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Remodeling? Top Design Tips to Convert Your Home into an Elegant Manor

Remodeling Top Design Tips to Convert Your Home into an Elegant Manor

There are a number of ways to add elegance to your home. Focusing on a few key visual features can completely transform the ambiance of your home without major remodeling or spending a fortune on new furniture. With a good idea of the look you’re after, you can start shopping and find some great, affordable products that you incorporate into your home with basic handyman skills. Depending on where you feel you need the upgrade most, one or two projects can give your home that classic, affluent look. Here are some ideas to start with.

Reinvent Your Style

Ditch the boring, generic fixtures and find some upscale alternatives. A thrift shop can do as well as a department store. Look for fancy lighting fixtures, wall sconces, frosted glass, large mirrors, and ornate wood molding. Think about finishes like brass or mahogany. A few nice paintings or sculptures should be placed where they’ll catch the eye. Your home doesn’t have to be a mansion if it can look like one on the inside.

Upgrade Your Fireplace

A classic fireplace is one of the most elegant touches you can provide. If you have a fireplace in your home, make it a statement. You can buy pre-fabricated mantels or kits in a variety of materials and styles. If you don’t have the funds for marble or ornate hardwoods, you can buy cast stone mantels that look nearly as good. With modern ventilation systems, you don’t even necessarily need a chimney.

Remodel Your Stairs

For multi-story homes, a staircase can become the focal point of the interior. There are a wide range of parts like ornamental newel posts or balusters in both wood and metal. You can even transform the stair itself into a new style, such as a curved or floating stairwell. Of course, this should be done with the help of a professional, such as those at Tarosa Stairs, who can help you find the design that is right for your home.

Add Fabrics

The look and color of the fabrics you use can also create a more elegant appearance in any room. You can start with some new carpet or a distinctive area rug. Drapes, tapestries, canopies, furniture covers, and more are easily added or replaced. Imagine walking into your living room or bedroom and seeing floor-to-ceiling satins, silks, fine linens, or custom weaves.

Do some browsing to find some stunning ideas for that new molding or stairwell that adds elegance to your home. Ultimately, it’s your opinion that matters most.

Sliding Screen Doors For Homes – The All In One Screen

Screen doors are used in many homes for demarcating two rooms. These take the place of a conventional door to make it look more classy and elegant. However, screen doors may not always be hinged. It is perfectly alright if they are made to slide. In fact, there may arise many situations where we want the doors to slide. The sliding screen doors look good and when combined with functionality is a dream come true for every pragmatic house owner.

sliding screen door For Home

Materials used in sliding screen doors

The screen material and quality of the mesh used for sliding screen doors has become so vast that it takes a long time to make up one’s mind about which one fits the bill for you. There is a myriad of options available to choose from and these have come a long way from the traditional black mesh to the steel ones. Modern times and the advent of composite and complex materials have increased the available choices. Now, it is possible to couple both the inventiveness and the functionality of a sliding door into one and choose the right one for your home.

sliding screen doors for home

Here are a variety of screen options one can choose from:

  • Stainless Steel screens –As always, steel has reigned over in the sliding door segment too due to its anti-corrosive nature, versatility and durability. However, there are quite a few other materials that customers can go for. These can be customized too in accordance with the tastes and preferences of people. One can also opt for new versions of these steel screens, readily available in the market, such as epoxy coated steel wires. However, galvanized steel screen has always monopolized the market and still has a huge customer base.
  • Copper screens – Although at a premium, this is a very good option if you are anywhere close to the sea.
  • Pet screens – These are screens designed with a strong mesh. Pet owners end up spending annually to replace their mesh when they get damaged by constant scratching by their pets. They can instead go for pet screens as these are more durable.
  • Solar screening – These screens used for sliding doors block the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. One has the option of choosing from different weaves. You could choose to go for printed solar weaving and get the added benefit of printing any picture that you like on the screens.

