be done during warm and cold weather. The use of glass in garage doors is also a great way to illuminate an area that is typically dark and gloomy.
Construction
Most types of glass garage doors are made with a metal frame. A metal frame is more rigid and will be much stronger than wood or even a full-glass door. Typical glass garage doors are sectional or can be a roll-up design. Sectional doors open like a standard garage door on a track. Roll-up garage doors will not use the same type of track. Most doors will have an aluminum alloy frame with panels of glass. Glass panels come in a variety of shapes and styles.
Appearance
The glass used in a glass garage door comes in many types. You can choose to have clear glass or use glass that has a frosted appearance. One option is to use sand blasted glass. This type of glass appears both translucent and frosted. Glass doors are also an option is you want to replace an old faded and pale looking door. You can choose to add glass garage doors to an attached garage, detached garage, or outbuilding. Replacing an existing garage door that is beginning to show signs of rust will revitalize the look of your garage to neighbors. Your neighbors may even think about replacing their old and outdated garage doors.
Built to Last
The materials that are used in the construction of glass garage doors are strong and durable. They need very little maintenance to keep them looking new and aesthetically pleasing. You will need to clean the glass with regular glass cleaner to remove any dirt or handprints. However, rust and other issues that are common with standard garage doors are typically not a concern.
Additional Information
Installing glass garage doors allow you to have a sleek and contemporary look if you want to make an investment that will increase the value of your home. You can find these doors in many styles and types at a local home improvement store or at a specialty hardware store. Another benefit is that they are not overly pricey compared to high-end garage doors. A glass garage door is a great option if you plan on a remodel or update to the exterior of your home.
Glass Breakage
One thing to remember about glass garage doors is there is a chance that the glass on the door can break. This is typically not an issue as the aluminum alloy frame helps keep the glass from breaking or cracking.
Glass garage doors can make your home have a sense of modern style while also letting in natural light. They can be made to withstand various amounts of impact and be made to let in however much light the owner wants. They are also long lasting and an attractive element to any house or business.
After installing glass garage doors, guest writer Steven Morris began an ambitious window tinting project in his Houston, Texas home, with assistance from Sun Tech Glass Tinting.
Are you bored with the look of the rooms in your home? Would you like to spice things up a bit? Here are some simple tips to update the look of anyone room in your home even if you’re working with a tight budget.
1. Put some decorative pillows in the rooms
Decorative pillows are a great way to express your personality and add a little something special to any room in your home. Be adventurous! Try different colors, textures and patterns. If the pillows you fell in love with at the department store don’t quite thrill you when you get them home, simply return them and try again. Most department stores have great sales on decorative pillows making them a terrific choice for updating any room in your home.
2. Change the paintings on the walls
If your old paintings have been hanging on the walls for years, then it is high time you change them with some new ones! The walls of your home are a wonderful place where you can express your personality and show off your imagination.
3. Be a little eccentric
Try to be a little more unconventional when it comes to home decoration and interior design. Interior design trends are constantly changing so don’t worry too much about adhering to any strict rules.
For example, try to mix modern art with more traditional furnishing and decorations. One idea is to put a modern flat screen TV in a living room that is furnished in a classical style and add a couple of paintings with floral motives around the TV to create the necessary balance.
4. Stickers here, stickers there, stickers everywhere
The easiest way to hide an ugly spot on the walls without painting the whole wall is to use some decorative wall stickers. This is not only very easy and effort-free, but it is also inexpensive. Decorative stickers are the perfect way to make your home different, especially if you want to add an artistic and more urban touch here and there.
5. Change the night lamp
Your bedroom is one of the most intimate and important places in your home. Something as simple as changing your night lights can make the room more comfortable and bring a sense of piece and calmness.
Author Bio: July Minor is blogger and writer that loves home improvement. She owns a small company that provides one off cleaning Belgravia in London, UK. July loves to spend her free time sharing her decorating ideas with her readers.
Decorating your child’s bedroom can often be quite the undertaking. From picking the perfect paint shade to coordinating furniture and accessories, it can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t already have an idea of where to start. One way to cut down on the stress of decorating is to come up with a theme that you are able to tie colors, bedding and accessories into. Age is another important factor, as a nursery is much different to put together than a teen’s room. These 30 blog posts are full of photos of various rooms for boys, and hopefully will give you some inspiration for creating a room for your son.
Nurseries
Because nurseries are short-lived and your baby boy will transition into toddlerhood quickly, some people prefer to paint the room in a versatile color palette and then change it as the boy ages. Others take on the project with big plans of murals and mobiles and stars on the ceiling. How you create the nursery for your son will depend on whether you want to use a theme or not. These six blog entries share tons of nursery ideas from which you can draw inspiration.
Toddler
Once your baby boy enters the toddler phase, you’ll want to upgrade his room to a “big boy” room. Buying the bed is an important factor in this, as you’ll have to decide between purchasing a toddler bed or a regular bed. If you opt for the toddler bed, keep in mind that you’ll need to upgrade again in a few years. On the other hand, if you choose a bigger bed, you’ll be able to use the bedroom as a guest room any time you have company. These six blog articles will help you determine how to go about decorating your toddler’s room.
