Natural Residence House Design January 16, 2010

Fairhaven Residence is a 3800 square feet home that consist of the collection of simple geometric boxes. The boxes are oriented and open to hills and views that surround the house. The rooms and views in it reveal themselves in a alternating fashion, like sheltered groves and open vistas during the walk in the woods. The entry, living and dining areas feature exposed steel and wood structure and polished concrete floors that flow out to the landscape. A “shadow” garden at the heart of the house affords glimpses of bamboo, water and light from nearly every room, while the upper floor is turned slightly to capture even more light and views.

Italian Modern Kitchen Interior Designs by Bravo January 16, 2010

Italian kitchens are always one step ahead of others as in stylish design as in high quality of materials. They are always beautiful and functional at the same time. Every kitchen presented by the famous Italian manufactures is a real work of art, which surprise by its attention even to the smallest details. Bravo company, which specializes in production of modern kitchens, has presented its new kitchen from Cube collection. The kitchen is made in one of the most trendy color solution. The big kitchen island combines black and wooden surfaces and all wall cabinets are completely white. This allows to make any kitchen looks more light and spacious. In addition to functional kitchen island and minimalist cabinets integrated into the wall, this kitchen has a larder. The large larder made in the same finish as the kitchen and divided from it by white doors. This kitchen is equipped by high-tech professional appliances. For example you could see below a very interesting and practical hood, which can be completely hidden in the top.

Garden Projects for 2010 January 7, 2010

Last year I began what will become an annual tradition of laying out all the garden projects I plan to work on for the year. This way you can get an idea what I’ll be getting myself into even if I don’t! Last year’s list changed as I went through the year and inevitably this one will too. Sometimes projects pop up unexpectedly like the Arbor I built or the greenhouse I’m working on now and other times they go exactly as planned or not at all!  Each new year brings with it a mountain range of potential and you just never know what’s just over the next peak.

So let’s take a peek at what I’m into (or in for) this year!

1) First and foremost I need to finish the greenhouse. I’m close, so close I can see where everything is going to be inside, what landscaping I plan to do on the outside, and the potential this project has for my garden. The greenhouse still needs siding, sealing, flooring, insulating, and painting/staining. If I can get it sealed and insulated the rest can wait until later.

2) I want to build at least four more raised beds for the vegetable garden. Raised beds are definitely the way to go in small backyard gardens. The raised beds I intend to put together will be 2′x10′ in size like I put together in this raised bed vegetable garden layout.  I also have one more place I would like to install an extremely long but narrow raised bed or a series of beds to move my strawberries into.

3) Build the fence around the vegetable garden! Here’s one project from last year that hopefully will get tackled in 2010.

4) Landscape the beds in the back of the backyard with a variety of plants and flowers. I’ll put together a design plan soon that will show some general ideas I have for the back corner of the yard where the greenhouse resides.

5) Finish the patio sidewalk to the garage door. Like the fence this one was deferred to 2010.

6) Build a decorative bridge! I’ve been wanting to get to this project for a long time with some old deck lumber I have in the back. Unfortunately much of the wood may be not be usable but I’ll see what is and put something together.


7) Put in some new garden areas on our front hillside. I want to transfer several Russian sage plants from our front garden for use in this new area.

8) Redo my front sidewalk garden. The Russian sage plants are getting a little large and need transplanted somewhere, it’s a good thing I have a spot for them!

9) Establish the hillside pathway. We have some pretty large slopes that are covered with weeds and brush. Some of the weeds are welcome because they house beneficial insects but I would like to edge and add gradual steps  up to the top of the slope and eventually landscape the resulting new garden areas.

I may end up adding some to the list but I won’t remove any away so that I can see how much I can complete!  We’ll actually have our hands full in July as we expect a new arrival around the 6th. I have a lot of work to do before then!

Kitchen Design: Am I Suited To A Modern Kitchen Design? January 1, 2010

Redesigning one of the places in your house can be very worrying and although the kitchen is one of the most frequently done, it can still be perplexing to know where to begin at the beginning. With many out there and traditional styles to select with loads of good choices, often a modern kitchen is selected as it is both functionally and aesthetically pleasing, 2 elements which are hard to ignore.

A modern design is mostly thought of as a simple, uncluttered and clean look with the use of simple lines in the design and some geometric angles. Many interior designers find balance in contemporary design along with a minimalist style, because of the clean and uncluttered look that modern design gives. These two styles often are married to one another as they complement each other very well.