sliding screen doors

Benefits of a sliding screen door

  • Sliding screen doors are becoming a rage all over. It is an ideal option for home owners who want to bring the outside environment into the house. It enables a perfect amalgamation of the exteriors and the interiors. What better than a sliding screen door that looks aesthetic and still does the trick? A sliding screen door lets you take in the beauty of the outside and does so effortlessly. When structured and installed properly, sliding doors help you get in proper air and lighting to the house while at the same time enhancing the functionality of your house.
  • This is an easy way of watching your kids while avoiding the noise that emanates from the exteriors or garden area. You can close the sliding screen door and at the same time keep a watchful gaze on your little ones. These offer you protection against natural elements such as heat, light, storm etc. while at the same time makes your home look more spacious through the interplay of glass, light and other reflective factors.

These sliding doors are made of materials that are not cut from trees and hence are environment friendly whereas hinged doors are not. If you are a person who is concerned with the conservation of natural resources, these are the best option for you to go green!

Author bio:

Joseph Webb is an excellent blogger and philosopher, His keen observation to provide useful information which helps readers to get more idea. Follow him on google+. and Twitter.

 

Designing a Room Your Child Will Love with a Few Simple Tips

how to decorate your kids room

Your kid’s bedroom needs to be decorated in a way that will reflect their personality with a combination of what they enjoy the most. Make sure not to decorate it in a way that will make you happy only, as it will be fulfilling your own dreams and not helping your child. The aim of the redo of the bedroom when designing is to create an entertaining and warm environment where they can relax, learn and have fun.

Pick a Colour Together

The colour of your kid’s room will be a crucial aspect as it can help them focus and concentrate better. Make sure that you go together with your child when choosing the colour, as it will choosing the color of your childs roombe hard to find what they like the most on your own. Nevertheless, if you want to ensure that you are doing your best in creating a fun environment for them to grow up, look through what some of the most influential colours are.

Create a Creative Corner

Make sure that you have a part of the room dedicated to creativity, where your kid can draw and play to their heart’s content. It is possible to apply chalkboard paint as one of the main aspects, as it will be easy to clean it up, and your child will not get into trouble for drawing on the wall. Set up a perimeter which will help separate this part of the room, as it can help focus their energy into various creative projects.

Sound-Proofing the Floor

Keep in mind that your kid will want to jump around a lot, which could be very noisy, especially if their room is on the first floor. You can make sure that they will not hurt themselves nor make a lot of sound if they have a rug in their room. On the other hand, it will be a good chance to get carpeting which will educational for your kid, you can have the map of the world, the alphabet and many other interesting designs printed.

Shelves Are More than Just for Storage

Pick out a theme to go with the room’s overall design, which can make it easy to combine other elements as well. Be sure to install shelves as a means to decorate and to help your kid get introduced to the wonders of reading books. Moreover, some books are simply amazing when put away on shelves and will be a great addition to the room’s look, and when you child is bored, they can pick it up and read.

designing a room your child will love

Kids Will Be Kids

No matter the age, your child will have childhood heroes they will adore and will want to have palpable memorabilia. Sideshow Collectibles offers a large variety of action figures and figurines which will look amazing in any child’s room. Then again, it could become a tradition your child can nurture on as they will be able to expand their collection as they grow older. Nevertheless, having their favourite character on display will make their room look better and make your child happy.

Create Pictures to Hang

Every child has a favourite movie or cartoon they will grow up with, and one way to make their rooms truly unique is to create special pictures you can hang. Find posters and characters tips for decorating your kids roomwhich you can frame and hang up in their room. Not only will it look amazing, but it will make their friends come over to bask in the room’s beauty.

Always ask your child what they like to be able to help them with decorations and to provide a good idea in order to make their bedroom one-of-a-kind. Then again, try to create, or continue a tradition that they will be able to carry on further. In the end though, your kid’s room will be where they will spend most of their time, which is why it should be adjusted to their taste.

About author:

Tracey Clayton is a full time mom of three girls. She feels she knows a thing or two about raising happy, healthy and confident kids, and offers helpful advice in hers parenting articles. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.” Find her on Facebook.