Teen
Pre-teens and teens often have a pretty good idea of how they would like their room to look, so you’ll have less to discern when decorating a teen’s room. They also are more likely to want neutral colors or to integrate a hobby into their room’s theme. Look over the room designs in these six blog posts with your teen and see if you can come to a meeting of the minds.
Themes
Using a theme to design a room can be a lot of fun. If your child loves dinosaurs, use that passion to create the ultimate dinosaur room. If he’s into skateboards, use actual skateboards as shelving instead of basic shelves. Check out the themes in these six blog entries for more unique ideas.
Timeless
Timeless rooms are those that focus on using neutral colors and colors that grow with the child instead of rooms that are full of age-specific colors and designs. Many people also opt for white furniture instead of furniture that is trendy or has designs on it. Timeless rooms allow you to build on the basics. These six blog entries will share some pictures of timeless room designs and make some suggestions on how to create a timeless room.
Author Bio:
Maria Wells is a freelance writer & a regular contributor for “Housekeeping.org”. You can view one of her recently published article “http://www.housekeeping.org/
Creating a beautiful and timeless look in a home shouldn’t require a herculean amount of effort if a few basic principles are followed. There are many ways to dress up a room, but none will be as aesthetically pleasing or serene as including a timeless design in a home. If you want to achieve an elegant look to your room or home, here are some tips to follow:
Minimize the Excess Clutter
If you have a small space, you may have rooms that do double duty, but keeping the room uncluttered and free of unnecessary objects is a way to ensure the space does not become overwhelming. If your office doubles as a spare guest room, then a good way to ensure elegance is to use an armoire or cabinet that doubles as your desk space to keep unwanted papers and clutter out of sight when a guest is using the room.
Choose a Focal Point
Whether it’s an original or vintage piece of art or a stunning mirror, each room in your home should have a focal point. A fireplace, fountain, or large portrait will set the tone of the room and give you the ability to decorate around your focal point.
Choose a Color Scheme
Your color scheme is a reflection of who you are as well as your tastes. If you’re attempting to create serenity and elegance, a muted or lighter shade may be the key to achieving this look. However, if you’re more interested in bolder colors with a slight flare for the dramatic, a darker color is the way to go. Additionally, once you’ve chosen a color scheme, all of the furnishings in the room should adhere to this scheme.
Keep It Neat and Tidy
Nothing can ruin an elegant home faster than uncleanliness and disarray. If you’re not the neatest person in the world, a slight investment in weekly housekeeping, or cajoling your children into helping you keep up with the clutter, may be necessary. Cleanliness is one of the main keys to giving off an air of sophistication in your home. Keeping your counter tops clear, your bookshelves dusted, and your windows sparkling shows that you have pride in your home and enjoy keeping it well maintained.
Keep Cords and Wires Out of Sight
Much like keeping your home neat and tidy, keeping unsightly cords out of the way is a must. There are many ways to do this and a visit to your local home-improvement store could easily elicit some ideas that are inexpensive and easy to do. You may want to invest in a power strip to concentrate all power cords in one area, and mask this with a potted plant or side table.
Consider Cohesiveness
If the inside of your home is a calm oasis, the outside of your home should reflect those same inviting qualities. Invest a weekend into trimming the hedges, cutting the grass, painting the siding, or planting shrubs and flowers. Creating a unique theme between the inside and outside of your house can be a great way to add balance to your home. The inside of your home is where you’re going to spend most of your time—but creating an overall picture of elegance starts from the curb.
This article was written by Kevin Law, a freelance blogger and retired home contractor. When Kevin doesn’t have his hands dirty in a home renovation project, he hopes to provide helpful insight into DIY home projects, and is currently looking into adding a fixture from Fathom Fountains.
If you find yourself wondering how you ever got along before your smartphone, laptop and GPS, you’re not alone. Technology is so much a part of how we go about our days that we often take it for granted. However, in many cases, houses haven’t caught up to the same technological standards as the gadgets people carry with them 24/7. But that’s all about to change, as new ideas begin to revolutionize the way we view our homes.
Technology can do two things: First, it can make everyday tasks simpler and faster. Second, it can enable us to do things that weren’t possible before. So when it comes to your home, having technology on your side can make a big difference – in terms of time, energy and money savings. If you want your home to join the world of high-tech living, consider these solutions:
* Entertaining made easier: Part of the fun of owning a home is inviting friends and family to come over. Because everyone has a busy schedule these days, planning and hosting a party needs to be as easy as possible. With the help of some smart new audio systems, setting the mood with music is a snap. Bluetooth-streaming stereos like iLuv’s MobiRock let you control the music from wherever you are, right from your smartphone – no more having to leave your conversation to go turn the music up or down, or switch to a new track. The Aud 5, also from iLuv, features a dock that accommodates Lightning, the next generation connection port on the latest iPhones and iPods. Since you can charge your device while using Bluetooth to control it, there’s no worry about the music stopping in the middle of your party.