The materials used in modern design are not just restricted to man made items such as chrome and glass (as is traditional), resources such as wood and stone can be fitted to harmonizethe clean angles with some details and curves.

In respect of design specifications, frameless cabinetry with frosted class cabinetry panels, metallic chrome components or even stainless steel are specifically the ‘in’ things. Although geometric angles are fundamental in modern kitchen design, counter tops or cabinetry can still give that odd curve here or there to give a balance to your tastes, after all, you will be living in it.

The next key thing a modern kitchen should have is outstanding lighting, track lights is very popular but so is spot lighting in light clusters or all over the kitchen, as it helps to give light and a shimmer to the clean, worktops and the shiny stainless steel or chrome elements. Whilst wood is sometimes used, it is mainly only light coloured wood from ash and birch being used.

Make your current kitchen more modern without re-design
With the ethos of modern design being the functionality, clean and uncluttered feel, why not put in storage cabinets with sliders, pullout shelves or any space saving gizmos that really helps to give function and to keep a minimal effect! Mood lighting under cabinet bottoms, can aid when operating in the kitchen as well as giving a beautiful romantic, homely feeling.

I want a Green kitchen
Lots of homeowners often ask as to, if they may be able to have a remodeling that is both environmentally sustainable as well as modern. The reply is always yes, though it may come at extra charge. LED spot lights as an example is extremely cost effective and great as it uses small amounts of energy, flooring can be purchased from places where they sustain the forests that the wood has been taken from and a design can take into account your readiness to recycle paper and cans etc.

A modern or contemporary kitchen can reliably provide a home proud person with a smart, fresh, crisp look that will remain the quo and desirable for several years, whilst at the same time being able to be scaled up for when you may have children for example.

Felicity is a part-time columnist, writing occassional columns on kitchens midlands, who specialise in tailor made kitchens. You can even wish for a luxury, quality finished kitchen with a unique design.

The Best Type of Pot for Container Gardening December 31, 2009

Garden planters can be made of a wide variety of materials, do you know which is best, do you know the pros and cons of each?

Ceramic

Ceramic or clay pots from plain terra cotta to fancy glazed colorful examples, are some of the most widely recognized and used garden containers, probably because they’re old technology. They do have numerous downsides however. They are expensive, and fragile if broken. What is more such pots cannot be left out all year round in places where it gets below freezing, full anyways. Supposedly you can get double fired ones that can take the cold, but I’ve never seen one for sale and they’re supposedly twice as expensive as the already expensive normal ones. Such pots are also porous (the non-glazed ones) and so need to be watered more frequently. The good thing about ceramic, where they really excel, are in style and color. Colorful glazed pots maintain their color better than the other types I will mention, and many colors are available.

Plastic

Plastic pots are the cheapest, and very durable. Some cheap plastic pots do become fragile in cold weather, but good ones don’t. They are nonporous and can easily retain water. Where plastic suffers is in colors and styles. Plastic containers typically are not painted (though they can be), they get colors from the plastic itself being infused. This is both good and bad, but mostly bad. It means that the entire pot is usually going to be one solid color, with no detail of variance. It also means that the colors can and will fade, really quickly, really significantly, when exposed to sun. The only good thing is that there is nothing to flake off (unless it is painted). Plastic can otherwise be left out year round, and can retain water well for those water loving plants.

Metal

Metal containers are not that popular, but they do excel in a variety of applications. If you want the simple galvanized metal look you have a basic no-maintenance container. Painted metal containers are typically done with a powder coating or other durable finish, these types of paints typically do not need maintenance and last a long time. Metal can also be easily embossed with designs so you can find some really cool looking containers. The downsides of metal is that it can rust eventually, how quickly will depend on the quality of the manufacturer. For instance some “copper” containers aren’t really copper, but a thinly plated steel and they can rust. Also, sometimes the coating or painting process is incomplete and the little uncovered crevasses can then rust. Then of course, if you scratch the pot with a trowel or something, that scratched bit can rust. Metal is also more expensive than other types other than ceramic. But you can leave them out all year round.

Foam

Foam pots are made by having polyurethane foam expand into a mold. They can create very intricate designs, and technically, are insulated. This would make them a good choice for a plant that needs a warmer root ball during winter than you’d get in another container (though, honestly, an container is a bad choice in such a situation). Once the form is made it is then painted. Unfortunately the paint flakes of quicker than any other type of pot I’ve found, the foam underneath yellows in an ugly fashion, and they can crack from impacts. All told, foam is my least favorite type of planter, they seem to only look good for 1 season. They can be relatively inexpensive though.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass pots are some of my favorites, they are extremely durable, available in a wide range of colors, and water tight. They do have some of the issues of plastic, colors can fade, but not that much, paint can flake, but not as badly, and while most fiberglass pots are largely one color, there are usually accent colors added. They can also be nicely textured to resemble old ceramic urns and whatnot. Price was they’re fairly inexpensive, though not as inexpensive as plastic. If you’re looking for a pot that can closely resemble ceramic without the price or durability issue, fiberglass is the one.