 

Simple Changes That Can Make a Big Impact in Your Home

living-room

Your home’s interior space affects your mood, creativity and happiness. If your interior space leaves a lot to be desired, it is time to shake things up a bit. Here are six simple changes that can make a big impact on your home.

Paint Your Walls

Refreshing the paint on your walls is an inexpensive change you can make. Outdated or dingy paint is depressing in a room. Select a new paint color that reflects your personality and style. A new coat of paint on your walls will give you a fresh outlook on life.

Change Your Lighting

There is a direct correlation between the lighting in your home and your mood. In fact, the right lighting can put you in a positive mood. Consider different options like floor lamps, hanging lamps and more. Lamps found at Treasure Shop Gallery can also make for a unique home décor. Bright lights will focus your attention on various aspects of your room. Softer lights can help create a relaxing environment. Choose the correct lighting for each room of your home.

Change Your Window Treatmentsinterior-design

Many people use the same window treatments in every season. If you have blinds, this is a good idea. However, windows with heavy curtains should be changed in the spring and summer. The purpose of your window treatments is to allow the proper amount of sunshine to shine through the windows.

Change Your Fixtures

Fixtures in a home are like accessories in your wardrobe. They give you the ability to make simple changes without doing a complete overhaul. If you cannot afford new cabinets, change the handles on your doors and drawers. You can also change your electrical plates and light fixtures.

Accessorize Your Home

Over time, even the best furniture and homes can appear to be dull. A solution to make your home livelier is to add pictures to your walls. To enhance your furniture, you can change the pillows and add decorative coverings.

Rearrange Your Furnitureliving-room decor

Rearranging your furniture can give your rooms a whole new feel. You may discover this is the only change you need to make. You can make a room feel larger simply by moving the couches.

Clear the Clutter

Take time to throw away things in your home that you do not need. Clearing the clutter will change the flow of energy in your home. This includes home décor. Too many small pieces cluttered on shelves and tables can make a home feel disorderly.

Making changes to your home does not have to ruin your budget. By making these simple changes, you can impact your home in a big way.

 

 

Vintage Value: How to Decorate With Antique Pieces

Vintage Value - How to Decorate With Antique Pieces

Clean, modern furniture doesn’t appeal to everyone. If you feel most comfortable surrounded by items dating back to last century, follow these tips to decorate with antique pieces in style.

Focus on Condition

An antique sofa might look great in your living room, but not if you find mold stains underneath the cushions or a big chip missing from one of the legs. Evaluate every potential purchase for defects or health hazards. Many vintage connoisseurs don’t mind the occasional fabric tear or dented surface. Decide what you find charming and what turns you off, then stick to those standards.

Create Subtle Vignettes

vintage collectionA group of like objects carries more weight than a single find. If you love scouring antique malls and flea markets for vintage finds, think like a collector. Maybe you’ll create a vignette of antique rolling pins, film cameras, board game pieces, or architectural hardware salvage. If you amass a large collection, look for a curio cabinet in which to display every element in an organized fashion.

Turn One Thing Into Something Else

Stack a set of vintage suitcases to form a makeshift bedside table or wrap an old wine crate in chicken wire to create a floating shelf. Think about ways to repurpose antiques if you can’t use them in their current condition.

Choose an Era You Love

A house filled with antique furniture often looks best when each element comes from the same period. You might prefer Queen Anne furnishings or Edwardian pieces. If you can’t pick a antique furnituresingle era, mix and match at random. A collection of antiques from all different periods might work with your eclectic style and seems more purposeful than a single out-of-place element.

Find One Similar Feature

Decorating with antiques means you can’t possibly match every piece of furniture in your home. To create a cohesive style, look for a single similar feature that weaves a thread of commonality among all your finds. Look for similar wood finishes, complementary color palettes, and other ways to tie it all together. If necessary, you can always add new stain, paint, or other embellishments to items that don’t match.

Shop Online

One of the best ways to find great antique furnishing and accents to match these is to look online. There are some great finds on the web—you just have to do some digging to find the perfect ones for your design sense. Online shopping can lead you to one-of-a-kind vintage pieces and, with Soft Surroundings coupons from Discountrue, you can find beautiful vintage furniture for a great price.