* Staying secure: Protecting belongings and family in the home has been a priority since time immemorial, but now there are far better ways to do it. While everyone wants protection, in the past state-of-the-art home security technology has been well out of many homeowners’ budgets. But that was then – today, protecting your home is becoming much more affordable, and the average homeowner can install high-quality security cameras that make it easy to always keep an eye on your property. Polaroid’s line of Wireless IP security cameras include both indoor and outdoor models, can be operated via computer or smartphone and even let you send snapshots via email. Whether you just want to check in while you’re at the office or during a weekend getaway, security cameras make it easier to know that your home is safe.
* The automated home: It’s inevitable – a few hours into what’s supposed to be a relaxing vacation, you’ll wonder, “Did I leave the lights on?” or “Were the window shades left open?” The stress of not knowing – and not being able to do anything about it – might soon be a thing of the past. Reasonably priced home automation systems that allow you to take care of those little household chores remotely are already available. TaHomA, from Somfy Systems, enables you to schedule and supervise window coverings, lighting and thermostats. Using an iPad, iPhone or computer, you can make adjustments from within or outside the home in just a few clicks.
Technology has changed virtually every facet of business and communication – it only makes sense that our homes will be the next frontier of innovation. As you consider all the ways to make your life simpler, keep in mind that a high-tech solution will be able to help, now and in the future.
Have you incorporated home technology into your home? Do you have any recommendations to share with others on the best and the worst? We’d love to hear your feedback! Gary B.
The best kind of home improvements: high-impact, low-maintenance
Yes, everyone knows making home improvements is a worthy investment in your greatest material asset. Sure you want every improvement job done well with top-notch end results. But when all is said and done, do you really want to have to put a lot of effort and money into maintaining those improvements? For most people – whether they’ll admit it or not – the answer is “no.”
The best home improvements are the ones that not only enhance your home’s value and livability, but also require little work from you afterward to keep them looking great and functioning well. If you’re looking for high-impact, low-maintenance home improvements, consider these popular projects:
No-leak skylights
When it comes to an improvement that brightens your home, enhances its indoor air quality and boosts energy-efficiency, skylights deliver. Unfortunately, early skylights had a reputation for being leaky – a problem that simply doesn’t occur with modern, no leak, energy-efficient skylights like those made by Velux America. Pre-engineered flashing kits (the metal shield that surrounds any opening in a wall or roof) work with all types of roofs, from shingles to metal, to ensure a properly installed skylight won’t leak.
Need further low-maintenance points to make the case for adding a skylight? Not only do modern skylights keep water out, they’re energy efficient as well. Energy Star-qualified, no leak solar-powered fresh air skylights, like those from Velux, deliver fresh air through cost-effective passive ventilation. Adding remote-controlled, solar-powered blinds allows you to easily open or close a fresh air skylight and shade it when the sun hits that part of the roof, boosting the skylight’s energy efficiency by 39 percent. Keep the shade open during cold weather to admit warmth and reduce heating costs. A 30 percent federal tax credit on both products and installation costs makes a skylight project even more appealing. Visit www.veluxusa.com for a tax calculator to show your savings for a new installation or replacement skylights and a skylight planner app to show exactly how skylights and blinds will look in any area of your home.
Lighting upgrade
Older light fixtures not only look dated, they often use outdated, inefficient bulbs and are lacking in the energy-efficient emphasis that comes with newer fixtures. Upgrading lighting throughout your home is a great way to ensure you won’t have to think about it again any time soon.
If a total lighting redesign is out of the question, you can still make your existing light fixtures lower maintenance simply by swapping out old, inefficient incandescent light bulbs with newer, electricity-sipping versions. Options like CFLs and LEDs provide all the light of incandescents while using a fraction of the energy. Energy.gov says Energy Star-rated LEDs use at least 75 percent less power than incandescent bulbs, and last 25 times longer. Imagine the time, hassle and money you’ll save not having to replace bulbs constantly – especially in lights that get a lot of use, like porch lights, or that are hard to reach, like the chandelier in your two-story entryway.
Vinyl siding
Wood, fiber cement, stucco, brick – there are nearly as many types of exterior siding as there are colors to paint it. When it comes to low- or no-maintenance siding, vinyl remains the gold standard.
While early versions of vinyl siding introduced in the 1950s earned criticism for being less lovely than wood, even those less sophisticated versions had staying power; it’s possible to find homes in use today sporting vinyl siding that was added to the house in the 1970s or even earlier.
Vinyl siding never needs to be painted, and when properly installed provides exceptional shielding from the elements. New technology has made modern vinyl siding look better and last longer without fading issues associated with older versions of vinyl. It requires basic cleaning, and overall maintenance demands are much less than other types of siding.
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