Concrete

For durability nothing beats concrete. It lasts and lasts and lasts. Concrete is my favorite kind of pot. It is somewhat porous, not very though, and holds water well. It is heavy, which can be hard to move, but it also means the wind won’t be blowing it over. Concrete, like plastic, when colored has color all the way through, unlike plastic though, it tends not to fade. Concrete, like foam, is made with molds, so it can have intricate designs on it, but unlike foam, paint adheres better (through it is rarely painted, you could paint it at home though). Concrete can be a little pricey, more than fiberglass, less than ceramic. And because of the weight you’ll never find really big concrete pots (fiberglass is best for big pots) but for small and medium size containers they’re great. The only downside is limited color options, you can get uncolored, charcoal, a greenish color, and a brownish color typically. If you made one yourself (doable) you could get a wider variety of colors, and you can buy concrete paints and stains.

Wood

Wooden containers, usually boxes or barrels, are fairly uncommon nowadays, and while they do have a rustic charm, they are the least durable of the lot, with rot and warping and pests all being a problem. It is not something I would recommend using, and wood is also fairly expensive, especially rot resistant woods.

So there you go, those are all the common materials used for garden containers, now hopefully when you’re at the r garden center picking one out you’ll be better equipped to make a decision on which to buy.

Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration – Stylise the kitchen and Create a minimalist living room with smooth clean lines December 29, 2009

Create a minimalist living whack harbour smooth speck less lines and practical style. The interior combines pompous whites with moonlit reds besides has stunning visual appeal.

Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room

The aluminium kitchen is designed specifically owing to wheelchair height and has all the voguish technology. As a final touch the cupboard doors conceal a ruddy interior.

Stylise the kitchen

Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration

Make clear-cut the edge of the work surface has a lip to help prevent spillages. Some work surfaces charge symbolize moved perfecting besides down to the required height, thereby serving both those standing and those in a wheelchair.

Metal Kitchen doors

Metal Kitchen doors Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration Kitchen doors

Use aluminium pull secluded shutter-like fronts considering the cupboards to enhance the modern style. in that a great design effectuate to the design, use splashes of red inside the cupboards.

Mixing and matching

The dining area Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration Mixing and matching

Continue the modernist theme in the living area. However, plunge into a interpretation of tradition with antique chairs and books.

Living room

The sofa Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration Living room

Add warmth to the minimalism of the alive hole with dashes of the red. The sofa can be picked independent in this blush as well as simple panelling on the walls

Lighting

Kitchen lighting Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration Lighting

Use distinctive lighting in both the kitchen and living area. In the kitchen, construct in a hanging island of halogen lights. This leave provide bright light to the key work areas.

Finish the look

Ceramic dishes Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration Finish the look

Finish off the look in both rooms with simple vases, which complete this stylish minimalist look.

Interesting design features

Plants and wood vivid stove Minimalist Kitchen and Living Room Design Inspiration Interesting design features

Bring a touch of greenery inside harbour plants fame elevated pots. This cede soak the attending of the room. A wood-burning stove commit also add reaction to a look.

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Green Housekeeping – Cleaning With Organic Products December 4, 2009

Cleanliness is vital for a healthy home, but generally we use too many chemical cleaning products and in too great a quantity, and are unaware of their consequences. There are time honored natural alternatives in the form of organic cleaning products that are just as effective, that do not have such a negative impact on our environment, and that will leave your home smelling delightfully fresh and fragrant.

So, what are these natural alternatives and why haven’t we heard of them earlier?

Natural, or Organic cleaning products are a safe, natural alternative to the harmful chemicals found in common home cleaning products. Every organic cleaning cupboard should have white vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, pure soap, table salt, washing soda, and essential oils to name just a few. These environmentally-friendly cleaning products are effective, inexpensive, healthy and ethical.

The widely advertised commercial products we use today contain large quantities of heavy duty chemicals and may not bring the harmony and sweetness to your life that the manufacturers would have you believe. Less than one quarter of the 70,000 chemicals used in cleaning products and toiletries have been thoroughly tested for safety, and substances classified as hazardous waste are found in many common cleaning products.