Protect Valuable Finds

When you buy an antique or vintage couch, you should sit on and use it. However, some antiques—particularly decorative pieces—require protection. Place them behind glass doors or on tall surfaces to prevent kids, pets, and wayward elbows from damaging them.

Decorating with antiques can prove both rewarding and exciting. When you learn how to incorporate them into your home effectively, they become even more priceless.

 

What Does Your Decorating Style Say about Your Personality?

Interior design - Yellow couch and decor

Image Source: Depositphotos.com

Everyone is unique, and this is often reflected in the way we decorate our homes. Have you ever wondered what people think about you when they see your home? Keep reading to find out what your decorating style says about your personality.

Traditional

Traditional décor is sophisticated and classic. Maybe you have beautiful floral paintings hanging on your walls or an antique cabinet to display your grandmother’s china. Traditional decorators use symmetry, classic furniture, and formal accent pieces. If you need inspiration for your own home check out Traditional Home, where you will find lots of examples of elegantly decorated rooms.

If you are a traditional decorator, you care about history and traditions. You take the time to get to know your neighbors and invest in your community. You like staying close to home and your family is very important to you.

Modern

modern kitchenIs your décor simple and contemporary? Do people see clean lines and lots of open space when they walk in? Is your home mostly white with splashes of color? Is your furniture sleek and stylish? Do you appreciate the elegance of HD Brooks mattresses from Haynes Furniture and similar suppliers? You are probably a modern decorator.

Modern decorators are very organized. They adapt easily to new technology, but clutter stresses them out. Modern decorators need open space to think creatively and they find comfort in unity. If you are a modern decorator, you care about cleanliness and appreciate simplicity. You are aware of the world around you and interested in what is trending, but you have a clear idea of what you like and only incorporate trends that match your style.

Rustic

Rustic homes are often found in resort towns, near lakes, and in the mountains. The close proximity to nature is reflected in the decorating style—rustic decorators use natural materials rustic living roomlike leather, stone and wood. They may have log furniture, wood floors, stone fireplaces, or hunting trophies hanging in the halls. Artwork on the walls usually portrays landscapes or animals.

Rustic decorators love nature. They find comfort, refreshment, and inspiration when they are out of doors and use their decorating style to bring nature into their homes. If you are a rustic decorator, you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, you know how to work hard, and you are practical. If you are interested in a rustic look, you could check out places that offer classic hardwood flooring to amplify that country feeling.

Casual

Casual décor is all about comfort and function. Casual decorators choose furniture that is useful and comfortable—not always the most expensive.  They choose low maintenance pieces that are practical and functional.

Casual decorators care about function more than form. While they like things to look nice, they care more about usefulness. Casual decorators want to be comfortable, and they want others to be at ease when they visit. They like to have fun, relax, and spend time with friends.

Eclectic

eclectic interiorEclectic decorators aren’t afraid to mix patterns and styles. They choose furniture from different periods. Eclectic decorators use many different materials—they aren’t afraid to put a vintage metal headboard in the same room as oak dressers. Check out this post from Apartment Therapy if you need help making your eclectic style work.

Eclectic decorators are collectors and adventurers. They like exploring new places and discovering new things. They know what they like and don’t care what others think. They aren’t afraid to make bold choices and they appreciate little details.

Whatever your personality is, choose a decorating style that will allow you to thrive and feel relaxed and happy in your own home.


Anica Oaks
Freelance writer and web enthusiast
Read some of my published work on my Google+ page.

Clever Design Ideas for Bringing Your Sunroom Back to Life

sunroom

A little bit of sun never hurt anybody. Actually, it is quite recommendable for people to enjoy the natural rays of sunlight than to use artificial lighting. Adding a sunroom to your house is a great way to create a perfect little haven where you can spend some quality time with your family, friends or just by yourself and also to be more in touch with nature as well. Here are some useful tips on how to redesign your sunroom in order to make it more lively, enabling it to exude all that much needed positive energy around you.

Walls

The color of your walls is a very important aspect when it comes to bringing a specific space back to life. But as the main focus are actually the windows that are surrounding the whole room, that leaves you in a situation with quite limited choices. When you have chosen the perfect window structure, it is best to paint the rest of the walls in some neutral and natural colors such as beige, white or even light blue or green. Another thing to consider is adding curtains that would match furniture and rugs.

Floors

sunroom flooringThe type of flooring in your sunroom will be determined by your personal preferences, as well as the purpose of the room. If you are looking for a more sophisticated look, ceramic tiles are perhaps the best option. Other than that, carpeting is a good option, as it is low maintenance and it comes in various colors and patterns and it is easily changeable. Of course, there is always an option of wood flooring that will give your sunroom a warmer and cozier look.

Repurposing

There is really no need to spend money on expensive furniture when you can easily DIY. For instance, reusing pallets for making tables, chairs and even wine racks and pathways is a great way to save money on furniture. Also, making use of wooden crates for the pieces as shelves, shoe benches and tables is a wonderful idea that will allow you not only to decorate your space, but also to be more environmentally friendly. You just need a little paint and a glimpse of imagination.

Details

Even the smallest of decorations can be a great way to transform your space. For example, just by adding a new picture or some other art piece is already a step forward. It is always sunroom plantsbeneficial to add as much nature as you can to the sunroom, so don’t hesitate to improve your space by adding plants. Also, details as handmade accessories, colorful cushions or figurines are a great way to add more spirit to the room.

Redecorating any space in your home should be a wonderful, liberating experience. If you plan on using the sunroom together with your family, than it is recommendable to include their ideas in the whole process of decoration, as this will allow you to create an area where everyone can feel comfortable and have a space for themselves. If you have children, a small nook for to play and keep their toys will surely be appreciated. And don’t be afraid to experiment. The key to decoration is to be creative and let the artist in you be your guide.

Helpful Home Improvement Tips: Using Rugs as Home Décor

Helpful Home Improvement Tips: Using Rugs as Home Décor

Mark Brandon is quite passionate about home renovation, and likes to share his ideas and experience online in the hope that it could help other people. He’s also a regular blog contributor at Safe and Sound Property Inspections. He writes about home decorating tips with the use of rugs in this article.

home decorating tips

There are many different home decorating ideas available for everyone. Homeowners have the liberty to select what they need, and which type of décor would fit perfectly into their home. Those who already have ideas about simple home design and renovation could easily breeze through the process. For beginners to avoid any renovation mistakes, they have to be knowledgeable about simple home improvement tips.

When you think about rugs, you may come to the conclusion that they are simple yet functional, something that you wouldn’t have to spend time selecting its design. Although it’s true that they are functional, they really don’t have to look boring. Homeowners need to know that rugs play a role in adding texture to your home design, comfort or coziness, and it could even complement the interior design and make it look better. If you need help, the following are some useful ideas and tips in incorporating rugs to your home design.

 rugs as home decor

Rug Selection Process

There are a lot of things that need to be considered when it comes to choosing the right type of rugs. The factors that need to be considered would include your budget, the durability and the material used for a specific type of rug, and the rug design. If your budget allows, you can go for buying high quality rugs as they would truly last quite longer than the ordinary ones. For example, oriental rugs can be quite costly at times but they can serve for more years compared with most area rugs.

As for the design, you have the option to base this on your furniture and the rest of the fixtures in the room. For rooms with Queen Anne Furniture, a rug with several beautiful patterns could be a good choice. There are also modern and classic rug designs, so you may select from any of these depending on what the overall concept of the room would be. To better visualize the future outcome, you can take a picture of the room and use it as your reference in selecting rug designs.

rugs

Area Rugs for Wooden Floors

For homes with wooden floors, keeping the floors flawless can be tricky. There are many methods that could help you protect your floor, this includes adding an area rug underneath the area rugs for wooden floorsfurniture. It does not just act as protection from scrapes, it also effectively hides imperfections. In living rooms, large rugs can be quite preferable. This also goes the same for the dining room. Large furniture is usually helpful when it comes to keeping the rug in place.