The largest number of occurrences of poisoning are due to non organic cleaning products – drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, soaps and detergents. Ammonia is a highly volatile chemical frequently found in inorganic cleaning products and can be very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin. Non organic laundry detergents contain phosphorus, enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and countless other chemicals. Non organic cleaning products for toilet bowls may cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if swallowed. Oven cleaner is one of the most toxic non organic cleaning products that people use.

Using organic cleaning products is the core of natural cleaning. Natural cleaning products are truly cleaner because they are nontoxic, natural, biodegradable, concentrated, and hypoallergenic, and are excellent cleaners. I love environmentally-friendly cleaning products because they are totally safe for the home, they will not harm the environment and have major health benefits. When you take the time to become better informed about the choices that are available to you, you’ll learn that organic cleaning products and recipes are easy to find, and will probably fit nicely into your budget. There are numerous excellent books and information available on ‘green cleaning’ and environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

I confess; I’m a recent convert to using organic cleaning products at home. The only reason I had not ‘converted’ sooner was that no one had informed me of the natural alternative. I have found the products work just as well in most situations, is less expensive, healthier, more environmentally friendly and it gives me a great feeling to know that I’m ‘doing the right thing’. My chemical free home is a delight to be in – it looks and feels great and smells wonderful too.

So, with all the information above, why aren’t more of us turning to the natural alternatives? Based on feedback, the answers I received are; 1) people are not educated or aware about the alternatives, 2) people don’t have the time or desire, and 3) many claim the natural solutions don’t work as well as chemicals. I have a personal opinion on all three answers, but the wonderful world we live in means people are very different on many levels. As a result, the reasons listed above are valid to many people.

The goal of this article is not to sell you anything; I just want you to be aware, then you can make your own informed decision. I do however, strongly urge and encourage you to try the natural alternatives, just once. What have you got to lose? I guarantee the benefits you get will far outweigh any inconveniences you feel you may encounter. You will feel and smell the benefits of switching to green cleaning products if not immediately, then certainly after a very short time.

So, clear out your old household cleaners and start anew with the natural alternatives and keep your home clean, safe and healthy. Green cleaning products are the way to go!!

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Towards Designing And Constructing Basements December 4, 2009

The resolution of having a basement construction in your house is a very big one and comes with a lot of factors which you must take into account. These factors are big specially when it comes down to your investment.

To open, you need to be positive that construction work can be performed on the your basement. In the case of reconstruction, be extra positive that your basement does not have leaks and specially that it is waterproof. As the basement reconstruction requires water consumption, a waterproof basement would connote lesser break and lower expenses of clean up once reconstruction has completed.

Now that you have made vital safety measures for reconstruction, you can now completely make your mind up your basement arrangement and design.

If you are adding a completely fresh basement to an existing house structure, then the construction will be to a large extent more arduous. Obviously, the construction will have to go across around the house supporting the top levels while adding a completely fresh basement at the bottom. You can effortlessly picture that such a venture is both prone to risks and will incur a lot of expenditure.

For fresh home builders, the choice of adding a basement rests at the beginning of construction. Again, it is a horrific idea to think of basement construction after have constructed the upper levels. So plan ahead in time and go for the basement if you have a remote desire for doing so to avoid skyrocketing expenses.

Be aware of the fact that basement construction is long, lengthy project. The time frame stems from the fact that once the basement is constructed, it is not finished as soon as. Instead, it is left unfinished to allow it to settle specially with reference to soil.

Once the basement settling has taken place, then additional and required work can be done on it. This includes waterproofing the basement, checking for leaks etc. Additionally, it also becomes apparent that the land on which the basement has been constructed is solid enough to hold the entire building.

There is a class of people who do not want to add the fresh waterproofing step to their basements because of the expenses. At times people avoid the finishing until after all the construction has completed to get a better idea of basement settlement.

Even so, in larger constructions, it is usually ensured that the work on basement finishing can as soon as commence as soon as the basement is constructed. This is due to well qualified constructors who erect the house the slope of land around the foundation. Additionally a solid foundation is constructed. All in all you can move to your fresh house with all the work finished on the basement as well.

If you are in this fix of having a basement constructed on the house you already own, then be thorough in your design. If you cut corners and try to save on the expenses you might end up having a non-solid or unreliable finished basement. It might cost you very less, but not only will you be living on top of an unsound basement, but also you will end up spending to a large extent more regularly for repairs due to cheaper and worn out materials.

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