As for the kitchen and bathroom, it is important to choose rugs that are made up of material that can resist moisture, or any other cases in which water could stay on the floor. For the kitchen and the bathroom, make sure to select rugs that have good water resistant qualities, those that are synthetic with natural fiber counterpart. To promote safety, it is also important to add rug pads beneath the area rugs to keep them in place. If you already have ordinary rugs in your kitchen, make an effort to protect it from steam or food stains.

Mix and Match

mix and matchThere are many things in the room with which you can match the area rug, so that it doesn’t look out of place. for homeowners who have already bought the rug first prior to the furniture and wall paint, it could be a great idea to take a photo of the rug, and decide the room color scheme (wall paint and furniture) so that they’d perfectly match the rug. Beautifully patterned rugs can catch attention and would best be placed in the focal point of the room.

The rug doesn’t always have to be the same color as the walls or the furniture, they can be two shades darker, or two shades lighter. Just make sure though that the colors do not clash. If the walls and furniture are in neutral colors, you can match the rug with the drapes, and any other room décor.

Multi-styled rugs offer a greater opportunity for mixing and matching room décor and other room designs. If the rug has three colors, multi styled rugsone color could match your drapes and curtains, the second color could complement your furniture covers, and the third could match your room ornaments and other decorative pieces such as vases and many others.

When it comes to decorating a home using rugs, choosing the right one always involves thinking about what you want to achieve; visualize the look and the feel of the room you want to decorate. This, along with the tips above should be very helpful for you to successfully decorate your home.

 

 

how to decorate using rugs

Image Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

 

Author Bio:

 

Mark Brandon

 

Mark Brandon is a regular blog contributor at Safe and Sound Property Inspections and an experienced DIY builder in home renovation, and home inspection. Everytime he gets the chance to learn something new, he shares this online through blogs. You may catch him on Twitter: @DIYMarkBrandon.

 

Small Modern Living Room Ideas

Designing any room in a home is challenging, however, it is the living room where people spend most of their time, and it automatically makes it more exposed to a critical eye. That is where you entertain your guests and spend a lot of family moments, celebrations, important events, etc. When decorating and shaping a small living room, the designer must overcome the imbalance between making it as spacious as it gets, but also providing it with sufficient seating – making it functional to the most. These guidelines will help you find the right path.

Mirror Play                                                                                

In order to avoid the boxy feeling of a small living room, especially one with not enough window space, you need to create the illusion of extra space by combining wallpapers and a large wall mirror. By positioning the mirror opposite the window (sorry, feng shui people) you can create an impression of an extra window, as it reflects the garden view from a real window. In this case you can focus your living room furniture on a love seat set against the wall, flanked by two identical side tables and lamps. Throw in a coffee table and if possible two slim chairs opposite the love seat.

1 - photography by Zara for Kate Forma

photography by Zara for Kate Forma

https://decostudioblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/foto-once1.jpg

Scale it down

With current trends of conserving space, there is little use for cumbersome armchairs and bulky full-fledged sofas. Small scale furniture can be equally interesting and practical. Antique shops offer a good deal on small furniture pieces, as rooms used to be much smaller more than half a century ago. Ask for small benches, love seats and chairs. By centering a love seat in front of the window, and including side walls. small tables on each side, you can save more space than with a full armchairs/sofa set. Add a pair of subdued period armchairs opposite the sofa, and you are all set. Small living rooms benefit from a dual use of pieces, like using a trunk as a central coffee table. This setting allows for a chaise lounge on one of

Ceiling is the Limit

If you are lucky enough to have a small living room with a high ceiling, there is no reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of that vertical dimension to create an impression of more space. Of course, you cannot add another seat vertically, but what you can do is attract the viewer’s attention up, persuading them that they are sitting in more spacious room. Turn your high living room walls into a private gallery of intricate small pieces. The effect won’t fall out.

Making the most out of a Corner

Contrary to sound logic, if you have a small living room, a good strategy is to take up that corner with a large piece of furniture you can find, like a sectional sofa. Such an array can make the living room look bigger than it really is, because it relies on one piece only, and more importantly can seat a dozen of people. Opt for a modern sectional with clean straight lines. Complement the sectional with a natural fabric rug Sydney style, in small prints or plain colors, to achieve the expansive effect. And if you are always in need for extra seating, involve a pair of leather folding stools opposite the sectional.

2 - Foto Shift Interiors

Foto Shift Interiors

http://i1.wp.com/adelaparvu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Foto-Shift-Interiors.jpg?resize=770%2C1113

Double Approach

If your living room arrangement dictates for an open-space sofa position, try a backless model. It has many advantages, especially if you are left with only a small sofa option. Apart from being a chic alternative to a traditional couch, it can be used from both sides, which kind of doubles the seats when the room gets crowded with people. In another scenario, a backless sofa can act as a divider between a living room and a dining area. Another way to create impression of spaciousness, apart from wallpapers and mirrors is the use of plants. Greenery softens the corners and draws a conclusion that there is more room behind than it really is.

There are many solutions for making a small living room space look bigger. There are two approaches, which often combine beautifully: making the impression of larger space and using furniture pieces that take little space and provide substantial seating.

Author Bio:  Zoe Clark  is a home decorator from the land down under. She loves playing with colours and spaces, and has a tender spot in her heart for everything vintage. You can find her on Google+Twitter and Facebook.

Synergy of architecture and gardening – living walls and roofs

green architecture

Houses whose walls are covered in green, with only windows sticking out, are definite eye turners wherever they exist. The same goes for those establishments whose roofs resemble a green garden and make you wonder what lies beneath. Are those merely aesthetical contributions or is there something else that inspired their owners to have them? Here is what this is all about.

Green walls are in fact sets of plant panels vertically growing on free-standing or structures attached to the walls. They are sustainable and very durable. Apart for aesthetic contribution, green walls are a great way to improve the quality of living.  They provide great thermal and acoustic isolation and represent a very successful air cleaner, especially the interior ones, and pollution barrier. Everything stated applies to green roofs as well. Now, important facts about their installment.

Green walls

green wallThere is much more to green wall systems behind the design. The most durable ones consist of a frame, waterproof panels, automatic irrigation system and optional extras, such as lights for example and plants, of course. The frame is attached to the walls on several secured points, without damaging the structure and leaving air between them to reinforce the insulation and prevent moisture. This is additionally secured by using waterproof panels, which hold the entire structure together. The most successful green walls are soilless, which makes them easier to maintain, more efficient and economic when it comes to irrigation and lighter, thus easier and safer to install. The choice of plants that can be used is practically infinite and this makes them highly customizable and allows creation of unique designs and patterns.

Green roofs

So, you put a lot of soil canisters on top of your house, plant different greenery in it, and let the rain and the Sun take care of everythinggreen roof else? Of course not. Installing a green roof, that is a successful one, is a complex task. If you think you will not be able to rise to the challenge, the best way to go is to let the professionals do it and here is why. First of all, the roof needs to be prepared and to have a pitch of at least one quarter of an inch for every foot it runs. This is something that flat roof homeowners should pay special attention to. Next, you need to be sure that your roof will be able to support the load, which can amount to 30 pounds of extra load per square foot.  If it needs strengthening, do not do anything else before you finish this. The next step is to isolate the roof surface, usually with rubber or some other waterproof material. Now you are ready for positioning of one by two foot planted trays and arranging them to cover the whole roof area. The trays are placed in rows starting from the bottom all the way to the top. They are connected to each other for stability and irrigation and raised above the roof surface, to allow runoffs. Finally, exterior grade screws are used to reinforce the whole and it is watered to allow the soil to settle down.  Unless there is a four week period of draught, you will not need to water it ever again.

Obviously, this synergy of architecture and gardening will not only make your house aesthetically appealing, but you will have a healthier and more pleasant living environment and a bigger home budget. A win-win situation.

 

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